Cities Of Refuge

Cities Of Refuge

Read Joshua 20

This is exactly the type of scenario that the cities of refuge made provision for. If a man had slain another man accidently, he was to flee to one of the cities of refuge, for safety and protection.

Deuteronomy 19:4-6 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live: Whoso killeth his neighbour ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past; As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live: Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him; whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.

In Numbers 35:11-12, we read, Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares (by mistake; unintentionally). And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger; that the manslayer die not, until he stand before the congregation in judgment.

From what we read in Numbers 35, Deuteronomy 19 and Joshua 20, we can distinguish a number of characteristics of the cities of refuge:

1. They were established by God before they were needed.

2. They were available to all as well as accessible to all.

3. Their gates were always open.

4. They were widely advertised.

5. All the cities of refuge were prominently located at high elevations so that they could be seen from great distances.

6. Everyone was within a day's journey from at least one of them.

7. "Whosoever" needed to flee to one of the cities was free to do so, whether or not he was an Israelite.

8. The refugee was free to leave after the death of the high priest (Numbers 35:25).

(Cities Of Refuge, Ralph Matthews, from FOUNDATION MAGAZINE, May-June 2003)

The elders of that city took the slayer in and protected him until he was tried before the congregation. If they decided that the slayer was in fact guilty of murder, then he was to be put to death by the revenger of blood. See Numbers 35:15-21.

Deuteronomy 19:12 says: Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die.

But if it was determined that the slayer did not deliberately set out to kill the person who had died, then the slayer would be allowed to remain in the city of refuge.

Numbers 35:25-28 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

If at any time the slayer left his refuge before the death of the high priest and was killed in vengeance by the revenger of blood, then his blood would be upon his own head; the revenger of blood would not be held guilty in this case.

The cities of refuge picture Christ, and the slayer represents the lost, guilty sinner. The only problem is that the whole human race is lost, guilty, and condemned before God, and we all deserve death.

Romans 3:19, 23 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

John 3:18, 36 He that believeth on Him (Jesus) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

The avenger of blood is after us to slay us. And we must flee for refuge to Jesus Christ. We must plead for God's mercy (mercy is not getting what we deserve - in this case, death and punishment in hell forever), and seek for His grace (grace is God's unmerited favor; getting what we don't deserve - in this case, eternal life and pardon).

One of the cities of refuge the Lord had set apart was Kedesh, which means "sanctuary". Every one of us needs a sanctuary, a place to flee from the just, and holy wrath of God against our sins. This sanctuary can only be found in Christ. It is only at His throne of grace that we can receive mercy. (Hebrews 4:14-16) The reason why God can give us mercy and grace if we will turn to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith is simple: Jesus has already paid the penalty, bore God's wrath, and died in our place; if we will only accept His complete, once-for-all sacrifice for us, and receive Him as our Lord and Saviour.

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.

"The [slayer's] situation changed when the high priest died. When that happened, the refugee was free again. He was absolved from all blame. The death of the high priest was a form of substitution for the death that had been caused. The debt was paid in full when the high priest died. We see in this the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. He died in the sinner's place. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21)." (Cities Of Refuge, Ralph Matthews, from FOUNDATION MAGAZINE, May-June 2003)

The slayer was safe in the city of refuge until the death of the anointed high priest, and then he was declared guiltless and allowed to return to his inheritance. (See Numbers 35:28) (Messiah and Christ both mean Anointed.) If we receive Jesus Christ, we are pardoned and forgiven by the blood He shed for our sins at Calvary. He died, was buried, and rose from the grave three days later in fulfillment of the Scriptures. Now He is exalted in Heaven, at the right hand of God the Father. He is the only mediator between God and men, the believers' advocate, petitioning the Father on their behalf. He is the High Priest, pleading to the Father on the behalf of God's children. One thing worth mentioning is that Jesus will never die again; therefore, He will always be the eternal refuge for the children of God (Hebrews 7:25), and they will never come under God's wrath or condemnation again. (See Romans 5:8-9; and 1 Thessalonians 5:9)

The debt has been paid.

The High Priest is waiting.

The refuge is open for anyone to flee therein.

But one important question remains:

Is Jesus your refuge?

If not, the avenger of blood is still pursuing you!

Hebrews 6:18-20 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 

June 28th, 2000

Jerry Bouey

Jacob, The Plain Man

Lessons From The Life Of Jacob:
Part One - Jacob, The Plain Man

Genesis 25:27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

For nineteen years, Rebekah was barren and had no children. Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife. In their twentieth year of marriage, God answered his prayers and Rebekah gave birth to twins. While these boys were struggling together in her womb, God made a promise to her - that the eldest son would serve the younger. The line of the younger son would be the one that God would bless and cause to prosper.

Genesis 25:22-24 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb.

This blessing would also include having the Messiah be his direct descendant. God chose Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation; then Isaac, the promised son, instead of Ishmael. Now the Lord indicates to Rebekah that her younger son would be the next in the line of Christ (the Messiah).

Genesis 25:25-26 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

When the children were born, Esau was first (ie. the elder), and Jacob was the younger son. According to God's choosing, Jacob would be the son which would receive the blessing.

After he came out of the womb, he took hold of his brother's heel.

"Before birth, Jacob and Esau had contended; and at birth, Jacob grasped his brother's heel. This latter action was interpreted to mean that Jacob would trip up his brother and take advantage of him. The prediction proved true." (Pentateuch, The Bible Exposition Commentary by Warren Wiersbe)

"There was a manifest contest in their births. Esau, the stronger, came forth first; but Jacob's hand took hold of his heel, Gen. 25:26. This signified, (1.) Jacob's pursuit of the birthright and blessing; from the first, he reached forth to catch hold of it, and, if possible, to prevent his brother. (2.) His prevailing for it at last, that, in process of time, he should undermine his brother, and gain his point. This passage is referred to (Hos. 12:3), and hence he had his name, Jacob, a supplanter." (Matthew Henry)

He was aptly named Jacob, which means supplanter, which Strong's Concordance defines as: to seize by the heel; figuratively, to circumvent (as if tripping up the heels); also to restrain (as if holding by the heel). Webster's 1828 Dictionary gives this as one of his two definitions for supplant - To remove or displace by stratagem; or to displace and take the place of. These descriptions would be very true of Jacob's life before he came to know the Lord - in his relationship with Esau - and would affect his life for years afterwards!

Genesis 25:27-28 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents. And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.

Here we see the potential for further problems to develop. Each parent had their favourite son - and the consequences of their favoritism would soon follow.

Esau was a fornicator and a profane (ie. godless) man, who had no interest in spiritual things - nor in his birthright. When a man is living for sensual appetites, he does not care for the things of God, for His Word, or for God's hand of blessing on his life. In this case, Esau saw no benefit in some seemingly far off inheritance (the double portion that would have been given to him as the firstborn - see Deuteronomy 21:17), but rather chose to live for the here and now - whatever could fulfill him now, not later.

"Esau pictures the man of the world who despises the eternal and lives for the temporal." (Chapter By Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe)

Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

He did not care for any of this. All Esau cared for was living for the present, satisfying his hunger, and hunting in the field.

Esau preferred to live in the wild and prosper by his physical skills, whereas God says Jacob dwelled in tents. This is referring not simply to a desire to live at home, but is actually stating he was living for the promises of God regarding the Promised Land, as the following passage clarifies:

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

What puzzles me about this verse in Genesis 25 is God s description of Jacob: he was a plain man - this is spoken in contrast to Esau, who was known for his cunning and living by his hunting skills. Strong's gives this definition for plain - pious, upright. Webster's defines it as: Artless; simple; unlearned; without disguise, cunning or affectation; without refinement; as men of the plainer sort. He specifically mentions Genesis 25 as a reference for this use of the word. Funk and Wagnalls Dictionary states that plain means: straightforward; guileless. This has to be God's description of Jacob until this point in his life - he was pious, feared God, and was not known for deception (ie. he was without guile) until the events that next unfolded in his life. Then his manner of scheming and supplanting became a way of life for him.

"Jacob was a man for the other world. He was... an honest man that always meant well, and dealt fairly, that preferred the true delights of solitude and retirement to all the pretended pleasure of busy noisy sports." (Matthew Henry)

Though unsaved at this time (I do not believe he got saved until he dreamed about the ladder to Heaven - more on this later), Jacob had an interest in spiritual things, and desired that God's blessings would be upon him. Unfortunately, he relied on his own scheming to (attempt to) get what he wanted in life, rather than trusting that God would work out His plan in His own timing. The Lord had already stated that it would be Jacob's. It was a matter of waiting upon God to bring this to pass. Unfortunately, Jacob was impatient in spiritual matters.

"The 'birthright' had three elements:
(1) Until the establishment of the Aaronic priesthood the head of the family exercised priestly rights.
(2) The Abrahamic family held the Edenic promise of the Satan-Bruiser, Gen. 3:15. -- Abel, Seth, Shem, Abraham, Isaac, Esau.
(3) Esau, as the firstborn, was in the direct line of the Abrahamic promise of the Earth-Blesser, Gen. 12:3." (Scofield Study Bible)

Jacob realized that Esau did not care for the spiritual blessings, and when the opportunity presented itself, Jacob talked Esau out of his birthright - which Esau willingly gave up. All he cared for was satisfying his own appetites, living by his physical senses (what he could see, feel, taste, touch, and smell) - not spiritual realities (which only could be seen and touched by faith).

Genesis 25:29-34 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright. And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

"Jacob's pious desire of the birthright, which yet he sought to obtain by indirect courses, not agreeable to his character as a plain man. It was not out of pride or ambition that he coveted the birthright, but with an eye to spiritual blessings, which he had got well acquainted with in his tents, while Esau had lost the scent of them in the field. For this he is to be commended, that he coveted earnestly the best gifts; yet in this he cannot be justified, that he took advantage of his brother's necessity to make him a very hard bargain (Ge 25:31): Sell me this day thy birthright... It is egregious folly to part with our interest in God, and Christ, and heaven, for the riches, honours, and pleasures, of this world, as bad a bargain as his that sold a birthright for a dish of broth." (Matthew Henry)

"Luther points out that Jacob's purchase was not valid because he was attempting to purchase what was already his. And with equal correctness it may be asserted that Esau was attempting to sell what was not his." (Genesis: Men Of Faith by Charles M. Horne)

Jacob's sin was not in his desire for the birthright or the blessing - in this he was not being covetous, as these were already promised to him by God. His sin was in not trusting in the Lord to work it all out according to His perfect plan, and resorting to his own scheming to get it. What seemed like a good opportunity to Jacob to get the birthright only developed into further problems down the road.

Catch those little foxes, Jacob, before they spoil the vines! (See Song of Solomon 2:15)

January 27th, 2005
Jerry Bouey

Have You Been With Jesus?

Have You Been With Jesus?

Someone once posed a great question, which I will ask here:

If you were tried in a court of law for being a Christian,
would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Court is now in session...

Acts 6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Stephen was a deacon of the church of Jerusalem. He was a man full of faith and wisdom (see Acts 6:3, 8). He was also a man full of the Holy Ghost. The word full means "controlled by; influenced by." Stephen was a man who was led by the Holy Spirit. He was a Christian who had spent some time with the Lord Jesus Christ and let that time transform his life and daily walk. When he was faced with a false trial to persecute him, and confronted with the very real possibility of his own martyrdom, his faith shone forth. It was obvious to others that he had been with Jesus! His face was beaming with a spiritual glow, the glow of a soul on fire for the Lord.

Acts 7:55-60 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

While he was being falsely accused and while being stoned to death, he did not retaliate and hurl abuses and railings back at the crowd, but instead followed his Saviour's example and prayed for his enemies. It was obvious that he had been with Jesus.

Is it obvious to others that you have spent time with Jesus?

Can those around you see that the Word of God is daily guiding your life? Can they tell by your testimony that you are still walking with your First Love (Jesus Christ)? (See Revelation 2:4) Is it obvious to others that you have spent time in fervent prayer, pleading with the Lord for your daily needs, and for the needs and concerns of those around you? Is it apparent by your concern and compassion for the souls of the lost you encounter throughout each day that you have walked closely by Jesus' side?

In Exodus 34, we read the account of Moses seeing the Lord's glory on Mount Sinai. Verses 29-35 state, And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. And Moses called unto them; and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation returned unto him: and Moses talked with them. And afterward all the children of Israel came nigh: and he gave them in commandment all that the LORD had spoken with him in mount Sinai. And till Moses had done speaking with them, he put a vail on his face. But when Moses went in before the LORD to speak with Him, he took the vail off, until he came out. And he came out, and spake unto the children of Israel that which he was commanded. And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with Him.

It is interesting to note that before this account we read of others, like Joshua, who spent time with the Lord. Exodus 33:7, 11 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp. And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

As the believers in the time of Moses had to go outside the camp to spend time with the Lord, so too, we need to leave the hustle and bustle of our busy lives and spend time with the Lord in heartfelt prayer (talking with the Lord) and Bible reading (letting Him talk to us). Are you spending time each day seeking the Lord? Is it obvious to others that your faith in Jesus is vibrant, real, and life-changing? Will others desire to know the Saviour by seeing the difference Christ makes in your life; by seeing the joy, peace, contentment, and serenity that are yours as you keep your eyes on Him and confidently commit all into His hands? Does your countenance (face) glow? Maybe it doesn't physically, but is there a spiritual glow about you that others can see? Can they tell that you have been with Jesus?

One verse that has always impacted me whenever I have read it is Acts 4:13, in reference to the apostles. Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Others around them, including their own enemies, could tell that they had spent time with Jesus, had walked in His presence, had clung closely to Him. How about you?

Psalm 34:5 They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. In this verse the word lightened is Strong's #5102, meaning "to sparkle, i.e. (figuratively) be cheerful; hence (from the sheen of a running stream) to flow." As you go through trials and hard times, do you look continually to the Lord and does your face sparkle? Does your countenance glow from within because of your excitement and fervour from walking with Jesus day by day?

Early in my Christian walk I came across this poem,

When the child of God

Looks into the Word of God

And sees the Son of God

He is changed by the Spirit of God

Into the image of God

For the glory of God.

Author Unknown

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The glass mentioned here is the Word of God. (See James 1:23-25 and 1 Corinthians 13:10-12) As we spend time with the Lord Jesus Christ in Bible study and prayer, we are transformed into His image and made more like Him.

This change will be evident to others around us.

Two sayings that I came across years ago and wrote in the margin of my Bible that relate to this theme of looking unto Jesus and spending time with Him are quoted below (unfortunately, I do not know who penned them):

"There is no beauty to be discovered anywhere comparable to fixing your eyes on Jesus. There is no life-changing power available anywhere comparable to that gaze."

"It is the look that saves, but it is the gaze that sanctifies."

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Is it evident to others that you have been with Jesus?

Study written August 24th, 2002
By Jerry Bouey

The Lord Sees Our Potential

The Lord Sees Our Potential

As a much younger believer I remember reading a book or commentary where the author points this passage out:

Judges 6:12, 14  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour... And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

Then he mentioned that the Lord God saw Gideon's potential as a warrior BEFORE Gideon ever fought his first battle. The Lord opened the doors needed for Gideon to step into that role and equipped him fully for it - long before he ever fought that first battle. God already stated that Gideon had the might, the strength or power, that was needed to fight the upcoming battles God had planned for Gideon to set free the oppressed Israelites of his day.

Our Heavenly Father is sovereign. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows everything about us, has a plan for us, and He has all that is needed to bring out that result in our lives that we may fulfill His will, as we walk with Him daily by faith.

We see this same principle in two other passages:

Exodus 6:26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies. 

Exodus 12:17, 41, 51  And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever...  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt...  And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Notice the language the Lord used to describe His oppressed people. He referred to them several times as a host, an army, BEFORE they ever fought a battle with the Canaanites and other nations they would encounter on their way to the Promised Land. AND notice, the Lord of Hosts had already equipped them BEFORE they ever left Egypt.

Exodus 13:17-18 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.

Harnessed means armed, equipped for war.

I find the contrast presented in the passage above interesting. God knew His plan for His people, He was putting into motion the events that would free them from their oppressors, and knew what would hinder them; therefore He chose not to bring them a certain way until they had gotten the battle experience He knew they would need to conquer the Canaanites in the land He was leading them to.

One other example I want to bring to your attention:

Exodus 3:7-10 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

Moses, I've chosen you to deliver My people from Egypt. Then came Moses' excuses, which God dealt with one by one. Maybe the biggest fear for this leader-to-be was basically the fear of public speaking - in this case, speaking to Pharaoh, the leader of the Egyptians, and speaking to the nation of Israel as their new leader.

Exodus 4:10-12 And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

God promised to provide someone to speak on Moses' behalf - he just needed to be obedient and go do what the Lord had called him to do. The Lord, in His wisdom, provided Moses' brother to help him (whom the Lord had already sent on his way to meet Moses). The part I find so intriguing is that after Moses' and Aaron's initial meeting with the elders of the nation of Israel (in which Aaron did speak), and their first encounter with the Pharaoh (in which they spoke together), we find that Moses was the primary speaker from then on.

Exodus 4:29-30 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel: And Aaron spake all the words which the LORD had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. 

Exodus 5:1-3 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness. And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go. And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword. 

Exodus 6:9 And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. 

Exodus 7:1-2 And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. Thou shalt speak all that I command thee: and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land.

Exodus 8:9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me: when shall I intreat for thee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only?

One final observation from all these passages is that the Lord God promised to be with them in all He had called them to do. Notice the following:

Judges 6:12 ...The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.

Exodus 4:12 ...Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.

Exodus 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 

The Lord is with His people, guiding them, preparing them for whatever He has planned out for each of their lives, equipping them for service and opening the needed doors for ministry in their lives.

What has your heavenly Father called you to do in Jesus' name? Are you fulfilling His will? He has left us with so many promises - not just that He will be with us as we go into all the world with the Gospel of salvation, but that He will provide, prepare, and equip each of us as we walk with Him in obedience and serve Him day by day. Consider these final two promises:

Revelation 3:7-8 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

This next one is a sevenfold promise that the Lord will provide EVERYTHING you need through His Word and the power of His Holy Spirit to faithfully serve Him.

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Go forth, thou mighty child of God and serve Him today!

November 2, 2023
Jerry Bouey

Sinking In The Mire

 

SINKING IN THE MIRE

Jeremiah 38:6a Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords.

The prophet Jeremiah’s enemies gathered together against him, seeking to put him to death. As a result, he was cast into the dungeon, where he began to sink in the mire.

Jeremiah 38:6b And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

Adversities and afflictions will often seem to rise against us, much like Jeremiah’s enemies rose against him. Left with no firm footing, you may find yourself sinking in the mire of despair, overwhelmed and oppressed. In the midst of discouragement, your eyes fail you of tears, your voice chokes up and your cry to the gates of Heaven seems to come to no avail, and it becomes harder to look up to the Lord in hope.

Psalms 69:1-3 Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.

Isaiah 38:14a Like a crane or a swallow, so did I chatter: I did mourn as a dove: mine eyes fail with looking upward:

But the Lord has not forsaken you, He has not forgotten you, He has not left you to face these trials alone or in your own strength. He is only waiting for you to cry out to Him in faith. Will you look to Him to deliver you from your trouble? Will you trust Him?

The following quote from the book of Lamentations very likely expresses Jeremiah’s prayer from this same dungeon, where he was literally sinking in the mire:

Lamentations 3:52-56 Mine enemies chased me sore, like a bird, without cause. They have cut off my life in the dungeon, and cast a stone upon me. Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

Isaiah 38:14b O LORD, I am oppressed; undertake for me.

Psalms 56:3-4 What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Jeremiah 38:7-10 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin; Ebedmelech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king, saying, My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city. Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

Just like King Zedekiah sent his servant Ebedmelech to rescue Jeremiah from his affliction, so too will you find that the Lord God will send His servant (whatever He may choose, however He may choose – according to His will) to help you in your distress. (Note: the name Ebedmelech literally means “servant of the King”.)

When the mire seems the deepest and you are ready to give up, you will find your Heavenly Father is still at work behind the scenes, setting in motion the plan that will release you from your imprisonment.

Psalms 91:14-16 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Lamentations 3:57-58 Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

Jeremiah 38:11-13 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah. And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so. So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

Keep your focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, trust in Him and His Word – and like Jeremiah was drawn out of the mire of his prison, so too will you be drawn up out of the mire and the waters that have flooded your soul.

Drawn With Cords

Hosea 11:4a I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love.

Drawn From Above

Psalms 18:16 He sent from above, he took me, he drew me out of many waters.

Set Upon A Rock

Psalms 40:1-3 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Whatever the situation you’re are facing now, when it seems that your soul is sinking deep in the mire, look above – and let Jesus draw you up out of that prison of despair, and set your feet back upon the solid rock! Only in Him will you find the firm footing to face the trials of life.

Love Lifted Me
(Lyrics: James Rowe)

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Chorus:
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help
Love lifted me!

Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves.
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

November 19th, 2005
Jerry Bouey

Audio Of Poems Presented In Church in 2022

Poems Presented In Church

In 2021 to 2022, for about 10 months in the two main Sunday services, I presented poems in church as a ministry. Usually I shared an introduction to the poem (perhaps the story behind it if it was one of mine or if I knew of the events surrounding it), then I presented the verses behind it and a Biblical exhortation to draw closer to the Lord. 

While we were recording the sermons preached each service, we did not think to actually record the poem presentations until about the last four months. The poems were a blessing to share and God's hand was definitely upon that ministry, as the poems and challenges I read often went with the theme of the sermons preached, the songs chosen, and many times both - yet the hymns chosen each day and the Pastor's themes or passages were not announced to me in advance. It was a ministry wholly dependent upon the Lord's guiding, and His hand was very evident for all those months.

For various reasons, the Lord guided me to stop this particular ministry the end of last Spring. In several of the poem presentations you can actually sense that there was spiritual warfare going on, and the introductions did not come across as smoothly or as coherently as other poems I had recorded. I have still decided to post the audio of those couple of poems too - as the stories are still a blessing to hear and the poems themselves came across clearly, even if the introduction seems rough. If you choose to listen to them, please do not judge the whole ministry in light of the few that did not go as well as the others.

The poems that were actually recorded are listed below in the order they were presented. Feel free to leave comments here or on their individual pages if there were any that really touched your heart, strengthened you spiritually or simply blessed you in some way.

Poems Presented in March 2022:

Two Roads Or Three? - Morning of March 6

In The Presence Of The Lord - Evening of March 6

Poems Presented in April 2022:

The Touch Of The Master’s Hand – by Myra Brooks Welch - Morning of April 3

All My Springs Are In You - Morning of April 10

Immanuel – by Charles Spurgeon - Evening of April 10

The Day My Saviour Died - Morning of April 17

Take A Second Look At Calvary - Evening of April 17

Thou God Seest Me - Morning of April 24

"God Meant It Unto Good" - by Freda Hanbury Allen - Evening of April 24
(Rough presentation, but good story and poem read clearly)

Poems Presented in May 2022:

Thirsting In This Wilderness - Morning of May 1

Under Construction - Evening of May 1

Mother’s Day In Heaven - Morning of May 8

God’s Love Through The Storm – Author Unknown - Evening of May 8

Quietness And Confidence – by E.J. Carr - Morning of May 15

I Sleep, But My Heart Waketh - Evening of May 15

Waiting For A Change - Author Unknown - Morning of May 22

“No Accidents” - by Felicia Doss - Morning of May 22
(Bit of technical difficulties accessing book on my ipad - story and poem presentation are very good)

When This Lion Begins To Roar - Morning of May 29

God Is – Author Unknown - Evening of May 29

Poems Presented in June 2022:

Wrestling Until The Break of Day - Morning of June 5

Be Thou Clean - Evening of June 5

Death Meets His Match - by Elwood McQuaid - Evening of June 12
(Good presentation of poem, but no introduction)

The Father Of The Fatherless - Morning of June 19

Slow Down, Daddy - Evening of June 19
(no introduction, but good poem presentation)

All My Blogs

I wanted to try something new, so I created two new blogs.

One new blog, called The Substance Of Things Hoped For (Faith-based Stories and Illustration), was created for a place for me to be able to quickly repost all the stories and illustrations that Angela Trenholm (my webpartner) had on her family site (Trenholms Of Kelowna). EarnestlyContending.com (our domain and the central hub for all our personal sites) got repeatedly hacked a little over two years ago and we lost all the content and had to rebuild from scratch. It is a lot of work trying to repost articles, stories, songs, etc. that were posted from approximately 21 years ago onwards, but I am making a valiant effort. Doing it in a blog format also gives me the opportunity to easily add new content.

The second blog is for posting Daily Devotionals once again - devotionals and poems. I had done that for several years back in 2004 onwards, but eventually it became too much work to keep doing that project and work full time, developing new messages to preach at the Kelowna Gospel Mission. I had turned many of those outlines into full length studies and stored the rest in various boxes to hopefully develop more fully someday. That time did not come till now (of course, now I need to sort through all those boxes!!). This new devotional blog is called Just A Closer Walk With You (Daily Devotionals And Poems).

For those who may be new to Buy The Truth or my blogs in general, or perhaps had not visited for quite a while, I also wanted to list all the other blogs here for you as well, so you can easily check them out and bookmark them if you so desire.

• Faithful Men Of God (Solid Christian Articles)

• A Shadow Of Things To Come (Outlines and Short Devotionals)

• Songs In The Night (Christian Poetry and Songs)
• The Psalms Of David In Metre (By Isaac Watts And The Church Of Scotland)

My original websites (before I started any blogs) are:

• Eagle's Wings Ministries (My Bible Study Site)

• Bookmark this page: EWM Table Of Contents

• Home Of The Real McCoy (My Christian Poetry Site)

• Bookmark this page: HOTRM Table Of Contents

Most of the content on Home of the Real McCoy are my own poems, plus some poems that I have included in several books of poetry I have put together; whereas Songs In The Night contain both my poems and any poems, songs or hymns by others I wanted to pass on to others. I have added pages for various poems that I presented in church in 2021 or 2022 (as I cannot seem to add the audio files to my blogs). Just look for those poems within Songs In The Night or Home Of The Real McCoy Table Of Contents. I do have them marked on there. Still a few more to put up with the audio files, but I will indicate those ones too when they are made. I have also decided to duplicate my personal poems on Home of the Real McCoy and Songs In The Night, in case we are ever hacked again. Building all those pages from scratch was more work than I ever expected.

I hope all these blogs and pages are a blessing to you.

In Jesus' precious name,

Jerry Bouey

List Of All Studies From 2022-2024

 I thought it might be beneficial to list all studies/devotionals that I have put in this blog, for those who want to be able to quickly find one again, or for those who may be perusing this blog and are wondering what is in it. I have put an * beside the studies that were a tremendous blessing or encouragement to me when studying them out. Any messages that I preached at the Gospel Mission have @ beside them. All links below will open in a separate window.

Click here for the List Of All Studies From 2006

Click here for the List Of All Studies From 2007

Click here for the List Of All Studies From 2008/2009

Click here for the List of All Studies from 2010

Audio Of Poems Presented In Church In 2022

Table Of Contents For All Studies Posted 2022-2024

November 2022:

The Lion Of God's Word

September 2023:

They Would Not - But Will You? The Blessings They Missed

Diligently Seeking The Lord

The Furnace Of Affliction - Part One: As Silver Is Tried (previously on EWM)

The Furnace Of Affliction - Part Two: Come Forth As Gold (previously on EWM)

The Disobedience Of King Saul
**Two New Blogs Added**

October 2023:

Sinking In The Mire (previously on EWM)

November 2023:

The Lord Sees Our Potential
Have You Been With Jesus? (previously on EWM)
Lessons On The Life Of Jacob: Jacob, The Plain Man (previously on EWM)

March 2024:

Cities Of Refuge (previously on EWM)

Series TOC's:
(These studies are also listed above, in the order they were posted)

Genesis
Psalms
Song Of Solomon

Expositional Studies

60 Day Devotional Series: Numbers In The Bible

The Disobedience Of King Saul

The Disobedience Of Saul

Have you ever thought what happens when we don’t obey the Lord? Sometimes the consequences are much greater than we might have originally thought.

All of the Bible is given for us to learn from - from its good examples and bad, its promises and warnings.

Romans 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

 I love how one preacher broke down the following passage:

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Doctrine - what is right.

Reproof - what is not right (or, showing what is wrong).

Correction - how to make it right.

Instruction in righteousness - how to keep it right.

The negative example I want to look at today is that of Haman in the book of Esther. In the Old Testament, during the time of Queen Esther, he became one of Israel’s most notorious enemies. He rose up in prominence and was given power to do great harm to the exiled Jews by the Persian King Ahasuerus. (Note: This study will only be looking at highlights from that book of the Bible. Please take the time to reread this book if it is unfamiliar to you or you have forgotten its main themes.)

Esther 3:1-2 After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him. And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

Esther 3:5-6 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.

Esther 3:10-11 And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy. And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.

Haman was the first person in Israel’s history to attempt to wipe out that nation completely. Out of his jealousy and rage towards Mordecai for not exalting and honouring him, he set out to destroy the Israelites, and he in fact got authority from the Persian king to kill all the Jews on a certain date.

Esther 3:13-14 And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey. The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.

Haman’s evil plot was now set in motion, but it was also the appointed time for the Lord to bring a deliver forth and to protect His chosen people.

Esther 4:7-8 And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him, and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them. Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to shew it unto Esther, and to declare it unto her, and to charge her that she should go in unto the king, to make supplication unto him, and to make request before him for her people.

Mordecai then petitioned Esther to act on behalf of her people, to do what she could to foil this dastardly plot of Haman’s, even if it was at the cost of her own life.

Esther 4:13-14 Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?

The next two verses are very interesting:

Esther 8:3 And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.

Esther 9:24 Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;

Haman was an Amalekite; specifically an Agagite. You might be wondering why the name Agagite seems familiar.

This is the entry on Haman from Easton's Bible Dictionary:

“He is called an ‘Agagite,’ which seems to denote that he was descended from the royal family of the Amalekites, the bitterest enemies of the Jews, as Agag was one of the titles of the Amalekite kings.”

During the time of the judges and Israel’s kingdom, the term Agag was the title used for the Amalekite kings - like Pharaoh, Emperor, Caesar, etc. Why is it significant that he was a descendant of Agag? Because the Israelites were at war with the Amalekites since the time of Moses and later king Saul was commanded to wipe them out completely.

Exodus 17:8 Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

Exodus 17:14-16 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. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

1 Samuel 15:1-3 Samuel also said unto Saul, The LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD. 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. 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.

1 Samuel 15:7-9 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt. And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 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 every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

1 Samuel 15:13-15 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

1 Samuel 15:20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

Obviously king Saul did not keep fighting the Amalekites. As the end of the book of 1 Samuel reveals, these people were still a threat to Israel during the final days of Saul’s reign. David and his mighty men were warring against the Amalekites and had to rescue their families from them when the Amalekite army took the city of Ziklag captive. Though Saul and his sons were killed by the Philistines a few days later, it was actually an Amalekite that bragged of killing him (pretty foolish, as his boasting resulted in king David killing him!).

If Saul and the Israelites would have done what he (and they) were originally commanded to do, they would not have had a prominent descendant of the Amalekite kings attempting to wipe out their whole nation approximately 600 or so years later!

God still worked on behalf of His people and did deliver them through the wisdom He gave queen Esther - but how much less grief and sorrow would they have had throughout a significant portion of their history if Saul had originally done what God had commanded him to do!

If there is something the Holy Spirit is prompting and convicting you to deal with in your own life, be submissive to His leading and take the needed steps to deal with that sin or compromise. Don’t deal with the sins in your life in a half-hearted way. Of course, our enemies are spiritual and not physical, but disobedience can affect us more than we might think. From Saul’s negative example, we can see that toying with sins may later take their toll on us. It’s better to deal with our Amalekite kings before they because Hamans that might destroy or devastate us down the road.

Let’s make sure we obey our Lord and defeat the Amalekites (and all the Canaanites) in our lives. (If you want to dig in a bit more into your Bible on this theme, this study might be worthwhile for you to read: Conquering The Canaanites In Your Life.)

September 24, 2023
Jerry Bouey

The Furnace Of Affliction - Part Two: Come Forth As Gold

 

The Furnace Of Affliction - Part Two

Come Forth As Gold

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

1) Man's Outward Trials. 

A) Mankind In General: 

It is obvious, from the overall testimony of Scripture, from beginning to ending, man’s lot on this earth is full of trials, troubles, afflictions, sufferings. Every since Adam and Eve’s fall in the Garden of Eden, the curse of sin has affected all of our lives. The furnace of affliction has affected all of us. 

Psalms 90:3, 5-10 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. For we are consumed by Thine anger, and by Thy wrath are we troubled. Thou hast set our iniquities before Thee, our secret sins in the light of Thy countenance. For all our days are passed away in Thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 

Job 5:7 Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. 

Job 14:1 Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. 

B) The Christian’s Trials: 

Another principle comes through loud and clear from the pages of the God’s Word: the Christian is not exempt from trials. Even those that have been born again through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will face this furnace of affliction at various times throughout their lives. The way of the Cross is not a rose-strewn pathway, despite what some modern religious philosophers and teachers like to teach. Our problems in life do not end the moment we come to Christ – though it is true that those who are saved have their Heavenly Father working out all things according to His perfect will and plan for their lives, which includes conforming them to the image of His Son. (See Romans 8:28-29) 

2 Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 

John Bunyan stated, 
“A Christian man is seldom long at ease, 
When one trouble’s gone another doth him seize.” 

2) The Christian's Trials Outweigh Those Of The Lost. 

I believe this is a principle that is often overlooked and is one reason we are told to count the cost. Like Daniel’s three friends in the midst of the burning fiery furnace, the Christian’s furnace of affliction has often been heated seven times hotter than the furnace of the world. 

1 Corinthians 15:16-19 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

I have actually had a Christian associate declare that I was presenting false teaching when I discussed with him the above passage of Scripture (and after he had read my first study in this series, As Silver Is Tried). Even after explaining what Paul meant here, he still would not believe me. Later I found out he had bought into the Prosperity Gospel hook, line, and sinker. While I do not believe it is wrong to be optimistic, I do think that we should remove our rose-coloured glasses and accept what the Bible teaches, instead of what we would like it to say! 

If all the faithful child of God had to look forward in this life was the afflictions and trials they daily faced, they would be most miserable indeed! If there was no forgiveness of sins offered through the death, burial, and physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, there would be no hope indeed, no hope of entering Heaven (all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, and God cannot look upon iniquity – see Isaiah 64:6 and Habakkuk 1:13), and no real purpose for our being set apart from the rest of the ungodly world! Please read this whole section so you do not misunderstand where I am going with this line of thinking. 

1 Corinthians 15:29-32 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 

As Paul stated above, if this life was all we had then the Christian’s life would be most miserable in comparison with that of the lost. What trials does the Christian bear that the lost do not? 

• Facing death to proclaim their faith and be baptized (identified) with Christ

• Dying to our self daily, crucifying the flesh and resisting the pleasures of sin 

• Bearing the reproach of Christ, suffering for the sake of righteousness 

• Endless, wearisome battles with false teachers, apostates; spiritual warfare 

• Being chastised by the Lord when we walk in sin 

• Being pruned and purged so we are useful to the Master and bear more fruit

There is a saying that there is a scarlet thread that runs all throughout Scripture – referring to the redemption provided through the blood of Christ. In a similar vein, there is another thread, albeit a dark one, running throughout the Bible: the thread of sufferings and trials for true believers. We see one end of this thread in the book of Genesis, from the death of Abel, to the sufferings of Joseph; it continues on through time to the testing of Job, and the Exodus from Egypt; down further through the corridors of time to the exiles in Assyria and Babylon, and the desecrating of the temple by Antiochus Epiphanes; further still to the New Testament church struggling through dire persecutions, on to the tribulation believers facing the Antichrist; and finally, the end of the thread is in sight in the book of Revelation, when we see Jesus returning to conquer the nations of the world and begin His Millennial reign. 

Just think how much easier the Apostles’ lives would have been if they were living for themselves, rather than for the Lord. Take Paul’s life, for example: 

2 Corinthians 11:23-28 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

But this life is not all there is! There is Heaven awaiting those who are saved, and rewards for those who are faithful in serving Jesus Christ! If you are a child of God, then you have eternal life and the love of Christ which nothing can separate you from. 

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Though the furnace of affliction that the Christian faces has been heated seven times hotter, the Lord Jesus Christ still walks with us in the midst of the flames. After all has been said and done, in the light of eternity, I believe the child of God will be able to share the testimony of these three Hebrew men that the fire did no lasting harm to them. Truly, our Heavenly Father only allows into our lives what is in accordance with His perfect will. Like the hymn writer stated, “Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well with my soul.” 

Romans 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 

3) The Outcome Of The Christian's Trials. 

Malachi 3:2-3 But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Job 23:8-10 Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him: On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hideth Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him: But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 

"… all precious things have to be tried. You never saw a precious thing yet which did not have a trial. The diamond must be cut; and hard cutting that poor jewel has; were it capable of feeling pain, nothing would be more fretted and worried about, than that diamond. Gold, too, must be tried; it cannot be used as it is dug up from the mine, or in grains as it is found in the rivers; it must pass through the crucible and have the dross taken away. Silver must be tried. In fact all things that are of any value must endure the fire. It is the law of nature. Solomon tells us so in the 17th chapter of Proverbs, the 3rd verse. He says, 'The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold.' If you were nothing but tin, there would be no need of the 'fining-pot' for you; but it is simply because you are valuable that you must be tried." (Charles Spurgeon, The New Park Street Pulpit, Volume 1, page 484.) 

4) The Christian’s Outlook In Their Trials. 

A) Your Refining: 

1 Peter 1:6-7 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

B) Your Reminder: 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

C) Your Rejoicing: 

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 

D) Your Reward: 

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 

James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. 

E) Your Redeemer's Return: 

Luke 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 

F) Your Response: 

Revelation 3:15-18 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 

5) Will You Be Outcast? 

The Lord rejects those who reject Him and His Word, who reject the salvation and forgiveness of sins that He offers. Reprobate means rejected. Dross is the worthless part of the metal, the impurities that are cast aside. 

Jeremiah 6:30 Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them. 

2 Timothy 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. 

Ezekiel 22:17-22 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, the house of Israel is to Me become dross: all they are brass, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver. Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye are all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and brass, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so I will gather you in Mine anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of My wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I the LORD have poured out My fury upon you. 

Don't be an outcast. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! (Hebrews 10:31) The hands of judgement are all that those who die without Jesus Christ as their Saviour have to look forward to. It is better to reach now for the hands of mercy! If you have never turned to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, turn to Him today, trusting in His finished work on the cross of Calvary, believing in His death for your sins, His burial, and His literal, physical resurrection three days later. Turn to Him and let Him purge away the dross of sin in your life and make you a vessel worthy of honour. 

Proverbs 25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. 

2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 

Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

I Shall Come Forth As Gold 

No longer on the mountaintop, The tempests wax fierce and hot; 
Though the way ahead may seem rough, His grace will always be enough - 
For when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 

Chorus: 
As gold, as gold, I shall come forth as gold; 
As gold, as gold, I shall come forth as gold. 

As I walk through the shadow of death, This valley seems to steal my breath; 
Though I cannot yet see my way, I will trust in Jesus come what may - 
For when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 

When storm clouds carry doubt and fear, I will not fret for God is near. 
Though I walk through the darkest day, Through faith, my Lord will light my way - 
For when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold. 

Someday my skies will clear again, The clouds will part - I shall see Him! 
Now by faith, but then by sight, I'll behold my King in all His might - 
For when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Poem written June 22nd, 2003
Study written August 6th, 2004
By Jerry Bouey 

(Note: my friend Kat Aulin had actually put this song to beautiful music in 2003. Unfortunately, she did not know how to write music so it was never recorded. But it sure was a blessing to hear her play it on the Trenholm’s piano in the summer of 2003. She had such talent - I am sure she is playing music for the Lord in Heaven now.)

For Part One:
The Furnace Of Affliction - As Silver Is Tried