Tag Archive | faith

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 263

Sep20

Day 263 – Reading – Zechariah 1 – 4.

Read the Scriptures first. Do you like reading prophetic visions?  

Today begins three days in the book of Zechariah.  Remember in Ezra 5:1-2, God sent two prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, to get the Jews off their recliners and back to work to finish rebuilding the Temple. He was in a priestly line, born in Babylon and raised by his priest-grandfather, Iddo. He’s described as a “young man” in Zechariah 2:4, so he was probably younger than Haggai and hadn’t begun his priestly duties (age 30).  According to Matthew 23:35, he was murdered between the temple and the altar!

Not only did Zechariah challenge the Jews to complete the Temple rebuild, but he went on to encourage them concerning their Messiah and His glorious kingdom and new Temple in the future. 

In each of his three main prophesies, Zechariah begins with the present situation in Judah and goes forward to the exaltation of the Messiah’s reign.  It is sometimes called “the apocalypse of the Old Testament.”

God used Zechariah to bring an outburst of promise for the future to sustain the faithful remnant through the coming 400 “silent years” when no word from God was heard until John the Baptist’s words announcing “the Lamb of God.”

(I think it’s cool that Israel was in Egypt for 400 years, until they killed the Passover Lamb.  And soon there would be another 400 dark years until they heard the announcement of (and killed) Jesus, “the Lamb of God.”  See Mark 1:1-11)

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Zechariah 1.

“‘Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the LORD.” were Zechariah’s first words. And the people repented. Then Zechariah gave these two visions for the comfort of the exiles.

  • 1.)  In the night, Zechariah “saw” a Man/angel among the myrtle trees, and 3 other riders of colored horses.  These men on horses patrolled the earth, and discovered all the nations (Gentiles) were at ease/rest, while Jerusalem & Zion lay in disaster.
  • The Man/angel then told Zechariah and the Jews these gracious and comforting words from the LORD.
  • “I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy; my house shall be built in it, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem (the walls were finished 75 years later).  My cities shall again overflow with prosperity, and the LORD will again comfort Zion and again “choose Jerusalem.” (during the Millennial Kingdom.)

 

  • 2.) Next, Zechariah “saw” four horns! He asked what they represented. 
  • The angel said they were “the horns (or powers) that scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.” (Maybe the four who attacked Israel: Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and Persia, but most likely the four world empires of Daniel 2:7: Babylon, Persia, Greece & Rome.)
  • Then Zechariah “saw” four craftsmen (“hammers”), and asked the angel/man what these were coming to do.
  • The angel said, “These have come to terrify the “horns” that scattered Judah. The craftsmen will terrify them and cast them down.“

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Zechariah 2.

  • 3.)  Next, the prophet “sees” a man with a measuring line, and he asks the man where he’s going and what he’s planning to do.
  • “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and length.”  The angel/man then sends a runner after the measuring man to tell him that the future Jerusalem will have NO WALL. The LORD will be a “wall of fire” all around the city, AND He will also be the Glory in her midst.

Then Zechariah comes back to the present with a message to the Jews still remaining in Babylon.  “Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the LORD.  Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon, who plundered you.  For he who touches you touches the apple of His (God’s) eye. I will shake my hand over them, and they (captors) shall become the plunder for those who served them.”

  • Then Zechariah again resorts to the distant future when the LORD will dwell in Zion, and many nations shall join themselves to the LORD and also be His people.  He will dwell in their midst, in “the holy land.”  He will again “choose Jerusalem.”  So, “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion!”

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Zechariah 3.

This next vision reveals the need for Israel’s cleansing and restoration as a priestly nation.

  • 4.)  The LORD showed Zechariah the High Priest Jeshua, standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand (God’s or Jeshua’s?) to ACCUSE HIM.  This is symbolic. Jeshua stands in for Israel as a whole. Will he be rejected or accepted? 
  • The LORD rebukes Satan for his accusation. He tells the enemy that He has snatched him (Jeshua/Israel) out of the fire of destruction/exile, like a stick about to burn. 
  • Satan fires back, pointing out Jeshua’s filthy garments (Israel’s sin). 
  • The LORD commands that the filthy garments be removed from Jeshua. Then He says to the priest representing all of Israel, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”

(This is righteousness imputed, as God does to those who believe in Jesus, the Christ.  Nothing that they/we do can make us clean. God changes our filthiness to purity and glory, and the ability now to serve Him.)

  • Then, Zechariah joins the scene and reminds them to put a clean turban on Jeshua’s head.  The priestly turban, inscribed “Holy to the LORD,” is placed on Jeshua’s head.
  • The LORD of Hosts then charges Jeshua, “If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access with those who stand here.” (Access to God’s throne room through offerings and prayer.)  “And behold, I will bring my servant, “the Branch.” (Jeremiah 23:5-6)  I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. “

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Zechariah 4.

  • 5.) The angel/man came again to Zechariah and showed him a lampstand, all of gold. It had a bowl on top and seven lamps.  There were two olive trees by it, on the right and left, which supplied a continual flow of oil to burn.
  • Then the angel/man gave a message from the LORD to Zerubbabel. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” He was speaking of the task of finishing the rebuilding of the Temple. 
  • “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain.  And he shall bring forward the “top stone” (finishing stone of the temple) amid shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall complete it!”

(And it WAS completed 6 years later.)

  • Zechariah asked about the two olive trees on either side of the lampstand with pipes to pour in the oil.
  • “Do you know what these represent?” asked the angel/man.
  • “No, my lord,” said Zechariah.
  • “These are the “anointed ones” who stand by the LORD of the whole earth.” 

Who were anointed to serve in Israel?  The king and the priest.  Representing these two offices (for the returned exiles) through which the blessing of God would flow were Zerubbabel, descended from the royal line, and Jeshua, from the priestly line.  Both together foreshadowed the Messiah, as priest and king.

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****LORD, thank you for all the imagery in this section, especially the courtroom scene where Jeshua stood before You, clothed in filthy garments.  This is like all the people of the world, sinners in need of cleansing.  Then YOU took off the dirty clothes and put on clean ones. YOU, not Jeshua. And you gave him access to YOU! 

 This is such a beautiful picture of what Jesus did for all who believe in Him.  Just like 2 Corinthians 5:21 says. “For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God.”  Thank you, oh, thank you!

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 261

Sep18

Day 260 – Reading – Ezra 4 – 6,  Psalm 137.

Read the Scriptures first. 

Again, a little background reading would be helpful.  Who are the people living in the land of Israel who were adversaries of the newly returned Jews?  Read 2 Kings 17:24-41 for background. 

When the Assyrians deported the people of the northern kingdom, whose capital was Samaria, they brought back people from all their other conquered nations to mix and marry with the remaining “low” Jews who were left and keep the land. These people brought their own worship of pagan gods, and God sent lions among them. Then the Assyrian king sent a Jewish priest back to teach (also) the ways of the LORD.  And so the people who settled there had a religion made up of worship of the LORD plus all the other despicable pagan gods. They became known as the Samaritans, whom, still in Jesus’ time, the Jews hated.

Now these “Samaritans” were objecting to the influx of thousands of pure Jews who were settling in the land and rebuilding the Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem.

Ezra 4

These Samaritans approached the heads of the Jews and offered to “help” them rebuild the Temple, since they’d been worshiping this God too, since King Esarhaddon (Assyria) brought them there. 

Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the high priest, said, “No way!  We alone are building a house for OUR God, as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.” (They could throw around a royal name, too!)

So the Samaritans resorted to discouraging and threatening the Jews, and bribing the contractors to slow the work.  They did this for SIXTEEN YEARS, through three Persian kings, until the time of King Darius! 

Whoa! 

During the reign of King Ahasuerus (after Cyrus), these Samaritans wrote an accusation against the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. (No response, maybe because the king was busy with his new Queen Esther, Mordecai, and his wicked prime minister, Haman.)

Then, during the reign of King Artaxerxes, they wrote another letter against Jerusalem. The exact letter is shown in Ezra 4:11-16. It ends with a threat, “…if the city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have NO possession in the province beyond the river!”  The Samaritans asked him to search the records and see if this city is not as rebellious and seditious as they claim!

This king listened to the Samaritans this time and sent a decree that all the work in Jerusalem was to “cease and desist.”   And so “the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem STOPPED and it CEASED until the second year of the reign of King Darius of Persia.”

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Ezra 5.

After the prophets of God, Haggai and Zechariah, prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the LORD, Zerubbabel and Jeshua, the high priest, were encouraged and arose to begin rebuilding the Temple of the Lord. 

Once again, the opposition arose. The governor of the province and his associates came to them, demanding to see any new decree that allowed them to start building again.  They also demanded the names of all the workers.  (Sounds like Communism!)  The Jews ignored them… until a report could be sent to King Darius, and an answer returned.

Again, a copy of the letter the Governor sent to King Darius is included in Ezra 5:5b-17.  This letter is humorous to read because the Samaritans quote Zerubbabel, who explained how they were obeying the God of heaven and earth. They also quote him saying that King Cyrus had commanded them to rebuild it and had sent much money to make sure it was done.  

The Samaritans again ask the Persian king to “search the royal archives of Babylon” to see if such a decree WAS issued by Cyrus.   

(They had requested this of Artaxerxes, but he’d just given the decree WITHOUT searching the records!  But this king was actually going to do it.)

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Ezra 6.

King Darius DID make a search of the archives, and a scroll was found on which was written a decree by Cyrus, the king.  “Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height and breadth shall be 60 cubits each, with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. LET THE COST BE PAID FROM THE ROYAL TREASURY. And let the gold and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar took be brought back to the temple of God.”

Ha!  Well, that serves those Samaritans right.  But wait!  King Darius continues,

  • “Now, therefore, let the Governor and his associates keep away and let the work on the house of God alone.  Let the Jews rebuild the house of God on its site. 
  • MOREOVER … I make a decree that the cost of rebuilding the house of the God of the Jews IS TO BE PAID IN FULL AND WITHOUT DELAY from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province (Samaritans).
  • AND, whatever is needed — bulls, rams, sheep for the burn offerings to the God of heaven, and wheat, salt, wine, or oil as the priests at Jerusalem require — let that be given to them day by day WITHOUT FAIL, that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven (and pray for the life of the king and his sons.)
  • ALSO, I decree that anyone who alters this edict, that a beam shall be pulled out of his house and he be impaled on it, and the house be made a dunghill.  WHOA!!
  • May the God who has caused His name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem.
  • I, Darius, make a decree; let it be done with all diligence!  (And I imagine a swirling signature… or maybe the imprint of the royal ring in the clay.)

And according to the word sent by Darius, the Governor and his associates did with all diligence what the king ordered.  The Jews finished their building by decree  of the God of Israel, and by decree of Cyrus and Darius of Persia.  It had been 20 years since the foundation was laid.

The priests, Levites, and the returned exiles celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.  And they set up everything as it was written in the Book of Moses.

Then the returned exiles kept the Passover.  And the kept the feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days, with joy for the LORD had made them joyful.  

And so ended the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.

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(Praise God!  He always keeps his promises.  He supplies, encourages, protects and helps those who obey Him.  Thank You, LORD, for doing those things for us today as well.  YOU are the God we serve, and love, and obey. You gave us salvation through Jesus… an even greater gift than the rebuilt temple. Thank You!)

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Days 222 & 223

Aug11

NOTE: Sunday and Monday studies are posted on Mondays.

Day 222 – Reading Jeremiah 10 – 13

Day 223 – Reading – Jeremiah 14 – 17

Read today’s Scriptures … ANYWHERE you find yourself this summer. Stay in the WORD!

DAY 222 – Jeremiah 10 – 13.

In this book, Jeremiah prophesies God’s coming judgment on Judah for their unrepentant sin, often in horrifying detail.  He also foretells their return to the land and the final millennial restoration under the rule of the Messiah-King.  Jeremiah and/or the people pray for mercy, but God’s answer is mostly “Do not pray for them.” (In other words, God’s mind was made up. They had gone too long without remorse. Judgment WILL come.

Also, in Jeremiah, there are sections where God speaks directly to Jeremiah, telling him to do something, which is often a “picture” of what will happen to Judah.  Some instructions are difficult, as when the LORD told Jeremiah he was NOT to take a wife or have children.  Farther along in the book, Jeremiah will endure much suffering for the Word of the LORD’s sake.

Jeremiah 10.

The prophet compares the ultimate LORD God with the idols of the nations.

IDOLS:  “A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe BY THE HANDS OF A CRAFTSMAN. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so it cannot move. Their idols are like SCARECROWS IN A CUCUMBER FIELD!  They cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk!  DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THEM!  They cannot do evil… OR good!

THE LORD;  “There is none like you, O LORD: You are great, and your name is great in might.  Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms, THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU!”

IDOLS:  “They are both stupid and foolish; the instruction of idols is but WOOD!  Beaten silver… and gold…  They are the work of the craftsman and of the hands of the goldsmith; their “clothing” is violet and purple; they are ALL THE WORK OF SKILLED MEN!”

THE LORD:  “BUT THE LORD is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.  At HIS wrath the earth shakes, and the nations cannot endure His indignation.”

Jeremiah then shifts into the words the Israelites will speak when the invaders attack – their despair over their homes destroyed and their children killed.

In ending the chapter, Jeremiah pleads that God’s terrible fury would be poured out on the attackers. He understood Judah must be punished, but prayed for mercy and moderation for them.  

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Jeremiah 11.

God tells Jeremiah to remind the people of the “Covenant” He made with them when he brought them out of the “iron furnace of Egypt;” the blessings and curses He would bring depending on how they obeyed His law.   They had confirmed that, but had quickly strayed from their promise.  “Everyone walked in the stubbornness of his evil heart.”  Hence, the coming disaster that they cannot escape.

“Let them go and cry to the gods to whom they make offerings.”

And to Jeremiah, “Do NOT pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble!”  WOW!

Jeremiah continued to tell the people of God’s fierce judgment.  Some men from the Levite town of Anathoth devised schemes to kill him for his prophesy. Jeremiah went to the LORD.   God assured Jeremiah that they would  “get theirs” when when the time came. “Behold I will punish them. I will bring disaster on the men of Anathoth.” 

(Also re-read God’s strong promise to Jeremiah in chapter 1:8, 17-18)

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Jeremiah 12.

In this chapter, Jeremiah complains about the wicked and treacherous prospering. (Maybe about those who had threaten him.)

God answers Jeremiah by listing all the ways that Judah has failed HIM, forsaken and hated HIM, destroyed HIS vineyard and pleasant land…  

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Jeremiah 13.

In this chapter, God gives Jeremiah a weird task to do, one that, if taken literally, involves a LONG TRIP.  Jeremiah is to buy a linen loincloth (equivalent of a pair of underwear) and put it on, but not to take it off to wash it. 

Jeremiah obeyed.

Then God told him to go to the Euphrates River (500 miles away!!), dig a hole and hide it there between some rocks. 

Jeremiah obeyed.

After many days, the LORD told him to go back to the Euphrates and dig up the loincloth.

Jeremiah obeyed, and reported that the loincloth was “spoiled” and “good for nothing.” 

WEIRD set of instructions, right?  But God said it illustrated how close Israel had been to Him, that they were His people and He, their God.  But they would not remain there, but stubbornly followed after other gods to worship them.  And so…. the prophesied long stay, “buried” so to speak in Babylon, was to spoil their pride.

Next, Jeremiah is to tell ALL the people, from the king who sits on the throne (Jehoiachin), the priests, and prophets, to the common inhabitants of Jerusalem, that they will be like “full wine jars” which will be dashed against each other and destroyed … when the invasion comes. 

When they all ask, “Why is this coming upon us?” tell them that it is “for the greatness of your iniquity” and “you have forgotten God and trusted in lies.”

Then God asks a question that goes back to the Illustration of the loincloth. “WOE to you, O Jerusalem! How long will it be before you are made clean?”

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DAY 223 – Jeremiah 14 – 17.

Jeremiah 14.

In a time of drought in Judah, Jeremiah pleads for mercy.  After stating how horrible it’s getting without water, he prays to God.

“O You, Hope of Israel, its Savior in time of trouble….”  Don’t be a stranger in a time of trouble.  “You, O LORD, are in the midst of us, and we are called by your name;  Do not leave us.”

But the LORD answered Jeremiah like this,

“Do not pray for the welfare of this people! Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.  But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.” 

WHOA!  How does it feel for God to say NOT to pray for someone?

Jeremiah pleads for the people, because false prophets have deceived them.  But God says HE did not send those prophets, and they will be punished too.  But so will the people.  They would have known that the prophets were false if they’d stayed close to Him.

Still, Jeremiah pleads to God for the people.

“We acknowledge our wickedness, O LORD, and the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against You. Do not spurn us, for Your name’s sake; do not dishonor Your glorious throne; remember and do not break Your covenant with us.  Are there any among the false gods of the nations THAT CAN BRING RAIN?  Or can the heavens GIVE SHOWERS?  Are You not He, O LORD our God?  We set our hope on You, for You do all these things.”

Wow, what powerful, persevering prayer!!

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Jeremiah 15.

God’s answer to Jeremiah’s intercession,

“Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go!

WOW. Double WOW.

God will not relent of the 1) pestilence, 2) sword, 3) famine, and 4) captivity “because of what Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem. (2 Kings 21:1-18, 23:26, and 24:3-4)  “I AM weary of relenting.”

Jeremiah goes through a time of self-pity and protests about staying clear of those wicked men and remaining faithful to God. (He truly loved God’s word, a joy and delight to him.) But why wouldn’t God answer his prayers? 

And God reprimanded him.  “If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you will be as My mouth. I will make you, to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but you shall prevail, for I am with you to save you and deliver you.”

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Jeremiah 16.

When God commands Jeremiah NOT to take a wife or have children, it was a mercy. God reminds His prophet that the wives, sons, and daughters who are there will die of disease but not be buried, they will perish by the sword and famine, and beast will eat their bodies.  God has taken away PEACE from the land. He will silence the voice of mirth and gladness.

When the people ask WHY?, Jeremiah is to tell them, “Because your fathers have forsaken Me and have gone after other gods and have served and worshiped them and have forsaken Me and have not kept my law.  AND YOU HAVE DONE WORSE THAN YOUR FATHERS.  And so…… I will hurl you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your fathers have known.  And there … you shall serve other gods day and night, for I will show you NO FAVOR.

“I will bring them back … But first, I will doubly repay their iniquity and sin … for their detestable idols and for filling my land with their abominations. 

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Jeremiah 17.

God continues listing the reasons for such drastic judgment on Judah.

CURSED is the man who trusts in man … he’s like a shrub in the parched desert.

BLESSED is the man who trusts in the LORD … he’s like a man planted by the water, green and fruitful.

“I the LORD search the heart and the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.

Then the LORD sends Jeremiah to the kings of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem to tell them to KEEP THE SABBATH HOLY. This had been a major sin for Israel, for all the 490 years from the first king until their captivity.  Not only had they neglected and desecrated the Sabbath Day, they had ignored the Sabbath Year.  Their 70 years of captivity would give the land rest for all those Sabbath Years they had missed.  (When they did return from captivity, special emphasis was put on observing Sabbath.)

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(We saw Jeremiah as a “human” today as well as a faithful prophet.  He balked at a few of God’s judgments and prayed to change them, but in the end, he relented.  He obey strange and dangerous instructions and got harassed and persecuted for them.  But God promised He would always be with Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was faithful to give out God’s message.  HOW faithful am I?)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 196

Jul15

Day 196 – Reading – 2 Chronicles 28 and 2 Kings 16 – 17

Read today’s Scriptures.  Do you see connections?

2 Chronicles 28 and 2 Kings 16.

Both chapters are about King Ahaz in Judah (south).  While the next-to-the-last king (Pekah) was reigning in Israel, Ahaz too the throne in Judah.  He was 20 and reigned for 16 years.  He DID NOT DO WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF HIS GOD, AS HIS “FATHER” DAVID HAD DONE.  Ahaz imitated the kings in the north. He even burned his sons as offerings like the nations God had helped them to drive out. 

“He sacrificed and made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.” 

The King of Syria and King Pekah of Israel (former enemies) got together and came against Judah. Together, this force killed hundreds of thousands of Judahites and carried many away captive, and took a lot of spoil. 

But Obed, a prophet of the LORD, was in Samaria and went out to meet the returning army.   

  • “Because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven. And NOW you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, AS YOUR SLAVES. Have you not sins of your own against the LORD your God?”
  • “Now hear me and SEND BACK THE CAPTIVES FROM YOUR RELATIVES WHOM YOU HAVE TAKEN, for fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.”  And certain of the chief men of Israel agreed with Obed.

Along with the people of Israel, the Edomites and Philistines invaded and defeated Judah. (The Lord was humbling them because of evil King Ahaz.)

So…. instead of repenting and asking God for help, King Ahaz sent to the King of Assyria for help!!!  Are you kidding?  That would be like the U.S. sending and asking the terror group, Hamas, for help with a few raids. You can tell how far away from God he was.

Ahaz took the silver and gold he found in the house of the LORD and i the treasures of the king’s house, and sent it as a present to the King of Assyria.   The Assyrian King listened to Ahaz (and had plans of his own), so he marched to Damascus, killed King Rezin, and took captives. (A nice deal!)

But…. the insane Judean King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser, the Assyrian king.  And there, King Ahaz SAW the pagan altar that was there.  He decided THAT god must be powerful to have defeated him, so he sent “a model” to Uriah the priest, with all the details.  And Uriah built the altar before Ahaz got back from Damascus. 

The great Bronze Altar, which was before the Temple of the LORD, was removed, and this pagan altar was put in its place!!!!!!!  Ahaz commanded Uriah to burn offerings on it morning and night, and throw on it all the blood of the sacrifices.  (Ahaz claimed that the god of Damascus was more powerful than the LORD. After all, it had defeated him!)

Ahaz also desecrated the other items outside the Temple. And he cut the vessels into pieces, and shut the doors of the temple. And in every city of Judah, he made offerings to other gods … PROVOKING TO ANGER THE LORD, THE GOD OF HIS FATHERS.   (NO WONDER God destroyed Jerusalem and took the people into captivity!)

And Ahaz died (thank God!) and his son, Hezekiah, reigned in his place. King Hezekiah DID WHAT WAS RIGHT IN THE EYES OF THE LORD! 

(How he could have been a godly son and escaped the vile acts of his father was only by the protection of God!)

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2 Kings 17.

Meanwhile, up north, the Assyrian king, Tiglath-Pilser, came and captured most of the northern area of Israel.  Hoshea (not the prophet) made a conspiracy against King Pekah (inspired by the Assyrian?), and killed him. Hoshea reigned in his place.  Hoshea was the LAST king of Israel.  He reigned nine years and was EVIL in God’s sight.

The NEXT king of Assyria, Shalmaneser, came against him and made him pay tribute. But Hoshea sent to the Egyptian Pharaoh and offered the tribute money, if he’d come and fight the Assyrian king.

REALLY??? Was Hoshea nuts?

Shalmaneser learned of it and threw the king into prison. Then he came south and besieged Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom. After three years he captured it and carried the Israelites to Assyria. He spread them out in the cities of the Medes, even as far as Susa, where the book of Esther is set.. 

They never returned to the promised land.

God did what He said in Deuteronomy 28.   God’s word is absolutely true, whether for blessing or curse.

Israel’s epitaph:

“This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt … and had feared other gods and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. And the people of Israel did SECRETLY against the LORD their God things that were not right…. and they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, ‘You shall not do this.'”

“YET the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, ‘Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants, the prophets.’

  • “But they would not listen…
  • “They despised His statutes and His covenant…
  • “They went after false idols…
  • “They abandoned the commandments of the LORD their God….
  • (They) made images and worshiped the host of heaven…
  • They burned their sons and daughters as offerings..
  • They used divinations and omens…

“Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of His sight. NONE was left but the tribe of JUDAH only.

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The Assyrians sent other peoples they’d conquered to the land of Israel, to settle in it and keep it from going wild. And to pay him tribute.  These “other” people did not fear the LORD, so He sent LIONS  among them to kill some of them. (Don’t you see that the “land” is precious to God as well?)

The king of Assyria sent back one priest from Samaria (corrupt), to teach these “foreign” peoples the “law of the god of the land.” He settled in Bethel and taught that they should fear the LORD.

But all these people from other nations served their own gods along with the LORD.   AND NOW THE PROMISED LAND WAS ONCE AGAIN FILLED WITH FOREIGN NATIONS!

All Joshua’s work was undone. 

 “So these nations feared the LORD AND also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children, as the fathers did.”

They became the hated Samarians of Jesus’ time, mixing Judaism with paganism.

NOTE:  Knowing this, now read the story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.  John 4:1-42.

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 356-357

Dec23

   Day 356-357—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the LETTERS of the Apostles.  NOTE: Sunday’s and Monday’s studies will be posted on MONDAY,

Day 356 – Hebrews 7 – 10 (Melchizedek, Better Covenant, Redemption, Sacrifice, Faith)

Read a quick review of Melchizedek and Abraham in Genesis 14:18-20.

Hebrews 7.

The author discusses Melchizedek, king of Salem (peace), king of righteousness (zedek) and a priest of the Most High God. He tells how Abraham, coming home from rescuing his nephew Lot from an invading army, gave this priestly/kingly man a tithe (10th) of the loot. And Melchizedek blessed Abraham.

This was WAY before Israel’s priesthood was set up on Mt. Sinai, with Aaron, the Levite, as High Priest.  In a way (the author of Hebrews says), Aaron, the High Priest, paid tribute to Melchizedek, “being still in Abraham’s loins.” (He had no children at that point.)

Melchizedek is also said to have had “no beginning of days nor end of life” as a priest forever. He was a priest not based on the law (like Aaron) but on the power of an “indestructible” life. The author compares Jesus to this mysterious man, without beginning or end of days, but HIS ministry is much more excellent.  

The first covenant of law could make nothing perfect, so a new one was needed, allowing us to draw near to God. “Consequently, Jesus can save to the uttermost, those who draw near to God through HIM since He always lives to make intercession for them. 

Jesus is a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.  HE HAS NO NEED TO OFFER SACRIFICES DAILY like other priests, first for their own sins, then the people.  Jesus did this ONCE FOR ALL when he offered up HIMSELF.

Hebrews 8.

Jesus, as High Priest, is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a more excellent ministry than the old one.  He can mediate better because the new covenant has better promises and is faultless. In this new covenant, God says He will put His Law on their hearts and minds, not stone tablets, and His people will know Him.

He will be merciful toward their iniquities and will remember their sins no more!

Hebrews 9.

The author then reminds readers how the old covenant worked, with the Holy and Most Holy places in the “tent of worship.”  Behind the second curtain was the ark of the covenant and God’s presence.  No one could go into this place except for the High Priest, and that only once per year… carrying the blood of the sacrifice. 

But Christ, as high priest, entered ONCE FOR ALL into the most holy place through HIS OWN BLOOD. Doing this, he obtained ETERNAL REDEMPTION.  He appeared ONCE FOR ALL to put away sin by sacrificing himself. 

Hebrews 10.

Under the old covenant, the sacrifices were a reminder of sins every year. “For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”  Now, we have been sanctified (made clean, holy) through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL.

When Christ had offered FOR ALL TIME A SINGLE SACRIFICE FOR SINS, He sat down at the right hand of God. “For by A SINGLE OFFERING, He has perfected FOR ALL TIME, those who are being sanctified.”

Jesus. the perfect, sinless High Priest, offered Himself a spotless sacrifice and opened the new and living way for us through the curtain so that we can now “draw near (to God) with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” 

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Day 357 – Hebrews 11 – 13 (the FAITH chapter & heroes of the faith, witnesses for us to endure too, discipline as sons, acceptable worship, final instructions)

Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11 is called the “Faith Chapter” or the “Saint’s Hall of Fame.” In it, the author defines faith and how it’s to be used. He lists heroes of faith from the Old Testament, sixteen by name (including women), and many others by deeds or means of death. These all have served and glorified God.

DEFINITION: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (verse 1)

WHAT IT INVOLVES: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.” (verse 6)

From righteous Abel to the prophet Samuel, men and women have lived and died for God, loved and obeyed Him, trusted and spoke for Him without shame or fear, and many paid for it with their lives. 

These heroes “conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong through weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to fight, and some women received back their dead by resurrection!! 

(I can think of some names that come to mind here, can you?”

Others were tortured for their faith, suffered mocking and flogging, even chains and imprisonments, stoning, beheading (killed by the sword), and even being sawn in two!  They were destitute, afflicted, mistreated, and lived in deserts, mountains, dens, and caves.  OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY!

And YET, they did not “see” the promised Messiah they spoke about and waited for like WE HAVE!  (How totally blessed we are!)

Hebrews 12.

“Therefore, SINCE we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (those heroes listed above), let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the founder and perfecter of our faith.  He, for the JOY that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated now at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus, as God’s Son, endured much hostility against Him. And so we, as God’s children, must endure “discipline” too.  God disciplines us (through suffering/persecution) for OUR GOOD, so we may share His holiness.  It doesn’t seem pleasant at the moment, but later, it “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” to those trained by it. 

So…. lift your drooping hands….strengthen your weak knees….and make straight paths for your feet.   And “let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken (by persecution or death), and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

Hebrews 13.

The author encourages readers to continue in brotherly love, hospitality to strangers, and prayer and support for those imprisoned for their faith.  They are to be faithful in marriage, not love money but be content with what they have.

They are to “remember their leaders (in prayer and financially), the ones who first spoke the Word of God to them.”  They are to consider the fruit of those men’s ministry and imitate their faith.  They are to pray and support their leaders and also to submit to and obey them (for THOSE MEN will have to give an account one day).

He ends with a doxology. ‘Now may the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant….equip you with everything good, that you may do His will.

To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever. Amen”

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 349-350 (Part 2)

Dec16

   Days 349 & 350—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year, studying the LETTERS of the Apostles.  NOTE:  Sunday & Monday studies are posted together on MONDAYS. This is Part Two.

Day 350 – Ephesians 1 – 6 (Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, greetings & blessings & prayer to them, Salvation by grace & faith alone, the gospel to Gentiles, special prayer, gifts to the church, armor of God)

Ephesians 1.

Paul greets these believers and reminds them of their blessings in Christ Jesus. God chose them before the foundation of the world, predestined them for adoption as sons through Jesus, redeemed them through Christ’s blood, forgave their sins, and gave them an inheritance.  Then Paul writes a glorious, extended prayer in thanks for them and for their spiritual growth.

Ephesians 2.

Paul explains how salvation comes by GRACE through FAITH.  They were spiritually DEAD in sin, living in all the wicked passions of their flesh, by nature children of wrath.

“But God being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” 

“For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the GIFT of God, not a result of works, so no one may boast.”

Ephesians 3.

Paul then tells of the “mystery” that was revealed to him by God, that he should also minister to the Gentiles (like them), making them fellow heirs (with the Jews), members of the same body, and partakers of the promise of Christ Jesus through the gospel. 

His fervent prayer for them is “that according to the riches of His glory, He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, and that you, being rooted and grounded in love may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, and that you may be filled with all the fulness of God.”

(Wow… and we can be in that prayer too! Read it again!)

Ephesians 4.

Paul urges the Ephesians to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

He reminds them how God gave each of the churches gifted leaders, such as the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastor-shepherds, and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to-and-fro by every wind of false doctrine. 

They are to “put off” their old selves and be renewed to “put on” the new self, created in the likeness of God in righteousness and holiness.   Then, he lists more of the ways Christ shows Himself in their actions, words, and thoughts. 

Ephesians 5.

“Be imitators of God, as beloved children. And WALK in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

“WALK as children of the light, for the fruit of light is found in all that is good, right, and true. And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.”

“Look carefully then how you WALK, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of your time because the days are evil.”

Ephesians 6.

‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.   Therefore, take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and have done all to stand. 

  • Stand, therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth
  • and having put on the breastplate of righteousness
  • and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.
  • In all circumstances, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one
  • and take the helmet of salvation,
  • and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
  • Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.

(I wonder if Paul looked over at the Roman soldier guarding him in prison to come up with the armor of GOD necessary for believers?)

Next, he sends greetings, telling the church that Tychicus will tell them everything happening to Paul and encourage their hearts (and bring news of them back to him.)

“Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.”

 

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 342-343

Dec9

   Days 342 & 343—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.  NOTE:  Sunday & Monday studies are posted together on MONDAYS.

Day 342 – Romans 4 – 7 (Paul continues on with the Gospel of faith, the law, sin, and justification)

Romans 4.

Paul ended chapter 3 by saying BOTH the circumcised (Jews) and uncircumcised (Gentiles) are justified (considered righteous by God) through faith.  Now, he takes a closer look at the Law. Is it considered useless?

Scripture clearly states that Abraham was “counted as righteous” by God because of his faith. However, he was later circumcised. So which is it? Both. Abraham’s later circumcision was a “sign” or “seal” of the righteousness he already had by faith.  The purpose of BOTH is so that Jews AND Gentiles alike can be counted in God’s promise of blessing to “all nations.”

Romans 5.

Justified believers have peace with God through Jesus. And the Holy Spirit pours His love into our hearts. “God shows His love for us in that, while we were still sinners (weak and ungodly), Christ died for us. And since we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.“

Paul now illustrates our innate sinfulness and imputed righteousness, using the two “men,” Adam and Christ. He says that all men received the curse of sin in their lives through ONE MAN, Adam, with his sin against God. And, with our sinful nature, death reigned. But in another ONE MAN, Christ, we died to that sin, were “buried with Him,” and raised to new, eternal life.  With the one man, Adam, we received death, but with the one man, Christ, we received an abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness.

Romans 6.

Then, should we continue in sin?  No way! The one who has “died to sin” has been set free from sin. So, we are to “consider ourselves dead to sinning” and not allow it to reign in our bodies.  “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness.”

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ, our Lord.”

Romans 7.

Although believers are “dead to the Law” through the body of Christ, who was raised from the dead, the law is still good.  It points out our sins and makes us hate them. “For I do not understand my own actions. I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. If I do what I do NOT want, I agree with the law, which is good. It reveals the sin living in me.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me (in my flesh). I desire to do what is right but I do not have the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing! But it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

“I delight in the law of God – in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me a captive to the law of sin.  WRETCHED MAN THAT I AM! WHO WILL DELIVER ME FROM THIS BODY OF DEATH?

Oh, thanks be to GOD through Jesus Christ our Lord!

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Day 343 – Romans 8 – 10 (Paul describes Christian life, God’s sovereignty, Salvation to all)

Romans 8.

“There is, therefore, now NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” — (The mountain peak of Romans.)

God did what humanity could not do – save themselves from the wrath of God on sin. He sent His own Son in the likeness of human flesh for sin and condemned HIM so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in US.  

Any of us “in the flesh” cannot please God.

We are NOT in the flesh, but in the Spirit, IF, IN FACT, the Spirit of God dwells in us.  

“If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” 

“And the Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ….provided we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him”

Paul tells them that the Holy Spirit helps believers when they do not know how to pray.  He intercedes for the saints according to God’s will.  And “we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.“

Paul also tells the order of salvation:  foreknowledge – predestination – calling – justification – glorification.

God is FOR us. He didn’t spare His own Son for us.  So now, who can condemn us? Who can separate us from the love of Christ?   

Paul says, “I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  WOW!

Romans 9.

Paul then confesses his great concern, increasing anguish, and love for his own Jewish people.  He claims he would be willing to be “accursed and cut off from Christ” for their sake.  He lists all these privileges they have had: 

  1. the adoption
  2. the glory
  3. the covenants
  4. the giving of the law
  5. the worship
  6. the promises
  7. the patriarchs
  8. and, from their race, according to the flesh, is the Messiah, the Christ! 

But it is not as if the Word of God failed. Not all the descendants of Abraham are Israel; only those through Isaac and then Jacob/Israel.) 

Then Paul explains God’s sovereignty through his purpose of ELECTION.  No, there is NO INJUSTICE on God’s part.  He told Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  

God has mercy on whomever He wills, and He hardens the hearts of whomever He wills. 

You might think this unfair.

You may ask, ‘Why does He still find fault? Who can resist his will?”

Paul answers sharply.

“But who are YOU, O man, to answer back to God?  Will what is molded say to the molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’ Has the Potter no right over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath in order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy?

Although the number of the sons of Israel is as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved.  Why?  Because they did not pursue righteousness BY FAITH but by their own works. 

Romans 10.

“Brothers! My heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved!

“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes and is justified; with the mouth, one confesses and is saved.

EVERYONE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME! There is no distinction between JEW and GREEK, for the same Lord is over all people.  For EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

Beautiful are “the feet” of those sent to preach the Gospel, for “the faith to call on His name” comes from hearing the Word of Christ. 

And yet, “All day long, I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” (God says to Isaiah in 65:1-2.)

 

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 338

Dec4

   Day 338—We are in the LAST month of Bible reading for the year and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 338 – 2 Corinthians 1 – 4 (Greetings, comfort, delayed coming, forgiving, preaching, Gospel ministers)

This letter follows quite a bit of going and writing to Corinth. Here’s a bit of history. 

  1. Paul spent 18 months in Corinth, living and working with Aquila and Priscilla, preaching and planting the church. 
  2. While in Ephesus, he heard of gross immorality and sent them a confrontational letter (which was lost). 
  3. He then hears about divisions splitting the church and receives a letter from them asking him to clarify some do’s and don’ts.
  4. Paul writes 1 Corinthians to address this, sending it with Timothy. 
  5. News from Timothy describes the arrival of a group of false apostles who “dis” Paul and divide the church. 
  6. Paul immediately goes to Corinth for what is known as “the painful visit.” It was not successful.
  7. After returning to Ephesus, Paul writes what is known as “the severe letter.”  He sends this one to Corinth with Titus (also lost).
  8. After the “silversmith riot” in Ephesus, Paul goes to Troas. Even though there is an open door for ministry there, Paul is too concerned about the Corinthian church to stay.  He leaves for Macedonia (Philippi), hoping to meet Titus there. Titus has good news. The church at Corinth has repented. 
  9. Paul then writes this letter (2 Corinthians) to express his relief, defend his apostleship, and confront any false prophets still there.
  10. Later, he goes to Corinth to pick up their offering for the destitute in Jerusalem.

2 Corinthians 1.

You can hear Paul’s joy in “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings we suffer.  Our hope for you is unshaken….”

2 Corinthians 2.

 After getting the good news about the Corinthian church from Titus, he exclaims, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.”

And, in defense of his own ministry, “For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.”

2 Corinthians 3.

 Paul praises them for being “his” letter of recommendation to others, written not with ink but “with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.”

Paul wants them to go on, then to the higher things of the Lord. “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.  We all, with unveiled faces, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.”

2 Corinthians 4.

Paul explains the difference between his ministry and that of the false Apostles.  “Having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s Word, but by the open statement of the truth, we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 

“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for the sake of Jesus.”

2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 324

Nov20

    Day 324—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

Day 324 – Acts 11 – 12 (Peter reports to the church, Antioch church, James killed, Peter arrested, Herod)

Acts 11.

After Peter’s astonishing experience with the Roman Centurion, Cornelius, he heard of rumbling from the apostles in Jerusalem about Gentiles, so he went there and told the complete story. He told about the vision with “unclean” animals in a sheet descending from heaven and how God told him to kill and eat them. He told them about the men who Cornelius sent, and how, after going to the Centurion’s house, the Holy Spirit fell on the people there as it had on them at Pentecost.

“If then God gave the same gift to them, as He gave to us, when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?”  When they heard this, they stopped complaining.  “Glory to God! To the Gentiles, then, has God also granted repentance that leads to life.

And so the hand of the Lord was upon the Gentiles and Hellenists of Phoenicia, Cyprus, Cyrene, and Antioch, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. This report came to the apostles in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check it out.  When he saw the grace of God at work, he was glad and exhorted them to faithfulness. He also went to nearby Tarsus and brought back Saul to help teach the people. The two stayed there a whole year. And it was at Antioch that the disciples of Jesus were first called “Christians.”

Then, a prophet came from Jerusalem to Antioch and foretold of a great famine coming in the days of Claudius.  So these new “Christians” collected an offering and sent it to the brothers in Judea by Barnabas and Saul.

Acts 12.

About that time, King Herod Agrippa 1 laid violent hands on believers.  He killed the disciple James, the brother of John, with the sword (beheaded).  When he saw it pleased the Jewish leaders, he also arrested Peter during Passover, intending to do the same to him. He put Peter in prison with TWO chains between TWO guards. (Didn’t he know that Peter worked in THREES??)  Meanwhile, the church made EARNEST PRAYER to God for Peter.

The night before his execution, an angel of the Lord came to Peter in the jail cell. He punched him in the side to awaken him, saying, “Get up quickly!”  Immediately, the chains fell off Peter. “Dress yourself and put on your sandals.  Wrap your cloak around yourself and follow me.”  Peter obeyed, thinking it was all a dream.  But, after the prison doors opened before them, like grocery store doors, and Peter found himself outside in the street, he realized it was real.

Quickly, he went to John Mark’s mother’s house, where believers met and prayed. He knocked at the locked door, and a servant girl, Rhoda, came to answer.  When she learned it was Peter, she was so excited that she ran to tell the others, leaving Peter standing outside.  They quickly remedied that and brought Peter inside. In whispers, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the brothers,” he said, then went to another place.

(NOTE: He wanted them to tell James, the brother of Jesus, who was becoming the leader of the Jerusalem church, and NOT the disciple of Jesus, John’s brother, who had just been martyred.)

The next day, Herod sent for Peter to execute him, but they found him gone, vanished, with no explanation from the guards.  THEY were killed instead for negligence in letting a prisoner escape. Herod searched for Peter everywhere, but he could not be found.

Disgruntled or embarrassed, Herod left Judea and stayed in Caesarea awhile.  Herod took out his anger on the people north of him in Tyre and Sidon. They came and begged for peace.  On the day they came before him, Herod – dressed in his finest royal robes – sat on his throne and delivered a fancy speech to them. Trying to ingratiate themselves with him, the people shouted, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”  

The arrogant king did not deny the adulation or give GOD the glory.  Because of this, God struck him down and he was eaten by worms as he breathed his last.  Gulp!

But… the word of God increased and multiplied.

Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, bringing John Mark with them.

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2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 321 & 322

Nov18

    Day 321 & 322—We are in the ELEVENTH month of Bible reading and studying The ACTS of the Apostles with the LETTERS of the Apostles.

NOTE: Sunday and Monday readings are posted together on Mondays.

Day 321 – Acts 4 – 6 (Persecution begins, boldness, Ananias/Sapphira, Deacons, Stephen)

Acts 4.

As Peter was preaching, the religious leaders became greatly annoyed, especially the Sadducees, because he was proclaiming that Jesus was resurrected. The more liberal sect of the Jews, the Sadducees, did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Despite many people believing the good news and being saved, Peter and John were arrested.

The next day, these liberal religious leaders interrogated them. “By what power or name did you heal that beggar?”  This question only served to get the Spirit-filled Peter to preach again.

“Let it be known to ALL of you, and to the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth — whom YOU crucified — whom God raised from the dead, by Him, this man is standing well.  This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by YOU, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The interrogators were astonished at the boldness of Peter and John, having perceived that they were uneducated, common men.  And seeing the familiar beggar standing there well, they had “nothing to say.”  They set the men aside in another room and conferred among themselves.  “What shall we do with these men? What they have done is a notable sign, and we cannot deny it.”

Bringing the apostles back they commanded them to no longer speak or teach AT ALL in the name of Jesus. Peter and John answered, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

The religious leaders threatened them but had to let them go. There was no way to punish them because the people were all praising God for what had happened.

Back where the believers met, there was joy. They praised the Sovereign Lord for His work and His prophesy. And they prayed, “And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak Your word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your holy servant, Jesus.”  And while they prayed, the place was shaken, and the Holy Spirit filled all who were there.

The believers (5000+) were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him were his own but shared freely.  As they shared their testimony to the resurrection of Jesus, great grace was upon them.

One man, Barnabas (son of encouragement) who was a Levite from Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money to the apostles to distribute among them.

Acts 5.

A couple — Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, also sold a piece of property.  They kept back a portion for themselves and brought the rest to the apostles, SAYING it was the entire amount.  Peter, by the discernment of the Holy Spirit, called Ananias out. “Satan has filled your heart to LIE to the Holy Spirit. Was not the land YOURS?  Were not the proceeds from the sale YOURS?  It was not wrong to keep back some for yourselves, but it WAS SIN to say otherwise.  You have not lied to men but to God.”  And Ananias fell down dead.

Three hours later, when Sapphira came in with the same story, she followed her husband in death. “And great fear came upon the whole church and all who heard of these things.”

Many signs and wonders were done regularly among the people by the hands of the apostles. And more than ever, the LORD added multitudes of men and women to the church.  Many brought their sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits to the apostles, and they were healed.

But the high priest rose up, along with the party of the Sadducees. They were filled with jealousy and arrested the apostles, and put them in the public prison.  But during the night and angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out. He said, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” And, at daybreak, they entered the temple and began to teach.

The high priest and all his “men” were perplexed.  How did the apostles get out of prison and go to the Temple???   A bit fearful now, the captain and the officers brought the apostles back to the religious leaders, but with courtesy, not with force, because they were afraid of the people.

“We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, and yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” (Don’t they remember calling this curse on themselves before Pilate? Matthew 27:25)

But Peter answered, “We must obey God rather than man. The God of our fathers raised Jesus —whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree –God exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.  We are witnesses to these things.”

This enraged the Sadducees, and they wanted to KILL the apostles, but… a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, said, “Take care what you are about to do with these men. Keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail, but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. YOU might even be found opposing God!”

They took Gamaliel’s advice and let them go, once again charging them not to speak in the name of Jesus.  The apostles left the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Jesus.  And they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 6.

Now (sigh) a complaint arose from the Hellenist Jews who were saved that their widows were not getting the help that the Hebrew widows were. Peter and the others did not want to take time away from prayer and teaching to deal with this. So seven godly men, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, were chosen to head up this duty. Two of them were men of faith, Stephen and Philip (and five others).

The number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, AND a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (Praise God!)

Stephen was also a great preacher. He got into some trouble with the men of a local synagogue. It contained men from Cilicia and Asia, and could have included the fiery Pharisee named Saul.  These men were not able to withstand the wisdom and Spirit with which Stephen was speaking, and secretly instigated others to say he blasphemed against Moses (the law) and God. They stirred up the people and the elders and scribes, and brought him before the council.

They set up false witnesses against Stephen, much like they had done to Jesus. They “said” they heard him saying that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the temple and change the customs of Moses.

Whoa boy! Not again.

But…. gazing at Stephen, all who sat in the council saw that his face (glowed) like the face of an angel.”

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Day 322 – Acts 7 – 8 (Stephen’s sermon, Saul, Samaria, Ethiopian converted)

Acts 7.

In the Sanhedrin Council meeting, Stephen – unlike Jesus – is allowed to speak his mind.  He begins, then relates the entire history of the Jewish faith.  There is a point he is heading towards, and when he makes it, the Council explodes into manic violence.

Stephen begins his speech with God appearing to Abraham (then Abram) and calling him out of Ur to a place of promise, a land that God would show him.  Abraham, in faith, follows the LORD’s words. The promise continued through Isaac and Jacob, who became the father of the twelve patriarchs. 

Stephen’s next point is about Joseph, who was sold to Egypt as a slave but became Israel’s savior. Jacob and the rest of the family (70 in all) moved to Egypt under Joseph’s leadership to escape the great famine. There they stayed for 400+ years until God raised up Moses as their deliverer. 

At first Israel did not believe Moses or want to follow him, but through a series of miracle judgments on Egypt, Moses led a million people out of slavery.  In the wilderness, God established His law with Israel, and they built a holy meeting place for Him. Later, King Solomon built the holy Temple.

It’s almost like the Council has been lured into a catatonic state. They listen in silence, until…..

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom YOU have now betrayed and murdered, YOU who received the law as delivered by angels and DID NOT KEEP IT!”

WHOA!!  This enraged the religious leaders and they “ground their teeth at Stephen.”

But HE, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and SAW the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

He told them what he saw, and they screamed, held their ears, and rushed at him.  They hauled him outside the city and STONED STEPHEN TO DEATH. As they were stoning him, Stephen cried out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” and “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”

And Stephen died. He was Christianity’s first martyr. 

And the young man from that synagogue of Cilicia stood watching. He guarded the robes of those who were hurling stones at Stephen.  An evil smirk was on his face.  He approved of the killing. His name was Saul.

Acts 8.

On that day a great persecution arose against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout Judea and Samaria (just as Jesus had said).  The apostles remained in Jerusalem, but those scattered went preaching the Word of Salvation.

Saul “ravaged the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”

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In Samaria, Philip proclaimed Christ. The crowds paid attention and saw the signs he performed in Christ’s name.  Unclean spirits were driven out, and the paralyzed or lame were healed.  Joy filled the city. 

But a sorcerer named Simon was jealous when the people he’d formerly bewitched believed Philip’s words and turned to Jesus. Both men and women were baptized. EVEN Simon was (or seemed to be) converted and was baptized.

The apostles in Jerusalem heard of the Samarian revival and sent Peter and John to check it out.  These two apostles prayed that the people might receive the Holy Spirit. They laid hands on them, and they received the Spirit.  When Simon, the ex-magician, saw this, he offered the apostles money to have the same “laying-on-hands” power. But Peter rebuked him. “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!  Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord to be forgiven. 

We don’t know if Simon repented and prayed.

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Next, the Lord sent Philip south to a desert place on a portion of the road that heads to Gaza.  He obeyed and met an Ethiopian eunuch riding in a chariot. (He was an official of the Queen of the Ethiopians.)  It seems like the man had been in Jerusalem for the Feasts.  He was reading a portion of the book of Isaiah and didn’t understand it.  Perhaps he even asked God for someone to explain it to him.

And here comes Philip trotting alongside the chariot. Philip saw that he was reading Isaiah and asked the eunuch if he understood what he was reading.  The eunuch invited Philip up into the chariot and as they went along, Philip explained Jesus in the Isaiah passage and beyond.  Soon, the eunuch believed and asked to be baptized in the nearby stream.  They halted, jumped out, and Philip baptized the man. 

Then…. the Spirit of God whisked Philip away to Azotus, where he preached the gospel to all the towns before coming to Caesarea. 

(We assume the eunuch went on his way, rejoicing, and, like the other converts leaving Jerusalem, preached the gospel in the courts of Candace in Ethiopia.)