Tag: destruction

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Trusting in Man will bring Doom- Isaiah- Week 6- Day 2

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity. (3) Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the LORD shall stretch out his hand, both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.

Isaiah 31:2-3

Explanation:
At the national level, Kings would seek out counselors to give them advice and direction as to what to do. Some commentators say that verse 2 is a statement somewhat directed at the king who is trusting in the advice of these counselors, when it states, “He also is wise.” It is as if the prophet is saying, “You’re trusting in the counsel of these so called ‘wise men’ but God is the ultimate wisdom.” Why should God be trusted? Several reasons are given in these two verses.
• He is wise. – His wisdom surpasses human wisdom.
• He will judge evil doers. – Every person will ultimately answer to God.
• Egyptians are just men. – They are not the omniscient, omnipotent God of the Universe.
• Their horses are just animals. – Animals are temporary, created beings.
• God will destroy the evil doers, and those who rely on them. – Those who rely on others who do not acknowledge God will be judged. Both parties will be judged.

Application:
It may seem like a good idea in the short term to rely more on the temporary, man-made, evil doer rather than to trust in God, but that plan will ultimately always turn out the same way. If you rely on them, ultimately both you and they will fall.

Response:
• How will you express your trust in God today?

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Trusting in Man will bring Doom- Isaiah- Week 6- Day 1

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

Isaiah 31:1

Explanation:
In this week’s text we start out with a very definitive statement, that must be read all the way through to make a proper interpretation. God, through the mouth of the prophet Isaiah pronounces “woe” or doom, danger, and destruction to a certain kind of person with a specific kind of thinking.

Who is the one in danger? Notice the list of characteristics given in this text of the person who is in danger:
• Those who rely on Egypt
• Stay on horses
• Trust in chariots
• Count the number
• Trust in horseman
There is a way of thinking that suggests that man’s plans, man’s strength, man’s strategies, man’s inventions, and the like are worth putting all your trust and confidence. The issue is not with having plans, strategies, or inventions. The issue with God is mentioned at the end of the verse when it says, “…but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, nor trust in God.” Ultimate, eternal security can only be found in the True and Living God of Israel. All other hope is false hope.

Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Psalms 20:7

Putting our trust in mortal man at the expense of putting our trust in the eternal True and Living God will always ultimately lead to “woe”, danger, and destruction.

Application:
Certainly, this passage has a national perspective in mind, but it does not disclude this principle being applicable to our own individual lives. Is it wrong to plan or prepare? Of course, it is not. The issue is not having defenses, or a plan. The issue is one of trust. Where is your security? Do you trust in your plan, your weapon, or some temporary man-made factor more than, or instead of trusting in God? Anything that we trust in at the expense of trusting in God becomes an idol competing with God for honor, glory, and worship due solely and exclusively to Him. We ought to plan, but our plans ought to be as unto the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 give us wise direction about this very issue.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Response:
• Are you trusting in something else more than you trust in God?

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Rebellion and Destruction- Proverbs- Week 10- Day 5

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Proverbs 29:18

Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Proverbs 29:20

Explanation:
The passage we have considering this week, Proverbs 29:1-3 and 12-20, has had the theme of discipline. The first pattern we pointed out in the passage was the theme of leadership and discipline. Good leaders are self-disciplined and they bring discipline to those in their stewardship. That led us to a second pattern of discipline and blessing. The right kind of discipline brings freedom and not bondage. This pattern leads us to a third, the pattern of rebellion and destruction that we looked at yesterday. We can continue to see this pattern in today’s text.

In the first part of verse 18 we see an oft quoted statement. The word translated “vision” hear is speaking about revelation from God. Where there is no special revelation from God present the result is death. Why would there be no revelation from God? In one sense it may be an evangelism problem. The Word of God has not been taken to a group of people. In another sense it may be a leadership problem. There may be no Word of God because it is not being proclaimed by leaders. If it is not being proclaimed then it is not being obeyed. When revelation from God is ignored and disobeyed the result is death. Rebellion leads to destruction.

The man discussed in verse 20 is not called a fool. Even a wise person who speaks too quickly will come to the same result as the fool. The book of Proverbs consistently describes the results of the fool as destruction. How do we speak too quickly? We speak before we have thought through a matter biblically. We speak before we bathe a matter in prayer. We speak before we have all of the information that is needed to give an answer. In this there is disobedience and maybe even rebellion. Both have consequences. Rebellion leads to destruction.

Application:
Our thinking, speaking and acting must be informed by the wisdom contained in the Word of God. Our actions must be borne out of of a life of prayer. The opposite of rebellion is submission. Discipline is the consistent submission of our hearts and lives to the God who created us and redeemed us. We who know Christ as our Savior have been bought twice, and so we must embrace a life of discipline as a reasonable response to His grace.

There is a pattern of leadership and discipline, discipline and blessing, and rebellion and destruction. Make the decision to embrace discipline!

Response:
• How is your living and leadership being informed and affected by God’s revelation in His Word?
• Think about the last 24 hours. Have you been disciplined in your words? Are you speaking hastily?

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Rebellion and Destruction- Proverbs- Week 10- Day 4

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Proverbs 29:1

When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

Proverbs 29:16

Explanation:
There is a third pattern that we see in this passage that I want to observe. We have already seen the pattern of leadership and discipline. We have also seen the pattern of discipline and blessing. Today I want us to observe the pattern of rebellion and destruction.

In verse 1 we see a person in desperate need of correction. The leader is administering correction regularly. He is “oft reproved.” But in this verse the person is described as someone that “hardeneth his neck”. This is someone who is being stubborn to those in authority over them. It speaks of rebellion. Imagine the teenager with folded arms, slouched in the chair, rolling their eyes while saying, “I’m never doing that.” This is not the only iteration of this kind of person, but the example fleshes out the attitude. The ultimate end of an unteachable, stubborn person is that there will be the kind of destruction that cannot be fixed. There are choices that are made by rebellious, undisciplined people that can not be undone. There is a warning in this verse that rebellion leads to destruction.

Verse 16 is similar. A lack of discipline in one life can affect a lack of discipline in many other lives. We influence each other. Notice the pattern in the verse. More wicked people in a culture leads to more transgression, which leads to destruction viewed by those who are doing the right thing. This seems painfully relevant today. Discipline brings blessing, and rebellion leads to destruction.

Application:
A rebellious person is not teachable. They do not take correction. They never think they are wrong. The natural result is to walk right into the consequences of their foolishness.

The answer that one must employ if this is the case in their life is repentance. There must be a change of heart and change of mind about their attitude and response. Their must be a plea for forgiveness and a change of direction.

Response:
Is there an area of your life where you have become unteachable? Repentance is the right response!