GOOD GOVERNMENT

“Thus says the Lord GOD: Enough, O princes of Israel! Remove violence and plundering, execute justice and righteousness, and stop dispossessing My people, says the Lord GOD” (Ezek. 45:9 NKJV).

While directed to the future rulers of Israel, our verse lay down some important principles for good government. They speak of crime, courts, and claims.

Crime – “Remove violence and plundering.” Government has a responsibility to protect its citizens from crime and violence. When crime increases, the government must increase its fight against crime. However, many government officials are engaged in crime themselves. In our verse, the problem of “violence and plundering” refers primarily to government practices. Poor government increases crime: it does not stop it.

Courts - Execute justice and righteousness.” The courts of the land are to be fair and just. This is something our courts are simply not doing in our day. Folks with selfish intentions have gotten control of the courts and are propagating their evil agenda through corrupt judges. Many of the problems that exists in our society are due to corrupt courts. Poor government leads to corrupt courts. Good government means good courts.

Claims – “Stop dispossessing My people.” This speaks directly to the problem of governments taking property from people. Ahab took Naboth’s vineyard through crafty means. We see the same situation happening in our society today as government officials condemn properties which will be torn down, but eventually sold to special interest groups. This corrupt practice of dispossessing folks of their property for political and financial gain has been a habit of corrupt governments for ages; God condemned it.

(Adapted from Analytical Biblical Expositor)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching!”

Clive Staple (C.S.) Lewis (1898 – 1963)

British Author, Lay Theologian, and Christian Apologist

Word Study

Eminent

In 2 Cor. 11:5, “For I consider that I am not at all inferior to the most eminent apostles!” (NKJV).

Eminent is the Greek word hysteréō (ὑστερέω =hoos-ter-eh'-o). It has the basic meaning of being last or inferior. It means to be left behind in the race and so fail to reach the goal, to fall short of the end, to lack. It means to come late or too tardily. In classic Greek hysteréō denotes one who came too late. In the Septuagint, hysteréō carries the idea of lacking, wanting, or failing. In the New Testament, hysteréō also carries the idea of lacking, wanting, failing, or inferior. In the present context, the apostle Paul is defending his apostleship as being in no way “inferior to the most eminent apostles.”

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“And the LORD said unto me, fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon” (Deut. 3:2 KJV).

Did You Know…

Esther’s Jewish name was Hadassah which means "myrtle" (Esther 2:7).

Bible Quiz

How did Solomon determine between two women who was the true mother of a child that was brought to him?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: To what does Peter compare the devil in 1 Peter? A roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8).

Names For God Found in the Bible

“LORD OF HOSTS”

"Now therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts: consider your ways?” (Hag. 1:5 NKJV).

1. Meaning – LORD OF HOSTS refers to God as a mighty warrior in charge of heaven’s armies. It speaks of might and authority.

2. Insights – In context, the people were enjoying their own houses, but they left off the building of the temple. Thus, they were to “consider” or give careful thought to their lifestyle and actions. Four other times in the two chapters (vv. 7; 2:15, 18) the people are told to “consider” their ways. They were rebuked for their selfish indifference and negligence. They needed to reappraise their perverted priorities and give preeminence to God and their relationships with Him. We are also guilty of taking care of ourselves while neglecting the work of the Lord. Hence the need to do some pondering of our situation in regard to our priorities.

Did You Know...Christian History

Jesse Overholtzer was born July 20, 1877, in Banta, San Joaquin County, California. He was the founder of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF), an international interdenominational Christian nonprofit organization.

Jesse Overholtzer was born and raised in a Christian family but struggled regarding his own faith. He sensed that things were not right in himself. He knew he had done things that were wrong, and he felt guilty. His mom and dad were both Christians. He went and asked his mother, but she replied, “Son, you are too young.” And so, Jesse grew up and went off to college without the peace that is found in Christ. It wasn’t until Overholtzer was in college that he heard the Gospel and trusted Christ as his Savior.

However, this happy experience was short-lived. Doubts about his salvation plagued Overholtzer for years. The initial joy of salvation diminished as his gaze drifted off the cross of Jesus Christ and onto his own obedience and good works. To his frustration, he saw his pastoral ministry and Christian witness begin to suffer, so he worked even harder to obey God and flee temptation. Overholtzer knew that something vital was missing, but what it was he could not tell.

A biography of Moody, the testimony of a mentally deficient man and the life of a thirteen-year-old girl helped Overholtzer see that salvation is God’s free gift. This encounter with the life of Moody, together with the faithful witness of others, began to soften Overholtzer’s heart. An insatiable desire to seek the truth and find what was missing in his own life and ministry drove him to God’s Word. When Overholtzer’s family was quarantined for scarlet fever, this gave him plenty of time for vigorous Bible study. It was during this period of seeking truth that the Holy Spirit opened his eyes to the sufficiency of grace. He saw that it was Christ’s righteousness, not his own, that made him right before God. With such a discovery, Overholtzer wondered how he could face his church and tell them that he had been teaching them error all the years. He made the decision to tell his congregation the truth. This led to a hearing before other pastors. He was allowed to keep his pastorate but eventually resigned.

When Overholtzer was sixty, he read a sermon by Charles Spurgeon which said, “A child of five, if properly instructed can as truly believe and be regenerated as an adult.” Remembering how he had been put on hold as a child, he wanted something better for other children and that helped motivate him to found Child Evangelism Fellowship.

Overholtzer was not a great speaker and his voice faltered in the pulpit. In spite of this, he stirred thousands to join him in winning children to Christ. By his death on October 6, 1955, Child Evangelism Fellowship was at work in sixty countries. The ministry has grown into the largest evangelistic outreach to children in the world. Today CEF is ministering in countries around the world and in every state in the U.S.

A Little Humor

A woman leaving the worship service said to the minister, “I enjoyed the sermon.” “Don’t thank me,” said the minister! “Thank the Lord.” “It wasn’t that good,” the lady replied

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Make God your director – He knows how the story ends!”