The Encourager
“Trust in the Lord - by Jeff Curtis”
Trust in the Lord
By Jeff Curtis
Immoral actions often prompt situations that are even more immoral and unacceptable. In Judges 20 and 21 an account is given where Israel was faced with a horrible rape and murder. However, their response led to a terrible civil war and the killing of women and children. After those events, Israel confronted the possible extinction of one of the tribes. Their efforts to address the problem resulted in more deaths, kidnapping and intimidation. A bad response to a bad situation doesn’t result in good.
Judges 20 and 21 should remind the church to take care in how people react when something terrible or immoral occurs. The story of Joseph in Genesis 37-50 describes a more positive response to bad events. Joseph set a better example when he told his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive” (Genesis 50:20). A tragic event, an immoral act, or a horrible situation doesn’t mean the world is outside of God’s control. God can work good in any situation.
The difference between the Israelites in Judge 19-21 and Joseph in Gensis is a willingness to find direction in God’s instructions. Doing what is right in one’s own eyes often makes the matter worse. Doing what is right in one’s own eyes while claiming it is God’s will deepen the moral dilemma.
Humans, even Christians, will sin and create moral dilemmas. Only through dependence on God can troubles and immorality be curtailed. Then work can be started toward healing and restoring fellowship with God. As a wise man once said,
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6).
God has the power to help us if we will only trust in Him and seek His guidance.
Marching to Zion
by Kyle Campbell
Zion is often described as a “hill”, no doubt, in reference to the temple being built on the hill of Zion (Psalm 2:6; 3:4; 15:1; 43:3; 99:9). Zion, which probably means “citadel”, occurs over 150 times in the
Old Testament. It was one of the hills, located in the southeast section, on which Jerusalem stood (i.e., Acra, Bezetha, Moriah, Olivet, Ophel, Scopus, and Zion).
David brought the ark to Zion, and the hill henceforth became sacred (2 Sam. 6:10-12). When Solomon later moved the ark to the temple on nearby Mt. Moriah, the name Zion was extended to take in the temple (Is. 8:18; 18:7; 24:23; Joel 3:17), and it was looked on by the people as the dwelling place of God. Zion later came to stand for all of Jerusalem (2 Kings 19:21; Ps. 133:3).
Zion played an important role in the Messianic prophecies of the Old Testament (Ps. 2:6; 110:2; Joel 2:32; Is. 61:3). In one sense, the redeemed have reached Zion, the church, pointed to by the prophets (Rev. 14:1). In another sense, Zion still lies ahead (Rev. 21:2), and we’re marching to it.
