The Monarchy

Gen. 12:1-7 - beginning of the Jewish race, Hebrew history.
Followed the Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob) ---> Egypt ---> Exodus ---> 40 yrs. wanderings ---> conquest ---> judges.  This period from Abraham to Judges = about 1000 years.

Now - a new era - The Kings/The Monarchy - 1 Sam. 8:1-22 - Vs. 7 very important - people rejected God as their king.
Begins with Samuel - last judge and 1st. prophet of this era.

Did God have objection to the monarchy? or objection to peoples' hearts?  Gen. 17:5-6   Deut. 17:14-20
Lord had no objection to kingship, but to the people's hearts rejecting Him.

Result of the monarchy???
Saul??  - good start - poor ending  (42 years) - reign was so-so.
David?? - established Jerusalem, expanded the Kingdom!!  (40 years).  Mostly his kingship was pretty good.  He brought the kingdom up in a great way.   Personal life not so much
Solomon?  temple builder, Kingdom builder!!! (40 years)
Israel comes to pinnacle under Solomon.  But, it was built on the backs of his people.

BUT..... 1 Kings 11:1-13 - then during Solomon's latter days, the kingdom starts unraveling.

So.... Jeroboam (in charge of conscripted labor.  Became king of northern tribes) ---> Ahijah ---> death of Solomon ---> Israel divided

Next???  1 Kings 12:26-30

A:  So... Israel (10 tribes) = 20 kings/200 years ---> 722 BC - totally destroyed by Assyria

B.  Judah = 20 kings/350 years ---> 586 BC - totally destroyed by Babylon

Summary:  after Solomon ... there were 40 kings over 350 years, of which 11 followed after the Lord, of which 7 forgot Him at the end of their reign!!  There were only 4 Godly kings over 2 nations in 350 years.

This covers a very long period (1500 years from Abraham's promise to the end of Kings) and has many lessons.

#1.  Man is a terrible substitute for God - Mankind will always be a terrible substitute for God.
1 Sam. 8:19 "...we want a king over us." - any man, group of men, establishment, government, etc.

On one hand governments,authorities are ordained of God   (Rom. 13)
But, Any government is a poor substitute for God

God's intent for the monarchy? = a Theocracy where He rules through man (the king/leader)
(That's why when a king was crowned there was both a coronation and an anointing.)

So.... God's intent for any leader = Servant... OF God ... for  the people.  It didn't work out that way because man is so prone to sin.

#2.  The Monarchy is not over.  On one hand it ended with the exile (Gen 49:10) --> Rev. 5:5 ---> Rev. 19:11-16 - but on the other hand, it is still to come - yet to unfold.

#3.  (meanwhile) You choose your King.
You may not choose your earthly king, president, governor, county commissioner, etc.
But, do get to choose your Sovereign, your Lord!!  Regardless of earthly authorities.  When He returns, there'll be no more choice.  He WILL establish His kingdom on earth.

Too often we take the throne back, not consciously and intentionally all the time, and we make lousy kings!!!

Lessons from the Judges

Last week - we discussed the Conquest by the 2nd. Generation

This week = Israel settled in the land - after the life of Joshua
(Note:  the land is secured BUT the conquest incomplete) - many pockets of enemies left that they are to run out and defeat.

We begin with The Covenant Renewal
(as Moses did before the conquest, now Joshua did after the conquest)
Josh. 24:1, 14-31 - notice:  Sheckem - same spot where God promised all this land to Abraham 700 years prior.

Then........ The Judges - (350 years between the conquest and the monarchy) - this was a dark time in the life of Israel.

THE CYCLE

Apostasy --> Judgment --> Repentance --> Deliverance
 (turned to other gods in land)                                   (God raised up a leader, savior, judge)

(in the text)
Step 1.  "Israel did evil in the eyes of the LORD" - repeated at least 7 times in the book of Judges

Step 2.  "God handed them over...." - gave, delivered, sold into hands of, etc.
Examples:  ruled by Aram (8 yrs), Moab (18 yrs), Canaanites (20 yrs), Philistines (40 yrs.)

Step 3.  Israel cried out to the LORD (turned away from foreign gods)
Question:  True repentance????

Step 4.  God raised up a deliverer (judge)
Othneil, Ehud, Deborah & Barak, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson - some of the judges

Step 5.  "the land had peace".... "till the judge died!!!!  (40 - 80 years)

Step 6.  "Israel did evil in the eyes of the LORD"

Summary:  Judges 2:6-19

So..... they have a time characterized by rebellion, lawlessness, moral decline, decadence and seared consciences leading to bizarre behavior.
Examples:  Abimalech slaying his 70 half brothers so not to have to share, Samson and Delilah, the Danites and the priest, the Levite and his concubine, the slaughter of the men of Benjamin and then allowing the remnant to kidnap their daughters to keep the tribe going.

What's going on here????  NOTE:  The book of Judges is never a commendation of the behavior of the Israelites.  Judges 21:25

I.  This is man being self-righteous - everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
Compare:  Judges 14:1-3 - literal Hebrew = "right in my eyes" - don't need God or priest or church to tell me what I need.

Contrast:  Judges 2:11 (a) - ".... in the eyes of the LORD" - going from "in the eyes of the LORD" to "right in my eyes" - doesn't happen over night but over time.

II  This is a cycle becoming a spiral
Remember:  Rom. 1 - God gave them over to.... sinful desires --> shameful lusts --> a depraved mind....
Man exercises self-righteousness, not God righteousness.
For this to be true of a nation, it must be true of the individual people within the nation!!  A nation cannot be given over unless its people are given over.
We don't dwell well in a vacuum morally.  Won't stay in the same cycle, but will begin to spiral downward.

III.  This is God being faithful
Faithful to deliver
Faithful to chastise & curse - God has promised BOTH in His Covenant.
Ex.  Deut. 27:11-14 - blessings vs. cursings
       Deut. 30:15, 19-20

Application???
1.  You have a tendency to self-righteousness - everybody does.  It is a universal human trait.
What matters is what's right in the eyes of God - no matter what you think.

2.  You have a tendency to spiral.

3.  You have a God who longs to deliver you from both - a God who is faithful - He wants to free us out of the spiral.  We have a perpetual battle with sin - even in the very best of times.  But, God stands as our deliverer.

Lessons from the Children

Setting:  Exodus - Sinai - Kadesh Barnea - wandering - Gilgal - conquest
(The whole book of Deuteronomy is reiterating what happened in the wilderness, what God promised, what happened at Kadesh Barnea, etc.)

Question:  Why did Generation 2 succeed while Generation 1 failed?
Answer:  (obvious) - Gen. 2 believed God - followed, trusted, had faith

But,  Question 2:  Why???  did Gen 2 trust?  (and Gen 1 did not?)
Answer:  not easy, there's no explicit scripture telling why.

So...... observations (assumptions) - On one hand, it's not good exegesis.  But, 1 Cor. 10:11

The differences in Gen 1 & Gen 2

#1.  Gen 2 grew up trusting God on a daily basis.  ie:  40 years following Him and experiencing His provision.  Deut. 8:4

(Parents Note:)  It's easier to trust  God if you grow up among people who trust God!
Notes:  A)  Belief in God is not trust in God.  Example:  (Gen 1 believed in YHWH)  There's a huge difference in believing in Him and trusting  Him.
            B)  The miracles didn't make a difference/ day to day reliance did.

#2.  Gen 2 viewed hardship as training (preparation, discipline)
Note:  Gen 2 accepts the words of Moses - Deut. 8:2-5, 15-16 - contrast this with the constant bickering, complaining, bellyaching of the 1st. Generation

Both Gens experienced hardship, But - as a reason to step up or step back?
Gen 1 - Num. 11:1 (a), Num. 11:4-6, 14:1-4, 21:4-5 - continual, constant complaining and whining

Hardship is part of life, therefore it's part of the Christian life.
The scripture is clear:
God expects us to endure hardship - Jer. 12:1-5 - note:  He never answers Jeremiah as to why, just tells him to "buck up and do it".  But, God never ignored him.
and -
God expects us to employ hardship - Rom. 5:3-4 - God uses the hardship

#3.  Gen 2 Assumed Responsibility for the Conquest
Contrast:  Gen 1 - Num. 16:12 - 14 (a) - you get it done for us.  Not our responsibility.  This is entitlement attitude on steroids.  
               Gen 2 - Josh. 1:16-18 - Joshua didn't take the land.  The armies that followed him did.
(note:  slave mentality??)  - Num. 11:5  - "at no cost"

Application:  You  are responsible for your spiritual journey, your spiritual condition!!
Gen. 1 never got past the slave attitude.

#4.  Gen 2 was not swayed by a few loud voices.
Contrast:  Gen 1: - Num. 13:32, 11:4, 16:41 - "bad report", "the rabble among", "you've killed God's people"

Question:  Did Gen 2 have naysayers?  againers?
BUT........ it's not recorded, don't surface, ignored!
Gen 2 knew where they should go, what should do and weren't swayed by every new upstart movement - Eph. 4:14

NOW:  to New Testament for final commentary and application concerning Gen 1 - Heb. 3:5-15
So......... whatever reasons Gen 1 failed .... the responsibility for their failure rests squarely  on them.

Application:

A.  WE CHOOSE!!
B.  YOU CHOOSE!!  

Responding to a Faith Crisis

When the Israelites left Egypt in the Exodus, was about a year's journey to Kadesh Barnea - the edge of the Promised Land
Num. 13:1-3, 17-21 - 12 explorers - checked out the land for 40 days.
Num. 13:25 - 14:25  -  report:  2 in favor of going in and taking the land (Joshua and Caleb), 10 against.
Num.14:39-45 - "the Lord is with you now"

Question:  Is there something here for us?
Answer:  1 Cor. 10:11-13 (a) - "common to man" - be careful you don't fall.  We can look at these people because God hasn't changed and mankind hasn't changed either.

So.... Responding to a Faith Crisis
A serious point of decision (call) - life is full of these faith crises.
You have three choices:  Move forward?
                                      move backward?
                                      wander about?

(Similarities and differences)

Differences - (for them)

1.  Kadesh Barnea was life defining (they had to decide whether to go forward, go back, or wander in the wilderness) - Your decision may not be life defining.  BUT IT WILL BE LIFE AFFECTING

2.  K B was irrevocable - that was IT!   That generation could not repent of their decision.
You may have many chances.  However, you never know!!  ( you have no guarantee you will have a second or third chance)
NOTE:  God did not abandon them!!!   He cared for them 40 years in the wilderness.

3.  K B was a group decision.  Yours - personal/individual
NOTE:  It's easier to make a right faith decision if you hang with the faith crowd.  We are affected by peer pressure.

Similarities

1.  This is not a crisis of confusion.
ie:  they knew God's will - may be a difficult decision, but it is NOT complex!  No question of what should do.


2.  This is not a sudden decision  - just have to decide whether or not to do it.
They had been  (A) - adequately prepared - had plenty of time and plenty of miracles confirming that God was with them, leading them, etc.
                       (B) - Divinely led.

3.  This is more than a test of faith.
It is a step in progress (growth) - life building, successive.

4.  Fear is natural (Moses, Elijah, Jeremiah, Paul)
But is also easily exaggerated  - sometimes it's selfishness, but that's many times a part of fear.
Faith is not that you don't fear, but in spite of that fear do what supposed to do.
A big portion of things we fear and worry about never come to pass.

5.  A proper response is no guarantee of ease.  2 Tim. 3:12
Example:  2nd generation Israel and the conquest of the Promised Land - lots of pain and suffering entailed in the taking.

6.  Your decision will affect others. - Num. 14:31-33
This is often repeated because (A) it's important - bears repeating
and (B) it's easily forgotten - overlooked and ignored.
Scripture says it over and over again.  Much of what God calls us to is not about us!!!  God is not concerned primarily with our happiness.

1 Cor. 10:11-13
In this case, the way out was to move forward!!
(God has given the land, you must go take it)

Life Lessons from the Tabernacle

Moses --> the Exodus (great exit out of Egypt) ---> Sinai ---> Moses receiving the 10 words (commandments)/all the Law and the instructions for the Tabernacle  Ex. 25:1-9 - Vs. 8 - the dwelling place of God.
The Tabernacle:
1.  Courtyard - roughly 75' x 100 ' made up of the gate (only one gate), linen hangings, wood, bronze

2.  Tent (45 x 15 x 15)
Made up of the frame - acacia wood overlaid with gold
                        base -  made of pure silver - 100 blocks each containing 1 talent of silver (75 - 95 lbs)
                        covering -  (A)  linen embroidered with blue, purple, scarlet.... (cherubim)
                                       -  (B) goat's hair
                                       -  (C) Ram skins (dyed red)
                                       -  (D)  Badger? sea cow (manatee)?  seal?  porpoise? skins - not sure exactly what is referred to here.

3.  Furnishings
         Altar - wood overlaid with brass (bronze) - 7' square by 4' deep
         Laver (basin) - made of brass/bronze  (size unknown)
         Left side - Lamp stand - 7 branches made from 1 talent of hammered gold
         Right side - table - wood overlaid with gold  (3' x 1 1/2' x 27" high)
         Incense altar - wood overlaid with gold - 18" square x 36" high
         Veil dividing the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies
         Ark of the Covenant - 2' x 4' x 2' high - wood overlaid with gold  (contents = tablets inscribed with the 10 commandments, Aaron's rod that budded, a jar of manna)
         Mercy seat/atonement cover - made of pure gold with two cherubim on it - Ex. 25:22

The tabernacle was completed/inspected by Moses and God came to dwell on the mercy seat -
Ex. 40:34-38

Ex. 25:9 - "exactly like the pattern" - Why????  The tabernacle was much more that just a tent.
Heb. 8:1-2,5 9:23-24 - copy and shadow of what is in heaven.  Shadows don't tell the whole story but they tell something.

So.......how far does the symbolism go?
Answer:  Don't know ... but...The most important lessons are also the most obvious.

#1.  The Approach to God's Presence - there is only one way to approach God.  You don't come the way you choose, but the way God chooses.

#2.  The Barriers to that Approach - the altar (for cleansing - sin nature), the laver - cleansing from daily sins.  We often overlook God's holiness - He is the LORD.

#3.  How Christ Destroyed those Barriers -
       a.  gate  - John 14:6 with Rev. 22:17 - on one hand there is only one way to God, however, whosoever (all) may come by that way.
       b.  altar - John 1:29      1 John 2:2       1 Pet. 2:24
       c.  laver - 1 John 1:8-9  ( John 13:10 )
       d.  lamp - John 8:12  ( John 1:9 )
       e.  table - John 6:35, 51
       f.  VEIL - Mark 15:37-38  ( Heb. 10:19-20 ) - veil torn in two from top to bottom when Jesus died - whosoever will may come through Christ.

APPLICATION
#1.  Draw Near - He did it so we could come - His presence is not obtained by gazing from afar -
Heb. 10:19-22 (a)    Must enter.  We can choose to believe with our head & heart and not ever enter into His presence.  Just because you have access does not put you in His presence.

#2.  Go Far - 2 Cor. 5:18-20 (a)  - All this is from God and He gave us a ministry to go and make disciples.  We are Christ's ambassadors. 

Life Lessons From A Tragic Death

(message developed after the tragic suicide of a 14 yr. old Christian young man from the  community)

#1.  Believers are not exempt form tragedy.  We are not insulated because we are Christians.
We live in a fallen world/we are part of fallen people  1 Pet. 4:12

#2.  Believers are not exempt from self-inflicted tragedy.
ie:  I accepted God's grace, therefore I can jump off this building and I won't get hurt because God will protect me.  We are not exempt from physical and moral laws.  Gal. 6:7-9

Therefore:
#3.  Poor choices result in poor outcomes.
"honest mistakes" vs. willful choice.
Don't be surprised when bad outcome results from bad choice.  Outcomes are determined by choices - either here or down the road.
This applies to small issues as well!!

#4.  Our choices matter beyond our self.  
Point being:  choose sin and it affects others!  It's not just you - ever - never.  It will affect other people.

#5.  Jesus heals and forgives.  1 John 2:1-2
We need balance here.  On one hand, sin really matters - it affects you and those around you.
                                     However, He died for our sin(s)
We all make poor, sinful choices.  Our hope is in Christ.

#6.  God uses our failures.  Rom. 8:28 - essential to Christian hope.  Purpose in the suffering.
While this is a great promise - "life is more than suffer and wait".
However, it does not exclude us from proper choice, proper actions.

NOTE:  Lessons #1 - 4 are general promises.  ie:  could apply to all people.
             Lesson #5 is a conditional promise - if you allow him, receive Him, accept Him.
             Lesson #6 is a specific promise - to "those who love Him" - will submit to Him as Lord

So decide..... how many you want to apply to your life?
The first 4 apply regardless.  #5 = your decision.  #6 = specific for those who love Him.

1 Pet. 1:3-9, 13

Lesson of Moses

Two weeks ago:  Joseph died.  Gen. 50:26  (1800 BC)

Approximately 300 years later .... Ex. 1:6-14 - once favored nation - now slaves

Enter..... MOSES - born to Levites (1536 BC?)
                            - adopted by Pharaoh's daughter
                            - raised in Pharaoh's court

BUT, Moses was Hebrew (not Egyptian) - Ex. 2:11-12, 15 - about 40 years old at this time.

He flees to Midian (150/200 miles east) - Acts 7:23
These people were distant kin - from Abraham and Keturah - Gen. 25:2

In Midian, he settles down, marries, has family, keeps flocks for Jethro, his father-in-law.
Moses was probably content in an unsettled way.
On one hand, he was a foreigner (secure but out of place)
However, where was home?  his people?

At age 80 - the burning bush - Ex. 3:1-12 - Moses:  "Go",  God:  "I will be with you.", the call, the return, the Exodus.
Then.... Sinai - the 10 Commandments - Kadesh (turning back) - wanderings (40 years - between Egypt to the South and the Promised Land to the North)

At age 120 - Return to the border of the Promised Land
                  - Passing the baton to Joshua
                  - Death - Deut. 34:4-7

A Lesson from the Life of Moses:   God uses Seriously Flawed People
(ie:  sinners) to accomplish His purpose.  Even if we don't perhaps want to be used by God in the fullest sense, deep down we all want to know that our life matters on and on.

Example:  Moses - He was an incredible person.  Deut. 34:10-12
However, he was seriously flawed (sinner)
         - killed an Egyptian, abandoned his people, hid out for 40 years, resisted God's call at least 5 times, entertains doubts - Ex. 5:22-23, is self-centered, impatient, easily discouraged, self-righteous, often angry (which kept him out of the Promised Land)
NOTE:  Moses is not alone.  Compare:  David, Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist.....
This is not just Moses.  It is the human condition.

Question:  Why does God use such people?
Answer:  1) That's all He has!!  There are no other kind!   James 5:17 - Elijah was a man just like us.
(He could do it without us...BUT chooses not to)
               2)  This way HE gets the glory.   However, He doesn't need our praise.  He is perfect, complete, lacking nothing.
"The Exodus" - was this what Moses did?  or God did?
If Moses gets the glory, the people are followers of Moses.
If God gets the glory, the people are followers of God.  John 12:32-33 - we're to connect people to God, draw people to Him.

POINT:  This is good news for common people.  (you and me).  It does not mean that:
           A)  you can be a prophet, miracle worker, great leader, whatever you want to be.  It means you can be an instrument in His tool bag at His discretion - when and if He decides to use you.
          B)  does not mean sin is irrelevant.  James 5:17, 16 (doesn't mean sinless/perfect.  does mean righteous)   Can't take license with your flaws.
          C)  Does mean God CAN use you (will use you)

3 Common elements found in God's prophets, apostles, you & I  (God's instruments)

                 ADMISSION
                 SUBMISSION
                 ACTION

#1.  Admission - of flawed character, inadequacy
"who am I?" - This question not all bad.

#2.  Submission (surrender)
         OF self - (more than your goods, talents, time, future) - but of your being.
         TO God - ie:  to - a) the Person of God  - "Lord"
                                   - b) the known will of God

#3.  Action (obedience) - "go... and I'll go with you"
1 Pet. 4:10 - USE / SERVE / ADMINISTER God's grace.  No prophet was ever a prophet without using his hands. 

NOTE:  Reluctant submission is still submission.
             Imperfect action is still action.           Matt. 21:28-31 (a) - "wanted?" 
God has never had a perfect actor except Christ.

This is where the Christian walk begins  (Admission, submission, action)
This is how the Christian walk continues - Col. 2:6