A lesson in faith

 

Sunday morning one of our pastors preached an encouraging message from Mark 10:46-52 on blind Bartimaeus. In May of this year I did a series on The Kingdom Principle of Faith; since the Lord told Bartimaeus, Thy faith hath made thee whole, I thought about this kingdom principle and the lesson in faith we find in this passage.

46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.

When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth – How do we get faith? Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17) Bartimaeus heard the excited crowd, he heard that it was Jesus coming his way, and he no doubt had heard of the great things Jesus had been doing. Why, in ch 8 he had healed another blind man. True, it was way up north in Bethsaida, but by the time Jesus got down to Jericho, I’m pretty sure news of that had made its way down south.

Jesus, Son of David – based on what he had heard about Jesus, he believed him to be the Son of David, the promised Messiah.

Have mercy on me – he believes Jesus is the Messiah, the One who has authority to have mercy on him, has been commissioned to have mercy on him, the One who has the power to have mercy on him. Have mercy on me is a very general prayer request. We’ll come back to this.

48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Son of David, have mercy on me. 

Many charged him that he should hold his peace – When we tell people that we are asking God for great things, there are many who try to silence us, try to dissuade us. This is a real battle. Here I am believing God for great mercy and those around me are shushing me. And this man is in need of great grace – he has nothing, needs everything!

But he cried the more – What faith! The multitude is shushing him, “You’re a nobody, man, don’t bother this important person”; “You’re just a blind beggar, you’re not worthy of his attention”; “You’re blind! Your problem is too big, nothing can be done for you”. But he wasn’t deterred, Jesus, I need you! have mercy on me! He had persevering faith.

49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee. 

Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called - He was going to pray until something happened. And it did! As long as Jesus is passing by, I will see no mercy. But, when I have faith I get his attention.

50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? – In v 47 he cried, Have mercy on me and I said that was a very general request. He needed everything. This is the way the Lord works, he draws us out until we have a specific request. We say, Help me; he says, What exactly do you want me to do? This is true for me personally, as well as for those I am praying for, whether individuals or groups. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought (Rom 8:26) Prayer often takes time. Here in Mark 10, he prayed in verses 46, 47, 48, 49. Oftentimes we find ourselves praying longer than four verses. Don’t quit, keep praying and waiting on the Lord. The Holy Spirit will help us refine our request from Have mercy on me to I ask thee for this specific thing.

The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight – The Lord has drawn him out and here it is, “I want to receive my sight.” The Lord is pleased when our prayer requests are specific.

52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Go thy way; thy faith hath me thee whole – this is amazing! He believed Jesus was the One who could help him; by that faith he asked for help; he persevered in faith and prayer; he presented a specific request. and it was a huge request – My sight!!!

Immediately he received his sight – this is a miracle!

(Hath made thee whole – this is a whole other post!)

And followed Jesus in the way – Mary pointed this out to me as we were talking about this at home. This is the full picture of faith: He believed Jesus was the Messiah, the One who came with mercy and blessings; he asked for mercy; he kept on asking until he got His attention; he asked for a specific blessing; upon receiving the mercy he asked for, he became a follower of Jesus. Truly a lesson in faith!

Hosea 14

 

Hosea 14

I think this is the best chapter in Hosea, and one of my favorite chapters in the Old Testament. After so many words of judgment, the book ends on God’s amazing grace. The entire chapter is devoted to God’s grace.

14:1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.
14:3 Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, Ye are our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God - Come back. Come home.

Take with you words – There are those who say it is wrong or unspiritual to pray a printed prayer (you know, read a prayer), that every prayer should be extemporaneous (or made up on the spot). Yet here God gives them 51 words to pray (48 if you don’t count the ones in italics!). They could copy them down, take them home, and read them, out loud, as a prayer to God. And if they prayed the prayer he gave them, he would accept it. It's not whether you read a prayer, or make it up yourself, it's your heart. Genuine prayer begins in the heart. You can make up a beautiful sounding prayer, but if it didn't come from the heart it's a sham. You can read a written prayer, or recite it from memory, if it is coming from your heart it is accepted by the Lord. For example:

Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace, good will to men.
We praise thee, we bless thee,
we worship thee, we glorify thee
we give thanks to thee for thy great glory
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.* 

The whole prayer is beautiful and your heart rises up in worship and adoration.

Now, back to the prayer in Hosea 14. It includes

confession of sin – take away all iniquity

plea for acceptance – receive us graciously

commitment – we will render (offer) the calves of our lips

repentance – we turn from Asshur and horses, and from our idols

This is a complete prayer, a complete turning to the LORD!

But, is there hope? Is there a chance God will hear? Yes!

14:4 I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.
14:5 I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon.
14:6 His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon.
14:7 They that dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon.

O how God will respond!

I will heal their backsliding
I will love them freely
I will be as the dew unto Israel

Turn unto me and I will turn unto you. Next, we read the results of His work of grace:

he shall grow as the lily
and cast forth his roots as Lebanon
His branches shall spread
his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon
They that dwell under his shadow shall return
they shall revive as the corn
and grow as the vine (whose aroma will be as the wine of Lebanon)

When God saves the lost or restores the backslider, it is a complete work, from death to life. Hallelujah!

14:8  Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From me is thy fruit found.

Ephraim’s repentance will be a genuine turning away from the idols that have plagued him.

The Jewish Tanakh translate this, “Ephraim shall say: ‘What more have I to do with idols? When I respond and look to Him, I become like a verdant cypress.’ Your fruit is provided by Me.” 

This is repentance and restoration!

14:9  Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

Do we understand these things? There is a day of judgment coming, and all who die separated from God and His Christ face an eternity separated from him. But whoever you are, wherever you are, whatever you’ve done, turn to Jesus Christ, believe he is the Son of God who died for you and rose again, trust him to save you; and He will!

Perhaps you believed in Christ and were baptized some time ago, but you have backslidden, slipped back into your old ways, fallen back into sin. O return unto the Lord. He will accept you, heal you, restore you. Come home!

This is the end of Hosea. We have seen the holiness and righteousness of God, the mercy and love of God. We've seen the awfulness of sin and the judgment of God. We've also seen the heart of God; the many promises of restoration; the faithfulness of God. The LORD God of Israel is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our God.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

(Romans 11:33-36)

 

* Beginning of The Gloria In Excelsis; Book of Common Prayer 

Hosea 13

 

Hosea 13

This chapter contains a most amazing promise of grace and power!

13:1 When Ephraim spake trembling, he exalted himself in Israel; but when he offended in Baal, he died.
13:2 And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves.
13:3 Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, and as the early dew that passeth away, as the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the floor, and as the smoke out of the chimney.

Idolatry. It began with Baal, then they multiplied their images.

as the morning Cloud - as the early Dew - as the Chaff - as the Smoke - "Four things, most easy to be driven about and dissipated, are employed here to show how they should be scattered among the nations." (Adam Clarke)

13:4  Yet I am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt, and thou shalt know no god but me: for there is no saviour beside me.

“I am Yahweh, thy God since you were in Egypt. I am the only Saviour; your only hope.”

13:5 I did know thee in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
13:6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten me.

“I knew you in the wilderness, when you had nothing, and took care of you. I brought you into a land flowing with milk and honey. Then, when you were filled with everything I promised, your heart was exalted and you forgot me.” This is sad - they were so full of the blessings they forgot the Blessor.

13:7 Therefore I will be unto them as a lion: as a leopard by the way will I observe them:
13:8 I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps, and will rend the caul of their heart, and there will I devour them like a lion: the wild beast shall tear them.

“I was for you, now I will be against you.” 

13:9 O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help.
13:10 I will be thy king: where is any other that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?
13:11 I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.
13:12 The iniquity of Ephraim is bound up; his sin is hid.
13:13 The sorrows of a travailing woman shall come upon him: he is an unwise son; for he should not stay long in the place of the breaking forth of children.

O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help - They are hell-bent for leather to forget and forsake YHWH, yet he is willing to help them – in me is thine help; I will be thy king; is there any other that may save thee?

There is no other that can save them; he is their only help; he is their lifeline; they are actively rejecting him, yet he is still willing to save them!

Save is the root word for Hosea. God sent them a prophet whose very name reminds them He wants to save them!! O the grace and love of God!

13:14  I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

I will ransom them from the power of the grave - They are now lost as to the purpose for which they were made, for which God had wrought so many miracles for them and for their ancestors; but the gracious purpose of God shall not be utterly defeated. He will bring them out of the grave, and ransom them from death; for as they have deserved death and a disgraceful burial, they must be redeemed and ransomed from it. And who can do this but God himself? And he promises to do it!

O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction. Paul quotes this verse in 1 Corinthians 15, that great chapter on the resurrection. (He combines Isa 25:8 and Hosea 13:14):

1 Corinthians 15:54-55
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

The reason Paul’s quotation looks slightly different than what we see in our English Bible is Paul was quoting a version of the Septuagint (preserved in the Peshita*):

Hosea 13:14 Where is now your victory, Death? Or where is your sting Shyol? [Sheol, grave]

Death has been swallowed up by the resurrection of Christ! For since by one man came death, by man came also the resurrection from the dead. On the day of resurrection, when Christ returns in glory, we who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ will sing, "Death is swallowed up in victory! O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?"

Repentance shall be hid from mine eyes - "On these points I will not change my purpose." This is the meaning of repentance when attributed to God.

Why does the LORD insert the promise of resurrection from the dead? Could it be because this is when the promised salvation of Israel takes place? And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob (Romans 11:26)

"The apostle supports what he says with a quotation from Scripture, Isa 59:20: And the deliverer shall come for Sion's sake, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. (LXX) Now this cannot be understood of the manifestation of Christ among the Jews; or of the multitudes which were converted before, at, and for some time after, the day of Pentecost; for these times were all past when the apostle wrote this epistle; and, as no remarkable conversion of that people has since taken place, therefore the fulfillment of this prophecy is yet to take place." (Adam Clarke)

I am inclined to think this is true, but the Lord also has the habit of reminding us of the great blessings that will be ours when Christ returns in order to strengthen us for our trials and tribulations. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (Rom 8:22-23; see v 18-25) I know this.

13:15 Though he be fruitful among his brethren, an east wind shall come, the wind of the LORD shall come up from the wilderness, and his spring shall become dry, and his fountain shall be dried up: he shall spoil the treasure of all pleasant vessels.
13:16 Samaria shall become desolate; for she hath rebelled against her God: they shall fall by the sword: their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch ... there are still hard days ahead for Israel.

Some golden daybreak, Jesus will come
Some golden daybreak, battles all won
He'll shout the vic'try, break thro' the blue
Some golden daybreak, for me, for you
(Carl A. Blackmore, 1934)



* Our English Bibles are translated from Hebrew.

The Septuagint or LXX is a Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament, made by the Jews in Alexandria, Egypt

The Peshitta is the Syriac or Aramaic version of the Bible. It is an ancient translation of the Hebrew Old Testament and Greek New Testament.

The Septuagint is the oldest translation of the Old Testament (made about 300 years before Christ), followed by the Peshita (1st century AD), then the Latin translations.

Hosea 12

 

Hosea 12

Israel has a good lineage, a godly pedigree, they come from good people; but a godly heritage is only good if I am godly myself.

12:1 Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the east wind: he daily increaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians, and oil is carried into Egypt.
12:2 The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him.
12:3 He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God:
12:4 Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spoke with us;
12:5 Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.
12:6 Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually.

In v 2-4 he is speaking of the patriarch Jacob.

Took his brother by the heel - Genesis 25:24-26  And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob.

Jacob means heel holder or supplanter; a supplanter takes the place of something or someone that was there first.

By his strength he had power with God – after a life spent in supplanting, Jacob had an encounter with God at a place he named Peniel, where he wrestled all night with “a man” (the angel of the LORD; Gen 32:24-32), and his name was changed from Jacob (supplanter) to Israel (God prevails), for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Bethel – house of God, God appeared to Jacob at Bethel and confirmed the covenant and his name change.

Hosea is reminding them of their heritage, and it is a good one.

Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial – As I have said many times, when we read “LORD” (all caps) it is YHWH in Hebrew. This is God’s name, Yahweh. “Yahweh Elohim Sabaoth” or Yahweh God of hosts. Yahweh is God of all the angels, of the sun, moon, and stars, of the whole creation. This is their God. This is our God. Hallelujah!

Exodus 3:14-15  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM:* and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God (Yahweh Elohim) of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually – O Israel, you have such a heritage! Turn to thy God! How? Keep mercy (compassion) and judgment (do what is right); wait on thy God continually (draw nigh to, hope in, trust in your God).

12:7 He is a merchant, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
12:8 And Ephraim said, Yet I am become rich, I have found me out substance: in all my labours they shall find none iniquity in me that were sin.
12:9 And I that am the LORD thy God from the land of Egypt will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles, as in the days of the solemn feast.
12:10 I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets.

Israel has sinned by lies, oppression, and pride. They are in trouble. Yet the LORD speaks restoration, I will yet make thee to dwell in tabernacles.

I have also spoken by the prophets – I have not left you alone and on your own, I have spoken to you. I have given you guidance, I have rebuked you, encouraged you, warned you, and given you hope and promises.

and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes – “Sometimes I have spoken plainly, many times I spoke to the prophets in visions. I’ve used similitudes.” What in the world is a similitude? The Hebrew word means to liken, compare; to illustrate by comparison. Similes and metaphors: they are all hot as an oven, Israel is like a silly dove, Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer, Ephraim is a cake not turned and more. The prophets are fun to read and by that I mean a challenge, because they speak so often in visions and similes and metaphors.

Paul seemed to have this verse in view, when he wrote Hebrews 1.

Hebrews 1:1, by many portions and many ways in time past God spoke to the fathers by the prophets, a little here, a little there; sometimes a word, sometimes a vision;  here a simile, there a metaphor.

Hebrews 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds. The prophets spoke of the Coming One, he has come and God has now made a full and complete revelation in him, his Son. No more shadows or similes, now He has spoken as the apostle wrote, with great plainness of speech, that is, without the use of figures and comparisons. Amen. We are so blessed.

12:11 Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows of the fields.
12:12 And Jacob fled into the country of Syria, and Israel served for a wife, and for a wife he kept sheep.
12:13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
12:14 Ephraim provoked him to anger most bitterly: therefore shall he leave his blood upon him, and his reproach shall his Lord return unto him.

He again takes up their heritage: v 12 is Jacob, v 13 is Moses and Joshua. They have such a rich heritage! God guided and blessed them abundantly, yet they provoked him to anger most bitterly. Sin makes you stupid.

Hosea asked, Is there iniquity in Gilead? Jeremiah asked, Is there no balm in Gilead? The balm is the mercy of God. Why are they not healed? Their iniquity - they refused His mercy, and thus provoked him to anger most bitterly. O let us accept the mercy of God, so that we may know and sing:

There is balm in Gilead,
To make the wounded whole;
There's power enough in heaven,
To cure a sin-sick soul.

* I like how the Septuagint translates I Am That I Am: "I am the One who is; and he said, Thus shall ye say to the children of Israel, The One who is has sent me to you."