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(Steve Hamer)
Morning Prayer, 16th August 2020
God's Faithfulness to Israel
God's Faithfulness to Israel
I pray this to be in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit. Amen
Before I comment on the Bible readings, some more recent history.
Yesterday was a special day.
15th August is Victory over Japan (VJ) Day – the end of all hostilities in the Second World War.
There is a simple memorial in the school grounds by the oak trees near the wild-life area.
After fighting for almost six years, peace arrived in Europe 75yrs ago on 8th May 1945 (VE Day),
but those fighting in the Far East continued until Japan's surrender.
That happened on 15 August.
King George VI addressed the nation from a balcony at Buckingham Palace and streets across the city were filled with people singing, cheering and dancing in scenes which echoed the declaration of peace
in Europe three months earlier.
Bonfires were lit, fireworks set off and historic buildings floodlit as the whole country celebrated the news that
their remaining troops would soon be returning home.
The turning point came when an ultimatum issued by Allied forces on 28 July was ignored.
Japan's surrender was secured following two devastating atomic bomb attacks
on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August.
Each bomb had flattened 5 sq mls of buildings and killed more than 100,000 people.
As Russia had declared war on Japan on 8th August it has been argued that Japan was on the verge of surrender
and these dreadful weapons need not have been used.
Thank God they haven’t been used since as they’re primarily designed to wipe out civilians and have lasting effects.
Those two bombs were small by today’s standards. The hydrogen bomb that followed is evil in the extreme
and that is our nuclear deterrent!
Germany had been working on nuclear technology since 1930 and in 1938 developed nuclear fission
the basis of the atom bomb.
We can only be thankful they didn’t succeed in making a viable weapon before the war ended.
After the Japanese surrender on 15th August 1945,
operations began immediately to repatriate some of the 130,000 allied prisoners
held by Japanese troops in POW camps across the region.
One might wonder why Allied forces were even in the Far East?
It was in response to Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour in 1941
and against British and Dutch territories carried out as part of Japan’s war with China,
which had raged since 1931.
Four years ago, Jeanette and I were in Singapore dodging the heavy rain
which always happens at some time during the day,as the city lies just north of the equator.
We went inside the Singapore museum and wondered how history had dealt with these years of occupation.
There was plenty to see - once the Japanese had over-run the city they had control of the media –
which in those days was radio and newspapers.
The newspapers gave glowing reports, complete with staged photographs of how life had improved
under Japanese rule and how the population had welcomed the conquerors.
However, if you go to the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, Staffs
you’ll see a somewhat different record - and from a soldier’s viewpoint.
The Japanese POW camps were brutal and inhuman
forget some of the sanitised scenes from the film
‘A Bridge on the River Kwai’ of Allied soldiers whistling the ‘Colonel Bogey’ march
while working happily for the Japanese to build the Thailand to Burma railroad.
12,000 Allied troops died in its construction.
Life was cheap.
Few of the soldiers who were brought home would speak of their experiences – and that is not surprising.
My grandfather fought in Egypt and said very little of conditions they endured.
Countries get divided in war and usually the victors meet afterwards to decide what to do with the spoils.
Following WW1, in 1920, the principal allied powers met in San Remo, Italy to decide the future of the Middle East.
Territories were decided and Britain was awarded the Mandate for Palestine
to administer the area with the aim of bringing about independence.
This mandate recognised there was to be a homeland for the Jewish people,
including many who were not yet living in the land.
Britain decided that east of the Jordan river would be an Arab area and that became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Hashemite being the Hashim Royal Family that ruled Syria, Iraq and part of Saudi Arabia).
That was a huge area.
The much smaller area west of the Jordan River (about 18%) was to be Jewish.
In the two years immediately after the end of WW2,
Jewish families from all over Europe returned to their ancient homeland.
At this point Britain terminated her stewardship of Israel and in 1948 the State of Israel was formed.
By now you’re probably wondering whatever has all this recent history got to do with us
other than the probability that most of it has happened in our lifetime?
Both of today’s readings relate to Israel and to us. They are as relevant now as when written.
The Hebrews did not embrace God’s mercy, and still were tempted to worship other Gods.
That sounds familiar even today. In fact, they provoked God’s anger!
Paul reminded the Romans that in the Book of Kings (1 Kings 19) Elijah had cried out to God
that the people had pulled down God’s altars and killed the prophets
and that he was the only one left and they were trying to kill him too.
God knew this, as much as he knows our todays and tomorrows.
God told Elijah that there were 7,000 Israelites who had not bowed the knee to Baal
and would be saved by God’s grace.
This small believing minority, the remnant, would become the future generations of Israel.
(If you wonder who Baal is - he was a demon and was the first and principal king in Hell).
The gospel reading by Lily mentioned Tyre and Sidon,
important cities in Biblical times, and now located in Lebanon.
Sidon’s famous daughter was Jezebel, who in about 850BC married King Ahab.
She was a high priestess in the worship of Baal, and it was her that threatened to kill God’s prophet Elijah.
Baal worship still continues today in south Lebanon just north of the Israeli border.
It was very prevalent in the Canaanite peoples.
The gospel reading was about a Canaanite woman, a gentile,
who had more faith in Jesus than some indigenous Jews.
Her daughter was cruelly possessed by a demon and she knew Jesus could deal with it.
The gospel said that she came and, kneeling, worshiped Him and kept praying, Lord, help me!
Jesus recognised her genuine belief and healed her daughter.
The letter to the Roman church that Margaret read starts with a question.
Has God rejected his people the Israelites?
The reason why the question was asked lies in the previous chapter,
where St Paul was only restating what was written in Is 65 v2.
There God is saying through the prophet Isaiah that:
“All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people who walk in ways not good,
pursuing their own imaginations – a people who continually provoke me in my very face”, etc.
Thus Paul asks his listeners if God has given up on these obstinate people?
To which Paul replies most emphatically -
“By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
God did not reject his people.”
If he had he would have rejected Paul!
Indeed, God has not rejected and disowned His people,
whose destiny He had marked out and appointed and foreknown from the beginning of time.
In v.29 it states that God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.
He never withdraws them when once they are given
and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.
How often have you experienced disappointment
when someone told you they would do something,or be somewhere and then let you down?
It used to be common practice that business deals were sealed by a handshake,
but today lengthy legal contracts are normal.
But what of God? Can we trust him if he says
“I will”
Usually in April, is the feast of the Passover
when Jewish people gather to remember their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
During the telling of the story there is a scripture which is read – Exodus 6:6-8.
It is God speaking to Moses.
“Therefore, say to the Israelites:
‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
I will rescue you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm
and with mighty acts of judgement.
I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.
Then you will know that I am the Lord you God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you to a land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.
I will give it to you as a possession.
I am the Lord.’
In this short passage of scripture we find God making seven declarations which all start “I will”.
These are some amazing statements of God’s intention and his commitment to the children of Israel.
If you missed them they were:
I will bring you out of bondage
I will rescue you and return your freedom
I will redeem / restore you
I will take you as my own people
I will be your God
I will bring you to the land of Israel
I will give it you as a possession (their heritage)
God doesn’t change. The scriptures say that he remains the same.
We are encouraged over and over to believe in what he says, he will do.
While at a wedding service there are only two “I will”s.
The Old Testament is full of “I will” statements from God – literally hundreds.
God’s interaction with Israel is key in these “I will” statements.
Many refer to his covenant relationship, his judgements including them being dispersed among the Gentiles
and their eventual return to the land and to Him.
God’s promises are being fulfilled in front of our eyes.
He is proving to a sceptical world right now, who he is and how we should understand his character.
He keeps his covenants even when we are not faithful to keep our word.
The prophets proclaimed that God would remember his covenant with the Jewish people
and bring them back to their own land. Aliyah is the return of Jewish people to their homeland.
It is an example of God doing what he says he will.
Since the State of Israel was formed in 1948, over 3 million have come home from around the world
in fulfillment of God’s promise to Jeremiah (Ch.30 v3).
For behold the days are coming , says the Lord,
that I will bring back from captivity my people Israel and Judah says the Lord.
And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
Thus the two kingdoms of Israel, Israel in the north and Judah in the south would be together again.
The twelve tribes are back in the land again.
The Bible says all the nations of the earth will tremble over Jerusalem.
In Genesis 12 v3 God told Abraham that He will..
bless those who bless Abraham and his descendants, and curse those who curse them.
Those kings, rulers and politicians who have worked against Israel eventually pay the price.
When the almighty God says “I will” he means it
.
Satan would love to prevent the promise being fulfilled as he could then make God out as a liar.
God’s close relationship with Israel was an act of pure grace - not because of their works.
The majority of them became unfaithful and missed out on God's blessings,
but those who remained faithful received them.
The hearts of the others were hardened in the same sense that Pharaoh's heart was hardened.
God's ultimate goal is to have mercy on us all –
Rev 5:9-10 describes the elect as those redeemed to God by the blood of Christ as
"Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation"
It is the nature of God to forgive, but we have to ask.
Being a Christian and upholding Christian values can be difficult.
Over the centuries many Christians have been killed – more in the last 100 years than all the centuries before.
Even in our so called civilised country, it is increasingly difficult for church leaders and even ourselves
to avoid being ridiculed, because they don’t embrace the spirit of the age.
To stand for what is right and decent can be costly.
We all need renewed faith and trust in God.
Let’s pray for a time set apart to rediscover our loving, faithful Lord.
Amen
Before I comment on the Bible readings, some more recent history.
Yesterday was a special day.
15th August is Victory over Japan (VJ) Day – the end of all hostilities in the Second World War.
There is a simple memorial in the school grounds by the oak trees near the wild-life area.
After fighting for almost six years, peace arrived in Europe 75yrs ago on 8th May 1945 (VE Day),
but those fighting in the Far East continued until Japan's surrender.
That happened on 15 August.
King George VI addressed the nation from a balcony at Buckingham Palace and streets across the city were filled with people singing, cheering and dancing in scenes which echoed the declaration of peace
in Europe three months earlier.
Bonfires were lit, fireworks set off and historic buildings floodlit as the whole country celebrated the news that
their remaining troops would soon be returning home.
The turning point came when an ultimatum issued by Allied forces on 28 July was ignored.
Japan's surrender was secured following two devastating atomic bomb attacks
on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6th and 9th August.
Each bomb had flattened 5 sq mls of buildings and killed more than 100,000 people.
As Russia had declared war on Japan on 8th August it has been argued that Japan was on the verge of surrender
and these dreadful weapons need not have been used.
Thank God they haven’t been used since as they’re primarily designed to wipe out civilians and have lasting effects.
Those two bombs were small by today’s standards. The hydrogen bomb that followed is evil in the extreme
and that is our nuclear deterrent!
Germany had been working on nuclear technology since 1930 and in 1938 developed nuclear fission
the basis of the atom bomb.
We can only be thankful they didn’t succeed in making a viable weapon before the war ended.
After the Japanese surrender on 15th August 1945,
operations began immediately to repatriate some of the 130,000 allied prisoners
held by Japanese troops in POW camps across the region.
One might wonder why Allied forces were even in the Far East?
It was in response to Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbour in 1941
and against British and Dutch territories carried out as part of Japan’s war with China,
which had raged since 1931.
Four years ago, Jeanette and I were in Singapore dodging the heavy rain
which always happens at some time during the day,as the city lies just north of the equator.
We went inside the Singapore museum and wondered how history had dealt with these years of occupation.
There was plenty to see - once the Japanese had over-run the city they had control of the media –
which in those days was radio and newspapers.
The newspapers gave glowing reports, complete with staged photographs of how life had improved
under Japanese rule and how the population had welcomed the conquerors.
However, if you go to the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, Staffs
you’ll see a somewhat different record - and from a soldier’s viewpoint.
The Japanese POW camps were brutal and inhuman
forget some of the sanitised scenes from the film
‘A Bridge on the River Kwai’ of Allied soldiers whistling the ‘Colonel Bogey’ march
while working happily for the Japanese to build the Thailand to Burma railroad.
12,000 Allied troops died in its construction.
Life was cheap.
Few of the soldiers who were brought home would speak of their experiences – and that is not surprising.
My grandfather fought in Egypt and said very little of conditions they endured.
Countries get divided in war and usually the victors meet afterwards to decide what to do with the spoils.
Following WW1, in 1920, the principal allied powers met in San Remo, Italy to decide the future of the Middle East.
Territories were decided and Britain was awarded the Mandate for Palestine
to administer the area with the aim of bringing about independence.
This mandate recognised there was to be a homeland for the Jewish people,
including many who were not yet living in the land.
Britain decided that east of the Jordan river would be an Arab area and that became the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Hashemite being the Hashim Royal Family that ruled Syria, Iraq and part of Saudi Arabia).
That was a huge area.
The much smaller area west of the Jordan River (about 18%) was to be Jewish.
In the two years immediately after the end of WW2,
Jewish families from all over Europe returned to their ancient homeland.
At this point Britain terminated her stewardship of Israel and in 1948 the State of Israel was formed.
By now you’re probably wondering whatever has all this recent history got to do with us
other than the probability that most of it has happened in our lifetime?
Both of today’s readings relate to Israel and to us. They are as relevant now as when written.
The Hebrews did not embrace God’s mercy, and still were tempted to worship other Gods.
That sounds familiar even today. In fact, they provoked God’s anger!
Paul reminded the Romans that in the Book of Kings (1 Kings 19) Elijah had cried out to God
that the people had pulled down God’s altars and killed the prophets
and that he was the only one left and they were trying to kill him too.
God knew this, as much as he knows our todays and tomorrows.
God told Elijah that there were 7,000 Israelites who had not bowed the knee to Baal
and would be saved by God’s grace.
This small believing minority, the remnant, would become the future generations of Israel.
(If you wonder who Baal is - he was a demon and was the first and principal king in Hell).
The gospel reading by Lily mentioned Tyre and Sidon,
important cities in Biblical times, and now located in Lebanon.
Sidon’s famous daughter was Jezebel, who in about 850BC married King Ahab.
She was a high priestess in the worship of Baal, and it was her that threatened to kill God’s prophet Elijah.
Baal worship still continues today in south Lebanon just north of the Israeli border.
It was very prevalent in the Canaanite peoples.
The gospel reading was about a Canaanite woman, a gentile,
who had more faith in Jesus than some indigenous Jews.
Her daughter was cruelly possessed by a demon and she knew Jesus could deal with it.
The gospel said that she came and, kneeling, worshiped Him and kept praying, Lord, help me!
Jesus recognised her genuine belief and healed her daughter.
The letter to the Roman church that Margaret read starts with a question.
Has God rejected his people the Israelites?
The reason why the question was asked lies in the previous chapter,
where St Paul was only restating what was written in Is 65 v2.
There God is saying through the prophet Isaiah that:
“All day long I have held out my hands to an obstinate people who walk in ways not good,
pursuing their own imaginations – a people who continually provoke me in my very face”, etc.
Thus Paul asks his listeners if God has given up on these obstinate people?
To which Paul replies most emphatically -
“By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
God did not reject his people.”
If he had he would have rejected Paul!
Indeed, God has not rejected and disowned His people,
whose destiny He had marked out and appointed and foreknown from the beginning of time.
In v.29 it states that God's gifts and His call are irrevocable.
He never withdraws them when once they are given
and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.
How often have you experienced disappointment
when someone told you they would do something,or be somewhere and then let you down?
It used to be common practice that business deals were sealed by a handshake,
but today lengthy legal contracts are normal.
But what of God? Can we trust him if he says
“I will”
Usually in April, is the feast of the Passover
when Jewish people gather to remember their deliverance from slavery in Egypt.
During the telling of the story there is a scripture which is read – Exodus 6:6-8.
It is God speaking to Moses.
“Therefore, say to the Israelites:
‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
I will rescue you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm
and with mighty acts of judgement.
I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.
Then you will know that I am the Lord you God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.
And I will bring you to a land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob.
I will give it to you as a possession.
I am the Lord.’
In this short passage of scripture we find God making seven declarations which all start “I will”.
These are some amazing statements of God’s intention and his commitment to the children of Israel.
If you missed them they were:
I will bring you out of bondage
I will rescue you and return your freedom
I will redeem / restore you
I will take you as my own people
I will be your God
I will bring you to the land of Israel
I will give it you as a possession (their heritage)
God doesn’t change. The scriptures say that he remains the same.
We are encouraged over and over to believe in what he says, he will do.
While at a wedding service there are only two “I will”s.
The Old Testament is full of “I will” statements from God – literally hundreds.
God’s interaction with Israel is key in these “I will” statements.
Many refer to his covenant relationship, his judgements including them being dispersed among the Gentiles
and their eventual return to the land and to Him.
God’s promises are being fulfilled in front of our eyes.
He is proving to a sceptical world right now, who he is and how we should understand his character.
He keeps his covenants even when we are not faithful to keep our word.
The prophets proclaimed that God would remember his covenant with the Jewish people
and bring them back to their own land. Aliyah is the return of Jewish people to their homeland.
It is an example of God doing what he says he will.
Since the State of Israel was formed in 1948, over 3 million have come home from around the world
in fulfillment of God’s promise to Jeremiah (Ch.30 v3).
For behold the days are coming , says the Lord,
that I will bring back from captivity my people Israel and Judah says the Lord.
And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
Thus the two kingdoms of Israel, Israel in the north and Judah in the south would be together again.
The twelve tribes are back in the land again.
The Bible says all the nations of the earth will tremble over Jerusalem.
In Genesis 12 v3 God told Abraham that He will..
bless those who bless Abraham and his descendants, and curse those who curse them.
Those kings, rulers and politicians who have worked against Israel eventually pay the price.
When the almighty God says “I will” he means it
.
Satan would love to prevent the promise being fulfilled as he could then make God out as a liar.
God’s close relationship with Israel was an act of pure grace - not because of their works.
The majority of them became unfaithful and missed out on God's blessings,
but those who remained faithful received them.
The hearts of the others were hardened in the same sense that Pharaoh's heart was hardened.
God's ultimate goal is to have mercy on us all –
Rev 5:9-10 describes the elect as those redeemed to God by the blood of Christ as
"Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation"
It is the nature of God to forgive, but we have to ask.
Being a Christian and upholding Christian values can be difficult.
Over the centuries many Christians have been killed – more in the last 100 years than all the centuries before.
Even in our so called civilised country, it is increasingly difficult for church leaders and even ourselves
to avoid being ridiculed, because they don’t embrace the spirit of the age.
To stand for what is right and decent can be costly.
We all need renewed faith and trust in God.
Let’s pray for a time set apart to rediscover our loving, faithful Lord.
Amen
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