Tag: Jerusalem

12.w. “But I will leave within you the meek and humble”

Zephaniah 3:9   “Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the Lord and serve him shoulder to shoulder. From beyond the rivers of Cush my worshipers, my scattered people, will bring me offerings. On that day you, Jerusalem, will not be put to shame for all the wrongs you have done to me, because I will remove from you your arrogant boasters. Never again will you be haughty on my holy hill. But I will leave within you the meek and humble. The remnant of Israel will trust in the name of the Lord. They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths.  They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”

Jeremiah 7:9-12   Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,  and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?

Ezekiel 7:24     I will bring the worst of the nations to take possession of their houses. I will put an end to the pride of the strong, and their holy places shall be profaned.

Ezekiel 24:21    ‘Say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will profane my sanctuary, the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind shall fall by the sword.

Zephaniah makes it very clear there will be a time of judgment for the prideful, arrogant, haughty, self-important, smug, puffed up, and condescending people.  These will be removed and will no longer be influencing others.  They are gone.  Their final place is in torment in hell.  By Zephaniah’s warning/proclamation people throughout time have had chance after chance through the grace of God to turn away from their defiance and denial of God.  Some do, but many millions more do not.  The promise of peace and rest, grace and mercy, forgiveness, and salvation is not enough for them to turn away from the path in life they have chosen.  Defiance and denial do not negate the judgment coming but certainly do cement their eternal destiny.  The humble and meek will be with Jesus Christ.  Those who by faith surrender their eternal destiny into the hands of Jesus Christ will be with Him.  They have repented of their sin and trusted in Jesus Christ.  They humbly seek and desire His Word to guide, protect, encourage, and give them the wisdom to see the world’s lies, temptations, and enticements so that they live honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ this side of eternity.  A time is coming, much sooner than we think, where we will be face to face with Jesus Christ our Redeemer, Savior, and King.  The time of salvation is now, before judgment, not after.  Do not delay in finding true peace rest, and eternal salvation through faith in Him.

12.v. ” I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents”

Zephaniah 3:6  “I have destroyed nations; their strongholds are demolished. I have left their streets deserted, with no one passing through. Their cities are laid waste; they are deserted and empty. Of Jerusalem I thought, ‘Surely you will fear me and accept correction!’ Then her place of refuge would not be destroyed, nor all my punishments come upon her. But they were still eager to act corruptly in all they did. Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord, “for the day I will stand up to testify. I have decided to assemble the nations, to gather the kingdoms and to pour out my wrath on them— all my fierce anger. The whole world will be consumed by the fire of my jealous anger.

Isaiah 5:4     What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?

Jeremiah 8:6    I have paid attention and listened, but they have not spoken rightly; no man relents of his evil, saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turns to his own course,

Jeremiah 36:3    It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the disaster that I intend to do to them, so that every one may turn from his evil way, and that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.”

Luke 19:42-44    saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.  For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side  and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”

2 Peter 3:9    The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

God brought His justice to the nations around Judah, and it should have warned Judah what would happen if they rejected God. Instead of learning from the surrounding nations, they dedicated themselves to ungodliness all the more.  Being blind to things of God comes as a consequence of an intentional choice to neglect Him and His Word.  Hearts are somehow easily turned away from God.  Some blatantly, some casually, but they both defy and deny God.  One says surely there is no God and because of this I can do what I want without consequences.  The other says I am a good enough person and does not give any more thought to the consequences.  God shows His hand over nations, toppling them down and people are blind to the fact that it was at His hand they fell.  Rulers, Dictators, and Presidents have been removed from their lofty positions of wealth and power and yet people are still blind to the hand of God directing the course of nations and the paths of man.  When eyes are blinded to things of God, both the promises of blessings and judgments are lost from their vision.  When God is denied and defied eyes and ears are blind and deaf to Him, and yet there is still hope.  Perhaps their heart will soften and their eyes will open and their ears will hear of the Good News of Jesus Christ.  It happened for each of us who were once lost but now are found.  It is not as though we can claim any part of this as our effort other than to say somehow the Word of God pierced my heart and I fell on my knees and surrendered to Jesus Christ.  The scales were taken off the eyes to my heart and mind and I saw a glimpse of the Holiness of Jesus Christ and my sinfulness.  There was no personal effort in this as it was all of Jesus Christ and our believing, yielding, surrendering, repenting, turning away, and trusting.   Somehow there is given to man the free will choice to choose to surrender/yield to God or to defy and deny Him and His grace, mercy, and love.  We get to intentionally choose whom we serve, honor, glorify, follow, obey, and trust.  Sad to say but millions upon millions choose to serve self, honor self, glorify self, obey self, and trust in self.  This is an intentional choice.  Every single moment of every day we are given this choice to make – honor Jesus Christ or self,  glorify Jesus Christ or self, follow Jesus Christ or self, obey Jesus Christ or self, trust Jesus Christ or self, or rely on Jesus Christ or self.  We do well to ask God to show us each day to whom we have surrendered our lives, actions, and thoughts to, Jesus Christ or themself.

12.p. “Those who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.’ Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished.

Zephaniah 1:11  Wail, you who live in the market district; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with silver will be destroyed. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad.’ Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. Though they build houses, they will not live in them; though they plant vineyards, they will not drink the wine.” The great day of the Lord is near— near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath— a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. “I will bring such distress on all people that they will grope about like those who are blind, because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood will be poured out like dust and their entrails like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath.”

James 5:1    Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you.

Revelation 18:14   “The fruit for which your soul longed has gone from you, and all your delicacies and your splendors are lost to you, never to be found again!  The merchants of these wares, who gained wealth from her, will stand far off, in fear of her torment, weeping and mourning aloud,  “Alas, alas, for the great city that was clothed in fine linen, in purple and scarlet, adorned with gold, with jewels, and with pearls!  For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.” And all shipmasters and seafaring men, sailors and all whose trade is on the sea, stood far off  and cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, “What city was like the great city?”

Have you ever put your trust in what you have?  Trusting your job or position and the income from it.  Trusting in your health. Trusting in the economy.  Trusting in the safety of your home.  Trusting in your finances.  Trusting in your education.  Trusting in your experience.  What if we were to change the word from pridefully trusting to humbly thankful.  There is a difference isn’t there?  One, our reliance is on what we have and what we can do.  The other is faith, trust, and reliance on Jesus Christ, His plan and purpose, His best for our life, His supplying everything that we need, His steadfast love, grace, and mercy, His promises and…… The difference is all in the intentional choices we make one way or the other in our hearts, minds, and souls.  This difference will manifest itself in one of two ways.  If we are self-reliant, when things happen, trials, troubles, and chaos, we will find a deep-rooted fear, confusion, and lack of peace and rest.  We will complain rather than rejoice.  We will despair rather than have joy and hope.  We will have fear rather than peace.  We will have confusion rather than clarity.  We will believe lies rather than truth.  If we cling to, rely on, and trust in Jesus Christ the opposite will manifest in our lives.  Peace and certain steadfast hope that passes all understanding will flow through our entire being.  We will not fear tomorrow but rejoice in the Promises of our Lord and King, Jesus Christ.  We will see new blessings each day.  We will have peace at night for our hope and trust is in Him alone.  He is our refuge, strength, courage, power, fortress, and the reason we have no fear or confusion.  There is much going on today in our cities, nations, and the world.  Media outlets are vomiting up narratives of fear and danger.  People are buying into these lies because they reject the peace that only Jesus Christ can bring.  Oh that Jesus would open their eyes and ears once more to see and hear the truth.  Oh that He would soften hearts to the Gospel and would flood our cities and nation with an overpowering understanding of the need for salvation, redemption, and forgiveness.  Oh that He would use each of us to bring this Good News, live this Good News, and proclaim this Good News.  Oh that He would remove all fear, confusion, and anxiety from His children and allow them to walk in strength, courage, and power of the Holy Spirit.

12. “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told”

Habakkuk 1:5  “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told. For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that bitter and hasty nation, who march through the breadth of the earth, to seize dwellings not their own. They are dreaded and fearsome; their justice and dignity go forth from themselves. Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour. They all come for violence, all their faces forward. They gather captives like sand. At kings they scoff, and at rulers they laugh. They laugh at every fortress, for they pile up earth and take it. Then they sweep by like the wind and go on, guilty men, whose own might is their god!”

Ezekiel 12:25-28    For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it, declares the Lord GOD.”  And the word of the LORD came to me:  “Son of man, behold, they of the house of Israel say, ‘The vision that he sees is for many days from now, and he prophesies of times far off.’  Therefore say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”

Daniel 9:12    He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity. For under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what has been done against Jerusalem.

Acts 13:40-41    Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about:  “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’”

Look at these words; “For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told”, “I am raising up”, “For I am the LORD; I will speak the word that I will speak, and it will be performed.  It will no longer be delayed, but in your days, O rebellious house”, “None of my words will be delayed any longer, but the word that I speak will be performed, declares the Lord GOD.”, “He has confirmed his words, which he spoke against us and against our rulers who ruled us, by bringing upon us a great calamity”, “‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish”.   Pride has a way of blinding people from their sin and the need for Jesus Christ the Redeemer.  Their hearts are hardened and their reliance is in the might of their rulers boasting and perceived power.  They scoff at God and willingly choose to defy Him.  They deny He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present.  They trust in worldly things and what the world has to offer without giving thought to the consequences of their actions before God.  It is easy for us to call out their disrespect for God.  Are we guiltless?  Do we lean more toward what society is approving and calling out things that are alright to do but God’s Word clearly speaks against?  Do we listen to worldly wisdom over the wisdom and truth in God’s Word?  Do we pretend we are alright before God?  Do we perform acts, not out of faith but rather out of hoping it will make our lukewarm neglectful complacent lives right before God?  Oh, that our hearts and minds sought after God with all our soul and strength.  Oh that our hunger and thirst for His Word would be exponentially greater than the time and energy we spend seeking after what this world has to offer.  Oh, that our eyes would be opened to see the difference and our ears would be opened to clearly hear Him speak into our lives.  We are not guiltless unless Jesus Christ is our Savior, Redeemer, and King of our lives for every minute of every day.  Live to honor and glorify the KING OF KINGS.

11.x. “You said in your heart”

Nahum 3:18  Your shepherds are asleep, O king of Assyria; your nobles slumber. Your people are scattered on the mountains with none to gather them. There is no easing your hurt; your wound is grievous. All who hear the news about you clap their hands over you. For upon whom has not come your unceasing evil?

Isaiah 10:12-14   When the Lord has finished all his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, he will punish the speech of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and the boastful look in his eyes. For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I remove the boundaries of peoples, and plunder their treasures; like a bull I bring down those who sit on thrones. My hand has found like a nest the wealth of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken, so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing or opened the mouth or chirped.”

Revelation 18:2-3    And he called out with a mighty voice, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! She has become a dwelling place for demons, a haunt for every unclean spirit, a haunt for every unclean bird, a haunt for every unclean and detestable beast.  For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality, and the kings of the earth have committed immorality with her, and the merchants of the earth have grown rich from the power of her luxurious living.”

Isaiah 14:8-21     The cypresses rejoice at you, the cedars of Lebanon, saying, ‘Since you were laid low, no woodcutter comes up against us.  Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations.  All of them will answer and say to you: ‘You too have become as weak as we! You have become like us!’  Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, the sound of your harps; maggots are laid as a bed beneath you, and worms are your covers “How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!  You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’  But you are brought down to Sheol, to the far reaches of the pit.

The end of Satan is given a visual aid to us; a bed of maggots and covering of worms in eternal torment, Hell.  “You said in your heart” is the choice that was made to deny God, look to self, self-praise, self-worth, self-power, self-pride, and self-reliance.  When God is denied there is only self and what seems right in your own eyes.  We don’t have to look very far into social media platforms and news media outlets to see the hearts of those who speak defiance of God in their pride.  Their pride is in their own wisdom.  We can look at this and be overwhelmed by it but it should not come to us as a surprise.  Scripture tells us that in the last days there will be lawlessness, people being lovers of self, wars, calamities, droughts, earthquakes, and increasing defiance of God and hatred for His people.  What are we to do?  Hold fast, remain true, be courageous, put on the and put on the full armor of God.  Ephesians 6:10  Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;  and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,  and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

11.r. “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Nahum 1:15   Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! Keep your feasts, O Judah; fulfill your vows, for never again shall the worthless pass through you; he is utterly cut off.

Isaiah 40:9-10     Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”  Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

Acts 10:36    As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

Romans 10:15   And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

Isaiah 52:7    How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”

The good news of Jesus Christ is what brings peace to our souls.  What is in this good news that brings peace?  Jesus Christ came to save sinners from their sin, destruction, purposeless lives, fear, anxiousness, unhappiness, loneliness, hopeless lives, meaningless existence, and self-centered reliance.  Nothing in this world has to offer will bring eternal lasting peace.  Nothing, and yet we chase after these false hopes day after day after day.  We chase after peace, hope, happiness, and purpose but we avoid the very person in Jesus Christ that will bring it to our souls.  We seem to avoid what the good news is – Forgiveness of Sin.  Redemption. Salvation.  The good news is not about health, wealth, prosperity, power, strength, or inner peace when sin is not addressed in our lives.  The good news is unwarranted and underserved abounding grace and merciful forgiveness.  When we are not actively conscious of our sinful nature or what is considered sinful in the eyes of God, we will not have a heart that is truly thankful or that is truly seeking to humbly honor, praise, serve, follow, trust, and obey.  The blessings God gives to us as His children are after we experience the life-changing effects of the Good News of Jesus Christ.  Praise God, He enlightens our souls to sin and brings the news of Jesus Christ to our hearts and minds.  In this Good News, we will find what our soul longs for, peace.  Inner peace with our Heavenly Father.  If there is no speaking of sin or our sinful nature then there is no need for the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Psalms 139:23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

10.y. “But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.”

Mica 4:1   It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.

There is a time coming when all the foolishness, greed, power hunger, lies, and rejection of Jesus Christ will be no more.  Can you imagine what it will be like without murder, thievery, arrogance, disobedience, self-centeredness, and pride? People will choose to be living under the divine rule and authority of Jesus Christ. It is hard to imagine right now with all this stuff so rampant in our world today.  But a time is coming when this will be in the past and what we have been longing for and waiting for will be the reality.  When times are trying and the world is seemingly in chaos it is hard to think beyond this but this is actually what we are to keep in our hearts, minds, and souls.  This is why we have reason to live.  Our Savior is coming back.  He will cast away all those who have rejected salvation and will call His own to be with Him forevermore.  Some will say this belief is a weakness but to those of us who have awakened to sin, repentance, salvation, and forgiveness it is the power of not only life but eternal life.  We are certain as the sun rising and setting that Jesus Christ will return and set things right on earth.  Keep your eyes on the hope set before us and wait patiently looking for His return.

10.x. “But me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.”

Micah 3:8  But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us? No disaster shall come upon us.” Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

Amos 9:10    All the sinners of my people shall die by the sword, who say, ‘Disaster shall not overtake or meet us.’

Jeremiah 7:8-12    “Behold, you trust in deceptive words to no avail.  Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known,  and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—only to go on doing all these abominations?  Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD.

2 Peter 2:1-3    But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.  And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.  And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

Ezekiel 22:12    In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord GOD.

Micah did not hold back any words calling out the sin of the people.  Justice was a mockery, greed was everywhere, false things were called truth, and things that ought not to have been done were willingly condoned.  The further the people got away from God the more they believed in deceptive words, false teachings, and capitalizing on their neighbor’s misfortune.  They lost sight of God and their sinful ways.  They became so accustomed to their sinful way of life it was normal and they still thought they were in God’s will.  To convince themselves of this they proclaimed disaster will not find us or overtake us.  And such is the way of many lost prodigal souls.  They lost their love for God and His Word.  They lost being able to discern what was right and wrong.  This is still true today.  When God’s Word is not hungered and thirsted for in our daily lives we too will fall away, believe false teachings, and use worldly wisdom and acceptance to convince ourselves that we are right with God.  God’s Word is true and able to discern our thoughts and intents if we would but seek it to be active in our lives.  His Word is living water and the bread of life.  With it filling our souls we will not be led astray by worldly compromise or social norms.  Be intentional with His Word every day.  Seek it, taste, and see that it is good for your soul.

10.s. Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world both low and high, rich and poor together!

Micah 1:1  The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. Hear, you peoples, all of you; pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it, and let the Lord God be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. For behold, the Lord is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.

Deuteronomy 32:1    “Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

Psalms 49:1-2    Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world both low and high, rich and poor together!

Jeremiah 22:29     O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!

Revelation 3:6    He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’

Isaiah 1:2    Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: “Children have I reared and brought up, but they have rebelled against me.

Mark 7:14-16     And he called the people to him again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand:

Malachi 3:5   “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the LORD of hosts.

I am amazed at all of the news, fake news, drama news, political noise new, posturing news, lying news, false news, biased news, partial truth news, unfair news, news on news, opinion news, news for ratings, news for fear, etc……… How can you believe any of it?  For everything that is reported  it seems people are willing to believe it is true.  They drink the kool-aid and don’t mind being led down paths that only a few short weeks ago they would have been up in arms over it.  If they read it in the news or hear it on the TV news it must be true and at the same time they are choosing this they read scripture or hear scripture and doubt it’s application of truth for today.

Hear the words of the Lord.  It is hard to hear when you are not listening. It is hard to hear when you are listening to something else.  We listen to what we want to listen too.  We choose to listen and give our attention to it.  If the Lord is speaking to you and you choose not to listen it will be to your detriment.  Scripture tells us we should b slow to speak and quick to listen.  Scripture will speak to our hearts, minds, and souls if we would choose to listen to what the Holy Spirit is confirming deep within our soul.  “Hear, you peoples, all of you; pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it, and let the Lord God be a witness against you”

10.j. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Obadiah 1:19  Those of the Negeb shall possess Mount Esau, and those of the Shephelah shall possess the land of the Philistines; they shall possess the land of Ephraim and the land of Samaria, and Benjamin shall possess Gilead. The exiles of this host of the people of Israel shall possess the land of the Canaanites as far as Zarephath, and the exiles of Jerusalem who are in Sepharad shall possess the cities of the Negeb. Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

Judges 2:16    Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them

Judges 3:9    But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel,

Joel 2:32   And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.

Micah 5:4-9     And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.  And he shall be their peace

Isaiah 19:20    It will be a sign and a witness to the LORD of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to the LORD because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and deliver them.

Ecclesiastes 11:9   Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

How many times in the bible has God delivered people out of their troubles and trials?   You can read throughout scripture where God has either both judged and rescued or rescued His people from enemies. Yet the biggest rescue is not from outside influences.  It is from ourselves and sinful nature.  How many times do we seek God’s intervention into affairs affecting us but give no thought to our inner self?  We need rescuing from self-centered, self-reliant, self-gratifying, self-worth, and self-seeking ways.  These are sins born out in our hearts, mind, and soul.  We easily come to Jesus Christ when our lives are affected but why is it so hard to look inward with scripture eyes?  It is by far better to live persecuted, poor and despised with a pure heart that humbly serves, seeks, thirsts, trusts, relies upon, and obeys Jesus Christ.  Try thinking about inward thoughts and motives and asking yourself if these are in-line with God’s Word.  We should be humbled by what the Holy Spirit teaches us today when our thoughts go inward heart deep.