Zechariah 8:16,17 ~ These are the things that you shall do

A Special Love Letter From Jesus Christ

If this life is to determine our soul's talents to Father God, we bring Him our soul. God made us in His image to create. Everything we should do is inspired by Father God.

And if we read God's Letters to us as uniquely personal; We believe Jesus gave His life for me by opening His Arms on the Cross for me. Then we believe, the Bible is written for me.

 



What would Father God tell me specifically to do?

Zechariah 8:16
These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another.


What is the value God places on truth?

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am
the way,
and the truth,
and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me."






To what depth should we speak the truth.

To ourselves and God:

Matthew 6:6
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Speak the truth at home.


When conflict is arriving, even at home:

Galatians 4:16
Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?

To explain the story better and more quickly:

Exodus 20:16
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Zechariah 8 is about Heaven. A rare glimpse of life in Heaven. And starts here:

Zechariah 8

16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates [your own home] judgments that are true and make for peace.

Jesus brings mercy with His Truth!!! We live making decisions. Wisdom cries out make wise choices.






Matthew 3, Mark 1, John 1, Luke 3 Tell us to make Straight Paths for Father God. And in doing so ask for blessings on others. We need the rich mercy of Jesus for ourselves. Always.

Zechariah 8
16 These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;

17 do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

In true difficulties, we usually fuss. Blessing someone far away is never wrong! And resting our uptight concerns with God - a Blessing for us. God is for us. Rest.

Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”




Father God,

When Your Great Mercy covers me in Highest Name of Jesus, I am righteous before You and given the Highest Love and Help. Thank You for Jesus.

We pray Straight Paths in life when we do not understand, we lean upon You. Thank You for Your Protection. Let the Name of Jesus cover me always, always, always. Thank You, Father.

Let Your Great Name of Jesus King of Kings cover my loved ones, the people You give me and this Nation of People in Churches, Schools, Work, Communities and the World calling upon Jesus have more Holy Spirit by asking in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Mark 9 ~ So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.

Mark 9

And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 

And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 

4 And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.

7 And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 

10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean. 

11 And they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that first Elijah must come?” 

12 And he said to them, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. And how is it written of the Son of Man that he should suffer many things and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”










 

14 And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. 15 And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran up to him and greeted him. 

16 And he asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 

17 And someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. 18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” 

19 And he answered them, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?"

"Bring him to me.” 

20 And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. 21 And Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

And he said, “From childhood. 22 And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 

23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” 

24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” 

25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 

 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 




28 And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 

29 And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.”

 


30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” 

32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.





 

33 And they came to Capernaum. And when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 

34 But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

 35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” 

36 And he took a child and put him in the midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”
 

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 

39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 For the one who is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? 

Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”




Salt.

Jesus is always interesting.

Displaying the Vast Attributes of God the Father Almighty.

This is true of God:


1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.


1 Peter 4:8 (ASV)
Above all things being fervent in your love among yourselves; for love covereth a multitude of sins



Jesus being God proclaims to the disciples they will see Heaven before they die. If you have studied the medical conditions of Jesus upon the Cross, you are aware Jesus died mercifully faster from heart failure, far faster than most human beings placed on a cross. Father God was merciful towards Jesus Great Love for us as atonement for our sins.

Jesus is perhaps telling them they will be like Stephen and see this Glory before their suffering overcomes them.


The Wonder of God. Vast. Jesus tells these disciples they will see Heaven, an impossibility and immediately Jesus fulfills this.




Now there is another facet to this human equation. Wonder of God with Doubt. Anxiety.

They are like Mary. Unsure of what to do with a God sized Word of God Statement.

10. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what this rising from the dead might mean.


Who else did this?

Luke 2:19
Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.


Let's see another, less thought of , example:

Isaiah 7
10 Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord yourf God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.”

13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."


God is not just considering the people He addresses, He is considering yesterday, today and tomorrow's Beloved of God. This is a God sized Word of God. Who is Ahaz? The unbelieving father of Hezekiah, the most prosperous king of David's Line just outside of Solomon. God is considering Ahaz's son. And us today.
These Words of God continue to all people.



God does not have explain God. He is God.

What God does after He proclaims...
He allows mankind to do the work given to them - Believe.

If they do not, Father God is not fussed. He does not require human hands to bring forth His Plan.


Father God is Love, we witness in the fullness of His Plan.



Jesus does not in desperation run back and forth begging for belief.
He believes all called by Father God will become the Lord's.
Jesus does not shrink from proclaiming the Good News of God.

Jesus has given exactly what Father God intends Jesus to give.

Facets of Human understanding:
Mary accepted faith is a mystery. Luke 2:19
The disciples accepted faith is a mystery. Verse 10.

Paul shows us in the Holy Spirit, he accepts the mystery with Timothy. Once saying, Paul "will see how it goes with me."

And telling us with Timothy:

Timothy 3:16 
 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.



Another facet of God giving what God will give:

Place God first and trust God of All Creation.

God does not do this. Unless - God is ready:

1. Words of Affirmation.
2. Acts of Service.
3. Giving Gifts.
4. He does promise Quality Time like the 12 always open gates of Heaven.
5. Physical Touch.

God is saying, in conclusion, "God loves first. Believe the Promises of God."

The disciples walked with the Light of Life and had questions. We can believe Jesus perceives thoughts and heart.

We can trust Father God with our questions. Jesus made time for the father of the child asking for more faith, even as the crowd was 'running' to them. We can believe God for His mighty Works and His quiet works as well.

We can believe in trusting in Jesus, He will lift us up too.


Father God,
You are God, we are not. We are the people You have created.

In You, we will lean upon Your Holy Spirit. Doing like Elisha and asking for more of Your Holy Spirit when we do not understand. Placing all things under Your feet, Father God.

When emotion floods us, we will acknowledge our emotion. Like anxiety and we will give this emotion to You. I will trust in Your Word and I will ask for You to cover my emotion and I will not be afraid. I will be centered upon you.

I believe You have a plan for me. And this is my hope and future.

We will be Your children. We will look to Your Word and Your teaching. We will ask our Heart in Jesus' name to keep Your Commandments. We will look to length of days and years of life and peace You add to us. Proverbs 3. We bless You for favor and good success, looking to You in our hearts. We will lean upon Your understanding.

Whatever we ask in prayer, we will believe in the Name of Jesus, Your Good Will will accomplish and we will have Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Encouragement, Dignity, Self Control and the Presence of Jesus the Lord. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Micah 6:8 ~ What does the LORD require of you?

What would you do if a letter arrived for you, a parchment that care had obviously given to. The contents were the Book of Life: direction for your best and highest purpose.

Would you read this letter each day or save this for once a week, month, yearly?

The Amazing and Wondrous Works of the Lord are always unbelievable, intertwined with the ordinary, and then with periods of doubt we could call lag time. The events end the same way for multitudes and multitudes. In the Valley of Decision.


We have this opportunity each day to send a letter to our Eternal Home. Our heart, our time in conversational prayer. The deeds we do. The apologies we make.

What is the purpose of your life?



Luke 12:48b-53

Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

49 "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!

Micah 6:8

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it."


Now, here is a thought. If the purpose of life is to be the Prodigal Son returning Home to the Father... what is the Tithe? We shall not play around with Tithes like Cain and Able.


Malachi 3
9"You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! 10"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. 11"Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes," says the LORD of hosts.…


What will forgiveness do? Free us of burdens. Not all horses are meant to be ridden, and yet we can see the journey with joy.


10 lepers were healed, one returned to Give, Give, Give Thanks to Jesus.
10 Virgins, 5 kept oil to keep the Light burning bright.

We shall do the work God gives to mankind - to believe.

We shall be keepers of the Light of Christ.

John 8:12
"I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."


Father God,

Father we hope for Your grace and favor in Your sight, Bless us when we carry and proclaim the Light of Jesus in all of mankind, we are pleasing to You.

We believe You are the Living God. We believe, no good thing do You withhold from those who walk uprightly. We believe daily in the Glory of Your Word and Will.

We will long for Your counsel and Your Will, to have those we love - praise Your Glory!

We believe, Your Word of Truth,

We are sealed with the Promises of the Holy Spirit.

With Your Help, we will believe, daily keeping Your Light in us.

With Your Help, we will rejoice in the Light of Life.

With Your Help, we will look to the Windows of Heaven in our life and see a blessing overflow believing all things work together for those who Love You.

With Your Help for ourselves and the ones we love, our prayer concerns. We will act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with You, our God.

You are our guarantee. For ourselves and the ones we Love. In the Highest Name of Jesus, we are covered. Amen to Your Glory!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Ezekiel 36:26 ~ A new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you

Works and Worship

What pleases Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit?

We all approach Father God differently by His design.

And yet, what we find is that God alone sees us perfectly and He tells us when we call upon Jesus in faith, we are saved. God values what He sees. Heart, love and relationship. This is what  the Beauty and Majesty of God puts His standard upon.


Ezekiel witnesses this:

Ezekiel 36:26
And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 



Jeremiah saw relating to Father God like this:

Jeremiah 17:10
“I the Lord search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.”



Paul, traveling with Timothy, saw this:

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.





Solomon in all of his late in life wisdom said this about the Love God continues to hold for us.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.


James, having spent his life with Jesus as his Brother said this of heart and works:

James 2

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.


The interesting thing about the combination of faith to diligence daily is this:

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


We don't earn what is impossible to pay. Jesus, innocence, purity, goodness, Love paid for us. We can never repay this. We give thanks and goodness comes from gratitude of what Jesus has Given.

Psalm 136:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.


The Sunflower growing from seed to flower and fruit is open to God.


John 3:8
7 "Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit."





Our life and our times are in the Blessed hands of Jesus.

Ecclesiastes 11:5
As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.


Our response?

Psalm 34
7 The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!




Father God,
We would pray with Jesus and sit with Him.

We would be the seeds of Your's. 

Protect us when we are tender. We call upon the Name of Jesus.  Help us to have depth in You. Help us to see You, Lord Father God, are above all else. 

Help us to be nourished and awake. Alert to Your Actions and desires. The wonders You provide. Help us to please You, a hundredfold. Let us have hearts to love and ears to hear.

We pray this for the People we Love and the ones You have given us. For our Churches, schools, work places, neighborhoods, communities, cities and Nation. For the Glory of All who call upon Jesus as Lord in You Love. Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Romans 13 ~ Armor of Light.

Romans 13

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 

3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. 

Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

 


8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.


11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.

 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here.

So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.




The Lord Jesus says:

Luke 7

After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” 6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him,

“Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

The Lord Jesus also says

Luke 1

18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

Acts 9

4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

Proving to us,again,  Jesus is our Lord.



10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.


Acts 9
The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” 17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”


Romans 13
So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.





18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.


22 Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

39 So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them. 40 But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. 41 And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

Father God, Thank You, Your Word is clear.

Let us clearly remind ourselves we have put on the Armor of Light. We have fastened on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness  and shoes our feet with the gospel of peace. We will take up the shield of faith, and the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Praying at all times in the Spirit.

Thank You for Your Ways, Your Word, Your Life.

With expectation of Your goodness and a patience when waiting upon the Timing of God Himself, we will look forward to Your Ways in Hope, Faith and Love.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 89:1-18 ~ For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?

Jericho, once a “Biblical problem” a seeming disagreement between archaeology and the Bible. However, now we know the archaeological evidence supports the historical accuracy of the Biblical account in every detail.

Psalm 89:1-18

A Maskil  ^{[musical, liturgical term]} of Ethan the Ezrahite.

 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever;

with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.

2 For I said, “Steadfast love will be built up forever;

in the heavens you will establish your faithfulness.”

3 You have said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one;

I have sworn to David my servant:

4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever,

and build your throne for all generations.’” Selah

5 Let the heavens praise your wonders, O Lord,

your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!

 

6 For who in the skies can be compared to the Lord?

Who among the heavenly beings ^{[the sons of God or the sons of might]}      

is like the Lord,

7 a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones,

and awesome above all who are around him?

 

8 O Lord God of hosts,

who is mighty as you are, O Lord,

with your faithfulness all around you?

9 You rule the raging of the sea;

when its waves rise, you still them.

10 You crushed Rahab like a carcass;

you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm.

11 The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours;

the world and all that is in it, you have founded them.

12 The north and the south, you have created them;

Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.

13 You have a mighty arm;

strong is your hand, high your right hand.

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,

who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,

16 who exult in your name all the day

and in your righteousness are exalted.

17 For you are the glory of their strength;

by your favor our horn is exalted.

18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,

our king to the Holy One of Israel.

It's interesting how Scripture comes up when you are thinking about it. Today I was thinking of Rahab, 3rd great grandmother of David. As the Children of Israel left Egypt, with the riches the Egyptians were glad to give - to get rid them,  prophecy came forth of Rahab.

Isaiah 30:6-8

An oracle on the beasts of the Negeb.

Through a land of trouble and anguish,
    from where come the lioness and the lion,
    the adder and the flying fiery serpent,
they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,
    and their treasures on the humps of camels,
    to a people that cannot profit them.
⁷ Egypt's help is worthless and empty;
    therefore I have called her
     “Rahab who sits still.”

⁸ And now, go, write it before them on a tablet
    and inscribe it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come
    as a witness forever.

The Children of Israel do not have lives that please them in Egypt and God hears them. Then 40 years later, they finally enter into the Promised Land because they didn't follow the advice of God, but their own fears. So they enter Jericho first. Jericho is the land flowing with milk and honey. It is fabulous. They are told how Jericho will fall. It seems absurd and hopeless. And today we see, the Bible has once again, told the Truth.

[ According to Bryant G. Wood PhD 

 Excavations at the outer (lower) fortification wall by the three major expeditions to Jericho. At the north end (numbers 1–5), a portion of the mud brick wall (shaded) atop the stone retaining wall survived, demonstrating that the city wall did not fall in this area. Nothing remains of the mud brick city wall at other points investigated, showing that it had collapsed everywhere else (numbers 6–13). Remnants of the collapsed city wall (shaded) were actually found still in place in three places at Jericho: number 11 (German excavation), number 12 (Kenyon’s excavation), and the 1997 Italian-Palestinian excavation extending Kenyon’s south trench at number 8.

According to the Bible, Rahab’s house was incorporated into the fortification system (Jos 2:15). If the walls fell, how was her house spared? As you recall, the spies had instructed Rahab to bring her family into her house and they would be rescued. When the Israelites stormed the city, Rahab and her family were saved as promised (Jos 6:17, 22–23). At the north end of the tell of Jericho, archaeologists made some astounding discoveries that seem to relate to Rahab.

The German excavation of 1907-1909 found that on the north a short stretch of the lower city wall did not fall as everywhere else. A portion of that mudbrick wall was still standing to a height of 8 ft (Sellin and Watzinger 1973: 58). What is more, there were houses built against the wall! It is quite possible that this is where Rahab’s house was located.]

 

Now we can draw from tales of sea monsters, and names of water, but this Psalm was published, verified, sung by her 4th great grandson (Solomon) in the Temple. Written by one of his wisest councilors. Truth being told in the LORD'S TEMPLE and trying to honor a story working for the LORD. If you wanted to honor your heroic great, great, great, great grandmother in the Temple of the LORD - how would you delicately refer to her profession and her salvation? Perhaps to point out God is greater and to say she was crushed in her life...

Who was Rahab? We find out from.... Joshua 6. These were her actions:

Joshua 1:7-8
Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Perhaps. Perhaps because Rahab is listed in Matthew 1:4-6...........

and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah

..........we can say Rahab was like the Gospel.

Matthew 13:17
For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

We are telling God's story. We can draw from  Job, Joshua, Solomon, Solomon's advisors, David, Rahab, Isaiah and we are telling of flawed people. Doing what they can. Abiding in God, seeing like Paul....Philippians 2:19-24 ~ how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord
.

Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face,
16 who exult in your name all the day
and in your righteousness are exalted.
17 For you are the glory of their strength;
by your favor our horn is exalted.
18 For our shield belongs to the Lord,
our king to the Holy One of Israel.

 

Father God, we thank You for hearing prayers of your people for the rains around Houston to subside. We continue to pray for Your favor on our area and to help with people experiencing flooding. I am so very glad to find my 19 year old cat, Scoop.

Thank You, Father God, for people who pray! In Jesus. Amen! 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †