Today’s Scrip-Bit 7 May 2014 Jeremiah 5:23

Jeremiah 5:23. But this people hath a revolting and rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone (departed).

And then it was Wednesday; the middle of the week already! Wow! 
 
How we doing mih people? We’re halfway there, so please don’t falter, don’t give up now. Today is the day to catch our second wind. 
 
Like the marathon runner, who halfway to the finish line, finds his breath and strength faltering, let’s take a deep breath, then boldly declare: ‘Let’s go Jesus! It’s you and me against the world! And I know that once You are in my corner, that we are a majority, and can’t be beaten by anybody, ever!’ 
 
Yes Friends, with Jesus walking beside, before and behind us, we are invincible, like one of those impregnable fortresses of old. I guess that’s why Bruh David continually referred to Him as his rock, his fortress and his high tower. 
 
There’s a certain strength, power, awesomeness and magnificence inherent in not only the name of Jesus, but also in His abilities, which we will do well not to forget. 
 
Unfortunately though my fellow believers, those of us who can feel that impregnable and invincible aura and spirit seem to be in the minority these days, as most of our world is better described by our Bit: ‘But this people hath a revolting and rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone (departed).’ 
 
How sad and heart-rending my brethren, that most of God’s supposed greatest creation have returned to an ungodly time, as did the nation of Israel in Jeremiah’s day! 
 
Listen to the description of those ungodly times: ‘Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. 
 
For among my people are found wicked men: they lay (lie in) wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men. As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen (grown) rich. 
 
They are waxen (have grown) fat, they shine (are sleek): yea, they overpass (surpass) the deeds of the wicked: they judge (plead) not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge (defend). 
 
Shall I not visit (punish) for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? 
 
A wonderful (astonishing) and horrible thing is committed in the land; The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means (rule by their own power); and my people LOVE to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?’ (Jer.5:24-31) 
 
Ah mih breddren, mih breddren! How sad and disgusting! And as I said yesterday, those words so aptly and thoroughly describe our current society, that it seems as though the prophet Jeremiah is within our midst penning our awful sinfulness. 
 
And we’ll just share a very interesting note from the scholars’ on one of those verses. ‘5:30. Judah’s sin is so exceedingly evil that it is being described as being appallingly horrible and staggeringly wonderful (wondered at in shocked disbelief).’ 
 
That ought to give us some idea of how terrible, how ungodly the situation was back then in Judah. And yuh know, the saying that history repeats itself, is proving to be ever so true in this case. We’re behaving just like Judah did in those sorry and sinful times. 
 
And I daresay worse, because some of the sin, perversity, immorality and disgusting behaviour that we are currently propagating, flaunting and revelling in, were unknown back then. Ah Lord eh! 
 
I’m sure that even the most perverted and sinful in those olden times, would be greatly astonished and perplexed at the extremely high levels to which we’ve taken sin and disobedience to God. 
 
But Friends, as we said above, history often repeats itself, and thus, if we’re behaving like Judah did, then isn’t it logical to expect that we’ll also suffer a fate akin to theirs – namely destruction, captivity and exile from our homeland? 
 
And we all know the words that that astute sleuth Sherlock Holmes would have replied in answer to that question: ‘Elementary, my dear Watson!’ 
 
And it is an elementary bit of logic Friends! But sadly, despite the supposed advances in our level of intelligence and otherwise over the intervening years, we’ve become too proud and egotistical, believing that those advances were all our own doing. 
 
Thus we can’t see the proverbial trees for the forest before us, (or is it the other way around – smile) and we consider history as merely a dead thing of the past, which can’t happen to us again. But my people, I have news for us; history is alive and kicking, just like our great God! 
 
And as the Rasta breddren that once taught me History back in High School, many moons ago, was wont to so wisely note, as he put his ‘brogued’ feet on the desk, stroked his scruffy beard with his right hand and deeply intoned: ‘What is History? History is a lesson of the past. And why do we learn History? So that we can understand the present and the future!’ 
 
And that’s gospel truth my fellow believers! But just like so many of us, who either refuse to read the Bible, or simply don’t believe it, the same way we’re making fools of ourselves by not paying sufficiently close attention to the very important, indelible and irreversible facts of History! 
 
Oh my brethren, I’m pleading with us today, please, please, let’s not be like those who have gone before us, ignoring the facts of history. But instead, let’s be wiser and pay serious attention to the repeated history of mankind, sorry though it may be, and also give greater attention to God’s Word found in His Holy Bible. 
 
That is wisdom of the heavenly kind, which we so badly need nowadays, and which is the only thing that will save us from destruction, like the ungodly, disobedient nations of old. 
 
Therefore, today, let’s contemplate, let’s seriously ponder those last words of our scripture passage: ‘and what will ye do in the end thereof?’ Now that’s the most important question, we need to answer. Much LOVE!
 
…how many times does Jesus have to say it eh… before we listen…he that hath an ear…let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches…He says it several times in Revelation…please check it out…and LISTEN…
 
 

 


 

Today’s Scrip-Bit 11 February 2014 Isaiah 9:16

Isaiah 9:16.   For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed.
 
Ah mih people, at last the ole fella’s beginning to feel somewhat human again. (smile) I finally had a decent night’s rest. Thanks be to God! Oh, I was up early, but decided to go back to sleep, if I could. And you better believe I fell back to sleep with no problem whatsoever. 
 
Ah Lord eh! I never expected it to be so hard to re-acclimatize to the cold, but that just shows what a finely tuned machine the human body is. Oh, and I haven’t felt so cold in a long, long time. Steups! But what to do eh? Just grin and bear it, and believe that with the Lord’s help you will make it through!
 
So what’s on today’s agenda eh? Oh I just discovered this interesting quote on a piece of paper here. I don’t remember where I got it from, or if I’ve ever shared it before, but if so, it’s definitely worth sharing again.
 
It’s attributed to the American artist, Skip Whitcomb. And it says: ‘Outdoors is where the great mystery lies, so going into nature should be a searching and hushing experience, like going to church.’
 
Oh Friends, that’s perfect truth! For God’s creation is so magical, magnificent and efficiently designed that when we venture into nature, we ought to be quietly astonished and respectful to the wonders we find there! And we’re not only referring to lush greenery and colourful flowers, but also to the desert areas, the watery spots and even the snow covered fields.
 
That’s because each type of territory has its own special attraction, as well as the essence and presence of God, so that wherever we are on God’s great earth, we will find something beautiful to admire and contemplate, and most importantly, feel His sublime but refreshing presence.
 
That’s why there’s such cleanliness, beauty and majesty in a new snowfall, as you look at it through a window, behind warm walls. (smile) And even when you go tramping through it, it feels somewhat euphoric. Hn, Hn! Don’t think I’m going to feel euphoric today though. (smile)
 
But then, once man has ventured into any natural areas, it becomes ugly and full of garbage, since we seem to always abuse God’s generous gifts.
 
Oh Friends, sorry for that short interruption, about ten minutes, I heard the garbage truck in the area and had to run to put out mine. Well not really run, since that word no longer seems to be applicable to my actions. (smile) Then I had to make a cup of hot ginger tea, which I’m now sipping as we speak, to replace the warmth I lost in the cold outside.
 
But getting back to our abuse of God’s generous gifts, it not only happens in nature, but even more so in humankind, as our Bit so rightly declares. ‘For the leaders of this people cause them to err, and they that are led of them are destroyed.’
 
Oh my brethren, unfortunately, it also seems that wherever man and man congregate, abuse, oppression and all the other negative and sinful acts and emotions always abound!
 
But in this last message on this topic, I want us to pay particular attention to what God declared through the prophet Micah, because in God’s unchanging nature and law, it still stands, still holds true for our generation and all those to come. Here Micah talks about the judgement on the prophets. 
 
‘Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth and cry, Peace (when there is a bite to eat, they cry, all is well); and he that putteth not (nothing) into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
 
Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision (be without vision); and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine (be without divination); and the sun shall go down over (on) the prophets, and the day shall be dark over (for) them.
 
Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded (embarrassed): yea, they shall all cover their lips (mouths); for there is no answer of (from) God.’ (Mic.3:5-7)
 
Oh my fellow believers, that’s some of the kind of stuff that lies in wait for the leaders, false prophets and teachers who abuse and oppress God’s people!
 
And hear this explanation from the scholars. ‘3:5-8. Cover their lips: They will be put to shame and will show this shame openly by covering their lips, which was an oriental gesture to indicate shame and mourning.’ 
 
But that’s not all mih people. Micah continues: ‘But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgement (justice), and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the houses of Jacob, and princes (rulers) of the house of Israel, that abhor judgement (justice), and pervert all equity.
 
They build up Zion with blood (bloodshed), and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward (a bribe), and the priests thereof teach for hire (pay), and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say (saying), Is not the Lord among us? none evil (no harm) can come upon us.
 
Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps (heaps of ruins), and the mountain of the house (temple) as the high places (bare hills) of the forest.’ (Mic.3:8-12)
 
Oh my fellow believers, please rest assured that our God will not allow these evil leaders, prophets and priests who are currently abusing their power, to continue unchallenged in their evil ways, but they will eventually feel His wrath and be brought to justice.
 
So if you’re being abuse, oppressed or hurt in some form and fashion by the works and decrees of our evil leaders, please take heart, our God is still on His throne, still in control of His universe, and in His time, He will punish and destroy the evil doers. Much LOVE!
 
…believers are guaranteed…through God’s Word…that the wicked will pay for their wickedness…it’s just a matter of time…
 
P.S. Please excuse the Bit’s lateness, for as the song says, it’s just one of those days, just one of those days. (smile) Much LOVE!