07/08/10

The thistle and the cedar

2 Kings 14:9 - And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.


The thistle as we know is the thorn bush, which is an unproductive plant and not only is it unproductive but one that also hurts. The cedar on the other hand is a tree which is used for sacramental use and is a preferred wood for building since it does decay and can resist almost all the elements of nature which destroy.

In today's message the Lord is telling us that He would send wild beast (problems) among us to trample the thistle in us and among us, because we are trying to build a relation between the thistle and the cedar.

In this world we humans have learnt to put up with all the wrongs of life, not only put up but we go further and try to make the wrongs right by giving religious terminologies. Under the disguise of goodness and godliness we want to continue our lust, our weaknesses, our sinful ways, our rebellious nature, our blindness to the Truth etc...

The Lord is telling us He is not going to let this continue and is going to take this matter to task. He is going to release wild beast (problems) which will trample down those who are like thistles and the part of us which is like thistles.

If we do not want to experience the wild beast let us renew ourselves and those areas in our lives let us accept the Truth and work with the Lord on them.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord Jesus, You are like the cedar of Lebanon (whiteness/righteousness) and You showed us the way to righteousness. You are the Temple and have called us to be a part of You. Help us Lord discern the areas in us which are like thistles and those among us who are like thistles so that we can work on them and be like You a cedar...

This prayer we make in Jesus' mighty Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
1 Kings 5:2-6
2 And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,
3 Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.
4 But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.
5 And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.
6 Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.

Leviticus 14:4
4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

Numbers 19:6
6 And the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.


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