Psalm 116 ~ I believe

Psalm 116

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6 The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted”;
11 I said in my alarm,
“All mankind are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord
for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the Lord,
14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
is the death of his saints.
16 O Lord, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the Lord,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

Only 73 of the Psalms we know have flown through David's Spirit. The Psalms, like all of the Scriptures, are for us. They explain many situations, many lives and they continue to do this good work for millenniums. Just as these situations fit others - they fit you.

~ I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

Think of Hezekiah. Hezekiah wanted mercy from God hearing his illness would be fatal.


Isaiah 38:2-6 2
Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, 3 and said, “Please, O Lord, 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 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: 5 “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and will defend this city.

Can you see Hezekiah and God's mercy in your life?





God's mercy touched Hezekiah's life and we have, amazingly, so many archaeological finds of Hezekiah's life, above. This is a miracle by itself, Judah was destroyed not many years after Hezekiah died. Just as God was merciful to Hezekiah, His mercies exist today for you.




~ Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. 6 The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. 7 Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

What kind of person would the Lord choose to raise His Son. Someone who would hear of God's plans and be humble and ask for the Lord's will.

Luke 2:38, 46-50
And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord, 47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

Yes, we see with the eyes of faith - Mary is the Mother of God. Mothering Jesus and walking the way of the Cross with Him.

Where would we find records of this young woman from Nazareth? The Sanhedrin Counsel, Talmud, records still exist of Jesus and His Mother. Mary and her role in Jesus' life are debated by puzzled, angry, powerful men. Leaving official, judicial, biased documents.

We remember Mary better as meeting the angel Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.



Lazarus. The friend of Jesus. A man who fed Jesus in his home and was raised from death by Jesus.

~ For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling; 9 I will walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Lazarus is another person the Scriptures are not specific about later. We could visit this empty tomb in Israel.

Or we could visit the tombs of Mary Magdalene and Martha in France. And there is another empty tomb for Lazarus with his sisters' tombs. With Church records saying Lazarus' remains went to an altar in a Cathedral in Spain. When they opened the altar in the last few years, they discovered dust, but a sign reading "Lazarus, friend of Jesus."

John 11:43
When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.”

Lazarus' sign is ours. An empty tomb because we are friends of Jesus.



12 What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.

Jesus was known to run with sinners. We learned this in Sunday School, before we had the honest appreciation - we are sinners. How did Jesus change one thug's Whole Life? Matthew, formerly Levi, upwardly mobile Jew, working to collect honest and dishonest taxes away from the Children of Israel. Matthew was so profoundly touched by the benefit of Jesus' overwhelming love and forgiveness - he gave Jesus a feast - inviting all the people who really, really needed a savior. And writing for them a Gospel!



Luke 5:27-32
After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax booth. And he said to him, “Follow me.” 28 And leaving everything, he rose and followed him.

29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them. 30 And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 31 And Jesus answered them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”




Who else was so changed by meeting, face to face, God's overwhelming Love?

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. 16 O Lord, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the Lord!

Jericho


Luke 19:1-10 (The Message)
Then Jesus entered and walked through Jericho. There was a man there, his name Zacchaeus, the head tax man and quite rich. He wanted desperately to see Jesus, but the crowd was in his way—he was a short man and couldn't see over the crowd. So he ran on ahead and climbed up in a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus when he came by.

^5-7When Jesus got to the tree, he looked up and said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home." Zacchaeus scrambled out of the tree, hardly believing his good luck, delighted to take Jesus home with him. Everyone who saw the incident was indignant and grumped, "“He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”?"

⁸Zacchaeus just stood there, a little stunned. He stammered apologetically, "Master, I give away half my income to the poor—and if I'm caught cheating, I pay four times the damages."

^9-10Jesus said, "Today is salvation day in this home! Here he is: Zacchaeus, son of Abraham! For the Son of Man came to find and restore the lost."

I love the Lord, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.


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Isaiah 63:15-19 ~ Your lofty throne, holy and glorious

The bones of Uzziah, King of Judah, rest here ... Do not open!" Found in 1931, Mount of Olives.


Isaiah 63:15-19

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Look down from heaven and see,
from your holy and beautiful [holy and glorious] habitation.
Where are your zeal and your might?
The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion
are held back from me.
16 For you are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us,
and Israel does not acknowledge us;
you, O Lord, are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17 O Lord, why do you make us wander from your ways
and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
18 Your holy people held possession for a little while;
our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.
19 We have become like those over whom you have never ruled,
like those who are not called by your name.



Uzziah of Judah (עוזיהו) - a king in ancient Judah (2 Kings 14:21; 2 Chronicles 26:1). He is one of the kings mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.

For 52 years, Uzziah was one of the most prosperous kings excluding David and Solomon and perhaps Jehoshaphat. Uzziah was graced with Isaiah to guide him spiritually. He had great successes in rebuilding taken/captured cities and being a builder all over Judah. "his name spread abroad, even to the entering in of Egypt" (2 Chronicles 26:8). In the earlier part of his reign, under the influence of Zechariah, he was faithful to Yahweh, and "did that which was right in the sight of the Lord" (2 Kings 15:3; 2 Chronicles 26:4, 5); but toward the close of his long life "his heart was lifted up to his destruction," and he wantonly invaded the priest's office (2 Chronicles 26:16), and entering the sanctuary proceeded to offer incense on the golden altar. Scholars have said Uzziah was copying the Egyptian Pharaoh's example to become a high priest. A power grab, probably, more than the desire to serve the Lord more fully.

Azariah the High Priest saw the tendency of such a daring act on the part of the king, and with a band of eighty priests he withstood him (2 Chronicles 26:17-19), saying, 17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the Lord who were men of valor, 18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.” 19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, by the altar of incense.

He was buried in a separate grave "23 And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son reigned in his place." (2 Kings 15:7; 2 Chronicles 26:23).

"That lonely grave in the royal necropolis would eloquently testify to coming generations that all earthly monarchy must bow before the inviolable order of the divine will, and that no interference could be tolerated with that unfolding of the purposes of God... (Dr. Green's Kingdom of Israel).

Father God, so many times we blame you for our troubles. If only we would move Your hand to glorify us further. Forgive us Father for our weaknesses, our vanities and our deliberate flaws and sins. Thank You for Your great wisdom. Let Your glory and Love warm our world and our lives. Let Your Word go forth to provide meaning for us in our days. In the name of Jesus. Amen.


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Ezekiel 45:21-25 ~ you shall celebrate the Feast of the Passover

Flight of the Prisoners, by James Tissot.


Ezekiel 45:21-25

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

21 “In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, you shall celebrate the Feast of the Passover, and for seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten. 22 On that day the prince shall provide for himself and all the people of the land a young bull for a sin offering. 23 And on the seven days of the festival he shall provide as a burnt offering to the Lord seven young bulls and seven rams without blemish, on each of the seven days; and a male goat daily for a sin offering. 24 And he shall provide as a grain offering an ephah for each bull, an ephah for each ram, and a hin [hin was about 4 quarts or 3.5 liters] of oil to each ephah. 25 In the seventh month, on the fifteenth day of the month and for the seven days of the feast, he shall make the same provision for sin offerings, burnt offerings, and grain offerings, and for the oil.


Winston Churchill famously said, " History will be kind to me because I intend to write it." So, the ruins, the total ruins of Judah being reclaimed by the ruined, enslaved Babylonian slave/prisoners. Okay. Why, why, why, and more why, aren't we impressed with this???

What songs do you know of the 2nd Exodus? Poetry? Only reliable, impressive and dusty/forgotten archaeology. Forgotten - unknown, left out of discussion. Name for me, please, the Charlton Heston movie of the 2nd Exodus. Or how about the Disney cartoon?

Exodus - the faithful believe it. Passover - the gift of God to enable the Children of Israel to have freedom. Celebrated today by Jews and Christians in the Christian Easter.

Second Exodus - we even know the date of the Siege of Jerusalem. 2 Adar (March 16) 597 B.C. From the Babylonian Chronicles photographed below.

This is wondrous. An absolute, verifiable miraculous act of the LORD. What else in archeology?


Michael Jursa, associate professor at the University of Vienna, made the discovery in 1991. Nebo-Sarsekim is found in a perfectly preserved Babylonian Tablet. The tablet reads "the property of Nabu-sharrussu-ukin, the chief eunuch - Discussed in the 40th Chapter of Jeremiah.

Where is the epic movie for this????

We have prophets (convenient with name recognition to Books of the Bible = 3), princes, Emperors -3, Empires -2, the rise of the God's amazing Temple and the Temple Tools returned by said Emperor, made by (name recognition again) .... Moses.

And.... last but not least.... we have a curse in the middle of all this drama..... picked up in this seemingly dry passage of today.... which is actually anything but dry....

On that day the prince shall provide for himself and all the people of the land

Jeremiah 22:28-30 Jeconiah is one of the kings mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. However, because of a curse upon Jeconiah, Joseph would never be able to sit upon the throne of David, nor have any of his blood-descendants sit upon the throne of David.

To whom does this prince passage refer? Zerubbabel , a governor of the Persian Province of Judah (Haggai 1:1) and great-grandson of King Jeconiah of Judah. Zerubbabel led the first group of Jews, numbering 42,360, who returned from the Babylonian Captivity in the first year of Cyrus, King of Persia (Book of Ezra).

In the Second Temple of the Lord, the Davidic line does stop. Zechariah and Haggai both give unclear statements regarding Zerubbabel’s authority.

When we think about Churchill declaring the victor - in this case the Children of Israel - we see they loose the king.

So - in faith - would you prefer to be without shelter -in the desert. Without a reliable source of food and water. Without a trained army or writ of a king. Relying upon a pillar of fire by night and cloud by day?

Or would you prefer to have a king's note, riches and provisions as you come into God's kingdom?

Passover. God's blessing upon us, in the midst of life.



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Prayer Request

This came as an email prayer world-wide request. Our area of Texas was blessed to receive several good, soaking rains in July. August is breaking records in Texas for triple digit heat. Our evening news reported on what I am seeing in our yard and in our bird feeders. Unusual migration for birds because the drought has effected a decreased supply of bugs all the way to South America. I am surprised how well the sparrows fit so many at our feeders and how willingly they share the food.

People living in OK, W Texas, S Texas, NM and ever-increasing areas in the country have drought conditions reaching critical status. Cattle are auctioned off, crops have burned & drinking water is a concern. Please join us in this prayer circle. It will be as though everyone is holding hands around the world.

Dear Heavenly Father,

When any two or more come together, agree and ask in Your Son's name, it shall be given. We come to you, humbly, and ask that you bring down the rain to our parched lands. Our farmers and ranchers need it desperately, as well as our firefighters. We ask this all in Jesus' name. And thank You for the rains seen in West Texas yesterday. Amen.

"I will never leave you nor forsake you: I have engraved you on the palms of My Hands" Joshua 1:5, Isaiah 49:16

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Matthew 8:23-27 ~ the boat was being swamped by the waves

Storm at Sea, painted by Ivan Aivazovsky
Lightning storm at Sea of Galilee coastline
The Sea of Galilee is usually quite calm. The mountains of the Golan Heights (the Decapolis in Jesus' time) reach more than 2,500 feet above sea level. The Sea of Galilee is 685 feet below sea level. The mountains and valleys create the perfect path for cold winds to rush suddenly on to the Sea of Galilee, creating a huge storm. We know it today as wind sheer. The Greek word "Seismos" meaning shakings have been used for these storms for centuries. The storms are equated to an earthquake.

Matthew 8:23-27

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

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Acts 5:12-26 ~ signs and wonders

Acts 5:12-26

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.


17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.” 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach.

Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council and all the senate of the people of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 “We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside.” 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, “Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.” 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people.


We've had multitudes in the news lately, but not the signs and wonders of hope. Instead we've had riots all over the world. An Oxford don was quoted as saying the Church of England has played a part in the riots in the UK because the faithful have turned our faith into a personal matter so personal it is not for public display, consumption, or even a light flickering in the wind.

Yesterday, we looked at David's children undergoing all that a king or a peasant would not want. In the plentiful abundance of life or the riots of the needy and the hopeless.

Can you imagine yourselves being a rioter? I can. I once, at the age of 6, joined all my neighborhood children help tear down a lovely home being carefully constructed over an empty lot with a creek. We had enjoyed the lot, with huge Willow trees and large rocks. It was always shady and you would always meet more kids seeking relief from the Texas summer. We were looters and rioters. As we all carried home a chunk of the building materials, I told this group of little kids, teenagers and tweens, we'd had fun. We should do more things together. Everyone agreed. Maybe softball.

The builders of the home hired a guard to protect the property; my three other six-year-old friends and I became very good friends with the kindly, elderly man. After a few weeks, the man asked us did we know who had looted. All 3 little blond heads said no. The man explained to us that it was wrong and it had been an expensive vandalism. I went home to discuss it with my mother.

She said she remembered the board I had dragged home, didn't I put it back. I said yes, we didn't really have a need for a board. She asked me how many teenagers had been involved and I said every kid in the neighborhood had been there. She said something to the effect she knew teenagers were behind it all. I said not really, everyone showed up, for something to do.

Adults were told to look in their backyard for building materials. Some materials returned. It never happened again, even later when more houses were built.

Was it the fault of the churches? No. It took parents willing to talk to other parents. It look some frank discussions.

The media is interested if the looters joined up on Twitter or Blackberry. More profitable by far, would be better to ask who is using Social Media against the looting.

One UK barber is elderly and his barber shop is completely looted. No more chairs, tools or front windows. He has said he is destitute and how will he stay off becoming an old age pensioner relying upon the overtaxed welfare system? How will he rebuild? The local Church, named St. Mary's, has asked everyone trying to help the situation to bring food, tools and supplies. The Vicar of St. Mary's isn't a Vicar. St. Mary's hasn't had a large enough congregation to staff a Vicar. The man of God asking for the help is a Supply Vicar (traveling). How has the tiny congregation responded? For the last 3-4 days they have continuously been able to feed the people who are homeless due to fire and to help take care of them. Signs and wonders are still available.

Light of Jesus Christ - Shine.



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2 Samuel 13:23-39 ~ news came to David

David's Palace is circled on the lower right side of this map of Jerusalem

Israel rural wilderness






David's Palace was built using Phoenician architecture, drawing by Eilat Mazar




View from David's Palace - artistic rendition

Phoenician Column found in David's Palace


View looking outside from David's Palace archaeological dig


View of Old City Jerusalem Today Views from David's Palace archaeological dig

Views from David's Palace archaeological dig. Kidron Valley. As if you were looking from David's window.



Looking into David's Palace Excavation, before the roof was put over it


Looking at the David Palace Excavation currently

Biblical Archaeological Review Magazine did a great article.
http://www.bib-arch.org/e-features/king-davids-palace.asp Many More Archaeological Artifacts are Found and Displayed in The Link.

2 Samuel 13:23-39

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.

30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”

34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.

37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.

Professor Eilat Mazar, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem says she has found King David's Palace from looking in the biblical description of the geography. How creditable is Eilat Mazar? Her father, Benjamin Mazar, was considered a leading Israeli historian, long recognized as about the top of biblical archaeologists. He founded the Hebrew University's new campus at Givat Ram, Hadasah Medical School and the Hospital at Ein Karem, which led the academic development to being held as one of the leading universities of the world.

Ms. Eilat Mazar is heading the Shalom Center's Institute of Archeology. And she is the niece of Israel's second and only three-term President, Yitzhak Ben Zvi. She is a third generation archaeologist.


Today we love reading all about David & learning about the man anointed of God. What did Absalom learn from living with King David? Patience. David waited patiently for God to act. Absalom, with revenge and hate in his heart, turned patience into stealth.

We live in a time when sometimes the media mocks Christian values. David was living his worst nightmare, his virtues and his sins, were being mirrored back at him. David led men to become better. David forgave men turning their back on him during his exile years. David did not kill Saul's sons - 3 were killed in battle. Saul's sons, by his concubine, were giving to the Gibeonites to prevent war and, later, David had their bones gathered up after their mother continued to protect their remains.

In a day of violence, perhaps Absalom saw David's quest to be kind to Saul (as a King of Israel), and Saul's legitimate children, while not kind at all to Saul's concubine's children as hypocrisy. David, after all, had several wives because his first wife was taken back by her father, Saul. David never did have children with his first wife.

Nathan, the prophet, told David sin would fall upon his household for killing Bathsheba's husband and committing adultery. Without trust, everyone begins to watch out for their own plans and self-interests. David's nephew, Jonadab, discusses the murderous plot before the messenger arrives. Jonadab also told Amnon how to maneuver David's daughter into a rape situation.

David, for the first time, as he ages, seems to be more interested in his comfort than treating his children in a righteous manner. Maybe David feels all he does to try to help his children is futile. Rape seemingly unpunished. A daughter's future left to what? Murder forgiven to hold a murderer to his affections and trust. Absalom set up for murder by David's General Joab. David seems completely unaware of the plotting around him. For all of the intrigue, it is still in God's hands to fulfill His plans for David.

David is older, he has more guilt, he has more responsibilities, he works to grow God's Israel and has fallen down in his ability to father those who need him most.

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Psalm 118
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.

Life has stages of victory and defeat, we never rest in one place. Yet redemption from God, our Father, when we rest in Him, is assured victory.



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Acts 6 ~ obedient to the faith

"No foreigner is to enter within the balustrade and embankment around the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which follows." Both Greek (above and there are 2 Greek signs discovered) and Latin versions of this warning were posted at regular intervals around the balustrade).The engraved block of limestone is about 22 inches high by 33 inches long. Each letter was nearly 1 1/2 inches high and originally painted with red ink against the white limestone. Part of another sign was unearthed in 1936. Currently locatated in the Archaeological Museum of Istanbul, Turkey. It is a fairly well-known and understood archaeological find, labeled CIJ 2.1400

Rather more obscure is CIJ 2.1404 The Theodotus Inscription. Not all of the Second (or First) Temple is completely understood. 75 centimeters long.
The Theodotus inscription (CIJ 2.1404) was discovered in a Jerusalem cistern by R. Weill in 1913. It dates to the first century AD prior to the Temple's destruction. Significantly, the inscription reveals that three generations of priests served as the "rulers of the synagogue" (archisynagôgoi - the Greek word) mentioned in the dedication. Translation:

Theodotus, (son) of Vettenus, priest and
archisynagôgos, son of an archisynagôgos,
grandson of an archisynagôgos, built
the synagogue for the reading of the law and
the teaching of the commandments, and
the guest-chamber and the rooms and the
water installations for lodging for those needing them
from abroad, which his fathers, the elders
and Simonides founded

The area, above, is the larger map with the area pointing to the pool where the stone was found. The area C2 is where the stone was located, below in the larger map.
1913 photo of the discovery. Along with the inscription, additional artifacts were found in the cistern. They had been deliberately deposited there. Perhaps one of the members of the congregation, or someone who had received from their hospitality, planned to return to the site after the destruction of Jerusalem and buried the remains of the building, hoping to reconstruct it someday.


Acts 6

Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists [Greek-speaking Jews] arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. 2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, [brothers and sisters] pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.

7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people.

9 Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. 10 But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly instigated men who said, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people and the elders and the scribes, and they came upon him and seized him and brought him before the council, 13 and they set up false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases to speak words against this holy place and the law, 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses delivered to us.”

15 And gazing at him, all who sat in the council saw that his face was like the face of an angel.



All of these people being obedient to the faith - until it comes to power, jealousy, and seeking to kill Stephen. Preceding the lies and the plots to kill, we saw in Acts 5 multitudes have come to the Temple. The Theodotus Inscription describes itself as a Synagogue having a worship place and lodging place for foreigners. Acts 5 had the disciples moving directly into Solomon's Porch, part of the Temple Mount. Acts 6 describes them in the Foreigners Freedman Synagogue.

This is overlooked. Not only did the disciples convert like a rocket - from hiding while the women go to anoint Jesus' body, but they are so bold, they are holding religious services openly as part of the Synagogue place reserved for Gentiles and doing service for Christ in the actual Temple. How did they have this boldness.... incredible.... priests were being converted.

Doesn't the statue say something about this? This is Glenna Goodacre's statue, not of Stephen, but the joy these men had to carry on Jesus' words and works. Jesus was tried at night by the High Priests, stripped, beaten almost to death, paraded, yet not destroyed. Even Josephus, the Judean General who switched sides to Rome to become the historian to 3 Emperors, wrote the Christians didn't disband after their Christ was killed. " After the Crucifixion of Jesus, James the brother of Jesus became the leader of the Jewish sect that would become known as Jewish Christianity. James "the Just", remained its leader until he was martyred c.62 AD."

Paul was the last of the men referred to as disciples to see the Resurrected Jesus. He proclaimed. John wrote 16 times of the Glory of Jesus. Peter wrote of the Glory. Sometimes today, we forget how the obscure death of one Man, who died for our sins, rocked the planet in just a few years. In less than 16 years, Emperors of the Roman Empire were bent on destroying all the people they could lay hands on for worshiping the Son of God.

1 Timothy 3:16
Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:
He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory!

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Romans 8:22-39 ~ it is God who justifies

Romans 8:22-39

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 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 [God works all things together for good, or God works in all things for the 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.

We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How much does God help us? Here it says, the Holy Spirit of God helps us.

What did the people who had seen Jesus say about the willingness of God:

Peter wrote saying Jesus does not help us under compulsion. He helps willingly.

1 Peter 5:2
Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly--not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.

Peter once knelt before Jesus and asked Him to leave after seeing Jesus act on God's glory. Peter saw Jesus Resurrected and jumped out the boat, knowing Peter had betrayed Jesus. Peter wasn't just physically fed breakfast, Peter was asked to be part of God's love and work. Jesus justified Peter and forgave his weaknesses.


John lived with Jesus. John says God lavishes His love on us:

1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

John fully lived most of his adult life knowing he was adopted by Jesus. Changing his life for the great love, the glory, John wrote of 18 times in his Gospel written with the Holy Spirit.

Matthew wrote:

Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you

Jesus saw past the Temple Priests being picked by Herod and knew the Tax Collectors were just as much under Roman authority. Matthew, a son of Alpheus was from the Capernaum area - an upwardly mobile Jew working for the despised Romans. Matthew was so thrilled to be chosen by Jesus, Matthew didn't throw Jesus a party, Matthew gave Jesus a feast. Matthew brought every tax collector and thug (sinner) he could. Matthew was in awe at the forgiveness of God.

Mark 12:31
The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Paul, as were all the disciples of Jesus, was sent out two by two. Paul loved Barnabas and really did not like Barnabus' cousin John Mark. Mark would go on to take the Word of God all over the world, through the centuries. We read the Gospel John Mark wrote as he matured in the Lord. What help John Mark grow? Barnabas was willing to love John Mark as himself. Only the Holy Spirit living in the people who had loved Jesus helped this man grow in the Lord.

Who was Jude? The brother of Jesus. The one who taunted Jesus to run up to Jerusalem to proclaim Jesus' ministry and later went to claim Him to come home and recover from being out of His mind. Jude - had his mother, Mary, given to John. Not in unkindness, but Jesus knew:

1 Corinthians 9:5
Don't we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord's brothers and Cephas?

What was Jude's point of view on God's love?

Jude 1:2
Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.

And James, the brother of Jesus:

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

James 1:27
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.

And Luke, the evangelist who wrote with the Holy Spirit the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. He is believed by many theologians to have been one of the 70 Jesus sent ahead of him because he uses the word "we" so many times. A second century historian wrote of Luke, "Luke, a native of Anticoh, by profession a physician. He had become a disciple of the apostle Paul and later followed Paul until his [Paul's] martyrdom. Having served the Lord continuously, unmarried and without children, filled with the Holy Spirit he died at the age of 84 years."

Luke started out with an historical account of Jesus and bursts forth with prayer, joyfulness and more stories of the extreme compassion of Jesus. Historians love Luke for his attention to detail.

Luke 10:27
He answered: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

Luke, as a physician, knew where priorities were placed in the nitty gritty of life and death. It is the Gospel of Luke recording so many times Jesus' compassion was lavished upon women.

Luke 2:46-50

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.

Look what Jesus does for the weak and the needy in the Gospel of Luke, we hear about Elizabeth - the mother of John the Baptist, with the mute priest husband. We see Anna in the Temple meeting the infant Jesus. Shepherds have angels come to tell the least prosperous, rural people of the Good News. Jesus starts after calling His disciples with healing a leper and a paralytic, a man with a withered hand. Clearly Luke has a hero and it is Jesus.

My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior


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Psalm 136 ~ in the Red Sea

The Glue Society created this overview image of the parting of the Red Sea and the Exodus.



Psalm 136

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
2 Give thanks to the God of gods,
for his steadfast love endures forever.
3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

4 to him who alone does great wonders,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
5 to him who by understanding made the heavens,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
6 to him who spread out the earth above the waters,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
7 to him who made the great lights,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
8 the sun to rule over the day,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
9 the moon and stars to rule over the night,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

10 to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
11 and brought Israel out from among them,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
12 with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
13 to him who divided the Red Sea in two,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
14 and made Israel pass through the midst of it,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
15 but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
16 to him who led his people through the wilderness,
for his steadfast love endures forever;

17 to him who struck down great kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
18 and killed mighty kings,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
19 Sihon, king of the Amorites,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
20 and Og, king of Bashan,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
21 and gave their land as a heritage,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
22 a heritage to Israel his servant,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

23 It is he who remembered us in our low estate,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
24 and rescued us from our foes,
for his steadfast love endures forever;
25 he who gives food to all flesh,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

26 Give thanks to the God of heaven,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

Did the Children of Israel see into the depths of the Red Sea and see sea life? Did it cascade backwards like a waterfall? Did it create a noise? Was it silent?

The Children of Israel were afraid. You know it. They were always afraid God would change His mind and they would dehydrate, starve, cook to death or be destroyed by war. They just didn't relax. The Second Exodus from Babylon happened as a miracle, what king gives his slaves back their land, and their Temple Tools? Other than the Ipuwer Papyrus there isn't any proof. (Although the Babylonian Exodus has extremely impressive archeological evidence of Jeconiah - cursed by Jeremiah).

Which Exodus would you rather live during - the first or the second?

We believe in the eyes of faith. In victory, God carries us through the Red Sea. In exile, God declares His Word and makes His people fruitful. In hope, we wait expectantly for the victory.

Help us Father God, to rest in Your peace in all circumstances. Your steadfast love endures forever!!



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