Good morning,

The Book of Esther shows us how God keeps His promises, how God saves the Jews from annihilation, and the sovereignty of God. Did I mention the name of God is not mentioned in the whole book? God is in every circumstance that happens to save God’s people.

 Things to remember as you read Esther. The Jews were captives and living in Babylon. The story takes place in Shushan. Woman, whether Jew or Gentile, did not have any rights. They were required to submit to men. The Babylonians did not worship Jehovah God. To understand why Mordecai and Haman (Chapter 3) were at odds, read Exodus 17:8-16, Genesis 36:12, Deuteronomy 25:17-19, 1 Samuel 15:2,3,7-9,11,26,32-33 28:18.

Exodus 17:8-16 “Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. ⁹ And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.¹⁰ So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.¹¹ And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.¹² But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.¹³ And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.¹⁴ And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.¹⁵ And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: ¹⁶ For he said, Because the Lord hath sworn that the Lord will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (Haman was an Amalekite)

Genesis 36:12 “And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz Esau’s son; and she bare to Eliphaz Amalek: these were the sons of Adah Esau’s wife.”

Deuteronomy 25:17-19 “Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when ye were come forth out of Egypt;¹⁸ How he met thee by the way, and smote the hindmost of thee, even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary; and he feared not God. ¹⁹ Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven; thou shalt not forget it.”

1 Samuel 15:2,3,7-9,11,26,32-33 28:18 “Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.³ Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”

“And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.⁸ And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. ⁹ But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.”

Haman hated the Jewish people because of his upbringing as an Amalekite. Had King Saul been obedient, Haman would not be alive.

When we fail to obey God, bad things happen.

Tomorrow we will look at Chapter 3 and 4.

Wednesdays I am preaching through the Book of Esther. Come and join us at WASI Meeting room at 10 am.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

The Book of Esther shows us how God keeps His promises, how God saves the Jews from annihilation, and the sovereignty of God. Did I mention the name of God is not mentioned in the whole book? God is in every circumstance that happens to save God’s people.

Chapter 1 tells us of an insubordinate Queen. Vashti refuses the King’s request to appear before him. Her refusal results in her removal as Queen and banishment.

Chapter 2 is the search of a new Queen. All the young virgins in Shushan were set before the King. He chose Esther, a Jew. Esther was an orphan, her parents being dead. Her guardian, Mordecai her uncle, saved the King’s life.

Things to remember as you read Esther. The Jews were captives and living  in Babylon. The story takes place in Shushan. Woman, whether Jew or Gentile, did not have any rights. They were required to submit to men. The Babylonians did not worship Jehovah God. To understand why Mordecai and Haman (Chapter 3) were at odds, read Exodus 17:8-16, Genesis 36:12, Deuteronomy 25:17-19, 1 Samuel 15:2,3,7-9,11,26,32-33 28:18.

Please read and discover how God orchestrated each event and why. Write down events where God kept a promise, the hand of God was at work, or how God, completely behind the scenes, orchestrated events to protect His Jewish people.

Tomorrow we will look at Chapter 3 and 4.

Wednesdays I am preaching through the Book of Esther. Come and join us at WASI Meeting room at 10 am.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)

What is steward and why is that important to us as believers in Christ? This is what we will explore this week.

What is a steward? A biblical world view of stewardship can be consciously defined as: “Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.”

WHAT CAN WE GIVE BACK TO GOD?

TREASURE

“God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” (Hudson Taylor)

Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Malachi 3:8-10 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.⁹ Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.¹⁰ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

CONCLUSION

Stewardship is management of our time, talents, and treasures from God’s perspective.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)

What is steward and why is that important to us as believers in Christ? This is what we will explore this week.

What is a steward? A biblical world view of stewardship can be consciously defined as: “Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.”

WHAT CAN WE GIVE BACK TO GOD?

TIME

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

TALENTS

Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ”

Stewards make a commitment to take care of their master’s goods. They commit their time and talents to this endeavor. A good steward will not be distracted by anything that gets in the way of their stewardship.

Christians are to be good stewards of God’s goods. He wants us to be obedient to His word, use His resources in a way that will bring glory to Him, and place His priorities first.

Are we that kind of steward?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Stewardship

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)

INTRODUCTION

What is a steward? A biblical world view of stewardship can be consciously defined as: “Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.”

WHAT HAS GOD GIVEN US?

2 Peter 1:3-4 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

Romans 8:14-17 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Romans 8:31-32 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

WHAT CAN WE GIVE BACK TO GOD?

TIME

Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

TALENTS

Ephesians 4:11-12 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ”

TREASURE

“God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” (Hudson Taylor)

Proverbs 3:9-10 “Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.”

Malachi 3:8-10 “Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.⁹ Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.¹⁰ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. ⁷ Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

CONCLUSION

Stewardship is management of our time, talents, and treasures from God’s perspective.

Good morning,

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1 Peter 4:10)

What is a steward and why is that important to us as believers in Christ? This is what we will explore this week.

What is a steward? A biblical world view of stewardship can be consciously defined as: “Utilizing and managing all resources God provides for the glory of God and the betterment of His creation.”

WHAT HAS GOD GIVEN US?

2 Peter 1:3-4 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:⁴ Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”

Romans 8:14-17 “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.¹⁵ For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. ¹⁶ The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:¹⁷ And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Romans 8:31-32 “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

Philippians 4:19 “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

God has been very gracious to us. He has given us many blessings. He expects us to be good stewards of these blessings.

All these blessing should motivate us to be good stewards. Tomorrow we will see how.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Love is in the air. Valentine’s day is Thursday.

God reserved His greatest love for His covenant people, Israel. It is an unconditional love.

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:⁸ But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

What was the “oath” or covenant that God had sworn? That is what we will be looking at this week.

The Abrahamic covenant, God’s command to love the Lord, Israel’s rebellion, and God’s compassion, love, and restoration of Israel.

God’s compassion, love, and restoration (Lamentations 3:31-32, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:24-29)

“For the Lord will not cast off for ever:³² But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” (Lamentations 3:31-32)

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.²⁵ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

²⁶ A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.²⁷ And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. ²⁸ And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.²⁹ I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.” (Ezekiel 36:24-29)

“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: ²² And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.²³ Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.²⁴ And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.²⁵ And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.²⁶ Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.²⁷ My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.²⁸ And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” (Ezekiel 37:21-28)

Conclusion

God made an unconditional covenant with Abram. Over time Israel failed to obey God. God never changed His love, devotion, and care for Israel.

Everything God promised in His covenant was fulfilled.

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

Good morning,

Love is in the air. Valentine’s day is Thursday.

God reserved His greatest love for His covenant people, Israel. It is an unconditional love.

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:⁸ But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

What was the “oath” or covenant that God had sworn? That is what we will be looking at this week.

The Abrahamic covenant, God’s command to love the Lord, Israel’s rebellion, and God’s compassion, love, and restoration of Israel.

Israel rebels (Jeremiah 6:16-17)

“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.¹⁷ Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.” (Jeremiah 6:16-17)

Israel rebels against God. They chose to walk away from the covenant God made with them. They chose to give up God’s protection, love, leadership, wisdom, kindness, graciousness, mercy, blessings, and their Messiah, for the things of this world.

Israel’s rebellion caused them to be a nation under bondage. They did not have a homeland, freedom, or right standing with God.

Their situation looks grim. Is God done with Israel? Has God ended His covenant with Israel? Will Israel return to their God?

Tomorrow’s devotion will answer these questions.

What can we take away from Israel’s example?

Are we prone to rebel? Are we willing to forego God’s promises to us? Do we love the things of this world more than Jesus, who paid our sin debt, forgave all our sins, and promises us eternal life with Him in Heaven?

If so, repent and allow God to be completely in control of our lives.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001

God’s Unconditional Love for Israel

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:⁸ But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

Introduction

Abrahamic covenant (Genesis 12:1-3, 13:14-17, 15:7-12, 17)

“Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee:² And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:³ And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:1-3)

“And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward:¹⁵ For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.¹⁶ And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.¹⁷ Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee.” (Genesis 13:14-17)

“And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it.⁸ And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?⁹ And he said unto him, Take me an heifer of three years old, and a she goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon.¹⁰ And he took unto him all these, and divided them in the midst, and laid each piece one against another: but the birds divided he not.¹¹ And when the fowls came down upon the carcases, Abram drove them away.¹² And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him. ¹⁷ And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.” (Genesis 15:7-12,17)

God’s command to love the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.⁶ And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

Israel rebels (Jeremiah 6:16-17)

“Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.¹⁷ Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.”

God’s compassion, love, and restoration (Lamentations 3:31-32, Jeremiah 31:31-34, Ezekiel 36:24-29)

“For the Lord will not cast off for ever:³² But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.” (Lamentations 3:31-32)

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.³⁴ And they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.²⁵ Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.

²⁶ A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.²⁷ And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. ²⁸ And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.²⁹ I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.” (Ezekiel 36:24-29)

“And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: ²² And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all.²³ Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwelling places, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God.²⁴ And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them.²⁵ And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever.²⁶ Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore.²⁷ My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people.²⁸ And the heathen shall know that I the Lord do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.” (Ezekiel 37:21-28)

Conclusion

God made an unconditional covenant with Abram. Over time Israel failed to obey God. God never changed His love, devotion, and care for Israel.

Everything God promised in His covenant was fulfilled.

Good morning,

Love is in the air. Valentine’s day is Thursday.

God reserved His greatest love for His covenant people, Israel. It is an unconditional love.

“The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:⁸ But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 7:7-8)

What was the “oath” or covenant that God had sworn? That is what we will be looking at this week.

The Abrahamic covenant, God’s command to love the Lord, Israel’s rebellion, and God’s compassion, love, and restoration of Israel.

God’s command to love the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:⁵ And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.⁶ And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

It was God’s desire that His covenant people, Israel, would love Him. He wanted them to obey His words, teach them to their families, and speak of them during their days.

How did they do? Tomorrow we will find out.

Till then, how are we doing with loving, obeying, teaching, and proclaiming God’s word?

If we truly love the Lord, that will motivate us to obey His word, teach our families and others, proclaim God’s Good News to a lost and dying world.

Do we?

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001