NORTHERN STYLE NEWSWATCH No. 44 CREDO
` After these things had been done . . . '
In considering the year 2005 and the immediate years that will follow, the words of an old Anglican hymn come to mind:

" Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou Who changest not, abide with me. "
In truth, in a fallen world change and decay is inevitable, but even with this thought in mind the entry into a new century (as man determines time) has seen an escalation, an increase of change in the political, social and religious activities affecting all those living in the western peninsular of Europe - which brings us to the present year of 2005. In Great Britain we have had a national General Election, whilst in Europe there is a vast increase in the numbers of nations entering into the European Union, with even more countries clamouring to be let in and causing anxiety amongst the original members of the EU. We face the possible ratification of a European Constitution, the failure of which would create a crisis of confidence in the European Union's vision of peace and harmony through closer integration. Added to this the rise of militant Islam is resulting in the curtailing of individual freedom of movement and speech due to the implementation of draconian measures being sought by fearful national governments. There has also become an awareness of the power of minority groups of both religious and secular persuasion which is threatening the national identity. This will in turn unleash a backlash of public outrage fuelled by fringe political forces. There has been the death of the Pope, who even in life had been raised to virtual sainthood. An alarmed Russia, seeing the increased break-up of its traditional buffer states, is seeking to re-instate authority over its former satellites. The ever-increasing hegemonic power of America, flushed with an endorsed electoral mandate, is determined to bring `peace' to the Middle East and `liberal democracy' to the rest of the world - need we go on?

So much for the `change . . . all around I see'! `Decay', the missing word of the quote from the Anglican hymn, has been the `burden' of many Christian Ministries for many years, and this has intensified as they see the consequences of deeper integration into the European Union and the subsequent loss of national sovereignty. Recently this has led to invoking the names and work of men of God from an earlier age who sought to save this nation from the decay within the society of that particular Age - an Age which was entirely different to the one in which we find ourselves today. However, the momentous time of change we face in this nation and in the world should not cause us as Christians to look BACK and try to apply the solutions which restored for a while a secular nation of an earlier age. Instead, to conclude the opening words of the hymn, we should seek `O Thou Who changest not . . .' for Him to restore the Church in the nation to enable it to faithfully proclaim the Gospel, for without God there is nothing but change and decay in a `restored' secular nation.

It is indeed an amazing thing that those who cry out in genuine distress against the decay in a secular society, who are truly concerned over the increasing apostacy in the Church, should then actively seek to restore the national life back to that which led to the decay and apostacy in the Church and the nation which is all around us today! A changed, restored nation without its people changed by the Gospel of the Kingdom of God will most certainly continue to `change and decay' - for that is the inevitable cancer that is in the hearts of all fallen mankind. The Christian Ministries which invoke the `Burden of Jeremiah' as the basis for their work to restore the moral fibre of the nation fail to recall that Jeremiah's `burden' was because he knew that the people would NOT listen to the Word of the LORD, but that after the most appalling devastation through death and destruction the remnant of Judah would be taken into captivity into Babylon! Indeed the Word of the LORD came to Jeremiah that the LORD Himself was watching over His Word, ensuring that the devastation and ensuing captivity would come to pass. Jeremiah's ministry was therefore to faithfully proclaim the Word of the LORD and to share in suffering the consequences! This was indeed his burden, and is seen so distressingly in the Book of Lamentations! Therefore, if we are to truly hear the Word of the Lord ourselves in this Dispenation we need to consider the examples seen in such Scriptures as Jeremiah, for he was called to ministry during a time of great change in the life of the Southern Kingdom of Judah. We then need to apply these examples - not to the secular nations but to the spiritual equivalent of Jeremiah's nation ie. the `nation' of the Church, for the secular nations are the means by which the LORD chastens and disciplines His people!

The central message Jeremiah spoke was of a coming and certain captivity, and the central action Jeremiah undertook was obedience in buying `the field at Anathoth' for he believed in the LORD `who changes not'. `For this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land', and Jeremiah's great prayer to the LORD reveals his sure and certain knowledge of the fidelity of the God of Israel: (Jeremiah 32:24a-25)

" What You said has happened, as you now see. And though the city will be handed over to the Babylonians, You, O Sovereign LORD, say to me, `Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed'. "

If we are to (correctly) invoke the burden of Jeremiah we must also (correctly) trust in the LORD who changest not in His dealing with idolatry and apostacy after warnings. Captivity will come - in whatever form it takes in this Dispensation of Grace - and in that captivity will be His remnant people who will `lead' the people out of captivity . . people chastened but secure in the knowledge of the unchanging fidelity of the God who changest not in His ultimate purpose for His people, both `ancient and modern'. To do less and to understand less is to seek to `change' God, who then becomes a `god' of our imagination whose word will come to nought.

With this background in mind, and continuing in the `examples of Scripture', we need to look at the remnant who were brought out of captivity, for surely enough has been written about the apostacy of the LORD's people, and the warnings of the consequences of such apostacy, that a firm understanding and application of `the burden of Jeremiah' must encompass both the captivity and the return to the Field at Anathoth. For that we must turn to the Book of Ezra. In the Hebrew manuscripts the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are seen as one Book - Ezra is placed first in the canonical order of Scripture because it deals with the Temple, whereas Nehemiah deals with the rebuilding of the walls of the city - a point to bear in mind when considering religious activity in contemporary times. Chronologically, of course, Nehemiah comes first, followed by Zerubbabel and then by Ezra and the main body of exiles. In this Credo, and in considering the times of the LORD, we are looking for the example seen in the chronological and historical sequence of events. Nehemiah, as we know, was deeply distressed by the report of people coming to the citadel of Susa, to the court of King Artaxerxes (a title bestowed on him literally meaning `The Great King') telling of `the wall of Jerusalem (is) broken down, and its gates (have been) burnt with fire'. It led to his temporary release from his service to The Great King and his return to Jerusalem to undertake the great work of rebuilding the broken-down walls of Jerusalem. Thirty years later saw the beginning of the return of the exiles under the leadership of Zerubbabel: (Ezra 5:2)

" Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua son of Jozadak set to work to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. And the prophets of God were with them, helping them. "

We find the corresponding passage in Nehemiah 7:6. We also find in both Ezra and Nehemiah that the first return culminated in the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles, a time of great joy: (Ezra 2:70 - 3:1)

" The priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the Temple servants settled in their own towns, along with some of the people, and the rest of the Israelites settled in their towns. When the seventh month came, and the Israelites had settled in their towns, the people assembled as one man in Jerusalem. "

There was an awareness in the people that God was once again amongst them, and it led to the building of the Altar of Burnt Offering to enable sacrifices for repentance to be conducted . . . `even though the foundation of the LORD's Temple had not yet been laid' (v6). An awareness of sin, and the need for the removal of that sin, gripped the people because of the knowledge of God walking, dwelling amongst them. Twenty years would follow from the laying of the Temple foundations to its Dedication - for sure, the LORD is not in the same hurry as His people think He should be! His Work is thorough, and through the long years of opposition to His work His people learnt many a precious lesson of the Constancy of the LORD God of Israel to His Word. The dedication of the rebuilt Temple led at last to the return of the main body of exiles under the leadership of Ezra - which leads us into understanding what is required of God's people once He leads them out of the capitivity into which He had taken them! This is clearly revealed in both the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah, for the two are truly inseparable. Chapters 9 of both Ezra and Nehemiah record the Feast of the Seventh Month, where the assembled people would celebrate with joy God's Presence at last manifesting Himself in the rebuilt and dedicated Temple - but first would come the separation of the people: (Ezra 9:1 KJV)

" Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying: `The peple of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Perizites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites. "

What follows clearly refers to the mixing, through marriage, of the returned exiles with the people who occupied the land, and it had led them into accepting and adopting the customs of those people. There is no need to say much concerning the assimilation of today's `assembled people' into the culture of the land into which they have been naturally born. The `example' seen in Ezra and Nehemiah shows the need of separation for the people of God before they could enjoy the fulness of the Presence of God - seen in the Feast of the Seventh Month. But this conviction did not lead to Ezra praying for the land in order for the people to maintain the status quo: (Ezra 9:3-4)

" And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down astonished. There were assembled unto me every one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the transgression of those that had been carried away; and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice. "

As we read through chapter 9 we read continuously of Ezra's grief and distress at the state of the people, who even though they had been brought back into the land and had known `the good hand of the LORD upon them' had so quickly assimilated into the past idolatry which had led to their captivity - and they were even prepared to celebrate the Presence of the LORD in that state! Ezra's distress led to his great prayer of repentance, which in turn led to the people's conviction and to their subsequent separation from all the `detestable practices of the neighbouring peoples'. Ezra's attention to the state of the people came through the report of some of the princes informing him of their marrying with the heathen people of the land, which led them to embracing their detestable practices - and the leaders and officials had led the way in this unfaithfulness!

Ezra's attention was turned to grief and distress as he understood what had occurred in the life of the people of God since they had been led out of Babylon over twenty years earlier under the leadership of Zerubbabel. We can find this understanding through reading the words of Haggai and Zechariah who had been speaking the Word of the LORD during this time. Haggai, speaking the Word of the LORD over some six years, tells of the people who had neglected the building of the LORD's House but who had found time to build their own `panelled houses', describing them as not only roofed but with decorated, vaulted ceilings! Haggai speaks of feasting and the wearing of fine clothes and of settled farming, none of which ever reached fulfillment `because of My House which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house'. Such words show us that the wealth and prosperity that had come to the leaders and officials had led the way to increasing apostacy. Zechariah, speaking also in the second year of Darius, said, `the LORD was very angry with your forefathers' - referring to earlier times in Israel's history when the people had intermarried and taken foreign wives with their `detestable practices'. His words were heeded . . for a while . . only to find that `in the fourth year of Darius' (two years later) the people were incurring the anger of God with their religious activities whilst still enjoying the `fruits' of assimilation!

Should not we also hear the words which the LORD spoke through the former prophets? It has been said by several contemporary teachers of the Word of God that the LORD sent Israel into captivity in order to `burn out idolatry from them forever'. But the cries of Haggai and Zechariah - which Ezra would have been aware of - together with the words brought by some of the princes of Israel, show that this was not so! All too readily the people (the leaders, the princes of Israel, the priests and the Levites' had merged into the culture and detestable practices of the heathen peoples around them, to the point where the people of God were indistinguishable from the people of the land! Ezra's understanding of what had happened led to his grief and distress and to his great prayer of repentance! It doesn't need much intellegence to see the parallel in today's People of the Land - the Lord's Church - where in the `west' we have become so assimilated into our countries' cultures that it has become synonomous with `Christianity' (our so-called Judaic/Christian heritage). And so the `princes, priests and Levites' of today are as comfortable as were those of Ezra's time, for surely the `Temple of the LORD is in the same state of disrepair.

In looking for the `example' to be drawn out of Ezra and Nehemiah we need to hear the Voice of the Holy Spirit and understand the depth of the distress and grief of the One who called out a people for Himself . . sent them into captivity in order to purge their idolatry from them . . brought them back into the Land and restored them . . only to find they had assimilated into the culture of the neighbouring peoples once again and had been drawn into their detestable practices. Only then can it lead to a separation of the people, `an assembly for the Feast of the Seventh Month' and the knowledge of their God amongst them again. In the years that are left, change and decay all around we most certainly will see - but if we truly are hearing from God and fully understand `the burden of Jeremiah', we shall experience the fulness of the Grace of God as He draws us out of the captivity into which we have gone and into separation from the `neighbouring peoples' to become the people of God, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom and knowing the true anointing of the Holy Spirit on the Word proclaimed.

But first we need to understand the whole of the example of the one Book of Ezra and Nehemiah. After the captivity, and before the return to the Land, came the call to Nehemiah to `rebuild the broken walls'. There has to be distress in today's `Nehemiahs' over the false teaching that prevails in much of the Church in the West . . . distress over false `prophecies' and the ministries that embrace and perpetuate them . . . distress over invoking the past works of Godly men who were called to proclaim the Word of God for their particular time in the life of the Church. We have to move beyond rhetoric, for Nehemiah was a man of action! Under the Hand of God he rebuilt the city walls, for the foundation of the Word of God needs to be firmly laid in place. Do not be surprised if through the captivity that lies ahead many `ministries' will be brought low, for they have kept the people of God in bondage for too long! Do not be surprised at Prophetic Ministries being seen for what they are, for they have satisfied the peoples' desire to remain assimilated into the `neighbouring peoples'.

Before the Feast of the Seventh Month - seen in Ezra and Nehemiah - which led to conviction and separation so that the Israelites could know the fulness of the Presence of God, there was the rebuilding of the fallen walls, the laying of a firm foundation and the dedication of the Temple. It was to be fifty years from the time of the journey of Nehemiah to the Second Feast of the Seventh Month: The fulness of God's Grace cannot be hurried although it is certainly thorough, but we shall know again the fulness of His Grace! There is much to be done - and much fierce opposition to be overcome before we shall see the purpose of the Good Hand of our God upon us - but it is surely time for God to raise up His `Nehemiahs' so that He may finally lead His people out of the captivity they are surely going into: (Ezra 10:10-13)

" Then Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, `You have been unfaithful; you have married foreign women, adding to Israel's guilt. Now make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers, and do His will. Separate yourselves from the peoples around you and from your foreign wives'. The whole assembly responded with a loud voice: `You are right! We must do as you say. But there are many people here and it is the rainy season; so we cannot stand outside. Besides, this matter cannot be taken care of in a day or two, because we have sinned greatly in this thing. "

* * * * * * * *

For comment or for future Newswatch letters our e-mail address is:info@northernstyletrust.com

Our telephone No. is:(01493) 444494

Return