Israel's History as our Teacher

I might read first of all in the book of Judges, in chapter 6. Book of Judges, chapter 6, reading verse 6. And Israel was greatly impoverished, could be read, and Israel was brought very low because of Midian, and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord. I might read a second reading in the book of Haggai, chapter 1. The book of Haggai, in chapter 1. Verse 3. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your sealed houses? And a house, this house, lie in waste. Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways.

Ye have so much, and bring in little. Ye eat, but ye have not enough. Ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink.

Ye clothe ye, but there is none warm. And he that earneth wages, earneth wages to put into a bag with holes. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways.

A final reading in Psalm 106. Psalm 106. We'll read verse 35.

But were mingled amongst the nations, learned their works, they served their idols, which were a snare unto them. Verse 43. Many times did he deliver them, but they provoked him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.

The Lord has promised to bless us reading from his good word. I was taught many things as a young Christian. One of the things I was taught as a young Christian was this.

The church, the assembly, is reliving the history of Israel, hence the importance of knowing the Old Testament Scriptures. Now is that true or is that false? Listen to what the Bible says. The things that were written aforetime, they were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scripture might have hope.

You know there are two chapters in the New Testament that deal with Israel. You have 1 Corinthians 10 and you have Hebrews 11. What is 1 Corinthians 10? It's the folly, it's the failure of the children of Israel, and we have to forsake it.

What's Hebrews 11? It's the faith, the faithfulness of the children of Israel, and you and I have to follow it. So remember the church is reliving the history of Israel. I've read today three chapters, and in those three chapters I notice three things.

I notice a cause, and I notice a cost, and I notice a cure. And remember there is always a cause, and there is always a cost, and there's always a cure. So we're going to speak about the cause, and the cost, and the cure.

Now remember in those three chapters, Israel is brought low. They're made thin, they're weak, they're made pure, and remember there is a cause. Let's go through the chapter very quickly.

What is the cause in Judges chapter 6? It's Midian. So we're going to speak this morning about Midian. What's the cause in Haggai chapter 1? Not now Midian, but materialism.

What is the cause in Psalm 106? Not Midian. Not materialism. They mingled themselves with the nation.

And because of Midian, and because of materialism, and because of the mingling with the nation, the people of Israel were brought low. I'm wondering today dear child of God, because of Midian, and because of materialism, and because of our mingling with the world, is it possible that the assemblies of God's people are being brought low? Let's think of Judges chapter 6. Israel was brought low because of Midian. You might say to me today, what is Midian? You look up the word Midian and you read something like this.

It means strife. It means to argue. It means to quarrel.

But my point this morning is this. Midian means strife. What I'm going to do very quickly this morning is this.

We're going to go through the Bible, and we're going to find out where you find strife in the Bible. For example, I come to Genesis chapter 13. Listen to what I read in that chapter.

Amongst the herdsmen of Abraham, and amongst the herdsmen of Lot, there was strife. So remember in Genesis chapter 13, there is strife amongst the herdsmen. I come to Psalm 55.

I read a verse like this. There was violence, and there was strife in the city. Not only amongst the herdsmen, Genesis 13, but in the city, Psalm 55.

I come now to Luke chapter 22, and I read a verse like this. Amongst the disciples, there was a strife amongst them. Who should be the greatest? And of course, I come to 1 Corinthians chapter 3, and I read a verse like this.

In the church of God at Corinth, which we have heard about this morning, there was envy, and there was strife, and there was division. So you've got the picture. Amongst the herdsmen, in the city, amongst the disciples, and in the church of God at Corinth, there was envy, there was strife, and there was division.

Listen to the words of Paul in the Philippian Epistle. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory. What's the difference between strife and vainglory? Strife, I put my brother down.

Vainglory, I lift myself up. Ah, says the apostle, let nothing be done through strife or vainglory. But then I come to James Epistle, and I read a verse like this.

Where envy and strife is, there is confusion, and every evil work. And I could go through the Corinthian Epistle this morning, where there was envy, strife, and division, and there was confusion, and every evil work. So, we brought before you first of all, where strife is found.

Brother Krauss has been reminding us about the spiritual man. The faithful man. You never find a spiritual man marked by strife.

Now here's a study. You go through the Proverbs, and you'll discover this. The kind of men that sow that stir strife amongst the people.

Let's go through the Proverbs very quickly. An angry man. A froward man.

A tail-bearer. A transgressor. A contentious man.

Are the men that sow, that kindle, that stir strife, in a local assembly. So remember, Israel was brought low because of Midian. And remember, strife is something that will bring the assemblies low.

Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory. I want to come very quickly to Haggai chapter 1. Not now is it Midian, but it's materialism, and it brings the people of God very low. I want you to notice Haggai does three things.

The first thing Haggai does to the people is this. He exposes them. And I tell you, you and I as the people of God, we need to be exposed.

He exposes them. The second thing he does is this. He exhorts them.

And I tell you today, the people of God, they need to be exhorted. But you know, the third thing Haggai does is this. Haggai encourages them.

And remember, the people of God, they need to be encouraged. Let's think of those three things very quickly. First of all, he exposes them.

Listen to his language. Is it time for you to dwell in your own sealed houses? And the house of God lieth in waste. Notice what he says.

You've eaten, but you're not satisfied. You've been drinking, but you're not refreshed. You've clothed yourself, but there's coldness.

And he that earneth wages put into a bag withholds profitless. And here's Haggai. He exposes the people of God.

I'm one today who believes this. I believe displaced truth is worse than denied truth. You know, if a man denies a thing, you know where that man stands.

But if a man displaces the truth, you don't know where that man stands. Displaced truth is worse than denied truth. Those in Haggai's day did not say the Lord's house should not be built.

But they said this. It is not yet time to build the house. They displaced the truth of God.

And Haggai exposes them. Listen to what he says. Consider your ways.

And if there's one thing you and I need today, today is this. Consider our ways. He exposes them.

But then, secondly, you know, he exhorts them. Listen to what he says to them. Consider your ways.

Go up to the mountain. Bring down wood. Build a house.

And I will take pleasure in it. And I will be glorified. Haggai exhorts the people of God.

But you know, when I come to chapter 2 of this book, Haggai encourages them. Listen to what Haggai says. He says this.

The Lord says, I am with you. And in Haggai chapter 2, I read those words. My spirit remaineth with you.

So remember today, dear child of God, as I close, there's always a cause. And there's always a cost. But remember, there's always a cure.

And I read in two of those chapters, the children of Israel, they cried unto