Righteous perspective…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Daniel 4:25-37

that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.

 And as it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules.

 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity.”

 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar.

At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon,

 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?”

 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you,

and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;

 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?”

At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me.

 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.- from e-Sword

 

From the writings of an ancient king who once ruled the entire then known world come these words. God’s word is truth, he does not lie. We learn of who he is and what he does as we read his word. That word informs us as we live; how to conduct ourselves, our actions and our words, our thoughts. Over and over we are shown the risk we take when we allow pride in ourselves to arise, the kind of pride that lays claim what is rightfully God’s. Righteous perspective gives place to the One from whom all comes. We are able to do what we do only by His grace as it is given to us by God, our Creator. Let us be careful to put the credit where it rightfully belongs. We can do all things through Christ — two words that give hope, understanding and ability. Beware of the pride we hear spoken all around us. God is still a jealous god. Now that we have salvation, through His grace, let us live lives that demonstrate love for our God and fellowmen. Not seeking our own honor but raising Christ who draws all men to himself. Be sure judgment may come on those who persist to live in the place Nebuchadnezzar lived, and we may find ourselves at its effect, but God protected the Israelites in Goshen and He has not changed. He looks after His own.

 

praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

You will know …

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Isaiah 33:10-19

  “Now I will arise,” says the LORD, “now I will lift myself up; now I will be exalted.

  You conceive chaff; you give birth to stubble; your breath is a fire that will consume you.

And the peoples will be as if burned to lime, like thorns cut down, that are burned in the fire.”

 Hear, you who are far off, what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge my might.

 The sinners in Zion are afraid; trembling has seized the godless: “Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?”

  He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, who despises the gain of oppressions, who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,

  he will dwell on the heights; his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks; his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.

Your eyes will behold the king in his beauty; they will see a land that stretches afar.

  Your heart will muse on the terror: “Where is he who counted, where is he who weighed the tribute? Where is he who counted the towers?”

 You will see no more the insolent people, the people of an obscure speech that you cannot comprehend, stammering in a tongue that you cannot understand.

Without Christ fear rules.  Devouring fire, eternal burning strikes fear in the one called sinner.  “Who can live with it?” this passage asks.  And the answer is that one who lives right, whose speech is straight, and the list continues.  That one who walks in the way of the righteous, whose God is Jehovah God through Jesus Christ His Son.  We do not live in fear, but live right.  We can know what is right by knowing His Word.  Know God; who He is and what He does.  Know and follow, seek and obey.  Life then is good.

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

Who did this?!!!…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Isaiah 10:5-14

  Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger; the staff in their hands is my fury!

 Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.

 But he does not so intend, and his heart does not so think; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few;

 for he says: “Are not my commanders all kings?

 Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like Damascus?

 As my hand has reached to the kingdoms of the idols, whose carved images were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,

  shall I not do to Jerusalem and her idols as I have done to Samaria and her images?”

 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.”

Circumstances do not determine the condition of the heart and soul.  They do not confirm righteousness or ability.  Our heart condition, the health of our relationship with God determines that.  The king had success but deceived himself with thoughts of his own greatness and ability.  Pride goes before a fall; the greater they are the greater they fall.

We can take care of our inner self; keep it righteous in Christ, keep it tuned to the Spirit of God.  We can know who our source is and keep our thoughts and words full of His thoughts and words.

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Focus on what is RIGHT

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Isaiah 3:11-15

  Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

My people—infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them.

 O my people, your guides mislead you

 and they have swallowed up

 the course of your paths.

 The LORD has taken his place to contend;

 he stands to judge peoples.

The LORD will enter into judgment with the elders and princes of his people:

 “It is you who have devoured the vineyard,

the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

 What do you mean by crushing my people,

 by grinding the face of the poor?”

 declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

Judgment comes but not by way of us.  It is the Lord God who judges.  It is He who speaks and his Word is sure and amen.  We sound the alarm, we give the alert but we do not judge.  Each one is capable of searching their own heart and mind.  Pity those who deceive themselves.  It is enough to keep ourselves clean and righteous by following His commands and resting in what Christ has done.  It is good to have the focus on what is right to do and think rather than emphasize the evil that needs no introduction.  We lead and teach by example.  Be found doing right.  Be found faithful.  Be a light.

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

Right, righteous, righteousness…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Psalm 119 Tsadhe vs 137-144

 Righteous are you, O LORD,

and right are your rules.

  You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness

and in all faithfulness.

 My zeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

 Your promise is well tried,

and your servant loves it.

 I am small and despised,

yet I do not forget your precepts.

  Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is true.

 Trouble and anguish have found me out,

 but your commandments are my delight.

 Your testimonies are righteous forever;

give me understanding that I may live.

There is that which is right and that which is not.  We live in an age that would deceive us into a mindset that says this is not so.  That alone would identify the source!  It is not of God!

“…Righteous are you, O LORD,

and right are your rules. …”

This truth has been tried and found true over time.  Therefore it is no longer theory it is law.  It has moved from “I think…”  to “This is so…”

God’s precepts are right, true and faithful.  If we follow them we find the promise of life and abundance filled life at that.  When we don’t we open ourselves up to the consequences.  And because we do not live alone we are at the effect of those who do not.  In that place God is faithful to bring us through the consequences shaping us in the process.  We can truly say with the psalmist…

“…Trouble and anguish have found me out,

 but your commandments are my delight. …”

“…give me understanding that I may live. …”

Wherever we find ourselves is life; He is there and He is truth.

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, WordPress charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

Words of gold…

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Psalm 119 Ayin vs 121-128

I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

Give your servant a pledge of good;

let not the insolent oppress me.

My eyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and teach me your statutes.

I am your servant; give me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies!

It is time for the LORD to act,

for your law has been broken.

Therefore I love your commandments above gold,

above fine gold.

Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

I hate every false way.

Do thoughts come, unbidden, to oppress us?  The question is what to do when that happens?  Is it enough to deny the thoughts?  Wouldn’t it be good to not only turn it away but also to replace it with the words of God?

“…My eyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and teach me your statutes. …”

“…Therefore I love your commandments above gold,

above fine gold….”

Do we long to hear the voice of God?  Let us be still; let His Word sink into our consciousness.

“…I am your servant; give me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies! …”

Let it become such a part of us that it seems to have  always been there.  In that place we can begin to know who speaks in our minds and in our hearing.  We begin to know what is the perfect will of God.  We can identify the false ways because we know with His understanding the truth.

“…Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

I hate every false way. …“

Disclaimer:  if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me.  I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, WordPress charges a fee.  I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me.  Thank you, gracie

The sword is sharpened…

Having missed a few days this will be an attempt to play catch-up.  As the time allows more than one post will be published to bring the stream of posts into a current, chronological flow again.

Ezekiel 21:1-

And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, preach against the holy places, and prophesy against the land of Israel; 3 and say to the land of Israel, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, I am against you, and I will draw My sword out of its sheath and cut off both righteous and wicked from you. 4 Because I will cut off both righteous and wicked from you, therefore My sword shall go out of its sheath against all flesh from south to north, 5 that all flesh may know that I, the LORD, have drawn My sword out of its sheath; it shall not return anymore.” ’ 6 Sigh therefore, son of man, with a breaking heart, and sigh with bitterness before their eyes. 7 And it shall be when they say to you, ‘Why are you sighing?’ that you shall answer, ‘Because of the news; when it comes, every heart will melt, all hands will be feeble, every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. Behold, it is coming and shall be brought to pass,’ says the Lord GOD.”

8 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 9 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the LORD!’ Say:

​

​‘​A sword, a sword is sharpened

​​And also polished!

10 ​​Sharpened to make a dreadful slaughter,

​​Polished to flash like lightning!

​​Should we then make mirth?

​​It despises the scepter of My son,

​​As it does all wood.

11 ​​And He has given it to be polished,

​​That it may be handled;

​​This sword is sharpened, and it is polished

​​To be given into the hand of the slayer.’

​

12 ​​“Cry and wail, son of man;

​​For it will be against My people,

​​Against all the princes of Israel.

​​Terrors including the sword will be against My people;

​​Therefore strike your thigh.

​

13 ​​“Because it is a testing,

​​And what if the sword despises even the scepter?

​​The scepter shall be no more,”

​

says the Lord GOD.

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Eze&c=21&t=nkjvp>

The sword will come against all.  Jerusalem the city of God no longer acts as if she belongs to God.  And he is going to cut off everyone from the city both righteous and wicked.  We live in the land, on this planet and we share in its good and bad.  Righteous or wicked, it rains on us all. The poetry is full of sorrow.   Wail, beat your breast…  When mankind turns from its Creator it is a time of sorrow.  When life is terminated on this land where we live, it is cause for sorrow, wailing, beating our breast, groaning.  Look again at the nature of God.  He is expressing judgment but with that, sorrow; sorrow that runs deep over all creation suffering for their willful ways.

Take away:  Could it be that when the warning went out from Ezekiel, those who were righteous were given opportunity to leave a wicked place?  Like Lot were they given a chance to go to a place where God’s judgment would not be, but where they could worship him as he wished?  Just a thought and couple of questions.  We have eternal redemption.  We may be caught up in the consequences of the evil around us, but it doesn’t end there.  We have the promise that Christ, who also suffered for our sins, our willful ways, will walk with us through those times of sorrow and suffering.  That is our faith, he will never leave us nor forsake us.  He carries us, comforts us, leads us.  He knows our sorrows, they are not alien to him.  Evil must be judged and we may get caught in the judgment that falls, but we are not alone and this life is only temporary.  We do not have to stay in a place that practices evil.  Are we being warned?

A God of mercy…

Ezekiel 18:10-23

​“If he begets a son who is a robber

​​Or a shedder of blood,

​​Who does any of these things

11 ​​And does none of those duties,

​​But has eaten on the mountains

​​Or defiled his neighbor’s wife;

12 ​​If he has oppressed the poor and needy,

​​Robbed by violence,

​​Not restored the pledge,

​​Lifted his eyes to the idols,

​​Or committed abomination;

13 ​​If he has exacted usury

​​Or taken increase—

​​Shall he then live?

​​He shall not live!

​​If he has done any of these abominations,

​​He shall surely die;

​​His blood shall be upon him.

​

14 ​​“If, however, he begets a son

​​Who sees all the sins which his father has done,

​​And considers but does not do likewise;

15 ​​Who has not eaten on the mountains,

​​Nor lifted his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel,

​​Nor defiled his neighbor’s wife;

16 ​​Has not oppressed anyone,

​​Nor withheld a pledge,

​​Nor robbed by violence,

​​But has given his bread to the hungry

​​And covered the naked with clothing;

17 ​​Who has withdrawn his hand from the poor [fn1]

​​And not received usury or increase,

​​But has executed My judgments

​​And walked in My statutes—

​​He shall not die for the iniquity of his father;

​​He shall surely live!

​

18 ​​“As for his father,

​​Because he cruelly oppressed,

​​Robbed his brother by violence,

​​And did what is not good among his people,

​​Behold, he shall die for his iniquity.

19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

21 “But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live. 23 Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?

Pasted from <http://www.blueletterbible.org/tools/printerFriendly.cfm?b=Eze&c=18&v=1&t=NKJVP>

We have a God who judges with finality; but also a God of mercy when there is repentance and a turning away from the sins.  Three times he has listed those things that require a death penalty and as many times he states that the soul that sins is the one that dies.  We are each of us responsible for our own actions.  These are what we will be judged for by Almighty God.

“…‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live….”

And he states:

“… The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself….”

Mercy is granted to us when we turn from our own ways to follow his.  We receive mercy when we receive Christ’s payment for our sins.  He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.

“…“But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die….”

When we accept Christ we are accepting the new covenant that frees us of our sin past, present and future.  And his righteousness becomes our righteousness.

Romans 3:21-22,25-26 “…  But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. … For there is no difference;  whom God set forth [as] a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,  to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus….”

So we can turn from our wicked ways and find forgiveness thanks to what Jesus has done for us.  Then when judgment comes as it shall, God looks upon the blood of his son covering our sins and remembers them no more.

“…None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live….”

We have this promise:

“…1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness….”

Isn’t wonderful to hear God say:

“…Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die?” says the Lord GOD, “and not that he should turn from his ways and live?…”

He does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked but does have pleasure in the life of those who are covered with his righteousness.

What are we doing after we receive his son?   Is our choice apparent in our lifestyle?  Does our life mirror that of the son who followed after God and his ways?  Do we act in love toward one another and toward the God who created and loves us?

None righteous?

Romans 3: 9-20

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.

As it is written:

“There is none righteous, no, not one;

There is none who understands;

There is none who seeks after God.

They have all turned aside;

They have together become unprofitable;

There is none who does good, no, not one.”

“Their throat is an open tomb;

With their tongues they have practiced deceit”;

“The poison of asps is under their lips”;

 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

Destruction and misery are in their ways;

 And the way of peace they have not known.”

 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Paul uses scripture from the Old Testament to lay the groundwork for a clear picture of who we are in Christ.  First, we are defined as sinners. ““There is none righteous, no, not one;”  There is nothing we can do or have done to eliminate the sin from our lives.  “no flesh will be justified in His sight,“…  We do not contain the power to defeat sin in our lives, we do not have the ability to deny sin in our actions and thoughts.  “There is none who does good, no, not one.” ”

What to do then is it all futile?  If we realize clearly our position from the start then we can realize how immense is God’s grace.  If we realize clearly our position, then we can see the foolishness in questioning the only righteous one.  “And the way of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”  Who are we to question the actions or non-actions of God?  What we have in him is a gift he gave us.  What we have is salvation from the penalty for sin and the receipt of his power to combat the sin in our lives.  Where is our thanks?  Instead of saying why? Or why me? when we face challenges in life that may be difficult or painful; like little children let us rest in his will, his knowledge, his provision, remembering that His ways are not our ways; our ways are not his ways.  When we accept his gift of salvation we enter into a relationship with him that includes pardon from the penalty of sin and the ability to combat sin, both of which we received from him.  He does the work in us and for that we can be grateful.