House of Bread

Vol. 1, No, 29

December 4, 2006

But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity … This One will be our peace. (Mic 5:2, 5)[i][1]

“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet …” (Matt 2:2-5)

Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. (John 6:35)

Except for the singularly most significant event in all of history, this sleepy little lack-luster Palestinian town would hardly warrant mention in sacred Scripture. Isaac’s wife, Rachel, was buried near there.[ii][2] Ruth, the Moabitess, came to live there with her mother-in-law, Naomi. There she met and married Boaz and became the great-grandmother of the greatest king Israel ever had,[iii][3] and consequently she became an ancestor of the Messiah. King David was probably born there,[iv][4] and it is there where Samuel anointed him to become Israel’s king.[v][5] The fertile valleys around Bethlehem provided ideal pasture lands for raising the sheep that David tended for his father.[vi][6] Situated just 5 miles south of Jerusalem and in the shadow of the temple, sheep-raising later became profitable for the sale of the sacrificial lambs used in temple worship.

It was not to the grand palace of Alexandria that the Creator chose to come. It was not to the Roman courts of Augustus Caesar that He made Himself known. Nor did He identify with Herod the Great, the puppet king of Israel. No, instead He made His grand entry into the world at the little insignificant village of Bethlehem. Having left the unspeakable splendor of Glory, His welcome was offered not by a royal delegation, but by smelly stable animals. His first bed was not covered with the finest linen, but with rough, prickly straw; it was not a soft down canopy bed fit for a king, but an ordinary feeding trough intended only to keep the cattle’s feed away from the dung and urine on the sod floor. His bedchamber was not of polished marble draped in velvet and satin, but rather the walls of a dark limestone cave adorned with spider-spun silk. His arrival was announced not to kings, princes or potentates, but to a motley group of low-life sheep herders.

It was here to this nothing little town – Bethlehem, the “house of bread” – that the Bread of Life made His entry. It was to a small, lowly band of Bethlehem shepherds that the Lamb of God was proclaimed. It was in a single moment, in resounding silence and resplendent obscurity, that the insignificant became all-significant. Into a cold and darkened world the radiant Light of the world burst through. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) Surely, some out-of-towner that night asked the local inn keeper, “What’s new in Bethlehem?” to which the inn keeper answered, “Nothing. Nothing ever happens in Bethlehem.” Yet, in its dark streets shown the Everlasting Light!

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His Heav’n.
No ear can hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him,
Still the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in;
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel![vii][7]

Notes:

[i][1] Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are taken from THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE UPDATE. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation.
[ii][2] Genesis 35:19; 48:7
[iii][3] Ruth 4:17
[iv][4] 1 Samuel 17:12
[v][5] 1 Samuel 16:4
[vi][6] 1 Samuel 17:15
[vii][7] Brooks, Phillips (1835-1893), “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” Stanza 3 & 4, The Baptist Hymnal (Convention Press, Nashville, 1991), Hymn 86.

What Gift to Bring?

Volume 1, Number 28
November 26, 2006

If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, or what does He receive from your hand? (Job 35:7[1])
Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matt 2:11)
They tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh; but He did not take it. (Mk 15:23)


The turkey has been sacrificed to be dissected, dismembered, divided and devoured, and Macy’s has officially christened the Christmas (or should I say “Holiday?”) season. I always enter this season with mixed emotions. On the one hand, it is my least favorite time of the year and on the other hand, it is one of the most joyful times of the year.

The commercialism of Christmas saddens me especially when I see Christmas displays along side Halloween items at the store. It would be naïve to imagine that the merchants are just premature in fostering the “Christmas spirit.” The fact is that they want us to get into the Christmas spirit early for their profit. There is nothing noble in their cause. For the merchants to value Christmas in terms of dollars and cents is understandable since profit is the sole purpose of their existence. Their goal is not to help mankind or to make the world a better place; it is to increase revenue at our expense, and it makes no difference to them if we pay with cash or with money we do not have. No, that is not what saddens me because I understand their mindset.

What saddens me is how easily we fall prey to the devices of devious marketers. Earlier today I was fueling up at a neighborhood self-serve gas station when I was assaulted by an electronic salesman strategically placed on the gas pump trying to talk me into something for which I had no need. I have put myself on the National Do-Not-Call list to protect myself from telemarketers, I have installed a “pop-up” blocker on my computer to protect me from unwanted advertising on the internet and installed spam blockers for my E-mail, and yet they manage to worm their way in. I am sure that this is no revelation to you. We are inundated with messages urging us to purchase things we cannot afford and do not need with money we do not have. The message during this season changes only slightly from “you deserve this, you are worth it” or “you owe it to yourself,” to “she’ll really love you for this.” As far as targeting children the message remains, “it’s all about me.” I am tickled by the latest Burger King ™ commercial that reverses the roles of parent and child and portrays the dad and mom throwing a tantrum in order to get taken to Burger King ™. While that may be funny to watch, it is not so funny to think that we often treat God the same way – “But You promised.”

On the other hand, my joy returns when I consider that the God, the Creator, the Sovereign Lord of the universe humbled Himself[2] to the point of implanting Himself in the womb of a virgin peasant girl to grow as a human embryo and pass through the birth canal as a helpless baby boy. Incomprehensible! The thought that the creature gave birth to the Creator! What earthly king would give up his throne to help the refuse of his realm? The concept is inconceivable, and yet, that is exactly what Jesus did for us.

The Christmas lights are going up all over our neighborhood. Our yard decorations are quite simple compared to some. The central point of focus is a rough-built wooden cross. At the ends of the cross beam are large red bows representing the nail-pierced hands. At the top of the vertical beam hangs a dry wreath adorned with a red bow representing the crown of thorns. At the foot of the cross an unattractive little manger stands dressed with a red bow symbolizing the gift that was given. Next to the manger a gift tag attached with a red ribbon reads: “God so loved … that He gave.”[3] God’s incomprehensible, incalculable gift to us is a source of perpetual joy – no matter what the season.

In his Christmas sermons, my father often used an absurd illustration of someone giving a birthday party for their son and when the guests arrive, they all exchange gifts with each other and the birthday boy gets nothing. Christmas can get that way. We become so consumed in the exchanging of gifts that we forget whose birthday we are celebrating. Of course, we can make light of the whole thing by noting that, after all, the celebration is really based on pagan festivals and that it is really not Jesus’ birthday – no one (except for God alone) knows the real date of Jesus’ birth. Whereas that is all too true, the fact remains that Christianity sanctified (set apart) that date to celebrate the birth of Christ, and it is fitting that we do so, but let us celebrate His birth without the trappings of paganism.

Does that mean we should not exchange gifts? I cannot answer that for you. Just how important is that to you? As we celebrate His birth, who should be the recipient of the gifts? Elihu made a valid point, If you are righteous, what do you give to Him, or what does He receive from your hand? (Job 35:7) What can we possibly offer the titleholder of the universe? Like it or not, He even owns us. The wise men opened their treasures and offered their gifts to Him, but He went empty handed to the cross and the myrrh that was offered to Him, He rejected. The only gift we can give Him is only what He has first given us – our lives. That is all He desires. In exchange, He offers us eternal life to share with Him in heaven. Jesus said, “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:26) When you consider the alternative, you really can’t beat this deal! What gift can you bring? Why not give Him your life?

O come, desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease,
Fill the whole world with heaven’s peace. [4]

Notes:
_____________________________
[1] Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are taken from THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE UPDATE. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation.
[2] Philippians 2: 5-11
[3] John 3:16
[4] “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” 4th stanza of a Latin hymn translated by Henry Sloane Coffin (1877-1954), The Baptist Hymnal (Convention Press, Nashville, 1991), hymn 76.

View of the End

Volume 3, Number 1


… Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them. (1 Sam 8:7)[1]

First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. (1 Tim 2:1-2)

On Tuesday, November 4, 2008, America made her will known and elected a new President. Irrespective of the vote you cast, Barack Hussein Obama will be our next President. As Mr. Obama offered his victory speech, thousands of tear-stained faces adoringly hung on every uttered word although nothing of substance was really said. The entire oration oozed of empty rhetoric and idealistic platitudes. The hypnotic effect that Obama held over the crowd was remarkable – foreshadowing, I think, what is to come.

If one can believe the prophecies of the media heralds, President Obama will govern from the “middle” meaning that, while he will not be conservative, he will not be as liberal as his past record might otherwise indicate. Such misplaced optimism is symptomatic of a people deceived into believing that government has the responsibility of making their lives better. Any promise of free services – health care, housing, tax “credits,” etc. readily rallies the masses expecting entitlements. Never is there consideration given to the fact that there is a hidden cost to all of these services and someone will have to pay. Oh yes, the big rich companies will pay for it all. Never is there consideration given to slippery slope toward socialism which our country has taken. Never is there any consideration given to Obama’s prior indoctrination in Socialist and Marxist ideologies.[2] Never is there any consideration given to his antagonism toward the founding document of our nation, the Constitution,[3] which he has sworn and will have to swear to uphold and defend. No, none of this matters as long as he gives us the pie in the sky by and by. One Dallas teenager was quoted as saying, “I feel like he really cares about us, and about the future.”[4]

There would be those that come to Mr. Obama’s defense pointing out that he has disavowed his radical associations, but to them the Bible would say, “for as he thinks within himself, so is he.” (Prov. 23: 7) Rhetorically, God’s Word challenges: “Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?” (Jer 13:23). Obviously the answer is no. President-Elect Obama will say anything for political expediency, and given his amazing talent for oratory, the masses are swallowing it hook, line and sinker. However, what he says and what he thinks are not necessarily the same. Consider the warning given in the book of Proverbs:

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you;
2 And put a knife to your throat, if you are a man of great appetite.
3 Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food.
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, cease from your consideration of it.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings,
like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
6 Do not eat the bread of a selfish man, or desire his delicacies;
7 For as he thinks within himself, so he is. He says to you, "Eat and drink!"
But his heart is not with you.

8 You will vomit up the morsel you have eaten, and waste your compliments
(Prov 23:1-8, NASB[5])

For about the first 300 years of their existence as a nation, Israel was without a king. They were governed (as they gave allowance) by God through judges. Due to their frequent reprobation, God punished them by sending marauding nations to castigate them. At last they cried out for a king. “Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah; and they said to him, ‘… Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.’” (1 Sam 8:4-5) Samuel was much distressed over the request, but “LORD said to Samuel, ‘Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.’” (1 Sam 8:7) Later on, Israel’s first king was chosen. When Samuel brought Saul before the people the Bible says, “[H]e was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. Samuel said to all the people, ‘Do you see him whom the LORD has chosen? Surely there is no one like him among all the people.’ So all the people shouted and said, ‘Long live the king!’” (1 Sam 10:23-24) I cannot be sure, but I feel like Samuel was egging them on in pointing out his physical appearance. As it turned out, Saul was a sorry king. His problem was that he trusted in his own abilities rather than in God. Once God had his fill of Saul, He selected another king for the nation.[6] Samuel was directed by God to go to the house of Jesse in the little town of Bethlehem. Jesse had twelve sons and they were paraded before Samuel so that one could be selected. When Eliab, the oldest was brought in, Samuel thought that surely this one had to be the one. He was tall, strong and handsome, “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.’” (1 Sam 16:7)

“The LORD looks at the heart.” We see the outward appearance. We hearken to well rehearsed and well delivered speeches that ebb and flow in perfect rhythm to the lust of our flesh. We want to have our ears tickled with empty promises of better tomorrows, but God looks at the heart. Our next President is a handsome man. He is young. He is tall, dark and handsome. He has a captivating smile. His speech is smooth as butter and he radiates before the television cameras. But God looks at the heart. Obama’s ability to captivate and mesmerize the masses foreshadows a world leader that will rise and captivate the whole world. The prophecy of Daniel tells of one who is to come: “a despicable person will arise, on whom the honor of kingship has not been conferred, but he will come in a time of tranquility and seize the kingdom by intrigue. … In a time of tranquility he will enter the richest parts of the realm, and he will accomplish what his fathers never did, nor his ancestors; he will distribute plunder, booty and possessions among them, (Dan 11:21, 24) The Revelation of Jesus Christ as recorded by John the beloved apostle describes him in these terms: “… And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?’ There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him.” (Rev 13:3-5) I’m not ready to proclaim that Barack Obama is the Antichrist, but his mass appeal, considering the lack of substance in his message, at least can give one an idea of what the Antichrist will be able to do.

God looks at the heart, and “The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Prov 21:1) God has given America what she has asked for. God has given America what she deserves for her ingratitude for all of His blessings. She has spurned His love and rejected His laws, and God has removed His hand from our nation. Yet a remnant of His people still remain, and to them He commands “that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” (1 Tim 2:1-3) His promises are not nullified by any earthly authority and He promises that, “[If] My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14)

Barack Hussein Obama was not my choice for President of the United States. I have several serious and justifiable doubts about his qualifications for the office, but the people have spoken. Furthermore, God has spoken, and God has set up Mr. Obama to lead our nation. Our part is to lift up him, his staff, the Congress and Senate and our justices in daily prayer. Pray for God’s mercy on our land.

My country ‘tis of thee, Sweet land of Liberty, of thee I sing.
Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountainside let freedom ring.

My native country, thee, land of the noble free, thy name I love:
I live thy rocks and rill, thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

Let music swell the breeze, and ring from all the trees sweet freedom’s song.
Let mortal tongues awake, let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

Our fathers’ God, to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright with freedoms’ holy light;
Protect us by Thy might, Great God our King.[7]


Notes:

[1] Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are taken from THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE UPDATE. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, by The Lockman Foundation.
[2] Note his associations. Bill Ayers, Nadhama Auchi, Louis Farrakhan, Tony Rezko, Moussa Marzook (author of the Hamas manifesto), James T. Meeks, the Black Panthers, etc.
[3] Barack Obama, 2001 interview with WBEZ 91.5 FM in Chicago.
[4] “Barack Obama: President-Elect of the United States” The Dallas Morning News, Sunday, November 09, 2008, Special Commemorative Section, Section M, p.4M.
[5] The Bible text designated (NASB) is from THE NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, (The Lockman Foundation, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977). Used by permission. All rights reserved.
[6] 1 Samuel 16
[7] Smith, Samuel F. (1808-1895), “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” The Baptist Hymnal, (Nashville, Convention Press, 1991), Hymn 634.