BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God’s place in your hearts.” 1 John 5:21 NLT

This is the final verse of 1 John. John shares with his readers, instructions and gives warnings about living life in a challenging world. His letter ends somewhat abruptly. Most translations word this final verse as, “Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” The New Living Translation speaks to the “modern” heart with relevance about the real issue, “the heart.”

If prostitution is the “world’s oldest profession” then idolatry is the world’s oldest sin. It should be no surprise the first commandment is, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20)

The history of God’s people is rampant with the issue of idolatry. The four hundred years of captivity in Egypt among all the idols in the land, had generational ramifications for God’s people. Idolatry become their “Achilles heel” that brought their downfall.

However, the record reveals the issues of worshiping God alone, and the influence of surrounding cultures predated their centuries in Egypt. As Jacob’s family prepared to return from the house of Laban we read his instructions to his family, “So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.'” (Genesis 35:2 NIV)

We see during the Exodus, that early in their journey to the promised land, as Moses was on Mount Sinai in their impatience the people turn to Aaron and ask him to make them golden caves as their gods.

As God’s people prepared to enter the promised land under the leadership of Joshua, they declared that they would serve the Lord. Joshua commanded them, “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel.” (Joshua 24:23 NIV)

Samuel who was the priest-judge of Israel, before Saul was chosen as the first king of Israel told an imperiled people threatened by the might of the Philistines, “…If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.” (1 Samuel 7:3 NIV)

The next significant point in their history was when King Solomon in his old age accommodated his foreign wives by building shrines to their gods. This began hundreds of years of idolatry and at its best split loyalty between Jehovah and the idols of the nations around Israel. Finally the Lord sent His people into captivity in foreign lands in an attempt to rid their hearts and lives of idolatry.

Even when the idols in their forms where absent, there remained a deeper issue. The Lord spoke to the prophet Ezekiel, “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces….” (Ezekiel 14:3 NIV)

So, as John writes to first century believers and warns them about loving the world, it seems fitting for him to warn them about the devotion of their hearts. What is needed is a “new” heart, a transformed life….a heart “transplant.”

The Lord’s promise through the prophet was, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you…” (Ezekiel 36:26 NIV) Jesus said the greatest commandment was, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind…” (Luke 10:27 NIV) Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart.” (Ephesians 6:6 NIV)

An old chorus contains the words, “change my heart O God, make it ever true…” That is our sincere prayer to God, our responsibility before God is to heed John’s words, “keep away…from anything that might take God’s place in your heart.” As Solomon learned perhaps too late, but wanted to pass one to other, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV)

Christ can change our heart, we have the responsibility to guard our heart.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Isaiah 11:1 NIV

“In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, [the] king of Babylon…released Jehoiachin …from prison…the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death.” Jeremiah 52:31-34 NIV

When I returned to my mother’s house where she had lived for 60 years to see the renovations that the buyer of her house had made, I couldn’t help but notice the gangly looking “bush” growing between the curb and the sidewalk. Years ago it was a nice shaped healthy tree. But the city cut it down during some sidewalk work. But it refused to die. I remember trying to trim it or cut it down to the ground, but it continued to somehow shoot back to life, even though it was a sad appearance of its former state.

That tree is like the city of Jerusalem and the tribe of Judah. Jerusalem was the capital of God’s chosen people. Although they lived in outright rebellion against the Lord for many years they had endured. As a result of times of revival and returning to the Lord they even prospered.

But God’s judgment finally came and the grandeur of the great city would be cut down by the Babylonian sword and God’s people would be in exile for 70 years. However, the Lord promised to one day return His people to their homeland.

However, the city of Jerusalem would never be what it once was. The prophecy of Isaiah of a “shoot from the root of Jesse…” was not about the restoration of a nation as much as it was about a coming King who would be of the lineage of Jesse and would sit on David’s throne. It was a prediction of a coming Messiah that was fulfilled in Christ.

But for that prophecy to be fulfilled there needed to be an historic link back to the royal line of King David. That is where Jehoiachin comes in. Jehoiachin ruled only thee months and is described as “[dong] evil in they eyes of the Lord.” When Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem he surrendered, saving his life, and was taken captive to Babylon all in fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah.

But for some unknown reason this insignificant king with a direct tie to the throne of David is released from prison by a new king of Babylon and given a place of honor and provided provisions until the “day he died.” Both 2 Kings and Jeremiah end with the released from prison and restoration to “kingly” status of Jehoiachin.

The historic and all important genealogical tie to Jesus the Messiah is found in Joseph’s family line recorded in Matthew 1. “Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon). After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel…” (Matthew 1:11,12 NLT)

It is fitting for Jehoiachin to be the “son of David” that is mentioned in connection with Jesus. Jehoiachin hardly had a reign, there is nothing of historical significance other than being the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy of judgment on his father, Jehoiachim. But Jehoiachin, this insignificant King, is shown “grace” (unmerited favor) by the King of Babylon.

How fitting for the One who would “slip into the world” as a baby born in a manger, who John would describe as coming, “full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) God always makes a way for His purposes to be fulfilled, even when there seems to be no way for it to happen.

God is able to accomplish His purposes for the world and in our lives, even when it doesn’t seem possible or make sense as to how it will take place.

I remember a song from a musical by Don Moen that said,

God will make a way
Where there seems to be no way
He works in ways we cannot see
He will make a way for me;

It is interesting to find references to science-based discoveries in the pages of the Bible. For example consider three in their historical context and the Bible references.

Water Cycle 

The first published thinker to assert that rainfall alone was sufficient for the maintenance of rivers was Bernard Palissy (1580 CE), who is often credited as the “discoverer” of the modern theory of the water cycle.

However, the “water cycle” and the impact of rain and ocean levels is seen in multiple places in scripture.

The prophet Amos declared, “He…who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land
 the Lord is his name.” (Amos 5:8 NIV)

“All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.” (Eccl. 1:7 NIV)

“He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams.” (Job 36:27 NIV)

Flat Earth or Round Earth?

While many believed the earth was flat,  Eratosthenes, a Greek astronomer from Hellenistic Libya (276–194 BC), estimated Earth’s circumference around 240 BC. He had heard that in Syene the Sun was directly overhead at the summer solstice whereas in Alexandria it still cast a shadow.

We read in scripture of the observations of Solomon the wise:

“The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.” (Eccl. 1:6 NIV)

“He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy…” (Isaiah 40:22 NIV)

Gyroscope…Key to navigation

Historically, The first instrument used more like an actual gyroscope was made by Johann Bohnenberger of Germany, who first wrote about it in 1817. At first he called it the “Machine”. Bohnenberger’s machine was based on a rotating massive sphere.

As the prophet Ezekiel received a vision of the four angelic creatures, we read this description. “Each appeared to be made like a wheel intersecting a wheel. As they moved, they would go in any one of the four directions the creatures faced; the wheels did not change direction as the creatures went.” (Ezekiel 1:6,7 NIV)

While the Bible is not a book of scientific discovery, we see the God who is all powerful, creator, the “only wise God.” Knowing God is the greatest discovery. The prophet speaks of a future day, “They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” (Isaiah 11:9 NIV)

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “That night the king had trouble sleeping, so he ordered an attendant to bring the book of the history of his reign so it could be read to him.” Esther 6:1 NLT

There are a lot of reasons for not being able to sleep and many ways to address the issue. One of those may be reading. But when you are king, you don’t read when you can’t sleep, you have someone read to you. The readily available material was the record of the king’s reign.

I’m not sure reflecting on the events of you life is something that should put you to sleep, but perhaps you will discover something like King Xerxes did.

  “In those records he discovered an account of how Mordecai had exposed the plot of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the eunuchs who guarded the door to the king’s private quarters. They had plotted to assassinate King Xerxes.  “What reward or recognition did we ever give Mordecai for this?” the king asked. His attendants replied, “Nothing has been done for him.” (Esther 6:2,3 NLT)

The king found out that someone (Mordecai) had saved his life, but nothing had been done to thank him or recognize his loyalty.

It is good to take time, whether it is during a sleepless night or night to reflect on the events of our life. Perhaps like King Xerxes you will recall someone that you need to contact to thank or express gratitude for. They may not have “saved your life” but have been a significant source of encouragement, support, influence or friendship.

Paul wrote to the Philippians and said, “I thank my God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3 NIV)

When we stop and reflect on the Lord’s majesty and faithfulness we just might find ourselves like the psalmist who declared, “When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:3,4 NIV)

When we reflect on the Lord’s faithfulness to us over our life we can relate to the words of Psalm 37:5 (NLT) “Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned or their children begging for bread.”

When we are restless we can reflect on the Lord’s greatness, His love and faithfulness confident that the Lord “…grants sleep to those he loves.”‘ (Psalm 127:2 NIV)