TIMES OF TURMOIL

I was asked to reminisce on 4 passages today (Jeremiah 14:11 – 16:15; I Thessalonians 2:9 – 3:13; Psalm 80 and Proverbs 25:1 – 5). Some of these passages provide warnings in times of troubles and Proverbs tells why we seek out things we do against God’s will.

In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet is told by God that the followers of the false prophets would be punished by God’s wrath. No amount of pleading by Jeremiah would save the Israelites. Today, we face a world of false prophets who are leading us astray. We need to read God’s word to discern truth versus false teachings.

In Paul’s letter, he warns against the “deceiver”; yet he affirms the believers in the continued growth in faith that Timothy reports back to him. Paul states both God and Christ will cause “increase and abound in love for one another” so that our hearts be “established without blame in holiness”.

The Psalm has many elements of a “blessing” that I used in my youth growing up. I will share it at the end of my musing. The Psalmist writes during a time of turmoil for the northern tribes of Israel. We, too, are in a time of turmoil.  Many have turned their hearts away from God’s word, laws and teachings. Some of our voices have become silent in fear of the fallen.

The first 5 verses of Proverbs tell us that God “conceals matters to govern His universe.” Mankind wants to be in control and so we want to search out the things reserved by God. We tend to want things to “be our way not His way.” We want to be in control. Thus, we create our own turmoil instead of allowing God’s way to lead us.

In closing, I want to share this blessing from Numbers 6:24 – 26:
“May the Lord bless you and keep you.
May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
May the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.”