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Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 303

Oct30

Day 303 – Reading – Luke 18

Read and believe in Jesus!

Luke 18.

In each of Jesus’ parables and teachings, notice WHO He is talking to. 

The Parable of the Persistent Widow is directed to His disciples (going back to 9:22 to verify).  It’s about prayer, persistence in prayer, and faith.

Jesus tells a story about a certain “unrighteous” judge who did not fear God or respect man.  He sounds very self-centered and arrogant.  Each day, this judge heard a request/complaint from a widow about some injustice. He refused to act, probably telling himself there was no benefit to him in doing so.

But she continued to come, day after day after day. He grew tired of seeing her face, of hearing her voice, of her taking up his time.  So finally, to stop her from coming to him, he gave her the justice she requested.  “Finally!” he thought, “I’ll get some peace and quiet!”

After the conclusion, Jesus asked His disciples a question.  “Will not God give justice to His elect who cry to Him day and night?  Will He delay long over them?  I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily.  But… when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”   This suggests that there will be FEW “elect” who have genuine faith in the end times. (such as in the days of Noah). 

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The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector was directed to “those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous.”  You can guess Jesus is talking to and about the Pharisees.

Two men went into the temple to pray: a Pharisee and a Tax collector. 

Here’s how the Pharisee prayed. Standing apart from the others, he said,

“God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like… this tax collector.  “I” fast twice a week. “I” give tithes of ALL that I get.”

Here’s how the Tax Collector prayed. Standing far off, his eyes cast to the ground, and beating his chest in sorrow, he said,

“God, be merciful to me a sinner!”

Looking at those “who trusted in themselves for righteousness,” Jesus said, “I tell you, this (second) man went back to his house justified, rather than the other.”  Can you imagine the objections in the group of listeners?  No way!  That’s impossible!  You’re crazy!  And Jesus reminds them, “Everyone who exalts HIMSELF will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

There is no one truly righteous in themselves. (Psalm 14:1-3) Everyone has sinned. The only hope of justification comes from God to the repentant.

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This conversation was directed to those around Jesus (bystanders and disciples) as well as directly to a “rich, young ruler” who asked a question – hoping perhaps to outdo the “stuck-up” Pharisees. “Good Teacher, what must “I” do to inherit eternal life?  This man wasn’t a pious teacher of the law, and he certainly wasn’t a hated tax collector. He was just a regular guy (who just happened to have everything – wealth, youth, and power).

Jesus: “Why do you call me good? No one is good by God alone?”  “Was this guy acknowledging Jesus as God? Or was he saying he recognized Jesus as “good” because he, himself, was also “good.”  If so, he was about to be corrected.

Jesus:  “You know the commandments: do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, and honor your father and mother.” Notice that Jesus only quoted those commandments that related man to man.

Ruler: “All these have I kept from my youth.”

Jesus: “One thing you lack. Sell all you have and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have ‘treasure’ in heaven. Then, come, follow Me.”

Hearing this, the rich, young ruler became very sad, for he was “extremely rich.”  Slowly, he walked away.

Jesus then turned and said to those around Him: “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 

His listeners: “Then who CAN be saved?”

Jesus: “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”

Peter: “See, WE have left our homes and followed you.

Jesus: “There is no one who has left house or wife or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come … eternal life.”

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And lastly, Jesus directly tells His TWELVE special disciples (for the third time) what the future holds for Him.

“See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.  He will be delivered over to the Gentiles. He will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. After flogging Him, they will kill Him. Then ON THE THIRD DAY, He will rise.”

But they understood NONE of these things.  It was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what He said.

(Were their minds and hopes too wrapped up in the “glory” of the Kingdom to come?  Did they still imagine Jesus as King and them as His “right-hand men ruling beside Him?”)  

 

(Lord, help me to listen and really hear the things You tell us in Your Word. Please give me wisdom and understanding, a soft heart, and a willing spirit.)

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 208 and 209

Jul28

NOTE: Sunday and Monday studies are posted together on MONDAY.

Day 208 – Reading – Isaiah 44 – 48.

Day 209 – 2 Kings 19, Psalms 46, 80, and 135.

Read today’s Scriptures.  PRAY and SING them too!

SUNDAY,

Day 208 – Isaiah 44.

(We are still in the section (chapters 40-66) that addresses Judah AS IF they were already in the Babylonian captivity, which in reality is perhaps 70/80 years off.)

Isaiah’s words from the LORD about the millennial kingdom are meant to encourage Judah.

  • But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you. “Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun* whom I have chosen. “For I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring and my blessing on your descendants.”

*Jeshurun is an honored name for Israel, whose root meaning is “right or straight,” the opposite of the meaning of Jacob, which is “deceiver.”

  •  Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts, “I AM the first and I AM the last; besides me there is no god.  WHO is like Me? Let him declare it.”  “Is there a God besides me? THERE IS NO ROCK; I KNOW NOT ANY!”

After that, the foolishness of idol worship is portrayed.  They are nothing!  “The carpenter cuts down a cedar, or cypress, or oak.  It becomes fuel to warm him, roast his meat, and bake his bread. He also makes an idol out of it and worships and prays to it, even though it falls down on its face.”

But the LORD, the LORD, is Israel’s Redeemer.

  • “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like a mist; RETURN TO ME, for I have redeemed you! 
  • Sing O heavens, for the LORD has done it; shout, O depths of the earth; break forth into singing, O mountains, O forest, and every tree in it.  FOR THE LORD HAS REDEEMED JACOB AND WILL BE GLORIFIED IN ISRAEL.”

And then the LORD speaks of the way future Persian king, Cyrus.  “He is my shepherd, and he shall fulfill all my purpose, saying. “Jerusalem shall be built, the Temple will have its foundation laid.”

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Isaiah 45.

The Lord continues about Cyrus, His anointed instrument.  God will use him to “subdue nations,” and “loose the belts of kings,” and “open doors and gates before him.”

God pledges to Cyrus, “I will go before you to level the exalted places, break in pieces the doors of bronze, cut through bars of iron, and give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places.”

WHY? 

For the sake of God’s servant Jacob, and Israel, His chosen.  AND… “That you may know that it is the LORD, the God of Israel, who called you by name.  And that the people will know that there is none beside me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.

“I have stirred him (Cyrus) up in righteousness, and I will make all his ways level; he shall build my city and set my exiles free.”   Here Isaiah is telling about a Persian King who will come to destroy Babylon and release the Jewish captives….. and the captivity hasn’t even happened yet!

Many sections in this chapter are glorious statements and praises to the LORD God. Read them and let your heart swell. 

Verse 22:  “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.”

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Isaiah 46.

The useless idols of Babylon are compared to the One True God.  “Bel (Baal) bows down, and Nebo (the Phoenician chief god) stoops and bows down. They cannot save themselves, and go into captivity. 

But God, who bore Israel before their birth, carried them from the womb, and will even to their old age and gray hairs, HE will carry and save them…. for He is God, there is no other like Him.  He will put salvation in Zion, for Israel His glory.

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Isaiah 47.

Isaiah foretells the humiliation of Babylon.  “Come down and sit in the dust, O virgin daughter of Babylon; sit on the ground without a throne. For you shall no more be called tender and delicate. Take the millstones and grind flour, put off your veil, strip off your robe, uncover your legs, pass through the rivers…. your disgrace shall be seen.  I will take vengeance, and I will spare no one. Our Redeemer — the LORD of hosts is his name — is the Holy One of ISRAEL.

“I was angry with my people; I profaned my heritage; I gave them into your hand (O daughter of the Chaldeans); you showed them no mercy; on the AGED you made your yoke EXCEEDINGLY HEAVY!!!

‘Now hear this …  “these two things shall come to you in a moment, in one day; the loss of children and widowhood shall come upon you in full measure in spite of your many sorceries…”  “…there is no one to save you.”

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Isaiah 48.

And now, a bit of harshness for Israel, for their good.  God speaks to the house of Israel, who swore by his name and confessed him, but didn’t do it in truth or righteousness. 

“Because I knew that you were obstinate, and your neck was an iron sinew, and your forehead brass… I declared things to you before they came to pass — so you wouldn’t say, “My idol told me. my carved and metal image commanded them.” 

And now “From this time forth I announce to you NEW things, hidden things that you have not known.”

God says he has refined them and tried them in the furnace of affliction – for His own name’s sake. 

  • “Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea……………..”
  • Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, “The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob!”

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MONDAY,

Day 209 – 2 Kings 19.  

Back to some history. This section is a repeat of what we read in Isaiah 37. Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and his commander, Rabshakeh, came to harass Jerusalem and King Hezekiah. They also mocked and reviled the Holy One of Israel.  Hezekiah brought the threats before the LORD and prayed for help.

The LORD promises to send Sennacherib home, where he will be killed. (It happens.)

The LORD promises He will “defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David.”  And that night, the angel of the LORD goes through the Assyrian camp and kills 185K soldiers.  In the morning, there were only dead bodies. 

This chapter also recounts Hezekiah’s terminal illness, his prayer, and God’s adding 15 years to his life. 

But before YOU decide to pray to live longer, like Hezekiah pleaded, remember what the king DID with those extra years.  He foolishly (pridefully?) showed some well-wishing Babylonian emissaries ALL the treasures in his house and his realm, including the silver, gold, (precious stones), (costly vessels), spices, precious oil, (stalls for all kinds of cattle and sheepfolds), the entire armory, and everything in his storehouses (grain and wine). 

(NOTE:  The Babylonians – always interested in the cosmos – had heard – perhaps even experienced – the sundial going back those degrees, and had come to investigate – and… bring Hezekiah presents.)

When Isaiah heard what Hezekiah had done, he rebuked him for his stupidity and prophesied that EVERYTHING he had shown TO the Babylonians would one day be carried away BY the Babylonians. They would also take some of Hezekiah’s descendants, who would be made into eunuchs in the foreign king’s palace. 

“Oh well,” Hezekiah said. “At least there will be peace and security in MY days.”  Wow. How selfish!

(This story about Sennacherib, Hezekiah’s letter before God, and God’s actions, as well as Hezekiah’s foolishness with the Babylonian visitors, AND some of his later great accomplishments, are also written in 2 Chronicles 32, with a few more details.)

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Psalm 46.

  • “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear…”
  • “The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 
  • “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire.
  • “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

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Psalm 80.

  • “Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel … You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.” 
  • “… stir up Your might and come to save us!”
  •  “Restore us O LORD God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved!”

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Psalm 135.

  • “Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD … Praise the LORD for the LORD is good; sing to His name, for it is pleasant!
  • “For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the LORD pleases, he does..
  • “Your name, O LORD, endures forever, Your renown, O LORD throughout all ages.  For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants. 
  • “Blessed be the LORD from Zion, He who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD!”

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 365 – the last day!

Dec31

   Day 365—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying THE REVELATION to John.

Day 365 – Revelation 19 – 22 (Rejoicing in Heaven, 1,000 years, Satan defeated, new Heaven/Earth, new Jerusalem, River & Tree of Life, Jesus is coming)

Revelation 19.

“Hallelujah! Salvation, and glory, and power belong to our God, for His judgments are true and just.”

“Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, small and great.”

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready: it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure.”  Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”

Then John saw a white horse ridden by One called “Faithful and True.” His eyes are like a flame of fire and on His head are many diadems. He has “a name written that no one knows but Himself.”

He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which He is called is “The Word of God.”  This One will defeat the nations and rule them. He will “tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.”  On his robe and on his thigh, He has a name written, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”

And the “armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white a pure” (the saints) were following Him on white horses.

“I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against Him who was sitting on the horse and against His army. The beast was captured, and the false prophet, who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the Mark of the Beast and those who worshipped its image.  THESE TWO WERE THROWN ALIVE INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE THAT BURNS WITH SULFER.”

Revelation 20.

Then John saw an angel holding the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. “And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it, and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer.” (Until the thousand years have ended, and he is released for a LITTLE while.)

Then John saw the thousand-year reign of Christ on earth. (It’s when Israel’s promised King will reign on the actual earth from Jerusalem.  (A promise fulfilled to the Jews.)

After that, Satan will be released to try to deceive men again, and there will be a great war until fire from Heaven comes down and consumes them. THEN THE DEVIL WILL BE THROWN INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE AND SULFUR AND WILL BE TORMENTED DAY AND NIGHT FOREVER AND EVER!”

Next comes “the Great White Throne Judgment,” when all the dead will stand before God’s throne. Books will be opened and the dead will be judged by WHAT THEY HAVE DONE, as written in the books.  “If anyone’s name was not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.“. 

Revelation 21.

John then saw a NEW heaven and a NEW earth.  He saw “the Holy City” descending out of heaven from God, like a bride adorned for her husband.  GOD IS GOING TO DWELL WITH MEN, AND THEY WILL BE HIS PEOPLE, AND HE THEIR GOD. 

All tears will be wiped away. There won’t be death, no mourning, no crying, and no more pain.  All things will be made new. 

Then, an angel showed John the Holy City, Jerusalem, descending out of Heaven from God. It was radiant like the most rare jewel, crystal clear like a diamond.  It had a high wall with twelve gates. Inscribed on each gate was the name of one of the twelve sons of Israel.  The wall had twelve foundations made of twelve precious jewels, with each of the twelve apostles’ names on them. 

The angel with John measured the city. It was a perfect 1,500-mile cube (about 2 million square miles in volume). It mirrored the configuration of the Most Holy Place in the temple.  It was made of pure gold, transparent as glass. 

There was NO TEMPLE because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb were the temple.

There was NO SUN OR MOON because the glory of God and the lamp of the Lamb gave it light.

There was NOTHING UNCLEAN, ONLY those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life are allowed to enter the city.

Revelation 22.

The angel then showed John the pure, crystal-clear river of the Water of Life flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.  It flowed through the middle of the street of the city. Growing on either side was the Tree of Life with twelve kinds of fruits, one for each month.

The servants of God and the Lamb will worship  Him.  And they will SEE HIS FACE. (see 1 John 3:2)

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John then signs his name. “I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things.”   

The angel told John, “Do NOT seal up the words of the prophecy of this book (like the prophet Daniel was told to do in Daniel 8:26, 12:4-10), “for the time is near.”

“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” 

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”

The Spirit and the Bride say, COME!

Let the one who hears (reads) say, COME!

He who testifies to these things (Jesus) says, SURELY I AM COMING SOON.

John says, AMEN. COME, LORD JESUS!

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We did it. What a glorious trip through the Word of Almighty God, from pure beginning to purity restored.  Glory, hallelujah!

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 150

May29

   Day 150—We are still in our FIFTH month of Bible reading. 

   Day 150 –  Psalm 119 (God’s Word)

Psalm 119 is the longest of the Psalms. It’s not certain who wrote it. It could have been David, or it might have been either Daniel or Ezra.

Along with Psalms 1 and 19, it exalts the Word of God. It is written as an acrostic, meaning that each of the 22 sections begins with the letter of the Hebrew alphabet, i.e., aleph, bet, gimel, daleth, he… etc. (Like the English, A, B, C, D, E…)

EIGHT different terms refer to the Scriptures in Psalm 119. See if you can find them all. Here are some of my favorite verses:

Aleph. “Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with their whole heart.”   “O that my ways may be steadfast in keeping Your statutes!

Beth.” How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your word.”   “I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.”

Gimel. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.”   “My soul is consumed with longing for Your rules at all times.”

Dalit.  “My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to Your word! Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! I have chosen the way of faithfulness; set Your rules before me.”

He. “Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law and observe it with my whole heart. Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to selfish gain! Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;”

Vav. “Take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in Your rules.”   “I find my delight in Your commandments, which I love.”

Zayin. “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.”   “Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my sojourning. I remember Your name in the night, O LORD, and keep Your law.”

Het.  “The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep Your words.”   “Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. At midnight, I rise to praise You because of your righteous rules.”

Tet. “Teach me good judgment and knowledge, for I believe in Your commandments. Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word. You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes.”   “It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes.”

Yod. “Your hands have made and fashioned me; give me understanding that I may learn Your commandments.”   “I know, O LORD, that Your rules are righteous and that in faithfulness, You have afflicted me. Let Your steadfast love comfort me according to Your promise to Your servant.”

Kaph. “My soul longs for Your salvation; I hope in Your word.”  “I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten Your statutes.”   “In Your steadfast love, give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of Your mouth.”

Lamed. “Forever, O LORD, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens. Your faithfulness endures to all generations.”   If Your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, for by them, You have given me life. I am Yours; save me, for I have sought Your precepts.”

Mem. “Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.”   “I understand more than the aged, for I keep Your precepts.”   “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.”

Nun. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”   “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”

Samekh. “You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word.”

Ayin.  “My eyes long for Your salvation and for the fulfillment of Your righteous promise.”   “It is time for the LORD to act, for Your law has been broken. Therefore, I love Y,our commandments above gold, above fine gold.”

Pe. “The unfolding of Your words gives light. It implants understanding to the simple.”   “Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears because people do not keep Your law.”

Tsadhe. “My zeal consumes me because my foes forget Your words.”   “Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.”

Qoph.  “I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in Your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night that I may meditate on Your promise.”

Resh. “Great is Your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to Your rules.”   “The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever.”

Sin/Shin. “I rejoice at Your word like one who finds great spoil.”   “Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.”

Tav,  “Let my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word!”   “My tongue will sing of Your word, for all Your commandments are right.”   “I long for Your salvation, O LORD, and Your law is my delight.”   “I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commandments.”

 

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 108

Apr17

    Day 108 —  We have been reading the Bible daily for almost a third of the year. What have you learned about God? About yourself?

   Day 108 – Psalms 17, 35, 54, 63. (More psalms by David when being persecuted by Saul)

In Psalm 17, David petitions the LORD as many as SEVENTEEN times for protection. It’s a harrowing time for him, with Saul and his army always after him, and spies tattle-telling where he is hiding. 

“He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush. Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!” Verse 12-13a 

“Keep me as the apple of your eye, hid me in the shadow of your wings.”  Verse 8

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Psalm 35 calls for justice against David’s enemy and alludes to other foreign powers and even to all of God’s enemies.

Verse 17-18: “How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! I will thank you in the great congregation; in the mighty throng, I will praise you. “

Verse 19: “Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those “wink the eye” who hate me without a cause.”

Verse 17: “Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, ‘Great is the LORD who delights in the welfare of his servant!'” 

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In Psalm 54, again, the Ziphites went to Saul and told him of David’s whereabouts.  “O God, save me by your name and vindicate me by our might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Behold, God is my helper, the Lord is the upholder of my life.” Verses 1-4.

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Psalm 64 is wonderful. Be sure to read all the verses. It’s almost entirely praise God.

See him in the wilderness – “O God, you are my God earnestly I seek you, MY SOUL THIRSTS FOR YOU; AS IN A DRY AND WEARY LAND WHERE THERE IS NO WATER.” Verse 1

“Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name, I will lift up my hands.” Verses 3-4

“…and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when i remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.” Verses 5b-8

 

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 88

Mar28

    Day 88 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God!  TODAY, we finish the 7th book in our Bible reading!

   Day 88 – Joshua 22 – 24 (Eastern tribes, an alter, Joshua’s charge & challenge, Joshua’s death)

In Chapter 22, with the land settled and divided, it’s time for the armies of the Eastern two-and-a-half tribes to return to their lands and settle down.  Joshua charges them with the basis of the Covenant, to “love the LORD their God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to cling to Him, and to serve Him with all their heart and soul.”

These tribes received Joshua’s challenge and blessing and headed East, stopping at the border to erect a massive altar.  WHAT??  Rightly, the other ten tribes, plus the High Priest, come and confront them. They fear that God will judge them ALL if these eastern tribes are already worshiping at a place other than where God signifies.  But the eastern tribe allay their fears, saying the alter is NOT a place to worship, but only a memorial to reinforce that the eastern tribes are a part of the whole of Israel.  All outcry is calmed with this explanation.

In Chapter 23, Joshua—well advanced in years at 110—tells how faithful God has been to ALL his promises, even though Israel repeatedly fails Him. He says, “You know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you.”

  • Therefore, be very strong to keep and do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses.
  • Don’t turn aside from it to the right or left.
  • Don’t mix with the nations remaining among you or even mention the names of their gods.
  • Don’t swear to their gods, serve them, or bow down to them.
  • Cling to the LORD your God just as you have done to this day.
  • Be careful to love the LORD your God.

In Chapter 24, Joshua reviews Israel’s history from Abraham’s first call to this day in detail, and concludes with these thoughts.

  • Now therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness
  • Choose this day whom you will serve.
  • As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

And the people answered, “we also will serve the LORD, for He is our God. Joshua contradicts them, saying they are NOT able to serve the Lord, but they double-vow that they will.

Then Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being 110 yeas old.  They buried him in his own inheritance.  And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the LORD had done. Finally Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the High Priest dies too, and his son, the righteous Phinehas becomes High Priest.

Then the chapter and the book close with a rightful conclusion to Genesis 50.  The bones that Joseph made his brothers promise they would carry out of Egypt and bury in the promised land are finally buried at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor. (Near the very place Joseph’s brothers kidnapped him and sold him to slavery in Egypt.)

God is faithful always and honors those who serve him.

END of Joshua. And a new, spiraling down period of Israel’s history – JUDGES.

May 4, 2021 – #4 of 31 Days of Biblical Women

May4

Esther ~~

Esther, chapter 2

A beautiful girl chosen by the King of Persia to be his new Queen, unbeknownst to him, a Jewess. Pampered and Primped in the king’s haram spa until she was fit to be called to spend a night with Him. She found favor.

Meanwhile, a proud and pompous descendant of the Amaekites approached the King with a wicked plan. He hated all Jews and tricked the King into agreeing that a “subversive people group” needed purging from Persia.

Esther got wind of the plot from her uncle Mordecai. He asked her to save her people by doing the impossible – going into the king’s inner court without first being called to beg his favor. The law stated that the one who did so was to be put to death…. unless the king held out the golden scepter.

Her uncle’s words, “Do not think to yourself that in the King’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish.  And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

While the Jews in capitol city fasted and prayed – Esther and her women as well – Esther made a plan.  She went in the strength of Almighty God with the simple, yet sly plan, to see the King.

And miracle of miracles King Ahasuerus held out the scepter!

Twice the King and the Amalekite were invited to Esther’s private quarters for a sumptuous meal. During the second, when the King was sated with rich food, Esther told him about the Amalekite’s plot to kill her.

In a rage, the king ordered his death by hanging, and since the Law of the Persians could not be cancelled, he ordered that the Jews could fight and defend themselves when the henchmen came.

After that, a great celebration was held to honor the Jews’ victory. It’s called Purim, and is celebrated today.

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PS: The whole story of Esther in the Bible is a delightful, intriguing read.  I’ve left out many of the unbelievable details. But read it on your own. It almost sounds like an episode of the Keystone Cops.

 

 

LORD, help me to be willing to stand up against evil and proclaim the righteousness of God and the Son regardless of my own safety.

JH

ARE YOU THRIVING OR JUST GETTING BY?

Sep25

RE-BLOGGED on September 24, 2019 by  from the “Jewels This Side of Heaven” blog.

My German shepherd was starving to death, and we didn’t know what to do. Sophie got twelve, yes 12 cups of food a day and at a year old, she was only forty pounds. After many tests, the vet diagnosed her with a pancreatic problem, called EPI, which kept her from digesting her food. As a result, whatever she ate went through her system without nourishing or feeding her body. With the help of pancreatic enzymes, Sophie is now thriving.

As a culture, America is starving. So are some of her churches. Why? We live to eat but don’t eat to live. We are not feeding on the one thing we need most, the Word. God made us to have intimacy with him through his Holy Spirit, prayer, and Scripture. Without the catalyst of God’s Word, we won’t thrive spiritually.

We need to digest the Word before we can absorb it and do what it says. But if we barely open the Book how will that happen?

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV) says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit…”

The word living means God’s words are alive, and they give life. Active is the Greek word energes which resembles the English word energy. God’s Word and words are full of life and energy. God’s words are to achieve something in our heart and life. Scripture needs to become more than head knowledge. We shouldn’t let it go in one ear and out the other, because we need the Word to be heart knowledge so it can be absorbed and nourishing to our very soul.

God’s word is sharper than a sword, able to pierce through the soul and spirit. The word pierce means to penetrate or get through. This may be one reason we may not care to read the Bible. Unless the Word penetrates our heart, we will not grow and change.

Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions, and our spirit is what the Creator breathed into us. They are often at war with one another. Our spirit communes with God through the Holy Spirit while our soul is everything which makes us who we are.

So, why would the Word divide the soul and spirit? God wants us to be Spirit-driven, not soul-driven. The Spirit is love, peace, truth, patient, gentle, kind, self-controlled, faithful, and joyful. This is how God wants us to function.

The soul can be moody, self-centered, turbulent, depressed, thoughtless, self-driven, lacking self-control, and deceitful. Satan influences our soul, by manipulating our thoughts. If we are not in the Word of Truth, under the perfect power of the Spirit of Truth, we get off track.

God wants us to be Spirit-led and Word-led. One without the other is only half the equation. Unfortunately, many overdo one or the other. We become so Spirit-led we assume everything we think is of the Holy Spirit and will act and speak out without the guidelines of Scripture. However, being overly Word-lead can stifle or quench the Holy Spirit so we can no longer hear him because everything becomes an intellectual experience. There needs to be a balance.

In Hebrews 5:11-12, the author rebukes his readers for becoming dull of hearing. He says, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food.”

The Greek word for dull refers to “a condition of spiritual apathy and laziness that prevents spiritual development.” [1] Isn’t that how we can feel, too?

Studying Scripture takes time and effort.

God does not think less of us if we are not in his Word.

But, have you ever thought how it must sadden him to see the time we invest in things having no Heavenly value?

Do we spend too much time on our phones, iPads or binge watching our favorite shows on Netflix? Yes. Do we need to improve? Yes. Am I preaching to myself? Yes.

The answer lies in putting those things away for a set time each day and getting out our Bibles to let the Holy Spirit guide us through the Word one verse at a time. Don’t set unrealistic goals. Reading one verse and letting God speak to you through it is better than reading one chapter or an entire book just so we can say we did it.

If you are a parent, can you imagine letting your ten or fifteen-year-old still drink from a sippy cup or a bottle for each meal? Unfortunately, that is the state of a lot of churches in our country. We need more than milk; we need solid food. We need to get back to reading, discussing, and studying God’s Word. Our spiritual health depends on it.

Where Do I Do My Banking?

Dec1

Offering plateOne day Jesus and His disciples were watching the offering box at the Temple. (Mark 12:41-44) As they watched, many rich people put in large amounts. (That’s good, right? The priests and their families need support, the Temple needs upkeep. The rich people need tax deductions.) I can imagine the disciples giving a group “thumb’s up” sign.

Then a poor widow woman put in two pennies. She took her little coin purse, turned it upside down, and shook out those last two coins. Or more likely…she carried them all the way from home in her hand, tucked under her shawl, having emptied the last of her earnings jar before she came. She probably slipped them into the box making no noise at all.

But, you may think, what can two pennies buy? Some people won’t even bend over to pick up a penny from the sidewalk. Perhaps the disciples shook their heads at the uselessness and sadness of such a small offering.

But Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box.”

Huh?

He continued, “For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.” Jesus explained that the rich gave a percentage of what they had, while the widow gave all she had.

More actual cash from the rich men went into the Temple coffers, but more investment value from the widow reached Heaven’s treasury.

How strange is God’s bookkeeping. He considers things of lasting value, like heart generosity and sacrificial giving, more important than obligated giving. (Philippians 4:18*)

Yes, wise, carefully calculated donations are important, but God doesn’t really need our money.  He owns everything (Psalm 50:10-12*). He can give us all we need or ever ask for from the vast riches He has. (Philippians 4:19*) God wants our heart. He loves a contrite heart, a poor-in-spirit, humble, depending-on-Him-alone heart. This He praises and rewards. This glorifies Him. (Psalm 51:16-17*, Matthew 5:3*)

“Man sees on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)

 

Lord, you see my  heart. You see the discontent and greed and coveting that I hold dear, and You see the struggle I have to defeat those sins. You see my worldliness, my love of things, my stinginess. But You also see my desire to know and to love You foremost…to treasure You above everything.   

Help me release to You all I hold dear, and give You my “last penny,” my future, my life… and then joyfully depend on You, O, Creator, Sustainer, and Owner of the universe and all that is in it. (Luke 12:32-34*)

 

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*Philippians 4:18 – “I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received …the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”

*Psalm 50:10-12 – “For every beast of the forest is mine; the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine.”

*Philippians 4:19 – “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

*Psalm 51:16-17 – “For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God you will not despise.”

*Matthew 5:3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

*Luke 12:32-34 – “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”