Isaiah 49

God reveals Himself to us for a purpose, at His appointed time for us, for us to do and declare His will. We show our love for Him and His love for us in submission to His will and in our obedience He gives us peace. We are His hands and feet, the servants of Christ, to glorify Him, which glorifies the Father who sent Him. Jesus is the new "Covenant of Grace". He came to restore us, to call us to inheritance, to set us free, and to bring us truth.

The Servant, the Light to the Gentiles

49 "Listen, O coastlands, to Me,

And take heed, you peoples from afar!

The Lord has called Me from the womb;

From the matrix of My mother He has made mention of My name.

2 And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword;

In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me,

And made Me a polished shaft;

In His quiver He has hidden Me."

3 "And He said to me,

'You are My servant, O Israel,

In whom I will be glorified.'

4 Then I said, 'I have labored in vain,

I have spent my strength for nothing and in vain;

Yet surely my just reward is with the Lord,

And my work with my God.' "

5 "And now the Lord says,

Who formed Me from the womb to be His Servant,

To bring Jacob back to Him,

So that Israel is gathered to Him

(For I shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord,

And My God shall be My strength),

6 Indeed He says,

'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant

To raise up the tribes of Jacob,

And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;

I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,

That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

7 Thus says the Lord,

The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One,

To Him whom man despises,

To Him whom the nation abhors,

To the Servant of rulers:

"Kings shall see and arise,

Princes also shall worship,

Because of the Lord who is faithful,

The Holy One of Israel;

And He has chosen You."

8 Thus says the Lord:

"In an acceptable time I have heard You,

And in the day of salvation I have helped You;

I will preserve You and give You

As a covenant to the people,

To restore the earth,

To cause them to inherit the desolate heritages;

10 They shall neither hunger nor thirst,

Neither heat nor sun shall strike them;

For He who has mercy on them will lead them,

Even by the springs of water He will guide them.

13 Sing, O heavens!

Be joyful, O earth!

And break out in singing, O mountains!

For the Lord has comforted His people,

And will have mercy on His afflicted.

23 Kings shall be your foster fathers,

And their queens your nursing mothers;

They shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth,

And lick up the dust of your feet.

Then you will know that I am the Lord,

For they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me."

25 But thus says the Lord:

"Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away,

And the prey of the terrible be delivered;

For I will contend with him who contends with you,

And I will save your children.

26 I will feed those who oppress you with their own flesh,

And they shall be drunk with their own blood as with sweet wine.

All flesh shall know

That I, the Lord, am your Savior,

And your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob."

The NKJV Study Bible says this: The Servant's mission pertains to the whole earth. Through the preaching of His mouth, the Servant will conquer the earth. The Servant will be vindicated and will be rewarded after His death and resurrection. After Jesus' death and resurrection, the great commission of global evangelism is carried on by His apostles and those who succeed them to the end of the age. God the Creator is the sovereign Owner of all creation. The Creator God has His thoughts focused on the welfare of His people. Some view the ultimate fulfillment of this prophecy to be the gathering of the Lord's people at the coming of Jesus' kingdom. The last couplet is a celebration of the name and character of the living God. The Almighty asserts that He is the One who can powerfully save His people

 

 

 

Ezra 3

If believers would come together as one and call out to God for revival we could build up the Body of Christ to where it should be. In the New Covenant of Grace many older believers are not always comfortable with the parameters of religion versus relationship. But in Christ and in the unity of the Holy Spirit the church can be restored to a place of mercy, peace and shouts of grace grace in Christ Jesus!

3 And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. 2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. 3 Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening burnt offerings. 4 They also kept the Feast of Tabernacles, has it is written, and offered the daily burnt offerings in the number required by ordinance for each day. 5 Afterwards they offered the regular burnt offering, and those for New Moons and for all the appointed feasts of the Lord that were consecrated, and those of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to the Lord. 6 From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, although the foundation of the temple of the Lord had not been laid. 7 They also gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre to bring cedar logs from Lebanon to the sea, to lJoppa, according to the permission which they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

8 Now in the second month of the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all those who had come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, began work and appointed the Levites from twenty years old and above to oversee the work of the house of the Lord. 9 Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers, Kadmiel with his sons, and the sons of Judah, arose as one to oversee those working on the house of God: the sons of Henadad with their sons and their brethren the Levites.

10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord, according to the qordinance 7of David king of Israel. 11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord:

"For He is good,

For His mercy endures forever toward Israel."

Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.

12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of the fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first temple, wept with a loud voice when the foundation of this temple was laid before their eyes.
Yet many shouted aloud for joy, 13 so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people, for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the sound was heard afar off.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: The seventh month was sacred to the Jewish people. The first day of the month was the Feast of Trumpets, the tenth day was the Day of Atonement, and the fifteenth day was the Feast of Tabernacles. The people had come with the common desire of worshiping God. Jeshua was the same person as the priest Joshua. The Law had required that Levites be at least 30 years old before they entered into service. Later, the minimum age was reduced to 25. Finally, David lowered the minimum age to 20. The lower minimum age allowed more Levites to enter into temple service. This provision was vital in view of the small number of Levites who made the trip back to Jerusalem. Two choruses were sung responsively. One group sang For He is good; the other group responded with For His mercy endures forever.

 

 

Hosea 6

How many different ways can you receive the same message? How many times does God seek the lost? How many times does God forgive fallen man? God loves His children!
He will do anything to get us to return to Him
but go against our free will.
What can we do to get the message out….God loves you! He sees you in whole, the good, the bad and the downright ugly, and He loves you still.
I know that it seems impossible and irrational that a Holy God could love the likes of fallen man BUT He does. He loved us enough to send His only Son to die for us so that in Him we could have a relationship with the Creator of the Universe, God the Almighty, the Great I AM. Please, give God a chance to heal your wounds and to restore you to the person that He created you to be.

6 Come, and let us return to the Lord;

For He has torn, but He will heal us;

He has stricken, but He will bind us up.

2 After two days He will revive us;

On the third day He will raise us up,

That we may live in His sight.

3 Let us know,

Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord.

His going forth is established as the morning;

He will come to us like the rain,

Like the latter and former rain to the earth.

4 "O Ephraim, what shall I do to you?

O Judah, what shall I do to you?

For your faithfulness is like a morning cloud,

And like the early dew it goes away.

5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets,

I have slain them by the words of My mouth;

And your judgments are like light that goes forth.

6 For I desire mercy and not sacrifice,

And the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

7 "But like men they transgressed the covenant;

There they dealt treacherously with Me.

8 Gilead is a city of evildoers

And defiled with blood.

9 As bands of robbers lie in wait for a man,

So the company of priests murder on the way to Shechem;

Surely they commit lewdness.

10 I have seen a horrible thing in the house of Israel:

There is the harlotry of Ephraim;

Israel is defiled.

11 Also, O Judah, a harvest is appointed for you,

When I return the captives of My people.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: When God's people truly repent, God is eager to restore His relationship with them. God's restored presence and blessings would be like the rain that waters and renews the earth. The latter rains of Israel came in the spring and caused the plants to grow. The former rains came in the autumn and softened the ground for plowing and sowing. The comparison of God's judgment to a harvest indicates that the judgment was inevitable and implies that it would be thorough in its destruction.

 

 

 

Hosea 7

God will give every opportunity for His children to return to Him but only we can make that decision. All was created by Him for our good and through His love. If we don't acknowledge the good that He has given there will come a time when we no longer will be under His loving protection. Faith alone pleases God. The Lord requires us to be fair, to be merciful and walk humbly with Him!

7 "When I would have healed Israel,

Then the iniquity of Ephraim was uncovered,

And the wickedness of Samaria.

For they have committed fraud;

A thief comes in;

A band of robbers takes spoil outside.

2 They do not consider in their hearts

That I remember all their wickedness;

Now their own deeds have surrounded them;

They are before My face.

3 They make a king glad with their wickedness,

And princes with their lies.

4 "They are all adulterers.

Like an oven heated by a baker—

He ceases stirring the fire after kneading the dough,

Until it is leavened.

5 In the day of our king

Princes have made him sick, inflamed with wine;

He stretched out his hand with scoffers.

6 They prepare their heart like an oven,

While they lie in wait;

4Their baker sleeps all night;

In the morning it burns like a flaming fire.

7 They are all hot, like an oven,

And have devoured their judges;

All their kings have fallen.

None among them calls upon Me.

8 "Ephraim has mixed himself among the peoples;

Ephraim is a cake unturned.

9 Aliens have devoured his strength,

But he does not know it;

Yes, gray hairs are here and there on him,

Yet he does not know it.

10 And the pride of Israel testifies to his face,

But they do not return to the Lord their God,

Nor seek Him for all this.

11 "Ephraim also is like a silly dove, without sense—

They call to Egypt,

They go to Assyria.

12 Wherever they go, I will spread My net on them;

I will bring them down like birds of the air;

I will chastise them

According to what their congregation has heard.

13 "Woe to them, for they have fled from Me!

Destruction to them,

Because they have transgressed against Me!

Though I redeemed them,

Yet they have spoken lies against Me.

14 They did not cry out to Me with their heart

When they wailed upon their beds.

"They assemble together for grain and new wine,

They rebel against Me;

15 Though I disciplined and strengthened their arms,

Yet they devise evil against Me;

16 They return, but not to the Most High;

They are like a treacherous bow.

Their princes shall fall by the sword

For the cursings of their tongue.

This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Hardened sinners typically do not consider that God will hold them accountable for their deeds. While kings should promote justice and be appalled by wickedness, Israel's rulers approved of the people's sin. The background for these verses is the political turmoil of the northern kingdom. During a 20-year period (752–732 b.c.), four Israelite kings were assassinated. Instead of depending on the Lord for political stability, Israel formed alliances with surrounding nations. The destructive outcome of this policy is compared to a cake that has been placed over a fire and left unturned. Israel did not recognize that its power was declining and its freedom was slipping away, like an aging man who is gradually overtaken by the signs of old age. Israel was caught between the two superpowers, Egypt and Assyria. Israel tried to maintain its independence by playing one power against the other, but this vacillating policy was without sense. Israel was like a silly dove, flitting about from place to place. The Lord would trap them and chastise them for their spiritual unsteadiness. Israel fled from the Lord and His standards, despite His willingness to help the people. God sent a drought that took away Israel's grain and new wine. Yet instead of turning to Him in repentance, the idolatrous Israelites demonstrated their devotion to Baal. Though the Lord had been faithful to Israel, Israel had not been loyal to Him. Just as an eagle swiftly swoops down and snatches its prey, so Assyria would invade Israel and take its people into captivity. The house of the Lord refers to the entire land of Israel. Though Israel claimed to acknowledge the Lord's authority, it had violated His covenant and rejected the qualities the Lord regarded as good, such as justice, loyalty, and humility

 

 

 

 

 

Jeremiah 45

Blessed assurance! Cling to your faith in Jesus Christ when adversity comes and you will be safe.
What does the Lord require from us? He requires us to
be fair, love mercy and walk humbly with Him. We must be doers of His word not just hearers of His word.

45 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 3 'You said, "Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest." '

4 "Thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says the Lord: "Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the Lord. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go."

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Baruch assisted and encouraged Jeremiah when he was imprisoned. In this passage Jeremiah replies with a personal word of encouragement from the Lord for his scribal friend. The date of the passage, 604 b.c., identifies it with the circumstances of ch. 36. Baruch had read Jeremiah's oracles before the temple crowd and the princes of Judah, before Jehoiakim burned the original scroll. A second scroll was prepared by Baruch, and he remained an assistant to Jeremiah throughout his ministry, including the journey to Egypt. Jeremiah addressed Baruch in light of the scribe's sorrow. Baruch lamented his plight in the same manner that Jeremiah had done. Baruch suffered mental anguish and personal rejection from his people due to his association with Jeremiah. Baruch apparently had hopes for position, honor, and distinction. However, these dreams were lost through his association with Jeremiah. Yet Baruch would be spared the judgment that would befall the land, for the Lord would give him his life as a prize, or booty.

 

Psalm 73

In this life it is sometimes hard to understand how those whose life is driven by greed and deception become the rich and powerful. They are the ones that the world wants to emulate. They are the ones that become our idols. They are the ones we view as successful. It is easy to get caught up in the world view of living and forget God's ways. But if we view the world in His love for others we will begin to have compassion for all His creation. For He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that no one would have to perish but that everyone would have an equal choice of eternal life with Him. As believers we have the peace and security of knowing that God protects those who place their trust in Him. In this life we may or may not see prosperity but in the next life we will walk the streets of gold without poverty, without pain, without sickness or death. To God be all the glory!

A Psalm of Asaph.

1 Truly God is good to Israel,

To such as are pure in heart.

2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;

My steps had nearly slipped.

3 For I was envious of the boastful,

When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For there are no pangs in their death,

But their strength is firm.

5 They are not in trouble as other men,

Nor are they plagued like other men.

6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace;

Violence covers them like a garment.

7 Their eyes bulge with abundance;

They have more than heart could wish.

8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;

They speak loftily.

9 They set their mouth against the heavens,

And their tongue walks through the earth.

10 Therefore his people return here,

And waters of a full cup are drained by them.

11 And they say, "How does God know?

And is there knowledge in the Most High?"

12 Behold, these are the ungodly,

Who are always at ease;

They increase in riches.

13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,

And washed my hands in innocence.

14 For all day long I have been plagued,

And chastened every morning.

15 If I had said, "I will speak thus,"

Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.

16 When I thought how to understand this,

It was too painful for me—

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;

Then I understood their end.

18 Surely You set them in slippery places;

You cast them down to destruction.

19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!

They are utterly consumed with terrors.

20 As a dream when one awakes,

So, Lord, when You awake,

You shall despise their image.

21 Thus my heart was grieved,

And I was vexed in my mind.

22 I was so foolish and ignorant;

I was like a beast before You.

23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;

You hold me by my right hand.

24 You will guide me with Your counsel,

And afterward receive me to glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but You?

And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.

26 My flesh and my heart fail;

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;

You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.

28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;

I have put my trust in the Lord God,

That I may declare all Your works.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Psalm 73 is a psalm of trust with some features of the wisdom psalms. The psalm is unusual in that it tells a story about the psalmist's struggle with envy, doubts, and his faith in God. But through his struggles, the psalmist Asaph learned to trust in God. The structure of the poem is as follows: (1) the temptation to be envious of the wicked; (2) a description of the wicked; (3) the realization that the end of the wicked is the balancing factor; (4) the psalmist's regret over his uncertainty; (5) a renewed resolve to trust in God alone;(6) the destruction of the wicked; (7) a renewed trust in God. In the opening verses Asaph describes the crisis of faith he experienced. He begins with one of the basic elements of biblical theology, that God is good to Israel. But then he confesses that he almost stumbled when he became envious of the success and wealth of the wicked. Asaph observes that the attitudes and actions of the wicked seem to place no constraints upon them. They appear not to have trouble. Their pride and violence are not hidden but are displayed like jewelry. They fulfill their lustful appetites and boast about their wicked accomplishments. Asaph describes the apathy about God characteristic of the wicked, who had concluded that God—if there was a God—was disengaged from people's lives. Asaph is bothered by the fact that with this aberrant view of life the wicked are still able to enjoy life, drink their fill, and live at ease. Thus the psalmist feels that his own acts of righteous living are without meaning or purpose. Asaph realizes that if he continued on this path, he would be abandoning the faith. He finds the issue painful to consider until he comes to a new sense of enlightenment in the sanctuary, the temple in Jerusalem. He rediscovered something he probably knew but had not really considered: The prosperity of the wicked will not last. Their wealth will have no value in the next life. Asaph remembers that the wicked are just a step away from disaster. In a moment they could find all of their wealth valueless and their pleasure vanished as they face an eternity separated from the presence of their Creator. Asaph was grieved because of his own lapse of faith. In the manner of a wisdom psalm, he speaks of his own foolishness. But God had never left him, even when he struggled with doubts. What helped the psalmist gain a proper perspective on this life was the afterlife. The righteous will have the glorious privilege of living with God forever. There are those who may enjoy great wealth and notoriety today, but nothing they have or do will last forever. Therefore, Asaph concludes he has put his trust in the Lord God. Only those who place their trust in God will find eternal life and eternal peace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 Corinthians 14

Anything that we do without love as its base is without value. God gave His only Son out of His great agape love for us and that love is the only thing that remains after we have been tested. Jesus promised that He would not leave us alone here on earth but that He would send the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us. The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts for the edification of the Body of Christ. Listen to Him and He will tell you all things that will transpire and keep you safe.

1 Corinthians 14

14 Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3 But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.

6 But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? 7 Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8 For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare for battle? 9 So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air. 10 There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11 Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me. 12 Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.

13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16 Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17 For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.

18 I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; 19 yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

20 Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature.

21 In the law it is written:

"With men of other tongues and other lips

I will speak to this people;

And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me,"

says the Lord.

22 Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe. 23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27 If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28 But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God. 29 Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. 30 But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. 31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32 And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33 For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.

34 Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35 And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

36 Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached? 37 If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord. 38 But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.

39 Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. 40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: There are many things in life that we can simply take or leave, but love is not one of them. Edification, exhortation, and comfort result from prophesying in the church. For this reason, Paul wanted the Corinthians to exercise the gift of prophecy instead of speaking in a tongue, by which a person merely edifies himself. Speaking in tongues does benefit the church whenever it is interpreted, though not as much as prophesying. Paul underlines the original purpose of all spiritual gifts: they must serve the church. Tongues must convey meaning or else they fail to help those who listen. When the early believers were empowered by the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, they were given the ability to speak in many different languages, so that those visiting from all around the Roman world could hear the glories of God being uttered in their native tongue. The household of Cornelius also spoke in different languages when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. When these languages were spoken in private, interpretation was not needed; when they were spoken in the meetings, Paul required interpretation so that the others could understand and be edified. The resurrection of Christ was proclaimed eagerly by the early church. This miracle was considered an essential part of the gospel message. Surely Christ had died, but more importantly, He had been raised. More than just a suffering Savior, Jesus is our living Lord. In the church, speaking five words that are understandable has more benefit than speaking a countless number (ten thousand) of words in a tongue. Paul wanted the Corinthians to serve and benefit each other above all.
But instead they had developed the skill of attacking and neglecting each other. Revealed indicates that prophesying as described here is different from what we call preaching or reading from Scripture. The prophesying that Paul referred to is similar to OT prophecy in which God gives a revelation to one of His servants who, in turn, gives that revelation to God's people. Paul's command concerning women speaking in the church here is the subject of much debate, for it seems to contradict the fact that Paul spoke of women prophesying. It has been suggested that Paul was addressing a particular problem in the Corinthian church, a group of women who were disruptive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hebrew 1

Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords, the express image of His Father. Jesus Christ, all God and all man. Jesus who took all the sins of the world and in His suffering and death gave us peace with God. He came to earth with shouts of "Peace, peace to men of goodwill". All those who believe in Him will not perish but will have everlasting life. To God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit all honor, all praise is due. The tripartite God, mind, body and heart of God, working together in unity to save fallen man.

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

5 For to which of the angels did He ever say:

"You are My Son,

Today I have begotten You"?

And again:

"I will be to Him a Father,

And He shall be to Me a Son"?

6 But when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says:

"Let all the angels of God worship Him."

7 And of the angels He says:

"Who makes His angels spirits

And His ministers a flame of fire."

8 But to the Son He says:

"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;

A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;

Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You

With the oil of gladness more than Your companions."

10 And:

 "You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,

And the heavens are the work of Your hands.

11 They will perish, but You remain;

And they will all grow old like a garment;

12 Like a cloak You will fold them up,

And they will be changed.

But You are the same,

And Your years will not fail."

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:

"Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Various ways refers to the different methods God used to communicate, including visitations, dreams, signs, parables, and events. Jesus will inherit everything because He is the eternal Son of God Himself. His inheritance is universal dominion: He will rule over everyone and everything. Jesus' glorious brightness comes from being essentially divine. The phrase express image occurs only here in the NT and means "exact representation" or "exact character." In Greek literature the word was used of stamping a coin from the die. The Son is the exact representation of God's being because He is God Himself. In fact, the Greek word translated person here means "nature" or "being." As Jesus said, "He who has seen me has seen the Father". The Son not only created the universe by His powerful word but also maintains and directs its course. The glory of redemption is far greater than the glory of creation. The Son of God came down not to dazzle us with His splendor but to purge our sins. Sat down suggests the formal act of assuming the office of High Priest and implies a contrast to the Levitical priest, who never finished his work and sat down. Christ, as the effulgence of God's glory, is the radiance of God, revealing God's glory to humanity. Since God's essence, nature, and being are invisible, the Son reveals God to us, for He is an exact visible likeness of God. Christ is uniquely and eternally the Son. He is superior to the angels. Today I have begotten You probably refers to the day Christ sat down at the Father's right hand after He accomplished His work as the Messiah. On that day the eternal Son entered into the full experience of His Sonship. The angels will worship the Son when He is enthroned as the King over the entire earth, after taking revenge on His enemies and restoring His people. Jesus Christ is accorded the rank of full deity. The Son has an eternal throne, which means He possesses an eternal kingdom. Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, the only One who would become incarnate. Jesus is God become man. All things were created in, through, and for Christ. As a participant in the creation of all things, Christ cannot be a created being. Instead He is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Godhead, who has existed from eternity. The author warned them not to be carried away by the popular opinions that surrounded them. Instead they were to hold fast to Christ's words because they were the words of God.

 

 

 

 

Jeremiah 44

Out of God's will for our life we are left vulnerable and unprotected. The world offers a vast array of choices. We must learn to base our decisions on the Word of God. Jesus was sent to earth to show us the way to live. We need to learn that prosperity does not always equate to being in God's will. We cannot make mammon our god and base our decisions, or our worth, on money. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son", based on that I would say that LOVE is much more important, wouldn't you?

44 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who dwell in the land of Egypt, who dwell at Migdol, at Tahpanhes, at Noph, and in the country of Pathros, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'You have seen all the calamity that I have brought on Jerusalem and on all the cities of Judah; and behold, this day they are a desolation, and no one dwells in them, 3 because of their wickedness which they have committed to provoke Me to anger, in that they went to burn incense and to serve other gods whom they did not know, they nor you nor your fathers. 4 However I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, rising early and sending them, saying, "Oh, do not do this abominable thing that I hate!" 5 But they did not listen or incline their ear to turn from their wickedness, to burn no incense to other gods. 6 So My fury and My anger were poured out and kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are wasted and desolate, as it is this day.'

7 "Now therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Why do you commit this great evil against yourselves, to cut off from you man and woman, child and infant, out of Judah, leaving none to remain, 8 in that you provoke Me to wrath with the works of your hands, burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to dwell, that you may cut yourselves off and be a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth? 9 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, the wickedness of the kings of Judah, the wickedness of their wives, your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 10 They have not been humbled, to this day, nor have they feared; they have not walked in My law or in My statutes that I set before you and your fathers.'

11 "Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Behold, I will set My face against you for catastrophe and for cutting off all Judah. 12 And I will take the remnant of Judah who have set their faces to go into the land of Egypt to dwell there, and they shall all be consumed and fall in the land of Egypt. They shall be consumed by the sword and by famine. They shall die, from the least to the greatest, by the sword and by famine; and they shall be an oath, an astonishment, a curse and a reproach! 13 For I will punish those who dwell in the land of Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem, by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, 14 so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone into the land of Egypt to dwell there shall escape or survive, lest they return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return and dwell. For none shall return except those who escape.' "

15 Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods, with all the women who stood by, a great multitude, and all the people who dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying: 16 "As for the word that you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you! 17 But we will certainly do whatever has gone out of our own mouth, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we and our fathers, our kings and our princes, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, were well-off, and saw no trouble. 18 But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine."

19 The women also said, "And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make cakes for her, to worship her, and pour out drink offerings to her without our husbands' permission?"

20 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the people—the men, the women, and all the people who had given him that answer—saying: 21 "The incense that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you and your fathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them, and did it not come into His mind? 22 So the Lord could no longer bear it, because of the evil of your doings and because of the abominations which you committed. Therefore your land is a desolation, an astonishment, a curse, and without an inhabitant, as it is this day. 23 Because you have burned incense and because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord or walked in His law, in His statutes or in His testimonies, therefore this calamity has happened to you, as at this day."

24 Moreover Jeremiah said to all the people and to all the women, "Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are in the land of Egypt! 25 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: 'You and your wives have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled with your hands, saying, "We will surely keep our vows that we have made, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her." You will surely keep your vows and perform your vows!' 26 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who dwell in the land of Egypt: 'Behold, I have sworn by My great name,' says the Lord, 'that My name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, "The Lord God lives." 27 Behold, I will watch over them for adversity and not for good. And all the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine, until there is an end to them. 28 Yet a small number who escape the sword shall return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah;
and all the remnant of Judah, who have gone to the land of Egypt to dwell there, shall know whose words will stand, Mine or theirs. 29 And this shall be a sign to you,' says the Lord, 'that I will punish you in this place, that you may know that My words will surely stand against you for adversity.'

30 "Thus says the Lord: 'Behold, I will give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek his life, as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life.' "

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Since Jehoahaz had been deported to Egypt in 609 b.c., a number of Jews had settled there in the fertile lands along the Nile. Jerusalem was brought to desolation because the people broke God's covenant by worshiping other gods, rejecting the lordship of God, and thus provoking Him to anger. The reference here is to the people's disobedience in continually worshiping foreign deities. The present generation of Jews had learned nothing from the past failures of the nation. The people were not broken in heart, only more stubborn. God had set His face against the remnant of Judah because they had set their face to enter Egypt against His will. The people countered Jeremiah's words with an argument from experience. They rejected God by saying that when they worshiped the queen of heaven—that is, the goddess Ishtar or Astarte, they had plenty of food, were well off, and saw no trouble. Queen of heaven refers to Ishtar, a goddess of war and fertility who was worshiped with explicit sexual activity. The people reasoned that when they stopped worshiping the queen of heaven in the days of Josiah's reform, their king was killed and their land was overrun and destroyed. When the covenant was broken, the covenant curses came to bear. A small remnant would survive and see the fulfillment of God's word as revealed through Jeremiah.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Luke 22:26-71

The Feast of Passover celebrated the faithfulness of God to His children. The blood of a lamb sprinkled on the lentils of their door saved their children from death. Much later the Blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, would save the lives of all those who put their trust in Him. Evil will always exist in this fallen world that we live in but Fear not and put your trust In Him. Jesus Christ is the only defense we need and our life is safe in His hands.

24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. 25 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' 26 But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. 27 For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

28 "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. 29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."

31 4And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

33 But he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death."

34 Then He said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me."

35 And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?"

So they said, "Nothing."

36 Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.' For the things concerning Me have an end."

38 So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords."

And He said to them, "It is enough."

39 Coming out, lHe went to the Mount of Olives, as He was accustomed, and His disciples also followed Him. 40 When He came to the place, He said to them, "Pray that you may not enter into temptation."

41 And He was withdrawn from them about a stone's throw, and He knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." 43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him. 44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."

47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, "Lord, shall we strike with the sword?" 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered and said, "Permit even this." And He touched his ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 When I was with you daily in the temple, you did not try to seize Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness."

54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed at a distance. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, "This man was also with Him."

57 But he denied Him, saying, "Woman, I do not know Him."

58 And after a little while another saw him and said, "You also are of them."

But Peter said, "Man, I am not!"

59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, "Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean."

60 But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!"

Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster 9crows, you will deny Me three times." 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

63 Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. 64 And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?" 65 And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

66 As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, 67 "If You are the Christ, tell us."

But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe. 68 And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. 69 Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God."

70 Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?"

So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am."

71 And they said, "What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Leadership in the church does not exalt; it serves. It shows respect to others, as a young person would show respect to an elder. True leaders labor for others, as a servant would. In short, the Lord's view of greatness is the exact opposite of the world's view. Jesus recognized that the disciples had been present and had suffered with Him during His ministry. Jesus passed on His kingdom authority to the apostles who would continue planting the church, a part of the kingdom. The authority that Jesus bestowed on them was like the authority that the Father had bestowed on Him. The disciples were promised a seat at the banquet of victory and the right to help Jesus rule over Israel on His return. Satan had asked permission to trouble all of the disciples. Jesus restored Peter even before his fall , and He instructed the disciple to shepherd the saints by strengthening them. Jesus here instructed His disciples to take a money bag, a knapsack, and a sword on their journeys in order to be prepared for the rejection that was to come. Misunderstanding Jesus' instructions, the disciples indicated that they had weapons with which to fight. Jesus agonized over His approaching death and the effect of God's wrath. God's answer to Jesus' prayer did not allow His Son to avoid suffering. However, God did provide angelic help for Jesus to face what was coming. Sometimes God answers prayer by eliminating trials; sometimes He answers by strengthening us in the midst of them. Not only did Jesus remind Judas of what he had done, He also noted the irony of being betrayed with a kiss.
Jesus mercifully healed the ear of one who was taking Him to His death. Jesus illustrated here the love for His enemies that He had commanded. The Lord knew Peter better than Peter knew himself .
Peter was greatly grieved that he had failed Jesus. The description here is of a major morning trial that involved all the Jewish religious leaders, the entire council or Sanhedrin. This trial violated various Jewish legal rules given in later sources: meeting on the morning of a feast; meeting at Caiaphas's home; trying a defendant without defense; and reaching the verdict in one day instead of the two days that were required for capital cases. Apparently what offended Jesus' audience was His claim to sit in God's presence and to exercise divine authority. In effect, His answer to their question about being the Christ was more than they expected. It was not blasphemous to claim to be Messiah. What was blasphemous was the claim to be the Judge of the Jewish people, with God's authority. Jesus' remark also implies the hope of vindication. Though the people would kill Him, Jesus would end up at God's side. The Jewish leaders sensed that Jesus was claiming great authority here. They sensed that Jesus was asserting a unique and highly exalted relationship with God, making Himself the equal of God. In their view, this was not possible. The Jewish leadership concluded that Jesus had made a confession of guilt. Jesus was "convicted" by His claim to a relationship to God in which He exercises an authority like God's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John 9

I do not care if I am right or wrong, I only care that I clearly see God's way. His ways are above our understanding. We see in part and as if through thick glasses. Help me Father to give no partiality to anyone but to seek Your will in all situations. Washed in the blood of Jesus and through the Holy Spirit, the loving Heart of God, our eyes can be opened and the light of His truth revealed. The gifts of the Spirit work through love, for without love we can do nothing.

9 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"

3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and washed, and came back seeing.

8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, "Is not this he who sat and begged?"

9 Some said, "This is he." Others said, "He is like him."

He said, "I am he."

10 Therefore they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?"

11 He answered and said, "A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received sight."

12 Then they said to him, "Where is He?"

He said, "I do not know."

13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see."

16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, "This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath."

Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" And there was a division among them.

17 They said to the blind man again, "What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?"

He said, "He is a prophet."

18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"

20 His parents answered them and said, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."

24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, "Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner."

25 He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see."

26 Then they said to him again, "What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?"

27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?"

28 Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to rMoses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from."

30 The man answered and said to them, "Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing."

34 They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?" And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"

36 He answered and said, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"

37 And Jesus said to him, "You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you."

38 Then he said, "Lord, I believe!" And he worshiped Him.

39 And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind."

40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, "Are we blind also?"

41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: The man who was blind from birth was a beggar. It was commonly supposed that sickness was a result of sin. God allowed the man to be born blind so that Jesus could heal him and thus reveal the works of God, His healing power. Mixing clay with saliva was a common practice used for eye infections. Jesus may have used the clay to provide an opportunity for the man to exercise his faith in washing it off. The Pharisees could not believe that Jesus was from God because He had healed on the Sabbath, thereby breaking the oral traditions that had grown up around the Law. But those who fairly evaluated Jesus' miraculous signs came to the conclusion that He was from God. To be put out of the synagogue was to be excommunicated. The Jews had three types of excommunication: one lasting 30 days, during which the person could not come within six feet of anybody else; one for an indefinite time, during which the person was excluded from all fellowship and worship; and one that meant absolute expulsion forever. These judgments were very serious because no one could conduct business with a person who was excommunicated. Attempting to put words in the man's mouth, the Jewish leaders said they knew Jesus was a sinner. In their view, healing on the Sabbath was breaking the Law. John uses Jesus' miracles as an organizing principle in his Gospel. He calls them all semeia, or "signs," indicating that each miracle was a concrete demonstration of Jesus' divinity and messiahship. But these same miracles would incite some to anger and violence. The Jewish leaders' traditions and ideas kept them from believing in the clear signs of Jesus.
In this account, the Pharisees' spiritual blindness is clearly contrasted with the vibrant faith of the blind man. After being healed, this man told others about Jesus and correctly concluded that He was from God. The blind man saw clearly what Jesus' sign meant, and believed. But the Pharisees refused to believe. They ridiculed the man's faith and arrogantly questioned Jesus. Jesus is God's only Son become man. Although He died for our sins, He was raised from the dead. Today, He still lives and intercedes for all who believe in Him. Faith must have a proper object. Jesus, not faith, saves. Faith is only a channel to the worthy object, the Lord Jesus Christ. As the light of the world, Jesus came that the blind might see and those who think they can see will be made blind.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Kings 20

Our life is in the hands of God and time is His to give or to take. God hears our earnest prayers. We can and should pray for His intervention in times of stress or illness. God can and does heal! All knowledge comes from the Lord and medical procedures can be used by Him to heal us. We had been given a death sentence but God in His mercy had His only Son take that sentence for us and He made us whole. Never take your salvation lightly it cost the Father more than you could ever repay. Don't be afraid to ask Him for the miraculous! The Lord is a rewarder of those who seek Him and put all their trust in Him. Praise God for His mercies are new each morning.

20 In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the Lord: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live.' "

2 Then he turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 "Remember now, O Lord, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what was good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 And it happened, before Isaiah had gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying, 5 "Return and tell Hezekiah the leader of My people, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord. 6 And I will add to your days fifteen years. I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for My own sake, and for the sake of My servant David." ' "

7 Then Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs." So they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

8 And Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "What is the sign that the Lord will heal me, and that I shall go up to the house of the Lord the third day?"

9 Then Isaiah said, "This is the sign to you from the Lord, that the Lord will do the thing which He has spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees or go backward ten degrees?"

10 And Hezekiah answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to go down ten degrees; no, but let the shadow go backward ten degrees."

11 So Isaiah the prophet cried out to the Lord, and He brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down on the sundial of Ahaz.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Hezekiah was a great man of prayer. Hezekiah's prayer recognized that although all of life is in God's hands, God is also a Rewarder of those who faithfully serve Him. The pattern of divine revelation to Hezekiah was through His prophet Isaiah. The practice of applying figs to an ulcerated sore is well attested in the records of the ancient Middle East. Once more the Lord provided a sign of His superintending intervention. Hezekiah welcomed it. Hezekiah's underlying trust in the Lord surfaced repeatedly throughout his reign.

 

Big Brother is coming in the form of Healthcare Opposition

We are living in scary times……I received this letter when I accused them of phishing. I have been harassed for the last 4 days. The truth is that I emailed friends about giving healthcare reform a decent audience before judging. I do not even know who the N A [healthcarediscussion@gmail.com] are. We are living in scary times when someone can steal email addresses and then harass you and those that you emailed with 3-4 emails a day with their agenda.......Big Brother has hit America and they are calling it Healthcare opposition!!! They are using scare tactics to frighten people from making educated decisions. Be aware!!!!

Dear Carla,
It was you who wrote to others about what had been established as a private communication between you and I. Obviously if you send messages to others in which you presume yourself to be an authority on healthcare reform you must ensure that you want to enter that debate. If your debate concludes with you calling people "bullies" and say they are stirring up "hatred" then you obviously do not really want to discuss healthcare reform. I can accept that. I will respond to anyone you respond to though in this discussion because only bullies phish and filter the discussion at hand to meet their personal goals and objectives. Individuals who are interested in making educated decisions choose to educate themselves then come to their conclusions. A grassroots effort looking to prevent the disinformation the government is putting out is happening. You have put out disinformation. You have been introduced to our efforts to stop misinformed people like you in your own neighborhood. People will be provided with facts and the government stealing healthcare from the people will be stopped. Government theft and political interference must stop at something as sacred as healthcare. The hospitals and staff which provide that care do not have to cower to politicians who all want to steal a piece of the money that goes to these fine non-profit organizations.
You seem very firm in your support for these ideas. Hopefully with education and understanding you will realize that agreement with the government on everything is not the only perspective out there. These professional white collar thieves who steal $$$ from the country and in this instance from hospitals and healthcare providers will be put on notice that we see what they are doing. If you do not include anyone's address in your response to me then I will oblige in not sending them a response, but I will not allow you to edit and triangulate this discussion without letting others know the truth.
Welcome to the grassroots effort to dismantle what is the biggest government money grab in history (20% of the GDP by the year 2017).
Sincerely yours
Healthcarereformdiscussion

Psalm 109

What is it in man that makes him only care about himself? What is it in man that makes him hate those who are different from himself? What is it that makes him falsely accuse others and deceive himself? The answer is sin, sin came into the world with Adam and Eve and has taken up residence in the hearts of men. May God's mercy and compassion shown to us cause us to extend mercy and compassion to all of His creation. God is the protector of those that cannot protect themselves.

1 Do not keep silent,

O God of my praise!

2 For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful

Have opened against me;

They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.

3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,

And fought against me without a cause.

4 In return for my love they are my accusers,

But I give myself to prayer.

5 Thus they have rewarded me evil for good,

And hatred for my love.

16 Because he did not remember to show mercy,

But persecuted the poor and needy man,

That he might even slay the broken in heart.

17 As he loved cursing, so let it come to him;

As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.

18 As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,

So let it enter his body like water,

And like oil into his bones.

20 Let this be the Lord's reward to my accusers,

And to those who speak evil against my person.

21 But You, O God the Lord,

Deal with me for Your name's sake;

Because Your mercy is good, deliver me.

22 For I am poor and needy,

And my heart is wounded within me.

26 Help me, O Lord my God!

Oh, save me according to Your mercy,

27 That they may know that this is Your hand—

That You, Lord, have done it!

28 Let them curse, but You bless;

When they arise, let them be ashamed,

But let Your servant rejoice.

29 Let my accusers be clothed with shame,

And let them cover themselves with their own disgrace as with a mantle.

30 I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth;

Yes, I will praise Him among the multitude.

31 For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor,

To save him from those who condemn him.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: The psalmist declares his innocence and insists that his enemies have rewarded his prayers with evil, his love with hatred. Although the psalmist's words may seem extremely hostile, he is simply asking that his enemy's evil actions be judged. The poor are not those without wealth so much as those without protection or defenders. Even in the psalmist's intense emotional state, he wants to see the name of God defended, proclaimed, and honored. The Psalms always lead to the praise of God, even from the depths of desperate circumstances.

 

 

 

Psalm 28 a psalm of David

God rewards those who put their faith in Him alone. He answers the prayers of his children. He protects them from the evils of this world. His mercy is new every day. In Him, in the salvation He provided in Christ Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit,
you will find rest.

1 To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: Do not be silent to me,

Lest, if You are silent to me,

I become like those who go down to the pit.

2 Hear the voice of my supplications

When I cry to You,

When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

3 Do not take me away with the wicked

And with the workers of iniquity,

Who speak peace to their neighbors,

But evil is in their hearts.

6 Blessed be the Lord,

Because He has heard the voice of my supplications!

7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;

My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped;

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

And with my song I will praise Him.

8 The Lord is their strength,

And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.

9 Save Your people,

And bless Your inheritance;

Shepherd them also,

And bear them up forever.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: The psalm includes a prayer against David's enemies and a royal invocation of praise to the Lord. The psalm has four movements: (1) an appeal to God that He not be silent; (2) a petition to be distinguished from the wicked and their deserved punishment; (3) a blessing of the Lord for His work in the psalmist's life; (4) praise for the Lord who delivers His anointed and His people. One of the ways David senses the distance of God is His "silence". David might be referring merely to his lack of a sense of intimacy with God, but it is also possible that he is awaiting a specific word from the Lord through a prophet or a priest. David asks to be rescued from death so that he might live to praise God. One day even the wicked will have to acknowledge God as their Creator and give Him the glory He deserves. Because the plea of the psalmist has been heard, the last section of the poem is a hymn of praise. The comparison of God with a shepherd is an image of the loving care of a great king. This image also foreshadows Jesus, the coming King and the Good Shepherd.

 

 

Jeremiah 45

When we stand up for our beliefs there will always be those who want to tear us down. All life is in God's hands. The Lord alone has the power to control life or death, peace or adversity, health or sickness. God builds up but He also tears down. It is not about us. It is all about Him. All power, all honor and all glory to the Lord God Almighty! The story of our life is written by His hand.

45 The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying, 2 "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: 3 'You said, "Woe is me now! For the Lord has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest." '

4 "Thus you shall say to him, 'Thus says the Lord: "Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. 5 And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh," says the Lord. "But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go." '

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Baruch assisted and encouraged Jeremiah when he was imprisoned. In this passage Jeremiah replies with a personal word of encouragement from the Lord for his scribal friend. Baruch had read Jeremiah's oracles before the temple crowd and the princes of Judah, before Jehoiakim burned the original scroll. A second scroll was prepared by Baruch, and he remained an assistant to Jeremiah throughout his ministry, including the journey to Egypt. Jeremiah addressed Baruch in light of the scribe's sorrow. Baruch suffered mental anguish and personal rejection from his people due to his association with Jeremiah. Baruch apparently had hopes for position, honor, and distinction. However, these dreams were lost through his association with Jeremiah. Yet Baruch would be spared the judgment that would befall the land, for the Lord would give him his life as a prize, or booty.