02/11/2009
I Chronicles 12: 32 talks about the sons of Issachar who had an understanding of the times and knowledge of what Israel had to do.
Israel was in a period of transition and a state of uncertainty as to who should be their king at that time. David was thought to be the future king by many but Saul had other plans. Now Saul had died and the allegiance was split between his son( Ishbosheth) and David. Soon Saul’s son also died.
In all of this confusion, the sons of Issachar knew exactly what to do. They knew that it was David’s time to be appointed king and that the kingdom had now passed from Saul’s hands into David (verse 23). They also understood that they needed to make the shift into going and joining David than being further under Saul (meaning his descendants). In verses 39 and 40 of the same chapter we see them making that transition and pledging their loyalty to David.
In all of this confusion, the sons of Issachar knew exactly what to do. They knew that it was David’s time to be appointed king and that the kingdom had now passed from Saul’s hands into David (verse 23). They also understood that they needed to make the shift into going and joining David than being further under Saul (meaning his descendants). In verses 39 and 40 of the same chapter we see them making that transition and pledging their loyalty to David.
There are three important truths we can learn from this passage that can be applied in our times.
1) We need to have an understanding of the times we live in.
2) We need to know what to do.
3) We need to apply ourselves to do what needs to be done.
Understanding the times we live in.
It is no secret that the recent world events are a rapid fulfillment of Biblical prophecies pointing to the return of our Lord. In II Thessalonians 2 verses 1to 3, Paul talks about two events that will happen prior to the coming of the Lord. One of them is that there would be a great falling away; meaning many who aren’t truly following the Lord would openly start professing unrighteousness or be exposed. This has been happening at an increasing rate in our present times. In recent times many institutionalized churches in the United States and abroad have openly embraced homosexual behavior as not sin. Not only that, some have even appointed gay pastors in pulpits. This is the height of deception.
The concept of God as love has been perverted to justify sinful behavior. God loves the sinner but he hates sin as He is holy. The separation between those who are truly following the Lord and those who have believed a lie is becoming more and more distinct. As time goes by there will be many more such divisions within the professing church.
The concept of God as love has been perverted to justify sinful behavior. God loves the sinner but he hates sin as He is holy. The separation between those who are truly following the Lord and those who have believed a lie is becoming more and more distinct. As time goes by there will be many more such divisions within the professing church.
Another important event prior to the coming of the Lord is mentioned in Matthew 24: 12. It says that God’s love in many will grow cold because of abounding lawlessness. This is true in our times as there is abounding lawlessness and a lack of God’s love.
The teachings on a loving God who tolerates sin has led to perverse attitudes and mindsets, presuming that the blood of Christ will cover willful or unrepentant sinful behavior. The standards of Holiness and moral absolutes are almost but lost in our times. Not only that because of this widespread onslaught of the enemy on moral absolutes and the perversions of truth within the church, many been blinded to the truth that the cross of Christ gives us freedom from bondage to sin. The power of Christ through His cross changes a sinner to saint, empowering him to walk in Holiness and anything less that is not of the truth.
This increase in lawlessness within the church has contributed to a lack of God’s love. The fact that there is so much of animosity towards those who might have offended us and the prevailing hatred, anger and jealousy within the church reveals a desperate need for the same (God’s love). Today many of us don’t know what God’s love is. Loving those who love us and being kind to those who are kind to us is not walking in God’s love. Jesus said that if we love only those who love us then there is no difference between us and the heathen as they can also do that. We display God’s love when we love our enemies and do good to those who hate us because that’s how our loving heavenly Father displayed His love to us.
God loved us even when we were His enemies because of our sins and had no desire for Him. He loved us even when we willfully choose our own way bringing Him great pain and sorrow. He expects us to display that same love we have experienced to others. We can do that only if we have truly seen or tasted that love.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
