ISRAEL UPDATEDecember 11, 2005 – In the town square of a small German village stood the local clock that all citizens set their watches and schedules by.
One day this clock broke. It was never repaired and through the process of time it was damaged by vandals breaking the glass case. From that point on, every citizen of this town would stop, see the hands frozen in time, compare it to their time peace, realize the discrepancy the set the town clock according to what their watch read, the trend never stopped.
It appears the whole world is using Israel as its personal time clock and trying to adjust her action according to their perspective.
Israel gets all the negative attention, has all the demands placed on her and subsequently all of the obligations to follow through.
The Balkan crisis is not truly resolved, the dispute between the U.K. and Ireland is tentative at best, the border between North and South Korea is continually ready to explode and the death toll rises as India and Pakistan continue to fight over Kashmir.
With all of this, the focus is on Israel, the tragedy, bloodshed, multiple thousands of refugees and border disputes far exceed the border of Israel.
As time marches on more and more will focus on Israel in an ungodly way but G-d has promised he “shall yet comfort Zion and shall yet choose Jerusalem”, Zech. 1:17b, the clock may be set by man’s thinking but the truth is G-d’s clock is right on time and that is the one we should watch!
December 11, 2005 – While the family of Herod and the religious system of the day were troubled at the birth of Jesus there was one person in the Temple compound who was not.
Luke 2:25-35 tells us of Simeon that had it revealed to him by the Holy Ghost who Jesus was and upon finding the child, lifting him in his arms blessing G-d that he could go in peace because his eyes had seen the salvation of Israel. Then he declared that a sword would pierce Mary and would reveal the thoughts and hearts of many.
In today’s society, there are so many deceptions and conceptions about Jesus sand his earthly ministry; most have lost the essence of who and what he really was.
Simeon is a model, a true example of one being led by the Holy Spirit but more importantly, Simeon’s prophecy reflects what Paul would write years later in Hebrews 4:12 that the word of G-d would be a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
How ironic that even immediately after his birth, some could properly identify the man and the mission, but when the word became flesh and dwelt among us, it also brought personal accountability.
Simeon could go in peace knowing he had seen the consolation of Israel and the rest of the world, but how many hear but do not respond, never coming to a full understanding of Jesus and the peace and blessing he brings.
To be continued…