Tag: prophets

The Anger Of The Lord

The Word of God provides so much comfort, consolation, encouragement, strength, hope, and excited anticipation. It is food and drink for the soul. David describes it as beautiful and beneficial (Psa. 19:7-10). It makes us alive and saves our soul (1 Pet. 1:22; Js. 1:18). It sanctifies (Jn. 17:17). 

Neal Pollard

The Word of God provides so much comfort, consolation, encouragement, strength, hope, and excited anticipation. It is food and drink for the soul. David describes it as beautiful and beneficial (Psa. 19:7-10). It makes us alive and saves our soul (1 Pet. 1:22; Js. 1:18). It sanctifies (Jn. 17:17). 

Yet, the Word, consistent with God’s perfect character, contains warnings, rebukes, and threats all backed by the unlimited power and perfection of God’s nature. Back when God instituted His special covenant with the Jews at Mt. Sinai, He made it clear that His promises and blessings were conditional. Moses reviews this promise of God at the end of his life, saying, “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I am commanding you today, by following other gods which you have not known” (Dt. 11:26-28). 

At the end of 2 Kings, the remnant of the Jews still in the land (remember, Israel was destroyed and carried off into captivity in chapter 17) had drifted into the curse Moses spoke of. The prophets, like Jeremiah, Obadiah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah, had warned Judah, but the kings, priests, false prophets, elders, and the people, shunned the message. After His perfect patience had been repeatedly tried and finally exhausted, He displays His wrath.

Wicked Jehoiakim’s son, Jehoiachin, mounted the throne in his father’s place. Though he only reigned three months, the record shows that “he did evil in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father had don” (2 Ki. 24:9). The Babylonian Emperor, Nebuchadnezzar, besieged Jerusalem, carried Jehoiachin captive “his mother and his servants and his captains and his officials” (12), all the temple and king’s treasures (13), ” all Jerusalem and all the captains and all the mighty men of valor, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths” (14–leaving only the poorest people in the land), and “all the men of valor, seven thousand, and the craftsmen and the smiths, one thousand, all strong and fit for war” (16). Nebuchadnezzar put a puppet king on Judah’s throne, Jehoiachin’s uncle, Mattaniah, who Nebuchadnezzar renamed “Zedekiah” (17). He did evil in the sight of the Lord, just as his nephew had done (18)! Even in the face of such punishment and defeat, Judah’s leadership refused to humble itself and repent. In fact, Zedekiah was not only rebel against God but also the instrument of punishment in His hand (Babylon’s king, Jer. 25:9)(20).

Why would God allow this to happen to His chosen people? The writer of 2 Kings explains it this way: “For through the anger of the Lord this came about in Jerusalem and Judah until He cast them out from His presence” (20). Perhaps the people convinced themselves that since God had not acted in punishment against their parents and grandparents, He didn’t care about how they were acting and they were going to get away with it. Peter tells us how that is part of human nature. Using the past (the days of Noah) as an illustration of the end of time, Peter says that mockers with their mocking will ask where the promise of God’s coming is. They’ll say, “Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation” (2 Pe. 3:4). They ignore what happened in Noah’s day (5-6). They ignore that God spares or destroys this world according to the word of His power (5-7). They ignore that God is not bound by time (8). They ignore that God’s perfect patience is at work right now, as He wishes for all to come to repentance (9). But, the day of the Lord will come (10a)! He will deal out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus (2 Th. 1:8). 

But, let us be convinced of this. God wants to pour out His blessings, approval, and incredible love upon all of us! Yet, He leaves the ball in our court. He wants nothing more than to hold us close to Him and have us spend our eternity with Him (2 Pe. 3:11-15). If we respond to that love in submissive obedience, we will feel the full force of His kindness. If we don’t, He’s loved us enough to show us what that will mean for us! May we be wise enough to avoid “the anger of the Lord”! 

Prophecies At A Glance

Would you like a handy chart of some major Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament?

Dale Pollard

A Few Significant Messianic Prophecies at a Glance 

Amazing Messianic Fulfillments 

ProphecyOld Testament   New Testament
Born of a virginIsaiah 7:14Matthew 1:22–23
Born in BethlehemMicah 5:2Matthew 2:1
Lineage from DavidJeremiah 23:5Luke 3:31, Matthew 1:6
God’s Spirit was on HimIsaiah 61:1-2Luke 4:16-21
Ministry begins in GalileeIsaiah 9:1-2Matthew 4:12-17
Spoke in parablesPsalm 78:2Matthew 13:34-35
A prophet like MosesDeuteronomy 18:15Acts 3:22-23
Entered Jerusalem on a donkeyZechariah 9:9John 12:12-15
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silverZechariah 11:12–13  Matthew 26:15, 27:3–10
Silent before His accusersIsaiah 53:7Matthew 27:12-14
Crucifixion (pierced hands and feet) Psalm 22:16John 20:25
Cast lots for His garmentsPsalm 22:18John 19:23-24
No bones brokenPsalm 34:20John 19:33–36
Buried with the richIsaiah 53:9Matthew 27:57–60
ResurrectionPsalm 16:10Acts 2:31

Numbers range from 60-80 clear prophecies to prophecies and clear allusions numbering over 300. Mathematician Peter Stoner, in “Science Speaks,” calculated the probability of just 48 Messianic prophecies being fulfilled as 1 in 10157 (157 zeroes). Without Divine orchestration? Impossible!

Amos: The Lord Roars (IX)

What was next for Israel? What would come after that? Amos 9 shows a picture of a just God who responds to willful sin and a merciful God who extends grace even where undeserved.

A Vision Of Judgment And A View After Judgment (9:1-14)

Neal Pollard

Amos 9 contains the prophet’s fifth and final vision about the fate of the northern kingdom. We would classify Amos’ book as one of the hardest-hitting among the Minor Prophets. The message of Israel’s demise due to their apostasy is graphic and certain. Now, the prophet’s warning reaches its climax as Amos sees the Lord standing beside the altar (1). This appears to be the altar at Bethel, in the place instituted by Jeroboam I (1 Ki. 12:31-33). Amos has previously mentioned it (3:14; 5:5-6), and it makes more sense for the Lord to stand in judgment there rather than Jerusalem where the southern kingdom’s place of worship was. 

The prophet pictures total, thorough punishment. God is revealed as being in pursuit of the people, destroying their false place of worship (1), slaying inhabitants and finding every refugee, fugitive, and person who tries to hide and conceal himself (1-3). Even those who go into captivity would be slain (4). One shudders to read God’s final words in this vision: “And I will set My eyes against them for evil and not for good” (4b). God’s eyes are depicted as seeing everything everywhere (Prov. 15:3; 2 Chron. 16:9; see 9:8). Here, His eyes are against Israel for their harm! The price of sinful rebellion is eternally high!

Amos strengthens the force of the warning by reminding Israel of who this judge is. His omnipotence is highlighted in verse five, and His work in creating, sustaining, and acting through nature is showcased in verse six. This all-powerful God, whose judgment they had witnessed against foreign nations (7), is now turning His efforts and energy on “the sinful kingdom” (“the house of Jacob” or “the house of Israel”)(8-9). Pay attention to the message. While the nation itself will be dismantled and the kingdom would come to an end (8), God is portrayed as sifting its inhabitants. 

While God’s just wrath will be poured out against “all the sinners of [His] people” (10), His undeserved mercy is also promised. Starting in verse 11, Amos mentions what would happen “in that day.” He also says “behold, days are coming” (13). Notice encouraging words and phrases like “raise up” (11), “rebuild” (11), “possess” (12), “restore” (14), and “plant” (14-15). For whatever literal and physical hopes the nation had of reclaiming lands in Palestine, God’s promise is much loftier. At the Jerusalem meeting in Acts 15, Jesus’ half-brother, James, quotes verses 11-12 and applies it to the Gentiles (Acts 15:16-18). The Lord’s kingdom, spiritual Israel (the church), would include “all the nations who are called by My name.” 

Amos had no words of consolation for the northern kingdom. Soon, Assyria would slaughter them and sweep them away. They were being judged for their wholesale apostasy. Yet, for the righteous who heeded the prophet’s warning, there was escape (2 Chron. 30). Beyond this gloomy judgment, there was future hope to be found in those who heeded the teaching of Christ and His apostles and prophets. That is the message Amos ends with, the message we can read about upon the pages of the New Testament. It is a hope that fuels our lives today! 

Amos: The Lord Roars (VII)

What is Amos doing with these visions and why does Amaziah react so violently to it? What do we learn from Amos’ response to that wicked priest? Let’s look closer at Amos 7 together.

Three Visions And A Protest (7:1-17)

Neal Pollard

The style of teaching changes in chapter seven. Amos presents three visions consecutively, the first about locusts (1-3), the second about fire (4-6), and the third about a plumb line (7-9). Each begins with “the Lord God showed me.” The third vision differs from the first two, in that as God presents the first two to Amos he pleads on behalf of the people and God changes His mind about what He will send to punish the people. They are threats, but the prophet pleads on behalf of “Jacob” (Israel). Isn’t it interesting to note that, though his message is rather hard and full of rebuke, Amos has a heart for the people. He pleads, prays, and intercedes for them. His love for them is obvious to us, if it was not apparent to them. His intercession for the nation touches and influences the heart of God. 

After presenting the threat of locust and fire, God overwhelms the prophet with logic. God measures the northern kingdom, as a carpenter or stonemason plumbs a wall. He proves to Amos that the people are “out of plumb,” that they are measured by God’s perfect standard and are irredeemable! He will spare them no longer (8). Their places of worship will be demolished and the royal line of Jeroboam II will be destroyed (9). This judgment is incontrovertible and immutable. It is obvious from the rest of the chapter that Amos shared this vision.

The latter half of Amos seven is dedicated to the clash between the false priest of Bethel, Amaziah, and the true prophet of God, Amos. First, Amaziah reports to Jeroboam II what Amos has prophesied. Amaziah casts Amos as a traitor with a message of doom for the northern kingdom (10-11). Then he taunts the prophet, warning him to go home to Judah and do his prophetic work there (12-13). It is at this point that Amos utters his well-known words, some of the most identifiable in the whole book. He says, “I am not a prophet, nor am I the son of a prophet; for I am a herdsman and a grower of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock and the Lord said to me, ‘Go prophesy to My people Israel'” (14-15). Note the humility and deference of Amos. He does not presume himself to be anyone of importance (side note: This is always an attractive quality in a spokesman for God; beware of the boastful or the humble bragger). He defers his own preferences to the divinely-given mission of Jehovah, who chose Amos and gave him this unpleasant duty of warning Israel. 

Reminiscent of other prophets, like Jeremiah (see his response to Passhur in Jer. 20:1-6, as an example), Amos tells Amaziah that his wife will be a harlot, his children will be killed by Assyria, his property would be seized, and he would die in Assyria. He punctuates this startling prophecy be reiterating his original message: “Moreover, Israel will certainly go from its land into exile” (17b). Amaziah would learn the very hard way that it is foolish to oppose God’s truthful message! When faithfully presented, Scripture should be humbly and circumspectly internalized and applied. Resisting or rebelling against it will not change its potency and fulfillment, but it will put us on the wrong side of its warnings and promises. Amos seven is one such reminder of this vital reality. 

Amos: The Lord Roars (V)

What does want from us when we’ve gone astray? Tears? Sacrifices? Amos’ answers may surprise you!

Seek The Lord That You May Live (5:1-27)

Neal Pollard

As full of the tone of rebuke that this prophecy is, there is a loving motivation. The Lord roars to get the people’s attention. He warns to turn them back from wickedness. Notice that the warnings and exhortations are “that you may live” (4,6,14). Jeremiah understand why: “I know, O Lord, that a man’s way is not in himself, Nor is it in a man who walks to direct his steps” (10:23). So, Amos sets out to disclose this divine “dirge” (1) (a poem of bereavement, sung by mourners at a funeral; cf. Amos 8:10). So, Amos is leading a sorrowful song about death in the hopes that the people will live.  Without repentance, things looked grim–fallen, neglected, and decimated (2-3). The remedy is to “seek the Lord that you may live” (4). What would this look like?

Seek refuge in God, not men (5-9). The cities mentioned in these verses all held national significance in their past, either as places of victory, memorial, or worship. Simply patronizing these places would not save them. Instead, God requires actively seeking Him (4,6). Otherwise, He would bring bitter judgment and fire (6-7). The reason for seeking God revolves around His character (8-9). He created and continues to be at work in nature. He is able to take even the elements and use them to execute His judgment on men. Therefore, Amos’ argument goes, “Seek the Lord that you may live.”

Get your values right (10-15). They hated those who preached the truth (10). They mistreated the disadvantaged (11). They poured their investments into big houses and vineyards that they would not be allowed to enjoy because their sins and transgressions were great (11-12). They distressed the righteous and denied the people in this “evil time” (13). God tells them that their only hope is to invert their warped values. “Seek good and not evil” (14) and “hate evil, love good” (15). “Perhaps,” God says, you will be saved if you will establish justice in the gates. 

Do not let tears be a substitute for turning (16-27). Not that there were not tears. They flowed profusely. Wailing, mourning, and lamentation abounded at the thought of God’s judgment (16-17). Though they longed for “the day of the Lord,” Amos warns that it will be a day of darkness and not light for them (18-20). He hated their worship, rejected their offerings, and deplored their singing (21-23). What did He want instead? “Let justice roll down like waters And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (24). But, because they would not do this, they should anticipate another “wilderness wandering” (25), exile north of Damascus (27). They had leaned on idols (26), and God tells them to take those with them as they are carried away from their homes. 

God shows us what He wants when we have strayed. First, renewed trust in His power to save. Second, moral choices that reflect His word rather than that of the world. Third, genuine repentance rather than sorrow at the wages of sin. Isn’t it interesting that, though times have changed drastically from Amos’ day, little has changed from heaven’s perspective!

Deuteronomy: The Second Giving Of The Law (XIII)

Of Prophets And Gods (13:1-18)

Neal Pollard

We are surrounded by a world whose view of the world is decidedly different than what the Bible teaches. We know that well, but still find ourselves swayed and influenced by their thinking. Whether it is because we want to fit in or because it seems to be “working” for them or maybe because it appeals to us to some degree, we can become susceptible to their habits, customs, beliefs, and views. 

God knows human nature and has seen it play out since the Garden of Eden. As Israel gears up for the conquest of Canaan, God wants them forewarned about this timeless trouble. So, Moses explains it in terms of the familiar and divinely-ordained (“a prophet or dreamer of dreams,” 1) and the mysterious and divinely-condemned (“other gods,” 2). He presents a few scenarios that his brethren needed to seriously take to heart.

First, scenarios where a false prophet correctly foretold events, then urged idolatry (1-5). This was uniquely challenging. Israel might be persuaded to follow a false prophet whom God allows to accurately predict some future event (1-2). God said He would allow this because “the Lord your God is testing you to find out if you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul” (3). God’s will had already been revealed and they knew the truth (4). They were not to be susceptible to contrary messages, to violate the first two commandments. Instead, they were to see this as seduction and evil (5). The false prophet was to be put to death, to eliminate his sinful influence (5). In rejecting the false prophet, they would be following, fearing, obeying, listening to, serving and clinging to the Lord their God (4). False faiths could not trump the will of God. 

Second, scenarios where an idolater was a family member (6-11). This would be challenging for a different reason, not because they correctly foretold the future but because they were close relatives. Moses is unambiguous; we’re talking “your brother, your mother’s son, or your son or daughter, or the wife you cherish, or your friend who is as your own soul” (6). It just doesn’t get more intimate than that, whichever of the scenarios played out. These with whom they shared such a bond might “secretly entice” them to abandon God for a false god (6-7). How should they respond? Not only were they not to yield to them or listen to them, they were not to pity or spare or conceal them (8). More than that, they were to kill them (9)! Not just kill them, but be the first to cast a stone at them (10). In so doing, it would deter the nation from being seduced by gods, of seducing their family, or allowing a loved one to seduce them into idolatry (11). In Jesus’ earthly ministry, Israel should not have been surprised by a statement like this: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Mat. 10:37). Or, as Luke records it, “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple” (14:26). Moses will commend the Levites for observing this principle, allowing them to be priests of God (Deut. 33:8-9; Ex. 32:27-29). It is what it takes for us to be His priests today. 

Third, scenarios where an idolater was a neighbor (12-18). The last scenario would not pull on their heartstrings as much as it would be social pressure, dealing with a fellow Israelite who was stirring up desires to serve other gods. God’s response to that, in preserving the spiritual purity of Israel, is radical! If after investigation a city is found to have apostatized, they were to destroy it and its livestock (15). Additionally, this would not net the punishers in any financial way. All “booty” was to be burned. God says, “Nothing from that which is put under the ban shall cling to your hand…” (17a). This was a gracious, merciful gesture on God’s part. He was acting in order to bless them and guide them in doing what was right (17-18).

Three areas where we are tempted to ignore God or replace Him as authority are religious influences, family influences, and community influences. That is not new to our day; it has long been that way. While our response is not to be physical or military, we still must act when these influences attempt to pull us away from God. Paul reflects back on this general time period, even quoting Exodus 25, when he writes, “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them; 

And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.  Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me, Says the Lord Almighty” (2 Cor. 6:14-18). This is still our responsibility! We must hear God’s voice above the din of competing messages, being faithful to Him no matter who is saying something different or how much we care about them. God’s message then and now is, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Mat. 6:33a). 

Planning Like Prophets

Tuesday’s Column: Dale Mail

Dale Pollard

Vision: The ability to think about or plan for the future with imagination and wisdom. 

 In the book of Revelation we read of seven churches that needed to develop different areas of weakness in order to be the church Christ needed them to be. 

The Old Testament is also filled with valuable information and strategies to help congregations develop and execute their visions. Each church family will differ and since that’s the case, each congregation needs custom vision.

Here are two Old Testament passages that give us some insight into the mind of God on the subject of vision planning. 

  1. A Good Vision Is Visible 

         Habakkuk 2:2-3 

Though Habakkuk’s message was concerning the the conquest of Babylon, this text is invaluable for us today. 

Here we read God’s strategy for successful/effective planning. 

“Write down the revelation 

It should be tangible
    “and make it plain on tablets”

It should be precise 
    “so that a herald may run with it.”

It should be effective. A vision without legs won’t go far. 

“For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
    it speaks of the end
    and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
    it will certainly come
    and will not delay.”

 A vision should be lasting. When God spoke to the prophets they would often record things that would happen years in the future. With these future events written down, the following generations could plan accordingly. God is coming back and eternity is coming, we must create a plan so that we and those after us can continue to prepare. 

  1. If It’s Not His, It’s Hopeless 

          Jeremiah 23.16 

“This is what the Lord Almighty says:

God must have a voice 

“Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;

The ungodly shouldn’t have a voice when it comes to planning a vision for God’s people
    they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions from their own minds,
    not from the mouth of the Lord.”

God must have a voice because the vision shouldn’t be born from the mind of man!

2 Peter (Part 4)

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

Gary Pollard III

I’ll be repeating the book of II Peter in present-day terminology. It’s not a true translation of the book, as I am not qualified to do so. It will be based on an exegetical study of the book and will lean heavily on the SBL and UBS Greek New Testaments, as well as comparisons with other translations (ESV, NASB, NIV, ERV, NLT). My goal is to reflect the text accurately, and to highlight the intent of the author using concepts and vocabulary in common use today. 

This is not an essentially literal translation, and should be read as something of a commentary. 

The End Is Coming

Family, this is the second time I’ve had to remind you about this. You have the right motives, but you need to remember what the prophets said in the past. Your master and rescuer gave this same message through us, too. The message is this: at the end of everything, arrogant skeptics will make their way into the church. They’ll give in to every impulse they have. They’ll say stuff like, “Didn’t he say he was coming back?” and, “Nothing’s really changed since our ancestors died, we’re all still here.” They forget that God built the sky and planet with some words. He built everything out of water and used water to destroy the earth during the flood. Right now, he’s preserving the planet with a special fate in mind. At the end, the planet we’re on right now will be burned with fire. That’s when morally corrupt people will be judged and destroyed. You cannot forget that God doesn’t experience time the same way we do. He isn’t dragging his feet, like some are claiming. He’s holding off because he really doesn’t want anyone to die lost. He wants every person to be saved! 

God’s Spiritual Stimulus Plan

Wednesday’s Column: Third’s Words

Gary III

Gary Pollard

Many Americans have recently been recipients of a stimulus check. Quite a few have taken that and made some big purchases or padded a savings account or used it for much-needed relief. Whether or not this stimulus was an economically sound decision, most have seen it as a well-timed gift that – at least in the short term – has lessened some of the difficulties of this pandemic. It was designed to bring relief, and for many it has. 

We often look at salvation as something we received at baptism (which we did, I Pt. 3.21, Acts 2.38, Col. 2.12-14). We are grateful to have grace and a mediator for when we fall short as Christians, and this gift is not something we should ever take for granted. 

When we think about how we got salvation, though, we don’t always think about the enormous amount of preparation that went into it. The ability to have our sin problem erased (Colossians describes it as a certificate of debt with legal demands in 2.14) is no small gift. 

I Peter 1.10-12 says, “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from Heaven – things into which angels long to look.” 

Briefly, I’d look to look at how this passage brings out the enormous value of salvation. Firstly, ancient prophets were told that this salvation was for future generations. They wrote about this while living under a far more difficult system of godly living, knowing that they would not be beneficiaries of that salvation. 

Secondly, the early church benefited from the sacrifices and hardships of those who brought the message of salvation to them. It was valuable enough that those men were willing to assume that risk to give it to others. 

Thirdly, angels – who, like the early prophets, are not beneficiaries of this salvation – were extremely interested in salvation. 

If two of the groups mentioned here were not even beneficiaries but strongly desired to know more about it or recorded it for all time, what does that tell us about salvation’s value? Peter set up its value this way to encourage the early church to live holy lives. 

Knowing just how valuable our salvation is should push us to live like we appreciate it! Not only does it have enormous value as a gift, the One who gave it wants us to have it. With that in mind, let’s cultivate greater appreciation and godliness because of the awesome gift of salvation. And if we know anyone who could use it, let’s pass the good news on to them, too. 

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