Nehemiah 7 ~ more faithful and God-fearing

Nehemiah 7

  
        

Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, ² I gave my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. ³ And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.” ⁴ The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few, and no houses had been rebuilt.

⁵ Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it: ⁶ These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. 



 ⁷ They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: ⁸ the sons of Parosh, 2,172. ⁹ The sons of Shephatiah, 372. ¹⁰ The sons of Arah, 652. ¹¹ The sons of Pahath-moab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818. ¹² The sons of Elam, 1,254. ¹³ The sons of Zattu, 845. ¹⁴ The sons of Zaccai, 760. ¹⁵ The sons of Binnui, 648. ¹⁶ The sons of Bebai, 628. ¹⁷ The sons of Azgad, 2,322. ¹⁸ The sons of Adonikam, 667. ¹⁹ The sons of Bigvai, 2,067. ²⁰ The sons of Adin, 655. ²¹ The sons of Ater, namely of Hezekiah, 98. ²² The sons of Hashum, 328. ²³ The sons of Bezai, 324. ²⁴ The sons of Hariph, 112. ²⁵ The sons of Gibeon, 95. ²⁶ The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188. ²⁷ The men of Anathoth, 128. ²⁸ The men of Beth-azmaveth, 42. ²⁹ The men of Kiriath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, 743. ³⁰ The men of Ramah and Geba, 621. ³¹ The men of Michmas, 122. ³² The men of Bethel and Ai, 123. ³³ The men of the other Nebo, 52. ³⁴ The sons of the other Elam, 1,254. ³⁵ The sons of Harim, 320. ³⁶ The sons of Jericho, 345. ³⁷ The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721. ³⁸ The sons of Senaah, 3,930. ³⁹ The priests: the sons of Jedaiah, namely the house of Jeshua, 973. ⁴⁰ The sons of Immer, 1,052. ⁴¹ The sons of Pashhur, 1,247. ⁴² The sons of Harim, 1,017. ⁴³ The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely of Kadmiel of the sons of Hodevah, 74. ⁴⁴ The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148. ⁴⁵ The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138. ⁴⁶ The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, ⁴⁷ the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, ⁴⁸ the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, ⁴⁹ the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, ⁵⁰ the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, ⁵¹ the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, ⁵² the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, ⁵³ the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, ⁵⁴ the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, ⁵⁵ the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, ⁵⁶ the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. ⁵⁷ The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, ⁵⁸ the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, ⁵⁹ the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of Amon. ⁶⁰ All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392. ⁶¹ The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers' houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: ⁶² the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642. ⁶³ Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).  

⁶⁴ These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. ⁶⁵ The governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.

Totals of People and Gifts

⁶⁶ The whole assembly together was 42,360, 

⁶⁷ besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female.  

⁶⁸ Their horses were 736, their mules 245, ⁶⁹ their camels 435, and their donkeys 6,720. 

⁷⁰ Now some of the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics^{[A daric was a coin weighing about 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams]} of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests' garments and 500 minas^{[A mina was about 1 1/4 pounds or 0.6 kilogram]} of silver. ⁷¹ And some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. ⁷² And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests' garments.  

⁷³ So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns. And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.


 What is the difference between the return of Jacob's sons and the children of Judea.   
   

Exodus 12:37
  And the people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about 
six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children.

In the Exodus, God created tremendous and might acts. The Children of Israel were afraid and unworthy. The strength of God Almighty was revealed. People just could not obtain His Holiness.   

 In the return from Babylon, the Children of Abraham are again enslaved, yet this time the Holiness of God works upon the 3 generations of kings in the Persian Empire. Three different kings promised to return slaves to a country in utter ruin. Why would we see this much detail in 500 B.C. Why would the details be so recorded for people to see millenniums later.... maybe to show us we don't like Biblical detail but find the Babylonian Chronicles completely fascinating even in the details of feeding a descendant of King David.  

List of Assyrian and Babylonian Chronicles Dynastic Chronicle (ABC 18) (translation ) (another version of Column 5 ) Weidner Chronicle (ABC 19) (translation ) Chronicle of the Kassite and Isin Dynasties, also known as Walker's Chronicle (called "Chronicle 25", but not available in ABC) (translation ) Chronicle of Early Kings (ABC 20) (translation ) Synchronistic History (ABC 21) (one translation and another translation ) Chronicle P (ABC 22) (translation and another translation ) Chronicle of the Market Prices (ABC 23) (translation ) Eclectic Chronicle (ABC 24) (translation ) Religious Chronicle (ABC 17) (translation ) Nabonassar to Shamash-shum-ukin Chronicle (ABC 1) (translation ) Esarhaddon Chronicle (ABC 14) (translation ) Shamash-shuma-ukin Chronicle (ABC 15) (translation ) (another translation ) Akitu Chronicle (ABC 16) (translation ) Early Years of Nabopolassar Chronicle (ABC 2) (translation ) Fall of Nineveh Chronicle (ABC 3) (translation ) Late Reign of Nabopolassar Chronicle (ABC 4) (translation ) First years of Nebuchadnezzar Chronicle, also known as Jerusalem Chronicle (ABC 5) (translation ) Third year of Neriglissar Chronicle (ABC 6) (translation ) Nabonidus Chronicle (ABC 7) (text and translation ) Artaxerxes III Chronicle (ABC 9) (translation ) Alexander Chronicle (ABC 8 = BCHP 1) (text and translation ) Alexander and Arabia Chronicle (BCHP 2) (text and translation ) Diadochi Chronicle (ABC 10 = BCHP 3) (text and translation ) Arses and Alexander fragment (BCHP 4) (translation ) Antiochus and Sin Temple Chronicle (ABC 11 = BCHP 5) (text and translation ) Ruin of Esagila Chronicle (BCHP 6) (text and translation ) Antiochus, Bactria, and India Chronicle (ABC 13A = BCHP 7) (text and translation ) Juniper garden Chronicle (BCHP 8) (text and translation ) End of Seleucus I Chronicle (ABC 12 = BCHP 9) (text and translation ) Seleucid Accessions Chronicle (ABC 13 = BCHP 10) (text and translation ) Invasion of Ptolemy III Chronicle (BCHP 11) (text and translation ) Seleucus III Chronicle (ABC 13B = BCHP 12) (text and translation ) Politai Chronicle (BCHP 13) (text and translation ) Greek Community Chronicle (BCHP 14) (text and translation ) Gold Theft Chronicle (BCHP 15) (text and translation ) Document on land and tithes (BCHP 16) (text and translation ) Judicial Chronicle (BCHP 17) (text and translation ) Bagayasha Chronicle (BCHP 18) Chronicle Concerning an Arsacid King (BCHP 19) (text and translation ) Euphrates Chronicle (BCHP 20) (text and translation  


Dry dusty tomes later, we discover historical accuracy is to be cheered and marveled over. We have so many movies over the Exodus, why not 2 ades march 16 597 B.C?

No one disputes the end of the country of Judea.  God took all of the details of utterly ruined and forsaken land and raised Israel up from the dead. 

  Acts 1:6-11    

 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” ⁹ And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, ¹¹ and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

 We could say the 2nd Exodus, called the Exile - is - again the Gospel truth.  

A foreshadowing of Jesus. 

1 Corinthians 15

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹ Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. ¹⁴ And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.


1 Corinthians 13:13   
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love! 


1 Corinthians 6:14 
By his power God 
raised the Lord from the dead,
 and he will raise us also.

Isaiah 63:7  
I will tell of the kindnesses of the LORD, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the LORD has done for us--yes, the many good things he has done for the house of Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses.  

Nehemiah was a slave.

 
Father God,
When we earnestly expect Your goodness, we lift our eyes from drooped knees and hands and In YOUR GOODNESS we look up to find New Hope. And in this Expectation, You give to us like Daniel finding new paths and new opportunities by the Power of the same (yesterday, today and tomorrow) Holy Spirit being above us. 

You, Father God consent to dwell in us who believe in the Holy Spirit.

We give You Thanks believing all things work together for Good for those who Love the Lord.

We know Father God the Holy Spirit pleads our case to You. Sometimes even as we sigh. You have redeemed us from the slavery of hopelessness. We look to You, Loving and Good, Father God for Your Acts of Righteousness.

And because we are the Beloved. The Easter People who say Alleluia in Jesus, we will give justice with mercy and walk humbly with Jesus. As the disciples did, with joy and awe and wonder in Your Goodness. You feed us daily with Your goodness and provisions. You forgive us, You deliver us, You protect us. For only Your Goodness and Righteousness by covering us in Your Name. Jesus the Lord. The Lord. The Lord. Compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in loving kindness and truth. Jesus keeps loving kindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin. Jesus who makes us His own.

Jesus the Living Water saving all of us for believing in Him. Amen and Amen. Alleluia. 

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Revelation 12:7-12 ~ his time is short - let's make the devil's time short

Revelation 12:7-12

Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, 8 but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world— he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers[brothers and sisters] has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. 12 Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!”



Luke 10:18-20

18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”


John had a unique view of life on earth, he'd been with Jesus, Son of God, as he died for our sins. John believed evil walked the earth. We have the joy of knowing the devil was thrown out of Heaven. No longer would there be conversations like the one carried out in the Book of Job.






We are also fortunate in being after Jesus was resurrected, in knowing, in our baptism, we have the Seal of the Holy Spirit. Protecting us from this kind of evil. Baptism is the promise to be fulfilled with the sustaining life of the Holy Spirit within us.

Romans 8:38

For 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.


Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.



Romans 8:24-39
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.


31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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.







The most difficult university to gain admittance to in the United States of America is the Air Force Academy. I was talking today to a recent graduate and we spoke of overcoming difficulties teaches us to see life with more wisdom. Perhaps to worry less. This is our family friend who has the Brightness of God in him. Wisdom. Jesus bless and protect him as he serves our nation in the Air Force.

And we talked about Isis and laughed a little at Isis at a a major WWE Pro Wrestling Event in Atlanta. I doubt laughing in the face of terrorism is a bad thing. However being shot at and bombed by people screaming "God is Good" is far from what God who creates the Universe and by His Word we have Life would intend. And we did agree, in our talk,  terrorism tries to isolate people from others and strike them down. Which makes things difficult for the trained disaster responders to do their jobs. We did agree that taking safety measures in concealed handgun permits is probably an excellent idea.

Is this the devil? This is an outbreak of evil. The evil one has the stink of wanting to hurt. The Bible urges us to turn the other cheek, Christians were famous for being burned at the stake in the Coliseum.

Henryk Siemiradzk

However, the truth is people did die and others prepared to do God's Word and Will and Works in protect and defend and find ways forward to Live for Jesus Christ.

We should not believe dying without a fight is what 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th century Christians did. The Isaiah Scroll exists from people fleeing evil. These Scriptures exist from Papyrus 46 300 Chapters because people thought and planned like Moses, Joshua, Paul, John, Mark, Luke, Timothy, Titus - people who wanted their belief in Jesus to Live and To Carry On.

This is Scripture


So if we need some Biblical truths about protecting ourselves and others - let's think about that.

We've spoken recently about Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham, Tom Burnett, and Jeremy Glick Lou Nacke, Rich Guadagno, Alan Beaven, Honor Elizabeth Wainio, Linda Gronlund, and William Cashman, Sandra Bradshaw and Cee Cee Ross-Lyles.

Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good

Psalm 82:3
Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.

Titus 2:7
In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness

Balance. Not to the Right or Left. Courage. Leadership.

Joshua knew something about Courage. He had Moabites from Moses' family. He had Canaanites later from Rahab. He did not use troubled times to become racist. Jesus in Arabic is Yeshua. Yeshua is a lot like Joshua. Jesus told us to realize God wants to save the World. He did never intend for us to hunker down in fear or be racist. Realize Ruth was probably dark skinned. David was ruddy, from the red earth just like Adam - Eve's mitochondrial DNA is African. Jesus' family is very blended.

Father God wants to save The World. He just never intended us to think we should not be bold. Protect others and ourselves. We have concealed handgun laws in 48 states. God said deliver the weak.

Father God,

Each day, gather us to You, that in Your Mercy, Your Will and in Your Glory, we might be sustained to do all the good works You have prepared for us to do.

Open our hearts to be Loving, and to be wise, that we may walk with You in the ways You would have us go.

Deliver us from Evil and Temptation. Help us in troubled times not to be haters and instead be people who pray. And know You Love all Nations and would have Your Son, Jesus, Save the World.

Help us to live in safety and tell others of the way God's Love sustains us and empowers us and cheers us and encourages us.

In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Hosea 14:2-9 ~ It is I who answer and look after you

2 Chronicles 32, 3-4:

“And he took counsel with his officers and his mighty men to stop up the waters of the fountains that were outside the city, and they assisted him. And a large multitude gathered and stopped up all the fountains and the stream that flowed in the midst of the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?""

Hosea 14:2-9

Take with you words
and return to the Lord;
say to him,
“Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
and we will pay with bulls
the vows of our lips.

3 Assyria shall not save us;
we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, ‘Our God,’
to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy.”

4 I will heal their apostasy;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them.
5 I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily;
he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
6 his shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.

7 They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress;
from me comes your fruit.

9 Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the Lord are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.

TRUST
 

King Hezekiah was raised to understand, by his late father King Ahaz, to survive as King of Judea, he needed to understand politically, monetarily and with religious compromise to have a good life as a puppet king for the Assyrian Empire next door. Hezekiah started out on just that path, pulling gold from the abandoned Temple ( by Ahaz) to give as tribute.

This is part of an amazingly jaw dropping time in the history of God's chosen people. The people decided to rely upon HIM and work ferociously to build upon their hopes while constructing fortifications against the Enemy. It is the only time in the Scriptures a leader has to ask the people to stop donating to HIM. The coffers are overflowing.

2 Kings 19
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.”

20 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Your prayer to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria I have heard."

2 Kings 20
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 32:23
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.

Hezekiah lived such a prosperous reign, it is the only one compared to Solomon in prosperity and trade.


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.

Return to the Lord;
say to him,
“Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good"

Far from being an austere prophet Hosea says beautiful Words of HIM.

They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

John 15:1
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

Jesus was absolutely in agreement with Hosea, proclaiming faith for today and in this marvelous generation -

Matthew 13:32
Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.

Faith proclaimed through the generations.

Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed." +

We place our trust in Jesus, our strong deliverer. Each day. I put my life where God is and I trust. 

We need to hold on to our truths. If we sit idle and do not feed and nourish ourselves with God's Spoken Word and His teachings we drift away. Moses told the Children of Israel one day there would be revisionist history saying the Exodus did not happen. I would bet many people prayed to the Lord God to have Biblical History able to be found easily. And Assyria passed by Hezekiah, who trusted God and had a prosperous reign the equivalent of Solomon's.

Deuteronomy 4:9
Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.

Father God,
You Delight in blessing us. Strengthen my soul to hold on to my Trust in You and our Great Hope in Jesus.

Help us to be merciful to those in doubt. We could be there next. I pray for the young person this week who really questioned if God would spread a table for her in her wilderness. We all have times werethink and ponder and have an opportunity to place ourselves where we would want Father God to find us in the Living Parable of the Prodigal Son.

Help us to remember to pray together as families, each day.

We pray for the safety of our nation and others in turbulent times knowing throughout Scripture, trouble rises up and diminishes. We pray the name of this organization is an old goddess and this group is put away. And ask Jesus to help where God is praised as good and the innocent are murdered. We would like to call them finished.

We put our trust in You, Living and Sovereign Father God of All.
In Jesus for ourselves, the ones we love and the people You give us. In the Highest Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves † 

Psalm 138 ~ the Lord is on high

The Glue Society's interpretation of the Exodus

Psalm 138

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. [you have exalted your word above all your name] 

3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. [you made me bold in my soul with strength]
 

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.

6 For though the Lord is on high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.

8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

The work of His Hands

God bears the plan for my life

Early to bed, early to rise;  and the day was far from ordinary.

My elder son was annoyed with me on morning in Dallas when he was in 6th grade. I asked him if he was going to speak to me one day on the way to school. He chose to say, the television show he had just watched told him Houston was in the news . I asked him if that was all he planned to say. Evidently it was. Out of the clear blue, we were transferred with my husband's job to Houston that day. My husband left for Houston that day and I was left to break the news. The move, 15 years ago, has been a happy one for us. Although, my son did ask if I was punishing him when I broke the news!!

The move led to a very important youth group in my son's life. Our youth minister was the best youth minister I've seen in the 31 years I've been a Christian.

The same very smart child was only ranked in the top 25% of his huge High School. He wasn't happy with the size. Out of the blue, a new High School was built. His class size was very small, his rank really improved, there were suddenly leadership opportunities which led to a very good college scholarship. Life seems to move over to bless my son in surprising ways. In college as well.

I hope you feel encouraged by this as I am. God really moves. He has healed my mother from a thyroid tumor. When we believe God is in control, we believe in the truth.

Living a life of gratitude and thankfulness to God is living a life of praise

Saul was inflated with his own importance, David chose to be grateful. God as a Father, loves to bless us and have us give praise. It is a struggle we all face every day. The world wants us to be poised and self-confident, God wants us to be grateful. To look each day to use His blessings for His glory.

Living a life of trust in the midst of trouble

Solomon assures us in Ecclesiastes we will not ever be as large as God to understand His purposes. But we are assured by Jesus, Himself, He never leaves us. Solomon saw a lot of the troubles of his people, and yet he had hope that God is greater than all and He is a God of Blessings.

David tells us always to have the idea God will continue to help and add blessings. Father God loves to be known for His Loving Kindness.

Father God, help us to see each day what is important to You in what I do and say. Help me accomplish what is Pleasing to You, Father God.

And when looking at the events of my life, to see Your Word is in Charge of my life. And nothing is too difficult for You.

I give you my thanks, Father God. You rule the Universe, the Heavens, Your Kingdom, earth and my life. I give thanks You care so much for me and are a Good God, easily delighted and kind.

We realize as we are sometimes disappointed by people. People are not our God. And we are all on a journey were we sometimes do very well and other times we have the need to be better. We have many years to go and God is providing us with many opportunities to grow towards Him.

We lift up the cares of those we love and the people You have given. We give thanks for the Comfort His Beloved give to each other and the strength. We pray for this nation and France. We are all continuing to pray. In Jesus! To His Glory, Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †