Return To God."I Will Heal Their Backslidings."Hos

[bhakthi]

The worst thing that could happen to the people of God is turning away from their God.This is a very unfortunate situation because one who is backsliding puts himself in a very dangerous position. A backslider is like a sheep that strays away from the fold and is vulnerable to many dangers. Those who turn away from God may encounter many dangers and misfortunes in life. Instead of blessings there will be curse and sickness in place of health. They will experience trouble and sorrow. And finally they pass on the curse to the future generations. The history of Israel reveals there were times when people turned away from God and as a result they went through bondage and oppression of their enemies. It is not a wise thing to turn one’s back on God. One who rebel against God will never find a refuge. There is no place to hide from God. Prophet Jonah was running away from God. The storm was a result of his disobedience. Finally he was found out even though he was sleeping in the lower deck of the ship. His attempt to run away from God’sa presence did not work out. God brought a storm and frustrated his plan.
The message of God through the prophets to Israel, whenever they went on backsliding was to repent and to return.Even though the Bible says†it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened and then fallen awayâ€ÂHebe;6:4,It is better to try than simply choosing to bear the wrath of God. God is merciful and might still have some compassion left. Repentance have caused God’sa mercies to come upon those who turned back to him with all their heart and it saved them from their destructions .Jeremiah;6:3says,†Return, unfaithful Israel. I will not look on you with anger. for I am unfailing in My love. I will not be angry for everâ€Â.Is:55:7 says,†Let the wicked one abandon his way, and the sinful one his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, so He may have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will freely forgiveâ€Â.Hosea;14:1, says like this,†Israel, return to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled in your sin. Take words with you and return.Micah also says ,†He does not hold on to His anger forever, because He delights in faithful love He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities.Micah;7:13.
Again when we consider the works of the Lord, on behalf of his people we can see that He is a God of restoration and compassion.“He brings back the captives of Jacob and restores their fortunes.†"The Lord will once more comfort Zion and again choose Jerusalemâ€Â.Zech;1:17. The LORD rebuilds Jerusalem;He gathers together the outcasts of Israel†â€Â.Ps;147:2.†Israel will[again] blossom and budâ€ÂIsaiah;27:6 Those who very carefully observe the works of the Lord, can find out that He is the God of compassion and restoration .He will surely have mercy on His people..You may also visit ;
http://www.gilead.ws

 

[Soma-Sight]

And finally they pass on the curse to the future generations.

Another good reason not to have kids......

 

[D46]

However...

Psalms 127:3 (KJV) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

I sometimes wrestle with that scripture as I have a daughter (somewhere) that walked out of my life years ago. She's 32 now and doesn't know if I'm dead or alive. There's many "hard sayings" in the bible. For me, that's one of them.

 

[Soma-Sight]

However...

Psalms 127:3 (KJV) Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.

I sometimes wrestle with that scripture as I have a daughter (somewhere) that walked out of my life years ago. She's 32 now and doesn't know if I'm dead or alive. There's many "hard sayings" in the bible. For me, that's one of them

That Original Sin Doctrine is a confusing one isnt it????? :-?

 

[cj]

That Original Sin Doctrine is a confusing one isnt it????? :-?

A commentary on Psalms 120 - 127.....

"Psalms 120 through 134, which are known as the Psalms of Ascents.

Whereas Psalm 119 talks about the law, in these fifteen psalms the law is not mentioned. Instead of speaking concerning the law, these psalms refer to the matter of captivity. The people of Israel loved the law, but they did not live according to the law. After they received the law, their sins, offenses, and transgressions increased. They even went so far as to turn from God and worship idols. For instance, Judges 17 tells us of a man who set up idols in his home, who appointed one of his sons to be his priest, and who later hired a Levite to be a priest in his house. Since the people of Israel wanted to worship idols, God caused them to go into captivity in a land of idols. As the people were suffering in captivity, they forgot many things, but they could not forget Zion and Jerusalem.

At that time, Mount Zion and Jerusalem, which was built on Zion, were the only signs left on earth of God. Zion was the place where Abraham offered his son Isaac; it was also the place chosen by David. God is invisible, mysterious, and very deep. No one has seen Him. Nevertheless, Zion and Jerusalem were earthly signs of God's existence. As indicated by Psalms 120 through 134, Zion, the center, and Jerusalem, the circumference, remained deeply in the consideration of the people of Israel. For this reason, I have entitled the two messages on these psalms "The Preciousness of Zion and Jerusalem in the Experiences and Praises of the Saints." Because of their experiences, the saints could not forget Zion and Jerusalem, and in their praises they did not neglect them. The saints were concerned not for godliness or comfort but for the fate of Zion and Jerusalem.

Israel was first invaded by the Assyrians and later by the Babylonians. Unlike the Babylonians, the Assyrians did not destroy the city of Jerusalem or devastate the temple. When the Psalms of Ascents were written, both the city and the temple remained, and the saints in captivity remembered them as signs, as symbols, of the very God whom they worshipped.

Why are these fifteen psalms called Songs of Ascents? To answer this question we need to see that when the people of Israel were captured, they were in a downward situation. To return to Jerusalem and to Zion was to be in an upward situation. Furthermore, they had to climb, to ascend, the hill of Zion, and as they were ascending they sang a song of ascents, a song of degrees.

When we were saved, we were in an upward situation and thus could not sing a song of ascent. However, we may eventually become "down" or "low" for a period of time. At such a time we are in a kind of captivity. But when the Lord gains us again and we are revived, we will sing a song of ascent. As a result of our experiences of the ups and the downs, we will no longer uplift the law, appreciating it in a natural way. We will realize that the law does not help us. Rather, the things that truly help us are Zion and Jerusalem.

Let us now consider these fifteen psalms one by one."........................


Jump forward to Paslm 127 -

"VIII. THE PRAISE OF THE SAINTS
IN THEIR GOING UP TO ZION CONCERNING
JEHOVAH'S CARE FOR AND BLESSING TO HIS PEOPLE

Psalm 127 is the praise of the saints in their going up to Zion concerning Jehovah's care for and blessing to His people. This Song of Ascents was written by Solomon.

A. Jehovah's Care for His People

In verses 1 and 2 we see Jehovah's care for His people.

1. Jehovah Building the House
and Keeping the City

"Unless Jehovah builds the house,/Those who build it labor in vain./Unless Jehovah keeps the city,/The guard watches in vain" (v. 1). This is a comforting word, especially for the elders and for those who consider themselves guards protecting the church. Unless the Lord builds the church, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord keeps the cityâ€â€that is, keeps the church as the kingdomâ€â€those who guard the church watch in vain.

2. It Being Vain to Toil for Bread

"It is vain for you to rise up early,/To lie down late,/To eat the bread of toil;/All the same, He gives to His beloved while they sleep" (v. 2). This indicates that if the Lord does not do anything for us, whatever we do will be in vain. Instead of toiling and striving in ourselves, we need to trust in Him, for He gives to His beloved even while they sleep. Do you believe that what you do means something? We need to realize that whatever we do without trusting in the Lord means nothing. If we realize this, we will rest in the Lord.

B. Jehovah's Blessing to His People

Verses 3 through 5 are Jehovah's blessing to His people.

1. Children Being the Heritage of Jehovah

In verse 3 the psalmist says that children are the heritage of Jehovah and that the fruit of the womb is a reward.

2. Blessed Being the Man
Who Fills His Quiver with Children as Arrows

"Like arrows in the hand of a mighty man,/So are the children of one's youth./Blessed is the man/Who fills his quiver with them./He will not be put to shame/When he speaks with enemies in the gate" (vv. 4-5). This indicates that instead of striving without trusting in the Lord, we should simply be a good father producing children. We cannot gain much by our toil, but we can produce children. Certain people are intelligent and very diligent in their labor, but they do not have any children. They do not have any "arrows" in their "quiver." This is a shame. We need to consider what we will chooseâ€â€to toil or to rest and produce children.

Psalm 127 is a psalm of release, a psalm that releases us from labor. This psalm teaches us that God takes care of us and blesses us. Whether we labor or do not labor, the situation is the same. "All the same," He gives to us while we sleep. In addition to caring for us, He blesses us with increase, with children. We all need to believe this. Even though I am a laboring person, I believe that the result depends not on my labor but on God's care and blessing.

Solomon's word in this psalm is directed at those who labor and endeavor to do things but do not trust in God. Instead of laboring in yourself, you should trust in God. He will take care of you, and He will bless you.

What is described in this Song of Ascents needs to become our experience. Today we are talking about the increase (new believers added to the body). However, the more we talk, the more we are disappointed. The more we expect to have increase, the less increase we have. As a result, we do not have peace and rest, and we do not have this Song of Ascents. Our concept, therefore, needs to be changed. Increase does not depend on what we doâ€â€it depends on how much God gives. Both the care and the blessing come from Him. Let us learn to be today's Solomon, knowing that whatever we do without trusting in the Lord is in vain, but that as long as we trust in Him, there will be a good result. If we have learned to be such a Solomon,.... then we will pray, saying, "Lord, I don't have any trust in myself. I trust in Your mercy, in Your blessing, in Your presence, and in Your Spirit." This is the experience of Psalm 127.



Hope it helps others as much as it heled me.


In love,
cj

 

[stovebolts]

That Original Sin Doctrine is a confusing one isnt it????? :-?

We'll, since I'm currently reading St. Augustine's "Confessions", it makes a lot more sense when you put it in life events... things that you can relate to.

Since I'm a neophite with Augustines writings, i don't claim to fully understand (and therefore agree) all that I read of his, but, since Augustine's work on the subject seems to hold so much weight in so many different doctrines (espically original sin) it's hard to ignore.

btw cj, nice post. Thank you.