Text for the weekend: Isaiah 32:1-6,8
See, a king will reign in righteousness and rulers will rule with justice.
Each man will be like a shelter form the wind and a refuge from the storm, like streams of water in the desert and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.
Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed, and the ears of those who hear will listen.
The mind of the rash will know and understand, and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
No longer will the fool be called noble nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.
The last verse was our memory verse and it really has a rhythm that sticks in your head! Love it when that happens.
So in an effort to not be long winded, I'm just going to transfer my notes. (With a few parenthetical comments. Sorry, Seth, it's not going to be grammatically pretty, but are my posts ever?)
We can't plan our circumstances, but we can plan our faithfulness.
1. Every life needs a plan
We can plan our stand (stand means to rise up from sitting, kneeling or reclining - says we have to be active).
Are we going to continue reacting and living a train-wreck of a life or are we going to get a plan?
Job 17:11 - Job's plans were shattered
Prov 19:21 - our plan needs to be to fulfill the Lord's purpose.
(side note - there is a difference between Christ as Saviour - denotes one time commitment - and Christ as Lord - denotes continual commitment.)
2. The noble plan is to show God to your fellow man.
When we allow God to reign in us we become Isaiah 32:2&3
- shelter
- refuge
- stream
- shadow
all refer to God - we will be evidence of God in our own circle.
No matter where you are, you are here to be a benefit to the lost!
The point is not to be good, but to do good!
We've all had a lot of stuff happen and none of it is wasted - makes us a shelter, refuge, etc.
Do we live with regret over dumb decisions? A refuge is sanctified regret - it ways I understand (U2ME2) let me tell you how Jesus transformed me.
Without that failure we would think we are the great rock.
Word of caution: don't force shelter on people who want to stay in the storm!
(I love how Beth pulls the Greek and Hebrew out - reminds me of Greek in college - only Beth is so much more interesting to listen to)
Noble: "ndb" or "nadab" - to be willing - free - to be a willing volunteer - uncompelled free movement of the will for divine service or sacrifice.
Therefore...
3. All it takes to be noble is to be a willing volunteer.
Nothing paralyzes us like perfectionism. God uses us as we are. (Judges 5:1-9)
Humility - don't wait to be great to do what God wants us to do.
We can only make our outer body behave for so long - then we go back to what we want to - that is why we need to want to want Him.
4. The opposite of a noble is a nable.
Fool - "nbl" - "nabal" - stupid
Isaiah 32:5 - paraphrase - no longer will fools become celebrities.
Sometimes we need a hand over the mouth.
5. Any nabal can become a noble.
Eyes that see - develop God eyes
A nabal just doesn't get it - still living in a messed up mindset.
Abuser - even if told what they have done wrong - just doesn't get it. Sometimes we don't even get ourselves.
Thankfully, God looks beyond and sees our need - He "gets it" even when we don't. He knows everything & heals.
I don't have to understand - I just need to know He heals and gets it.
When He becomes King in our lives, then we can have ears that really listen. The most important part of counselling is the listening. (look people in the eye and give them your full attention).
The mind of the rash will understand - a nabal is always rash or reacts with impulse.
Understand - "bin" - to discern, to perceive, to observe - how to use the information you get wisely.
6. Any noble can become a nabal.
You are never too spiritual to blow it. (2 cor 11:2&3)
When you are a willing volunteer, you become a threat - be warned - be aware.
Satan wants to take a pure motive (being a shelter) and turn it into darkness. (Gal 6:1)
Don't become a refuge for sin - people need the knowledge that they can be different. We need to repent and have real authenticity.
If God put you in a position to lead - LEAD!!!!
7. The power of a noble trumps a nabal.
1 Sam 25 - heading, David, Nabal, & Abigail. Abigail was noble.
Abigail helped David avoid vengeance. Result: Nabal had heart attack (left alive for 10 days - was God giving him an opportunity to repent?) Abigail was still respectful to Nabal, but followed God's wisdom.
Hosea 14:4 - God voluntarily loves us - no one makes him - he is a willing volunteer - he is noble.
OUR GOD IS FAITHFUL! PROCLAIM HIS GREATNESS!
and in true Southern eloquence...
"scare the dogs under the bed!"
** So much for not being long-winded and please forgive any nabal errors in my grammar or typing abilities.
2 comments:
Great stuff! Thanks for sharing!
Nice job on this. The wordplays are really cool. I think nabal should work its way into our vernacular.
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