Effie Darlene Barba ⋆ Page 4 of 378 ⋆ Inspiring Joy in Lifes Toughest Moments

How Amazing God Draws a Straight Line with Crooked Pencils

But we are all like an unclean thing,

And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;

We all fade as a leaf,

And our iniquities, like the wind,

Have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV)

How is it possible that a perfect righteous God would consider us? He who cannot even look upon sin, turning His back upon even His own son as our sin was laid upon Him. Beyond that, Jesus willingly took our sin upon Himself, knowing the depth of wrath He must bare for our salvation. He took our place that He might declare us righteous, even though we have no righteousness of our. And because of all that Jesus willingly gave for our sake, we are bestowed with every spiritual gift. Furthermore, He has promised to transform our hearts into His image—completing the work He began in us. We have this hope because He has demonstrated this throughout His Word. God draws a straight-line with crooked pencils. He always has.

This we will see clearly as we study the inspiring hope filled book of Zechariah, Haggai, and Esther. God chooses at times the most unlikely to accomplish all He wills.

“I made myself available to those who did not ask for me;

(And) I appeared to those who did not look for me.

I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’

to a nation that did not invoke my name.

I spread out my hands all day long

to my rebellious people, … Isaiah 65:1-2 NET

God Draws Straight lines with Crooked Pencils

Why would God choose the broken? Look at these words in I Corinthians.

26 For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no human may boast before God. 30 But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written: “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” I Corinthians 1:26-31 (NASB).

Why would God proclaim a Nation His?

Some would ask why God would choose a people to call His own like the nation of Israel? For this I will turn to a sermon I heard of John McArthur¹

In it he laid out 7 reasons and I recommend that you go listen for more details of each point.

“to proclaim the existence of the true God. There had to be somebody in human society who would declare the truth about God.”

“Secondly, He needed a nation through whom He could reveal the Messiah.”

“Thirdly, God needed a nation to be a priest among men…. one who speaks to God on the behalf of men, who intercedes for men, and who, on occasion, will speak to men about God.” (Jesus is our high priest today—yet the concept was introduced to mankind through the nation)

“Fourthly, God chose Israel to transmit and preserve Scripture” (the Word of God)

“God needed a nation that could show the world that He was a faithful God.”

“Sixthly, I think the reason God needed a nation was to show man His grace in dealing with sin. God wanted to show the world that He was gracious, and there’s no better proof of it than to see how He blessed Israel in spite of Israel’s sin. “

“And seventh, a nation was needed to show God’s anger in dealing with unrepentance. God wanted the world to see how He dealt with sin and unrepentance and willful sin. And Israel is a perfect illustration of that.” No single nation has exemplified or shown this more than Israel. However, amid all this they also have shown God’s faithfulness and grace.

God Drawing a Straight Line with Crooked Pencils

The book of Zechariah is a book of great hope to those who returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile. His is a book of great prophecies that display the truth of Jesus Christ—the Messiah of God known here as “the Angel of the Lord.” It was a message to encourage the people. When Cyrus had given the order to return to Jerusalem only 50,000 of the more than a million exiles. These went with Zerubbabel. They became very discouraged and stopped rebuilding the temple. Life was difficult and they met with a lot of opposition by those nations living nearby.

The temple reconstruction began in 536 BC and then construction was abandoned. Haggai wrote to encourage the people in Then Zechariah wrote in The temple was finally completed in 515 BC. There remained many problems and issues. Esther’s acts to help reserve the Jews living in exile was 483-473 BC. Ezra went with another group of Jews in 458 BC. Nehemiah then returns to Jerusalem and guides the Jews to rebuild the city walls. He addressed both the political and spiritual breakdown among the people in addition to the construction of the wall to restore the people to God.

God Uses the Least of These

The remnant remained broken; sin filled humanity; but that is what is so amazing. God still drew straight lines with crooked pencils, always showing His faithfulness, His grace, and His fulfillment of all He foretold of. He is the same today as He was then.

A Call to the People to Follow

In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the prophet, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo saying, 2 “The Lord was very angry with your fathers.” Zechariah 1 (NASB)

This was a reminder to the people of why they had been exiled; although, with this reminder comes this hope filled command.

3 Therefore say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “Return to Me,” declares the Lord of armies, “that I may return to you,” says the Lord of armies.

With this also comes a warning.

4 “Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets proclaimed, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies says: “Return now from your evil ways and from your evil deeds.”’ But they did not listen or pay attention to Me,” declares the Lord. Zechariah 1 (NASB)

“Therefore, remember. I did exactly as I declared.”

5 “Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6 But did My words and My statutes, which I commanded My servants the prophets, not overtake your fathers? Then they repented and said, ‘Just as the Lord of armies planned to do to us in accordance with our ways and our deeds, so He has dealt with us.’” Zechariah 1 (NASB)

Visions of the night to bring hope-Straight Lines from Crooked Pencils

The first 8 chapters of Zechariah are 8 visions all presented in one night. Each vision is built upon the previous vision. Uniquely each vision came with an interpreter angel to explain the vision to guide Zechariah to understand.

8 “I saw in the night, and behold, a man riding on a red horse! He was standing among the myrtle trees in the glen, and behind him were red, sorrel, and white horses. 9 Then I said, ‘What are these, my lord?’ The angel who talked with me said to me, ‘I will show you what they are.’ Zechariah 1 (ESV)

The one on the red horse will later be identified as the Lord who is leading God’s army. That would be a the preincarnate Christ. He is the one who will enact full judgement one day for all the evil, but here he stands among the myrtle trees. They are symbolic of messianic restoration and blessing. He is there to protect and provide. In the vision:

So the man who was standing among the myrtle trees answered, ‘These are they whom the Lord has sent to patrol the earth.’ Zechariah 1:10 (ESV)

The Lord is our Intercessor Always

Their report was that all the other nations being at peace. History confirms this was the case under King Darius. Yet the Jews in Jerusalem were not at peace. So the mediator interceded with the Father.

Then the angel of the Lord said, ‘O Lord of hosts, how long will you have no mercy on Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, against which you have been angry these seventy years?’ 13 And the Lord answered gracious and comforting words to the angel who talked with me. Zechariah 1:12-13 (ESV)

God was going to use these imperfect people to continue to keep His promises and covenants. He declared Himself zealous for their cause.

thus says the Lord, I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it,” declares the Lord of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem. Cry out again, Thus says the Lord of hosts: My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the Lord will again comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalem.’” Zechariah 1: 16-17 (ESV)

The Remainder of the Visions

The remainder of the visions were encouraging proof that God was accomplishing all that He planned for the good of His Chosen People even though they had not been the ones we would have chosen. His love never left them. He longed for them with a burning love to do them good, if only they would return to Him.

Then the last books of Zechariah (9-14) are about the first and second coming of Jesus to earth.

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
    righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.   Zechariah 9 (ESV)

And in the end: Victory

20 In that day “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” shall be engraved on the bells of the horses. The pots in the Lord’s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. 21 Yes, every pot in Jerusalem and Judah shall be holiness to the Lord of hosts. Zechariah 14 (NKJV)

Another Perfect Example of God Drawing Straight Lines with Crooked Pencils is Esther

So often we speak of the bravery and beauty of Esther with her full love story. But consider this. She and her uncle Mordecai had chosen to remain in Persia after the edict allowing them to return had long passed. Perhaps they felt the journey was too long and arduous. Or perhaps they were too content with their life in Persia. The name Esther is her Persian name meaning star. Her Hebrew name was Hadassah meaning myrtle. Her uncle Mordecai means bitter oppressed or crushed and in Persian meant servant of Marduk (one of the Persian gods). All of this to say that theirs was not particularly the most spiritually upright. Yet, God used them to save the Jews from extinction.

Note along the historical line of things, the temple was rebuilt. There was a new king in Persia. This was Xerxes I (also known as Ahasuerus). He had no ties to the Jewish people. His first in command Haman hated the Jews as part of a heritage going back to the days of Samuel and a disobedience of King Saul to destroy the conquered people. Thus, if Haman had his way the entire Jewish race would have been annihilated stopping God’s plan of salvation for the world.

So, enters a Jewish girl who hiding her heritage is even willing to be placed in the Persian beauty contest, sleep with an uncircumcised King, and risk being placed as merely part of his haram. No mention once of even prayer, yet a gracious God chooses to draw a very straight line with a crooked pencil.

Esther Must Choose

She is chosen to be queen by the providence of God Almighty. Mordechai by chance saves the Kings life being in the right place at the right time. When Mordechai hears of the new edict to kill all the Jews, he goes to speak to Queen Esther. There is a rule that no one, not even the Queen, can go before the King without being summoned.

At first, Esther reminded her uncle that this would be impossible because of the laws. However,

13 Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not imagine that you in the king’s palace can escape any more than all the other Jews. 14 For if you keep silent at this time, liberation and rescue will arise for the Jews from another place, and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?” Esther 4 (NASB)

15 Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews who are found in Susa, and fast for me; do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants also will fast in the same way. And then I will go in to the king, which is not in accordance with the law; and if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4 (NASB)

The Providence of God Draws a Straight Line with a Crooked Pencil

She did go before the King then and God guided her wisdom to present this in a very carefully designed manner of gentleness, dinners and waiting for the perfect timing. Suddenly, she had learned to listen to God’s guiding spirit to lead her. Or was it suddenly, we are not told of her spiritual growth but it may have been sprouting before this. Then, the king had a restless night of sleeplessness that led to his becoming aware of Mordecai saving his life. All this orchestrated by a perfect divine God willing to use broken vessels to accomplish His Plan.

This is what the Lord says:

“When juice is discovered in a cluster of grapes,

someone says, ‘Don’t destroy it, for it contains juice.’

So I will do for the sake of my servants—

I will not destroy everyone.

I will bring forth descendants from Jacob,

and from Judah people to take possession of my mountains.

My chosen ones will take possession of the land; my servants will live there. Isaiah 65: 8-9 (NET)

How amazing is our God! So, the question is: are you willing to surrender all and trust in God. You may just be the crooked pencil He needs to write the next line in His Story.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

Therefore if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you today. Go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Two Babylonian King Display Both the Grace and Justice of God Almighty

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. Furthermore, I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

Two Babylonian King Display Both the Grace and Justice of God Almighty

1I will sing of the graciousness of the Lord forever;
To all generations I will make Your faithfulness known with my mouth.
2 For I have said, “Graciousness will be built up forever;
In the heavens You will establish Your faithfulness.”

13 You have a strong arm;
Your hand is mighty, Your right hand is exalted.
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;
Mercy and truth go before You.
15 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!
Lord, they walk in the light of Your face.
16 In Your name they rejoice all the day,
And by Your righteousness they are exalted.
17 For You are the glory of their strength,
And by Your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
And our king to the Holy One of Israel. Psalm 89 (NASB

God is perfect righteousness and perfect love. Therefore, the grace and justice of God almighty is perfect as well. So many people want to separate God’s justice from His love; yet both exist together in perfect harmony. There can be no true love if justice is ignored. His grace and mercy are extensions of His Love without any compromise to His just righteousness.

²¹But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Romans 3 (KJV)

Two Babylonian King Display Both the Grace and Justice of God

The final eight chapters of Ezekiel detail the millennial reign of Christ, which I encourage you to read with a good study bible. We now turn to the book of Daniel. There is much of Daniel we could look at; but I wanted to focus on two kings. That is King Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar in chapters 4 and 5. But before jumping in let me give some background here.

Daniel and the King

Daniel and his friends were taken to Babylon to be prepped for the King’s court. They were made eunuchs but also placed into rigorous schooling of languages, arts, history, and many other things. Groomed to be a part of the wise men of the day. Daniel and his three closest friends remained faithful to God throughout. As such, they also remained as humble servants of the King God had placed them under. For they understood, Judah fell due to her disobedience to God. They also remembered that God is Sovereign over the affairs of men. If King Nebuchadnezzar had rule over them, so be it God had ordained this thing.

Also, by allowing Daniel to see and interpret King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel understood the significance of the King’s role in history. He was given a prominent place in King Nebuchadnezzar’s life. And I dare say, Daniel was very fond of the King. Admiring all the good qualities and intelligence, he would pray for the King daily. King Nebuchadnezzar had seen the hand of God work on behalf of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He had developed a knowledge of God, but was yet not willing to surrender until…

One King Meets the Grace and Justice of God

King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you! ²It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me. ³How great are his signs,
how mighty his wonders!
His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation. Daniel 4 (ESV)

Notice that this is a chapter narrated by the King himself, tucked into the book of Daniel. This is significant, because it is his own words telling of his conversion. How much humility did it require for him to tell this story to all the people of all nations and languages. But that in itself demonstrates it veracity.

I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and the visions of my head alarmed me. So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me its interpretation. Daniel 4:4-7 (ESV).

A Dream of the Grace and Justice of God

Finally, he called for Daniel to interpret the dream. Daniel was greatly grieved by the dream as he knew that justice of God would demand the King be brought low to deal with his pride, unless he humbly repent of his pride and acknowledge God as the one true King over all.

O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, till you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. Daniel 4:24-25 ESV

Note God told King Nebuchadnezzar that He was going to judge him if the King did not lay aside his pride and bow to God. This was a chance; but, God also told the King that God himself would protect his monarchy until this is past. What magnitude of Grace amid the Justice. God already knew that King Nebuchadnezzar would turn and bow. It is like the words of Jesus to Peter, “I have prayed for you that when you turn (not if) your faith will be restored.” Well for the King it would be a new faith, not one to be restored; but it would be a new surrender to God Almighty. Such grace and justice from God Almighty to King Nebuchadnezzar.

But Alas

29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.”

33 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws. Daniel 4 (ESV)

Yet, God then Displays both Grace and Justice Toward this King

34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever,

for His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
    and His kingdom endures from generation to generation;
35 all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
He does according to His will among the host of heaven
    and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay His hand
    or say to Him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4 (ESV)

That changed everything.

Grace and Justice through faith.

36 At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Daniel 4(ESV)

Then this great King declared to all:

37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble. Daniel 4 (ESV)

The Kingdom is Transferred to Another Generation

Yet, King Nebuchadnezzar would die. His heirs did not worship God.

Amel-Marduk (“Evil-Merodach” of 2 Kgs 25:27; Jer 52:31), ruled but
two years and was replaced in 560 B. C. after an army coup by the
commander in chief, Neriglissar (Nergal-Sharezer of Jer39:3), son-in-
law of Nebuchadnezzar.

After frequent absences from active service, Neriglissar (559-555 B.C.)
was, in turn, ousted, and his weak son Labashi-Marduk lasted only a few
months before another coup d’etat brought Nabonidus to the throne.

Soon after his election, Nabonidus (553-536 B. C.) led the army to
Palestine and Northern Arabia, leaving his son Belshazzar as co-regent
in Babylon. Nabonidus’ decision to stay in Arabia resulted from his
unpopularity at home as much as from his desire to found a settlement
there with exiles from Palestine Chuck Missler from http://www.wpo-gregor.org/files/bible-college-masters-notes-missler/Daniel-Missler.pdf page 41

This leads us to Chapter 5 of Daniel

A story of Grace and Justice from God toward King Belshazzar. Grace in that he allowed him to be co-regent and given a chance to rule. Also grace, because he had demonstrated His Majesty in the life of King Nebuchadnezzar which all were aware. Justice, because despite all this King Belshazzar failed to honor God for all this.

King Belshazzar made a great feast for a thousand of his lords and drank wine in front of the thousand. Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father[a] had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone. Daniel 5: 1-44 (ESV)

God would not stand by and watch this mockery.

Even before this, God had prepared a way for Cyrus as He had foretold of in the writings of Isaiah. Justice would be enacted.

While they are inflamed I will prepare them a feast
    and make them drunk, that they may become merry,
then sleep a perpetual sleep
    and not wake, declares the Lord.
I will bring them down like lambs to the slaughter,
    like rams and male goats. Jeremiah 51: 39-40 (ESV)

Meanwhile, during this great feasting and drunkenness, they did not notice the invasion being arranged and set up against them. Remember God is Sovereign as well as omniscient. He knows before what men will do. The Medo-Persian army had damned the river up higher, creating a way in. Babylon had dual walls and the only way in was through the waterways which were normally too high for anyone to enter. However, this way they walked right in. They became the sea of army entering beneath their walls

41 “How Babylon is taken,
    the praise of the whole earth seized!
How Babylon has become
    a horror among the nations!
42 The sea has come up on Babylon;
    she is covered with its tumultuous waves. Jeremiah 51 (ESV)

During their drunkenness, God wrote of Grace and Justice

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. Daniel 5:5-6 (KJV)

In other words, he lost his bowels into his pants. Oddly enough God had said this would be the case back in Isaiah in Isaiah prophecy of Cyrus.

Thus saith the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; Isaiah 45: 1 (KJV)

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting

He reminds Belshazzar of the history of King Nebuchanezzar’s humbling conversion and how God had given the King so much in both grace and justice. But you,

Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. “Then from his presence the hand was sent, and this writing was inscribed. .. This is the interpretation of the matter: Mene, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to an end; Tekel, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; Peres, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians”

29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and Daniel was clothed with purple, a chain of gold was put around his neck, and a proclamation was made about him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

30 That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean king was killed. 31 And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. Daniel 5:27-30 (ESV)

And so, justice was carried out when grace was denied and discarded.

What is the final of this?

The grace and justice of God Almighty is always and forever.

Jesus, the perfect righteous one, chose to enter the womb of a woman and be born into this world of sinful humankind that He might pay the penalty we deserved so that all who might by faith accept this gift of love could be transformed into His righteousness step by step, one glory by glory, until one day we would look like Him. But for those who choose to not receive, He will allow them to obtain as they have chosen. But that does mean justice will come for their pride in believing it had to be their way; when He gave all so they might choose Him and be saved.

For all those who acknowledge their own inability to obtain perfect righteousness, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and accept His gracious gift of salvation–they will one day know.

When the oppressor is no more,
    and destruction has ceased,
and he who tramples underfoot has vanished from the land,
⁵then a throne will be established in steadfast love,
    and on it will sit in faithfulness
    in the tent of David
one who judges and seeks justice
    and is swift to do righteousness.” Isaiah 16:4-5 ESV

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

7 Proofs God Has Spoken and He Will Accomplish It All

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

7 Proofs God Has Spoken and He Will Accomplish It All

I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it. Ezekiel 36:36 KVJ

Perhaps the question we as Christians are asked the most, “Is how do you know the Bible is true?” After all it was written by so many different people and translated so many times? It cannot be the word of God. Yet, it is. This is certain, the more I read. Amazing prophecies that already came true certainly point to the validity of what is yet to come. All the sections intersect perfectly with each other. God has spoken and He will Accomplish it all. I want to look at 7 Proofs found in Ezekiel and Daniel for the moment. The true number of fulfilled prophecies would take an eternity to unfold. Some of the ones we will look at refer to the near time fulfillment and some are of the distant future.

Proof #1 God Has Spoken and He will Accomplish

“You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem. ²Lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around. ³Moreover take for yourself an iron plate, and set it as an iron wall between you and the city. Set your face against it, and it shall be besieged, and you shall lay siege against it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel. Ezekiel 4 NKJV

Jerusalem was destroyed as was the temple after King Zedekiah broke his promise to King Nebuchadnezzar in 587 B.C. Now Zedekiah had been installed by Nebuchadnezzar. Before God and with an act of Sacrifice Zedekiah took an oath upon God’s name not to rebel. Meanwhile King Nebuchadnezzar was good to the vassal state until against the advice of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, Zedekiah listened to the false prophets. They said, regardless of their sin, God would protect them. So, Zedekiah made an alliance with Egypt, breaking the covenant, trashing God’s name and Jerusalem fell. King Nebuchanezzar had proven himself more honorable than Zedekiah. More than all this, the priests, the people all were performing idolatrous acts within and around the temple.

Proof #2 God has spoken and He will Accomplish

“Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. ⁵For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. ⁶And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year. Ezekiel 4 NKJV

They were placed in exile. Although they would later be allowed to return to their home, they did not possess it. They remained under the rule of others until truly scattered throughout the nations. Then began the years of their exile as foretold. This was not considered complete until returning to their own land. Below was a calculation I found in the writings of Dr. Chuck Missler.

430 Years? 430 (years) of judgment (Ezekiel 4:1-8): 430 – 70 [Babylon] = 360 years unaccounted for

And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. Leviticus 26: 18, 21, 24, 28

360 x 7 = 2520 years?

Calendar Reconciliation 2520360 = 2483365 + 9 mos + 21 days :

Julian year = 11m 10.46 sec > mean solar year Gregorian Reform: 11 days removed Leap Years: 2483/4 = 621 (3 excess ea. 4 centuries: 18 excess)

621 – (18-11) 2483 x 365 9 months 21 days

2520360 = 614 days = 905,295 = = = 270 21 907,200 days 70 years360 = 25,200 days = 69 years365 (less 2 days) 606 b.c. + 69 years = 537 b.c.

If July 23, 537 b.c. was their release… b [Source: Cyrus conquers Babylon, Oct 539 b.c.; Cyrus Cylinder: 538 b.c.; Return, 537 .c.;

Returnees 1st altar: 536 b.c. Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 11. 1. 1.]-537y 7m 23d +1 2483y 9m 21d 1948 5 14 (no “year 0”)

On May 14, 1948, the nation of Israel was restored.

(That is exactly the 9^th month 21^st day of the Jewish calendar in 1948 using the Hebrew Date Converter.)

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. Luke 21:24¹ ¹ Ezekiel-Missler.pdf (wpo-gregor.org) page 45

Proof #3 Concerning Egypt: God has spoken and He will accomplish

²“Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and prophesy against him, and against all Egypt. ³Speak, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:..

8 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will bring a sword upon you and cut off from you man and beast. 9 And the land of Egypt shall become desolate and waste; then they will know that I am the Lord, because he said, ‘The River is mine, and I have made it.’ 10 Indeed, therefore, I am against you and against your rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol to Syene, as far as the border of Ethiopia.

11 Neither foot of man shall pass through it nor foot of beast pass through it, and it shall be uninhabited forty years. 12 I will make the land of Egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate; and among the cities that are laid waste, her cities shall be desolate forty years; and I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries.” Ezekiel 29 NKJV

This was initially fulfilled in 565 BC when King Nebuchadnezzar overtook Egypt. Then consider now. They were so proud of their river, worshiping their gods of the river as their power source.

Yet, Now in 2020 We See the Fulfillment of It Becoming a Desert Land as Foretold by Ezekiel

MINYA, Egypt — The Egyptian farmer stood in his dust-blown field, lamenting his fortune. A few years ago, wheat and tomato-filled greenhouses carpeted the land. Now the desert was creeping in.

“Look,” he said, gesturing at the sandy soil and abandoned greenhouses. “Barren.”

The farmer, Hamed Jarallah, attributed his woes to dwindling irrigation from the overtaxed Nile, the fabled river at the heart of Egypt’s very identity. Already, the Nile is under assault from pollution, climate change and Egypt’s growing population, which officially hits 100 million people this month.

And now, Mr. Jarallah added, a fresh calamity loomed.

A colossal hydroelectric dam being built on the Nile 2,000 miles upriver, in the lowlands of Ethiopia, threatens to further constrict Egypt’s water supply — and is scheduled to start filling this summer.

“We’re worried,” he said. “Egypt wouldn’t exist without the Nile. Our livelihood is being destroyed, God help us.”2 ² For Thousands of Years, Egypt Controlled the Nile. A New Dam Threatens That. – The New York Times (nytimes.com)

Proof #4: God has spoken, and He will Accomplish All

Daniel 11 outlines future events with astounding detail all the way to marriage alliances and many already came true. Let me tease you with a few so you will go to search them out yourself. In Daniel 11, there are outlined many battles that occur over the time and history of the nation of Israel. These are so detailed as to suggest the alliances, marriages, divorces, and even murderous acts that would occur. All of these came true. Therefore, why would we not believe what is yet to come?

Many years before he became King we read of King Xerexes I (also known as King Ahasuerus).

“Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings in Persia; and the fourth shall be far richer than they all, and by his strength through his riches he shall stir up all against the realm of Greece.” Daniel 11:1-2 KJV

He stirred up enmity against the Greeks

150 years later Alexander the Great lead an army to overtake Persia. The Greeks never forgot the Persian attempt to overthrow them. So they overthrew Persia. Also foretold by Daniel 11:3-4.

Proof #5 God has spoken and Will Accomplish All

And a mighty king shall stand up that shall rule with great dominion and do according to his will. And when he shall stand up, his kingdom shall be broken. It’ll be divided toward the four winds of heaven. And it will not go to his posterity, nor according to his dominion which he ruled. Daniel 11: 3-4 KJV

This also happened. His half-brother was mentally retarded. He had an illegitimate son and one born after he died. All three were murdered and he had no posterity left. A great battle ensued for who was going to rule. The battle was won by four generals, and the kingdom was divided into four parts: Cassander took Macedonia, Lysimachus took Thrace and Asia Minor, Ptolemy took Egypt, and Seleucus took Syria North, South, East, and West.

North Versus South Battles Ensue–Daniel 11: 5-35

There are then battles between the Seleucid dynasty (Syria) and the Ptolemaic dynasty (Egypt). These battles crisscrossed over Israel. In detail it describes treaties and marriages to gain power. Verse 6 describes the murder of one kings daughter by a jealous ex-wife of the king who married her as part of a peace treaty.

Proof #6 God Has Spoken and He will Accomplish all

Then we are given a glimpse of Antiochus the Great, who is a picture of the Anti-Christ. He becomes very powerful, making treaties with Israel and then desecrating the temple. Now he decided to get Egypt on his side and gain power over them by marrying his daughter to the King of Egypt. He wanted a spy inside the court, but Cleopatra chose her husband over her father as foretold of

in Daniel 11:17. “he will set his mind on coming with the power of his entire kingdom, bringing with him a proposal of peace which he will put into effect; he will also give him the daughter of women to ruin it. But she will not take a stand for him or be on his side. KJV

Proof # 7: God Speaks and Will Accomplish All He Plans

After the Persian Empire came to power, Daniel began praying earnestly for his people to humbly bow before God. He knew it was time for their return to Jerusalem, albeit under the rule of other kingdoms. Yet, as he prayed, he was told of the future of his people.

²⁴“Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the wrongdoing, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. ²⁵So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress. Daniel 9 (NASB)

Now we are ready to do some math to determine if Gabriel did in fact predict Jesus’s arrival. We will start by determining how many days are in 483 lunar years: 360 x 483 = 173,880 days. Next, we will convert those days back into solar years: 173,880 ÷ 365.2422 = 476.068 years. After converting the decimal part (0.068) to days (0.068 x 365.2422 = 24.8 days), the time prophesized for the Messiah to arrive comes out to be 476 years and 25 days. Adding this number to March 5, 444 BC—the date on which the decree to rebuild Jerusalem was issued—brings us to March 30, AD 33, the very day of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. Is this match not remarkable? The remarkable accuracy of the predictions in the prophecy in Daniel ³ (Joshua Mark, Nov 2018)

https://reasons.org/explore/publications/articles/was-jesus-s-arrival-accurately-predicted-in-the-bible

A What About the Cross

Even the cross was predicted throughout the Old Testament from the prophets and even every symbol laid forth. I want to leave you with this thought as to inter-connectedness of the entire Bible.

When marching in the wilderness, God had the tribes march in a very specific pattern—3 tribes to the north, 3 tribes to the south, 3 tribes to the east, and three to the west. None were to be say northeast nor southwest. If you took the numbers of the tribes, you would find.

A perfect cross. Note also that they had banners with different figures. One was a Lion, another an Eagle, one a Man, and one an Ox.

Then look at the description of the cherubim around God’s Throne.

¹⁰As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. ¹¹Thus were their faces. Ezekiel 1 (NKJV)

Now consider the 4 Gospels.

Each one presenting a different aspect of Jesus Christ.

Matthew –Messiah-the King (the Lion)

Mark—the Servant (the Oxen)

Luke—Son of Man (Man)

John—Son of God (Eagle)

Every step of the way, Satan has attempted to thwart God’s plan, but he has failed. Jesus is coming again, hallelujah Amen.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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Restoring Hope: A Labor of Love for Our Nation’s Future How?

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2024

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

Restoring Hope: A Labor of Love for Our Nation’s Future How?

Behold, I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields, that they are white for harvest. 36 Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps may rejoice together. 37 For in this case the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, andz you have [l]come into their labor.”John 4 (NASB) 4 We must carry out the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” John 9:4 NASB

Last week we looked at 7 steps to Restore Hope in a World Where Desolation Surrounds Us. Those 7 steps were in many ways a preparation for action. It is the training ground to prepare us for the true labor of love in this world. If we are to labor for our nation’s future and the true mission of spreading the gospel message to the world, we must not lose sight of the Glory of God. Particularly as we see that this nation and the entire world are under siege of the evilest of forces in the heavenlies.

Our battle is not one of flesh and blood but rather a spiritual battle which requires us to wear the armor of God. Yet, we are also to labor. To labor in this manner, one must be willing to give it all—that requires it to be a true labor of love. That we are not able to do without being first filled with Holy Spirits power to truly love others and then to allow that power to flame forth without quelching it.

Ezekiel was called to such a task. No one listened. Ezekiel was called to a ministry of action more than words. The first captives from Jerusalem were taken to Babylon in 605 B.C., including Daniel and his friends. This after the messages of Jeremiah and Isaiah had been ignored. The people continued in their folly, idol worship, and sinful living with no regard for God or His commands. Then, March of 597 BC, Jerusalem was under siege by King Nebuchadnezzar because King Jehoiachin broke his word to King Nebuchadnezzar. At this time, King Jehoiachin surrendered in hopelessness. He and 10000 leaders and captives were taken to Babylon to place in service. Ezekiel was among this group.

Called to a Labor of Love

Ezekiel was 30 years of age when he was called by God to prophesy to the people. Having been born into the priesthood, he had completed all his training only to never be able to perform the rituals in Jerusalem. One’s priesthood did not begin until age 30. Hence why also Jesus did not start his ministry until age 30. But then Ezekiel was called to be a prophet.

Now it came about in the thirtieth year, on the fifth day of the fourth month, while I was by the river Chebar among the exiles, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. ²(On the fifth of the month in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s exile, ³the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and there the hand of the Lord came upon him.) Ezekiel 1: 1-3 (NASB)

Suddenly he was given an amazing glimpse into heaven. There he saw a vision of God’s Glory surrounded by 4 cherubim that were around God’s throne. He also saw large wheels with “eyes”. The wheels reached between heaven and earth. These symbolizing God’s working on earth which never stops.

Filled with the Spirit: A Labor of Love

Ezekiel’s ministry was different than others. It was more than words. He at times had to lay on his side in front of the people doing a simulation of battle and destruction with miniature houses and temples. He also had to play the scape goat, lie on his right daily for 390 days (about 1 year) for Israel and 40 days (about 1 and a half months) for Judah. During this time, he had to eat bread made from the poorest grains, cooked over dried dung instead of wood signifying the depth to which the people had fallen. Another act to illustrate the depth of what was coming is recorded in Chapter 5.

5 “And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair. ²You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. ³You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. ⁴Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel. Ezekiel 5: (NKJV).

Was it not a Labor of Love?

So, Ezekiel was commissioned to play out all these scenes trying to help the nation understand. Would they turn around and change their ways? No, but that wasn’t the point. The point was he was to do his part, remain faithful to the task at hand. Understanding only a remnant would repent and be save, he did exactly as he was told to. All this for the remnant who would believe.

⁵“Thus says the Lord God: ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. ⁶She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.’ Ezekiel 5

How easy it would have been to seeth with anger toward the people for allowing this. Or to think, how unfair this is I am swept away in their destruction. Most of us would be angry toward God. He was captive in Babylon while his wife was left behind. And even after Jerusalem fell and his wife died in the siege, Ezekiel remained faithful to his mission. A true labor of love to God and the nation.

How could he do that? Continue with a labor of love for God and the people. He like Jeremiah and Daniel, understood they could not on their own strength. But with God they could.

God’s Purpose and His Own Labor of Love

¹¹‘Therefore, as I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you; My eye will not spare, nor will I have any pity. ¹²One-third of you shall die of the pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. Ezekiel 5 (NKJV).

All this because it was necessary to cleanse the nation of evil, because evil if left unchecked will destroy everything good or right. Yet, as Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and Daniel all knew, the cleansing would come from God. Their mission was to spread the message. They were to be the light allowing God’s Glory to shine forth. They were not called to do the cleansing themselves. Instead, they were to spread the warning that God would judge them himself.

The Ray of Hope—God’s own labor of Love is to restore

⁸“Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries. ⁹Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations. ¹⁰And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.” Ezekiel 6 (NKJV)

So, they shall know that I am Lord. Perhaps that is the key to our own labor of love. The reminder of who He is. Our key point is to know He is Lord. And part of the key to our knowledge of who God is, is not thinking too much of ourselves.

A Vision of Great Sorrow that Drove Ezekiel’s Labor of Love

As I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. ²Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire—from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire; and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the color of amber.

³He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy. ⁴And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain. Ezekiel 8 (NKJV)

A Vision of the Truth in Jerusalem

Transported to a place where he could see all the things happening around the temple, Ezekiel was able to see the people inside and outside the temple worshipping and sacrificing to other Gods. Steady, ever so patiently, God would warn the people. He sent prophets and even Godly kings, but their hearts were dark. He let them see the results of their folly what with the overtaking of Israel and the captives being removed. All to no avail. The depth of this sorrow drove the labor of love for Ezekiel. Because of their rebellion, Ezekiel watched as the Glory of God with His Chariot of cherubim departed the temple and moved to Babylon. God’s Glory went to be with the exiles.

Yet, the miraculous thing was he recognized that God was with him even in Babylon. He was not confined only to Jerusalem and his temple there. He was Sovereign over everything. God was present with Daniel, with Jeremiah, and himself. That was the hope that drove his own labor of love.

Psalm 139 (NKJV)

⁷Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸If I ascend into heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
⁹If I take the wings of the morning,
And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰Even there Your hand shall lead me,
And Your right hand shall hold me.

Jerusalem Fails—where is the hope restored?

God promises that there is coming a Messiah who will restore

¹¹‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. ¹²As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. ¹³And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. Ezekiel 34 (NKJV)

God will restore the people and will provide for them. His labor of love.

¹⁴I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. ¹⁶“I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy the fat and the strong, and feed them in judgment.” Ezekiel 34 (NKJV)

And what is the end point to know?

³⁰Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are My people,” says the Lord God.’³¹“You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God. Ezekiel 34 (NKJV)

They shall know that I, the Lord their God am with them.

Restoring Hope as Only God Can Do

37 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. ²Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. ³And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

Yes, only God knows who will respond and who will not, but we are to proclaim His name to all of whom we meet.

⁴Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. ⁶I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ” Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

Even when no seems to hear, we preach on.

⁷So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

So, they looked like they were living, but without the breath of the Spirit they were not truly alive. They remained spiritually dead like many we meet each day.

⁹Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ” ¹⁰So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

The Vision explained

¹¹Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ ¹²Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. ¹⁴I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ” Ezekiel 37 (NKJV)

We must be awakened from our own graves of sin. To be born again by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

How Do We Ever Achieve a Labor of Love that Restores Hope?

Well. let us look again at the 7 steps we discussed last week.

Do Not Be Afraid—Remember the Lord is our strength
Seek God every day desiring to be in His presence
Remember that it is God who Protects You
Always Sing Out in Rejoicing and Praise for What He has done
Be Quick to Cry Out for Repentance and Mercy for Sins, Knowing He Forgives
Ask for God to guide you so you remain a light shining bright even in presence of enemies who want to take you down.
Trust God, Wait Patiently on Him because you know of His Goodness

Now, as we recognized last week. We cannot do any of this in our own strength. Unless the Lord changes our hearts and takes control, we are helpless to do any of this. That is the hard thing for us to recognize. We want to be able to say, we had a hand in this. That is the problem. But in the end, if we in humility surrender all to Him, knowing we are not able to do this without Him. Only he can do this in us and through us. However, one day, one glorious day, we will be with Him eternally in the new heaven and earth. In that city which is named “the Lord is there” (Ezekiel 48:35) NKJV

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Furthermore, if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

How To Restore Hope in A World Where Desolation Surrounds You

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

How To Restore Hope in A World Where Desolation Surrounds You

1The Lord is my light and my salvation.
I fear no one.
The Lord protects my life.
I am afraid of no one.
2When evil men attack me
to devour my flesh,
when my adversaries and enemies attack me,
they stumble and fall.
3 Even when an army is deployed against me,
I do not fear.
Even when war is imminent,
I remain confident. Psalm 27 (NET)
Patiently wait for God alone, my soul! For he is the one who gives
me hope. Psalm 62:5 (NET)

Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. King Zedekiah forced to watch his sons
be killed and then blinded so that would be the last thing he saw. The
temple was destroyed by the Babylonian army. Everything ransacked. The
city set on fire. All was lost. No one had listened to Jeremiah’s warning
cries. This was the pouring out of God’s just wrath against a people who
failed to listen to all His pleas for them to repent and turn to Him. All they
would have needed to do was lay aside their idol worship and turn to God.
He knew their rebellious hearts would destroy every ounce of goodness were
He not to intervene to separate out the weeds from the true vine. Certainly, the
weeds would choke and kill all hope of true life or happiness. But how do we
restore hope in a world where desolation surrounds?

Are we to just merely focus on rapture, unconcerned about those who will be
left behind? After all, do they not deserve what is coming? Look at the
cruelty surrounding us. Child trafficking, wars, murders, rape, violence in
the streets, right made wrong while wrong proclaimed right all increasing
around us. How do we navigate through the lies to find truth. Furthermore,
we see the suffering surrounding us from the rise in cancers, mental illness,
homelessness, poverty, and every manner of suffering. We long for justice,
freedom from oppression and fear. If anyone had the right to say, “I told
you so.”, it would have been the prophet, Jeremiah; but, he did not.

Instead, he wept bitterly for his people. Still at the end of it all, he had hope
himself in God and presented a message of hope for us, today.

Do We Ignore the Desolation to Restore Hope

All too often we tend to look away. If I do not hear the news, speak with
the broken, and close my eyes to all the sorrow, then I could restore hope in
my own life. But is that real hope or merely a charade of hope? So what is
true hope? According to the Merriam Dictionary hope is to desire with
expectation of obtainment or fulfillment. When we look around us and
recognize the depth of desolation, tragedy, and despair that is in this world,
how do we desire goodness, love, joy, and kindness with true expectation of
obtainment or fulfillment? Ignoring the sorrow does not translate into true
expectation of obtainment of the desired outcomes for true peace and
happiness. Certainly, Jesus did not ignore the sorrow around him. He wept
for the people. It grieved Him deeply that even His closest disciples did not
grasp the truth of the gift He brought. We see that when He wept at the
tomb of Lazarus.

Jesus Wept Over the Desolation of Jerusalem

He had come to restore hope. Indeed, He was the very embodiment of hope
because only He could cure the illness of this world by paying the price for
our sins.

41 And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, 42
saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things
that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For
the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a
barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every
side 44 and tear you down to the ground, you and your children
within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you,
because you did not know the time of your visitation.” Luke 19
(NASB)

In other words, He was saying, “I, your Savior, your Messiah came, and you
did not receive me.” The chief cornerstone, they cast out and would crucify
instead. But Jesus wept bitterly because they would not believe, much like
Jeremiah.

Jeremiah Wept Bitterly for the People in Lamentations

The book of Lamentations is made up of 5 Acrostic poems or songs. Chapter
3 uniquely has 3 verses for each letter of the alphabet with 66 verses while
the remainder all have 22 verses. Acrostic poetry shows a completeness of
A-Z in its presentation to make it easy for the audience to both understand
and remember. Chapter 1 is about the sorrows of Zion. 2 concerns zions
judgment. While 4 is about the completion of Zion’s punishment and 5 is a
prayer for suffering. In the middle and the one which is the longest, 3 is
about hope and relief through God’s Mercy.

א(Alef)
1 Alas! The city once full of people
now sits all alone!
The prominent lady among the nations
has become a widow!
The princess who once ruled the provinces
has become a forced laborer!

ב(Bet)
2 She weeps bitterly at night;
tears stream down her cheeks.
She has no one to comfort her
among all her lovers
All her friends have betrayed her;
they have become her enemies.

ג(Gimel)
3 Judah has departed into exile
under affliction and harsh oppression.
She lives among the nations;
she has found no resting place.
All who pursued her overtook her
in narrow straits.
Lamentations 1 (NET)

And so, the alphabet goes on through all twenty-two verses expressing the
depth of desolation in the land. Jeremiah looked from afar and so the
desolation with great sorrow. If only they had listened and turned. Are we
not like Jeremiah today? Watching as humanity runs farther from the truths
of the gospel. I feel the weight of this every day.

Yet, Jeremiah Did Not See Himself as Better—

he too felt the desolation
At no point did Jeremiah feel himself above the people. He too was deeply
afflicted for standing up and speaking God’s word. Yet, he was not bitter
with God for this. He always saw his own frailties as he cried out as though
the voice of Jerusalem. In this he prayed as though Jerusalem would pray, he felt the pangs of sorrow for them

צ(Tsade)
Jerusalem Speaks
18 The LORD is right to judge me!
Yes, I rebelled against his commands.
Please listen, all you nations,
and look at my suffering!
My young women and men
have gone into exile. Lamentations 1 (NET)

Would it not be better if at least we would cry out to the nations before they
too fall into this fate. Better yet, if we could as a nation repent and turn
back to God. It only happens one person at a time.

The False Lovers We Idolize

ק(Qof)
19 I called for my lovers,
but they had deceived me.
My priests and my elders
perished in the city.
Truly they had searched for food
to keep themselves alive. Lamentations 1 (NET)

We are in a society also who cry out for our lovers—whether that be
wokeness, environmental gods, politicians, alliances, money, power or
whatever we place before God Himself. They will not come to our rescue when desolation hits just as the Baals, Ashtaroth, and alliances of their day did not come to rescue them.

ר(Resh)
20 Look, O LORD! I am distressed;
my stomach is in knots!
My heart is pounding inside me.
Yes, I was terribly rebellious!
Out in the street the sword bereaves a mother of her children;
Inside the house death is present. Lamentations 1 (NET)
Death and destruction around us. Too many dying in the streets of
overdoses, violence, murder, and suicide. I have seen it touch too many families.

It is Easy to Lose Heart and Bitterness Enter In

ש(Sin/Shin)
21 They have heard that I groan,
yet there is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my trouble;
they are glad that you have brought it about.
Bring about the day of judgment that you promised
so that they may end up like me! Lamentations 1 (NET)

At this point, the depths of desolation hit, who then can restore hope once
bitterness overtakes. Bitterness. This is where we should not go. Yes, we may grow weary of the battle against evil. But if we fully understand their ultimate destiny we must weep for them not cheer their destruction. Nor should we cry for their destruction either.

ת(Tav)
22 Let all their wickedness come before you;
afflict them
just as you have afflicted me
because of all my acts of rebellion.
For my groans are many,
and my heart is sick with sorrow. Lamentations 1 (NET
The Desolation of Israel came From God-Punishment Must Come to Restore
Hope

ע(Ayin)
17 The LORD has done what he planned;
he has fulfilled his promise
that he threatened long ago:
He has overthrown you without mercy
and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you;
he has exalted your adversaries’ power. Lamentations 2 (NET)

He had not come without warning, nor did He come without reason. Such
patience He has shown to the nation of Israel every step of the way. We
too are on that precipice as a nation. Those whom He has shown most
favor are in most danger of being destroyed when they turn from God.

Even then, Jeremiah pleads with the people to repent.

צ(Tsade)
18 Cry out from your heart to the Lord,
O wall of Daughter Zion!
Make your tears flow like a river
all day and all night long!
Do not rest;
do not let your tears stop! Lamentations 2 (NET)

Yet in the Middle of desolation,

We restore our hope by remembering who God is. Just as did Jeremiah. I
have not suffered nearly as much as he was asked to and that less than
Jesus Christ. Surely, I can remember the kindnesses and goodness of
God.

ז(Zayin)
19 Remember my impoverished and homeless condition,
which is a bitter poison.
20 I continually think about this,
and I am depressed.
21 But this I call to mind;
therefore I have hope:

ח(Khet)
22 The LORD’s loyal kindness never ceases;
his compassions never end.
23 They are fresh every morning;
your faithfulness is abundant!
24 “My portion is the LORD,” I have said to myself,
so I will put my hope in him. Lamentations 3 (NET)

And let us not forget King David, who also taught us so much about
restoring hope in a world of desolation and darkness.

Restoring Hope Even Amid a World of Desolation—7 Steps

Do Not Be Afraid—Remember the Lord is our strength

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?²When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.³Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. Psalm 27 KJV

Seek God every day desiring to be in His presence

⁴One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. Psalm 27 KJV

Remember that it is God who Protects You

⁵For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. Psalm 27 KJV

And with a Joyful Heart of Gratitude

Always Sing Out in Rejoicing and Praise for What He has done

⁶And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. Psalm 27 KJV

Be Quick to Cry Out for Repentence and Mercy for Sins, Knowing He Forgives

⁷Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.⁸When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.⁹Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. Psalm 27 KJV

Ask for God to guide you so you remain a light shining bright even in presence of enemies who want to take you down.

¹¹Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.¹²Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. Psalm 27 KJV

Most Important of all

Trust God, Wait Patiently on Him because you know of His Goodness

¹³I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living ¹⁴Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27 KJV

You are Truth, Lord and You Alone

When I feel so lost and so alone

I turn and look upon Your throne

You, who for my sins did die

To rise again and justify

A wretched heart whose selfish pride

Could never set my Self aside

Until I saw a glimpse of you, Your gaze

That set my soul ablaze

A love burst forth, one greater still

Compels me bow beneath Your will

And when I feel so sad, so down

I then must look upon Your crown

A crown of thorns once pierced Your brow

Exchanged for Glory that somehow

Did then bestow on me Your Grace

So as I gaze upon Your face

Transformed this wretched heart of mine

Reflects Your righteous Heart Divine

As step by step I bow before

The one who doth my life restore

Yet, when I stop to see this world

The sorrow, pain; it’s evil hurled

Upon the foolish, blind, and lost

I then can see the depth, the cost

The weight of sin You chose to bare

For selfish ones who do not care

With hate-filled looks, their brazen stare

Whose hardened hearts do then declare

Themselves as kings yet all the while

Destroying all with Hate and guile

They think themselves so righteous wise

While cloaked with lies their one disguise

Oh, how I hate to see them Lord

Despising You in one accord

Yet, there I see your arms stretched wide

To bid them come to You, abide

To come repentant, sinner come

And bow before Your throne succumb

Unto Your Grace, Your love profound

While singing praise, Salvation’s Sound

So broken, sad my desperate heart

Desires to leave this world, depart

To sit before Your precious throne

And bask within Your love alone

Broken, scarred, no strength, no might

To face the battles, I MUST fight

Yet then I hear Your gentle voice

Bid me to stay and make the choice

To stand once more, Your truth my shield

As to they will I fully yield

In You I have the strength, the might

In darkness, shine Your brilliant light

So, hold me tight within Your hand

That I might do Your will as planned

Your love, your joy will fill each day

You’ll give my lips the words to say

So that the broken, lost alone

May then repent, make You their own

Finding You to be their greatest treasure

A Perfect love beyond all measure

I bid the broken, lost, and sad

Come look upon Your Cross. Be glad!

For You did die to pay their way

And rose again on the third day

If only they would now believe

The gospel truth and there receive

You as their Lord and let You in

You’ll break the binding chains of sin

Wrapped in Your Righteousness alone

They’ll stand before God’s mighty throne

Beloved, Redeemed, a child of God

With Victory now my feet are shod

Spreading the truth so far and wide

Knowing You’re always by my side

So, boldly now, no more to fear

Knowing Your love is oh so near

Empowered with Your Joy and Peace

I march on Lord and must not cease

Until that day You call me home

Upon this broken world I’ll roam

You are truth and You alone

So, take this heart that once was stone

Reveal Your will and make it known

That through my life Your light is shown

Into the darkest, dreary night

That all might see Your strength and might

And let me die to selfish pride

That in Your Will I do abide

A beacon of Your love Divine

I am the Branch, You are the Vine

Effie Darlene Barba

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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Jeremiah, Jesus, And How to Shine Bright in An Ever-Darkening World

BSB (BEREAN STUDY BIBLE)

The Berean Bible and Majority Bible texts are officially dedicated to the public domain as of April 30, 2023.

English Standard Version (ESV)

Picture licensed from Goodsalt.com

God Draws Straight lines with Crooked Pencils

Why would God proclaim a Nation His?

God Drawing a Straight Line with Crooked Pencils

God Uses the Least of These

A Call to the People to Follow

With this also comes a warning.

Visions of the night to bring hope-Straight Lines from Crooked Pencils

The Lord is our Intercessor Always

The Remainder of the Visions

And in the end: Victory

Another Perfect Example of God Drawing Straight Lines with Crooked Pencils is Esther

Esther Must Choose

The Providence of God Draws a Straight Line with a Crooked Pencil

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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Two Babylonian King Display Both the Grace and Justice of God

Daniel and the King

One King Meets the Grace and Justice of God

A Dream of the Grace and Justice of God

But Alas

Yet, God then Displays both Grace and Justice Toward this King

That changed everything.

The Kingdom is Transferred to Another Generation

This leads us to Chapter 5 of Daniel

God would not stand by and watch this mockery.

During their drunkenness, God wrote of Grace and Justice

Daniel Interprets the Handwriting

What is the final of this?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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Proof #1 God Has Spoken and He will Accomplish

Proof #2 God has spoken and He will Accomplish

Proof #3 Concerning Egypt: God has spoken and He will accomplish

Yet, Now in 2020 We See the Fulfillment of It Becoming a Desert Land as Foretold by Ezekiel

Proof #4: God has spoken, and He will Accomplish All

Proof #5 God has spoken and Will Accomplish All

North Versus South Battles Ensue–Daniel 11: 5-35

Proof #6 God Has Spoken and He will Accomplish all

Proof # 7: God Speaks and Will Accomplish All He Plans

A What About the Cross

Then look at the description of the cherubim around God’s Throne.

Now consider the 4 Gospels.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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Called to a Labor of Love

Filled with the Spirit: A Labor of Love

Was it not a Labor of Love?

God’s Purpose and His Own Labor of Love

The Ray of Hope—God’s own labor of Love is to restore

A Vision of Great Sorrow that Drove Ezekiel’s Labor of Love

A Vision of the Truth in Jerusalem

Psalm 139 (NKJV)

Jerusalem Fails—where is the hope restored?

Restoring Hope as Only God Can Do

Even when no seems to hear, we preach on.

The Vision explained

How Do We Ever Achieve a Labor of Love that Restores Hope?

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD? He is our only Hope in Life and Death! Our Joy is found in Him.

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Do We Ignore the Desolation to Restore Hope

Jesus Wept Over the Desolation of Jerusalem

Jeremiah Wept Bitterly for the People in Lamentations

Yet, Jeremiah Did Not See Himself as Better—

The False Lovers We Idolize

It is Easy to Lose Heart and Bitterness Enter In

Even then, Jeremiah pleads with the people to repent.

Yet in the Middle of desolation,

Restoring Hope Even Amid a World of Desolation—7 Steps

And with a Joyful Heart of Gratitude