Echoes from the Campfire

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

There was nothing easier in the world than setting the Bible down, closing the cover, and neglecting to read it…”
                    –Kenneth Pratt (To Kill a Dragon)

       “When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice… He will not forsake you…”
                    –Deuteronomy 4:30-31, (NKJV)
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Election by God, whether individual or national, has great privileges and responsibilities.  Israel, the chosen people, was to fulfill God’s purposes.  Amos proclaims, “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (3:2, NKJV)  God had been faithful, but the covenant nation of Israel had not been faithful to God.  As Peter C. Craigie says, “The nation’s past did not give it a license to sin, but imposed a special imperative to live in righteousness.”   The same is true of believers.  It would do us good to heed the words of the Apostle Paul, “What then?  Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?  Certainly not!” (Romans 6:15, NKJV)  Perhaps the King James gives a stronger admonition, “Should we sin?…God forbid!”
     Israel had forgotten all that God had done for them in the past; they had forgotten His blessings, now they would be judged.  Lloyd Ogilvie states, “The nation was a rebellious child caught in the bind of a continuing tantrum against Yahweh’s authority.”  Mercy, look at the news over the past few years.  There is certainly a “continuing tantrum” taking place.  Lawless cities, anarchy in some places, the havoc of progressive society with no rules or regulations, the influx of immigrants many of which are evil and cunning waiting to take advantage of their new situation.  There is the continual mockery of God’s moral laws, the senseless murder of the unborn, and the snide smiles of those in leadership against the blessings of God, not recognizing Him as the Blesser.
     To forget is dangerous.  Ravi Zacharias related that once he was on a trip and sitting next to him was a young man who seemed to be distraught and somewhat cynical.  He told Rev. Zacharias that he was going to a family reunion to which he said, “Nothing is worse than nostalgia.”  To which Ravi replied, “Nothing except amnesia.”  To forget, to deny the One who has blessed our lives, who has blessed this great nation is placing themselves in a precarious position.  Paul tells us why we are to remember, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20, NKJV)  “Glorifying God is our vocation, our calling.  This includes personal piety and social righteousness.” (Ogilvie)
     One of the most familiar passages found in Amos is 3:3, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” (NKJV)  I am reminded that Adam walked with God until sin came and he hid himself.  Enoch walked with God and the Lord took him.  One walked away from God choosing sin, the other man walked step in step in unison with the Lord.  Amos is telling us that God cannot walk, can no longer have fellowship with His own people because of their iniquity.  They have chosen against Him.  To walk with God means to have “a starting place, a shared pace, and a shared destination” (Ogilvie)  It is our obligation, our duty to walk in step with God.  We are not to walk in a different direction or not to walk in accordance to His word.  “This is My way,” He is telling us, “walk in it.”  Yet they were oblivious, careless, ignorant, and scoffable at their obligations before the Lord.
     “The prophet simply informs sinning Israel that pending evil judgment should arouse them from their self-sufficiency and imagined self-security” (Albert Garner)  The lion is roaring, is anyone listening?  The warning blast from the trumpet is sounding, yet there is no fear.  Israel is either blind, ignorant, or numb to the warnings given by the prophet.  They do not seem to care or realize that they have a great obligation before the Lord.  God will not excuse their actions.  Jesus proclaimed, “…For everyone to whom much is given, for him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.” (Luke 12:48, NKJV)
     Has the trumpet been sounding?  Has calamity come in various forms to waken us?  Are we listening?  Are we heeding His warnings?  Amos was fulfilling his calling.  “Amos heard the roar of God’s word” (Ogilvie).  Each of us should heed God’s warning.  We are without excuse, just as Israel was, and perhaps more so as we have the Bible easily available to us.  Has itching ears caused us to cast aside the Word of God?  Each of us should understand that “obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).  If we neglect the warnings, and are not obedient, what then?”  Matthew Henry warns us, “The distinguishing favors of God to us, if they do not serve to restrain us from sin, shall not serve to exempt us from punishment.”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

We were born to discover and to build, you and I, for the others who will come after us. They will live in a richer, sweeter land, but we will have made the trails.”
                    –Louis L’Amour  (The Man From the Broken Hills)

       “But I will raise up for Myself a faithful priest who will do according to what is in My heart and My soul; and I will build him an enduring house, and he will walk before My anointed always.” 

                    –1 Samuel 2:35 (NASB)
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Psalm 127 seems to have two parts to this short psalm.  The first speaks of a house, a nation, an individual, the second with the family.  Let me relate what George Wood says in regard to this psalm.  “We are midway on the climb up to Jerusalem.  Your geographical location today may be different from the Psalmist’s; but if you have been journeying upward for some time out of a deep personal valley, you may just want to lie down and quit.  You’ve gone too far to turn around and go back, but you don’t think you have the stamina to make it the rest of the way.  You won’t survive unless help comes from outside yourself.”

          1 — Unless the LORD builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.
          2 — It is vain for you to rise up early, sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep.
          3 — Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is a reward.
          4 — Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one’s youth.
          5 — Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; they shall not be ashamed, but shall speak with their enemies in the gate.  (NKJV)

     Look at your life, your family.  Has the Lord built it, or have you endeavored to use cheaper material–yourself.  It is vital that we all seek to build a life and a family of value.  It is also important that we are sensitive to the dangers that may be lurking nearby or that may be in the near or distant future–in other words, remain alert.  Read over this psalm again and note how it shows the priorities and practices of the family that is forged by faith.  
     Blessings of the home are gifts from God and they take work to nurture and develop.  A strong family, established in the Lord with godly principles is a great aid to the growth of the kingdom of God.  A home should/must be built upon the Word of God.  Matthew Henry wrote, “Where we have a tent, God must have an altar.”  Where there is a home, there must be the instruction from the Word of God.  A godly home and successful work cannot occur apart from the Lord’s blessing.  A home without God, is vain (empty, useless, meaningless, futile).
     God is also the divine protector of the home/city.  Unless the home is under His care the enemy will come in to destroy.  To strive hard without God in the center of one’s life is again in vain.  When we trust in the Lord, keep things in balance, strive to work hard, we will have the ability to lie down at night in peaceful rest.  “God gives inner tranquility and contentment to the person who works in humble obedience to Him.”  (Steven Lawson)
     This psalm, according to Wood, provides three vital truths about God’s personal care:  1) He builds your life, 2) He watches over you, 3) He provides for you.  Everything does not depend upon us; we need to depend and trust upon the Lord.  It is vital that the children living under the parent’s care are shaped and that their lives are directed in the ways of God.  The parents must provide a godly influence.  Arrows must be made and shaped.  They must be straight or they will go off course when they are shot into the world.  The feathers must be just right.  In other words, it takes time and effort to make an arrow, just as it does a life.  Lawson says that, “This involves biblical instruction, moral correction, firm discipline, and loving affirmation.”  One other word regarding arrows–they must be shot at a target not just fired up into the air.  Children must be ready to meet the world, and finally, the arrow must be released.  So many times it is not the child that has tied themselves to the apron strings (though more and more we see this) but it is the parents that hold onto the “arrow.”

               “O happy home, where Thou art not forgotten,
               When joy is overflowing full and free;
               O happy home, where every wounded spirit
               Is brought, Physician, Comforter, to Thee.”
                      –Carl J. Spitta

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Sometimes you just have to turn away from the past and walk forward in life one day at a time.”
                    –Kenneth Pratt  (The Wolves of Windsor Ridge)

       “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers.”

                    –Psalm 1:1 (ESV)
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               “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.”
                         –Genesis 5:24(NKJV)

What does it mean to “walk with God”? Hebrews 11:5 gives a little light on this, “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him, before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” (NKJV)  Walking with God means walking in faith; it means walking in fellowship and obedience.

          “When we walk with the Lord
          In the Light of His Word
          What a glory He sheds on our way…”
               –J.H. Sammis

     Walking with the Lord means to walk in the light of His Word.  “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105)  We must stay in and obey the Word of God if we are to walk with Him.  And, perhaps, there is more implied, for it is Jesus who is the Light of the world.  John Piper states, “Part of the whole process of walking in God’s call is the active engagement of our will in resolving to do righteousness.”
     Enoch was in fellowship and cooperation with God.  It is impossible to walk with someone unless you are going the same way they are.  Enoch had to be going in the same direction God was.  Something else we must consider here is Enoch was living in that perverse time before the Flood.  “Imagine how difficult it must have been to walk with God during those years before the flood, when vice and violence were prevalent and only a remnant of people believed God” (Wiersbe).  Imagine Enoch out walking with God, then put yourself in the same place walking with Him, and as Ray Stedman puts it, “A walk is a series of steps taken day, after day, after day, after day, with God”.
     As we walk this road, and at times it does get wearisome, often God will send someone to walk it with us along the way.  Note, people can walk with you, but they cannot walk it for you!  The words of this old song come to mind.  It is considered traditional, but it was first published by Woodie Guthrie.

          “You gotta walk that lonesome valley,
          You gotta walk it by yourself,
          Nobody here can walk it for you,
          You gotta walk it by yourself.

          There’s a road that leads to glory
          Through a valley far away,
          Nobody else can walk it for you,
          They can only point the way.”

     So many thoughts were going through my mind the other night when I was thinking about walking with the Lord.  It is a daily walk, step by step, and ongoing.  Thoughts were flitting, so maybe later we’ll take another look at walking, but take one more look at Enoch.  Stedman notes this, “Enoch’s life is a testimony to us, that if we walk with God we shall not see death; that the answer to barrenness, drabness and dullness is this daily stepping out by faith on the promises of God; this daily testing of His promises of His presence, and reckoning upon them.”  God is there as you walk through this world, and He is taking each step with you.  So think of those words by Kenneth Morris:

          “Just a closer walk with Thee, Grant it Jesus, is my plea;
          Daily walking close to Thee, Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.”

 

Echoes From the Campfire

by Ira Paine, Posted on

Doin’ right for yerself is good. Doin’ right by others makes all the difference.”
                    –Chris Mullen  (Rowdy: Wild and Mean, Sharp and Keen)

       “Keep in mind that I am not talking now to your children, who have never experienced the discipline of the Lord your God or seen his greatness and his strong hand and powerful arm.”

                    –Deuteronomy 11:2 (NLT)
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Proverbs 1:  NKJV
          2 — To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding.
          3 — To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity;
          4 — To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion–  
ESV
          2 — To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
          3 — to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
          4 — to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth.

It’s up to us!  We decide which road to take; we decide which fork in the road is the better way.  The words of James speaks loudly to us, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says.” (1:22, NIV)  Thus we turn to Proverbs as a guidebook in the decisions of life.  With the demands of life that we must face, Bob Beasley reminds us, “Many roads in life promise a future of success and happiness.  But there is only one road of sure success.”
     The greatest benefit of godly wisdom comes down to one thing:  good decision-making (Beasley).  Look at all that is offered to us:  1) know wisdom and instruction, 2) understand words of insight, 3) receive instruction in wise dealing in righteousness, justice, and equity, 4) prudence to the simple, and 5) knowledge and discretion to youth.  “Wisdom is the choice of the best ends; to guide our affairs with discretion.” (Wardlaw)
     To be wise…there are many brilliant and knowledgeable people who lack wisdom.  To know Christ is the foundation of wisdom.  Paul reminds us, “Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age?  Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20, NIV)  According to J. Vernon McGee, “To know Christ is not to play the fool; it is to be a wise man.”  Paul continues in the same chapter of Corinthians, “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.” (1:30, NIV)  There then follows instruction.  The NIV translates this as “discipline.”  McGee emphasizes that idea, “Instruction means you teach by discipline.”  In fact, “chasten” more literally means “to give instruction'” the purpose then is not to punish as a criminal, but to teach by discipline.  Instruction signifies moral training, admonition, then good habits–the practical side of life.  
     Understanding means intelligence, but to teach by discipline.  “We need to recognize that God expects us to use our intelligence.  He expects us to use a great deal of sanctified common sense.”  This is distinguishing between good and evil counsel.  We are also to receive righteousness, justice, and equity.  Right behavior to paramount to life.  Then what is right?  Right is whatever God says.  We must understand that right and wrong are not relative terms in the mind of God, therefore, we make decisions based on the word of God.  Part of being just is our attitude in relation to God.  Proverbs can teach us how to live intelligently, and how to be honest, just, and fair.  McGee states, “This refers to principle rather than conduct.  The child of God is not put under rules, but we are given great principles which should guide us.”  Having been persuaded that we have made the right decisions we should be happy and actively pursue it without regret.  McGee emphasizes that what we do then “ought to be done with anticipation, excitement, and joy.”
     Prudence, that often misunderstood term–prudence is the ability to use reason to control oneself and make careful choices.  It involves judgment, practical reasoning, planning, and restraint.  “It is to be wise in what we do.  A child of God ought not to act foolishly.” (McGee)  We are not to be naive or ignorant; proper knowledge is to be given to the young.  This means information that is useful; it is part of training for life.  With knowledge is discretion which is to mean thoughtfulness.
     We see then part of the purpose in the study of Proverbs.  Listen to the words of the wise.  Do not forget their teaching for it will save a lot of trouble and heartache along this road of life.