In the foyer of First Baptist Church, the children’s Sunday School Class left a small basket of wood stars with a word engraved on them. We were instructed as we left the church to pick a word that we were to focus on for the year. My Word was “BRAVE.” And the scripture reference on the star was Matthew 2:10-12.
Matthew 2:10-12
When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. [11] And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. [12] And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
I could see where bravery would play the part of wisemen, who were warned of God that they should go another direction home to prevent Herod from finding them.There are lots of misgivings about the wisemen. It is said that they are probably not Kings at all but rather astrologists from Persia or Babylon. I know just enough to be dangerous about them, but I do know this, they were willing to listen to God’s warning and understand that not listening would come with a high price. Bravery is often times just good sense. While some bravery comes with risk taking and not using good sense, for the average joe, or king, it just means using the good sense provided by the discernment and advice of the Lord. The wisemen were spoken to in a dream, ours comes from the Holy Spirit.
So they wise men traveled quite a distance at the urging of the Lord to visit with a child. To be a part of this miraculous story of the Savior Who came to earth. They did not take the power of an unknown child for granted. God will use the most unlikely of people to deliver His message. That message for the wisemen was salvation had come. Not as the world wanted it, but as God prepared it.
My second point of my study on Bravery came from a weekend sermon by a preacher friend who preached from the book of Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; [2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; [3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
I can imagine the bravery it took of Isaiah to proclaim the words of the Lord. Much of his news from the Lord also came as a warning that there were some bad things going to happen. Isaiah brought the word of judgement and restoration. The Lord had sent him to preach to the meek. Those who had been persecuted a belittled by those in authority. Sound like anything happening today? What about people wrongfully imprisoned? While these may or may not be Christian people, God hates the arrogance, lawlessness and the pride of the oppressors. He hated it in Isaiah’s day and He hates it in ours. And just as God brought judgment upon His own people, we have to hold on to the notion that God will bring it again. But how many will be caught up in it all because there were few Isaiah’s sharing the message?
That’s where my mind is today. God always seems to be calling me to share that message and then take action on it. We cannot just sit on our keyboards and preach, but we have to proclaim the word of God.
I did a word search for the word “brave” which appears only one time in the King James Version and that too is from the book of Isaiah. Chapter 3, verse 18
In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet,
Three very different texts, but one very important message for the children of God.
In this chapter Isaiah says that the Lord is going to remove the bravery. Why would He do that? I believe it’s because there is a really fine line between bravery and arrogance. If you read the entire chapter of Isaiah 3, there is far more reality than most of us can handle.
Isaiah 3:1-5 KJV
For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, [2] The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, [3] The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. [4] And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them. [5] And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.
Tell me this isn’t describing our Nation’s current status. Have you noticed the dwindling of supplies? That what a “stay” is. We have issues with agriculture, water and the basic necessities across the land. We have children who are running the adults in their homes, businesses and schools. Behaving proudly against the ancient. I cannot count the times I wanted to lay hands on a child for their behavior toward an elder. And nobody dare say anything to them for fear of judgement.
Isaiah 3:8-9 KJV
For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. [9] The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.
You cannot currently flip through the television channels, scroll social media or search for any innocent word that does not provide a glimpse into the most vile, sinful, sexual things in this world. Of all the children I know, which are a lot, I know very few that have not been exposed to Sodom and Gomorrah up close and personal. The world around us proudly declares their sin without shame. “Woe unto their soul!” God says.
But if I say that, I’m a judgmental church woman looking down my nose at someone else. No! I’m a mother and grandmother, teacher of the Word for God keeps hearing “Be brave Shari, tell them about Jesus and why it was really a big deal to those kings who visited Him as a child. Tell these parents to stay up against the arrogance of their children who really just want stability in their home and the security of parents that they know will defend them.”
I have such a burden for parents who have been deceived into believing that if they tell their children the world is a liar, DHHR is going to take their children away. You better believe when judgement comes theres going to be some DHHR at the head of the line. I’d like to come unglued on some of those who are telling parents not to squelch the creativity of a child who believes they’re another gender or another creature or teachers paid by County tax dollars who feel they have the right to influence a child against the Christian beliefs their parents were trying to instill. A teacher who can hang a gay pride flag in the class room but not a Christian flag.
When I first got saved I would read the Old Testament and think, “How could a loving God kill so many people?” And now I look at the influence of people on my children and grandchildren and it makes perfect sense how a Holy God could stop sin in it’s tracks. That’s harsh isn’t it. Well so is your child going to Hell. But these people who believe in these far left notions are doing exactly that to our children and parents are sitting on their hands without a clue how to stop it.
We stop it by standing up and saying “that’s enough,” And if we have to we take our children out of the public school system and find an alternative. I know that’s not always possible. And when it’s not, we talk to our children every day about what they’ve been told at school and we correct the errors.
The women in verse 18, and the text that follows ends up sending a stench toward Heaven with their pride, arrogance, and showmanship. God wants His people to live a life as holy as possible in the wicked world. I am personally so far from holy its ridiculous. Every day this world takes it’s toll on me. But the word “Brave” doesn’t mean perfect. Praise God for that. It just means to have courage in the face of adversity. Even when that adversity is sometimes your own.
Isaiah 3:18-26 KJV
In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, [19] The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, [20] The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, [21] The rings, and nose jewels, [22] The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, [23] The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. [24] And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. [25] Thy men shall fall by the sword, and thy mighty in the war. [26] And her gates shall lament and mourn; and she being desolate shall sit upon the ground.