9-15-20   THOUGHTS

A lesson from history this morning. The passage from Nehemiah below describes the times during Judges where we are studying on Wednesday evenings.  There’s a general lesson here.
Heb 12:1-2     Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Neh 9:23-31     "You made their sons numerous as the stars of heaven, And You brought them into the land Which You had told their fathers to enter and possess.  24 And You gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, To do with them as they desired. 25  "They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, Hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, Fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled and grew fat, And reveled in Your great goodness. 26  "But they became disobedient and rebelled against You, And cast Your law behind their backs And killed Your prophets who had admonished them So that they might return to You, And they committed great blasphemies. 27  "Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them, But when they cried to You in the time of their distress, You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors. 28  "But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before You; Therefore You abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they ruled over them. When they cried again to You, You heard from heaven, And many times You rescued them according to Your compassion,   29  And admonished them in order to turn them back to Your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your ordinances, By which if a man observes them he shall live. And they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen. 30  "However, You bore with them for many years, And admonished them by Your Spirit through Your prophets, Yet they would not give ear. Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. 31  "Nevertheless, in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or forsake them, For You are a gracious and compassionate God.
James Burton Coffman:   “Some writers express amazement at the repeated apostasies of Israel, wondering how a people so often blessed of God could again and again resort to idolatry, but, human nature being what it is, there is noting unusual about it. This is exactly the thing that always happens when a people is not diligent to cultivate and nurture the spiritual resources which God has provided.”     Coffman Commentaries - Coffman Commentary: Judges & Ruth: Vol. 6.

My Prayer:
Oh God of heaven, deliver us from ourselves.  Teach us to flee from double-mindedness. Help us to love you with our all.   May we abide in you continually.  Focus our hearts and minds please, Oh God.     

 In the Name of Jesus the Christ                    Amen