March 29, 2009 6:34 AM
Sam wrote:
Mist, early dew, chaff and smoke. Or, in others words, very short lived. That is what God said of the people who worship things other than Him. In the case of Ephraim (and his country (and the people of that country) of the same name, Dustin), it was because they were worshipping an object made of gold.
Now, no one knows how big the 'golden calf' was, nor if it was all pure gold, or just gold plated or what, however, it did have great monetary value, something the idolaters of that time also adored. Much like us today, we love money. And as we all know God is the same now as he was back then (He never changes), he might be looking at us and saying 'mist, early dew, chaff and smoke'.
That is why it is so important that we always turn back to Jesus when we get greedy, idolatrous, or involved in any sin. We have that luxury of having already been promised a place in Heaven because of Jesus, we better not turn our back on Him or it could all disappear rapidly just like those four temporary objects. Reply to this
March 29, 2009 6:39 AM
Johnbob wrote:
Very graphic language here, especially the last verse.
There are a couple interesting verses - in v.2, it says,
It is said of these people, "They offer human sacrifice and kiss [a] the calf-idols."
Well, I don't struggle with these sins obviously, but it was more the first part, which is 'It is said of these people'. They had a reputation with people who were pagans and didn't believe in God, but believed in all sorts of strange idols - what a terrible reputation to have. So what is your reputation around work, around the neighborhood, etc. Mine is probably 'He is a nice guy' - not as much about being spiritual or being a prophet as it should be - though to some I am. And as Americans, I am afraid that with the Wall Street fiasco, we are have a horrible reputation of greed (well-deserved as was discussed a couple days ago) as well as being fat and obsessed with Hollywood. Just go into Borders and try to find some magazines on Christianity - they aren't big sellers, but all the business magazines, girlie mags, women's mags, art, photography, exercise, etc. - those are our idols (as Americans). As a disclaimer, many of those things are great in and of themselves and I buy business and international politics magazines there, but it is interesting that I don't recall ever seeing a Christianity Today magazine there - maybe I haven't been looking hard enough.
Then there is the verse: Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him, but he is a child without wisdom; when the time arrives, he does not come to the opening of the womb.
Wow - what a great analogy (or allegory or whatever). God is saying basically that "You can have life! It is right there - you are almost there! Just come on out!" But no, we don't - my son Tim was almost 2 weeks late and Beda had a prolonged labor of 60+ hours - we always joked that Timmy just really liked it in there. I think this little verse is saying that - people like it in the warmth, in the darkness, and safety of what they know vs. coming into a new world - they are fearful - even though this is the key to having a new life - to really being born - like Neo in The Matrix - it was the first time he ever really used his eyes during his process of being born again.
That's it - I have got to go cook pancakes. Reply to this
March 29, 2009 8:25 AM
rik wrote:
do we make idols for ourselves? I know we do not make them out of our silver and gold laying around, but we can make idols just the same. It could be a sports team, work, a highly admired human. Many things in our lives bide for our time. are we keeping them in order? Gad, family, brothers, sisters in Christ, the lost and so on. what order do you have them in? Reply to this
Mist, early dew, chaff and smoke. Or, in others words, very short lived. That is what God said of the people who worship things other than Him. In the case of Ephraim (and his country (and the people of that country) of the same name, Dustin), it was because they were worshipping an object made of gold.
Now, no one knows how big the 'golden calf' was, nor if it was all pure gold, or just gold plated or what, however, it did have great monetary value, something the idolaters of that time also adored. Much like us today, we love money. And as we all know God is the same now as he was back then (He never changes), he might be looking at us and saying 'mist, early dew, chaff and smoke'.
That is why it is so important that we always turn back to Jesus when we get greedy, idolatrous, or involved in any sin. We have that luxury of having already been promised a place in Heaven because of Jesus, we better not turn our back on Him or it could all disappear rapidly just like those four temporary objects.
Reply to this
Very graphic language here, especially the last verse.
There are a couple interesting verses - in v.2, it says,
It is said of these people,
"They offer human sacrifice
and kiss [a] the calf-idols."
Well, I don't struggle with these sins obviously, but it was more the first part, which is 'It is said of these people'. They had a reputation with people who were pagans and didn't believe in God, but believed in all sorts of strange idols - what a terrible reputation to have. So what is your reputation around work, around the neighborhood, etc. Mine is probably 'He is a nice guy' - not as much about being spiritual or being a prophet as it should be - though to some I am. And as Americans, I am afraid that with the Wall Street fiasco, we are have a horrible reputation of greed (well-deserved as was discussed a couple days ago) as well as being fat and obsessed with Hollywood. Just go into Borders and try to find some magazines on Christianity - they aren't big sellers, but all the business magazines, girlie mags, women's mags, art, photography, exercise, etc. - those are our idols (as Americans). As a disclaimer, many of those things are great in and of themselves and I buy business and international politics magazines there, but it is interesting that I don't recall ever seeing a Christianity Today magazine there - maybe I haven't been looking hard enough.
Then there is the verse:
Pains as of a woman in childbirth come to him,
but he is a child without wisdom;
when the time arrives,
he does not come to the opening of the womb.
Wow - what a great analogy (or allegory or whatever). God is saying basically that "You can have life! It is right there - you are almost there! Just come on out!" But no, we don't - my son Tim was almost 2 weeks late and Beda had a prolonged labor of 60+ hours - we always joked that Timmy just really liked it in there. I think this little verse is saying that - people like it in the warmth, in the darkness, and safety of what they know vs. coming into a new world - they are fearful - even though this is the key to having a new life - to really being born - like Neo in The Matrix - it was the first time he ever really used his eyes during his process of being born again.
That's it - I have got to go cook pancakes.
Reply to this
do we make idols for ourselves? I know we do not make them out of our silver and gold laying around, but we can make idols just the same. It could be a sports team, work, a highly admired human. Many things in our lives bide for our time. are we keeping them in order? Gad, family, brothers, sisters in Christ, the lost and so on. what order do you have them in?
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Gad (SP) God
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pray for tony, his home life is dificult. he needs peace
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