Every Day Thanks and Every Day Behavior

While doing my Bible read-through, I keep being struck by how many times Israel fell back into doing "evil in the sight of the Lord". At first, I was feeling a little self-righteous, thinking "when do they ever get it?!?!?" 

Then I thought of my own habit of sliding back into sin on a daily basis. 

I was telling someone something my late auntie said about Thanksgiving and that every day should be one of thanksgiving for us all. It's not about food or even being together - thought that is nice It's about being thankful. People not able to be with their families still should be thankful; those who don't even have homes should be thankful, and those of us who are going through whatever life is throwing at us should be thankful. Thankful for our own wanderings and journey through this life to a reunion with our eternal family.

When I think of how loving and forgiving God is to Israel and all of us Gentiles, every moment is one of thanksgiving.

Sorry. Rant over.

Anyway.

Here is a list I culled using  eSword to find all the times the phrase "did what was evil in the sight of the Lord" is used. This doesn't cover all the variations on the phrase, but it is a reminder to me of God's forgiveness.

(Jdg 2:11)  And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals.

(Jdg 3:7)  And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.

(Jdg 3:12)  And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD.

(Jdg 4:1)  And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD after Ehud died.

(Jdg 6:1)  The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD gave them into the hand of Midian seven years.

(Jdg 10:6)  The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the LORD and did not serve him.

(Jdg 13:1)  And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

(1Ki 11:6)  So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and did not wholly follow the LORD, as David his father had done.

(1Ki 14:22)  And Judah did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and they provoked him to jealousy with their sins that they committed, more than all that their fathers had done.

(1Ki 15:26)  He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.

(1Ki 15:34)  He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin which he made Israel to sin.

(1Ki 16:25)  Omri did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and did more evil than all who were before him.

(1Ki 22:52)  He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

(2Ki 3:2)  He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, though not like his father and mother, for he put away the pillar of Baal that his father had made.

(2Ki 8:18)  And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.

(2Ki 8:27)  He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab.

(2Ki 13:2)  He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin; he did not depart from them.

(2Ki 13:11)  He also did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin, but he walked in them.

(2Ki 14:24)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

(2Ki 15:9)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

(2Ki 15:18)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart all his days from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

(2Ki 15:24)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

(2Ki 15:28)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which he made Israel to sin.

(2Ki 17:2)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him.

(2Ki 21:2)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.

(2Ki 21:16)  Moreover, Manasseh shed very much innocent blood, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, besides the sin that he made Judah to sin so that they did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.

(2Ki 21:20)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done.

(2Ki 23:32)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

(2Ki 23:37)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.

(2Ki 24:9)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done.

(2Ki 24:19)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

(2Ch 21:6)  And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.

(2Ch 22:4)  He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing.

(2Ch 33:2)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.

(2Ch 33:22)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images that Manasseh his father had made, and served them.

(2Ch 36:5)  Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.

(2Ch 36:9)  Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.

(2Ch 36:12)  He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.

(Jer 52:2)  And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

By the way, that is 39 verses. I love eSword so much for this. I am going to tape this list near my desk so that I see it every day. Instead of wagging my head at the hardheaded nature of my ancient Israelites siblings, I need to just do better myself. Every. Day. And I can take a lesson from Israel: they always repented and turned back to the Lord.

Therefore repent and return,
so that your sins may be wiped away, (Acts 3:19 NASB)

Peace

--Free

Backsliding & Ignorance

This is something that has been on my heart for a while. How can people who know about God be so happy to ignore Him?

I am just amazed at the people I know who were raised in homes where they were taught about the Lord and about salvation - but they just go on with their lives as if it's not important. And when the subject comes up, they will look a little shame-faced and admit that they need to "get it together."

"I know," they say. "I remember my mom's (or grandma) talking about it. I went to church all the time when I was little..."

And yet - well, they're grown now, and going about life just like they don't have an appointment with the Lord one day.

What goes through their minds? Or do they just fill up their minds - their lives - with other things so that they don't have to think about it all? Do they think that they can just put it off forever? That they are going to live forever?

It's so puzzling to me.

And then there are the folks who believe that because they KNOW about God and they "got saved" when they were young they're going to be all right. Even though they have made the World their master, they feel like God is going to be pleased with them. Even though they don't honor Him, praise Him, or depend on Him - they are going to be all right.

You can look at some of the celebrities who claim to be believers in Christ and look at the way they are living and acting... Saved? Oh, really?

Now I'm not saying that I know what is between a believer and the Lord. I'm just saying that if you are a believer, shouldn't people be able to tell that you are by your actions? I don't mean because you wear a cross around your neck or "give thanks" to God when you accept your Grammy or whatever. I mean, people should be able to tell there is something more about you. People should not be surprised to see you on a list of "Christians in Hollywood" or whatever!

Don't even get me started on the folks who claimed Christ early on, but then as their careers took off, suddenly they are giving credit for their success to strange "spirits" and "guides" and all the stuff that is "deeper within them." Puh-lease.

So, anyway, I guess I'm just wondering how people rest well, knowing that they might close their eyes never to open them again. They can't claim ignorance. They were introduced to Him, then when they met the World, they walked away from Him. I guess the World looks really good as long as you are living...

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:66)

Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. (Mtt 24:44)

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. (Mtt 12:30)


Peace
--Free