NO EXCUSE

“And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place" (2 Chron. 36:15 NKJV).

Israel went into captivity because of their own rebellion against God. Whenever we are judged for rebellion, we cannot blame God; we can only blame ourselves. Our verse show that God sent help to Israel but they ignored His help. Our verse tells who was sent, when they were sent, and why they were sent.

Who was sent – “Sent warnings to them by His messengers.” The Lord had sent prophets to warn Israel of their evil and to exhort them to repent. He always send His prophets to teach people the right way and to warn against the wrong way. But in times of rebellion, prophets and preachers are not the most popular. Instead of listening to and heeding God’s warning, the rebels would mock the messengers and even do them harm.

When they were sent – “Rising up early.” Disobedient Israel was given ample warning by the Lord. God always gives men sufficient time to repent. No one will ever be able to accuse God of not giving him opportunity to repent of his sins. Long before Israel went into captivity, God, through His messengers, warned them of their evil ways and exhorted them to repent. In a similar manner, our society has been adequately warned by God. And like Israel, our society ignores the warnings.

Why they were sent – “Because He had compassion.” It was the compassion of God that moved Him to send messengers to warn the Israelites to repent. It is always God’s compassion that moves Him to bring deliverance and salvation to mankind. “For God so loved the world” (John 3:16) is why we have the Gospel. We should not despise God’s compassionate actions or we will experience judgment.

(Adapted from Butler Daily Bible Reading)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“When a man is ready to confess his sins, God is always ready to cover them with His blood!”

Anonymous

Word Study

Distress

In Rom. 2:9 we read, “There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek” (NASB).

Distress is the Greek word stenochōria (στενοχωρία = sten-okh-o-ree'-ah). It is made up of two words: “stenos” which means narrow, and “chora” which means place. Thus the word means narrowness of space, affliction, distress, anguish. Literally, it means a lack of space, absence of room, a limited time. Stenochōria pictures finding oneself in a “tight corner,” hemmed in with no way out, in a narrow strait without the possibility of escape.

Metaphorically, stenochōria refers to great anxiety and distress of mind, such as arises when a person does not know where to turn or what to do for relief. It conveys the idea of anguish (extreme pain), dire calamity, extreme affliction or distress. In the Septuagint, stenochōria carries the idea of distress. In the New Testament, Paul uses stenochōria to express a sense of distress.

Stenochōria was used of an army caught in a narrow place with no space either to maneuver or to escape. It was also used of a ship caught in a storm with no room either to ride it or to run before it. It speaks of a situation in which the ‘walls of life’ seem to be closing in on an individual.

Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus

Old Testament Prophecy – The Messiah would enter Jerusalem as a king riding on an ass (Zech. 9:9)

New Testament Fulfillment – Matt. 21:5.

Bible Facts

Light travels in a path (Job 38:19). Light is said to have a “way” (derek, literally a traveled path or road). Until the 17th Century it was believed that light was transmitted instantaneously. We now know that light is a form of energy that travels at 186,000 miles per second in a straight line. Indeed, there is a “way” of light.

Bible Quiz

Who asked to be blotted out of God’s book if the LORD refused to forgive the sins of Israel?

**Answer to last week’s trivia: According to Proverbs 15, what “are in every place, beholding the evil and the good?” The eyes of the Lord (Prov. 15:3 NKJV).

That’s in the Bible

"Drew a bow at random”

“Now a certain man drew a bow at random, and struck the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am wounded” (2 Chron. 18:33 NKJV).

“Drew a bow at random” - The expression “drew a bow at random” mean to take a chance at something. How could King Jehoshaphat not discern what Ahab was doing to him? Ahab had put a target on Jehoshaphat’s back. If Jehoshaphat had died, then his son would have taken the throne, and Ahab’s daughter would have been the Jezebel of Judah! The blending of the two thrones would have corrupted the Davidic line. But God is sovereign in all things and protected Jehoshaphat, while at the same time allowing a random arrow to hit an opening in Ahab’s armor and kill him. Ahab was disguised and yet was killed, while Jehoshaphat was in his royal robes and was never touched. The Lord always protects His own.

Did You Know - Christian History

Johann Gerhard Oncken was born January 26, 1800 in Varel, Germany. He was a pioneer German Baptist preacher, variously referred to as the “Father of Continental Baptists,” the “Father of German Baptists” and the “Apostle of European Baptists.”

J. G. Oncken was truly an international man - converted in England, baptized by an American in Germany, he traveled across Europe preaching the gospel and giving out Bibles. He conducted ‘preaching tours’ in the Balkans, France, Hungary, Prussia, Russia, and Switzerland, as well as visited Britain and the United States. He was born a Lutheran, was converted at a Methodist meeting, adopted Baptist views and possessed a relationship with the Mennonites.

During his ministry, Oncken established over 280 Baptist churches and 1222 preaching stations. He founded over 170 churches in Scandinavia and the Slavic states. He also formed 771 Sunday Schools in Germany. His ministry even extended indirectly to places such as Australia. Oncken’s motto was “every Baptist a missionary.”

Oncken’s theology can be described as conservative, Calvinistic, and evangelistic. He favored ministerial education, but not at the expense of spiritual preparation. He held spiritual gifts as a priority over academic preparation. His zealous methods of preaching and evangelism laid the foundation and set the example for many years to come.

By 1878, Oncken was growing physically weaker daily. Late in 1879, Oncken suffered a stroke and died peacefully on 2 January 1884.

A Little Humor

A lonesome parishioner demanded a home visit from her pastor. So, as promised, the pastor showed up and sat by the woman’s bed listening to her litany of woe (list of complaints). Finally he asked to read some passages from her Bible. In a much too sweet voice, she called to her little daughter in the next room, “darling, please bring mommy that dear old book that I read every night.” Promptly the little girl brought in a copy of a popular TV-movie magazine.

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Fear God and you’ll have nothing else to fear!”