2 Chronicles 32 ~ And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things

King Hezekiah's bulla or seal. In the Josef Chaim Kaufman Collection, Archaeological Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. Found also is Hezekiah's servant seal, which hung on a cord for the honored person to wear. Archaeologically, there is no doubt of these seals. Archaeologically, Hezekiah is supremely rich of finds - 2 actual seals of Hezekiah's, at least 5 bullae belonging to servants of Hezekiah, the tunnels for water, the Shiloah Inscription and the evidence of abundance in purchasing. Plus the historical knowledge of the destruction of the Kingdom of Israel and the wealth and independence of the Kingdom of Hezekiah's Judah in the midst of the Assyrian Empire.

All of these bullae bear the name of Hezekiah, without doubt. The Scriptures record abundance in Hezekiah's time. It would also make sense products were purchased in abundance.

2 Chronicles 31:5-10
5 As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly the tithe of everything. 6 And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the dedicated things that had been dedicated to the Lord their God, and laid them in heaps. 7 In the third month they began to pile up the heaps, and finished them in the seventh month. 8 When Hezekiah and the princes came and saw the heaps, they blessed the Lord and his people Israel. 9 And Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps. 10 Azariah the chief priest, who was of the house of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the Lord, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, for the Lord has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.”


This bulla, and the seal on the Papyrus, are for an Egyptian order of grain for Hezekiah.

2 Chronicles 32

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. 2 And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, 3 he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. 4 A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?” 5 He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, [and raised upon the towers] and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. 6 And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, 7 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. 8 With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.

9 After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying, 10 “Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem? 11 Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, “The Lord our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”? 12 Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, “Before one altar you shall worship, and on it you shall burn your sacrifices”? 13 Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand? 14 Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand? 15 Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”

16 And his servants said still more against the Lord God and against his servant Hezekiah. 17 And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the Lord, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.” 18 And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city. 19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. 22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. 30 This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works. 31 And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.

32 Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written in the vision of Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz, in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 33 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.

We are sometimes so caught up with the history of kings, we sometimes do not see God acted on behalf of the people, the people of the Kingdom of Judah. After Hezekiah re-opened the Temple doors, the people were very much a part of the actions taken during the wonders of God's works during Hezekiah's reign. The people were part of the tunnels being dug, not asking, screaming, begging or chanting to be part of client/puppet state. Working to be protected by God. Believing He would help them.

Working, praying, hoping - knowing the Kingdom of Israel had been taken down by the Assyrian Empire and they were under their control. They'd personally seen, known, lived - the people of the Kingdom of Judah enslaved.


2 Chronicles 28:8-15

The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, 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. 10 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? 11 Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.”

12 Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war 13 and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us guilt against the Lord in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly. 15 And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

The Children of God have dug the tunnels. God's people have had Passover and re-entered the Temple with Hezekiah. After the victory - over the great and powerful - The Assyrian Empire. The people bring gifts to the Temple. Like Peter said. Willingly. And to Hezekiah, for being the Lord's servant. It is the only time, recorded in Scriptures, the nation, or people, give willingly to the Lord.

Hezekiah not only opened a door to the Temple for himself, he led his people to hope in the Lord. It isn't just that Hezekiah's reign had brought prominence to Judah before other nations; It wasn't just Hezekiah's victory.

Luke 11:9
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Isaiah 12:1
In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me."

John 3;27
John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.



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Matthew 16:1-19 ~ sign of the times

Matthew 16:1-19


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.”

So he left them and departed. 5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”

14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock [the Greek words for Peter and rock sound similar ] I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

You have to love Jesus. In our Tuesday Women's Bible Study, our Deacon pointed out Mark 1 has everything Jesus does happening very quickly. The words immediately, directly, all at once - all words of Jesus' power.

Jesus IS the Son of God. The men writing the Scripture - Are - directed by the Holy Spirit. Many times the way the paragraphs and the sentences, the Scriptures are written, convey a greater meaning. I've been advised - don't put in a whole Chapter - it's too long - it won't hold the reader's attention. Yes and No. One, we are here to worship and love the Lord. Two, every single word of the Lord has meaning. Even when we look at different versions, and different languages - God's meaning is powerful.

So..... today. Jesus is laughing at the Pharisees. A sign. A sign. A sign. One? No. Not one sign. Multitudes. Pharisees, behold the deaf hear, the blind see .... and..... the Pharisees remain unconvinced... enough to pry their fingers off of their positions of influence and power.

Notice how these paragraphs of God's Word are put together. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. Yes, God's word is amazing. Jesus skirmishes with the religious (not relationship) and takes His followers to Caesarea. Caesarea - why - this is the power the Temple of God's Pharisees are resting on. 'King' Herod is not from David's line and Judea is a Roman/client/puppet state. Caesarea is Caesar's city and Herod is appointing the Priests of the Temple.

Jesus takes His followers to "Rome" to tell them: And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

No other organization, Empire, has 2,000 years.... except God.

Here is the Royal Stoa - Herod built this public building - was used for the purchase, sale of animals for sacrifices, and exchanging coins for Tyrian half-sheckels which were regularly paid by pilgrims as tax for the Temple upkeep. Not the building Jesus used for teaching - but where Jesus would have gone to throw over the tables. Jesus said den of thieves as He threw the tables over.

Okay, pulling up the picture of the Royal Stoa and an archaeological fragment of it...



Fragment left by the 70 AD destruction by later Emperor Titus. 70 AD would have been Jesus' natural lifespan.



So, today's passage has Jesus telling His followers in Caesarea about the coming Church. Jesus' Church. The Rock. In Caesarea.

Here is a picture of the first St. Peter's Basilica built by Emperor Constantine from 326 -333 AD. It was of typical basilica architecture. Romans were famous for the architecture. Domes, Arches, Concrete, Columns - there were many forms this building could have taken. Typical basilica (basilica - Roman public building) architecture was the Royal Stoa beside the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem. Herod had built a Roman basilica on the 36 acres of the Temple. 103.6 metres (340 ft) Emperor Constantine (who naively believed Christian citizens would be more controllable) built a very similar basilica upon Peter's tomb:


Our Minister, Clark Lowenfield, says each Sunday, "There are no coincidences, just works of God."

Jesus saw His Church would overcome the gates of hell, He saw it would be overcome Roman Empire authority. Think of all the criticisms of the Church. How many times men have used God's Church for their own power. God's Christian Church is sometimes the Pharisees Jesus spoke against. And before we are all worked up over the inadequacies of the Church, let's remember this is Scripture for us... today.

Who were the Pharisees? They were the people who valued their image more than they valued a relationship with God's Son. They are... me.... and you.

John 2:24-25
But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Jesus, ultimately, did entrust His life to God and gave that life for you. He knows what is in the heart of mankind. He knows about the Popes who didn't give grace and mercy. He knows about the crusades to burn people into loving the Lord. He know the priests who gave such pain to people trying to follow Jesus. He knows you and your heart. Your gifts and your sins.

Luke 13:34
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

Father God, open our hearts to You. Let us be willing to be gathered to You as Your Child. Let us rest in Your Grace. In the name of Jesus Christ. We pray for Your world-wide Church for Your love to fill and direct the people You send. Let us be Your Temple and not Herod's Royal Stoa. In Jesus' name. Amen.







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2 Chronicles 29 ~ opened the doors of the House of the Lord

1 Kings 6:2
The Temple that King Solomon built for the LORD was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.

A cubit is considered to be about 18- 20 inches, so the temple was about 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high. In the modern world, the size is not vast like skyscrapers, football stadiums or airports. However, we've probably never seen a Church covered in gold.

2 Chronicles 29

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east 5 and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs. 7 They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel.

8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron.

17 They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the Lord. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the Lord, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. 19 All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.”

20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord. 21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar. 23 Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them, 24 and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

25 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27 Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to [filled your hand for] the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. 32 The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. 33 And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34 But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves. 35 Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings.

Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had prepared for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.

The events and choices of our lives define us. Solomon said the day of adversity is surely from the Lord as the day of blessing.

Hezekiah is 25 years old when he becomes 14th King of Judah. In his era, Hezekiah is middle aged. Hezekiah is coming to God's Kingdom in a time of great stress. The Assyrian Empire is a huge and powerful force Hezekiah has seen take down the Kingdom of Israel. Peaking back at the last chapter - Ahaz, Hezekiah's father, did not have a victorious reign. He turned his back on the Temple of God and closed the doors - sacrificing to every god, all over the place, and turning to other kings to fight battle for Judah.

How can we imagine a king turning his back on this wonder in the world, this gold Temple and the glorious history of the Lord's power and intervention? Sadly, we can understand this. We see people every day who have decided the Lord's promises do not belong to them.

The Temple of the Lord seemed a fairy tale to Ahaz. He cast his hopes away from the Temple. Ahaz had the benefit of knowing Isaiah. He didn't listen or believe. Perhaps Ahaz was thinking if he made the Temple obsolete, future generations would be able to dismantle the Temple gold to pay armies and make financial arrangements.

Hezekiah could have pillaged the gold covering the Temple. Later, he would try this and cry out to God. Crying to God worked better. Hezekiah forged a path away from asking other kingdoms for help. He relied solely upon the Lord.

Hezekiah opened the doors of the House of the Lord. I'm sure not all who witnessed Hezekiah rely upon the Lord agreed or were pleased. But Hezekiah left a legacy of Scripture written about his faith, his victory, and the wonders of God's works. Hezekiah opened the doors of the House of the Lord, the possibilities from following God were endless.

2 Kings 19:
6 Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 16 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 17 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 19 So now, O Lord our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”

2 Kings 20
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.

2 Chronicles 30:19-21
19 who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.” 20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 32:19-21
19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.

2 Chronicles 32:23-30

And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. 30 This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.

Hezekiah's Water Tunnel




The passage reads:

... the tunnel ... and this is the story of the tunnel while ...

the axes were against each other and while three cubits were left to cut? ... the voice of a man ...

called to his counterpart, (for) there was ZADA in the rock, on the right ... and on the day of the

tunnel (being finished) the stonecutters struck each man towards his counterpart, ax against ax and flowed

water from the source to the pool for 1200 cubits. and 100?

cubits was the height over the head of the stonecutters ...

Zada means prosperous or fortunate.

Father God, You've said in Your word, when we believe Jesus is our Savior, we allow the Holy Spirit to live within us. Each day, Father God, we open our hands like the doors to the Temple and ask You to fill our day and our lives with Your plans. To Your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, we trust each day You will do this in Your plan. Let Your will be done. Amen.



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Psalm 19:8-10, 14 ~ meditation

Southern Steps

The flight of stairs leading to the main entrances of the Temple Mount was 200 feet wide. Excavators uncovered the easternmost part of this staircase with its alternating long and short steps.Suggesting the fifteen long steps may have been one of the locations where pilgrims sang the fifteen Psalms of Ascent (120-34) as they went up to worship. How marvelous.

Steps leading to the original entrance to the temple mount and to the Second Temple. It is certain that Jesus climbed these steps when He visited the Temple in Jerusalem. Pilgrims come from all over the world to see the Southern Temple Mount.

Psalm 19:8-10, 14

8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.


These are wonderful words on the steps to the Temple. Well worth listening to. From Picturejohn on You Tube. Discover the Book Ministries. www.dtbm.org A blessing.

 

http://emp.byui.edu/SATTERFIELDB/Jerusalem/JerusalemPhotoDisplay.htm


Model of the Southern Side of the Second Temple


The Royal Stoa (Hebrew : הסטיו המלכותי‎) might have been built on top of part of Solomon's Porch. The Royal Stoa is known as Royal Colonnade, Royal Portico, Royal Cloisters, Royal Basilica or Stoa Basileia was an ancient public building. The Second Temple was in constant construction and reconstruction after the return from exile in Babylon. This was constructed by Herod the Great, 1st century BC, took 8 years. 10,000 workers were employed and 1,000 carts. The three-aisle structure described by Josephus. (Jewish Antiquities, Book 15, Chapter 11, 410, "deserving to be mentioned better than any other under the sun.") The Royal Stoa was the likely location of Jesus Cleansing of the Temple.

Artifacts from the Stoa have been recovered confirming details given in the accounts of the historian Josephus.

The Royal Stoa was 180 meters long, the entire length opens onto the Temple Mount court. Its roof rested on four rows of columns, forty to each row. The stone elements were carved featuring stylized flowers, leaves and geometric motifs. A few carved stones, uncovered south of the south wall of the Temple Mount, provide evidence of the magnificence of the building.

The Royal Stoa was used for the purchase and sale of animals for sacrifices, and the exchange of coins for Tyrian half-sheckels which were regularly paid by pilgrims as tax for the Temple upkeep (Exodus 30:11-16). Jesus overturned the moneychangers’ tables (Matthew 21:12). Jesus was known to teach in Solomon's Porch.

On the ninth and tenth days of the month of Av in the year 70 AD (about the time Jesus would have died of old age. It is probable His generation was blessed and protected by his life and forgiveness from the cross), after a four-months-siege, the Roman army broke through to the Temple Mount and set the Temple afire. Destroying the Temple even to the foundation stone. This was discussed by the apostles with the all of the Sanhedrin Council when Jesus was proclaimed to them as the Cornerstone.


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John 17:1-11 ~ Yours they were, and you gave them to me

John 17:1-11

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, 2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.

6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one.

Today, in the middle of a perfectly good sermon, my husband passes me a note in Church and he has scribbled on it - how do we know how much was Jesus in the Trinity and how much was the Father. Now God has given us all gifts, but that question is .... unanswerable.

I've heard a perfectly good explanation of the Trinity and I like it Very Much. I've like it so much, I can remember the explanation. Father God is One. His Word went forth to Create, Jesus is His Word. His Holy Spirit hovered over the water during Creation. Jesus came to us, living among us as Truth and Grace, Jesus is the physical manifestation of God's Promises. The Holy Spirit was given in us to fulfill God's purpose. God is always present, His Trinity sent forth to accomplish One Plan - One Will - His. To His Glory.

Can I explain it further. No. Nope. I'm part of the body of Christ, but I am not the head. I trust God to answer the question further. I'll be glad to lean on His understanding. Happy to be the chick standing under His Wings.

How to take this passage telling us we've believed and we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and not just soak in it this. Which we should. We are sealed with Jesus and Father God's own Holy Spirit. Soak. Soak. Soak.

Ephesians 1:13
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit

Because we can believe, permanently, we are sealed in the Holy Spirit; we can say this when the world is all we hope it can be and when the wild winds of life howl:

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through him who strengthens me!

Which neatly brings us back to this passage Jesus told us about.

Luke 6:12-13
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles

Did Jesus decide His people, His chosen people surrounding Himself, by Himself - famously - the answer is no. Given to the Son, by Father God.

John 6:68-70
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the Twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.”

So, we are again, like Jesus. Dwelling as a human being. God puts people in our path. And we have an idea by their actions and words (their fruit), and God knows, not all of them are .... wheat. (Can you tell our sermon was on a rare subject at our Church - Hell and the physical reality Jesus spoke of Hell.)

In Matthew 13 and in Matthew 3, Jesus gave us wheat analogies. It is God's plan the wheat and the chaff grow up together. And he gave us seed analogies about some people hear the word of God, some fall away, some let the seed wither.

Matthew 3:12
His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.

Now, importantly, Matthew 3:12 is Jesus. Not us. He is the only one who is good. We sometimes spend a lot of time in Christian circles figuring out who is the wheat or the weed or the chaff. We shouldn't. Proverbs says only that person and God knows the heart. Because we are not Jesus' head - He is. Alone. He is God.

This passage calls us to remember. We are like Jesus, our people in our lives are not always specifically chosen by us. Just given by Father God. And no where in Scripture, not even once, does Jesus come to blows with Judas. Neither did Jesus change Himself for Pharisees or Disciples. Jesus spoke truth with mercy, day after day, at cost to Himself. Jesus speaks God's words. Jesus lives God's promises. Jesus prays. Because we are not Jesus, we will not decide anyone's fate. We will do like Jesus, we will hold the people in our lives in our heart and lift them to God. Jesus told us He is the Prince of Peace. He decides. We pray. And Father God, I am grateful to be the chick under Your Wings. I abide in You. Willingly and with gratitude.

Blessed are You, Jesus. I abide in You, Father God. I give You praise for giving me the tools to live the life You want me to have. Thank You for the Holy Spirit. I give You my gratitude You are at work and hear our prayers. I thank You, endlessly, You told us to pray and always have hope. Amen.


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Psalm 139 ~ If I take the wings of morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea

Psalm 139

1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.

7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.

19 Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!
O men of blood, depart from me!
20 They speak against you with malicious intent;
your enemies take your name in vain!
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
22 I hate them with complete hatred;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!

Every part of creation is under God's intuition and influence.

Praise be to You, Oh Lord, Father and God of all. And blessed be your Son, Jesus.

Amen.

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Psalm 90 ~ a thousand years in Your sight are but as yesterday when it is past

Remains of Tabernacle Dwelling
First Temple built by Solomon

Wall closest, Archaeological ruin of First Temple Wall.
Models of Second Temple






Night at Golgotha, Vasily Vereshchagin

Arch of Titus, Conquering Jerusalem, relief on the wall. The Ark of the Covenant is missing. The gold from the Temple was used to build the Colosseum. Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, the time of the natural death of Jesus, if He'd lived to be old.













Way of the Cross, Good Friday Service at the Colosseum

The Colosseum, where Christians were once covered in pitch and used as torches for the night games.
4th Century Church of St. Peter's built by Constantine. Built to look like the Royal Stoa of the 2nd Temple in Jerusalem.
St. Peter's Interior Today.
Stained Glass Cathedral Rheims
Lyon Cathedral
Wells Cathedral


Country Church painted by Dzvinka Stifel
Beautiful altars




Psalm 90


A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place [our refuge]
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man [of Adam] !”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.

5 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
like grass that is renewed in the morning:
6 in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
in the evening it fades and withers.

7 For we are brought to an end by your anger;
by your wrath we are dismayed.
8 You have set our iniquities before you,
our secret sins in the light of your presence.

9 For all our days pass away under your wrath;
we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span [or pride] is but toil and trouble;
they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
and your wrath according to the fear of you?

12 So teach us to number our days
that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O Lord! How long?
Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor [beauty] of the Lord our God be upon us,
and establish the work of our hands upon us;
yes, establish the work of our hands!


Psalm 90:4
For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Two days ago, Jesus Christ offered Himself as our sacrifice. Death was abolished and a new Heaven was written of by the apostle John, breathed out by the Holy Spirit ~ in the eyes of our Father God.

When we stand in our sanctuary, Church, praising God, we are - in His eyes - a mere breath away from the events we see posted today.

We are just dust, but Precious in the eyes of God. God is God of the Living. Many generations Living with Him; He is our refuge!

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Psalm 31:3-8,17-21 ~ Thou hast redeemed me

Psalm 31:3-8,17-21

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

3 For you are my rock and my fortress;
and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
4 you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

6 I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have known the distress of my soul,
8 and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

17 O Lord, let me not be put to shame,
for I call upon you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go silently to Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
which speak insolently against the righteous
in pride and contempt.

19 Oh, how abundant is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you
and worked for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of the children of mankind!
20 In the cover of your presence you hide them
from the plots of men;
you store them in your shelter
from the strife of tongues.

21 Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was in a besieged city.

Exodus 15:13
In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.

Nehemiah 1:10
They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand.

Job 33:28
He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.

Luke 1:68
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.

Peter 1:18
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers

Redemption is different from life. Life has triumphant times & difficulty. Life rarely rests in one angle, but redemption is constant victory. God has paided the price for our redemption. Redemption doesn't guarantee happiness, but redemption requires gratitude. Finding gratitude is one of the best highways to peace, serving others & finding kindness in a tight corner.

Remember 10 lepers were healed, but always pray to be the one who returned to Praise God!



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