False Messiahs and False Prophets..
Psalm 68:7-18
7 When you, God, went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 You gave abundant showers, O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it,
and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.
11 The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
12 “Kings and armies flee in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder.
13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land,
it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.
15 Mount Bashan, majestic mountain,
Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the Lord himself will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary
18 When you ascended on high,
you took many captives;
you received gifts from people,
even from the rebellious —
that you, Lord God, might dwell there.
Reflections: The psalmist reflects on God’s provision in the wilderness wanderings for the Israelites. Even the great Mount Sinai shook when God’s presence was manifest, a foreshock to the nations that the God of Israel was coming into the Promised Land. The daily provision of manna raining down also showed God’s abundant provision. Then, he reflects on the conquest of the Promised Land and the superiority of the mountain of God compared to the glorious Mount Bashan, which was by comparison physically more beautiful. Finally, there is a reference to Jesus’ coming and His ascension and giving of gifts to all people. All of Israel’s victories over her enemies were a foreshadowing of Christ’s victory over sin.
Numbers 12 Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses
1 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this. 3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) 4 At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words:
“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams.
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
to speak against my servant Moses?”
9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them.
10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as
snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, 11 and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.” 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her! ”
Reflections: Here we see again the humanness of the camp of Israel. Usually when division starts in a church, it starts among the leadership. Here we see Aaron and Miriam trying to usurp Moses leadership by gossiping about his wife being a Cushite. The Lord, as reflected in Moses’ comment about others receiving the gift of prophecy, disciplines them for not trusting in His assignment of the gifts of God. Most importantly they are rejecting the amazing gift God gave Moses, as he spoke to him face to face. It is our human nature to try and compare our gifts, even our gifts from God with others. But we can see how this can lead to all kinds of jealousy and discord within the body. God dealt with it swiftly, and yet in mercy as Moses intercedes for his sister in law (an act of supreme humility). It is a reminder to us today of the danger of any kind of divisive talk in the church, especially in regard to the leaders God has called to lead the church and speak His word, both men and women! Take a moment to pray for your leaders and the unity of your church/our church.
Mark 13:14-27
14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. 20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. 24 “But in those days, following that distress,
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
Reflections: Here in Mark’s gospel we see a very clear description of the end times, what we call “eschatology”. Often times we make all kinds of predictions about the end times, but the bible is clear on what they will look like and some signs of their coming. First, there will be false Messiahs and prophets claiming they are the Messiah. But the real Messiah will come in such power there will be no doubt who he is. Second, it is on God’s timetable not ours. Anyone who says they know when God is coming back is very likely a false prophet, because clearly it says it is at God’s choice when He is coming not ours. There are certainly signs, but in the end God will determine this Day not us. Finally, in God’s grace, he cuts short these days for the sake of the elect. Meaning, as a child of God, you will be taken care of. Though there is likely to be hard times even for believers, possibly severe persecution, those who remember their identity as a son or daughter of God will be saved. So why we don’t have to fear the end of the world, we need to discerning in how we talk, teach about it, and live in anticipation with a readiness that come from God’s Spirit preparing us for that final day!
Watchword For the Day
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.Psalm 46:7
Doctrinal Text
Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
Prayer
Crucified One, you are with us, you are our refuge. But what a different understanding of power you give us! Your power is shown not in overwhelming others but in giving yourself. May we live that kind of power. Amen.
7 When you, God, went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 You gave abundant showers, O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it,
and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.
11 The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
12 “Kings and armies flee in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder.
13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land,
it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.
15 Mount Bashan, majestic mountain,
Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the Lord himself will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary
18 When you ascended on high,
you took many captives;
you received gifts from people,
even from the rebellious —
that you, Lord God, might dwell there.
Reflections: The psalmist reflects on God’s provision in the wilderness wanderings for the Israelites. Even the great Mount Sinai shook when God’s presence was manifest, a foreshock to the nations that the God of Israel was coming into the Promised Land. The daily provision of manna raining down also showed God’s abundant provision. Then, he reflects on the conquest of the Promised Land and the superiority of the mountain of God compared to the glorious Mount Bashan, which was by comparison physically more beautiful. Finally, there is a reference to Jesus’ coming and His ascension and giving of gifts to all people. All of Israel’s victories over her enemies were a foreshadowing of Christ’s victory over sin.
Numbers 12 Miriam and Aaron Oppose Moses
1 Miriam and Aaron began to talk against Moses because of his Cushite wife, for he had married a Cushite. 2 “Has the Lord spoken only through Moses?” they asked. “Hasn’t he also spoken through us?” And the Lord heard this. 3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) 4 At once the Lord said to Moses, Aaron and Miriam, “Come out to the tent of meeting, all three of you.” So the three of them went out. 5 Then the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud; he stood at the entrance to the tent and summoned Aaron and Miriam. When the two of them stepped forward, 6 he said, “Listen to my words:
“When there is a prophet among you,
I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions,
I speak to them in dreams.
7 But this is not true of my servant Moses;
he is faithful in all my house.
8 With him I speak face to face,
clearly and not in riddles;
he sees the form of the Lord.
Why then were you not afraid
to speak against my servant Moses?”
9 The anger of the Lord burned against them, and he left them.
10 When the cloud lifted from above the tent, Miriam’s skin was leprous—it became as white as
snow. Aaron turned toward her and saw that she had a defiling skin disease, 11 and he said to Moses, “Please, my lord, I ask you not to hold against us the sin we have so foolishly committed. 12 Do not let her be like a stillborn infant coming from its mother’s womb with its flesh half eaten away.” 13 So Moses cried out to the Lord, “Please, God, heal her! ”
Reflections: Here we see again the humanness of the camp of Israel. Usually when division starts in a church, it starts among the leadership. Here we see Aaron and Miriam trying to usurp Moses leadership by gossiping about his wife being a Cushite. The Lord, as reflected in Moses’ comment about others receiving the gift of prophecy, disciplines them for not trusting in His assignment of the gifts of God. Most importantly they are rejecting the amazing gift God gave Moses, as he spoke to him face to face. It is our human nature to try and compare our gifts, even our gifts from God with others. But we can see how this can lead to all kinds of jealousy and discord within the body. God dealt with it swiftly, and yet in mercy as Moses intercedes for his sister in law (an act of supreme humility). It is a reminder to us today of the danger of any kind of divisive talk in the church, especially in regard to the leaders God has called to lead the church and speak His word, both men and women! Take a moment to pray for your leaders and the unity of your church/our church.
Mark 13:14-27
14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let no one on the housetop go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 17 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18 Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19 because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. 20 “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time. 24 “But in those days, following that distress,
“‘the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25 the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.’
26 “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
Reflections: Here in Mark’s gospel we see a very clear description of the end times, what we call “eschatology”. Often times we make all kinds of predictions about the end times, but the bible is clear on what they will look like and some signs of their coming. First, there will be false Messiahs and prophets claiming they are the Messiah. But the real Messiah will come in such power there will be no doubt who he is. Second, it is on God’s timetable not ours. Anyone who says they know when God is coming back is very likely a false prophet, because clearly it says it is at God’s choice when He is coming not ours. There are certainly signs, but in the end God will determine this Day not us. Finally, in God’s grace, he cuts short these days for the sake of the elect. Meaning, as a child of God, you will be taken care of. Though there is likely to be hard times even for believers, possibly severe persecution, those who remember their identity as a son or daughter of God will be saved. So why we don’t have to fear the end of the world, we need to discerning in how we talk, teach about it, and live in anticipation with a readiness that come from God’s Spirit preparing us for that final day!
Watchword For the Day
The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.Psalm 46:7
Doctrinal Text
Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:23-24
Prayer
Crucified One, you are with us, you are our refuge. But what a different understanding of power you give us! Your power is shown not in overwhelming others but in giving yourself. May we live that kind of power. Amen.
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