Encouragement and Instructions to Judges

 

After reading these few paragraphs this morning, hopefully this note will encourage and instruct our Judges.

2 Chronicles 19:6, 7, 9, 10

He [King Jehoshaphat] said to the judges, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render judgment.

“Now then let the fear of the LORD be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.”

Then he charged them saying, “Thus you shall do in the fear of the LORD, faithfully and wholeheartedly.

Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brethren who live in their cities, between blood and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and ordinances, you shall warn them so that they may not be guilty before the LORD, and wrath may not come on you, and your brethren. Thus you shall do and you will not be guilty.”

 Judge, may this encourage you to look to God for wisdom and knowledge, PRAY!!!

 Psalm 82:

A psalm of Asaf:

⁽¹⁾ Elohim [God] stands in the divine assembly;
there with the elohim [judges], he judges:
² “How long will you go on judging unfairly,
favoring the wicked? (Selah)
³ Give justice to the weak and fatherless!
Uphold the rights of the wretched and poor!
⁴ Rescue the destitute and needy;
deliver them from the power of the wicked!”

⁵ They don’t know, they don’t understand,
they wander about in darkness;
meanwhile, all the foundations of the earth
are being undermined.

⁶ “My decree is: ‘You are elohim [gods, judges],
sons of the Most High all of you.
⁷ Nevertheless, you will die like mortals;
like any prince, you will fall.’”

⁸ Rise up, Elohim, and judge the earth;
for all the nations are yours.

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB) © 1998 by David H. Stern. BibleGateway.com

May ALL Americans come together and pray for our country and our leaders!!! May we pray that our judges and leaders will seek wisdom, knowledge and integrity!! This was my heart after reading from The CharlesF. Stanley Life Principles Daily Bible, July 12. The daily reading also includes Life Principle 10, “If necessary, God will move heaven and earth to show us His will, 2 Chronicles 20:12. God always wants the best for us, and He is committed to showing us how to follow the specific plan He has designed for each of our lives….” Dr. Stanley continues with nine ways God may help us to take notice of His will.

May this be a blessing and encouragement to us ALL to pray and seek integrity in our individual life.

The Making of an Encourager

 

Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.

4 

Say to those with anxious heart,

“Take courage, fear not.

Behold, your God will come with vengeance;

The recompense of God will come,

But He will save you.”

Isaiah 35: 3-4 NASB 1995 BibleGateway.com

   Sometimes it takes only one word, a smile, or a grasp of the hand. Sometimes it means standing by someone during a particularly hard time and helping him or her not give up in despair.

   What does encouragement mean to you? Can you recall a time when someone came alongside you for the sole purpose of lifting your spirits or making you smile?

   Have you ever done that for a hurting person? It feels good to know you're loved. It feels especially good in those low moments when you can't see ahead clearly, when you don't grasp God's perspective and vison for your life. Isaiah 35: 3, 4 admonishes, "Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble. Say to those with anxious heart, 'Take courage, fear not. Behold, your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you.'"

   The Father has given each of us special tasks within the body of Christ, and those with the gift of exhortation or encouragement (Romans 12:8) can rejoice in their unique and tender ministries. But encouragement isn't strictly the domain of those to whom the Lord has given a special gift; it's not an activity exclusively for those with naturally bubbly or warm personalities. Encouragement is the wonderful, God given function of everyone who belongs to Jesus Christ.

   In the early days of the church, new believers badly needed encouragement. Societal pressures mounted, persecution multiplied, and few had access to the Apostle's teaching (1 Thessalonians 3:1-10).

   Very often, encouragement for the early church came in the form of a person, as it does today. Sometimes just the sight of a certain loved one can reinvigorate your spirits and remove your focus from yourself. Sometimes Paul sent Timothy. More than once, he sent his associate, Tychicus, as a special envoy of joy.

   The ministry of encouragement is indispensable, both to you and to the body of Christ. There is no such thing as a person who doesn't need encouragement.

   By seeking ways to daily encourage those with whom you interact, you further the potential for meaningful, Christ-centered relationships. As Paul told the persecuted Thessalonians, "Encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing . . . Admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone" (1 Thessalonians 5: 11, 14).

Stanley, Charles. F. Life Principles Daily Bible: Biblical Principles for Each Day of the Year. Thomas Nelson: Nashville. 2011. pg 1181.

Covid-19 encouragement 2 Chronicles 20

"...Act with courage, and may the Lord be with those who do well."

2 Chronicles 19:11 New International Version (NIV)www.biblegateway.com

In 2 Chronicles 20:3, read "Jehoshaphat was afraid..." If Jehoshaphat, fourth king of Judah, can be afraid, I can be afraid in 2020 with our uncertain world pandemic. What did he do and what am I to do?

I am to acknowledge my feeling; Jehoshaphat was afraid, Selma is afraid. The rest of 2 Chronicles 20:3, "...and he resolved to seek the LORD..." So, take a hint, Selma is to seek the LORD too!!! The scripture continues to read how Jehoshaphat called for fasting, praying and praising, 2 Chronicles 20:5-9. "...We will cry out to you because of our distress, and you will hear and deliver."

My response is the same as v 18-19, "...fell down before the LORD and worship Him...stood up to praise the LORD." 

Prayerfully read 2 Chronicles 20, underline what encourages your heart. Daily in prayer read this scripture; write and be an encouragement to others!!! This is my desire.

Thank you, Dr. Tony Evans for encouraging me!!! The message was on TBN on 26 April 2020.  TonyEvans.org.  Please share YOUR thoughts and experiences, thank you!!!

Many years ago, during another time of distress, I remember driving down the road singing Bill and Gloria Gaiter's song "Let's Just Praise the LORD."  Their music offered me inner strength to go another day. No, ha, ha, this was not the 1918 influenza pandemic; this song was published in 1972. 

Let's Just Praise the Lord

Chorus:

Let's just praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Let's just lift our hearts to heaven and praise the Lord;

Let's just praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Let's just lift our hearts to heaven an praise the Lord!

During my personal time of distress, I changed the chorus words. Instead of "lift our hearts..." I would sing "lift my head..." Then for the next chorus, I would change the body part [ eyes, ears, mouth, tongue, all down to toes]; I lifted every part of me, one at a time, very long song. The other change I needed was "Praise the Lord!" to "Praise MY LORD!"  Try singing praises to your LORD, share your experiences! Thank you. May God bless you, Selma.

Encouragement in Every Season

Psalm 62:5-8 New King James Version (NKJV)

5 

My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

6 

He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

7 

In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

8 

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us. Selah

New King James Version (NKJV) www.biblegateway.com

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

   Maybe there's not enough money in the bank to cover that bill. Or a loved one died. Or your family is facing hard times. In difficult or painful circumstances many believers turn to the Bible in search of comfort and guidance. Within its pages, we find assurance that encourages us through every season of life: "The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease, for HIs compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

   God truly is faithful. In other words, we can count on Him to be and do exactly what He says. For instance, the Bible assures us that the Lord is trustworthy, loving, and incapable of failure ( Psalm 37:5; Romans 5:8; Joshua 1:5). Out of deep love for us, He'll use any aspect of His multifaceted nature to provide exactly what He knows we need. He's our Savior, Comforter, and Discipliner, who safely guides us through life's changes and challenges.

   No matter what hardships we face, we can trust God because He knows all things. He's aware of the duration and intensity of our current season and uses his knowledge to offer us the best possible help and support. What's more, the Lord is all-powerful, which means He is more than adequate to meet needs and change circumstances according to His plan. And our Father is everywhere, including right beside us in whatever we face. He promises, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

   Difficulties may cause us to question God's dependability. But if we'll place our trust in our omniscient, omnipotent Father, we can begin each morning with a fresh sense of His faithfulness, which will carry us through the day.

Stanley, Charles F. "Encouragement in Every Season." In Touch: Daily Readings for Devoted Living. February 2018. Atlanta. page 18.