September 12, 2012

"The Prince Shall Not Take from the People’s Inheritance" (9/12)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 46-48.

Though rulers are able to exercise authority over the people, the following verses provide a reminder that God has placed a limit upon the authority to tax in order to preserve the property rights of individuals.

“Thus says the Lord God, ‘If the prince gives a gift out of his inheritance to any of his sons, it shall belong to his sons; it is their possession by inheritance’” (Ezekiel 46:16).

It was perfectly legitimate for a prince to give what belonged to him to his sons. Every father enjoyed this same right. But what if a prince wanted to give more to his sons than what he possessed? What if he simply wanted more for himself? Was he at liberty, as a ruler over the people, to take whatever he wanted? The following verse answers this:
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September 11, 2012

"Enough, You Princes of Israel" (9/11)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 44-45.

The following passage discusses the land that was to be allotted to the princes and why such an allotment was to be made.

“‘The prince shall have land on either side of the holy allotment and the property of the city, adjacent to the holy allotment and the property of the city, on the west side toward the west and on the east side toward the east, and in length comparable to one of the portions, from the west border to the east border. This shall be his land for a possession in Israel; so My princes shall no longer oppress My people, but they shall give the rest of the land to the house of Israel according to their tribes.’ Thus says the Lord God, ‘Enough, you princes of Israel; put away violence and destruction, and practice justice and righteousness. Stop expropriations from My people,’ declares the Lord God” (Ezekiel 45:7-9).

The Ten Commandments contained a specific prohibition against stealing (Exodus 20:15). The implication is that in a God-ordered society, personal property rights must be respected. It was not lawful for one man to take from another man.
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September 5, 2012

"You Are a Man and Not God" (9/5)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Ezekiel 28-31.

In the following passage, Ezekiel prophesied against the arrogance of the king of Tyre:

“Son of man, say to the leader of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Because your heart is lifted up and you have said, ‘I am a god, I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the seas’; yet you are a man and not God, although you make your heart like the heart of God” (Ezekiel 28:2).

The verses that follow describe the great wisdom and riches that the king of Tyre had obtained for himself (Ezekiel 28:3-5). What often happens when one obtains such wealth and wisdom is that he becomes arrogant and rebels against God. This is what happened with the king of Tyre. His “heart [was] lifted up” (Ezekiel 28:5); and he tried to make himself out to be equal with God (Ezekiel 28:2, 6). God described His attitude toward those who seek to portray themselves as being gods in the minds of the people.
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August 29, 2012

Government Aid Hindering the Spread of the Gospel

The following is a quote from J.D. Tant (1861-1941) containing some of his observations about how government aid to the Indian tribes not only provided a disincentive for them to work, but also made it much more difficult to reach them with the gospel.
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August 20, 2012

"Their Justice and Authority Originate with Themselves" (8/20)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Habakkuk 1-3.

The Lord was sending the Chaldeans (Babylonians) to punish the people of Judah. The Chaldeans were not chosen because they were a righteous people or because their works were approved by God. They were simply a tool that the Lord used to accomplish His work of punishing His people for their sins.

“For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous people who march throughout the earth to seize dwelling places which are not theirs. They are dreaded and feared; their justice and authority originate with themselves” (Habakkuk 1:6-7).

There are a few points we can take from these verses:
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August 12, 2012

Woe to the Oppressive Rulers (8/12)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Jeremiah 18-22.

“‘Woe to him who builds his house without righteousness and his upper rooms without justice, who uses his neighbor’s services without pay and does not give him his wages, who says, “I will build myself a roomy house with spacious upper rooms, and cut out its windows, paneling it with cedar and painting it bright red.” Do you become a king because you are competing in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?’ declares the Lord. ‘But your eyes and your heart are intent only upon your own dishonest gain, and on shedding innocent blood and on practicing oppression and extortion’” (Jeremiah 22:13-17).

At the beginning of this passage, it may be easy to assume that the Lord is addressing the rich in general. But as we continue on in the context, it is clear that he is referring to those who rule over the people.
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July 21, 2012

Where is Your King that He May Save You? (7/21)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Hosea 8-14.

“It is your destruction, O Israel, that you are against Me, against your help. Where now is your king that he may save you in all your cities, and your judges of whom you requested, ‘Give me a king and princes?’ I gave you a king in My anger and took him away in My wrath” (Hosea 13:9-11).

God’s people had a chronic history of rejecting Him and looking for other sources of aid, strength, and protection. This passage mentions one of these sources: a king. We find a few reminders here showing us why they were to put their trust in God and not in a human ruler.
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