Day 11/27 – Law and Request III

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Thoughts from the Diary of a Desperate Man
by Walter Henrichsen
Law and Request III
Day Three Hundred Thirty-one

“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:10-11

The Laws of God differ from the law of man in that with man, his law often seeks the interest of the lawgiver, while with God, His Law always has both His the believer’s best in mind. With the certainty that God seeks our best, we hide God’s Word in our hearts, knowing that it helps keep us from danger.

Nevertheless, the presence of law indicates the presence of sin. A request becomes a law simply because people rebel. When you make a law it indicates a breakdown in the relationship. Law is the last line of defense in a deteriorating relationship; after you play the trump card of law, you are through. For example, you ask your child not date a certain person. The child refuses to reason with you, leaving you with no option but to make a law. If the child violates the law, the only remaining option you have is consequences.

For this reason no sane couple would have a pre-nuptial agreement, even though there is nothing biblically wrong with such an arrangement. Why would anyone want to enter a marriage based on law? If they lack trust and an eagerness to please, why marry? Love implies an eagerness to please; a request is enough.

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Ezekiel 30-32 1 Peter 4 (New King James Version)

Ezekiel 30-32
Egypt and Her Allies Will Fall
30 The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’
3
For the day is near,
Even the day of the Lord is near;
It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.
4
The sword shall come upon Egypt,
And great anguish shall be in [a]Ethiopia,
When the slain fall in Egypt,
And they take away her wealth,
And her foundations are broken down.
5 “Ethiopia, [b]Libya, [c]Lydia, all the mingled people, Chub, and the men of the lands who are allied, shall fall with them by the sword.”
6 ‘Thus says the Lord:
“Those who uphold Egypt shall fall,
And the pride of her power shall come down.
From [d]Migdol to Syene
Those within her shall fall by the sword,”
Says the Lord God.
7
“They shall be desolate in the midst of the desolate countries,
And her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are laid waste.
8
Then they will know that I am the Lord,
When I have set a fire in Egypt
And all her helpers are destroyed.
9
On that day messengers shall go forth from Me in ships
To make the [e]careless Ethiopians afraid,
And great anguish shall come upon them,
As on the day of Egypt;
For indeed it is coming!”
10 ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“I will also make a multitude of Egypt to cease
By the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.
11
He and his people with him, the most terrible of the nations,
Shall be brought to destroy the land;
They shall draw their swords against Egypt,
And fill the land with the slain.
12
I will make the rivers dry,
And sell the land into the hand of the wicked;
I will make the land waste, and all that is in it,
By the hand of aliens.
I, the Lord, have spoken.”
13 ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“I will also destroy the idols,
And cause the images to cease from [f]Noph;
There shall no longer be princes from the land of Egypt;
I will put fear in the land of Egypt.
14
I will make Pathros desolate,
Set fire to Zoan,
And execute judgments in [g]No.
15
I will pour My fury on [h]Sin, the strength of Egypt;
I will cut off the multitude of [i]No,
16
And set a fire in Egypt;
Sin shall have great pain,
No shall be split open,
And Noph shall be in distress daily.
17
The young men of [j]Aven and Pi Beseth shall fall by the sword,
And these cities shall go into captivity.
18
At [k]Tehaphnehes the day shall also be [l]darkened,
When I break the yokes of Egypt there.
And her arrogant strength shall cease in her;
As for her, a cloud shall cover her,
And her daughters shall go into captivity.
19
Thus I will execute judgments on Egypt,
Then they shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ”
Proclamation Against Pharaoh
20 And it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the first month, on the seventh day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 21 “Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and see, it has not been bandaged for healing, nor a [m]splint put on to bind it, to make it strong enough to hold a sword. 22 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Surely I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt, and will break his arms, both the strong one and the one that was broken; and I will make the sword fall out of his hand. 23 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations, and disperse them throughout the countries. 24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and put My sword in his hand; but I will break Pharaoh’s arms, and he will groan before him with the groanings of a mortally wounded man. 25 Thus I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, but the arms of Pharaoh shall fall down; they shall know that I am the Lord, when I put My sword into the hand of the king of Babylon and he stretches it out against the land of Egypt. 26 I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they shall know that I am the Lord.’ ”
Egypt Cut Down Like a Great Tree
31 Now it came to pass in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, say to Pharaoh king of Egypt and to his multitude:
‘Whom are you like in your greatness?
3
Indeed Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon,
With fine branches that shaded the forest,
And of high stature;
And its top was among the thick boughs.
4
The waters made it grow;
Underground waters gave it height,
With their rivers running around the place where it was planted,
And sent out [n]rivulets to all the trees of the field.
5
‘Therefore its height was exalted above all the trees of the field;
Its boughs were multiplied,
And its branches became long because of the abundance of water,
As it sent them out.
6
All the birds of the heavens made their nests in its boughs;
Under its branches all the beasts of the field brought forth their young;
And in its shadow all great nations [o]made their home.
7
‘Thus it was beautiful in greatness and in the length of its branches,
Because its roots reached to abundant waters.
8
The cedars in the garden of God could not hide it;
The fir trees were not like its boughs,
And the [p]chestnut trees were not like its branches;
No tree in the garden of God was like it in beauty.
9
I made it beautiful with a multitude of branches,
So that all the trees of Eden envied it,
That were in the garden of God.’
10 “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have increased in height, and it set its top among the thick boughs, and its heart was [q]lifted up in its height, 11 therefore I will deliver it into the hand of the mighty one of the nations, and he shall surely deal with it; I have driven it out for its wickedness. 12 And aliens, the most terrible of the nations, have cut it down and left it; its branches have fallen on the mountains and in all the valleys; its boughs lie broken by all the rivers of the land; and all the peoples of the earth have gone from under its shadow and left it.
13
‘On its ruin will remain all the birds of the heavens,
And all the beasts of the field will come to its branches—
14 So that no trees by the waters may ever again exalt themselves for their height, nor set their tops among the thick boughs, that no tree which drinks water may ever be high enough to reach up to them.
‘For they have all been delivered to death,
To the depths of the earth,
Among the children of men who go down to the Pit.’
15 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘In the day when it went down to [r]hell, I caused mourning. I covered the deep because of it. I restrained its rivers, and the great waters were held back. I caused Lebanon to [s]mourn for it, and all the trees of the field wilted because of it. 16 I made the nations shake at the sound of its fall, when I cast it down to [t]hell together with those who descend into the Pit; and all the trees of Eden, the choice and best of Lebanon, all that drink water, were comforted in the depths of the earth. 17 They also went down to hell with it, with those slain by the sword; and those who were its strong arm dwelt in its shadows among the nations.
18 ‘To which of the trees in Eden will you then be likened in glory and greatness? Yet you shall be brought down with the trees of Eden to the depths of the earth; you shall lie in the midst of the uncircumcised, with those slain by the sword. This is Pharaoh and all his multitude,’ says the Lord God.”
Lamentation for Pharaoh and Egypt
32 And it came to pass in the twelfth year, in the twelfth month, on the first day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for Pharaoh king of Egypt, and say to him:
‘You are like a young lion among the nations,
And you are like a monster in the seas,
Bursting forth in your rivers,
Troubling the waters with your feet,
And fouling their rivers.
3 ‘Thus says the Lord God:
“I will therefore spread My net over you with a company of many people,
And they will draw you up in My net.
4
Then I will leave you on the land;
I will cast you out on the open fields,
And cause to [u]settle on you all the birds of the heavens.
And with you I will fill the beasts of the whole earth.
5
I will lay your flesh on the mountains,
And fill the valleys with your carcass.
6
“I will also water the land with the flow of your blood,
Even to the mountains;
And the riverbeds will be full of you.
7
When I put out your light,
I will cover the heavens, and make its stars dark;
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
And the moon shall not give her light.
8
All the [v]bright lights of the heavens I will make dark over you,
And bring darkness upon your land,”
Says the Lord God.
9 ‘I will also trouble the hearts of many peoples, when I bring your destruction among the nations, into the countries which you have not known. 10 Yes, I will make many peoples astonished at you, and their kings shall be horribly afraid of you when I brandish My sword before them; and they shall tremble every moment, every man for his own life, in the day of your fall.
11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “The sword of the king of Babylon shall come upon you. 12 By the swords of the mighty warriors, all of them the most terrible of the nations, I will cause your multitude to fall.
“They shall plunder the pomp of Egypt,
And all its multitude shall be destroyed.
13
Also I will destroy all its animals
From beside its great waters;
The foot of man shall muddy them no more,
Nor shall the hooves of animals muddy them.
14
Then I will make their waters [w]clear,
And make their rivers run like oil,”
Says the Lord God.
15
“When I make the land of Egypt desolate,
And the country is destitute of all that once filled it,
When I strike all who dwell in it,
Then they shall know that I am the Lord.
16
“This is the lamentation
With which they shall lament her;
The daughters of the nations shall lament her;
They shall lament for her, for Egypt,
And for all her multitude,”
Says the Lord God.’ ”
Egypt and Others Consigned to the Pit
17 It came to pass also in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of the Lord came to me, saying:
18
“Son of man, wail over the multitude of Egypt,
And cast them down to the depths of the earth,
Her and the daughters of the famous nations,
With those who go down to the Pit:
19
‘Whom do you surpass in beauty?
Go down, be placed with the uncircumcised.’
20
“They shall fall in the midst of those slain by the sword;
She is delivered to the sword,
Drawing her and all her multitudes.
21
The strong among the mighty
Shall speak to him out of the midst of hell
With those who help him:
‘They have gone down,
They lie with the uncircumcised, slain by the sword.’
22
“Assyria is there, and all her company,
With their graves all around her,
All of them slain, fallen by the sword.
23
Her graves are set in the recesses of the Pit,
And her company is all around her grave,
All of them slain, fallen by the sword,
Who caused terror in the land of the living.
24
“There is Elam and all her multitude,
All around her grave,
All of them slain, fallen by the sword,
Who have gone down uncircumcised to the lower parts of the earth,
Who caused their terror in the land of the living;
Now they bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit.
25
They have set her bed in the midst of the slain,
With all her multitude,
With her graves all around it,
All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword;
Though their terror was caused
In the land of the living,
Yet they bear their shame
With those who go down to the Pit;
It was put in the midst of the slain.
26
“There are Meshech and Tubal and all their multitudes,
With all their graves around it,
All of them uncircumcised, slain by the sword,
Though they caused their terror in the land of the living.
27
They do not lie with the mighty
Who are fallen of the uncircumcised,
Who have gone down to hell with their weapons of war;
They have laid their swords under their heads,
But their iniquities will be on their bones,
Because of the terror of the mighty in the land of the living.
28
Yes, you shall be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised,
And lie with those slain by the sword.
29
“There is Edom,
Her kings and all her princes,
Who despite their might
Are laid beside those slain by the sword;
They shall lie with the uncircumcised,
And with those who go down to the Pit.
30
There are the princes of the north,
All of them, and all the Sidonians,
Who have gone down with the slain
In shame at the terror which they caused by their might;
They lie uncircumcised with those slain by the sword,
And bear their shame with those who go down to the Pit.
31
“Pharaoh will see them
And be comforted over all his multitude,
Pharaoh and all his army,
Slain by the sword,”
Says the Lord God.
32
“For I have caused My terror in the land of the living;
And he shall be placed in the midst of the uncircumcised
With those slain by the sword,
Pharaoh and all his multitude,”
Says the Lord God.
Footnotes:
• Ezekiel 30:4 Heb. Cush
• Ezekiel 30:5 Heb. Put
• Ezekiel 30:5 Heb. Lud
• Ezekiel 30:6 Or the tower
• Ezekiel 30:9 Or secure
• Ezekiel 30:13 Ancient Memphis
• Ezekiel 30:14 Ancient Thebes
• Ezekiel 30:15 Ancient Pelusium
• Ezekiel 30:15 Ancient Thebes
• Ezekiel 30:17 Ancient On, Heliopolis
• Ezekiel 30:18 Tahpanhes, Jer. 43:7
• Ezekiel 30:18 So with many Heb. mss., Bg., LXX, Syr., Tg., Vg.; MT refrained
• Ezekiel 30:21 Lit. bandage
• Ezekiel 31:4 Or channels
• Ezekiel 31:6 Lit. dwelled
• Ezekiel 31:8 Or plane, Heb. armon
• Ezekiel 31:10 Proud
• Ezekiel 31:15 Or Sheol
• Ezekiel 31:15 Lit. be darkened
• Ezekiel 31:16 Or Sheol
• Ezekiel 32:4 Lit. sit or dwell
• Ezekiel 32:8 Or shining
• Ezekiel 32:14 Lit. sink; settle, grow clear

1 Peter 4
Christ’s Example to Be Followed
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered [a]for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. 3 For we have spent enough of our past [b]lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. 5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
Serving for God’s Glory
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the [c]oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the [d]dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Suffering for God’s Glory
12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are [e]reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. [f]On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a [g]busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this [h]matter.
17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now
“If the righteous one is scarcely saved,
Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
Footnotes:
• 1 Peter 4:1 NU omits for us
• 1 Peter 4:3 NU time
• 1 Peter 4:11 utterances
• 1 Peter 4:11 sovereignty
• 1 Peter 4:14 insulted or reviled
• 1 Peter 4:14 NU omits the rest of v. 14.
• 1 Peter 4:15 meddler
• 1 Peter 4:16 NU name