Ignite 365: Do Not Be Anxious (20 of 365)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." -Psalm 119:105

It is interesting that the Word of God is compared to a lamp. It is quite obvious that even a small flame shines the brightest in the darkest time of the night. It is living and active as well!

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." -Hebrews 4:12

Psalms and Wisdom Literature: Psalm 19

The Law of the Lord is Perfect
Once again, David was so graphic in his descriptions on the glory and greatness of God. I imagine myself in the same spot where David was while looking at the sun. He likened the rising of the sun to a groom who prepares to leave his chamber and runs its course with joy.

Then, David focused on God's Word. He described how valuable the Word of God is - perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, true, to be desired more than gold, and sweeter than honey. He also mentioned the benefits of obeying God through His Word - he is warned, and a great reward is waiting for him.

Lastly, David uttered these words unto the Lord:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

Pentateuch and History of Israel: Genesis 19

God Rescues Lot | God Destroys Sodom
This described both the greatness of the goodness of God, and the severity of the wrath of God at the same time. We saw in the story how great is God's grace for the righteous (His child). Before God poured out His wrath on a very wicked nation, He waited for Lot to settle first and be safe. In the story, we could not compare the severity of His wrath to any other else. The whole region was destroyed by fire and brimstone, to the extent of pulverizing it so that nothing else was left from it - up to this date. This story also reminded us not to look back into our sinfulness when God has already given you the grace for freedom from sin, as to what had happened to Lot's wife who became a pillar of salt after looking back into Sodom with an unrepentant heart.

Lot and His Daughters
Lot had committed a sin of incest with his two daughters, that was when he was made drunk by them. Later, these two gave birth to Moab (which means "from father") who became the father of the Moabites, and Ben-ammi (which means "son of my people") who became the father of the Ammonites. It must be noticed that there were times that these nations, the Moabites and the Ammonites, were hostile against the Israelites later on.


Chronicles and Prophets: 1 Chronicles 21:18–22:19

David Builds an Altar | David Prepares for Temple Building | Solomon Charged to Build the Temple
Remember when 70,000 men died because of a pestilence that God sent to Israel? It was because of the sin of David when he made a census of the whole nation - a sin of pride in his heart. Yet, it is after he repented (and the calamity was stopped) that David said these words when ordered to build an altar in a field where Ornan the Jebusite owned:

"No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.”

It is also interesting that at this same site will the Temple of the Lord be built by Solomon. David instructed Solomon to be faithful to the Lord. At the same time, David prepared the materials needed for the Temple of the Lord.

“Now, my son, the Lord be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the Lord your God, as he has spoken concerning you. Only, may the Lord grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the Lord commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed."

Gospels and Epistles: Luke 12:13–48

The Parable of the Rich Fool | Do Not Be Anxious | You Must Be Ready
Jesus was teaching us to focus on Him and His Kingdom more than the earthly pleasures and riches. From the Parable of the Rich Fool to the teachings about how God blessed the birds with food and the grass with "clothes" (and not even Solomon had worn such beauty), Jesus was teaching to look onto the life in eternity. Lastly, we were being instructed to be ready when that day comes when Jesus would come back again.

"Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

"Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more."

© 2014 Erickson Ibana

Image can be found at http://caffeinatedthoughts.com/2010/07/do-not-be-anxious-matthew-625-34/

Ignite 365: A You A Pharisee? (19 of 365)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path." -Psalm 119:105

It is interesting that the Word of God is compared to a lamp. It is quite obvious that even a small flame shines the brightest in the darkest time of the night. It is living and active as well!

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." -Hebrews 4:12

Psalms and Wisdom Literature: Psalm 18

The Lord is My Rock and My Fortress
This is a song of victory made by David when he was rescued from his numerous enemies and from Saul as well. It is interesting that David was so graphic when he described how the Lord showed His might and power. The vivid descriptions of mountains were trembling, great lightning appeared, and hailstorms and fires fell down. After all these, David once again acknowledged that God was the One who saved him, who gave him strength.


Pentateuch and History of Israel: Genesis 18:16–33

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom
It is interesting that just a few moments after God promised Abraham that he and Sarah will be having a son a year from that time, God revealed unto Abraham what He was about to do - He will go down unto Sodom and Gomorrah and see if they have done altogether according to the outcry against the gravity and wickedness of their sins. Lot, Abraham's nephew, was living there with his family. The moment Abraham heard this, notice how he intercedes for Sodom for the sake of his nephew, Lot.

"Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?"

From 50, it became 45. From 45, Abraham made his request into 40. Then from 40, he asked if God would still destroy the city if 30 righteous were found there. From 30, he lowered it to 20 righteous people. Lastly, from 20 righteous people, Abraham inquired if he would still annihilate the whole city if 10 righteous people are found there. It is interesting that on all of the requests Abraham made until the last one, God said:

“For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 

Chronicles and Prophets: 1 Chronicles 21:1–17

David's Census Brings Pestilence
Here King David made a terrible sin. He ordered Joab and the commanders of his army to number Israel so that he might know it. This might seem to be too trivial to be a reason of the destruction of the whole Israel, but God saw what man could not. At a time when everything seems alright and there seems to be no problems at all, David acquired pride in his heart. As Matthew Henry commented, the census was not needed at all:

"(1.) It was a needless thing. there was not occasion at all for it. God had promised to multiply them, and he needed not question the accomplishment of that promise. They were all his servants, and he needed not doubt of their loyalty and affection to him. Their number was as much his strength as he could desire. (2.) It was a dangerous thing. In doing it he might be a cause of trespass to Israel, and might provoke God against them."

Because of David's sin, a pestilence was sent (that was after David chose it from the 3 options God gave him: 3 years of famine, 3 months of war, or 3 days of pestilence) into Israel that 70,000 men died. Then God saw it and relented from the calamity, and ordered the angel to stop the pestilence. And David realized his grave sin, and cried out:

“Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”

Gospels and Epistles: Luke 11:37–12:12

Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers | Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees 
Jesus was teaching us not to be like the Pharisees who was so critical with the Law, that they even criticized Jesus for not washing His hands before dinner as the Law says, but full of greed and wickedness in their hearts. It was also with the lawyers who loaded burdens to people with lots of laws but even they, themselves, would not obey those laws. Jesus was teaching not to follow their ways of hypocrisy.

Now, are you a Pharisee?


Have No Fear | Acknowledge Christ Before Men
 Here, Jesus was teaching to fear God more than to fear men. He even said:

 “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows."

© 2014 Erickson Ibana

Image can be found at http://pjmedia.com/lifestyle/2013/07/page/3/