What Destruction from the Almighty Looks Like

Mike Leake 1 Comment

During the days of the prophet Joel the people of Judah and Jerusalem are being overtaken by a horrendous locusts plague.  It is as the Garden of Eden before them and “behind them a desolate wilderness”.  The prophet, through the inspiration of YHWH, uses this plight to ask a very probing question to the people of Judah.

If we can’t endure a plague of locusts what would happen if the Almighty was bent on destroying us?  Could we endure?  Who could stand under his fierce wrath?  As Joel says in 1:15, “and as destruction from the Almighty it comes”. 

The Hebrew word for destruction is shadad whereas the Hebrew word for the Almighty is El Shaddai.  When Shaddai become bent on shadad what will happen?  How destructive can El Shaddai be? 

Here is a faint picture of an answer to that question (Someone said there is some language in the film, I can’t hear it, but be cautious):

(HT: Challies)

In response to that video Tony Reinke shared this quote from Jonathan Edwards, “”The torrents of liquid fire that are vomited from the belly of hell, by the mouths of volcanoes, shadow forth what is in hell.”

I imagine that if I saw a family member, a friend, a neighbor, or even some random dude on the street plummeting into that abyss I’d do everything in my power to stop him.  I’d beg and plead with him and as it were make sure that he had to trample me in order to throw himself in.  I doubt I’d unmovingly tell him cute stories and anecdotes.  And I’d like to think I wouldn’t stay silent.  Might I remember that very real sinners are plunging themselves into a very real hell that is more fierce than this.

If the Almighty can create something this fierce who can stand when he is bent on destruction? 

Only those who find refuge in the strong tower that El Shaddai has hoisted, namely the all-powerful Jesus, will find safety on that day. 

Today in Blogworld 9.21.12

Mike Leake

7 (Possibly 8) Things Every Writer Needs to Know

I’m appreciating these posts from Aaron Armstrong on writing.  These are 7 (maybe 8) things that Douglas Wilson says every writer needs to know.  From his excellent book Wordsmithy. 

Three Critical Truths on the Problem of Suffering

J.D. Greear I believe is preaching a series on suffering.  (I say that simply because he’s been posting quite a bit about it lately).  Here are 3 biblical truths about suffering.

7 Ways Twitters Sharpens Your Writing

“Twitter is a writer’s sandbox”.  I like that statement.  And it would tweet well too.  Find out 7 ways that Twitter helps you become a better writer.

How to Write a Theology Essay

In case you were wondering.  I find it hilarious that there are 20 points.  Kind of lets you know the daunting task of a theology essay.  These are helpful though.

Haven’t had a chance to watch the Season 9 premier of The Office yet.  But if you have a spare 18 minutes here is a good way to reminisce:

An Idiot’s Guide to Week 3 NFL Predictions

Mike Leake

Last week I showed myself a little better than an idiot at 10-6.  If that were an NFL season I would have made the playoffs.  Not too shabby.  A.J. Green didn’t do too bad.  Lester Jean was the fantasy sleeper of the week…and by that of course I mean he slept his way to 0 points.  I was right in picking the Seahawks.  I was right that the Pats and Cards were close (but got the winner wrong).  Correct about Eli’s 4th quarter comeback, I was right about Trent Richardson and almost correct with Romo and Andrew Luck.  So without further bragging here are your week 3 picks:

Giants over Panthers (they win big too)
Bears over Rams (I’m really feeling a Rams upset but don’t have the guts to do it)
Browns over Bills
Cowboys over Bucs
Lions over Titans
Jaguars over Colts
Jets over Dolphins
49ers over Vikings (its going to be close though, Akers game winning FG)
Saints over Chiefs
Redskins over Bengals
Eagles over Cardinals
Falcons over Chargers
Broncos over Texans
Raiders over Steelers (upset of the week)
Patriots over Ravens
Packers over Seahawks (but closer than many are picking)

Fantasy Stud of the Week: Maurice Jones-Drew
Fantasy Sleeper of the Week: Michael Bush

Other crazy picks:

MJD rushes for over 150 yards and 2 TD’s
50 yards but 3 TD’s for Michael Bush
Tebow finds the end zone
Alex Smith looks shaky with Jared Allen in his face all day
Andy Dalton throws 4 INT’s
Raiders win in a very sloppy turnover filled game
Josh Cribbs returns a KO for a TD and almost get a PR TD

Don’t Proxy Counsel

Mike Leake

The one who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.  -Proverbs 18:17

I’m not an expert counselor.  But I hope I am growing.  Early on in my ministry I dealt almost exclusively with counseling teenagers.  As one in my early twenties and still  with plenty of youthful vigor (or perhaps rebellion) in my heart I listened intently as teenagers would tell me about how much they were victimized by their teenagers.

It is much to my chagrin that I confess that for the first year or two I really thought that these kids had horrible parents that simply did not understand their teenagers.  I spent a good amount of my counseling trying to help these teens cope with crappy parents. 

Things really came to a head when a particularly difficult and troubled teen came in tears and fearfully did not want to go home.  An elaborate story was told and charges were brought up.  I informed this person before hand that I would have to report this to the police as a mandatory reporter if she was going to continue on.  She remained undeterred.  So we went over to the police station and filed a report. 

Her parents grievous offense? 

They were making her do laundry.  Of course that is not what she told me.  It was a much different story.  But it was believable and I didn’t want to take the chance of it actually being true.  Something happened, though, after that encounter.  I began taking Proverbs 18:17 more seriously.

There is always two sides to every story. 

What I have noticed over the years is that a good number of people coming for counseling actually want you to do proxy counseling.  They don’t actually want counsel for themselves but frequently they want ammunition for another person that they want to counsel.  And it can be tempting in the beginning stages to dog on that other person to try to build report with the person in your office. 

The wise counselor realizes that he/she is not called by God to do proxy counseling.  God has placed the person sitting in your office, or across from you at the coffee house, into your life.  Knowing that there are always two sides to every story the person that you are talking with is never only a victim.  God has placed this person in your life to help him/her expose heart idols and find redemption in Christ. 

Yes, you may on occasion have to defuse or speak truth into a statement that a wounding spouse lobbed at the person in your office.  “Sally, it is not true that you are worthless.  Let me tell you what God says about you”.  But even while you do that you need to remember that you aren’t to engage in proxy counseling and give her advice about what to say to her potential loser of a husband. 

Our goal must be for the person we are counseling to be helped by the gospel and motivated by the gospel to make his/her soul aim to please the Lord regardless of the response of the offending husband, wife, parent, child, or friend.