When God's Heart Breaks

 

^"16 Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. ¹⁷ Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more."

¹⁹ But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, ²⁰ "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead." ²¹ So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, ²³ and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Matthew 2:16-23

 

Good Morning my beloved,

 

We welcome you to worship in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is my privilege to have you here with us today. We are especially grateful for those of you who have been sharing the ministry website with all of your family and friends. Your faithfulness and commitment to share God's Word with others continues to bring about tremendous results. People are responding to God's Word! This is all so amazing. We ask you to pray that God will continue to give us boldness to speak the truth in ministry in the face of adversity in the coming days! As you may have noticed, it's becoming more and more challenging in the day in which we live.

   

I want to let you know how grateful I am for all of you. We are so thankful your prayers and continue to pray for all of you. Prayer is such a powerful tool, and a mighty weapon against the adversary. And through your sharing, God continues to bring a number of people to faith in Jesus Christ. Praise God! May He continue to use you and this ministry mightily to effect change in even more lives. All for His glory! 

The great theologian Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said "Do not expect to be honored in a world where your Master was crucified."

 

Throughout history, people have always had a problem with Jesus. Herod had propensity for sin and here we see the fulfillment of it. From the time He was born, Satan, through corrupt governmental powers was out to kill Him. As Christians, we can, and should do whatever we can to lead people to Christ. However, Jesus Himself was rejected, we are no more powerful than He was. Because the world hated the truth, they persecuted Him, and ultimately crucified Him. Therefore, persecution is our inheritance. 

 

Christians, often at the hands of those professing to be followers of Christ, ostracize those of us who believe that pornography and sexual immorality is wrong, rioting and lawlessness is not peaceful protesting, all under the banner of tolerance, acceptance and love. Christians beliefs and positions are often shouted down, threatened with violence, censored by both social media and mainstream media. 

 

We are labeled bigots and racists because we fight back against the rhetoric and indoctrination of our children, because we believe that Jesus Christ is the answer to sin and everything else. At the end of the day, their goal is a godless society with no references to God to interfere with their demonic agenda. They are offended when the Word of God shines a light on their sinful and evil deeds. Like Herod, those who have power, do not want to lose it and will do anything to keep it, even murder. 

The reality is, people love their sin, their sexual immorality, their idolatry, their self righteousness, slander, defamation, greed, envy and debauchery. They quickly reject anyone poised to take it, everyone who practices evil hates the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. And, as quickly as a light shines, so begins their attacks. Those Christians who escape persecution, do so because they live like the world lives. Christ wasn't bound by the laws of men or their ideas about who God was, nor should we who follow Him.

 

Romans 1:18-19 says "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them."

 

John 1:5 assures us "The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it."

 

Let us pray

 

Heavenly Father,

 

Father, we thank You for Your Word, the truth that reveals to us the glory of the king that came the first time in humility, will return again in power and great glory. Lord, I pray that You will use this message and these truths and cause them to penetrate even the most hardened hearts. Lord, we pray for those who are indifferent, those who resent and hate the truth, we pray the truth humbles them, as we long to see Him return as King of kings and Lord of lords. We ask and pray in Christ's glorious name.

Amen

 

Today's Message:  When God's Heart Breaks

Last time, we saw the first prophecy was that of Micah 5, was that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem. The second prophecy we saw in verses 13-15, the exodus to Egypt. Then, there was the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet and that of Hosea 11, "Out of Egypt have I called my son." That brings us to the third prophecy, the ravaging of Ramah. Though this is not an easy passage to relate to the prophecy, I believe we will be able to see it more clearly as we go. 

 

Open your Bibles with me to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2. Now let's look at verses 16 through 23, where we see Herod, an unbelievably cruel man, was slaughtering people all through his reign as an Edomite king of Israel. Who was tricked by the wise men and he became exceedingly angry. 

 

I invite you to follow along with me as I read, to set the text in our minds, as we prepare our hearts for the Spirit of God is saying to each of us. Matthew 2:16-23. Listen for the voice of our Lord. 

"Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

"A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more."

But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead." So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."

Several questions emerge from Matthew’s use of Jeremiah 31:15 in relation to Herod’s slaughter of the infants of Bethlehem. Some of these arise upon Matthew’s use of the Old Testament Scriptures. Other questions arise regarding God’s sovereignty and human suffering. Primarily, why would God allow it, when it could have been prevented? We therefore, must ask ourselves, how did Matthew intend for his readers to understand the connection between Herod’s slaughter of the infants in verses 16-18 and the prophet Jeremiah’s words in 31:15? Why did Matthew describe this atrocity as an event that was predestined to take place, because God purposed it would happen? 

 

The Greek word "thumos," it’s a very strong word, it literally means "violent rage," "full of angry passion." He was literally out of control. If Herod had any sense at all, it was blinded. Blind rage doesn't think. Instead, it orders the massacre of every baby boy under two in the region. I shutter to imagine, Herod's band of soldiers going from house to house, chasing fleeing mothers, as they clutched their young, as soldiers rip their baby out of the mothers’ arms. Piercing its heart until it was dead. That's what was going on in Bethlehem, all because of the rage of this one evil man. Not only in Bethlehem, but the surrounding areas within it's borders. So, Herod set out to execute the real king of Israel, slaughtering every male child under the age of two. It’s inconceivable to me that a man would do this. What an incredibly evil and vile crime. Sadly, this was just the beginning of rejection for Christ.

 

Jesus, likely about six months old at this time, one has to question why Herod would extend it to two years old. Some commentators believe that when a baby became 13 months old, going on it's second year, it was thought of as two-year-old. Others says he was trying to make sure, in case the magi miscalculated, or in case they tried to trick him. So, he was going after everyone who was within proximity. Whatever was in his twisted mind, he slaughtered all the baby boys under two years of age. 

 

I believe the deeper purpose of this lesson will be to gain a better perspective of suffering and particularly what might be called "innocent suffering." It is worth mentioning that in Romans 5, the first benefit Paul mentions is related to suffering: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation."

Certainly, we should realize that because the wages of sin is death, so we mustn't continue on that path. In Christ, not only have we died to sin, we have died to the Law, which frees us to live in liberty through the Holy Spirit.

In verse 17, "Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she refused to be comforted, Because they were no more." Matthew says, this was done to fulfill prophecy. I find it interesting, Matthew's gospel is the only one of the four Gospels that refers to this incident.

Let's look at Jeremiah 31:15, "Thus says the Lord, A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter  weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more."  It doesn’t appear here to be a prophecy. It is a prophecy, because Matthew said it was. Jeremiah's prophecy was maybe the most tragic of all in Israel’s history ,because he uttered the doom of a dying nation. To summarize, suffering is the common experience of man, because we live in a sin-cursed world. God has given us all the resources we need to endure the sufferings of life and to bring us to His predetermined goal for our lives. And, He has given us His Holy Spirit, to comfort and to assure us. 

The prophet Jeremiah knew that nobody would listen, and nobody would repent. Therefore, captivity was inevitable. Later, one greater than Jeremiah would come and again utter the same doom, for the same nation. He too, would do it with tears, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not have it!"

Jeremiah, from chapters 30-33, is talking about doom and the Babylonian captivity came not long after, it was a terrible, terrible tragedy. But, there are 4 chapters in the heart of this book that are filled with hope, joy and comfort. In the middle of this doom, there is hope and comfort, in chapters 30 to 33. The weeping, lamentation, and the children is right in the middle. These four chapters look ahead to the coming Messiah. The One who is going to come to make it right. 

In fact, look at the next verses "Thus says the Lord, "Restrain your voice from weeping And your eyes from tears; For your work will be rewarded," declares the Lord, "And they will return from the land of the enemy. "There is hope for your future,” declares the Lord. And your children will return to their own territory." There’s going to be a change. It's the same thing in the use of the prophecy by Matthew. Now there's weeping and lamenting and wailing, but there's hope, God is going to regather that whole nation, and they’re going to see their Messiah.

As Christians, we're are not exempt from suffering, but Christ is our eternal hope and in Him, we have  new life. We suffer and groan with all creation, waiting for the day of our Lord’s return. In fact, our suffering makes us even hungrier for heaven.

Zechariah 12 says "I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn."  There will come a day when it will all be turned around and there will be salvation for Israel. The same thing is true of Christ.

The borderline between the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom crossed right at Ramah, it was located five miles north of Jerusalem. If you want, you can read more in I Kings 15. When the foreign conquerors came in to deport the Children of Israel in the captivity, Ramah was the deportation town.  So, it was always associated with weeping. Rachel is a symbol of the mothers of Israel.  The point is that the mothers of Israel are weeping and crying, because their children are being taken away. By the way, Rachel was Jacob’s most cherished wife, she had given birth to Joseph. Jacob was the father of Ephriam and Manasseh, which represent the northern kingdom. 

She also bore Benjamin, who went to the south and is identified with the southern kingdom. Jeremiah sees Rachel standing at Ramah, the southern kingdom is deported by Babylon into captivity and the northern kingdom is deported by Assyria into captivity. And both came from the womb of Rachel. She is symbolic of the weeping mother of the history of God's people. In chapter 33, Jeremiah talks about the righteous branch, they're coming back. And they did. And, Matthew shows us that the Holy Spirit also intended this same imagery. This time she weeps because Herod has destroyed her people. Scripture says God who gathers the little ones in His arms. I believe those innocent babies were instantaneously in the presence of God.

Verses 19-20, "But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord *appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, "Get up, take the Child and His mother, and go into the land of Israel; for those who sought the Child’s life are dead." As a footnote, Josephus in his antiquities says he died of "Ulcerated entrails, putrefied and maggot-filled organs, constant convulsions, foul breath, and neither physicians nor warm baths led to recovery." Here, we see the next place in fulfilling the prophetic word is Nazareth.

Verse 21 says "So Joseph got up, took the Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel." Notice there's no specific place mentioned here. Coming from Egypt, through the south, they would come to Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Knowing that he was to be the Savior. That wouldn't last long, look at verses 22-23, "But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Then after being warned by God in a dream, he left for the regions of Galilee, and came and lived in a city called Nazareth. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophets: "He shall be called a Nazarene."  

Herod Antipas was in the north, the Galilee area, and Archelaus took over the Judea area. Both were Herod's son's. Rather than kings, they were more like governors. So, they weren't as powerful as their father, Herod. Archelaus had gained his reputation, while Herod was still alive. Herod wanted to take a huge golden eagle and erect it over the gate of the Jewish temple. Which, as you can imagine, wasn't popular with the Jews, it was an abomination.  It was having other gods, a violation of Exodus 20. Two Jewish teachers, who were experts in the law of God, incited their students to tear that eagle to pieces with their axes. They were arrested and brought to Herod, who to avoid insurrection, sent them to Jericho for trial. The students received a mild punishment, the two teachers were executed. 

Herod died, and the following passover, a rebellion broke out in Jerusalem because of the murder of these two teachers. This was just before Jesus came back from Egypt. Archelaus, lined up 3,000 Jews and slaughtered them to put an end to the revolution. So they hated the man and feared Archelaus. The Romans even removed him, and replaced him with Pontius Pilate. So, Joseph had second thoughts about going to Judea. He went back to Nazareth. Fulfilling the prophecy which was spoken by the prophets. By the way, if you’re looking for the prophets who said, 'He shall be called a Nazarene,' you find it in the Old Testament. Many significant things that were said weren’t written down in the Old Testament.

Let me give you another example, in Jude verse 14, "It was also about these men that Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones." Enoch said it. Jude said it being inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, but it's not written in the Old Testament. So, when Matthew said "the prophet said, He shall be called a Nazarene," people knew the prophet said that about the Messiah, but it wasn't written. Being Nazarene became synonymous for somebody despised, it was a term of derision. They call Jesus a Nazarene because God said he would be despised, giving Him a title of reproach, which God predicted would come, "Jesus the Nazarene."

So, Matthew is painting a picture; Micah, he said the king would come to Bethlehem, and He did. Hosea, the king would come through Egypt, and He did. Jeremiah said, there would be weeping like Rachel in Ramah of old, and the mothers wept over the babies, beside the tomb of Rachel. And the prophets of old said he would come from Nazareth, His name would be Nazarene. And so it was. At all points, Jesus fulfills a prophecy that solidifies His right to reign. For this cause came He into the world, to be King. And King of kings He shall be!

In Closing..

A tempting explanation for suffering is sin. Not all suffering is the result of sin, to say that all people suffer because they get what they deserve, remember the story of Job. Suffering is an opportunity for God to reveal His glory. When Jesus saw a man who had been blind from birth, the disciples asked Him who had sinned, this man or his parents. Jesus declared that this man’s blindness provided the occasion for God’s works to be revealed through him. That his blindness was not the result of his personal sin, nor the sin of his parents. Let this miracle be a word of caution to us all. While sin and suffering often go hand-in-hand, not all suffering is the result of sin. God used the suffering of the man born blind to bring him to faith.

In John 5, when Jesus healed the paralytic man, He said "Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you." This man’s suffering was apparently due to sin. However, rather than forsaking his sin, he compounded it by reporting that Jesus had healed him. Sin is often the cause of our suffering. Failing to heed Christ's command, to go and sin no more.

Affliction, often comes from God, as was the case with Paul. Suffering kept Paul from the sin of spiritual pride. Paul’s thorn in the flesh not only kept him humble, it also kept him humanly weak, in order that God’s power would be evident in his life. 

In II Corinthians 12, Paul said, "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Paul acknowledged he was dependent on the power of Christ through His Spirit. Paul now experienced in his sufferings for Christ a fellowship with Christ which enabled him to know Christ more intimately.

In suffering, many Christians experience a greater intimacy with Jesus Christ. God often uses our suffering for our own good. To God be the glory!

May it be so..
 

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen 

 

 

 

 

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