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1 Samuel 17:45

The Valley of Elah

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
June 15, 2011

David slew Goliath in the Valley of Elah. He faced a giant! If you study the description of this monster and compare him to David we see that he was indeed of incredible size and stature. He was enough to scare any of us away. The Story is recorded for us in 1 Samuel 17:2-7: “Saul and the men of Israel were encamped in the Valley of Elah and drew up in battle array against the Philistines. And the Philistines stood on a mountain on one side and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side, with the valley between them. And a champion went out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span [almost ten feet]. And he had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of mail, and the coat weighed 5,000 shekels of bronze. He had bronze shin armor on his legs and a bronze javelin across his shoulders. And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; his spear’s head weighed 600 shekels of iron. And a shield bearer went before him.” He was a monster!

David was just a little guy (look at the picture at www.chucklarsen.com). My dad used to say that it’s not the size of the dog in the fight that mattered. He knew well because his dad, my grandfather, raised fighting pit bull dogs. Instead he said, it’s the size of the fight in the dog that matters. I’d say it’s neither of those. What really matters is the size of the “faith” that determines the victor. Faith is not something you take to church with you on Sunday morning. Faith is something you have when your bills are due and you have no money. It’s the size of your faith that mattes when a loved one dies, or when you’re persecuted at work. It’s the size of your faith that matters when you face an uncertain future with loved ones, occupations, homes, health and everything else. It was the size of David’s faith that made the difference. It made the difference when he faced lions. It made the difference when he faced bears. It was the size of David’s faith that made the difference when he faced Goliath as well.

Although I seem to have plenty of “Goliath” sized problems, it’s always great to face them with faith because there are no “big” problems with God.

Chuck
“You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies…” 1 Samuel 17:45

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1 Kings 8:41-43

Answer Our Prayer!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
June 14, 2011

Today we’ll visit see the Western Wall of the Temple. It’s also called the “Wailing Wall.” The Western Wall is the most holy place accessible to the Jewish people because of Muslim control of the Temple Mount. It is also known in recent centuries as the “Wailing Wall,” because of the custom of reading from the book of Lamentations and wailing over the destruction of the Temple. It was built by Herod the Great as the retaining wall of the Temple Mount complex. The plaza was created as an area for prayer when Israel captured the Old City in 1967. At times tens of thousands of people gather here for prayer. Three times a day the Jewish people pray (morning, afternoon, evening) and they do so with phylacteries tied around their forehead and wrist and with the white and blue prayer shawls.

1 Kings 8:41-43 is the dedicatory prayer that Solomon Prayed when he finished building the temple. The western wall is the “prayer” wall because it’s believed that Solomon’s temple was right here. The Wailing Wall has been revered by Jewish people for centuries as the only remaining wall of the ancient temple area in Jerusalem. Some argue that some of the original foundation is still intact in this wall. Tradition has it that when the temple itself was destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, the Shekinah glory of God remained over these stones, and that to this day, the Wall is the next-best thing to the original temple edifice.

In his prayer of dedication, Solomon, prayed for all those who would come to pray at this temple wall. It reads, “In the future, foreigners who do not belong to your people Israel will hear of you. They will come from distant lands because of your name, for they will hear of your great name and your strong hand and your powerful arm. And when they pray toward this Temple, then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. In this way, all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built honors your name.”

In the picture (see www.chucklarsen.com) you will see little pieces of white paper stuck into the cracks in the wall. These are the prayers of the faithful from all over the world. They have to be cleaned out every year.

Chuck
“So whenever any of us look toward this temple and pray, answer from your home in heaven and forgive our sins.” 1 Kings 8:30

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Matthew 16:13-18

Who Do You Say That I Am?

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
June 13, 2011

Caesarea Philippi has a long and exalted history. It was the center of pagan religions and offered a pantheon of gods to appease the interests of any possible worshipper. It was so infiltrated with various pagan gods that the huge cave, or hole in the ground, near the pantheon became known as the “gates of hell.” (See the picture at www.chucklarsen.com) It’s no wonder that it was at this spot Jesus asked his disciples the most important question. Matthew 16:13-18 tells us about this conversation: “Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, who do people say that the Son of Man is? And they said, some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. He said to them, but who do you say that I am? Simon Peter replied, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered him, blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

What is “the rock” upon which Christ will build His church? Is it Peter himself as taught by the Roman Catholic church? Because of the Greek vocabulary in this verse, this view is indefensible. I used to think “the rock” referred to Peter’s profession of faith, and it was with each profession that another stone was laid as a living stone in Christ’s church. This is true, but each living stone today must be laid upon a foundational stone. I believe the right interpretation is that Jesus, Himself, is “the rock.” Peter’s profession was that Jesus was the Messiah prophesied in the Old Testament. The Messiah was frequently identified as a building or corner stone. Isaiah 28:16 says, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed.” 1 Peter 2:4-5 gives us further New Testament evidence. It says, “As you come to him (Jesus) , a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house.” Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 3:11, “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

Chuck
“That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” John 8:24

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Matthew 11:21-23

Woe to You Bethsaida!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
June 10, 2011

Today we will visit Capernaum and Bethsaida. Jesus concentrated His ministry along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee near these two cities, both of which appear frequently in the Gospels. Matthew refers to Capernaum as Jesus’ “own city” (Matt. 9:1). Jesus lived in Capernaum for a time and called His first disciples from the villagers and fishermen nearby (Matt. 4:12–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11). Located on the north end of the Sea of Galilee about three miles east of Capernaum, Bethsaida played a key role in Jesus’ Galilean ministry. Three of Jesus’ disciples—Peter, Andrew, and Philip—came from Bethsaida (John 1:44; 12:21). Jesus performed a healing miracle in Bethsaida (Mark 8:22–26) and fed the hungry multitude of five thousand nearby (Luke 9:10).

The stubborn, prideful hearts of the citizens rejected His teaching. Matthew 11:21-23 gives us Jesus response to these two cities. It says, “Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the Day of Judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.”

All that remains at both sites are ruins. They remind me of Shelley’s poem, “Ozymandias.” It reads as follows: I met a traveller from an antique land, Who said: “Two vast and trunkless legs of stone Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand, Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command Tell that its sculptor well those passions read Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things, The hand that mocked them and the heart that fed. And on the pedestal these words appear: `My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings: Look on my works, ye mighty, and despair!’ Nothing beside remains. Round the decay Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare, The lone and level sands stretch far away”.

Chuck
“And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.” Luke 4:31-32

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Revelation 16:12-16

The Battle of Armageddon

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
June 9, 2011

Megiddo is one of the most interesting archeological sites in Israel. There are nearly 20 layers in the excavation, each representing another civilization. It was one of the earliest Canaanite cities and has a long history. It’s mentioned often in Scripture. According to Judges 1:27, the Israelites failed to drive out “the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages.” According to 1 Kings 9:27, Ahaziah, Judah’s king, died there as did Josiah as recorded in 2 Kings 23:29. There are other mentions of the site as well. But the most famous mention is its mountain “Har-Megiddon” or Armageddon. That’s the plain on which the last battle on earth will take place which will result in the end of the world as we know it.

Revelation 16:12-16 “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. … And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”

Armageddon is a term to describe the war to end all wars. WWI was touted to be that war. It wasn’t. In the “Hunt for Red October” parts of this passage was read to allude to the fact that the Red October was built as a doomsday weapon designed to start Armageddon. Terms such as “the Dragon,” “The Day of the Lord, “the beast of Revelation,” “the False Prophet,” and “Armageddon” are often part of the vocabulary modern prophets use to elicit fear from the people. It conjures up “end of the world” scenarios. But for the sincere believer there’s nothing to fear. We know who wins. Further, Paul tells us in 2 Thessalonians 2:2, “Do not become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, false report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the Day of the Lord has already come.” Further, Jesus tells us not to believe them. He said, “If anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.”

Chuck
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Mark 13:31-32

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1 Kings 18:21

Standing Alone!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
June 8, 2011

We will stop today at Mt. Carmel and visit the spot where Elijah slew the prophets who received their income at the table of Jezebel. Elijah called for the meeting. In 1 Kings 18, verse 19, Elijah tells Ahab, “Now therefore send and gather all Israel to me at Mount Carmel, and the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” All the people gathered as the two opposing parties faced off. Verse 21 continues, “And Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. But the people did not answer him a word.”

All Israel remained silent! 850 pagan prophets against one lone figure astride Mt. Carmel. I remember the Three Dog Night song from 1968, “One is the loneliest Number.” It’s incredibly difficult to stand alone against the tide of public opinion. In verse 18 of this chapter Ahab greets Elijah by calling him “the one who is troubling all Israel.” According to Ahab, if Elijah would just join the crowd everything would be just fine. But Elijah was a lone voice against the majority. In verse 20 we read, “Then Elijah said to the people, I, even I only, am left a prophet of the LORD, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men.” Elijah said to Ahab, “I am not the one who is troubling Israel—you are!”

In America the liberal church and press are always blaming the evangelical for causing division in the church and in the country. But who is really causing the division? America was soundly founded upon the biblical principles of the Scripture and stood strong on those convictions. Who brought the strife? I have been ridiculed for leaving my former denomination, but I always argue, “No, they left me!” I know many others who face the same criticism. My Independent Bible Church is filled with those who had to stand alone against the tide of sweeping liberalism. The Catholic Church and most mainline denominations have departed from the historic doctrines of the Christian faith, but it’s always been their custom to blame any dissent on those who desire to hold firm to fundamental doctrines.

Elijah’s challenge stands the test of time! Most of the world is still silent!

Chuck
“And Elijah came near to all the people and said, How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. But the people did not answer him a word.” 1 Kings 18:21

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Acts 10:15

What God Calls Clean

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
June 7, 2011

The first site we’ll visit will be the ruins along the Mediterranean Coast at Caesarea. This site was built primarily by Herod to honor his patron, Caesar Augustus. After AD 6, it became the official residence of the Roman procurators and the center of Roman administration in Palestine. It is most likely the spot where Paul stood, possibly in this amphitheatre before Felix, Festus and even Herod himself.

Herod’s kingdom lacked a deep water port that could accommodate the larger Roman cargo vessels so he had engineers expand an ancient Phoenician port into a large harbor facility. This was an unprecedented effort. As a modern trading port it turned Caesarea into a major commerce center, but also a center for a plethora of vile religious expressions. In one of the warehouses, excavators discovered a Mithraeum—a place imitating a cave where the god Mithras was worshiped in secret ceremonies—complete with an altar and a medallion depicting Mithras slaying a bull. A temple to Roma and Augustus stood high on a raised platform east of the harbor. Although there was a Jewish community here, it was thoroughly a Hellenistic- Roman city with a large garrison of Roman soldiers.

The most interesting biblical account related to this site is found in Acts 10. It begins, “At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort.” The story proceeds to tell us that God sent an Angel to him to send for man staying with Phillip the Tanner in Joppa. Cornelius sends two soldiers to get Peter. In the meantime, God is preparing Peter for the arrival of these filthy pagans. On a rooftop in Joppa, Peter became hungry and in a dream, a sheet descends filled with vile, disgusting creatures forbidden by the law to consume. God tells him to eat! But, no, Peter won’t defile himself. But after three times, God commands Peter not to call “unclean” that which He has declared “clean.” Peter is studying on this when the soldiers from Caesarea arrive. And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say…The next day he rose and went away with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.”

Peter may have planted a Church here. I’m guessing, but the early Church Fathers, Origen and Eusebius, were profoundly influenced by Peter’s teachings. They taught and wrote from their residence in Caesarea.

Chuck
“But the voice spoke again: Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” Acts 10:15

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Matthew 5:22

Not one Tittle!

Filed Under: Devotions by Chuck
June 6, 2011

30 of us will leave tomorrow for Israel. We have a strange route from Omaha to Phoenix to Philadelphia to Tel Aviv. When we land at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, we’ll make our way up the Highway by the Sea to the Dan Caesarea Hotel for the night. We’ll pass by Bene Berak, one of the more interesting suburbs of Tel Aviv. It’s the only large city (150,000) whose inhabitants are mainly ultra-Orthodox Jews. It’s small area & large population make it one of the most densely populated city in Israel. It’s birthrate is one of the highest in the Country as well. Since the establishment of Israel as a state, many of the “Grand Rabbis” moved their courts to Bene Barak. The city’s religious character gives it a special charm. It has no modish fashion shops, yuppie coffee houses, or posh restaurants, but it has an extraordinary simplicity, modesty and uniqueness. It sounds like an exceptionally large Amish community.

There are many Yeshivas, Institutes for learning Sacred Jewish Texts. There are a number of “schools of interpretation” in the community, one of which is the school associated with Rabbi Akiba who lived between 50 and 150 CE. He’s been a towering figure in the history of Jewish interpretation. Christian Scholars attribute an entire hermeneutical system to him. We owe a great debt to him with respect to the preservation of the Hebrew Scriptures. After the destruction of the temple in AD 70, Jews focused more than ever on the study of Scripture. A school arose that focused on the smallest details of the Hebrew manuscripts, and enforced a strict adherence by the scribes to the approved texts. It was Akiba who became the principal spokesman of this concern for textual minutiae. For him the sanctity of Scripture meant that each letter, syllable, and word of the Torah was important. Even the tittle was the inspiration for a multiplicity of interpretative rules.

Many more modern scholars suggest that Akiba is responsible for establishing one standard text from which all other Hebrew texts were copied. I’m not certain the evidence supports all that, but it’s undeniable that the focus on the details of Old Testament Texts that he maintained greatly contributed to the standardization and stabilization of the Old Testament that we hold in our hands today.

Chuck
“For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.” Matthew 5:18

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