Purim March 14th, 2006 and a full moon. The moon, like the church radiant, as she reflects the light of the Son to a dark world. Pretty words and wishful thinking….
Israel weeks away from elections and Hamas refusing to recognize their right to exist. Meanwhile, Iran accelerates uranium enrichment and the UN is divided over a unified response. Purim again 2500 years later, only the weapons are suicide bombers and atomic weapons. The calls still go out to “wipe Israel off the map!”
Where is the Esther – the church that can intercede and has the ear of the King? Where is the heart of the bride in times of such danger to our kin? She is rich and increased with goods and she has need of nothing. In the shelter of the king’s court and in the “house of the Lord” she will watch their destruction.
- Sure the church carried a cross to the Jew. She carried the red cross painted on the steel shields of the crusaders whose sport was “How many Jewish babies fit on a pike?”
- Sure the church carried a cross…..the priests waved the cross as the torture and fires of the inquisition burned the sons and daughters, of God’s personal friend, Abraham.
We’ve all read in the Bible that the wicked have no rest. But did you know that the Bible says God has no rest either?
Look at Isa. 62:6, 7:”I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest till He establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.”
Isaiah says we should give God no rest.
First, Isaiah says God sets watchmen in Jerusalem. Verse 6 is written as Hebrew Poetry. The first and second parts of the verse say the same thing—using different words. But the second part adds more information.
In the first part, Isaiah says God sets up watchmen and they should never be silent.In the second part, the prophet says, “You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest,”
The word “watchmen” in the first part stands parallel with the word “you” of the second part. So you are the watchmen, who should call on the Lord.
Ezekiel also describes the work of watchmen. In Ezek. 33:2-9, the prophet explains the watchmen’s message. If he gives the message, he delivers his own soul from punishment.
The scriptures laid on us…our duty is clear. Is our heart with Gods people and with His work? Otherwise, we stand guilty of their blood.
Both Ezekiel’s and Isiah’s watchmen are warned to “never be silent.” It is their duty of prayer and their warning that saves them. Will our warning and our intercession save them?
But we play tourist in Israel and buy pretty little shofars to play with…..The God of Abraham promised to save Israel. He also vowed to hold the church – The “watchmen” accountable for their blood, because as tourists we bought pretty shofars, instead of blowing them.