FRIENDS WHO KNOW GO TO THE ONE WHO CAN.
“And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.” Mark 2:3-12 (KJV)
Even though it was in Capernaum there were some there who believed in who Jesus was. They went to great extremes to see that their friend who could not walk would be able to walk when he met Jesus. There was a problem, though. That was a problem of a crowd who had gathered to hear Jesus speak. It was in a home of someone who had invited Jesus to stay there, most likely. They could not get their friend through the crowd, so they went to the roof and began tearing away the dried clay, wood, and what ever other particles there was until there was a hole large enough to lower a man on a “bed”. What friendship. What devotion. What a faith.
Jesus makes a statement which caused some discontent in the thoughts of some who were present for this great gathering. “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” These “scribes” of the law accused Jesus of blasphemy. “Blasphemy” = “irreverence toward something considered sacred’ MIRRIAM/WEBSTER DICTIONARY. For Jesus these Scribes were thinking of Jesus taking on the role of God, and that was blasphemy. To the religious leader of Jesus’s day “Only God can forgive sin”, and that is absolutely correct. By this statement Jesus was declaring to these “leaders” that He was God. In order to prove He had the power, privilege, and authority to forgive sin He healed the man who was let down through the roof and ceiling.
We have no idea how long this man had been sick and unable to walk. It really does not matter though, because Jesus healed him and he got up, took his bedroll and went home. This event is in all three of the synoptic gospels. It is very similar in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Matthew reckons the statement of the “Scribes” as “evil”. Jesus said, “Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?” (Matthew 9:4), after they were thinking Jesus being blasphemous. Luke’s version is, “What reason ye in your hearts?”.
βλασφημία blasphēmia
blas-fay-me’-ahFrom G989; vilification (especially against God): – blasphemy, evil speaking, railing.
How they could accuse Jesus of blasphemy is beyond understanding. What He did He did in God’s name, He did for God’s glory – the crowd glorified God; and the man got up and went home. Because of the faith of these friends God is glorified and their friend is up walking, glorifying God as well as the throng of people who witnessed it.
In a world filled with turmoil it is great to know that we can still go to the One who can take care or our every need. Notice that “Need” not our every want. Go To The One Who Can. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.
-Tim A. Blankenship
We hear everyday how bad this nation is economically. How many people are without jobs. The numbers of people who are without health care. The crimes in the nation. These are bad, and some of it is down right evil.
Let us give some thought today for that in this country for which we ought to be grateful.
First of all let’s be grateful to our Creator who has allowed such a great nation even come to be. He has not only allowed it to be but put it in the hearts of the men and women who were inspired by His Spirit to be free from a tyrannical government. Men and women who risked there lives at sea, and in coming to a new land.
Let’s thank God our Savior for inspiring Liberty, freedom, and caring for others without government aid. Let’s be thankful for the men who have fought the enemy for these past 232 years to keep us free and at times helped give other nations freedom as well. Freedom is the gift of our Creator, inspired through hearts of men who give their lives as our Savior has said,
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (KJV)
And we have had many a soldier lay down their lives to protect and to keep us from the harm of the enemy. In the beginnings of this country soldiers were farmers, doctors, lawyers, blacksmiths, etc. who laid down their lives for their neighbors, families and friends. Many soldiers today come from such families. Thank you men and women of the United States of America who have risked life, limb, and economic status, for the freedom of the USA.
You may be one today who has found yourself without an income; had your home foreclosed on; and lost everything you had. Be grateful that you still live in the land of the free, the home of the brave; and take a bold step forward, and thank the Lord above for the gift of freedom. There is so much for which we can be grateful.
Family, friends, associates in the workplace, the air we breathe, the ground upon which we walk. There is no place on earth like the United States of America. Where else is there where people want to get, rather than get out of it.? Thank God for the struggle of immigration. Most of our families were immigrants who came here from Europe or some other place.
Health care is available to all. It is not free, nor should it be. Let’s be thankful for the doctors and nurses, and all medical personnel who work long days and nights just to provide health care to people who are in need. Thank you.
You can finish it from here. I pray that I have inspired you today to see some things for which to be thankful in this God blessed nation; even with all that is wrong within it. There are still some things that are right.
May God continue to bless America.
-Tim A. Blankenship
Just as surely as I post this writing of THE DEATH OF THE KING there will be some who will immediately think that I am writing of Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson. Not so on my part. As I thought of this title I was not even thinking of those two but of the One who is the genuine King of all kings; including the king of rock, and of pop as the world has called them.
It is sad that far too many people mourn the lives of two men whose lives were controlled by popularity, power, money, and drugs; and eventually taken possibly by the same things and drugs. Their lives are sad examples of wasted living, and wasted lives.
Enough about those lives, and on to the One whose life, though short was lived to glorify the Father, and to give His own life for the salvation of sinful men, and women.
It is sad to see a man live His life for good, God, and His glory; and then to have it taken from Him due to sin. Lust, power, envy, greed, politics, covetousness, popularity, and every sin among men who loved darkness rather than light had this man condemned to die. The ugliest of mankind was seen on the day or our Lord’s death.
Hear the words of Jesus -
“And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.” Matthew 17:22-23 (KJV)
Jesus had just spent time correcting His disciples concerning the reason why they could not cast a demon from a young man. They had tried and failed. The father of the boy was frustrated with them, and when Jesus came down from the mountain where He was transfigured before their eyes, took this boy and cast the demon out of him without much thought.
Now, while they are in Galilee Jesus tells them, as He has before of His death which is approaching. There is much evidence in the Gospels that Jesus’s heart was set on going to Jerusalem for the distinct purpose to die; and to do so for the sins of the world. And by the hands of sinful men be judged, found guilty (without guilt), beaten and whipped, mocked, be nailed to a cross, and hung on that tree (”Cursed is the man that hangeth on a tree” Galations 3:13; Deuteronomy 21:23), and took the curse that was meant for us all; the curse of sin and death.
It seems that the disciples, as Jesus spoke to them, were not thinking of who He was talking about or something. It had not sunk into their blind minds of whom He referred.
Of course Jesus was speaking of Himself who would die, and on the “third day rise again”. It could be too, that they heard the part about His death, but the part of the resurrection was not assimilated into their thinking. Thus they were sorry for His death.
We have this assurance that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-8), and there was a multitude of witnesses.
Believe on Jesus Christ, trust your life to His care, and you will be saved for all eternity. There is no other way but through Jesus Christ.
-Tim A. Blankenship
“And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.” Mark 2:1-2 (KJV)
“They crowded to hear Him, as we read in this passage, “until there was no room about the door.” They were amazed. They were astonished. They were filled with wonder at His mighty works. But they were not converted. They lived in the full noon-tide blaze of the Sun of Righteousness, and yet their hearts remained hard. And they drew from our Lord the heaviest condemnation that He ever pronounced against any place, except Jerusalem–”And you people of Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to the place of the dead. For if the miracles I did for you had been done in Sodom, it would still be here today. I assure you, Sodom will be better off on the judgment day than you.” (Matt. 11:23, 24)” From J. C. Ryle Commentary
There is a need for humanity to hear the words of Jesus. It is a necessity of human beings; if we are to be eternally saved; to hear and heed His Word. The earthquake (December 26, 2004) which caused the tsunami in the Indian Ocean; and various other earthquakes, storms, and wars; should be a wake up cry to the world. God is still in charge of the world. The death toll has been staggering – to say the least – reaching into the hundreds of thousands, and many of those going into eternal fires of torment.
There is sin still in our world. Every one of us born of man is born into sin. We are sinners by birth and sinners by choice. It is because of sin that there is sickness, disease, death, tsunami, tornado, earthquake, storms, etc..
People will often gather; as they did for Jesus on the day we read here; to hear a great speaker, because of what they might see, receive, or to be entertained. The people of Capernaum were awed by Jesus, and the words He spoke, but they would not take heed to His words.
There are people who are asking, “If God is omnipotent and omniscient, then why did He not prevent this horrible disaster in the Indian Ocean?”, “Why did He not prevent the destruction of this tornado, earthquake, the death of my son or daughter; husband or wife?” God is Omnipotent [All-Powerful] and Omniscient [All-Knowing], and yes He could have prevented the disaster, but because of the fall “Nature” just as sin is allowed to run its course. We had just as well ask, “Why did my Dad die?” or “Why is there death in the world?” Most Christians would agree that death is the result of sin, because we know those verses that tell us “death came into the world because of sin” (Rom. 5:12-21).
The world needs to hear the words and message of Jesus because there is coming a judgment upon the world unlike which the world has never seen. It seems to me that God is screaming for mankind’s attention. Still there are those who keep asserting that “…these things are only a thing of nature, there is no God, and this tragedy only proves it.”
In stark reality it seems to me to show that God is truly gracious; for if He were to take His hand completely away from His creation; the universe and the world on which we live, and all that is in it would come to an abrupt end. And He would be completely just in doing so.
People in Ezekiel’s day would gather to hear a preacher preach, but not do according to his teaching (Ezekiel 33:30-33). Jesus said, “Why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not what I say?” Good question. We as God’s people need to hear what God says and take heed to what He says. The people of the world need to hear what God says, they need to hear what He says about repentance and faith, about His Son Jesus and the way to eternal life through Him.
-Tim A. Blankenship
“To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” Jude 25 (NKJV).
In this closing statement by Jude he clearly declares the deity of the One we call Savior. “To God our Savior”. Anyone, person or religious organization who would deny the deity of Jesus Christ; or decrees deity to all who could or would achieve the “christ-spirit” or whatever they would call it; denies the very heart of Christ Jesus; therefore they do not know Him. They are in fact worshipping a different “Jesus”; a demon.
The Jesus whom Jude, Peter, James, John; and Matthew, Mark and Luke write of is Jesus Christ the Son of the living God, who is God made flesh, and “dwelt among us”. He alone is the One who died for the sins of the whole world, was buried in a dead human body; and rose victoriously over sin, death and hell in a glorified human body. If you don’t know the Jesus who died as the incarnate God, was buried as the incarnate God, and rose again as the bodily form of God, then you know not my Jesus.
Jude gives Jesus as the One “who alone is wise”. We can read the eighth and ninth chapters of Proverbs, and you see the Personification of wisdom, and that Person is none other than Jesus the Christ. Solomon is often given credit as being “the wisest man who ever lived”, but then, there is Jesus; the One who gave Him His wisdom. Jesus was wise to follow the guidance and direction of His heavenly Father. He desired to always do those things which pleased His Father, even to the death on the cross.
The glory of Jesus is in the fact that He did the Father’s will. We have all sinned and fell short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Jesus came, as like sinful men, yet without sin, and Himself was the glory of God on earth. He fulfilled the task which the first Adam failed to fulfill. As followers of Jesus Christ, and by imputation – the reckoning of God – we fulfill the glory of God. When we see Jesus we will see Him in all His glory and majesty. A couple of things we have which are symbols of majesty on earth are the eagle in the sky, and the lion. These pale in comparison to the majesty of Jesus.
With Jesus is all power, and He rules in the hearts of rulers, and will ultimately have His way in this world. One day the Lord Jesus will return to this earth, will overthrow the kingdoms of this world, and its rulers, and He Himself will rule, and sin will no more have rule and dominion in the hearts and minds of men or women. These qualities which Jude ascribes to Jesus are given to Him also by the angels, and the saints in heaven according to Revelation 4:10, 11; 5:12-14.
Give glory to the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father by believing in Jesus, and the work He has done on the cross, becoming sin for us, receiving the wrath of God that was ours, taking our sins away in His burial, then, rising victoriously over it all. Proving once and for all that He is all that He said He is. Proving that there is life after death, and that eternal life is found solely through the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
“To God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.”
-Tim A. Blankenship
Jesus had been on the Mount where three disciples who were with Him had seen His glory. He was transfigured before their eyes; and He spoke with Moses and Elijah concerning the matter of His coming death and resurrection (Luke 9:30-31). While down below, at the foot of the mount, the other nine disciples were being unsuccessful delivering a man from the power, and torment of an evil spirit – a demon.
When Jesus came down from the encounter with His glory, Moses and Elijah; and Peter, James and John; He finds disappointment with the others. He says,
“O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.” Matthew 17:17 (KJV)
and then delivers the young man from this demon.
Here was a father with a son who is tormented by a demon, the disciples “faithless and unbelieving” and Jesus in His glory [temporarily] to give us a lesson of faith.
Jesus knew of His impending death on the cross and the following resurrection, and that He was going away. In His absence -bodily – we would need faith. The disciples left at the foot of the mountain could be you and me, who are believing in Him, in the world today; and we have troubled people all around us.
People plagued by marriages, failing marriages, children, troubled children, elderly parents, sickness, disease, joblessness, fear; various fears concerning health, finances, world troubles, and as believers it seems sometimes that we have not much to offer a hopeless world. At least that is how we are seen.
After the disciples and Jesus leave the mountain they ask Jesus a question and He answers them -
“Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:19-21 (KJV)
Why do we seem so powerless in this day of trouble? Because we are not practicing the things of God. Prayer and fasting is often the farthest thing from our minds, and hearts. Prayer and fasting requires that our heart be on the things of Christ. If there is ever a time for prayer, communicating with our Lord, and denying ourselves the desires of the world it should be now.
Jesus is away from us bodily, but with us in His Spirit, living within guiding, comforting, convicting, teaching, and showing us all things concerning Jesus Christ. Are we listening? When we listen do we do what we know to do? What do we do when we don’t know what to do? Do what we know to do?
We are the disciples at the foot of the mountain awaiting the return of our King. Will He return and say to us,
“O faithless and perverse generation…”?
I pray not.
Let us who are the disciples of Jesus Christ be a people of faith, believing that Jesus will soon return, praying, fasting from the pleasures, and “tastiness” of this world; hearing the Lord Jesus speaking the words of peace as only He can. Get into His Word, read it, study it; let the Word by the Spirit of God read you; believe it, practice it, and let others see Jesus in you. When the world brings their problems – demons – to us then, by and in the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ – cast those demons – problems – out.
Let’s appropriate the power of the Spirit of Christ in us with that faith that declares Jesus is coming soon. The focus of genuine faith is Jesus Christ.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The Gospel of Mark has for a theme, “I came not to be ministered [served]; unto, but to minister and give My life a ransom for many” and that is what Jesus did all of His three years of ministry. Jesus defines service, by His life, and work.
Mark 1:21-45
VV. 21 – 34 – PROOFS AND EVIDENCE OF THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF OUR LORD.
In these verses we find religious leaders who are amazed and the people who are amazed by the teachings of Jesus. He did not teach theories, and philosophy. He taught the teachings and Word of God like He knew it. He was the One who had spoken the world into existence, and hung the stars and planets in place and gave them order in their revolutions. No one can speak the Word of God with authority except they have received it from God and His Son.
We see the uselessness of intellectual knowledge in religion. The demons cry out to Jesus in recognition of who He is. Jesus commands their silence. Someone so holy can not be rightly announced by what is unholy. Satan, the enemy of God and man – especially saved men and women – know who Jesus is, but they are not redeemed. The demons “Believe and tremble” (James 2:19), so when a man or woman say they believe in God, they are doing no more than the demons. It does not mean they have been redeemed by the life blood of Jesus Christ. You would not ever find a more “religious” lot than the demon lot condemned to Hell. Knowledge of who Jesus Christ does not save. Without trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord of one’s life you stand condemned.
Jesus commanded this “unclean spirit” to come out and he came out. This man who was possessed by this “demon” was brought to the right person. Have you ever asked yourself why a demon possessed man was at the synagogue in the first place. Could it be that the man still had some sense of the need of deliverance, and the providence of God put him there that very day for his deliverance and salvation? Could be.
The Lord provides complete and perfect cure when He heals Simon’s [Peter's] mother in law. As soon as she is raised from her sickness she is in full health, and goes to serving the guests. Jesus has a heart for serving the people and giving them health. The most important health He provides and gives is spiritual/soul health. There is no better health than a healthy soul, and heart that is in tune with Jesus.
Jesus went about after these things and healed the sick and delivered captured souls. What a wonderful Servant/Savior we have.
VV. 35 – 39 — LOOK AT OUR LORD’S PRAYER LIFE.
To look at His prayer life is to get a perfect example of what a prayer life ought to be. First of all,
“His very perfection was a perfection kept through the exercise of prayer”. J. C. Ryle study of Mark’s Gospel
We ought to learn from that and realize that if we would pray we would become stronger against Satan and sin, and temptation. Secondly,
“To be prayerless is to be Christless, Godless, and in the high road to destruction”. J. C. Ryle study of Mark’s Gospel
It is by God’s Word that we can keep from sin through the power of prayer. The Word of God, hidden in our heart, and the commitment of prayer will strengthen us against sin.
The Lord came into this world to ultimately provide salvation for sinners by dying for mankind’s sin on the cross, being buried, and rising from the dead. He came to minister by preaching the truth of God. The Lord Jesus would have been the greatest preacher to ever live. He gave honor to the position of the preacher. It is sad that there are some who cause that honor to stink, and then it is no more honor. Our Lord was a preacher, and that gives it the highest honor possible, no matter what some may do.
VV. 40 – 45 — JESUS CARES FOR THE UNCLEAN.
The disease of leprosy was a dreaded, even feared disease. It would cause sores on the body, and the skin and flesh would rot on the body. The Old Testament condemns them as “unclean”. The person who had leprosy was not allowed to live with his or her family, they became “outcast”. Of course, family often cared for them, without getting near them; providing them food, and probably clothing and needed items. Here Jesus does something that was ceremonially forbidden. He touched the “Unclean”. Jesus was guilty. He was guilty of loving and giving His life. That is what He was guilty of.
As soon as Jesus touched the leper, and said, “I will; be thou clean”, the leprosy was gone and he was clean. The power of Jesus’ healing is wondrous, it is Almighty. It is great knowing that such a Man even cares for those who are “Unclean”. We were unclean by sin. We were as the leper. We were vile, desparate, and in need of healing, then Jesus came and He touched us, healed us and cleansed us. Notice, the leper came to Him. He was drawn by what he had heard. He was delivered by faith in the Lord, not by any work he had done. It was the Lord who touched him, and He was clean. He was healed. He was made whole. What a Savior. What a Great Physician.
When Jesus had healed and cleansed the leprous man, He told him to be silent about what had taken place in his life. Rather than being silent about it, though, he went and told every one he saw. Doing this crippled the ministry of Jesus to the people. There is a time for silence. Since the resurrection of Jesus we have been commanded to go and tell all that we have seen and heard of Jesus. The day of silence is over when it comes to talking about Jesus. There are still times we should remain silent. Jesus even told us not to cast our pearls before swine. Would that not be giving the gospel to those who do not want to hear it? Those who are imprisoned in self-righteousness? Those who are enamored in their own goodness, thinking God will have a scale and weigh their good deeds against their bad deeds, and the good will out weigh the bad? Those who are enjoying their wickedness are not ready for the truth of God’s Word, nor the gospel. These are the people who bask in their self righteousness.
-Tim A. Blankenship
I have been silent; probably for too long; concerning the elections in Iran. Though I don’t generally comment on events such as these, the real atrocity is against the people of Iran. Like our country [USA] I am for freedom. All people should be free to make their own decisions in politics, in religion, in life; and make informed and clear decisions.
One sign of an oppressive government is when that government decides to stop all means of communication. Iran’s leading authority has tried to stop the out going communications to let the rest of the world know what is going on. They have failed in that, and it seems that today – June 20, 2009 – will be the day the government “puts its foot down”, and tries with its military might to silence a very angry, and large number of its citizens.
If they can hear these words today; Be strong, and turn your eyes toward the LORD of the earth, believe and trust in the Son of Jehovah Jesus Christ; He is the Supreme One, and will lead you to genuine peace; and that is so for all the world. The hope of Iran is not the Ayatolla Khameni or its government which is officially ran by the “strong arm” of Islam in Iran. It is a repressive government which eventually will end in the destruction of its own country.
The current administration has said many times “Death to Israel. Death to the United States.” And his intent is to see the destruction of any who oppose him.
How does Israel view this situation in Iran. Let me give you some quotes from the Jerusalem Post -
“FOR ISRAEL, the election in Iran boils down to one major issue – the nuclear program, and the chances of its being stopped, whether Ahmadinejad or Mousavi end up taking the reins.
One school of thought in the defense establishment is that Ahmadinejad serves Israel’s short-term interests. With his open calls to destroy the Jewish state and his public denial of the Holocaust, he helps Israel make its diplomatic case against Iran.”
It sounds as though Israel would be for keeping Ahmadinejad. At least they would know what to expect. It seems that no one knows what to expect of Mousavi. May all the Middle East know that those who come against Israel will fail, and their armies will be destroyed; not by Israel, nor by the United States, or any army of the world, but by the Supreme Ruler, the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe. Read Ezekiel 38 – 39 along with Genesis 12:1-3.
There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the world is in economic straights, and in need of help, but from where. The only help for Israel, Iran, and the rest of the world can only be found in turning to the One who died for the sins of the world, and His name is Jesus the Christ; Son of the Living God.
Let us who are followers of Jesus Christ continue to pray for the “peace of Jerusalem” and for the people of the Middle East. The hope of the world is Jesus.
-Tim A. Blankenship
The prophet has given a very solemn, and somewhat discouraging words. The ministry of the prophet of God is to speak the truth of God’s Word, no matter to whom they are speaking.
When one is called by God to proclaim the Word of God it is to God, and to God alone that we are held accountable. Isaiah knew this and he never withheld a word. He warned the laid back, at ease people of Zion that, though they had it made at that present time there was judgment coming from Assyria, the Chaldeans, the Babylonians; that they would be taken into captivity, and then he also let them know that God would lead some – a remnant – back to their blessed land.
This prophecy is given at least 100 years before it would take place. Isaiah would not live to see it happen. We know from the records of Ezra, Nehemiah, Jeremiah, Daniel that it did come to pass just as Isaiah had said.
As we journey through the Scriptures reading, meditating upon them, learning, we find that there are many times God is not pleased with Israel. They are divided into a Northern kingdom called Israel, Ephraim; and into a Southern kingdom called Judah, and this was an act of chastisement from God for their departure from the way of David, and overtaxing of the people. They were often afflicted by surrounding enemies, because they turned their back on God. Of all the kings named in the Northern kingdom there is not one of whom it is said, that he “did right in the eyes of the LORD”.
When God’s people turn their backs on God, His Word, His prophets and begin to hate and kill His prophets, and despise the way of God, then God will send judgment to chastise His people. With Israel (both Northern and Southern kingdoms) they would go into captivity, and Jeremiah the prophet says it would be for a period of seventy years (Jeremiah 25:11, 12; 29:10). After that seventy years are accomplished God would allow a “Remnant” to return to the land.
There are many who have given up on the nation of Israel today. Some say, “God is through with Israel as a nation”. One national ruler says, “We will destroy Israel”. At this time this man’s “kingdom” is in jeopardy due to charges of an unfair election process. The kingdoms of men fall. None of these things said by such rulers are so, nor will they come to pass. God has not given up on Israel. He still has a remnant who will one day call on the name of the One whom “they have pierced”, and call Him Lord, and the kingdom of David will be forever established with Jesus Christ as King.
Where the nation has trusted many times upon their captors, their “protectors” – such as those who are siding with Israel today; though their protection is like whitewash – they [Israel] will come to a place their hope and stay [trust] will be upon the LORD alone. Israel’s only protection is the LORD. Your protection; also mine is the LORD of hosts.
“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.” Isaiah 10:20-23 (KJV)
Paul the apostle writes of the promises and hope of Israel in Romans 9-11, and there he tells us, “All Israel shall be saved” (Romans 11:26). Let us all pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6), remembering that the only true and lasting peace will come when the Prince of Peace comes and sits on His throne in Jerusalem, and His name is Jesus.
-Tim A. Blankenship
“Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him” Psalm 2:10-12 (KJV).
It is wise to be on the King’s side. Whatever one’s place in this world; be we king, prime minister, senator; our place is to glorify our King, and that King is Jesus Christ. When we are “nudging up” to the man of flesh, then Jesus is not the One who is being “kissed”. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” Psalm 111:10; and there is a lack in this great wisdom for our day.
Wisdom is a necessary attribute. Godly wisdom is what we are concerned with in this text and context. It is sad to think that there are many world rulers in our day who do not have godly wisdom, and are working against all things godly. The rulers of our world are working against the Nation which God has ordained, and called out as a Nation in our days; to even remain a Nation. They are not wise. It is written in THE TREASURY OF DAVID by C. H. Spurgeon, “True wisdom, fit for kings and judges, lies in obeying Christ.” Vol. 1, p. 20.
A love for God with fear brings rejoicing, and causes us to serve and joy in His presence. He is our hope, our cause for rejoicing. Serve Him with fear, ie., great awe, and reverence.
To “Kiss the Son” is to be in complete agreement with Him. We acknowledge He is always right, and will never lead us astray. Many will reject Him and refuse to kiss Him, unless it be as Judas who betrayed Him, and those who refuse will go into eternal judgment of fire.
Happy [Blessed] is the lot of those who put their trust in the blessed King of kings, Judge of judges, and Lord of lords. Put all your trust in Him. You are Blessed.
-Tim A. Blankenship
