“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert” (Isaiah 35:5–6 ESV). Isaiah foresaw a day when God’s
Chapter: 35
A LAMENT FOR A FALLEN KING
“Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments.” (2 Chronicles 35:25 ESV). King Josiah was the last of the godly kings in Judah. His
DO YOU HAVE A GENEROUS HEART?
“And they came, everyone whose heart stirred him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, and brought the LORD’s contribution to be used for the tent of meeting” (Exodus 35:21 ESV). When Moses put the word out to the people of Israel, calling them to bring their contributions for the building of the Tent of Meeting,
A PLACE TO PITCH YOUR TENT
“Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder.” (Genesis 35:21 ESV). Jacob, whom God had renamed Israel, finally found a place to pitch his tent near Ephrath, which is called Bethlehem. The place was called the “tower of Eder,” or in the Hebrew, “Migdal-Eder,” which means “Tower of the Flock.” It
“With every bone in my body I will praise him” (Psalm 35:10 NLT).
TELL DEM BONES TO PRAISE THE LORD! David declared his intent to praise the Lord “with every bone” in his body in anticipation of the Lord’s rescue. David would not offer the Lord half-hearted worship. He was a whole-hearted worshiper, and out of that came a commitment to whole-bodied praise. David would hold nothing back
“All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord. They brought all the materials needed for the Tabernacle, for the performance of its rituals, and for the sacred garments.” (Exodus 35:21 NLT).
EQUAL SACRIFICE, NOT EQUAL GIFTS God is honored when His people worship Him with “stirred” hearts and “moved” spirits. The first has to do with the emotion and the other the will. One with a stirred heart is filled with passion for God’s kingdom work. They enthusiastically bring their offering of praise. One who is
“Then Jacob traveled on and camped beyond Migdal-eder” (Genesis 35:21 NLT).
STAYING NEAR THE TOWER OF THE FLOCK Jacob, whom God had named Israel, finally found a place to pitch his tent. The place was called “Migdal-eder,” which means “Tower of the Flock.” It described a hill with a tower where the shepherds could watch over their sheep. Migdal Eder was located between Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
“Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Jehonadab son of Recab will always have descendants who serve me.’” (Jeremiah 35:19 NLT).
THE JEHONADAB PROMISE
Jehonadab the Recabite was descended from the Kenites, the family of Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro (See 1 Chron. 2:55). The Kenites moved with the “children of Judah into the Wilderness of Judah, which lies in the South near Arad; and they went and dwelt among the people” (Judges 1:16). Jehonadab commanded his children and their descendants, “You and your descendants must never drink wine. And do not build houses or plant crops or vineyards, but always live in tents. If you follow these commands, you will live long, good lives in the land” (Jer. 35:6-7). Centuries later, the prophet Jeremiah learned that the Recabites were still keeping Jehonadab’s command. But what of his promise and what of the promise of God upon his house?
Jehonadab’s promise was that if his children obeyed him, they would live long and good lives in the land. This is simply a restatement of the fifth commandment, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you” (Ex. 20:12). So, Jehonadab’s promise was built on the principle of God’s commandment.
But what of God’s additional promise to Jehonadab’s children, that they “will always have descendants who serve me”? The 4th century historian, Eusebius, wrote that when the Jews were stoning James the Just, brother of Jesus, one of the sons of Rehab cried out, saying, “Stop! What are you doing?” Clarke, in his commentary, wrote, “Some suppose that the Essenes, in our Lord’s time, were literally Rechabite’ descendants and that these were they who followed our Lord particularly, and became the first converts to the Gospel.” While both of these reports are unsubstantiated, I believe that there must be a descendent of Jehonadab living and serving the Lord today, because He promised it.
When each of my children left home to go to college, I wrote them a letter, asking them to abstain from alcohol. I quoted this command and promise from Jehonadab in the letter. They agreed to obey their father’s command. I pray that the promise of Jehonadab and the promise of God, would be on my children and my children’s children. Not because they are teetotalers, but because they honor their father and mother, and more than that, they honor God.
“With every bone in my body I will praise him” (Psalm 35:10 NLT).
TELL DEM BONES TO PRAISE THE LORD!
David declared his intent to praise the Lord “with every bone” in his body in anticipation of the Lord’s rescue. David would not offer the Lord half-hearted worship. He was a whole-hearted worshiper, and out of that came a commitment to whole-bodied praise. David would hold nothing back from God in his worship. As he told his wife after she attempted to shame him for publicly dancing before the Ark of the Lord, “I will be even more undignified than this” (1 Sam. 6:22). David didn’t care for the opinion of others. He sought the applause of the One.
Just as God told Ezekiel to preach to the bones and the bones came to life (Ez. 37:4-5), so David preached to his own bones that they would worship the Lord!
What are your bones doing today? Tell “dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones” to hear the Word of the Lord! And to come alive in worship!
“Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’” (Genesis 35:11 NLT).
The Bible is primarily a book about God. Verse by verse, chapter by chapter, book by book, the Bible is the story of how God has progressively revealed Himself to man, with its ultimate revelation found in Jesus Christ.
When Jacob returned to the place called Bethel, where God had first appeared to him, God once again appeared. This time the Lord revealed more about His own character by revealing one of His names, “El-Shaddai,” which means “God Almighty.” God wanted Jacob to know that His promises were sure because His power was complete. He is the omnipotent One, the all-powerful One, El-Shaddai, God Almighty. What God promises, He is more than able to do.