Wisdom and Wealth

O. T. #1916 "Wisdom and Wealth"

April 6, 2021

Ezekiel 28

LET IT GLOW

There are some encouraging words sung by David that are found in Psalm 33:

Rejoice ye in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. (verse 1)

Sing unto Him a new song...  (verse 3)

For the Word of the LORD is right; and all His works are done in truth. (verse 4)

By the Word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. (verse 6)

For He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast. (verse 9)

But the LORD's plans stand firm forever; His intentions can never be shaken. (verse 11, NLT)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance. (verse 12)

But the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, upon them that hope in His mercy. (verse 18)

Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our help and our shield. (verse 20)

Let Thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. (verse 22)

God's Word holds true; He is unfailing love. All He has to do is speak or breath a Word and it is so. All we need to do is look around us to see Him working and His works. We went for a drive last week. It had been 3 days since I had been out of the house after my biopsy. As we traveled down back roads along streams and hills, I saw beautiful dogwood and redbud trees in bloom spotting the countryside. Green grass dressed the hills as green leaves popped out on bare trees. Baby calves were looking at us as we passed by. There was a natural spring where people gathered to fill the empty jugs with its refreshing water. Do they know the Living Water, Jesus? How good it was to get out into the sunshine and experience the warmth of the Father.

LET IT GROW

Last time we talked about two of the four laments of the city of Tyre: their powerful ships, beautiful trees, merchandise and goods resulted in pride of what they had and what they had become; their arrogance and self-esteem led to their downfall. Their riches and merchandise could not prevent their destruction.

The heart of Tyre's king was lifted up by virtue of his wisdom, beauty, and riches to the point where he declared himself to be God. (That is blasphemy.) (verse 2 and 9) (Nebuchadnezzar and Herod did the same, and God dealt with them as He did this king.) Tyrus thought himself wiser than Daniel. (verse 2)But he could not really and truly be righteous and wise, for he was a worshiper of Baal. He died a shameful dead at the hands of strangers. (verse 10) Nations that defy God are brought to ruin.

Their idolatry ensnared Israel into worshiping Baal and Ashtaroth, idols of pagan gods. So judgment came because they were a prickling brier or grieving thorn to Israel. The Babylonians and then the Persians destroyed Tyre. Alexander the Great did it in 333 BC and the Romans in 64 AD.

We know that wisdom and wealth belong to our God. If He bestows them upon us, it is for a reason, so we can share with others. How are you using wisdom and wealth?

LET IT GO

Jesus, we stand in awe of You.

We sing great are You LORD.

Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

Let Your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in You alone. (Ps. 33:22, NLT)