“An Evil Time”
Blessings Folk…
If you have been reading with us through the chronological Bible then you have spent some time in hearing the words of the “minor” (not a reference to importance, rather to length of book) prophets…Amos, Micah, etc.
I am certain that the Spirit of the Lord has been showing you truths.
One particular phrase leapt out at me.
I believe that it is a word from the Lord for us and the land in which we live.
“...for it is an evil time.”
Here is the context.
The Lord was speaking through Micah declaring that Israel was to fall - the northern Kingdom. Yet, the Lord, told them what to do.
Read, listen, give heed.
Amos 5:4-15
4 For thus says the Lord to the house of Israel: "Seek Me and live;
5 But do not seek Bethel, Nor enter Gilgal, Nor pass over to Beersheba; For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, And Bethel shall come to nothing.
6 Seek the Lord and live, Lest He break out like fire in the house of Joseph, And devour it, With no one to quench it in Bethel —
7 You who turn justice to wormwood, And lay righteousness to rest in the earth!"
8 He made the Pleiades and Orion; He turns the shadow of death into morning And makes the day dark as night; He calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the face of the earth; The Lord is His name.
9 He rains ruin upon the strong, So that fury comes upon the fortress.
10 They hate the one who rebukes in the gate, And they abhor the one who speaks uprightly.
11 Therefore, because you tread down the poor And take grain taxes from him, Though you have built houses of hewn stone, Yet you shall not dwell in them; You have planted pleasant vineyards, But you shall not drink wine from them.
12 For I know your manifold transgressions And your mighty sins: Afflicting the just and taking bribes; Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.
13 Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, For it is an evil time.
14 Seek good and not evil, That you may live; So the Lord God of hosts will be with you, As you have spoken.
15 Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
NKJV
The Lord gives them/us the Word of encouragement and hope at the beginning… and at the end.
Seek Me and live!
Again, He says...
Seek the Lord and live!
At the end of the passage He says to seek good, not evil, that you may live...to hate evil, to love good, to establish justice.
The Lord God of Hosts will be with you.
Great words of truth and encouragement, yet most choose not to live by them.
The Lord told them not to seek Bethel, Gilgal, Beersheba and the like. This simply means that we are not to put our trust in the power of man...great cities and civilization…nor in the power of man-made religion or man-made attempts to reach God.
We are to remember that the Lord created all that is...the Pleiades and Orion… constellations of stars. Sadly, most do not believe this. Many professing to be of the Body of Christ do not believe. They believe the lies of satan over the truths of God.
It is the Lord who created the heavens.
It is the Lord who controls day and night.
It is the Lord who established the hydrological cycle - “waters of the sea and pours them upon the face of the earth.”
The Lord is His name.
We must trust in Him alone.
But, know this.
The world will “hate the one who rebukes in the gate.” This speaks of the one who will declares the truth to the elders, the leadership. The one who will boldly proclaim the distinction between evil and good.
They will abhor the one who speaks uprightly. Don’t believe it? Ask “Miss California”.
They will tread down the poor.
They will take grain taxes from them...we live in a state where this occurs...our food is taxed. Think on that for awhile.
It is so bad that the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.
Therefore, an evil time is a time when…
- God is not sought
- The Word of the Lord is rejected
- The fact that God created is denied
- Righteousness is rejected
- Those who speak forth uprightly are abhored and hated
- Sin abounds
- The poor are treaded down through grain taxes
- The just are afflicted
- Bribes abound
- Justice is rejected...especially for the poor.
We live in evil times.
They will increase. (Can’t wait to see if the president will accept an invitation to speak from one of the most important Mosque in the word...in Egypt...this could reveal much.
http://worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=97694 )
Yet, Who knows.
Seek good.
Hate evil.
Establish justice in the gate (in political leadership and courts).
It may be that the Lord God of Hosts will be gracious to us.
Blessings!!
Today’s reading from the “So That’s Why” Bible consists of pp. 730-734.
Pray for these folk - Pray for…
Pray for the “Victory Park” recording project…‘bout done...have I said that before?
Hope to send to manufacturer this week. One more tweaking session tomorrow!
You can check out a “beta” version at http://www.myspace.com/victoryparkmusic
Also, let us know if you would like to have the group come for a time of corporate worship with your portion of the Body of Christ...we have several times upcoming soon.