Psalm 2: The King Among Other kings

THE ANTI-GOD CONSPIRACIES

verses 2-3
Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.

"Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."

No war has ever lasted this long. Ever since the infancy of the nations, this war has been ongoing. The nations, with their kings, rulers and influential men do not like the idea of one God reigning as king over the nations. They want independence from God. From the account of Babel’s tower in Genesis to the prophesied one last conspiracy of the nations after the Millennium in Rev. 20:7-9, the nations hate God’s rule. You can almost hear from their lips, “Give us autonomy, you God. Give us liberty or give us death” So they devise plans against him. They join forces. They gather together in a huddle as if they were a team discussing the next game plan; or the next strategy to overthrow God.

GOD'S LAUGHTER
verse 4: The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.

In our God’s sight, the strategies of these nations are completely silly. It is sheer foolishness that men, regardless of how powerful and wise they are, would even think that they could outsmart an all-wise and all-powerful God. Hear the laughter from the one who sits in heaven (his throne is above all thrones). God is not in anyway terrified or alarmed by men’s rebellion... he mockingly laughs at them.

THE FRAGILITY OF NATIONS
verse 5:"Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath"

Though God laughs at the schemes of evil men, he is not totally amused. In fact, they arouse the wrath of God. God is burning with fury. There are no superpower nations in the hands of the Messiah.

verse 9: You will rule them with an iron scepter;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

He can take the nations one by one and smash them like jars of clay. That is how fragile they are. In the hands of an angry God, nations cannot boast of their superior Armed Forces. They cannot boast of their; atomic bombs, nuclear weapons, Harrier and Stealth military aircrafts, Tomahawk missiles, Surveillance and Tracking Radar Systems... all these are worthless in engaging God in battle. Nations are as fragile as jars of clay.

Isa.40:15:” Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket; they are regarded as dust on the scales; he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.”

Isa.40:17” All the nations are insignificant before him; they are regarded as absolutely nothing.

HOW TO SURVIVE
That is to recognize the preeminence of God’s anointed King- the heir of David’s throne in Zion (v.6).

verses 10-12 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear
and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

The only wise option for the kings of this earth is to serve the Lord with fear and trembling. Nations, kings, rulers, generals, and we ourselves must submit to the rule of God’s Son, or else we will all perish. Everyone, king or peasant, must no longer claim, “I am the master of my fate;/I am the captain of my soul.” .

Kings and rulers are instructed to be "wise" in verse 10. Rejecting the Son's reign is mere foolishness.

How about you my friend?
Is the Son your King?
Or do you have you own throne?

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"Nasaan ang Paggalang na Nararapat Para sa Akin?"

Malakias 1:6-14
An Exhortation Delivered at GLCC-Dagupan
(March 25, 2007)

Daloy ng buong aklat ng Malakias:
Nang pinayagan ng mga mananakop ang mga Judio na makabalik sa kanilang lupain at muling itayo ang templo, nagkaroon ng panibagong pag-asa; pag-asang tuloy-tuloy na ang pagpapala ng Panginoon sa kanyang bayan- Kasaganaan, Kapayapaan, Kaunlaran ng bayang Israel.

Subalit hindi pa man lumilipas ang sandaang taon, muling nakaramdam ng pagkabigo ang bayan. Hindi naganap ang kanilang inaasahan. Sa kabanata 3:14, ganito ang kanilang reklamo: “Walang kabuluhan/Walang Saysay ang maglingkod sa Diyos. Ano ang ating pakinabang/ano ang ating napala sa pagsunod sa kanyang mga utos? Ano ang ating napala sa ating pagluluksa sa ating mga kasalanan?”

Sa ganitong panahon isinugo ng Panginoon ang Propetang Malakias.

Ang unang tiniyak ng Panginoon ay ang kanyang Pag-ibig. Sa Kabanata 1:2, “Inibig ko kayo”, diin ng Panginoon at bilang patunay, inihambing Niya ang kalagayan ng Israel sa kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ng kapatid na bansang Edom. Pagkatapos, sa buong aklat ni Malakias ay inilahad ng Panginoon ang tunay na sanhi ng pagkaudlot ng mga pagpapala:
1. Paglapastangan ng Israel sa kanilang paghahandog
2. Pakikipaghiwalay sa kanilang asawa
3. Pag-aasawa ng mga sumasamba sa mga diyus-diyusan
4. Pananamantala sa mga nangangailangan
5. At pagnanakaw sa pamamagitan ng hindi pagbibigay ng nararapat na ikapu at mga kaloob.

Ang lahat ng mga nabanggit ay paglabag sa Kautusang ibinigay ng Diyos kay Moises. Ang pagkukulang sa hindi sa Diyos. Ang nararapat na pagbuntunan ng sisi ay ang Israel. Sa sandaling panahon matapos muling maitayo ang templo, ang bayan ay bumalik sa buhay na marumi- buhay na bulok- buhay na mabaho.

Basahin:Malakias 1:6-14

Ang unang hinarap ng Panginoon ay ang mga saserdote/pari. Sa kautusang ibinigay kay Moises, ang mga pari ang inatasang mangasiwa sa mga handog na ihahain sa altar. Hindi dapat tanggapin ang may sakit, ang bulag, may pilay, may bali, putol o durog ang ari, may pangangati, may galis; Ang mga baka, tupa o kambing na iaalay ay dapat walang kapansanan o anumang kapintasan.


Subalit ang mga utos na ito ay binale-wala ng Israel at ito’y kinunsinti ng mga pari/saserdote.

Hindi naman sa ang Diyos ay nangangailangan. Ang bawat malusog na baka, kambing at tupa, hindi lamang sa Israel kundi sa buong mundo ay pag-aari ni YHWH. Ang Panginoon ay hindi isang pulubi na namamalimos ng handog; sapagkat ang lahat ng yaman sa ibabaw at ilalim ng lupa, sa gubat, sa karagatan, sa himpapawid at maging sa langit at pag-aari ng Panginoon.

Hindi naman talaga handog ang hanap Niya, subalit ang mga inihahain nilang mga handog ay nagpapakita ng kalagayan ng kanilang mga puso. Kaya naman dito sa ika-6 na talata ay kanyang sinabi: “ O mga Pari na humahamak sa aking Pangalan”. Pangit ang kanilang mga handog sapagkat pangit rin ang kanilang puso- Mga pusong humahamak sa pangalan ng Diyos.
“Iginagalang ng anak ang kanyang ama”
“Iginagalang ng alipin ang kanyang amo”

Subalit nasaan ang paggalang na para sa Diyos. Ang kanilang mga handog ay hindi tanda ng pagsamba. Bagkus ito ay tanda ng pagyurak sa ngalan ng Diyos.

Ang kanilang mga pangit na handog ay ni hindi nga tatangapin ng gobernador. Ito ay insulto para sa gobernador. Ngunit sino ba ang gobernador kung ihahambing sa kaluwalhatian ng Diyos? Sino ba ang mga mortal na hari sa ibabaw ng lupa kung ihahambing sa kaluwalhatian ng walang hanggang Diyos na nakaluklok sa langit at ang lupa ay tuntungan lamang ng kanyang mga paa. Sa talata 14 ay kanyang inihayag: “Ako ay isang Dakilang Hari... Ang aking Pangalan ay kinatatakutan ng mga bansa."

Mga kapatid, nasa puso pa ba natin iyon, na ang ating Diyos ay isang Dakilang Hari, at nararapat lamang sa kanya ang ating pinakamainam na alay- at iyan ay ang ating buhay? Nawa’y ating sikapin na ang ating buhay ay maihain natin sa kanya nang walang bahid ng anumang kapintasan- isang haing buhay na katanggap-tanggap para sa isang Dakilang Hari..

Mga kapatid, ito ang dapat nating katakutan.

Sa ika-10 talata ay makikita natin na mas nanaisin pa ng Panginoon na makitang nakasara ang mga pintuan ng templo kaysa sa pagpapatuloy ng pag-aalay ng mga handog na hindi naman Niya ikinatutuwa. Kung hindi na natin kinikilala ang Kadakilaan ng ating Hari, kung wala na tayong paggalang sa kanya, mas nanaisin ng Panginoon na maisara ang mga pintuan ng gusaling ito. Kung wala na tayong takot sa Diyos, wala ng kabuluhan ang ating pag-awit, at mas gugustuhin ng Panginoon na manahimik ang ikatlong palapag ng Armar Building.

Ito po ating isa-isip, ngayon at sa susunod nating mga pagtitipon.

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A Reason to Sing for the Barren Woman

Please read Isaiah 54:1-10 before reading this post.

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The people of God were in a state of distress. The Power of Babylon overwhelmed them. They were taken as captives; they were exiles- away from their homeland. The whole nation was under humiliation.

The Jerusalem they used to know was full of beauty and prosperity. But the last time they saw it, it was burning with merciless fire. The magnificent structures: houses, the king’s palace and even the temple of YHWH were being consumed by flames right before their eyes. But they were powerless- unable to do anything. They looked around, but there were no Moseses; no Joshuas; no Gideons; no Davids; to usher them into victory. They were likened to a shameful woman- Barren and separated from her husband. Every soul is downcast.

In Psalm 137, we find the Babylonians demanding the captives to sing songs of joy.
They asked: “SING FOR US ONE OF THE SONGS OF ZION”

But the musicians hang their instruments.
They replied:“HOW CAN WE SING THE SONGS OF THE LORD WHILE IN A FOREIGN LAND?”


So by the rivers of Babylon, God’s people sat and wept as they remembered Zion.

But here in Isa. 54, it is not the Babylonians who are asking them to sing. Isaiah is a prophet of God. This is God’s Word to them.
SING, O BARREN WOMAN! / BURST INTO SONG! / SHOUT FOR JOY!

For you are not really a widow. Your Creator- God Almighty is still your husband. He has not divorced you. You will not remain childless forever. In place of sorrow, He brings joy. In place of disgrace, He brings honor. For a while, because of your sins, God has hidden his face from you. But this brief moment is nothing compared to the coming glorious redemption. Halleluiah! Praise the Lord!

Yet this redemption is not without cost. Notice the 15 verses before Isa. 54. The preceding section is the memorable Song of the Suffering Servant.

Our sins demand punishment, but the punishment was not upon us, it was upon someone else.

In order to redeem God’s people, the appearance of God’s Son must be disfigured; his form must be marred beyond human likeness.

He who is perfect in beauty appeared on earth with no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

To the barren woman, He wants to bring joy; so he became a man of sorrows.

He was despised, oppressed, afflicted, wounded and rejected by men. He was pierced and crushed for the transgressions and iniquities of the barren woman.

ISA 53:10- “Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer”

EPH. 5:25- Christ loves us that he gave himself up for us

So People of God, do you feel like you are in an agonizing and disgraceful condition? Is your soul downcast? Do you feel like abandoned by God? Never forget that:
The LORD is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him (Psalm 103:8-13)

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear
and put their trust in the LORD (Psalm 40:3)

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Reading Should Ignite Writing

Resolution #2 should lead to Resolution #3. Reading should ignite writing, that's according to Ravi Zacharias:

"... learning how to articulate and analyze what you read is one of most vital things you can do. The concern of reading great writers only is that you might conclude that they alone know how to say it well. Don't fall into the trap of parroting someone else's thoughts. The great writers should serve as igniters and inspirers that enable us to express the way God has gifted us, and not make us feel inadequate." (Ravi Zacharias, Just Thinking, p.8, Winter 2003)

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More Than Just Counting Volumes

This article from Karl Rove served as a motivation for New Year's Resolution #2. President Bush, one of the busiest men in the planet, was able to read 95 books in 2006, 51 in 2007, and 40 in 2008. So I should not blame my busy schedule for my lack of reading.

Yet it is more than just counting volumes. I remember this quote from Mortimer Adler:

"There are two ways in which one can own a book.The first is the property right you establish by paying for it, just as you pay for clothes and furniture. But this act of purchase is only the prelude to possession. Full ownership comes only when you have made it a part of yourself... You buy a beefsteak and transfer it from the butcher's icebox to your own. But you do not own the beefsteak in the most important sense until you consume it and get it into your bloodstream. I am arguing that books, too, must be absorbed in your bloodstream to do you any good." (Mortimer Adler, How to Mark a Book, Saturday Review, 6 July 1940)

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Isaiah's Christmas

Christmas Lessons from a Man Who Lived Seven Centuries Before Jesus' Birth


Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Israel is under the threat of Assyrian invasion. Assyria is God's instrument in bringing judgment to rebellious Israel (10:5-6).

God hides his face. He withdraws his favor upon the nation (8:17). Yet in their sinfulness, Israel did not seek God. Instead they hired mediums and necromancers so they could consult the dead (8:19)

And when the prophesied invasion, distress and famine came, they did not repent. Their response: they cursed God (8:21).

The Promised Light

Yet God in his mercy will send his light to subdue the darkness. Light will come (9:2). They will rejoice. They will be glad (9:3). As in the day of Midian, as in the time of Gideon, they will triumph over their oppressors (9:4). They will burn their battle boots and garments (9:5). They no longer need it for peace is coming.

God's cure for our horrors

God's cure for all their misery is--- a baby (9:6). The government shall be upon his shoulders and when he rules, he will be called:

1. Wonderful Counselor- His wisdom is greater than all other kings combined. He could never go wrong in his decisions. His knowledge is perfect.

2. Mighty God- He is powerful. He will never lose a war. He will subdue all his enemies.

3. Everlasting Father- His care for his people will be as tender as an affectionate father. Social injustice will never thrive when this king reigns.

4. Prince of Peace- He is able to bring peace. Not just absence of war, but he will cure the people of their sinfulness so that they will have peace with God (Romans 5:1)

This is Christmas according to Isaiah, that a God so zealous (9:7) to save a rebellious people sent a baby for us to be our king. Oh truly, this grace is amazing


Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

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Aanhin Mo ang "Answered Prayer" kung Nakasimangot naman ang Diyos?

Psalm 106:15: "So he gave them what they asked for,
but sent a wasting disease upon them."

Which do you prefer: a prayer denied or a prayer answered?

Surely, we want God to grant our requests. We want to receive the things that we are longing for. Hindi matino para sa isang tao ang humingi pero ayaw namang tumanggap. We ask because we want to receive.

Ngayo’y baguhin natin ang tanong. Alin ang gusto ninyo: Ipagkait ng Diyos ang ating hinihiling- pero nakangiti siya sa atin o ibigay ng Diyos ang gusto natin pero nakasimangot naman siya?

Minsan ay nagreklamo ang mga Israelita: “Hay! Abo ba natan ‘to? Wala man lang karne… Buti pa sa Ehipto, may isda… may pipino… may milon. May sibuyas… may bawang…pero Ngayon puros manna… manna… manna… Sawang-sawa na kami. Bumalik na lang tayo sa Ehipto”

Ano ang tugon ng Panginoon? Ibinigay niya ang layaw ng kanilang puso. Umihip ang hangin at dala nito maraming karne, karne ng pugo. Abot hanggang baywang, pulot lang ng pulot. Malamang ay sasabihin ng iba: "Aba, answered prayer!"

Subalit sa galit ng Diyos, ang kasunod ng karne ay isang salot at marami ang namatay. Bakit, ang sabi sa verse 13, “they forgot his works” and “they did not wait for his counsel”. They did not honor him as holy. They think of God as untrustworthy. Their belly is more important than God. They craved for meat… they craved for fish… they craved for cucumbers, melons, onions and garlic… May gana sa pagkain, pero walang gana sa Diyos.

Brethren, what does it profit a man if he gains the desires of his heart yet forfeits the pleasure of God? Let us honor Him. Let us wait for his counsel. Let us trust and obey. By His perfect wisdom, He knows what to give. And He knows what to withhold.

Let us keep on asking, but let us remember that we should seek the Giver, not the gifts.

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Kahit Maputi na ang Buhok Natin

Psalm 71:9-12
Do not cast me away when I am old;
do not forsake me when my strength is gone.
For my enemies speak against me;
those who wait to kill me conspire together.
They say, "God has forsaken him;
pursue him and seize him,
for no one will rescue him."
Be not far from me, O God;
come quickly, O my God, to help me.

Nang panahon ng kanyang kabataan, si David ay isang mahusay na mandirigma. Sa 2 Sam.17:8, ang paglalarawan sa kanya ni Hushai ay “mighty… expert in war” (ESV). Hindi ba’t may isang awit na lubhang ikinagalit ni Haring Saul? : "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands." (I Sam. 18:7)

Subali’t hindi totoo ang kasabihang “Kalabaw lang ang tumatanda”. Sa paglipas ng panahon ay unti-unting naramdaman ni David ang paghina ng kanyang mga bisig; nauubos ang liksi ng mga binti at tibay ng mga tuhod. Pati ang kanyang paningin na dati-rati’y ubod ng talas, ngayon ay patuloy na lumalabo. Doon nga sa I kings 1:1, sumapit ang sandali na kahit pagpatung-patungin mo ang mga kumot sa kanyang katawan, giniginaw pa rin ang matandang David.

Dito sa Psalm 71, tumanda na nga si David, pero ang kanyang mga kaaway ay hindi nauubos. Sinasamantala nila ang lahat ng pagkakataon upang magsabwatan sa pagpapabagsak kay David.

Sa mga sitwasyong ganito, walang ibang lalapitan si David kundi ang matagal na niyang sinasandalan. Ps. 71:5-6: “For you have been my hope, O Sovereign LORD, my confidence since my youth. From birth I have relied on you;you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you.”

Kahit pala noong panahon ng kanyang kabataan; kahit nuon-noon pang malakas siya, hindi siya nagtiwala sa sarili niyang kapangyarihan. Sa lahat ng kanyang pinagdaanan, siya pala ay paulit-ulit na nagkubli sa proteksyon ng kanyang Diyos. Sa verse 20-21, ang kanyang mga pinagdaanang pighati ay marami at pawang mapapait, pero paulit-ulit rin ang paghango sa kanya ng Panginoon mula sa pagkakabagsak kaya’t panatag siya na muli siyang bibigyang karangalan ng Diyos.

Saksi ang bawat araw na idinadagdag ng Panginoon sa ating edad; nagpapatotoo ang mga ito sa katapatan ng Panginoon. At habang tayo ay tumatanda, nawa’y tumitibay rin ang ating pananampalataya sa ating Diyos. Pumuti man ang buhok natin- maaasahan natin siya sapagkat nakataya dito ang kanyang karangalan at kapurihan: (v. 22-24). Ang nais nga ng Panginoon ay maipahayag natin sa mga susunod na salin-lahi ang kanyang kadakilaan (v.18)

Dito sa ibabaw ng lupa, habang tayo ay humihinga. Tiyak na darating ang ibat ibang kahirapan, kapighatian, at problema. Subalit ito ang ating kapanatagan, na ang Diyos ay kasama natin sa lahat ng panahon: edad man natin ay 20, 40, o 80… pumuti man ang buhok natin o kahit malagas na ang lahat ng buhok natin, ang Panginoon ay isang kanlungan na paulit-ulit na masisilungan.

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