Hey everyone, I copied this from Connie Giordano's daily blog. She is an AWESOME Bible teacher. You can read her daily blogs @ God's Living Word Network. Click on the box to the right that says, join me on God's Living Word. An awesome website, a social network for christian bloggers. Connie is fast becoming my favorite teacher! I look forward every morning to see what she is blogging about, it is always a blessing.
Throughout the Scriptures, ashes are used to speak of - trusting in something which can never give help at all...a time of great mourning...God's power in nature...words spoken that are utterly valueless...and total victory over the enemy.Man has really no use for ashes - except to throw them away.But God can take something so worthless and teach us some valuable lessons.Let's see what they are.Isaiah 44:20 says - "He feedeth on ashes..."
Imagine a people grazing...pasturing...delighting...or taking pleasure in something so repulsive, unprofitable, and injurious as ashes!Yet that is exactly what an idolater does. He is one who delights in that which is vain, unsubstantial, and unsatisfactory...pleases himself, seeks comfort and satisfaction from, and fills himself with hopes of being helped and delivered by someone or something other than the true and Living God...uses ineffectual means and labors to no purpose ...hunts and strives after that which is degrading, worthless, perishable, and easily scattered ...and feeds his soul with that which is disgusting and loathsome - like sinful lusts - rather than that which is nutritious and wholesome - the Word of God.
Said another way - He is one who seeks happiness in riches and honors and makes the world his portion.Psalm 102:9 says - "For I have eaten ashes like bread..."Dust and ashes - as used in the Bible - are figures of grief. A person in deep sorrow is often pictured as sitting or lying in ashes. As a token of his mourning, he is pictured as casting ashes upon his head or throwing them all over himself. Since his food - daily sustenance - is in his midst, the scattered ashes easily become mixed with his "bread."Psalm 147:16 says - "...He scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes."The "hoarfrost" is dew that has been congealed by the intense cold night air. In its color, smallness, and burning quality - it resembles ashes.As when men cast ashes in the air which powder the earth - causing a sort of whiteness where they fall - even so does God in His mighty power cover the ground with His fine frozen dew.This dew - like hot ashes - shrivels up leaves, herbs, and plants - giving it the appearance of being burnt.Job 13:12 says - "Your remembrances are like unto ashes..."Ashes - for the most part - are valueless. So are memorable sayings which do not apply to the situation at hand.These "remembrances" or well remembered, proverbial maxims are nothing more than "proverbs of ashes" - because they carry as much weight as a pile of ashes. They are pious platitudes that are weak and worthless. They have as much connection to true wisdom as ashes have to a nutritional meal.They can apply to any contemptible, unprofitable, or dishonest charges brought against a believer...preaching that is void of life and usefulness ...or all that is in you for which you hope to be remembered when you are gone.Malachi 4:3 says - "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts."The Day of Judgment is coming. In that day, the wicked - who are presently arrogant and living in prosperity - will be consumed by the fires of God's Wrath. They will easily resemble ashes - left after the fire consumes the stubble.The tables will be reversed as Perfect Justice prevails. The wicked's prosperity and the adversity of the godly will come to an end. The believers will rise to a "New Boldness" and trample down the wicked as ashes under their feet - signifying total victory.What do you think of when you hear the word - "ashes" ?Hopefully, after reading this message, you will be reminded of -...the idolater who - seeking after the vain and empty things of this world - is "feeding on ashes"...the mourner who is undergoing such a time of grief that his life seems to be engulfed with sorrow or "ashes"...God's power to blanket the earth with a tiny substance - the "hoarfrost" - which resembles the "ashes" in many different aspects...dishonest and contemptible charges or foolish arguments... "dead," unanointed, and lifeless preaching...as well as carnal boastings - all amounting to nothing but "ashes"...and the day of retribution coming to the wicked when they will appear as "ashes" under the believers' feet.What message are you receiving here?Are you "feeding on ashes" - the worthless things of this world which can never satisfy your soul?Does it seem as though your life is consumed with sorrow at this time - where "ashes" are your daily meal?If God can take something so small as the "hoarfrost" and blanket the earth with it like "ashes" - then can He provide for your many needs at this time?Have you been speaking "proverbs of ashes" to anyone lately -arguments that make no sense whatsoever and carry no weight at all?Does it seem as though the wicked all around you are prospering beyond measure and not reaping for their sins or transgressions? The day is coming when their "party time" will be over. You can be assured of that!Out of a seemingly worthless thing like ashes, only God can bring forth 5 important lessons.He doesn't waste anything, does He?May God Bless His Word,
Connie© COPYRIGHT Connie Giordano - All Rights Reserved
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Walking In Truth Ministry P.O. Box 383016 Duncanville TX 75138
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