Thursday, March 3, 2022

MELTED AND POURED OUT

 

Isa 48:9-10

9 For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.

10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

 

          Often, in the Bible, the trouble which God allows is likened to the process of melting gold or silver ore in a furnace. Until the pretty rock is subjected to transforming heat, it is just a rock. It is not suitable for utility or beauty. Until the fire of affliction, it is neither a tool nor an ornament.

 

          Isaiah was talking to the Jews who had come out of captivity. In verses one and two these Jews “swore by the name of the Lord, and spoke often of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.” The practical idea of verse ten seems to be “I have purified you, but not as silver is purified; for when it is purified, no dross of any kind is left behind. Had I done this with you, I should have consumed you altogether; but I have put you in the crucible of affliction, in captivity, that you may acknowledge your sins, and turn unto me.”

(From Adam Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

 

1 Peter 4:12-13

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

 

Job 23:10

10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

 

Lord, watch carefully in my furnace until you can see yourself reflected in me. AMEN

A COMMENTARY ON OUR TIMES?

 

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

 

A COMMENTARY ON OUR TIMES?

 

Isa 3:12

12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

 

          One can become instantly and savagely unpopular by casting shadows on the worth of women today! Yet Isaiah pointed out that the nation’s leaders were, as Dr. Albert Barnes suggests, “effeminate and destitute of vigor and manliness in counsel.” These are days that require grit and perhaps cultured refinement should be temporarily and gently set aside for boots and work gloves.

 

          The character of the nation’s leaders was that of inexperienced children unqualified for government. King Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign (2 kings 16:2). The more literal idea is that these were “extractors” or tax collectors. The taxes were high, and the benefits purchased with them were few.

 

          Their leaders caused them to “err” [Hebrew ta’aw “to vacillate or deceive”] or promised them peace while leading them into sin and danger. The remedy is not revolution but repentance and reliance on the One who stands to judge.

 

Isa 3:13-14

13 The Lord stands up to contend, and stands to judge the peoples and His people.

14 The Lord enters into judgment with the elders of His people and their princes: For [by your exactions and oppressions you have robbed the people and ruined the country] you have devoured the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

AMPLIFIED

 

Dear Lord, mark error and total their sum. Cover your left arm with a target and your right arm with strength. Come quickly to the aid of the suffering. AMEN

IRON SHARPENS IRON

 

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

 

IRON SHARPENS IRON

 

Prov 27:17

17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

 

          My best friends are the ones who make me better. They challenge me to think or to re-think my settled opinions. They add the honing oil of true friendship as they grind away the roughness in me.

 

          Sometimes it seems they are removing too much and too roughly. I am left with gouges in my edge. I am challenged to delve more deeply into myself, and I often conclude that, after some more smoothing, I will be sharper still.

 

          The most bitter chunks that spark away are the ones that require me to say “I’m sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me.” However, with that removed, I am able to do a better work longer and stronger. Few things hinder productivity more than unconfessed and unforgiven wrong.

 

          It is in friendship that we get to know ourselves, as a man sees his face in the mirror of calm water, Prov 27:19. We unfold to each other; our friend elicits traits of which we were hardly aware. Our sympathy and tenderness are drawn forth by our friend’s troubles, as our laughter flashes out to awaken or to answer his high spirits. We shudder to think what cold and undeveloped beings we should be without the sharpening of friendship.

(From Through the Bible, by F. B. Meyer, Biblesoft formatted electronic database Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

 

Lord, while I can, let me have a useful edge but if I can not have an edge then let me be a stone. AMEN