Thoughts on the Bible Readings December 17th (Job 21; Zephaniah 3; 1 John 3, 4)

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=""]Job replies in chapter 21 that the wicked do prosper. You must listen before you mock me, Job says. Are you not repulsed by my appearance and sickness? Consider the evidence around you. Many wicked prosper into an untroubled old age. The families of the wicked live in peace; their farms and livestock thrive. The evil feast joyfully until they go to their grave (Sheol). These people take no notice of the Almighty and scorn the Almighty without consequences. The time for dealing with the evil will come; maybe trouble will come on their descendants. The LORD does not seem to visit the wicked's evil with His chastisement. Evil people are just as likely to prosper as to suffer. Your thoughts, my friends, are clearly known to me and are wrong. Stop being false and refrain from your hypocritical attempts to comfort me. We need to cease from judging others and start treating others with kindness and respect. Zephaniah 3 deals with judgement on Jerusalem and all nations. Verses 1-8 deal with imminent impending calamity for Jerusalem (in the prophet's day); and subsequently soon at Armageddon. Armageddon (WW 3) will involve all nations (Joel 3; Zechariah 14; and Revelation 16). Verses 9-13 describe the conversion of the nations in the aftermath of Armageddon. Verses 14-20 tell of the joy associated with Israel's regathering, restoration and conversion (compare Romans 11verses11-24). The chapter begins with a denouncement of Jerusalem as a rebellious and unheeding city. It was a city that had not responded to Yahweh's chastisement. The rot began with the leaders of the nation - the rot starts with the princes and the priests as the people desired rulers like themselvesverses Hosea 4verses1-9. The Almighty was dwelling in that city and had set before them His righteous ways. They had not heeded His prophetic Word, which had predicted the overthrow of surrounding kingdoms. Israel remained unconcerned despite seeing the fulfilment of the words of the prophets. Verses 8 speaks of God's wrath being poured upon all nations (see Joel 3verses1-16). Verse 9 tells of all nations being turned to a pure tongue (most likely Hebrew - as was probably the language prior to the confusion of tongues that occurred with the Tower of Babel; Genesis 11verses1-9). The nations then serve the LORD with one consent (Hebrew "shoulder"; the bearing of the burden and accepting the message coming from the capital city, Zion (Jerusalem see Isaiah 2verses1-5; 9verses6-7). Worshippers will come from the entire world to Jerusalem (Jeremiah 3verses16-18; Zechariah 14verses26-21). Note that the last phrase, "and none shall make them afraid" is a citation from Micah 4verses4 (which is what Isaiah 2 says). The rejoicing of Zion's daughter is again an echo from the servant prophecies in Isaiah (52verses7; note the context verses 1-12; and the restoration will be the work of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ 52verses13-53verses12). Verse 17 of Zephaniah 3 speaks of Yahweh dwelling in the midst of His people (Joel 3verses17-21). This will be through His Son and the saints in Christ Jesus - Zechariah 14verses1-9. The oppressors of God's people will be eradicated. Israel will be a "praise and a joy in all the earth" (see Zechariah 8verses20-23). God willing let's strive to please our Father and His glorious Son by the way we live now. Verses 1-10 of 1 John 3 elaborate on God's love. The beloved Apostle invites his readers to behold the extent and greatness of the Father's love. Our Sovereign has chosen to condescend and to adopt us as His children. We have entered His family at the immense cost of the sacrifice of His beloved Son. John tells his hearers that they have barely begun conceiving the depth of that love, which will be further understood when our Lord Jesus Christ returns. An appreciation of that love has a purifying effect on the disciple's life. But a failure to understand the importance of Christ's laying down of his life must impel the believer to turn away from loose living (which leads to a lost life). It is not the sin of weakness due to the frailty of our nature, but rather the of abandonment to sin (i.e. living habitually for sin), that concerns the Apostle. John has addressed the weakness of human nature in his first two chapters. To continue practising sin is to deny the grace of the Father and the great price that was paid for our redemption. Are we the children of the world (i.e. the devil), or are the children of God? The fruit of our life is the evidence. From verses 11-24 we are shown that how we behave towards our brethren demonstrates our parentage. Do we live a live congruent with our claims? The gospel of John shows how our frequently repeated the words of our Lord Jesus Christ reveal this truth. The motive for the first murder in the Bible was envy progressing into hate. We must always attribute the best motives to our brethren. Slandering, or belittling, others incurs the displeasure of our Father. Cain was banished from God's presence and separated from the hope of a life with the Father. Yahweh sent His Son to lay down his own precious life to bring us into fellowship. Though we may have many a doubt (because we are weak humans) the LORD knows our motives, better than we can understand them ourselves (1 Corinthians 4verses1-5). Our Father is ready, willing and able to lovingly respond to our needs and requests (see Romans 8verses28-39). Chapter 4 commences with the need to test whether the teachings - i.e. this is also a testing of the teachers - are true ("try the spirits"), and from God. John in chapter 2 has already told his readers that the errors of the antichrist were active among the community of the disciples. One of the prime identifying features would be the belief in the Trinity, which originated in catechism 312 AD (having been debated by believers for decades prior to endorsing that view. The acceptance that the Lord Jesus Christ was part of a triune God is completely counter to the entire teaching of the Scriptures (even the Encyclopaedia Britannica admits this in its article on the Trinity). Jesus was completely a man, even though he was the Son of God. John 1verses1-18 tell us his beginnings were when he was born (compare Acts 10verses38-43). Jesus came in the flesh (Hebrews 2verses8-18) and this was the only understanding of the first century community of faithful believers (read "The Apostles' Creed"). Believers need to listen to God and His Word, not human speculations from false teachers. From verses 7-21 we are further told how "God is love". When we love each other with a true heart and fervently it is a witness that we are God's children. The Father's love in redeeming an erring race has been seen from the time of Creation. Its pinnacle was reached in the sending of His Son to provide a ransom for us. Our Lord was able to comply with His Father's will because of their unity of love and purpose in providing a place for our acceptance on the basis of Truth believed and sins forgiven. An understanding of this and a life lived sacrificially in love and service is the only life a disciple can live. Anything else is nothing but a hypocritical lie. Thanks for joining us - we pray you found these comments helpful in your appreciation of God's words, join again tomorrow Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... 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