“Let the whole earth have RESPECT (yare: be afraid, be dreadful) for the LORD. Let all of the people in the world HONOR Him. He SPOKE, and the world came into being. He COMMANDED, and it stood firm. The LORD blocks the sinful plans of the nations. He keeps them from doing what they want to do. But the plans of the LORD STAND FIRM FOREVER. What He wants to do will last for all time. Blessed is THE NATION whose God is the LORD. BLESSED ARE THE PEOPLE HE CHOSE TO BE HIS OWN.” (Psalms 33:8-12)
Why should we fear and give honor to the Lord? Because the earth had NO FORM and there was JUST EMPTINESS, and EVERYTHING WAS IN DARKNESS. Then the Lord said, “Let there be light (‘ôr: to light up),” and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) Wonderful, but where was this light coming from, the sun? NO, the sun was not created until the 4th day. The reason we RESPECT and HONOR God is because He does not need A SOURCE for something to exist!
For example, who are, “THE PEOPLE HE CHOSE TO BE HIS OWN” it couldn’t be Israel could it? They CONTINUALLY REBELLED against God and still today do not accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah! God said to Abraham, “I will make My covenant between ME AND YOU and will multiply you exceedingly. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I WILL MAKE NATIONS OF YOU, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, FOR AN EVERLASTING COVENANT, to be God to you and YOUR DESCENDANTS AFTER YOU.” (Genesis 17:2, 5-7)
What about their rebellion? “Out of all of the families on earth I HAVE CHOSEN ONLY YOU. So, I will PUNISH YOU because you have committed SO MANY SINS.” (Amos 3:2) “Therefore say to the Israelites, ‘For I will TAKE YOU OUT OF THE NATIONS; I will gather you from all the countries and BRING YOU BACK INTO YOUR OWN LAND. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.” (Ezekiel 36:24-25) Israel was taken captive to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar in about 586, for 70 years (1 year for each Sabbath Year they ignored) and the beautiful Temple was destroyed. Then because of many more years of disobedience in 70 AD, Roman General Titus killed millions of Jews, destroyed the awesome Temple, and scattered the Jews ALL OVER THE WORLD. “In that day the Lord will reach out His hand A SECOND TIME to BRING BACK the remnant of His people (Israel).” (Isaiah 11:10-11)
“For behold, in those days and at that time, When I BRING BACK THE CAPTIVES OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT; And I will enter into judgment with them there on account of MY PEOPLE, MY HERITAGE ISRAEL, whom they have scattered among the nations; THEY HAVE ALSO DIVIDED UP MY LAND.” (Joel 3:1-2)
God promised Abraham and it is impossible for God to lie so, He will bring Israel back to Jerusalem and they will worship the beast for a time and then realize they are deceived, and “…the woman (Israel) fled into the wilderness, where she has a place PREPARED BY GOD, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days (the last 31/2 years of the tribulation).” (Revelation 12:6) In the meantime we, the church, will be raptured before the beast is revealed and we’ll be at the marriage supper of the Lamb, waiting for Israel…
-Bill Stockham