JUDGMENT FROM GOD

“For the day of the LORD upon all the nations is near; as you have done, it shall be done to you; your reprisal shall return upon your own head” (Oba. 1:15 NKJV).

Here is a warning about Divine judgment. The phrase “The day of the Lord” speaks of Divine judgment. There are many warnings in Scripture about Divine judgment. Many folks do not like these warnings, but wisdom says to pay attention to them. Thus, we want to note the warnings: the nearness of the judgment, the nations for the judgment and the nature of the judgment.

Nearness of the judgment – “The day of the Lord is near.” The nation of Edom thought that she could not be defeated (1:3). Yet her defenses were not impregnable. It is believed by many scholars that during the 5th Century B.C., the Nabateans broke through Edom’s defenses and defeated her. Judgment is always nearer than people think. Sin lulls people into a false sense of security thinking judgment will not come, but it will.

Nations for the judgment – “All the nations.” The warning of judgment here is for all the nations. Since “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:23), all are under the judgment of God unless there is repentance. In context, the nation being warned here is the nation of Edom. They were a wicked nation that was filled with immorality and pride. Furthermore, they had mistreated the Jews. God’s judgment will come upon all such nations and peoples.

Nature of the judgment – “As you have done, it shall be done to you.” The judgment here was to treat evil nations as they had treated others. This is not a unique judgment. God often allows people to be judged by their own ways. In Gal. 6:8 we read, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Folks who are sowing seeds of evil, will one day in judgement reap that evil.

(Adapted from Butler's Daily Bible Reading 3)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“The fact that Jesus will sit upon the throne of judgment will be the consternation of His enemies and the consolation of His people!”

John Murray (1898 - 1975)

Scottish American Professor and Theologian

Word Study

Entered

In Mark 5:40 we read, “And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying!” (NKJV).

Entered is the Greek word eisporeúomai (εἰσπορεύομαι = ice-por-yoo'-om-ahee). It is made up of two words: “eis” which means in, and “poreúomai” which means to go. Literally, the word means to go or come in, and was used of both people and things. The word is often used of a person going on a journey. Figuratively, it is used of things entering such as food into mouth (Mark 7:15, 18), of desire entering into the heart (Mark 4:19), and of persons entering into God’s Kingdom (Luke 18:24).

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“For then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; yea, thou shalt be stedfast, and shalt not fear” (Job 11:15 KJV).

Did You Know…

During the Passover Celebration, the Israelites were required to eat “unleavened bread” or the “bread of affliction” for 7 days as a reminder that they came out of Egypt “in haste” (Deut. 16:3).

Bible Quiz

After Pilate found “no fault” in the Lord Jesus Christ, for what reason did the Jews say that He should die?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: According to the Scripture, “if Christ is not risen,” what happens to our preaching? “Our preaching is empty/vain” (1 Cor. 15:14).

Names For the Lord Jesus in the Bible

“CHRIST OF GOD”

"And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away!” (1 Peter 5:4 NKJV).

1. Meaning – CHRIST OF GOD speaks of the Lord Jesus as the Anointed One who was appointed by God for a special task.

2. Insights – “Christ” or Christós describes one who has been anointed, symbolizing the appointment to a task. It is used here as the title “Anointed One” and in this usage the “Messiah.” The disciples rightly believed that the Lord Jesus Christ was the “Messiah,” the future king of Israel. Christós, the long awaited Deliverer promised by God had finally arrived! Peter did not guess that the Lord Jesus was the Christ, it was revealed to him by the Father (cf. Matt. 16:17). He was the One for whom all Israel hoped. The Lord Jesus Christ is the source of hope and deliverance from all who opposed God’s people.

Did You Know – Christian History

George Washington Doane was born May 27, 1799 in Trenton, NJ. He was an American churchman, educator, and the second bishop in the Episcopal Church for the Diocese of New Jersey.

Doane earned his reputation as an educator, mission organizer and hymn writer. As a boy, he studied hard and showed both conviction and courage. While preparing for college, he was beaten for refusing to memorize a catechism which was not the official catechism of his church. He stood firm. Other students joined him. They won the privilege to study from the text they preferred.

After he graduated from Union College, New York in 1818, Doane thought about going into law; but after six months of study, changed his mind. Instead, he entered the ministry. His rise was steady because he did good work. By 1821 he was ordained a deacon, and by 1823 a priest. He served in New York City, where he helped found St. Luke’s Church, and taught and edited his denomination’s magazine, the Episcopal Watchman. Between 1828 and 1832 Doane served in Boston and then, at the relatively young age of thirty-three, received a totally unexpected offer.

On October 3, 1832 a local convention held in New Jersey asked Doane to become their bishop, which he accepted. As the new bishop, Doane worked hard. Statistics show that the church grew steadily and strongly under his leadership. He began with eighteen clergymen in 1832 and needed 99 when he died twenty-seven years later. “No shepherd ever counted his sheep more carefully day by day, no merchant was ever more solicitous to be adding something constantly to his stock in trade, than Bishop Doane was to have each year’s report of his diocese, his parish, his schools, an improvement, if possible, upon all preceding years,” said the Rev. Milo Mahan, preaching a sermon in his memory in 1859.

Doane became ill with a typhoid fever in 1859. One of the last things he said was, “I die in the Faith of the Son of God, and in the Confidence of His one Catholic and Apostolic Church. I have no merits - no man has - but my trust is in the Mercy of Jesus.” It is not for his scholarship, his hard work to build up the diocese of New Jersey or for his efforts to plant the church in New Jersey that he is best remembered by most Christians, but for his hymns, especially “Softly now the light of day.”

Doane died in 1859 and is buried in Saint Mary’s Episcopal Churchyard in Burlington.

A Little Humor

Pastor’s announcement before collecting the offering: “I would like to remind you that what you are about to give is tax deductible, cannot be taken with you, and it is considered in the Bible that the love of this is the root of all evil.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Salvation isn’t turning over a new leaf; it’s receiving a new life!”