Gleanings From The Word: July 2016

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

A Voice God Always Hears

You were sorry and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I said against this city and its people—that this land would be cursed and become desolate. You tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. And I have indeed heard you, says the Lord (2 Kings 22:19 NLT).

Josiah, one of the few righteous kings of his era, tore his clothes and repented of the sins of his nation. Josiah displayed the behavior and uttered the words that always catch the eye of the Father.

Josiah was a good man and King who did what was right according to knowledge he possessed. He was broken hearted over the sins of Judah as revealed by an ancient scroll. Although he may not have been involved in these transgressions himself, he identified with the sins perpetrated in his land. Judgment always starts at the household of God. A prayer that God always hears is not, forgive them because “they” have sinned, but forgive us because “we” have sinned. When we are appalled with the unrighteousness in our land, we must remember, but for the grace of God, there go I.

What precipitated the reforms that Josiah was able to accomplish? It was a serious reading of God’s Word along with a truly repentant heart. The outworking of these things was a commitment to obey completely the instructions given in the Holy Scriptures. Incomplete obedience is always disobedience. Josiah mourned over the sins of his people and cried out to the Lord with godly sorrow. The Father heard his weeping and gave him the will to rid Judah of all their idolatry.

Image used with permission by Microsoft.

Ken Barnes the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
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Friday, July 8, 2016

Mercy Triumphs Over Judgment

The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet

Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” (2 Samuel 24: 11-12 NLT).

Mercy and Judgment

David had sinned by ordering the census taken of Israel. Interestingly, David did not even receive the full extent of the shortest of the three punishments. When God finds a man willing to assume full responsibility for his transgressions, the Lord can be quick to extend mercy. God takes no delight in judgment.

David is told to choose between 7 years of famine, three months of war, or three days of plague. He chose the last option, the most severe but the shortest. The outbreak started in the morning. It was devastating as seventy thousand men of Israel died, but it appears to last only to the evening sacrifice of the first day (v. 16). Why? First, God is gracious and looking for a way to be merciful. Second, the Lord found a man who took full blame for his offense. In verse 17 David asks the Lord to chasten him and not his people. God looked down and saw a man with a repentant heart and relented of the full extent of his chastisement. The purpose of discipline is to bring a change of heart. When that has transpired, there is no further need for the pain of punishment.

Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. When we embrace God’s righteousness, accepting the consequences of our sin, the Lord can be swift to extend his mercy to us. Mercy always triumphs over judgment.