Tag: entertainment
Prophetic Entertainment?
Scripture reading for August 26: Ezekiel 33-36
God had made Ezekiel a watchman to warn His people of coming judgment and disaster because of sin. Like a mailman for God, he was to deliver God’s Word. (Ezekiel 33:7-9) After he warned them, they would be responsible. You might say that Ezekiel was a prophet of individual responsibility. Each person was to become responsible for the Word from God that was delivered to them. What they chose to do with it determined their destiny! (Ezekiel 33:11) Ezekiel warned them faithfully but the people complained that God was unjust in His dealing with them. (Ezekiel 33:17) The people accused but it was they who were guilty of injustice! They were under the bondage of sin and blinded to the truth that could make them free.
These people were proud of their preacher and seemed to want to hear him. God told Ezekiel that the people were talking about him in their houses. They were telling each other to come and hear the message of the prophet. The problem was that they did not want to put any of his message into practice. Their hearts were greedy for gain and they were selfish and unchanged after hearing. They viewed his messages as entertainment, such as a beautiful love song or a concert. (Ezekiel 33:30-32)
How are you receiving the word of God today? Do you read your Bible for entertainment with no heart to put it to practice? Do you listen to the preacher at church just to get a good feeling? Ezekiel was received the same way! However, he could not quit or he would be guilty of their blood! But after listening, God hold each person accountable for their reception of truth and obedience.
“If you warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.” (Ezekiel 33:9)
“And if I say to the wicked man, ‘you will surely die’; but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right–if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die.” (Ezekiel 33:14-15)
Rebellion: Today’s “entertainment”!
Scripture reading for March 20th: 1st Samuel 13-15
When we think about witchcraft and the occult, we tend to think about men and women dressed in black, moonless nights, bats, curses, spells, and evil that is ugly. It usually includes violence, blood and death. Our modern culture has lots to say about the occult and many television shows and movies that highlight evil are watched by millions. A popular series of children’s novels, “Harry Potter”, has sold millions and no one thinks much about it other that another form of entertainment. When we imbibe of this evil, we are stubbornly rebelling against God’s command. (Leviticus 19:26)
Saul was anointed and empowered to lead the nation. He was the answer to the people’s cry for a king like the other nations. But Saul was impatient. Samuel, the prophet and judge, had told Saul to wait for him to come and sacrifice to the Lord and seek counsel. Saul waited but grew impatient and decided to offer the sacrifice himself. It was not his job or place, but he went ahead anyway. Samuel returned just after Saul completed the offering, and rebuked him by telling him that God was not going to let him continue as king for all time. (1st Samuel 13:13-14) So the “good” thing that Saul had done, was not done in obedience to the Lord. He had impatiently rationalized his action and fell under God’s disfavor. There was no repentance either.
Next, Saul’s son Jonathan acted in courage and faith to attack the Philistines. He and his armor-bearer scaled a cliff and killed 20 men in a short time. They had not been around when Saul had made the men swear not to eat anything until the enemy had been defeated. Jonathan ate some honey to gain energy for the ensuing fight. One of the soldiers told Jonathan about the oath of his father, but he had already tasted the honey. Saul acted impetuously with the vow and then wanted to execute his own son! (Remember Jephthah!)
The final account of Saul’s actions occurs in chapter 15. Samuel tells Saul to attack the Amalekites and destroy everything as punishment from the Lord for their attacking Israel on their way from Egypt. (400 years earlier!) Saul obeys–partially! He kept back the best sheep and goats for sacrifice and let King Agag live. The Word of the Lord came to Samuel: “I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” (1st Samuel 15:10-11) Partial obedience is not obedience!
God hates rebellion and stubbornness! We can call it entertainment, but God still calls it sin! Ask the Lord to show you if these sins are evident in your life and allow Jesus to deliver you! These sins don’t entertain God and should not be entertained in your life or home! Don’t give God a reason to reject you as his child! Or worse yet, cause your children be rejected because of this evil!
“But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination (witchcraft-KJV) and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the Word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.” (1st Samuel 15:22-23)