The BOOK – After the Fall

From Jeremiah 39 to 52 we see in the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar invaded Judah and Jehoiakim was put into chains. Only the poor were left in Jerusalem now. Jeremiah likens them to bad, worthless figs, in contrast to those who had gone who were good figs (Jeremiah 24). The men who left were so weak and degenerate that the prophet could see nothing but doom for Jerusalem. Jeremiah incurred the displeasure of the prophets who had gone to Babylon because, in a letter to the exiles, he directly opposed their prediction of an early return from captivity (Jeremiah 29:1-14). Neither did the prophets in Jerusalem like it because they thought that soon they could throw off the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar.

Nebuchadnezzar swiftly marched against Jerusalem and the final siege began. As the siege proceeded, the hostility of Jeremiah’s enemies became more intense. They charged him with desertion and thrust him into prison. They even petitioned the King to put him to death (Jeremiah 38:4). They chose a worse thing for Jeremiah. They lowered hi chords into a miry dungeon, and left him to die of starvation and exposure. But God was with him and rose up a friend to deliver him (Jeremiah 38:6-13). 

After eighteen months of siege, Jerusalem was taken and Jeremiah was given the choice of going to Babylon where freedom and honour awaited him, but he chose to cast his lot with the remnant left in the land (Jeremiah 39:11-12; 40:1-16). At the same time Jeremiah was crying out against Babylon for the heinous crime in destroying God’s children. He told them Babylon would be demolished and would be in ruins forever (Jeremiah 51:37-43). By the time of Christ, Babylon’s power had gone, and in the first century AD, it was mostly in ruins. 

When the first deportation of Jews to Babylon occurred, Jeremiah wrote predictions which are seen throughout Jeremiah 24 to 49.

·         Concerning God’s future dealings with Judah (Jeremiah 23, 31)

·         Conquest of land by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon (Jeremiah 20:4)

·         Judah’s exile or captivity in Babylon and return after seventy years (Jeremiah 25 and 26)

·         Concerning the Messiah (Jeremiah 23:6; 30:4-11; 33:14-26)

·         Israel will be scattered among all the kingdoms of the earth (Jeremiah 24)

·         Final recovery of Israel (Jeremiah 23:1-40; 32:37-41)

Jeremiah 23 is dear to the Jews; God’s chosen people and dear to the heart of God. It tells of the future of Judah, redeemed through the work of their Messiah. Jesus, the good shepherd, is promised (Jeremiah 23:1,3). He will gather his sheep from every corner of the earth and they will return to their own country, the Promised Land. This will take place when the King shall come and sit upon the throne of David (Jeremiah 23:5).

Other prophets in the Bible had at least occasional success to cheer their hearts in the midst of difficulties, but Jeremiah seemed to be fighting a losing battle to the very end. Disaster, failure and hostility were rewards for his work. He preached to deaf ears and seemed to reap only hate in return for his love for his people. In life he seemed to accomplish little. He was broken hearted. But God has given us a record that makes him one of the greatest prophets. God delights to trust a trustworthy child with a trial. When we go through tough times, stay connected with the love of God, even though you don’t see any results. May this book remind you to be a faithful child of God even when your prayers are not answered. Amen.

The BOOK – Rebuild and Reform

Ezra opens (Ezra 1:1-6) with King of Persia, Cyrus, making a proclamation throughout his kingdom permitting the Jews who were captives in his kingdom to return to Jerusalem. At Cyrus’s first call (537BC), (Ezra 1:1-4) no more than 50,000 Jews availed themselves of the opportunity of returning to Jerusalem under Zerubbabel. Cyrus gave back to Zerubbabel the golden vessels Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the Temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1:5-11). They started back over 700 miles of barren desert from Babylon to Jerusalem. Not only money for rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem, but also travelling expenses and all other needs were provided by God at Cyrus’s direction (Ezra 1:4-6).

We can see the hindrances to the work of the Temple (Ezra 4:1-22). Hindrances to all the real work for God are to be expected. The Church or men of God may not have the help of the world. The opposition dishearted them. They needed Haggai’s message. Haggai and Zechariah, the prophets, encouraged the people from within the ranks (Ezra 4:23-5:17), and within 4 years the Temple was complete and dedicated (Ezra 6)

At least 60 years after Jews had first returned to Jerusalem, Ezra led a second expedition from Babylon to reinforce the struggling Jews in Judah. The King was so impressed with Ezra’s love of God’s word (Ezra 7:25). This shows that we must live in such a way that others would learn to have respect for God’s word.

The Old Testament history closes about 100 years after the Jews returned from their captivity. Alexander the Great (336-325BC) broke the Persian hold and world power passed from Persia to Greece. He showed consideration to the Jews. 

Ezra had devoted himself to the study and observance of the law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees and laws in Israel (Ezra 7:10). In addition to Ezra’s outstanding ministry of the word, he probably wrote portions of 1 and 2 chronicles, and Psalm 119, which is a wonderful poem about the word of God. Under Ezra we see the great revival of Bible study. 

In Nehemiah 9 we find prayer of Nehemiah. Prayer is the most important privilege of a Christian. Nehemiah’s prayer began where Ezra ended – with utter surrender to God.

The names of those who returned are given in Ezra 2. They laid the foundation of the Temple the first thing upon returning. It was a time of great rejoicing. It is interesting to notice that before they built homes for themselves they first thought of a house for the Lord. They did not build the Temple first, but the altar (Ezra 3:2). 

The place where sin must be dealt with come first in every life. The heart must be right if God is to bless. The alter was the center of the Jew’s religion and the Cross is the center of the Christian faith. 

May God help you to keep your faith first above all other things and live a life pleasing to God, Amen.

The BOOK – Division of Land

When Joshua was about 90 years old, he decided to divide the land which they had taken and to-be taken among the Israelites. They divided it in a way – This is Judah’s, this is Asher’s and so on. They said this even while most of the portions were occupied with Amorites, Jebusites and Hittites. This division of the land was the announcement of faith that under God’s guidance they will occupy the land. When you read the life of great men of God, most of the decisions taken by them were with faith and then depend on God’s providence. 

I am reading about a book on Oral Roberts, a great healing evangelist in the 50’s and 60’s. Everything he did in life was with prayer and faith. He prayed and heard the word of God and in faith took decisions. It started with his ministry and even with that faith he started the Oral Roberts University. They fast, they pray and then by the word and faith they start impossible and God will guide them to move forward. 

Although all this land was allotted to various tribes, all of it was not conquered until the time of David. Division happened according to the will of God, and so the strong did not take the best part leaving the fragments to weak, neither did the rich purchase the choicest spot, leaving the poor more undesirable sites. 

When God takes control, there is no rich or poor. I have heard preaching that poor will be the privileged people in God’s kingdom. God does consider everyone sinners with respect to his holiness. Whosoever confess their sins and accept Jesus and believes that through accepting Christ his sins are forgiven and forgotten are taken equally into God’s Kingdom, whether it is rich or poor, strong or weak. 

I pray that you understand the faith which people of Israel had at the time of division, and have that faith with prayer and a personal relationship with God and do the things which are impossible according to the world, Amen.

The BOOK – Mobilizing Army

When you start reading the book of Joshua, we see Israel right on the border of the land of promise, near the banks of the Jordan. Joshua is the leader of the Children of Israel now and we hear God saying, “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River” – Joshua 1:2. Joshua stands with bowed head and a lonely heart, for his wise counsellor and friend has gone. 

Moses had to die before the children of Israel could go into Canaan. Israel had to wait until Moses was out of the way. To the Christians, we need to understand the theology behind this scene. Moses represents the Law. Joshua represents Christ. Christ alone can lead us into the inheritance that is ours. 

“Not by works, so that no one can boast” – Ephesians 2:9

Christ wants to lead us into what he has purchased on the cross for us. Overall it takes Moses and Joshua together to present to us typically the finished work of Christ.

God called Joshua to lead the children of Israel into the Promised Land and gave him confidence. “As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you not forsake you” Joshua 1:5. Joshua sent men through the camp to tell them that in three days they would cross the Jordan, and be prepared for the journey (Joshua 1:10-11)

There are some promises God gave to Joshua which we can see in Joshua 1.

·         Joshua 1:3 – Every place that the sole of your foot I shall tread upon, that I have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.

·         Joshua 1:4 – From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea towards the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.

·         Joshua 1:2 – Arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.

·         Joshua 1:8 – This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

·         Joshua 1:11 – Prepare you victuals; for within three days, ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it. 

Joshua’s Bible was the book of Law. Our Bible is far more complete and we know more about God’s will because Christ has interpreted it for us. Some answers you will get in Joshua 1:7. Do we meditate upon the word? Do we turn from it to the right or to the left? “Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whitherso-ever thou goest”

We can see the story of Rahab, a prostitute who stood with the children of Israel and hided the two scouts who went to bring the report of the land. When Israel went to capture the capture Jericho, Rahab hung a scarlet cord out of her window so that her house might be marked and spared. This woman is being mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.

Sons of Ham, who is the Son of Noah, were the descendants of Canaan. Since they were wicked and idolatrous people, God warned them in destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. But they did not change and now God is going to destroy their power and give their land to the Israelites. 

As Christians, people won’t know the importance of relationship between Christ and his followers. They indulge in cheating, taking bribes, adultery, fornication, drinking and flirting as they think they should imitate the world. But always be careful. God called us to be his children, when Israelites were against him. Israelites thought they are his chosen ones and they can do anything, and finally God gave then punishment. Now days, this is the same attitude we see in Christians. They believe through grace Christ made them their children and so they can do anything. Be careful, because God can leave you and call the unsaved, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhist people and reveal himself to them and take them along with him to eternity.

I pray that as mentioned in Joshua 1:7, you live with the word of God and stay holy as he is holy, Amen.

The BOOK – History

It is God’s to give and it’s ours to possess! From the Book of Joshua, we are starting the books of History. This book gives us the encouragement and wisdom to know about the spiritual truth. This book relates the settlement of the children of Israel in Canaan, proving God’s faithfulness in keeping his promise with Abraham.

If you check the name of Joshua, it is Hoshea, meaning salvation or Jeshoshua, the Lords salvation. Joshua’s life tells how we should be as a warrior of God, be always prepared to take the army and move forward. The chosen people were led into the Promise Land by Joshua. We see in this book how Israel overcame all occupies in the land God promised them. 

Joshua completes what Moses began. Almighty never leave his work unfinished. We should always think, we are one among his solders and the crafts man always has another tool sharpened and ready for use. The nation that was led out by Moses was led in by Joshua. Moses was dead, but God’s voice was still speaking through Joshua. In New Testament, Apostle Paul is dead, but the cross he preached abides. People may perish, but the true leader, though invisible, is on the field and will never fail. We are all just a part in Christian service. Do your little part and do not care if it is not singled out.

When great hearts fail, faint hearts will flee. Israelites would have planned to run back to the desert. But Joshua got up and led Israel into blessing. God was with Joshua as he was with Moses. We see many mighty miracles happening when Israel was in the Promised Land. God was preparing Joshua for years in leadership. He was there along with Moses and was the one almost stoned to death because he urged Israel to advance into Canaan. (Num 14:6-10).

As you read and study this book, remember this book have two parts

·         Conquest of the Promise Land (Joshua 1-12)

·         Occupation of the Promised Land (Joshua 13-24)

I pray that you study this book and understand how God will do his work, even through the one who is being out-casted by public, Amen.