Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

How almost impossible to exercise eternal vigilance! Habit was more powerful, in the long run, than the most implacable of wills.”
                    –Zane Grey  (Arizona Ames)

       “Serve the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling.”
                     –Psalm 2:11 (NASB)
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Many people will not read or they will skip over this portion of Scripture.  Some wish that it was not in the Bible.  It is a harsh set of verses, verses that depict the hardness and evil of the world.  However, we should not be quick to dismiss Psalm 137.

          5 — If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill!
          6 — If I do not remember you, let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth–if I do not exalt Jerusalem above my chief joy.
          7 — Remember, O LORD, against the sons of Edom the day of Jerusalem, who said, “Raze it, raze it, to its very foundation!”
          8 — O daughter of Babylong, who are to be destroyed, happy the one who repays you as you have served us!
          9 — Happy the one who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock!  (NKJV)

     “Remember,” a word that is used three times in the psalm.  One thing that should come to our attention is the fact that we should remember.  I could go into several reasons that we should remember, but sufficient to say that it is good that we pray that the Lord remembers us.   The psalmist is saying that is “if he should forget Jerusalem, then he has no real reason to play his harp.  He must play for the glory of God or not play at all.” (Lawson)
     In my studies concerning the Vietnam POWs, one thing that the majority of them said was that they knew that the country would remember them.  That gave them hope.  They had faith that the nation would one day, not knowing when, but there would be a day when they would be released from their captors.  In these verses we see the concept of loyalty.  Because of their hope, because they knew they would be remembered they would continue to be loyal to their country.  This is the thought that echoes in these verses.  The psalmist will not play for the taunters and mockers of God.
     Remember, he writes, those who tore down the holy city, the temple, and the walls.  George Wood writes, “We do take solace in the truth that the Lord will prevail ultimately, and that His judgments are true and righteous.”  We are in a strange world, like the psalmist.  We are waiting for the return of the Lord, but in the meantime, what do we do?  Remember the words of Paul, “‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19, NKJV)  Only God can show true and righteous justice in His wrath.  He will not forget us in this evil world.  He will return for His Bride.  There will come a time of divine justice.
     Remember the warnings that prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos and others gave to the people.  They boldly preached the Word of God to them, they warned them of what was coming if they did not repent.  The psalmist is remembering now, I am sure of those prophecies.  But he also remembers the Lord’s mercy, and that He will not forget His people.  Justice is coming to the evil of this world, to the mockers and blasphemers of God.  God will remember His people in His divine justice.

               “Come, y disconsolate, where’er ye languish;
               Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel;
               Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish;
               Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.”
                      –Thomas Moore

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

A mule might sometimes act like a horse, and at a distance even look like a horse, but it remained forever a mule.”
                    –Elmer Kelton  (The Pumpkin Rollers)

        “We who are strong [in our convictions and of robust faith] ought to bear with the failings and the frailties and the tender scruples of the weak; [we ought to help carry the doubts and qualms of others] and not to please ourselves.”

                    –Romans 15:1  (Amplified)
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     “So often this road gets rough and rocky…” (unknown).  Is this what Jesus meant by taking up His yoke?  We must be careful when we begin to look at the Christian life and start complaining and crying out our woes thinking that this is the yoke of Christ.  True, the yoke was a frame that joined two animals together so that they could pull a heavy load.  But before I go any further, let’s read the Scripture from Matthew.

          11:28 — Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
             :29 — Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
             :30 — For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  (NKJV)

     For sure, the yoke of the world is burdensome.  Andy Starks writes, “The world is a hard taskmaster and cannot be pleased.”  No matter what, the world always wants more.  It is like the harsh master, Simon Legree, the work done is never enough.  Work, work, work, and the body and soul rebels.  It either rebels by breaking down, or it rebels by trying to escape through myriad means:  drugs, entertainment, alcohol, and a host of other types of binges.
     Jesus had been speaking to the Pharisees so He is referring to the yoke of the law.  But, in reality, there is also the yoke of the world.  The Pharisees put heavy loads on the peoples’ shoulders, the world burdens the body and soul down, then there is that enemy of our soul that tries to push us down to the pit.  Oh, what a heavy load it is that man tries to bear.  Jesus is speaking of a different kind of yoke–His yoke.  D.A. Carson says, “That yoke is ‘easy’ (good, comfortable) and his burden is light.  The ‘rest’ he promises is not only for the world to come but also for this one as well.”  I want to read these verses again from Henry A. Harbuck’s translation”

          .28 — Come here to Me [and become My disciples], all of you who are weary and heavy-laden–(that is, all of those who are toiling, working, carrying heavy loads and burdens and the weight of religious obligations which pertain to guilt and sin), and I will give you rest–(that is, I will give you peace and rest from your weariness).
          .29 — Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me–(that is, permit Me to teach and guide you), for I am meek and gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls–(that is, you will obtain peace/quietness and assurance for you hearts or minds).
          .30 — For My yoke is easy–(that is, My yoke feels good–it’s a perfect fit and it’s pleasant], and My burden (load) is light–(that is, My burden is nearly weightless, and it feels good).

     Jesus is not saying that there won’t be troubles, trials, toils, and persecutions that the believer might face.  He is, however, saying that when dealing with those things that the world throws at us that He will give us joy, rest, and peace in the midst of them–that is His yoke.  The yoke He gives fits us perfectly and not only that, He is helping us carry the load.  The burden is not totally upon us.  “The expectations of Christ are much more easily met.” (Starks)
     The heavy burden of the Law is no longer there.  The heavy burden of guilt has been removed and there is now hope.  There is rest when you work along side of Jesus; no longer is the burden yours to bear.  If you find yourself toiling with the burdens of life, leave them at the Savior’s feet.  Drop that heavy, worldly load and pick up the yoke that Jesus offers.  He longs to help each one of us.  The obstacles and toils of the road that is rough and rocky will not be easier to bear.

               “Come unto me; I will give you rest;
               Take my yoke upon you, Hear me and be blest;
               I am meek and lowly, Come, and trust my might;
               Come, my YOKE is easy, And my burden’s light.”
                      –Charles P. Jones (emphasis mine)

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on
He’s a man, think of him as a man, and treat him like a man. Make him stand on his own two feet and take responsibility for his actions, but be fair and don’t show favoritism.”
                    –W.L. Cox  (Hunt–U.S. Marshal)
 
       “Thus says the Lord: ‘In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages.'”
                    –Isaiah 49:8 (ESV)
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          3.3 — Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart,
            .4 — And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.  (NKJV)
 
     For a few minutes let’s look at those terms at the beginning of verse 3 in Proverbs.  The NKJV translates it as “mercy and truth.”  The KJV is “truth and grace,” while the ESV uses “steadfast love and faithfulness.”  The NASB is “kindness and truth” while the NIV is “love and faithfulness.”  Interestingly, the CEB, RSV, and HCSB use “loyalty and faithfulness” but the NLT uses “loyalty and kindness” and the CEV translates it “love and loyalty.”  Now we should not quibble over this, but instead look at the truth behind the terms.  They are all intertwined.  I do think it is interesting that some versions use “loyalty” and “faithfulness” and “love.”  Now, I would suggest to you that we should be them all together.  In doing so we are to reflect them in all our thoughts and actions.
     We could argue the difference between such words.  J. Vernon McGee relates a story of how a little girl tells the difference between “kindness” and “loving-kindness.”  She said if she asks her mother for bread and butter and her mother gives it to her that is kindness.  However, if her mother adds jam to it, that then is loving-kindness.  Let’s put them all together as the Psalmist suggests, “Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.” (85:10, NKJV)  Francis Taylor suggests that “these graces must be as carefully kept as providently gotten…”  
     Note, these graces or virtues must be used together.  One theologian explains, “In policy, mercy without truth is a sweet shower dropping upon barren sands, quite split, and no blessing following it; truth without mercy is extreme right and extreme injury.”  If these virtues are split, not used together, then they will lead to hardness of heart.  However, put together and they become ornaments that will bring favor and high esteem.
     Think of a judge who lets mercy dominate his decisions and gives no regard to the law.  What then is the use of the law?  Where is justice?  On the other hand, let a judge be known for his hard-hearted decisions using only the law as a guide and never showing mercy then we have extreme legalism and law becomes predominant.  If one is dominant over the other, as Francis Taylor points out, “Mercy may lie to do good, and truth may reveal without cause what may do hurt.”  
     I am reminded of the story of the three servants found in Matthew 25.  Two of them were obedient, loyal, and had love and respect for the Master and when he came back he found them to be “good and faithful,” while the other was negligent in his duties and responsibilities.  He was then cast away.  We see here the above virtues on display.  The two servants served God and their fellow man and were rewarded properly.  Have you ever thought of what the results would have been if the Master had been overly merciful and allowed the neglectful servant the same reward?
     Realize that these should be fixed principles that help guide our lives.  Therefore we must give continual regard to God’s Word and receive and retain them.  If we practice them throughout our lives we will receive both favor and high esteem from God and man.  Let me close with a combining of the Amplified with the Amplified Classic version, “Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; [instead let these qualities define you]; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Certain men led other men—perhaps most men—to reject God, their maker and sustainer. They wanted a religion of man…to do what they wanted, how they wanted, whenever they wanted.”
                    –G.P. Hutchinson  (Strong Conviction)

       “For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?”

                    –1 Peter 4:17  (NLT)
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     Amos continues his discourse with a description of the might and power of God.  The people held a low view of God; they were apostates, worshiping other gods.  A.W. Tozer states, “The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him.”  Amos presents the God of power, or as Ogilvie relates, “God is not only inescapable, He is mighty.”

          9.5 — The Lord GOD of hosts, He who touches the earth and it melts, and all who dwell there mourn; all of it shall swell like the River, and subside like the River of Egypt.
            .6 — He who builds His layers in the sky, and has founded His strata in the earth; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the face of the earth–the LORD is His name.  (NKJV)

“Yahweh controls His creation because He is builder and founder of both heaven and earth.” (Ogilvie)  He is the Commander of the armies of heaven–this is referred to nine times by Amos.  His touch can melt the earth.  Power and mighty are His and His alone.

            .7 — “Are you not like the People of Ethiopia to Me, O children of Israel?” says the LORD.  “Did I not bring up Israel from the land of Egypt, the Philistines from Caphtor, and the Syrians from Kir?
            .8 — Behold, the eyes of the Lord GOD are on the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from the face of the earth; yet I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob,” says the LORD.
            .9 — “For surely I will command, and will sift the house of Israel among all nations, as grain is sifted in a sieve; yet not the smallest grain shall fall to the ground.
          .10 — All the sinners of My people shall die by the sword, who say, ‘The calamity shall not overtake nor confront us.'”  (NKJV)

     Amos calls Israel “the sinful kingdom.”  They are a kingdom deserving destruction.  To those who are arrogant, calamity will come.  As Ogilvie reminds us, “The greatest sin is to persist in saying we have no sin.”  However, there is a ray of hope.  God will indeed sift His people, but to those who repent, God will offer grace.  The nation will be sifted; judgment will come and sinners will be punished.  God will watch and He watches carefully over those who are faithful and He remembers His covenant.  By referring to the “house of Jacob,” God was mindful of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would therefore preserve a remnant.
     Woe unto Israel.  From this time forward until God restores the nation there would be trials and troubles.  Glance briefly at the timeline following Amos’ prophecy:
               722 B.C. — Assyrian invasion (Israel destroyed and into captivity)
               606 B.C. — Babylonian invasion (Judah destroyed and into captivity)
               66-72 — Romans drive out the Seleucids
               700 — Muslim invasion and persecution of Jews
               1100 — beginning of Crusades
               1200 — Papal persecutions
               1306-1498 — expelled from various countries in Europe many of which blamed the Jews for the “Black Death” plague
               1563 — order in Russia, they must be baptized or drowned
               1900 — persecutions begin in Austria and Germany
               1939-45 — Hitler murdered six million plus Jews

Yet God does and will remember.  The words of Peter C. Craigie give out an ominous warning:  “Righteousness and justice must be preserved at the centre, whether of the Church or of individual lives.  When they are absent there, they will disappear elsewhere.  And if the life-giving spirit of God does not flow from the centre to permeate the whole, then the judgment of God may fill the vacuum.”  Take heed of God’s warning.  Now is the day of salvation, repent and look to Him, lest He come with swift judgment.