Awaiting God's harvest

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Friday, October 30, 2009
Devotions: Ps 40, 51, 54; Neh 2:1-20; Rev 6:12-7:4; Mt 13:24-30

I waited patiently for YHWH, and He delivered me. He lifted me from the boggy mire, put a new song in my mouth, and set me safe on a rock. Blessed is everyone who put their trust in YHWH. Shun the proud; cleave to God! God has given me an open ear and a heart to love and obey Him. I delight to do Your will, my God; Your law is in my heart. I will not hide Your goodness from others; I will tell of Your salvation, Your steadfast love and faithfulness! I face many evils, but You are with me! May all who seek You rejoice and be glad, my God. Keep blessing me, God, and I’ll keep trusting and praising You! Cleanse me from my many sins; I know You want me to be clean and true. Blot out my iniquities. Create a clean heart within me; put Your upright Spirit within me; restore to me the joy of Your salvation, my Lord. Then I will teach other sinners to walk in Your ways. You desire a broken spirit and a contrite heart—here are mine, God! Vindicate me for Your name’s sake and requite my enemies. I will thank Your name, O Lord, as I look in triumph over my enemies.

King Artaxerxes noticed how downcast Nehemiah looked, and inquired about the his heart-sadness. Though afraid, Nehemiah spoke openly about his sorrow over the state of Jerusalem. The king offered help, and Nehemiah made his request: ‘Send me to Judah to the city where my fathers are buried, that I may rebuild it.’ The king granted all that Nehemiah asked, sending letters of safe passage and directing the king’s forester to provide timber for the city walls and gates. Nehemiah’s errand greatly displeased the Jews’ enemies in the provinces, but they did not deter him. He arrived in Jerusalem, reconnoitered the walls, and then laid out his project before the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem. They agreed to this good work. Their opponents, Sanballat, governor of Samaria, Tobiah of Ammon and Geshem, the Arab ruler of Kedar accused them of rebellion. But Nehemiah promised that the God of heaven would prosper their project, while the three had ‘no portion or right or memorial in Jerusalem.’ [This conflict continues to our own day!]

When the Lamb opened the sixth seal, there was a great earthquake; the sun and moon were darkened, and stars fell like figs shaken from a tree by a winter gale. The sky vanished like a scroll rolled up and every mountain and island disappeared. The people and leaders hid in caves and rocks of the mountain, trying to avoid the wrath of God and the Lamb—none can withstand God’s judgment. John saw four angels posted at the corners of the earth, holding back the four winds. A herald angel came from the East, and called to the four: ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God.’ Twelve thousand were sealed from each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

Jesus’ parables continued: ‘Heaven’s kingdom is like a man who planted good seed in his field: while he and his household slept, his enemy sowed weeds among the wheat, then went away. When the crop grew, the weeds grew with it. The servants reported the problem to the master, and asked if they should uproot the weeds. But he told them, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds, you should root up the wheat too. Let them grow together until the harvest; then we’ll gather and burn the weeds and harvest the wheat into my barn.’