Testing Our Hearts

In our reading last week, the Lord kept taking me back to 2 Chron. 32:31, "However, when ambassadors arrived from Babylon to ask about the remarkable events that had taken place in the land, God withdrew from Hezekiah in order to test him and to see what was really in his heart." The word "withdrew" in the NLT is translated "left" in the NIV and means the same thing as forsake or forsook. The Hebrew word for left or forsake is Azab which means to forsake, abandon, leave behind, desert. Since God tells us in Heb. 13:5 that He will never leave us or forsake us (which is a quote from Deut. 31:6), I wanted to know what "leaving" Hezekiah meant.

On the cross, when Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matt. 27:46), he was quoting Ps. 22:1. God was not putting an end to their relationship; He was leaving Jesus to suffer alone - something the Son of God had never experienced. Matthew Henry's Commentary says this, "God hid his face from him, and for awhile withdrew his rod and staff in the darksome valley. God forsook him, not as he forsook Saul, leaving him to an endless despair, but as sometimes he forsook David, leaving him to a present despondency. He let out upon his soul an afflicting sense of his wrath against man for sin. Christ was made Sin for us, a Curse for us; and therefore, though God loved him as a Son, he frowned upon him as a Surety (One who made himself responsible for our sin debts).

Just this week we read in Isa. 53:10, "But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord's good plan will prosper in his hands." So I wondered if I could assume that since it was the Lord's good plan to forsake his Son, it was also his good plan to withdraw from Hezekiah? I believe this is a great example of the Scripture in Romans 8 that says that God works ALL things together for good. It was God's good plan to test Hezekiah in order for him to see what was in his own heart - not for God to see (he already knew). God left him to himself to show that Hezekiah was proud of himself and his wealth, for when Isaiah asked him what had happened, Hezekiah replied, "I showed them everything I owned - all MY royal treasuries."
2 Kings 20:15 (my caps). Hezekiah knew that God was the one who had blessed him and certainly God deserved the praise and glory for all he owned. I really like Hezekiah, so it is
disappointing when he did not repent after Isaiah confronted him. "For the king was thinking, 'At least there will be peace and security during my lifetime.'" (2 Kings 20:19). How utterly selfish and prideful - proof of what really was in his heart.

When God promises us in Heb. 13:5 that he will never leave us or forsake us, He must be declaring that he will never completely abandon us or put us totally out of his presence. At times, like Hezekiah, he does leave us for a time to test us so we can see what is in our hearts. I wonder if it's somewhat like a parent who has to put a child in time-out for awhile in order for the child to think about his transgression and be willing to repent. It is good for us to know ourselves and our weaknesses and sinfulness. It keeps us from conceit and self-confidence. It should help us to depend upon God's divine grace.

My Bible commentary likened that testing of Hezekiah to the same testing of God's people in Deut. 8. God tells his people in verse 2 "REMEMBER how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humbling you and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands." (my caps). Verse 5 continues, "Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the Lord your God disciplines you for your own good."

I liken my life as a student who is constantly being trained, taught and tested in this world so I will be a better servant of God each day in this life and be better prepared to serve my Lord and King in heaven someday. Sadly, I continually have to learn the hard way that it is not about ME;
it is about GOD! Back to Jesus on the cross. Matthew Henry's Commentary showed me something I have never considered, "That our Lord Jesus, even when he was thus forsaken of his Father, kept hold of him as his God, notwithstanding; My God, my God; though forsaking me, yet mine...even in the depth of his sufferings God was his God, and this he resolves to keep fast hold of." I pray that from this day forward when God tests me that my heart will cry out "My God, my God" and refrain from pridefully taking the credit for the good in my life or complaining when I have to endure suffering. So now I'm comforted to know that God sometimes leaves me to myself, because I know he will return so I can repent and let him take me in his loving arms to feel his pleasure once again.

Idolatry

Psalm 115

 ¹ Not to us, O LORD, not to us
   but to your name be the glory,
   because of your love and faithfulness.

 ² Why do the nations say,
   “Where is their God?”
³ Our God is in heaven;
   he does whatever pleases him.
⁴ But their idols are silver and gold,
   made by the hands of men.
⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
   eyes, but they cannot see;
⁶ they have ears, but cannot hear,
   noses, but they cannot smell;
⁷ they have hands, but cannot feel,
   feet, but they cannot walk;
   nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
   and so will all who trust in them.

Since we live in a nation that idolizes “silver and gold”, I thought I would meditate on this passage.

First I just mentally listed all the items “made by the hands of men” that can capture our fancy:  money, houses, cars, art, motorcycles, cell phones, computers, clothes, comfortable beds, chairs, air conditioners, movies, c.d.’s, r.v.’s, books, retirement portfolios, hair products… of course the list could go on and on. 

Of course none of the objects are evil in nature, but when we focus more on these items than God, we are told in verse 8 we will become like them.  So then I began to think about what that looks like.  I broke down each portion of the verse and explored what behaviors a person might exhibit if they are worshipping a man-made object. 

1.   ⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak,

The longer I worship something other than God, the less courage I have to speak out against evil.  I also do not have wisdom or truth to share.  I cannot speak words of peace or joy.

2.  eyes, but they cannot see;

When I am not worshiping God with all my heart, mind and soul, first I do not want to help others.  If I were to continue down the path, eventually I would not see opportunities to help others.  In addition, if I neglect God worship, I do not see relationships as a blessing from God.  I focus only on the burdensome aspects of relationships.  I cannot enjoy the simple joys of children, nature and animals- all of whom God (not man) has created.  The focus is all on man-made objects.  I cannot see solutions and victory and healing by the power of God- I only see pain and problems.

3.  ⁶ they have ears, but cannot hear,

If I slip into idolatry I cannot hear the pain of those around me- the disguised cries for a friend and savior.  I cannot bear to hear correction.  I cannot hear truth and beauty or words or words of peace.

4.   noses, but they cannot smell;

Our sense of smell alerts us to danger- burning smells, gas smells, etc.  An idolater lacks the ability to recognize dangerous paths- and the dangerous thinking and decisions that lead down the path to self reliance or dependence on the wrong people. 

Again, I believe that enjoying God’s creation is an important part of our spiritual health, and nature is full of pleasing aromas.  I am sometimes consumed by problems when I am surrounded by my man-made objects inside my man-made house.  I feel a freedom and release when I step outside, away from highways, and take a walk.  When I gaze upon the universe, my problems are put into perspective.  When I am walking through the woods- my needs seems so few.  I enjoy blessings in the form of magnificent trees, delicate flowers and expansive skies.  For those who have ears, eyes and even noses to see, hear and smell- the creation testifies and praises the God who created the universe.     

5.  ⁷ they have hands, but cannot feel,

Our sense of touch allows us to feel pain so that we may avoid further damage.  If we cannot feel, we may leave ourselves in a situation where we are being hurt- and we cannot even feel the damage.

Also, we loose the wisdom that comes from our sense of touch which instructs us how tightly or loosely to hold an object.  I think an idolater looses perspective on how tight and loose to hold the children and other relationships in their lives.

God designed us to feel love and comfort from the appropriate touch within proper relationships.  An idolater does not feel love and comfort- instead he or she may seek a substitute pleasure outside of the God given relationships.  Or the person may starve and withdraw for lack of love.      

6.     feet, but they cannot walk;   

We feel stuck in the same repeating situation.  We cannot follow where Jesus is asking us to go.

I want to be alive in Jesus- He has come that I may experience life- and more abundantly!  Idolatry makes me numb- like the walking dead.  But the good news is that when we feel this way, we can take a closer look to see if worship of a God replacement has been creeping into our life.  Jesus came to heal the blind, lame, deaf and mute.  He can restore us if we seek him.  Glory be to God- because of his love and faithfulness.     

"Be Excellent to Each Other"

Okay...what movie is that quote from?  No cheating Amy! You can't ask Brian since he knows all quotes from every movie. =)

Even though it's from a silly movie, it kind of sums up much of the wisdom found in Proverbs.  But it particularly describes the way a wife should be towards her husband, her family, her neighbors, the poor, and anyone else she comes in contact with. 

As I was reading the introduction to Proverbs in my study Bible, I came across the fact that no author is named for the song in praise of the excellent wife that ends the book.  My first thought was "Well, whoever it was obviously wasn't married because they still had unrealistic expectations!" haha =)

I joke about it but the truth is we women do sometimes use these high standards as an excuse to brush over Proverbs 31 and not even try.  When the reality is, we may not be excellent to our husbands all the time but this description is the ideal model that we should strive for everyday.  Single women also need to be excellent to their future husbands in the same way found in these verses (actions, thoughts, words, etc) even as a young girl.  And if you never marry then by practicing these proverbs you will still be an excellent woman which is equally as valuable.

One of the reoccurring ways we can be excellent to each other is by not being quarrelsome.

Proverbs 25:24 "It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife."

Proverbs 27:15-16 "A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; to retrain her is to retrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand."

Throughout Proverbs we are warned over and over again about what we as wives should not be.
Proverbs 31 spells out for us how we should be - figuratively and literally as this poem is an acrostic in which each verse begins with the successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

So I challenge you to go back through Proverbs 31 and other parts of the book (particularly those pertaining to wives/women) and ask yourself just how excellent you are in each one those areas right now in your life.  Are you excellent to your husband by not being quarrelsome? Are you excellent to him by doing good to him and not harm all the days of your life?  Are you so excellent to him enough that his heart trusts in you? 

You could even make a chart.  Or use a scale from 1-5.  Be creative.  One of the goals of this exercise is to find areas you are struggling with so you know how to pray.  Another end result is so you will be encouraged as you begin to see ways that you are excellent to your husband, your family, and each other.  I have a feeling that I will have a lot of praying to do once I finish my list.

God is telling us to be excellent to each other (I doubt he's playing the air guitar as he says it though.) so have you and your spouse begun your excellent adventures together?

Come on...those are some big movie hints! =)

A Winding Path

I have had a strange past few weeks.  Tuesday morning we left for a family vacation.  Wednesday we were deep in the earth marveling at the underground masterpieces of Carlsbad Caverns.  Thursday we marveled at the mountainous splendors high above the earth in northern New Mexico.  Friday we were awakened by one of God’s fierce creatures- a brazen but beautiful black bear.  I say beautiful because I am no longer within feet of its presence.  I would have focused on the brazen that night. 

(I felt a fearful respect- I was awed, but there was no love in that respect.  I only wanted out of that creature’s presence.  I knew it did not have my best interests at heart.  I knew it held no particular love or understanding of me.  I wonder if that is how the unrighteous feel in God’s presence- and by unrighteous, I mean those who have not accepted Christ’s offer to make us right with God.) 

Saturday we hiked and beheld a different kind of majesty from red rock cliffs that overlooked green fields flanking the Pecos River.  Monday we saw the fireworks that cascaded high above- an exquisite manmade outburst momentarily scribbling on God’s vast celestial canvas.  (I must admit that it is more fun to watch the light display as it reflects within the eyes of my children.  Their astonishment is refreshing in a hardened world.) 

Today I was blessed again to be surrounded by the loveliness wrapped within children as I participated in a good news club.  God has dazzled me with his wonders- above, below and within. 

And yet I still recall the price of those wonders.  The hiking was hard on my little ones.  The bear brought fear and danger.  The car ride: full of crying and complaining from the back seat and eye rolling and muttering from the parents trying to remain patient in the front seat.  Days filled with heat, sleepless nights of cold, packing and unpacking, changed plans, the list could go on.  I am not ignorant of the sacrifices that make the journey possible.  And yet, those petty inconveniences fade over time and I am left with the memories that shine most brilliantly.  For me, the joy remains and the rest is swept away.

My point?  God’s joy requires a little work.   

His burden may be light, but it is not for the faint of heart.  It will never be found by those who “… do not cry out to me [God] from their hearts but wail upon their beds.”  (Hosea 7:14).

 I look to Hezekiah to instruct me about the painful process of seeking righteousness, with joy as the final byproduct in II Chronicles 28- 30.  Judah has entertained a string of bad examples.  They should not be ignored- for they serve a purpose to contrast the “more excellent way”.  Ahaz served other gods and “shut the doors of the Lord’s temple”.  (vs. 24)  Those gods were “his downfall and the downfall of all Israel”. 

Finally a hero arrives on the scene.  Hezekiah at 25 years old, serves God as his “father David had done” (29:2)  I found the comment interesting.  For those that do not have a father worth imitating- we can claim a father within our lineage that is worth imitating.  It is just up to use to discover that information.  If we are Christians we are adopted sons of Abraham- so we share in the lineage of Christ.  While all the examples but the life of Jesus are imperfect, there are so many records worth imitating within the pages of the bible.  Hezekiah is one of those.    

I learn Hezekiah

1.  opened the temple doors. (vs. 3)

2.  repaired them. (vs. 3)

3.  invited others to embark upon the journey. (vs. 4)

4.  removed all defilements (vs. 5,)

5.  Analyzed the past.   The past analysis helped explain the present situation. (vs. 6-8)

6.  Made a new covenant (vs. 10)

This process of recruiting and encouraging others to join took time.  The consecration of people and the temple took time.  It was not hurried even to observe the Passover on time.  In fact Passover was delayed for a month I learned from my study bible notes. 

Next

7. The people rejoiced together at what God had accomplished. (vs. 36)

The result?  Unity for the kingdom, “great joy” 30:26, thanksgiving, singing praises, generous giving. 

I think we should go through the same process in our hearts as individuals- then in our homes, in our church, and in our community. 

I must:

1.  Open my heart to worship.  I believe this happens by asking the Holy Spirit to prepare me to worship God.

2.  Ask the Holy Spirit to mend any bitterness, anger or sin that prevents pure worship.

3.  Actively pursue others to share the spiritual journey with.  We talked about all the kings that started off right, but failed to “destroy the high places”.  Here we see Hezekiah recognizing from the start that the task of restoration is too big for him.  The other Kings tried to do it all themselves.  They managed to destroy idols in a surge of strength, but they failed to lead their country in the tedious process of true change.  God desires us to have community and to work together for his glory. 

I find it astonishing that this recruitment comes right smack in the middle of the messy restoration.  Hezekiah did not wait until the temple was clean enough to ask others to join the vision.  We cannot wait until we are good enough, smart enough, brave enough, organized enough, happy enough, talented enough, or even until we have enough time. 

4.  If the Holy Spirit reveals an area defiling our walk, we have to remove it with God’s strength.      

5.  Part of removing the defilements may involve analyzing our past- to discover the foundations for the problem.  This is not to lay blame on our past or excuse our present behavior because of what “our parent’s did to us”.  In fact, Hezekiah doesn’t mention problems within the relationship between him and his parents, but between his parents and God. 

6.  Make a new commitment to God- allowing for the realistic amount of time that is necessary for God to change our hearts and lives. 

7. Rejoice! 

I want to comment about how this process worked in my own life with a specific personal example, so I hope to add a comment later…

I welcome your comments and discussion.