Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Theft from the Lord?

July 11, 2020

Micah 1 tells us that he prophesied in the time of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. The first words from Jehovah are against both Samaria and Jerusalem. The sins of both nations are their downfall, just as our transgressions will result in our end.

Micah will mourn the people of Israel and Judah. Weeping, wailing, moaning, and shaving the head are methods that the Jews still use to show sadness. The sin is attributed to Samaria and spreading to Jerusalem. We often want to blame others for our faults. We have a choice to follow those that work evil or the ones that treat people fairly. We need to accept the punishment of our own decisions.

Do you know of someone who spends their time planning how to cheat, swindle, and steal? Micah 2 pronounces a curse on these people. This was what the well to do in Israel were doing.

False prophets are another problem. They say things that have not been told to them by Jehovah. This is still a problem. Many in our day speak messages they claim come from the Lord. As ministers, we must be very careful to only communicate what comes from God through the Bible. When we step out and add to the Word, claiming that we have been given special insight, we may fall into the role of false prophet.

Justice is a recurring theme in Micah and the third chapter is no exception. This prophet, like most of the others, reminds his listeners that their actions will determine their own fate. Micah reminds his hearers that while others have not followed Jehovah, he has felt the spirit’s impact on his life.

Christians, Muslims, and Jews view the Temple mount mentioned in Micah 4 as a holy site. The Word of Jehovah continues to be preached from the city of Jerusalem. Weapons have not become farming implements yet, but they will be. We will ultimately be led by our Lord. That prophecy is still to be fulfilled.

Continuing messianic prophecy in Micah 5 we read that Yahweh’s ruler will be beaten. Bethlehem is given as the place where He will be born. He will be a type of shepherd. He will be our peace. The Jews are predicted to be scattered throughout the world. The final predictions of destruction of the places of idol worship have already been completed.

Yahweh has a case against Israel in Micah 6. He asks what He has done to them. He then recounts the events of the exodus from Egypt and the travel to the promised land. What does He really want us to do as sacrifices? The question is, should the first born be sacrifice? This was a rhetorical question. We know that Jehovah in fact did that. Jesus was His son. For us our sacrifice should be to act justly and walk humbly with God. Violence, theft, and falsehood are the antithesis of what the Lord wants.

The misery of Israel as mentioned in Micah 7 is like our own. We bring it upon ourselves as they brought their own downfall. The strife and discord that is evident today and was at the time of the Kingdom of Israel.

They were waiting for the Savior whom we know as Jesus Christ. This chapter prophecies that He will come one day when Israel has regained their land. Jehovah is no other entity.

The King in the lineage of David

July 10, 2020

When Jotham becomes King of Judah in 2 Chronicles 27 he followed his father’s example but did not lead the Judeans back to Yahweh. Jotham was able to conquer the Ammonites and became powerful because of his commitment to the Lord. His son, Ahaz followed him as King of Judah.

I am sure that Isaiah’s reference to Galilee being honored surprised his contemporaries in chapter nine. We know it as an area where Jesus spent a great deal of time. Light and darkness are also mentioned here. Verse six begins the scripture about a child being born and the government being on His shoulders. He is our wonderful counselor, our mighty God, or everlasting father, and our prince of peace. Israel will be destroyed, but a descendant of David will on day rule forever.

Do some of our current laws or court rulings seem to be oppressive to people? Isaiah 10 begins with this type of situation. Many laws that fit in this category have been removed from the books. They were designed to keep former slaves in subjugation, or certain nationalities from becoming Americans.

Assyria is the country that will destroy the northern kingdom, but despite their use to Jehovah as a tool of discipline, they will come under judgment as all who oppose the Lord will. Pride will lead to their fall.

Isaiah 11 tells us there will be a new ruler of the renewed Israel. We know this is a prophecy of what Jesus will ultimately mean to the Jews. Peace will reign when this happens and that is why we know it has not happened yet. We all look to this future time, not just the Hebrews.

Yahweh’s anger will turn from us if we follow what Isaiah 12 tells us. We must trust Him and make Him our salvation through Jesus. This song of praise tells us to worship our Lord as the Israelites worshiped under King David. Not with sacrifices, but with correct living.

Complacence and prayer

July 10, 2020

Complacency is discussed in Amos 6. What does it mean? Apathy is a synonym. When we stand by and allow those in power to continue their abuse of the innocent, we are not following the Lord. Will we be punished for our lack of concern? Often, we are more concerned about ourselves than others. Even Christians can become proud and focus on us. We may want to say that we would never forsake justice and what is correct, but none of us are immune.

Do your prayers have any effect on what Yahweh will do? Amos 7 tells us that they do. The Lord’s plans are revealed to the Prophet. He pleads for Him to relent in the method of judgment on Judah. The next vision is of a plumb line. This is a carpenter’s tool that dates to ancient peoples even before recorded history. A weight hangs from a cord and helps one to determine if a wall is straight. The country of Israel is judged to be severely deformed and must be destroyed.

Amos’ words from Jehovah are not pleasing to the priest, Amaziah. Once again, we are shown that those who should be listening to our creator often do not. By challenging a true prophet, he suffers God’s wrath in a personal way.

Another image is presented to Amos in the eighth chapter. The basket of ripe fruit signifies that the time has come for the destruction of Israel as a nation. The sins of the people begin with the oppression of the poor. Those of us who believe that our integrity in business is not important can see its importance here. These sins will be punished by the total removal of the Northern Kingdom. Famine and thirst will take over Samaria and the entire land. This is the vengeance of God.

One last time Amos tells us that Israel will be destroyed in chapter 9. There will not be any place that we can hide from the wrath of Jehovah. He is watching the Israelites, not to keep them safe, but to bring them to destruction. There will be a remnant left to carry on the plan that was set from the beginning of the universe. The Jews are not the only ones that God has directed. Even those who reject Him cannot avoid His will. Those that will be destroyed are being punished for their personal sins.

Restoration of the Kingdom will come. The birth of God’s son will be dependent on the restoration of His people to their land. His ultimate will must be done.

Condemnations from Yahweh

July 8, 2020

Amos began his prophecy during the reigns of Uzziah of Judah and Jehoash of Israel. Chapter one begins his vision from Jehovah with condemnation of some of their enemies. Damascus, the Philistines, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon will all suffer His wrath because of the ways they have treated others. This should serve as an example for us. As Jesus has taught us, we are to be servants of others, not of ourselves.

Moab is condemned in Amos 2. Judah is also falling under the wrath of the Lord. Rejecting the law and serving other gods are two of the crimes. Israel will also be destroyed for their many sins. Sexual sin and idolatry are just two types of offenses of which they are guilty. The strength they think they have will not protect them from Jehovah’s punishment.

Israel was the chosen children of Yahweh as is repeated in Amos 3. He has been warning them through many prophets and messengers, and He will not change His mind. Another accusation is that they refuse to do right. Many people today fall into the same trap. They know what should be done for others and they will not follow what they know is the Lord’s will.

The country will be devastated as they destroyed the lives of the innocent. Time is running out and there will be no more forgiveness. We should learn from the children of Israel. Eventually we must be punished unless we accept the redemption of Jesus Christ.

Jehovah’s fury will fall on those that were once saved from Egyptian domination told in Amos chapter four. Even though they perform meaningless worship, it means nothing. Famine and drought are used to draw the attention of God’s people, without any result. All the evil that is present in our day is ignored. We have been told what to look for. It is happening, but most people see it as of no consequence. Others blame the corruption in their world on Yahweh. Our judgment will be on an individual basis.

Israel’s fall is prophesied in Amos 5. For this destruction to be avoided, Jehovah’s chosen people must turn from following other gods and choose to worship the true God. Justice and righteousness must be sought. The one who demands this is the creator of the universe.
Yahweh knows our sins and will punish us for them. The day of judgment will come, and the Jews will not receive what they believe they will. The only way to avoid this is to forsake sacrifices that mean nothing. Justice and righteousness must be sought. That is true today as it was in Israel.

Isaiah is called to go

July 8, 2020

The analogy of a vineyard is given in Isaiah 5. The vineyard is Jerusalem and her inhabitants. The one that produces bad fruit will be destroyed by the one who created them. Once again, the Lord calls for justice and righteousness. Drunkenness is condemned. So is calling evil good and good evil, and other cases of misrepresentation. Arrogance is also despised by Yahweh. These actions have brought the destruction of Israel and Judah.

The call of Isaiah is a commonly read passage that is recorded in chapter 6. The time is recorded as “in the year King Uzziah died.” The Prophet was in the Temple when he saw the Lord. He volunteered to be Jehovah’s voice. Would you want a job where people won’t listen to you? Would you want to be told ahead of time that in the end the city will be destroyed? Neither would I.

We are still in the time of Ahaz, King of Judah and Pekah was King of Israel in Isaiah 7. The Aramaeans and Israel attacked Judah but was pushed back. The destruction of both countries is predicted within sixty-five years. The capitals of Samaria and Damascus will fall. Assyria is the nation that will conquer them.

This seems like an odd place for the prophet to predict the birth of a child to a virgin. This baby will be the actual presence of God himself. We are often confused by our triune God and His nature. He has chosen to show Himself as a father, a son, and a spirit. The amazing part of Jehovah is that He created us in His image and we, therefore, have a soul, a body, and a spirit.

Would you name your child “Quick to the spoil.” Isaiah does in chapter eight. Verse eight has another reference to Immanuel, “God who lives with us.” Jehovah is the Lord Almighty and is different from others, that is what is meant by being holy. The fear and the dread is better thought of as respect and admiration. We, modern westerners, view fear differently than the Hebrew thought.

Jesus quoted verse fourteen when He spoke of being a stumbling block to the Pharisees. We also see the difference between the darkness and the light. Being spiritual does not mean being Godly. Communicating with evil spirits is not the same as speaking with God. If you want to talk to your boss at work, why would you speak to a drug dealer that hangs out on the corner down the street?

Jehovah’s accusations against Judah

July 6, 2020

As Isaiah 1 begins Jehovah comments that Judah is not as attentive to Him as an ox or donkey. Why can they not understand that their disobedience causes their failure to succeed? The Lord does not accept the sacrifices, offerings, and worthless assemblies that are part of their tradition. He has stopped listening to their prayers because of the evil habits they practice.

Instead of sacrifice and false worship God desires us to be just, defend the oppressed, and care for orphans and widows. Willingness and obedience will give us the opportunity to become what Yahweh wants us to become. The time to have a second chance is up and the wrath of our sovereign Lord will be dispensed not just to the Judeans, but also the northern tribes of Israel.

The mountain on which the Temple was originally built is in Isaiah 2. Today we know that many diverse groups have used this parcel of land for their worship including the Islamic community that has a mosque there as this time. A prophecy of peace is proclaimed.

The day will come when the land of Judah and its people will be rejected. These are the things that the authorities refused to believe. The devastation of Israel was predicted and the time when the same would happen in Jerusalem.

The judgment prophecy continues in Isaiah chapter 3. Jerusalem and Judah will suffer lose, famine, and starvation. The righteous will not be forgotten, but the wicked will not escape forever. A courtroom setting is described, and Jehovah is the magistrate. Even the women of the land will be held responsible for their sin.

A day is predicted when the city of Jerusalem and Judah will recover in Isaiah 4. Just as Jehovah can restore a devastated city, he can and will restore you. If you need to know how, message me.

Uzziah becomes king of Judah

July 6, 2020

2 Kings 15 tells the story of several Israelite kings, beginning with Jeroboam and when Azariah becomes the King of Judah. Zechariah succeeds Jeroboam in Samaria. Shallum murders him and becomes the monarch for one month until he is executed by Menahem during the reign of Azariah in Judah. Assyria invades the northern kingdom but are paid off with money from the people. This appeases them and when Menahem dies, his son Pekahiah rules in Israel. Pekah mounts a coup and grabs the power of the King of Israel. During his reign Assyria returns and conquers some of the cities. Currently, Hoshea defeated Pekah while Jotham was monarch in Judea. Ahaz, the son of Jotham becomes the Judean king when his father dies.

Uzziah is made King of Judah in 2 Chronicles 26 at the age of sixteen. He succeeds his father Amaziah. He followed Jehovah if the prophet Zechariah was alive. He was successful during that time. They were victorious against the Philistines, Arabs, Meunites, and Ammonites. He was responsible for many improvements in and around Jerusalem. The army grew strong during his reign.

When Uzziah became powerful, he also grew arrogant. He attempted to sacrifice to Yahweh and was stopped by the priests. While in the Temple, he became leprous and died with the leprosy. Jotham, his son officiated after he contracted the disease and became King at his death. We will begin reading from Isaiah starting tomorrow.

Why save Nineveh?

July 4, 2020

The story of Jonah begins in chapter 1 with a call to Nineveh. It is the capital of Assyria which has been an enemy of Israel and will ultimately conquer this northern kingdom. He did not want to proclaim Jehovah’s word there, so he embarked for a city in the opposite direction. He slept while a violent storm overtook the ship. The religious beliefs of the sailors are shown by their throwing dice to determine with whom the gods are angry.

Jonah seems unconcerned when he is singled out and suggests that he should be drowned to save the ship. The crew attempts to row out of the waves with no success. When he is tossed into the sea and it grows calm, a huge fish swallows him.

What would you do if you were inside a fish? In Jonah 2 the future prophet prays to Yahweh. He recounts to his creator the terror he feels at being in the water and his dread at residing in a fish. He did what we are called to do. He repented of the disobedience that landed him in this situation. Even as he does this, his hatred of the Ninevites is evident. This chapter ends with the release of Jonah from his captivity.

Our God is a God of second chances and Jonah gets his second chance in chapter 3. Jehovah instructs him again to go to Nineveh and call them to repentance. When he did, they listened and changed their ways. Even the King of Assyria believed this preacher straight from his three hardest days. If these idolaters can listen to what Yahweh has to say, why can’t we.

Have you ever witnessed a fit thrown by someone that you respected? That is what happens in Jonah 4. After Nineveh repents and Jehovah determines not to punish them at this time as He had originally stated, the prophet pitches a fit. He leaves the city and proceeds to pout about the great forgiveness of the Lord.

A plant grows near his shelter and provides shade from the heat. When a worm and the heat cause the vine to die, he once again asks to die. The point to this story is that even those called by God may not act in a manner that would be expected. Even ministers are human.

Israel defeats Judah

July 4, 2020

Another Godly King takes the throne in 2 Kings 14. Amaziah becomes King of Judah after Joash dies. As with others, the people continue to worship at the high places. He followed the scriptures in his revenge against those who killed his Father. He defeated Edom in battle and then was defeated by Israel when he wanted to conquer them. The King of Judah is chased to Lachish where he is assassinated.

Later Jehoash dies, and Jeroboam II becomes King of Israel. He is used by Jehovah to preserve Samaria and Israel. This was despite his failure to worship the Lord exclusively. His patience for all of us is shown again and again. When Jeroboam died, his son Zechariah became the King of Israel.

Amaziah, the King of Judah has a plan to conquer the land of Seir in 2 Chronicles 25. A man of God overrides his plan to use mercenaries from Israel and while they conquer their enemy, they have thousands killed in raids by the Israelites. He even decides to worship the idols he took from Seir. Condemnation of this action from Jehovah comes and a war against Samaria is planned.

Jehoash of Israel defeats Amaziah of Judah and attacks Jerusalem and confiscates items from the Temple. Amaziah is left alive and he outlives Jehoash. He is eventually chased from Jerusalem and murdered.

The death of Elisha

July 3, 2020

Jehu is King of Israel when Joash becomes King of Judah in 2 Kings 12. Joash followed the Lord but did not remove the high places and the people continued to worship idols. They accepted money for repairs of the Temple.

As happened many times before, the King of Judah, Joash, does not ask Jehovah to protect the country. The Arameans capture Gath and turn to Jerusalem. Instead of trusting the Lord to protect them, he buys off the enemy. He was assassinated by Jozabad and Jehozabad, two of his officials. his son, Amaziah succeeded him.

Samaria is still the capital of the northern kingdom in 2 Kings 13. Jehoahaz becomes King of Israel and continues like his predecessors. The Arameans are still ruling the Israelites. The King of Israel asks for Jehovah’s help and it is granted, but nothing changes in their worship. When he dies, his son, Jehoash becomes King of Israel.

While he is in power Elisha dies and King Jehoash visits before his death. God allows His assistance to the northern kingdom, but only for the time and area that the King has faith for. Another story of the resurrection power of Yahweh through His prophet even after he is dead is told. His sixteen years of rule is nothing to brag about or report here and when he dies, Jeroboam succeeds him to the throne.

After years of neglect, the Lord’s house needed distinct improvements. In 2 Chronicles 24 Joash repairs the Temple. A tax was collected to make these changes. The tax money was distributed directly to the workers.

Often the loss of a mentor or spiritual advisor changes the dynamic of the leader. The priest, Jehoiada, that was instrumental in Joash’s coronation dies. He stops following Jehovah and Judah does the same. The priest’s son, Zechariah, confronts the King and is murdered for his trouble. Yahweh will see that proper punishment is given.

Once again, the Aramean’s attack the southern kingdom. An injured Joash is assassinated in his bed. Amaziah, his son follows him as monarch.

Walk With a Servant