Category Archives: Leviticus

Celebrate Liberty

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One nation under GodIn honor of Independence day I thought I would just share a few interesting quotes:

The first amendment to the Constitution (the first 10 amendments are also known as The Bill of Rights)
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Patrick Henry
There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. … Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!

Ben Franklin in a speech to the Constitutional Convention – June 28, 1787
I’ve lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth — that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his Notice, is it probable that an Empire can rise without his Aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the Sacred Writings, that except the Lord build the House they labor in vain who build it. I firmly believe this, — and I also believe that without his concurring Aid, we shall succeed in this political Building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our Projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a Reproach and Bye word down to future Ages.

James Madison is called the Father of the Constitution.
It is claimed he discovered our three branches model of government in Isaiah 33:22 which says:
For the LORD is our judge(Judicial Branch), the LORD is our lawgiver (Congress), the LORD is our king (Executive Branch); it is he who will save us.

John Adams – First VP and Second President of the US
Because we have no government, armed with power, capable of contending with human passions, unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our Constitution, as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.

Samuel Adams – organizer of the Boston Tea Party and patriot
We have this day [July 4th] restored the Sovereign to whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in Heaven. … From the rising to the setting sun, may His kingdom come.

George Washington – October 3, 1789 – Proclaiming a national day of thanksgiving
It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor

And from two more current presidents from different parties.

John F. Kennedy – Inaugural Address, January 20, 1961
For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago. The world is very different now. … And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe – the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.

Ronald Reagan
If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.

I’m convinced that today the majority of Americans want what those first Americans wanted: A better life for themselves and their children; a minimum of government authority. Very simply, they want to be left alone in peace and safety to take care of the family by earning an honest dollar and putting away some savings. This may not sound too exciting, but there is something magnificent about it. On the farm, on the street corner, in the factory and in the kitchen, millions of us ask nothing more, but certainly nothing less than to live our own lives according to our values — at peace with ourselves, our neighbors and the world. (July 6, 1976)

Happy Independence Day!
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Leviticus 25:10 – (the Inscription on the Liberty Bell)
Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.

Is God on America’s side?

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We are in a war where radical Muslims claim God is on their side.  In America we pray for God to bless our troops and believe God is on our side.  Does God choose sides and if so, whose side is He on?

We gain insight into the answer in Joshua 5:13-14.  Joshua is preparing to lead Israel in battle against Jericho.  Joshua sees “a man” standing with sword drawn and he asks him, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” This “man” turns out to be an angel, or most probably, a pre-incarnate appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

God had commanded the Israelites to go in and conquer the land to punish the inhabitants of it for their continued wicked ways.  He had promised the Israelites that He would give them victory.  If anybody could ever say, “God is on our side”, these would be the people who could make that claim.  Yet, the “man” gives a very curious answer, “Neither”.

Neither?  He wasn’t for them or for their enemies?   He goes on to explain, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” In other words, He was saying, “I am on God’s side.  The real question is, ‘Are you on God’s side or on the side of His enemies?’”  God is always on His own side, accomplishing His purposes.  It is man who must choose which side He will be on, the side of right or the side of wrong?

Is there a “right” side in war?  Certainly there is, God’s side.  It is God who established what is right and what is wrong.  God is always on the side of good.  That means He is opposed to those who are proud, perpetrate injustice or do not show mercy (Micah 6:8).  He is opposed to those who shed innocent blood and devise wicked plans (Proverbs 6:17).  He supports liberty for mankind (Isaiah 61:1; 2 Corinthians 3:17; Leviticus 25:10).  The Bible lists many things He is opposed to and many things He is in favor of. The nation that goes to war to accomplish a godly purpose has chosen to be on God’s side.

We need to recognize too that God has often provoked nations to go to war to accomplish His purpose.  Israel invaded the Promised Land to accomplish God’s punishment upon those nations that had repeatedly rejected Him.  (They had heard the message. Melchizedek is an example of one prophet God had sent among the gentile nations in that area.)  Throughout the book of Judges, and elsewhere, God provoked the nations surrounding Israel to attack them to chastise them for their rebellion.  Ultimately Israel and Judah were conquered by the Assyrians and the Babylonians as part of God’s plan to purge Israel of her idolatry.  We have solid Biblical reasons to believe God still provokes nations to go to war to accomplish His will.

Is God on the side of the Muslims?  Is God on the side of the Jews?  Is God on America’s side?  God is on His side and actively accomplishing His purpose here on earth.  Therefore, it is up to man to choose which side he will fight on.  Will we side with God in bringing about the good He plans for mankind or will we fight against God for our own selfish ends?
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Proverbs 21:30-31
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.

Jesus and Paul disagree?

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1 Corinthians 5:3
For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this.
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It seems one Scripture many people know and enjoy quoting is Jesus saying “judge not that you be not judged”. This is a handy one to bring up when confronted with sin in our lives. So is Paul disobeying this command of Jesus when he says “I have already passed judgment” on this man?

Most who quote Matthew 7:1, “judge not”, aren’t aware that 14 verses later Jesus says, “Watch out for false prophets”. How can I do that if I do not make some judgment about who is speaking truth and who is speaking lies? Clearly Jesus was not saying close your eyes to all evil, all false teaching, swallow whatever comes your way with no discernment. So what was He referring to?

In short, there are things I can know and things I cannot know. I can know a man who is openly engaged in immorality is living in sin because God’s Word tells me such behavior is sin. I can know a man teaching things contrary to Scripture is a false prophet. What I cannot know, and therefore am not to judge, are the motives of his heart.

To point out evil and call it evil is not judging. In fact, it is following the example of Jesus, Paul, Peter and others. In fact, it is following what we are often commanded to do in Scripture – “overcome evil with good”. It is “good” to warn someone of something in their life that will destroy them. It would be unloving and evil to see symptoms of a deadly disease in someone’s life and not warn them. The disease would only kill the body. How much more unloving to not warn them of a disease that will destroy their soul?
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Just a few of many passages that command us to judge actions: Matthew 18:15-17; Romans 16:17,18; 1 Corinthians 5:11; Galatians 6:1; Titus 3:10,11; Leviticus 19:17