Matthew 23:23-26 ~ hypocrites

Jesus Teaching in the Temple, painted by James Tissot

Matthew 23:23-26

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible 

23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

We've talked a lot about Jesus versus the religious elect. And John, the beloved disciple, reflected in his writings, with the Holy Spirit, especially in his later Biblical books; John believed evil had been allowed the power to destroy Jesus.

How do the actions of the religious elect persecuting Jesus act like the evil one? In Scriptures, twice, Satan goes to God for permission to harm Job. The evil one does not lie, but uses truth against Job as weapon. The evil one is perhaps jealous of the blessings spoken of - comfort - given by God. The devil used God's comforts and said they were self-indulgent. The evil one didn't have business with Job, the evil one made it his business.

Truth - sounds great. But what the devil lacked was mercy.

When we lack mercy in our words, in our actions. Then we err. Mercy is God's guide to a new and right Spirit within us.

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.

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Psalm 28 ~ The LORD is the strength of HIs people

originally published April 28, 2012

Psalm 28

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio


1 To you, O Lord, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.


3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the Lord
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.


6 Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.


8 The Lord is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!


Be their shepherd and carry them forever. I had a conversation with a teenage boy, let’s call Charlie, who was conquering his addictions & made a pretty big impression on me. In our small community, it was fairly noticeable he changed from a private school to a public school in the middle of the year; being gregarious and popular, people learned fairly quickly Charlie had been discovered with drugs. Soft drugs, most people assume aren’t addictive, but Charlie received counseling for 14 months because he found it very difficult to quit.

 Some of the reasons, Charlie told me, he’d worked hard to quit - being completely robbed twice during wilder parties by his new “friends”. Not being accepted anymore by old friends, people he respected, like my son. He said one of the things he wanted to do, was to convince teenagers drugs are a slippery slope.

 Charlie said it was easier to quit using soft drugs than convince teenagers drugs weren’t the way to go. With his reputation, new druggies loved to come and tell Charlie about their new highs, Charlie tells them about the lying, the excuses, the spiral down drugs cause & they really didn’t want to hear. Charlie said he hadn’t convinced one person and wanted to know how to reach people better.

On Sunday, someone  at Church asked me to help them out of their a situation. This someone has a complicated life, more complicated than most people I know. I wrote to a few people and asked for help. I really feel pretty powerless to help.

Charlie and I are in the same situation, it is just difficult to help people. It is too large a job. God is in control. Difficulty and trouble can help us send prayer for the light to Him. I read a Max Lucado article on prayer, he reminds, God hears all of our prayers. Max Lucado’s words saying, “Father, the one you love is …. ill, worried, in need, lonely or whatever the situation requires” and Abba hears us. This touched me because it is true. We should help others, when we can’t, we still can, we can pray and the One who loves us will hear.



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Isaiah 11:6

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.

Isaiah 2:4 

He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 

Ezekiel 34:25 

"'I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety."

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Psalm 37 ~ the LORD laughs

Psalm 37
English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio 

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
    be not envious of wrongdoers!
² For they will soon fade like the grass
    and wither like the green herb.

³  Trust in the Lord, and do good;
     dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
⁴  Delight yourself in the Lord,
    and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵  Commit your way to the Lord;
     trust in him, and he will act.
⁶  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
    and your justice as the noonday.

⁷  Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
     fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
    over the man who carries out evil devices!

⁸  Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
     Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
 
⁹  For the evildoers shall be cut off,
    but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

¹⁰ In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
    though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the land
    and delight themselves in abundant peace.

¹² The wicked plots against the righteous
    and gnashes his teeth at him,
¹³ but the Lord laughs at the wicked,
    for he sees that his day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows
    to bring down the poor and needy,
    to slay those whose way is upright;
¹⁵ their sword shall enter their own heart,
    and their bows shall be broken.

¹⁶  Better is the little that the righteous has
    than the abundance of many wicked.
¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
    but the Lord upholds the righteous.

¹⁸ The Lord knows the days of the blameless,
    and their heritage will remain forever;
¹⁹ they are not put to shame in evil times;
    in the days of famine they have abundance.

²⁰ But the wicked will perish;
    the enemies of the Lord are like the glory of the pastures;
    they vanish—like smoke they vanish away.

²¹ The wicked borrows but does not pay back,
    but the righteous is generous and gives;
²² for those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the land,
    but those cursed by him shall be cut off.

²³ The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
²⁴  though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord upholds his hand.

²⁵ I have been young, and now am old,
    yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
    or his children begging for bread.
 
²⁶ He is ever lending generously,
    and his children become a blessing.

²⁷  Turn away from evil and do good;
    so shall you dwell forever.
²⁸ For the Lord loves justice;
    he will not forsake his saints.
They are preserved forever,
    but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.
 
²⁹ The righteous shall inherit the land
    and dwell upon it forever.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom,
    and his tongue speaks justice.
³¹  The law of his God is in his heart;
    his steps do not slip.

³² The wicked watches for the righteous
    and seeks to put him to death.
³³ The Lord will not abandon him to his power
    or let him be condemned when he is brought to trial.

³⁴  Wait for the Lord and keep his way,
    and he will exalt you to inherit the land;
    you will look on when the wicked are cut off.

³⁵  I have seen a wicked, ruthless man,
    spreading himself like a green laurel tree.
³⁶ But he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
    though I sought him, he could not be found.

^3
7 Mark the blameless and behold the upright,
    for there is a future for the man of peace.
³⁸ But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed;
    the future of the wicked shall be cut off.

³⁹  The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
⁴⁰ The Lord helps them and delivers them;
     he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.

Chuck Swindall is doing Micah 6 this week on the radio. Today he made the convincing case of Christians so lukewarm in their faith that they are hearers of the word and not doers. Letting Grace be too cheap and not honored.  It is easy to become discouraged with the lack of diligent love in this life. And to look around and see how far we have fallen without a lot of hope the LORD would want to save us.  So many people playing life safely for their own interests. 

Yet we should have hope. The LORD is in charge of Salvation. We call upon HIS name, Jesus Christ the LORD and we shall have the Promises of God for us. What we would cringe over as evil and frightening, is not frightening to the LORD our GOD Almighty.  The LORD is not defeated in HIS Victory. 

Each day, we do what we can. We want to be the man of peace. 

The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord;
    he is their stronghold in the time of trouble.
  The Lord helps them and delivers them;
     he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
    because they take refuge in him.

Micah 6:8 
He has told you, O man, what is good;

    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm 139:12
even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

 The steps of a man are established by the Lord,
    when he delights in his way;
  though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong,
    for the Lord upholds his hand.

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2 Timothy 4:6-18 
  English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio


For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. ⁷  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

⁹ Do your best to come to me soon. ¹⁰ For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. ¹¹  Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry. ¹²  Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. ¹³ When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. ¹⁴  Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. ¹⁵ Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. ¹⁶ At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!  

¹⁷ But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.




Two vivid analogies. Water poured out and finished, not to be replaced. A race is one once. It is difficult to know which direction to go in some days.  

I had a time in life where decisions were to be made. With youthful glee I accepted like an arrow shot - an offer from my Texas A&M roommate, who was a graduate Veterinarian student, to help her feed the lioness Delilah. I loved all the "Born Free" movies. I looked forward all day to seeing Elsa. And as we got in the car, I found out all the 400 plus Vet students declined, only two would volunteer to feed Delilah. Delilah was being experimented upon to see if they could impregnate her artificially and then remove the embryo to see if it would freeze. So far, not. So I learned. Delilah was 350 lbs of angry. And my roommate saw in my face, now the situation was calling for a reverse of direction.
 
I did one of the most stupid things I've ever done. When we arrived at the Vet professor's home, Delilah was stealthily stalking in the cage, about 20" x 40", where she was deciding she Would eat the 3 labs who were probably young, but they were running back and forth  either annoying or playing with Delilah. The Vet student, who was other 'second', was visibly worried about the mayhem. She greeted us with, "The dogs escaped and I cannot get them back to the Professor's house and he isn't home." I asked if they played like this often. I was informed it was a bad thing when it happened. Then I was warmly congratulated by both Vet students on my bravery.  I knew I was getting in the cage. I was then informed, one always stood outside to call the Professor for help if there was trouble. They suggested we begin. And I said no. We were going to put the 3 of us to work and get the dogs out of the path until the lioness calmed down. It was greeted, with, "Good Plan."

That done, we waited for a time for Delilah to quit pacing. And my roommate turned to me and said, "She does weigh 350 pounds and if she knocks you down, you need to yell, 'NO, Delilah' and hit her in the eye. And say it forcefully."  I was then told. Delilah had not knocked anyone down, her teeth were filed evenly and she was de-clawed. Then my roommate smiled rather evilly and said her jaws were a powerful enough pressure to crack a skull. I don't think my friend liked the look I gave her.  At that point she sorta punched me in the arm and said, "Well." 

So. She graciously lets me go first. And Delilah ran to the other side of the cage. Whew. No. Delilah was picking up speed. I flew to my back as she hit and was surprised to find I was screaming and punching in the eye, with a very firm voice all that had been taught to me. I was alone in the cage with Delilah. Evidently Delilah decided almost immediately she was sorry. I fed Delilah and got to pet her. My t-shirt had the great marks of Lion Paws on it. My roommate never got in the cage that day. She was tearful and apologetic. And she let me know I got to touch Delilah more than she ever had.

So. Something young and foolish. Became something that from time to time sustains me. But I declined to return to Delilah. Although I really do love the Narnia books and movies.


So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
 

Psalm 7:2

lest they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me

Isaiah 11:6

The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them.

Deuteronomy 33:20

Of Gad he said, A blessing be on him who makes wide the limits of Gad: he takes his rest like a she-lion, taking for himself the arm and the crown of the head

Zechariah 13:9 
And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Father God, it is You who sustains us in Your plans each day. Let's be grateful for survival. Give us the day. In the name of Jesus, who is the LORD my God. And yours. Amen.

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Deuteronomy 8 ~ who brought you out

Deuteronomy 8

 “The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. 3 And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. 4 Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. 

5 Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. 6 So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, 8 a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, 9 a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. 10 And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 

11 “Take care lest you forget the Lord your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today, 12 lest, when you have eaten and are full and have built good houses and live in them, 13 and when your herds and flocks multiply and your silver and gold is multiplied and all that you have is multiplied, 14 then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, 15 who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the flinty rock, 16 who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. 

17 Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. 19 And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. 20 Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God. 




There are many ways the people of Scripture have obeyed God. 

1. Abel farmed and gave to God. He prospered
2. Enoch walked with God - pleasing and drawing near to God, believing He exists, rewarding those seeking Him. He avoided death.
3. Noah acted foolishly, building for God - working towards something unseen. He had a huge ship. The whole of earth belonged to him after the flood. Today we have the fossils to prove it. We call it the Ice Age, sometimes, instead of the Great Flood. We are genius people. Although with archaeology, some faith is really building today.
4. Abraham believed and dwelled in tents with Jacob and Isaac. Abraham and Sarah were given the Nation of Israel in promise.
5. Sarah conceived because she was faithful. After she laughed in scorn.
6. Isaac married Rebekah. She worked against him as he was dying. He also inherited the Promises of God.
7. Jacob blessed all of his children, forgiving yet understanding their deeds. When it is not written the children asked to be forgiven. Jacob saw his flocks multiply and knew amazing prosperity in Egypt. Jacob lost a child.
8. Joseph married outside of his faith and his children were blessed. Enduring sexual advances, imprisonment, promises broken and betrayal. Joseph was a Chief Minister to the Pharaoh of Egypt. The top of the known world. He saw Israel become a nation again in the future.
9. The Children of Israel rejoiced to see their enemies Crushed. Only to Crush God with their faithlessness for 40 years. These people would be given vast pieces of Israel.
10. Gideon was asked by God to go to war and fight Injustice. Gideon was made very wealthy.Turning down power to have God beside Him. And not teaching the Children of Israel about relationship with the LORD.
11. Barak gave up his complete victory by demanding a woman go with him into battle. Barak wished to play it safe and lost his fame.
12. Samson cavorted and Killed and taunted. Another Warrior. A Judge over Israel.
13. Jephthah fought the present powers to establish David's offspring. Jephthah was part of the Royal family and Head Priest in the Temple doing mighty, mighty works of God. He is not remembered well enough for the remarkable things He did of God. He was longed for after his death.
14. David hired out to another country to raid and make war. The King was a for hire mercenary for a time. And cagey enough to preserve Israel. All the stories of David, except one, make the heart grow fond for him. Apple of God's eye still.
15. Samuel begged God not to have him anoint David. A messenger of God fearing the reprisal of God's change of plans. Samuel mourned Saul causing God to ask him to stop. Samuel was there for Saul's beginning. Samuel was a poor parent. And ended as a Mighty Man of the LORD. Samuel was given a fine house; people travel to see Samuel's Mountain even today.

  
All of these people did some of this: 

enforced justice, obtained promises,  Fought War, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, were tortured, hoped to rise again to a better life.  Were mocked, flogged and imprisoned.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. 

All of these actions fit into the words "Be Jesus."  

The Old Testament is not alien from the New Testament. NOT a vengeful God while Jesus was a Lamb of God in golden Sunday School garb. 

Jesus as MESSIAH did SACRIFICE.  Each day. 

How. Jesus did not accept the unacceptable. Jesus was not meek. Jesus was angry. Jesus did not accept injustice. Jesus did not cater to the people abusing the Grace of God's favor in the Temple. Jesus did not remain silent when people abused and declared God's actions to favor poor attitudes and behaviors. Jesus. did. not. accept. bad. behavior. without. trying. to. teach. Without. trying. to. improve.

Jesus Never did use meekness as a tool to get the Pharisees to want to be on His side. 

Jesus honored Love as God's path and plan. Each day. By not giving up.  

Jesus did this:

Romans 12:9 
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

Jesus did not kick the remorseful. Jesus did not leave the sinner who beat his breast and apologize. Jesus did not say to the woman at the well - out. Jesus did not say to the woman caught in adultery - smart work. He said - sin no more.  Jesus did not say to the wealthy gather more wealth to yourselves and work harder. Jesus praised the people who gave of themselves to honor God. 

Jesus knew and lived the bone deep pressure of false judgment the world gave. And Jesus said no to false priorities.  All of the saints listed on this page were judged to be wrong.  

And only one on this list is Good. Jesus Christ, Son of God.

The rest of us will have to ask, daily, for the LORD to forgive us. And when we ask with true remorse. He. will. run. to. you.

This grace requires something from us. We have to ask and we have to be genuine when we ask. We have to acknowledge God's plans and look each day for gratitude and blessing and not grow weary of looking. We have to remember we are forgiven and find love inside of us to give to others. 


 Job 4:8 
As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. 


Psalm 65:5 
You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas 


Isaiah 17:10 
You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines 


Psalm 68:19 
Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah 




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John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

2 Samuel 17 ~ I will bring all the people back to you

 

 

  2 Samuel 17

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio 

Moreover, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. 2 I will come upon him while he is weary and discouraged and throw him into a panic, and all the people who are with him will flee. I will strike down only the king, 3 and I will bring all the people back to you as a bride comes home to her husband. You seek the life of only one man, and all the people will be at peace.” 4 And the advice seemed right in the eyes of Absalom and all the elders of Israel. 


5 Then Absalom said, “Call Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear what he has to say.” 6 And when Hushai came to Absalom, Absalom said to him, “Thus has Ahithophel spoken; shall we do as he says? If not, you speak.” 7 Then Hushai said to Absalom, “This time the counsel that Ahithophel has given is not good.” 8 Hushai said, “You know that your father and his men are mighty men, and that they are enraged, like a bear robbed of her cubs in the field. Besides, your father is expert in war; he will not spend the night with the people. 9 Behold, even now he has hidden himself in one of the pits or in some other place. And as soon as some of the people fall at the first attack, whoever hears it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the people who follow Absalom.’ 10 Then even the valiant man, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will utterly melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that those who are with him are valiant men. 11 But my counsel is that all Israel be gathered to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as the sand by the sea for multitude, and that you go to battle in person. 12 So we shall come upon him in some place where he is to be found, and we shall light upon him as the dew falls on the ground, and of him and all the men with him not one will be left. 13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we shall drag it into the valley, until not even a pebble is to be found there.” 

14 And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had ordained to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, so that the Lord might bring harm upon Absalom. 


15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiathar the priests, “Thus and so did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so have I counseled. 16 Now therefore send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not stay tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means pass over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’” 

17 Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En-rogel. A female servant was to go and tell them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they were not to be seen entering the city. 18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So both of them went away quickly and came to the house of a man at Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard. And they went down into it. 19 And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth and scattered grain on it, and nothing was known of it. 20 When Absalom's servants came to the woman at the house, they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” And the woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem. 

21 After they had gone, the men came up out of the well, and went and told King David. They said to David, “Arise, and go quickly over the water, for thus and so has Ahithophel counseled against you.” 22 Then David arose, and all the people who were with him, and they crossed the Jordan. By daybreak not one was left who had not crossed the Jordan. 

23 When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself, and he died and was buried in the tomb of his father. 24 Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 25 Now Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra the Ishmaelite, who had married Abigal the daughter of Nahash, sister of Zeruiah, Joab's mother. 26 And Israel and Absalom encamped in the land of Gilead. 27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi the son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Machir the son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, 28 brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, wheat, barley, flour, parched grain, beans and lentils, 29 honey and curds and sheep and cheese from the herd, for David and the people with him to eat, for they said, “The people are hungry and weary and thirsty in the wilderness.”


Absalom begins much differently than David, plotting to kill the King. His father. David spent 22 years being anointed as the future King of Israel, waiting upon the LORD. 

God has not deserted David and in the midst of all of his trouble, God blesses David further with trusted friends.  David spent so many nights in Bethlehem watching over the flock, thinking over the Mighty Acts of God. These thoughts would become eternal Praise for God in the Book of Psalms. 

Surely Absalom nurtured his grievances over his dad's failures. Dwelling on unfairness. Putting himself first. Convincing himself there was popularity and gain at hand. Doing what it took not to abhor evil, but drawing it to himself in poor choices. Perhaps Absalom discarded all ideas of God. Perhaps he hoped God would merely look the other way. Usually people want to feel they make the decisions and are the masters of their own destiny. Not some invisible far away God. Surely he had have suffered enough in life.  Discarding notions of good and evil.

David, in previous chapters, has seen Absalom preen and place himself in influence. Had David forgotten to pray? David took no action until it was far too late. 

Absalom seeks advice, not to honor God, but to continue down his own path. 

Proverbs 27:17 
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. 

1 Corinthians 15:33 

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

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John 16 ~ In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

John 16


  English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio 

“I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 

4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. The Work of the Holy Spirit “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. Your Sorrow Will Turn into Joy 

16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. I Have Overcome the World 

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.[a] 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” 

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. ”Some days we have sunshine and other days we have rain. Reasons to be grateful for both. Some days we have fights with the ones we love to clear a path for better days. Other days a challenge to make us Better People. Each day we make choices - we decide if Love must be genuine Romans 12:9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.

One of the Christian novels I remember best had an art imitates life story that rings so true.  It is "Ultimate Prizes" by Susan Howatch.  An upwardly mobile "Arch" Deacon  (clergyman title) Stephen has played it oh so safe for years.  Chasing the Ultimate Prizes. Catering to the boss. Making sure nothing falls away in the 'synagogue.' A good marriage with an eye on the judgement of the 'ruler'.  A death of the first wife. An unfortunate "Arch" choice in a glamorous second marriage. A prize, but not the glory the hastily 2nd marriage was thought to be. What the father had, the second marriage collects. 

Peace, upon the second marriage will not be seen again. Weeping and lamenting. Anguish for a child who died (perhaps a literary reference to David's child with Bathsheba). Was there joy for the asking.... 

A clergyman sunk in gloom for his chase of ultimate prizes. Sunk so low, that genuine seems to be the only option. For the first time, genuine is the path. Nothing more to lose. 

The end of World War II had many angry countrymen. People had no patience with the prisoners of war not wanting to return to Germany.  The Archdeacon has the arch completely flattened out. Visiting the prisoners, he realizes, they have something in common. Something stirs in him, something silent, he wants to help. Jesus Christ has stirred his heart. Perhaps he is not the only living heart donor.

A hopeless situation to help prisoners. And it is in rebuilding - the Archdeacon finds the strength to help the doomed second marriage. A mutual admiration for Dietrich Bonhoeffer. It is Easter. His wife so damaged by damaged parents. It is in the rebirth of the prisoners, hope catches fire. Love builds the fires of belief.  Home begins to be home.  The Real Boss has noticed.

Peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. 


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1 Peter 2:11-25 ~ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people.

1 Peter 2:11-25

Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. ¹² Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

¹³ Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, ^{[every institution ordained for people]} whether it be to the emperor ^[king] as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. ¹⁶ Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants ^{[bondservants]} of God. ¹⁷ Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

¹⁸ Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. ¹⁹ For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. ²⁰ For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. ²¹ For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²² He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. ²³ When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. ²⁵ For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Sojourners, conduct, good deeds, glorify God.

The Will of God silences foolish people.

Live freely, genuinely.

Honor

Freedom

Fear God

Respect

Good and gentle

gracious thing

Christ suffered for you

you have been called

follow in His steps

leave an example

do not revile in return

entrusting ourselves to HIM

we will not stray as sheep

Instead Rest

Returning to the Shepherd and Overseer of our souls


We have times we are pressed. Shaken down. Yet we have a choice. To have hope. Not to become of what we are unaware. In awareness, we find healing. Acknowledging our dark corners. Putting our hands out to HIM. He is Light. And yet. The darkness is not dark to HIM. It is in acting, we are defeated. It is in compromise, we are entangled. It is finding the place to be ourselves. In HIM.

God holds us. As He knew Gideon. As He knows Peter. As all of us are fallen. Each day to -

Isaiah 35:3
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.

Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.


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