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Date: Tue, 7 May 1996 08:25:18 +-200
Reply-To: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
Sender: Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel
From: Teus Benschop
Subject: ChrExp, The Scriptures opened, 82
To: Multiple recipients of list CHR-EXP
Status: U
Contents
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1. Leviticus 26:1 - I am your God: have no idols!
2. Ezekiel 18:32 - Turn and live
3. Matthew 12:50 - Christ's family
1. Leviticus 26:1 - I am your God: have no idols!
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Weekly reading: Leviticus 25 - 27
Leviticus 26:1
Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image,
neither rear you up a standing image,
neither shall ye set up [any] image of stone in your land,
to bow down unto it:
for I am the LORD your God.
You shall not make for yourself images, to bow down unto it. Why not?
For these images are no gods; the LORD is your God. It is forbidden to
makes images of stone, or of gold, or of brass, or of silver, or of
any other material. Do not set up images to bow down for them, like
some churches do. For example, in the roman catholic church, image
worship is allowed. By doing that they reject God. Serving those idols
is the same as rejecting the living God, Who dwells in heaven. Not
those images are your gods, people, but "I am the LORD your God".
"Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto
you gods of gold." Exod 20:23. Some reject the setting up of images,
but yet they have gods of silver or of gold. Their money is their god.
When they have enough silver and gold; when they have enough money,
they think themselves safe and secure. Nothing can happen to me, they
think. And if anything happens, I have enough silver, gold, and money
to pay it, and live in security. They have not put their trust in the
God of heaven and earth, but they trust in their silver, gold and
money. But the Word says us: "Ye shall not make with me gods of
silver, neither shall you make unto you gods of gold". Why not?
Because not your money is your god - the LORD is your God. You should
not trust your money, but you should believe and trust the LORD.
Who puts his trust in gold, silver, or in his money, will become
ashamed. God will take away all; or a thief comes and robs you; or the
bank goes bust; or God takes away your life. Whatever happens, you
will become ashamed when you rely on your golden images. But who puts
his trust in God will never be ashamed.
Some indeed make no images, but yet they have another god. We read of
people "whose god is their belly", Philippians 3:19. They love nice
eating, and spend their money on desirous things, to please their
taste. Their god is their belly, and they worship it by serving it and
fulfilling all its lusts. Their belly, that is, their god, grows
greater and greater. They carry their god always before them, and
daily feed it. More and more fat grows on them. This is an undeniable
sign that they have made a god of their belly. Rejecting the God of
heaven, and forgetting them, they go on in their own ways. This
continues until God in heaven thinks it enough, and executes
judgement.
Therefore, make no gods. We have one God; the God in heaven. The LORD
is our God, and their is none besides Him. He is our King, and we will
trust Him forever and ever. He will defend us against our enemies. He
will save us and deliver us from death, hell, and satan. No idol can
do this. Nay, it is even so that every idol will bring us to death,
hell and satan. But our Lord will save us from these. He is our God.
It is difficult, when all outward means escape us, and we have nothing
of these - it is difficult to trust then in God. Actually, this is
impossible for the natural man. Trusting in God is a thing impossible
for him. Only through grace, the gift of trust will be given us. Only
the regenerate man can put his trust in God. Through faith, and much
experience, we learn that God is a Helper of the needy. Often being
helped in the past, we can remember this, and this can help us put our
trust in Him for the future. People, have no idols; "for I am the LORD
your God."
2. Ezekiel 18:32 - Turn and live
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Ezekiel 18:32
For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord
GOD: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye.
According to the words of the prophet, God has no pleasure in the
death of him that dies; wherefore let them turn themselves, and they
will live. "For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, says
the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live you".
The first question we have is: Who is the Speaker? Is the prophet the
speaker? No, thanks God, the prophet isn't the speaker here. If it
were but words of the prophet, then they would not have been sure. If
it were but words of men, who could put his trust in them? Words of
men are vain, and there is nothing sure or fixed in them. The words of
our text are not of men, but God is the Speaker. Because He is
unchangeable and faithful and powerful, we know that all what He says
is true. It will not change. He once has said that He has no pleasure
in our death, and that we should turn ourselves. That being once said,
remains fixed until eternity. "I have no pleasure in your death", says
God; "therefore turn yourselves and live".
Another question we may have is this one: Who is the listener? To whom
are these words addressed? They are addressed to the house of Israel.
We read that in the verse preceding our text. "Cast away from you all
your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new
heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" Ezek
18:31. The words are directed to the house of Israel. That house was
transgressing heavily at that time. God commands them to "cast away
all your transgressions", namely those whereby they "have
transgressed". They were sinning heavily, and by their transgressions
made themselves liable to the penalty of death. They sinned and
therefore they deserved death. "Why will ye die, O house of Israel?"
So, the listeners are the people of Israel, being great sinners. Who
are the present listeners? Every that reads this text, and is a great
sinner, is addressed here. Who are the listeners? Every sinner that
hears or reads these words. He is the listener. Reader, have you
sinned all your life long? Then you are addressed here. Cast away from
you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make
you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O reader? For I
have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, says the Lord GOD:
wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.
A third question may be: Wherein is it, that God has no pleasure? "For
I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth". God has no
pleasure in our death. He is a God of life, therefore in death he
delights not. It is not my delight, says God, that you sin and
therefore die. My pleasure is not in your sinning, nor in your death.
Maybe that Satan delights in the destruction of humans, but God does
not have pleasure in that. There are people that die because of their
sins, but our God says: "I have no pleasure" therein.
Question four: Wherein has God pleasure? He has no pleasure in the
death of him that dies. Therefore, He delights in the opposite: life.
God has pleasure in the life of him that lives. "Wherefore turn
yourselves, and live you". God is a God delighting in life. Why should
you die, reader? Therefore, turn back to God, and you will live.
A fifth question is: Wherein has man pleasure? Judging from the sins
many do, while knowing the result thereof, it seems that man has
pleasure in the death of himself. He sins on, and he heaps up wrath,
until it be poured out over him, and he dies. Man has pleasure in the
death of him that dies. "Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth
death." Jas 1:15.
The sixth question: wherein has man no pleasure? Natural man has no
pleasure in a return to God, that he may live. He delights in sin, and
daily satisfies his lusts therein. Man has no pleasure in the
knowledge of the LORD, neither do they love His ways. "Therefore they
say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy
ways." Job 21:14. They desire not to read the Word, and whenever they
hear a sound sermon, they choose rather to close their ears than to
accept good counsel.
A seventh question that arise may be: What should a man do to die? The
answer is simple: go on in your own chosen ways. Continue with the
sins you are doing. Repent not, neither turn yourselves back to your
God. Despise His ways and knowledge. Doing all these will ensure you
of eternal death.
But what should one do to live? To live, obey the voice of God. Repent
of your evil ways, and turn yourselves to God. Believe in God and His
Son, and forsake your former evil ways. Be filled with the Spirit, and
show the fruits of His presence. How can one live? The regenerated man
will live.
The LORD speaks (and let's all listen): I have no pleasure in the
death of him that dies. Wherefore turn yourselves, and live you.
3. Matthew 12:50 - Christ's family
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For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven,
the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Who is the brother of Christ? Whosoever shall do the will of His
Father which is in heaven, the same is His brother. And who is His
sister? He says, "for whosoever shall do the will of my Father which
is in heaven, the same is My sister". And who is His mother? The woman
that does the will of God in heaven, the same woman is Christ's
mother. We see that doing God's will is more important that blood
relationship. Is Christ the Son of God? Those that do the will of God
are also children of God. They are the brothers, sisters and mothers
of Christ. They do not their own will, but the will of their Father
Which is in heaven. They have learned to reject own desires and own
will, and they have learned to esteem God's will above everything
else. They do His will; and His will is expressed in the law, in the
prophets, in the psalms, and in the gospels. "Not every one that saith
unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he
that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matt 7:21.
Saying "Lord, Thou art my God" is not enough, but the doing of His
will is important.
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chr-exp@nic.surfnet.nl
"A Christian explanation of the Scriptures to Israel"
Institute Practical Bible-education
http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/ipb-e/ipbe-home.html
Written by Teus Benschop -- t.benschop@pobox.ruu.nl
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file: /pub/resources/text/ipb-e/so: s-open-082.txt
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