History of God's Chosen

Psalm 80:8-19

“You transplanted a vine from Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.
You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.  The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.  Its branches reached as far as the Sea,^[a] its shoots as far as the River.^[b]  Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?  Boars from the forest ravage it, and insects from the fields feed on it. Return to us, God Almighty!  Look down from heaven and see!  Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son^[c] you have raised up for yourself.  Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire; at your rebuke, your people perish.  Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.  Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.  Restore us, Lord God Almighty; make your face shine on us, that we may be saved.”

Often we find that a metaphor used in the Scriptures to tell the story of an event or happening, such as the people of Israel coming out of slavery characterized as a fruitful vine.  That is what the writer of this Psalm is doing, but make sure you do not miss who was the planter of the vine.

The author was telling the history of what God did with His chosen people.  Both in territorial, political influence through the reign of both Saul and David, but primarily through the Davidic Empire we read the history of Israel.  

They, much like people today forgot who was the source of their protection and began to chase after the little gods of this world.  Those gods often require us to leave the worship of God to fit into the desires of the world.  When we do that we find as they did the protective hedge of God's right hand removed from our lives, much like what happened to Israel.

How are they different than us?  Your 100% correct, not one iota difference between them and us.  We all come into this world with what the Bible calls flesh and, it wants to rule.  You will find that in Galatians 5:17, "For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do."

When things go wrong, it is never our sins, no it is always someone else, and I've found that God is often the one blamed.  For it was the Lord that planted the root (Israel) and the shoot always in Scripture is referring to a living person.  And the foolishness of man is that no matter his action, God to be good must protect him.  That lie is from the evil one, the one that knows his time is short and wants to deceive the masses. 

And like them, when your world turns into cow manure, you are looking to cut a deal with a Holy God, who is not in the deal business, no He in the obedience business.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

God often gets blamed for our Actions

Psalm 80:1-7

“Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock.  You, who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.   Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us!   Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!  O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?  You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in full measure.  You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.   Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!”

Have you ever given thought to why God puts up with us, and I’m not referring to the pagan’s, those who worship the little gods of this world?  I'm talking about those who claim they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and will state they are His followers.

Many who make such claims are no different than the Chosen People of God, the Jews, we read about in Psalm 80:1-7.  When they referred to God as Shepherd of Israel, they were stating His leadership and authority over them, and their desire to have Him rescue them from their neighbors.  

Have you noticed how often God gets blamed for our actions, in verse six they are putting the blame on God for quarreling with their neighbors?  Could it be we want it our way, on our terms, and expect our God who is Holy to sit and say, aren’t they cute little sinners?  

That’s not part of His character, nor should anyone who has experienced His grace desire Him to allow His children to stay under the restraint of sin.  Could it be we have forgotten, this life on Planet Earth is not about you, it is about God?  

One reason I carry a billfold is to keep my driver's license and insurance papers, in case I am in an accident they will know who I am and that I can pay for what they need to do at the hospital.  Your identity is very important, but I’m fearful that many in the church today have no understanding of their identity in Christ.  If we are in Christ then He is in us, we have been forgiven, we have a new life and His nature has become our nature and His life our life.  My teacher Bill Gillham taught this concept:  “God accepts you based upon what you have done with Christ.  If you base acceptance upon anything other than Christ, you have a higher standard than God.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

How Long?

Psalm 79

Asaph the music man is the one who put this on paper as the Holy Spirit guided his thoughts.  Let us begin with the first four verses; ^“O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; “O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble. They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.  They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.  We are objects of contempt to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us.”

I read in my study Bible this took place in 586 B.C. Jerusalem being totally destroyed by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king.  (Note, we should remember the Bible is 100% correct, but that does not mean men have always interpreted it correctly, and that includes this writer.)  With that stated it is important to understand the humiliation and insult it was to the Jews that the bodies of the fallen were exposed to the elements, allowing birds and wild animals to consume them.

A question many have asked, “How long will you allow this trial to keep its hold on me or the Family, the Church, the Nation?  Not one thing is new, but the old is always new to those who have not experienced it.  Could that be why most do not learn from history, and many are for destroying many of the markers that remind us of who we were, one wonders how long before it is repeated?

Verses 5-7, “How long, Lord? Will you be angry forever?  How long will your jealousy burn like fire?  Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the kingdoms that do not call on your name; for they have devoured Jacob and devastated his homeland.”  Let no one tell you we are a Christian Nation; we are as pagan as the Babylonians.  The USA is still the best nation on planet earth, we still have freedom, but many are worshiping at the throne of government, pleasure, of material stuff, and not the Creator of all that has been, the one that atones for our sins, His name is Jesus Christ.

Asaph had an understanding of God that many who worship little gods of this world must grasp if they hope to have peace, joy, and real freedom.  Shall we explore verses 8-13, "Do not remember against us our former iniquities; let your compassion come speedily to meet us, for we are brought very low.  Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!  Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”
Let the avenging of the outpoured blood of your servants be known among the nations before our eyes!  Let the groans of the prisoners come before you;
according to your great power, preserve those doomed to die!  Return sevenfold into the lap of our neighbors the taunts with which they have taunted you, O Lord!
But we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will give thanks to you forever; from generation to generation we will recount your praise.”

Could it be the Church today, is more the Church of Laodicea we find recorded in the book of the Revelation?  Not cold or hot, rich and not in need of God?  Yet God states that Church is wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  The Church of the living God has set on its hands and kept silent while many looked for hope but only found condemnation from the religious church folks.  Yet we have the Truth, Jesus is the Truth, it is found in John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”  May I state that is absolute?  So you and I have a choice, reject Jesus as a lunatic, or receive Him as your Lord, for He absolutely gives you no other choice.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A loving Father an very ungrateful Children

Psalm 78:40-72

As you explore these verses, once more we see a loving Father and some very ungrateful children.  You will witness God's wrath on both the enemies of God and also His chosen people for rejecting His Commandments, His blessings, and returning to the little gods of this world like greed and lust.

What a snap-shot of today's culture, God’s mercy has been extended to all people, and I cannot speak for any other Nation, but the United States of America.   From our foundation, we have been blessed.   Powerful Kings and people who had one way of doing things spiritually oppressed our founders.  The King and those he appointed to control the people by controlling the Church of England.  Many a man was put into prison and even burned alive at the stake for trying to oppose the ungodliness of the government Church.

Our founder’s wise men made sure that our nation would not go down that same path but listen to the warnings from these wise men.  Shall we begin with this warning of Benjamin Franklin, "I agree to this Constitution ... and I believe, further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other."  Franklin’s philosophy of government was that freedom is impossible when people become wicked and immoral.

Wise words from John Adams, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Because of time, I will not address the warning of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln, now as you read Psalm 78:40-72, you will come I hope to see that obedience brings blessings, and it is impossible for a non-believer to desire the authority of God in their lives.  They want to have no moral authority over them, and so that brings about rebelling against God and His people the Church.  What we are observing as I write this paper is non-moral people running the Congress of the United States, they are wholly inadequate to govern! 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A small bit of our History

Proverbs 78:34-39

On September 11, 2001, the United States of America witnessed a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.  The attack killed 2,996 people and injured over 6,000 others.  

The morning was like all others; I was listening to the radio in my car going to make a call on one of the refineries in the Houston, Texas area.  I was on Hwy 45, in heavy traffic and they said a plane hit the world trade center, my first thought was, some inexperienced pilot in a small plane, but it was no time till they said, it was a big commercial airliner.  I was now alarmed, how could that happen, and had not gone a mile in that traffic, when they said another plane is going to hit the trade center.

I exited U.S. 45 and headed for the closest mall and I was not the only one, many were coming to the closest place they knew would have a T.V.  I stood with many that day in a Sears store watching over and over the pictures of the two planes hitting the towers, and then the third plane hit the Pentagon it was American Airlines flight 77.  We watched a partial part of the building’s west side collapse and stood in shock as to how this could be happening in our amazing Nation.

It was not long before we learned of a fourth plane that crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  It was much later at home that I learned about the brave men that took the plane back and did not allow the Islamic terrorist to complete their plan.

Why am I telling you this history lesson that many of you have forgotten, in fact, have allowed one that is now in our Congress who I would not be surprised was like so many of the Muslim community rejoiced all over the world that the great Satan was hit a blow?  I only make that judgment on her actions in Congress and what she has voiced.

Do you recall the number of people that filled the Churches after 9-11, where are they today, most were back to living as they were before 9-11 within just a few weeks?  That is why it’s clear that we learn very little from history, and if we did, we would not keep repeating it.

With that information, shall we explore Proverbs 78:34-39, and have we learned anything to this point?

“Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.  But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.  Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.  Time after time, he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.   He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.”

I bet you're glad I’m not God, I’m sure glad you are not, for we would have destroyed everyone, and I’m not sure we would have allowed humans to return to planet earth.  One clear thing, we have all sinned and fallen short, we tried self-improvement it fell short, we tried religion, and that does not work, but Jesus does have a plan for your life and mine.  My friend Bill Gilliam often would say “it is not too late to make something beautiful of your life (in Adam).  When we enter into a relationship with Jesus, something has to die, and that something is your old self, it has been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6).  Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and be Lord over your life?  I’m living proof that joy and peace are only in Jesus, in the world we will have many troubles, but rest and peace are in Christ.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Obedience brings Blessings

Psalm 78:40-72

As you explore these verses, once more we see a loving Father and some very ungrateful children.  You will witness God's wrath on both the enemies of God and also His chosen people for rejecting His Commandments, His blessings, and returning to the little gods of this world like greed and lust.

What a snap-shot of today's culture, God’s mercy has been extended to all people, and I cannot speak for any other Nation, but the United States of America.   From our foundation, we have been blessed.   Powerful Kings and people who had one way of doing things spiritually oppressed our founders.  The King and those he appointed to control the people by controlling the Church of England.  Many a man was put into prison and even burned alive at the stake for trying to oppose the ungodliness of the government Church.

Our founder’s wise men made sure that our nation would not go down that same path but listen to the warnings from these wise men.  Shall we begin with this warning of Benjamin Franklin, "I agree to this Constitution ... and I believe, further, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other."  Franklin’s philosophy of government was that freedom is impossible when people become wicked and immoral.

Wise words from John Adams, "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

Because of time, I will not address the warning of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Abraham Lincoln, now as you read Psalm 78:40-72, you will come I hope to see that obedience brings blessings, and it is impossible for a non-believer to desire the authority of God in their lives.  They want to have no moral authority over them, and so that brings about rebelling against God and His people the Church.  What we are observing as I write this paper is non-moral people running the Congress of the United States, they are wholly inadequate to govern! 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Our History and Israel's

Proverbs 78:34-39

On September 11, 2001, the United States of America witnessed a series of four coordinated terrorist attacks by the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda against the United States on the morning of Tuesday, September 11, 2001.  The attack killed 2,996 people, injured over 6, 000 others.  

The morning was like all others; I was listening to the radio in my car going to make a call on one of the refineries in the Houston, Texas area.  I was on Hwy 45, in heavy traffic and they said a plane hit the world trade center, my first thought was, some inexperienced pilot in a small plane, but it was no time till they said, it was a big commercial airliner.  I was now alarmed, how could that happen, and had not gone a mile in that traffic, when they said another plane is going to hit the trade center.

I exited U.S. 45 and headed for the closest mall and I was not the only one, many were coming to the closest place they knew would have a T.V.  I stood with many that day in a Sears store watching over and over the pictures of the two planes hitting the towers, and then the third plane hit the Pentagon it was American Airlines flight 77.  We watched a partial part of the building’s west side collapse and stood in shock as to how this could be happening in our amazing Nation.

It was not long before we learned of a fourth plane that crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  It was much later at home that I learned about the brave men that took the plane back and did not allow the Islamic terrorist to complete their plan.

Why am I telling you this history lesson that many of you have forgotten, in fact, have allowed one that is now in our Congress who I would not be surprised was like so many of the Muslim community rejoiced all over the world that the great Satan was hit a blow?  I only make that judgment on her actions in Congress and what she has voiced.

Do you recall the number of people that filled the Churches after 9-11, where are they today, most were back to living as they were before 9-11 within just a few weeks?  That is why it’s clear that we learn very little from history, and if we did, we would not keep repeating it.

With that information, shall we explore Proverbs 78:34-39, and have we learned anything to this point?

“Whenever God slew them, they would seek him; they eagerly turned to him again. They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.  But then they would flatter him with their mouths, lying to him with their tongues; their hearts were not loyal to him, they were not faithful to his covenant.  Yet he was merciful; he forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.  Time after time, he restrained his anger and did not stir up his full wrath.   He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return.”

I bet you're glad I’m not God, I’m sure glad you are not, for we would have destroyed everyone, and I’m not sure we would have allowed humans to return to planet earth.  One clear thing, we have all sinned and fallen short, we tried self-improvement it fell short, we tried religion, and that does not work, but Jesus does have a plan for your life and mine.  My friend Bill Gilliam often would say “it is not to make something beautiful of your life (in Adam).  When we enter into a relationship with Jesus, something has to die, and that something is your old self, it has been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6).  Have you asked Jesus to forgive your sins and be Lord over your life?  I’m living proof that joy and peace are only in Jesus, in the world we will have many troubles, but rest and peace are in Christ.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice