Yesterday we had an amazing Bible class at Covenant International Church. We have been studying Jeremiah and the Holy Spirit came upon us in power over one profound verse. Even though I was the teacher, I was speechless for over a minute, with tears, in the presence of our holy God, Yehovah. The class likewise experienced the weight of His glory.
We were looking at the reaction of Judah’s King Zedekiah, to Jeremiah’s prophecy of Jerusalem’s destruction and exile to Babylon. The King proclaimed liberty for all the slaves and they even came together in the temple making a covenant. All the people agreed and released their slaves. However, they soon reversed course and took their slaves back.
Therefore Yehovah released them from Himself!
Therefore thus says Yehovah: “You have not obeyed Me in proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and every one to his neighbor. Behold, I proclaim liberty to you,” says Yehovah–“to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine! And I will deliver you to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth.” Jeremiah 34:17
The magnitude of this settled on the class in such a sober, holy revelation that it took our breath away. God gave them liberty from Himself! Since they found it objectionable to follow His ways, He released them from His mercy, His protection, His provision and His peace. He set them free to experience the sword, pestilence, famine and trouble! This is not the kind of liberty we usually think of with our Heavenly Father. Do you want to be free from God? Do you choose the “liberty” to do as you please in sin and disobedience? Or, do you choose the constraints of the narrow path of His righteousness through Christ Jesus, Messiah Yeshua?
For many years I have posed a question about justice and mercy. Given that the Bible is clear that we have all sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, and that we deserve death, here is my question to you. Do you demand that God gives you justice, that is, that God gives you exactly what you deserve? Or do you cry out from your heart for grace and mercy? I see this similar question, of liberty from walking with God, as a fool’s bargain. I don’t want it, I choose to be His servant: willingly, lovingly, eternally bound to Him.
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17
This last season of history is presenting these same choices to men and nations. I grieve when it seems that our beloved USA chooses liberty from God over His honor and glory. The choice offered by God is also for Israel and for every nation. God help us. Still, as for me and my house….
And if it seems evil to you to serve Yehovah, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve Yehovah. Joshua 24:15
Let the priests, who minister to Yehovah, weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Yehovah, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, “Where is their God?” Joel 2:17
Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists
(As is my custom, I have taken the liberty to change the word “LORD” to Yehovah. Every single time you see LORD or GOD in all capital letters in the Old Testament, the actual Hebrew word is Yehovah. This name occurs 6,828 times in the Hebrew text, yet remains untranslated in most Bibles. His name, obscured for 2,500 years, is now being revealed. It is TIME to restore the name of Yehovah!) (for deeper study click here.)
Happy Passover
26 03 2013Today is the first day of Passover 2013. This picture is a great reminder of our responsibility to fully share our faith with our children and grandchildren. We commit to training them in the ways of the Lord. As the old saying goes: God doesn’t have any grandchildren. Our children need to see our faith, touch our faith, feel our faith. They will know the security of our love; and as our arms surround them, the Lord will protect them and call them to Himself.
Yet, we cannot save them, or make the choices for them. They must choose life, each one individually. Our job is to make the choices stark. Today’s young people will not learn moral clarity from their friends or TV or the Internet. They will learn it best from us.
Put your hands on the wall. Touch the wall. Stand by the firm foundations of our faith. It is that secure, peaceful faith in Yehovah God and His Son, Yeshua the Messiah Jesus that will inspire and light the way for the next generation. Be bold, with no apologies for your faith. Let them see Him, let them touch Him for themselves.
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. and you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says Yehovah. Jeremiah 29:12-14
Even though we can apply this to our personal faith walk, this promise is in the context of the restoration of Israel. Jeremiah completes his thought with the great covenant of the faithful God of Israel to bring them back. Not only from Babylon singly, but from all the nations, where He has scattered them! Hallelujah!
and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says Yehovah, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. Jeremiah 29:14
Thank you Father God for the Passover Lamb, Jesus. He came. He died. He rose again from the grave. The tomb is empty; Jesus is ALIVE!
We now know that when Jesus said: “This do in remembrance of Me”, the “this” referred to the Passover. So when we celebrate the Passover this year, or communion next time, we “do this” in the full historical and prophetic meaning of the Passover as we remember His sacrifice. Thank you, Jesus!
Les Lawrence, Voice of Christian Zionists (READ MORE)
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Tags: Biblical Zionist, Israel, Jesus, Yehovah, Yeshua ben Yehovah
Categories : Israel Commentary