Matthew 1

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3 and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram, 4 and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5 and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph, 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos, and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

The Talmud from the early First Century is intact and is housed in Scotland. When a citizen of Judea addressed the Sanhedrin Council, or was discussed, his or her bar or 'son', was told. To explain the life lived, the expectation, the family traits.  To us, in this generation, something like "Fiddler on the Roof".

When Mary is discussed in the sham of a trial we call Good Friday, the genealogy of Luke 3 is used. The betrothal between Mary and Joseph is from separate sons of the House of King David.  This is the history recorded in the Talmud, insulting Jesus and Mary and having a trial. We know the trial was for the reasons Caiaphas told.  And this was in line with the amazing, spectacular number of Prophecies in the Old Testament.

There is no doubt this portion of the Talmud has terrible, horror and bias. But the Talmud explains the culture of the generations we can grasp because of the deft and brilliant understated Holy Spirit brush strokes. 

Never in the Line of David has so much surrounded a betrothal, in such vast differences of morality and archangels. 

Joseph wasn't calling just from Genealogy to decide the fate of unborn Jesus. Yet, Joseph knew some of what we know today in hindsight, but more Joseph could look at his Genealogy and fill in gaps we don't know. Nations lived and seen by these men of David's line. But Joseph knew to think of Mercy. And he knew he was for today, when the fathers slept. It isn't just borders of places God speaks of but borders of generations. Time is not a boundary to God. God of the Living. 

Joseph carried so much responsibility. The Jews live the Old Testament as living. Joseph mattered. His wife should be like Zechariah's wife, innocent before G-D. 

Joseph and the Old Testament speak of knowing our family in Heaven. To tell of our lives from what we know of their lives. And to find out what has shaped our path. The candle we will hold up to the path of our lives to the generations yet unborn. 

Joseph knew the weight of life and expectation. And Joseph chose to look for mercy. God helped Joseph to be merciful. Think of what expectation Joseph could have carried to be Law only.

Jesus is the Light of the world. Jesus went to Egypt. To Tyre. To Samaria. Jesus knew no borders and calls God, God of the Living.  God of the Living. God of Light. No borders in time. 

Joseph is part of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Joseph and his mercy to the unborn lives without boundaries.  Jesus is the Reason.

God of Love. God of Encouragement. Light to the Nations.

Joshua 22:10 

And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that [are] in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.

Song of Solomon 1:11

We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver.

Ireland

Psalms 147:14

He maketh peace [in] thy borders, [and] filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.

Ireland from Live Nativity above

Kings-1 7:29

And on the borders that [were] between the ledges [were] lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges [there was] a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen [were] certain additions made of thin work.

Coptic Egyptian Christmas 

Genesis 47:21

And as for the people, he removed them to cities from [one] end of the borders of Egypt even to the [other] end thereof.

Egypt to South Africa 

Exodus 8:2

And if thou refuse to let [them] go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs

Exodus 16:35

And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Mexico, not Canada!

Psalms 74:17

Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.

Down Under Melbourne 

Kings-1 7:35

And in the top of the base [was there] a round compass of half a cubit high: and on the top of the base the ledges thereof and the borders thereof [were] of the same.

Notre Dame returns to active duty and Christmas Lights up our

worldwide Notre Dame!

Isaiah 54:12

And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.

Chronicles-1 7:29

And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.

Kings-2 19:23

By thy messengers thou hast reproached the Lord, and hast said, With the multitude of my chariots I am come up to the height of the mountains, to the sides of Lebanon, and will cut down the tall cedar trees thereof, [and] the choice fir trees thereof: and I will enter into the lodgings of his borders, [and into] the forest of his Carmel.

Brazil is building another Jesus Redeemer Statue

taller than the last one.

The face of Jesus was put up first.

The Comfort of Christ

to be shared again in Brazil

Chronicles-1 7:29

And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Isaiah 60:18

Violence shall no more be heard in the land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders, but

thou shall call they walls Salvation and thy gates Praise. 

Ezekiel 27:4

Thy borders are in the midst of seas, thy builders have

perfected thy beauty

Isaiah 35:10

So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

Isaiah 51:11

So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

Isaiah 60:20

Your sun will no longer set, and your moon will not wane; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and the days of your sorrow will cease.

Isaiah 65:19

I will rejoice in Jerusalem and take delight in My people. The sounds of weeping and crying will no longer be heard in her.

Jeremiah 31:12

They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion; they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD--the grain, new wine, and oil, and the young of the flocks and herds. Their life will be like a well-watered garden, and never again will they languish.

Today we ask of You, Father Abba, a Blessing and Receive. We find our Joy.

We will place our Trust in You.

Jesus with the people we Love. Jesus with our cares and concerns. Jesus with the people You have given us. To You, Our Father, Who can do more than we ask or imagine.

We are remembering Answered Prayers.

Jesus is God and His Blessing covering all His Creation asking for more Heaven on earth. 

Abba, Father,

Jesus Son of God - Bless, Heal, Sustain, Comfort, Guide

 God Bless Us!

We long for Your Love and help, Father God, to have Your Kingdom, 

Power and Glory upon Your Throne. 

The Fringe of Your Robe 

placed upon all of Your Good Creation. 

The Balm of Gilead - Jesus - rubbed just where we hurt.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts. 

We pray more of Your Good Will filling the whole earth with Your Glory.

We will

 Remember our answered Prayers. 

And live this Day. Looking in expectation 

You will strengthen us, 

And the ones we Love. 

We will Seek You first and find Your Kingdom.

Covering us with the Name and Power of Jesus,

Brave people. Holding up Life for one another.

We are People with the Help of Jesus,

we can make

Redemption

Strength.

Praying the Victory!

And Virus end!

Knowing God is going to bring

us past the storms into

His Plan of desired Haven 

Abba, Delta is the mathematical symbol of Change,

we pray to end all storms for us. We pray Omicron to be a blessing.

Dwell in us, in those we Love.

Help us to see You first.

And we will finish well.

Amen in Jesus. Amen.

Roads of Heaven

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Psalm 37:3 ~ Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

 

Bethlehem 1847

Christmas 

Today, the Shepherd's field of the first Christmas is still there.

The number of acres is known, then and today.

Psalm 37:3

Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Suppose, we want to know more about the Shepherds

 - all we have to do is look to the facts. 

1. Today in Bethlehem, Israel we know the grazing was 30,000 Hectare Acres.

2. If we want to know more about the Shepherds - all we have to do is look to facts. Today in Bethlehem, Israel we know the grazing was 30,000 Hectare Acres. And some of this land is available and set aside, today, as the Shepherd's Field.

3. Then we find the number of sheep will be entirely up to the amount of rainfall. Isaiah 7 tells us times are good for crops. So, in a normal year, the number of sheep per acre is 1.5 sheep. 

So 20,000 sheep.

Do we know in the Bible this is an acceptable, relevant number of sheep?

Job 42:12

12 So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand donkeys.

4. The 1596 A.D. Ottoman Tax Record and Census indicates Bethlehem's population of 1,435 - the 13th largest village. Populations didn't change much until this last century in most of Israel. Vintage Photography of Israel is very interesting. When vintage photography of Israel is discussed, people remark the population of the villages don't change a lot in 2 millenniums until this computer, modern age we live in.


All we need now is to figure out how many shepherds there were.



Jacob was described as an exceedingly rich man because he:

Genesis 30:43

Jacob possessed large flocks, 

maidservants and menservants, and camels and asses 

In the case of the rich man, Nabal we find statistics:

1 Samuel 25:2

He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats

Animals were cared for and were: milk, meat, and fabrics (Isaiah 7:21-22; Proverbs 27:27; Deuteronomy 14:4; Leviticus 13:47; Exodus 25:4). The sheep provided wool for garments to keep out chilly nights and windy days. The goat skins provided bottles in which to store liquids. The uncut hide of either animal, might have been the wineskins of Jesus’ parable (Mark 2:22 = Matthew 9:17 = Luke 5:37-38).




 The Number of Shepherds

5. How many shepherds were there for 20,000 Sheep? We know how many acres there are and how many sheep based on rainfall... what about Shepherds?

6. Now, we find out about the Shepherds. We don't know the number of the Shepherds. This explains the social status of the Shepherds.

Shepherding - It depends on this: how profitable has ranching been? Rain again. The New Testament records about 100 to 1. But we can see Bethlehem might fall in the category of 1 to 1000 sheep because Bethlehem doesn't have many sheep hiding places. Both David and Samson provide lonely, animal wildlife threatens lone shepherds in the day. Lions.

We know some families have small flocks and the children shepherd. While other Biblical families only Shepherd.  

7. 1400 people. Women do Shepherd like Rachael and Leah. Moses's Wife. Good to know.

1400 people. Aged people. Children. Farmers. An easy terrain.
About 4 to 9 human births a month. Herod would find 40 innocents.

8. Labor force would be about 500. Sufficient small farming. And Household chores for gathering, cooking and cleaning.

And then you'd have farmers, lots of Farming in Israel on the terraces of hills.

9. So suppose... 250 shepherd. And possibly even 25,000 sheep.

 Then you'd have day Shepherds, and then more Night Time Safety from Predators Shepherds. 

10. Further, supposing would be 150 nighttime Shepherds looking over a large, easy field. Spread out in military precision with some usual campfires.  A field is easy to view.

Bethlehem in winter

Bethlehem

What were the shepherds doing?

The Glory of the Lord has decided to tell us about the Shepherds, what was going on in their lives, thoughts, Christmas night, the first Christmas. 

And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. We don't read the Shepherds were jolted and amazed, calling out to one another by name and asking questions. We don't see them summoning each other. When Samson's parents saw an angel of the Lord, they wanted to find the spouse. When Peter saw an angel of the Lord, he was by himself and thought he was having a vision. Probably why Samson's parents immediately thought, summon the spouse.

Isaiah 7:10-25 tells us the time of the Messiah's birth wouldn't be all honey and vineyard wine of the good year. 

We know what the Shepherds were thinking. Traveling was happening. The inn was full. The Shepherds probably had people they were looking for. Cousins, old friends, perhaps even to catch a glimpse of the large family, sons of David returning to Bethlehem. The Talmud records tell us, bar son, bar son, families of Israel and Judea knew their flocks.

On the Shepherd's mind, was the movement in their area in those days, there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. 

This was the first enrollment made when Quirinius was governor of Syria.  And all went to enroll themselves, every one to his own city

The Shepherds probably wondered how many times the old city of Bethlehem was going to be counted. We know from Jesus' disciples, men changed jobs.  Peter and Andrew were not born in a fishing town.  Shepherds were wondering about travel, old friends and change. Upheaval of Pilate. He was suddenly violent to the pilgrims on Holy Days.

Psalm 37:3

Trust in the LORD and do good; 

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

Jesus called fisherman to have great catches of fish. So many the nets were breaking.  When Isaac was finally born, the livestock of Abraham and Sarah was wealthy indeed.  Now the Shepherds have spent time discussing and thinking of the news of their area. Changes. Land to buy and sell. Rain. Government. Seeing travel brought about across the sea, from the Roman Empire and Emperor. 

The Roman Empire had created a thug culture, in taxes, in trade, in power, even inside the Temple Priests chosen by Herod. Herod's education and the lifestyle the Herods lived. The end of local wine and demand for foreign trade known even to the days of King Hezekiah. It was a time of great change, taxes, rough to violent ways. The Shepherds had plenty to be concerned about.

And like the Disciples of Jesus, they would leave their sheep, the safety of home, like the fisherman has fish and nets, And follow Jesus. This very night, the Shepherds would leave the sheep and follow the amazing Star the magi had followed a long time. Because The Good News of God and all of Heaven was at hand. 

The faithful live by faith in Jesus Christ - Today. Micah during the time of Isaiah would do what David and the Psalms tell us. And today the message of Christmas, the Good News is this:

Psalm 37:3

Trust in the LORD and do good; 

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

The faithful live by faith in Jesus Christ - Today. 

From all our concerns, our daily schedule, the news from far away or near and worrisome.

 The basic needs of people who have lived a great fright. We still rely on Jesus.

 And like the Disciples, we will have concerns

but we will Trust in the LORD and do good. 

We will dwell in the land. 

We will enjoy safe pasture.

Smithsonian, 8 years ago

Abba, Father,

Jesus has taught our hearts

to Pray with Hope. 

To know the Scriptures, to know the Power of God.

The Steadfast Love of God. 

We thank You in Jesus Christ for our blessings of Strength and fire in the Holy Spirit.

 Fire millenniums ago, Moses found to be a sustaining fire of infinite beauty. 

Blessed are You, Lord God.

Blessed be the Holy Spirit fire within us.

Bless the Nations, Light of the Nations, to have Your Mercy.

Jesus Christ Light of the world.

Jesus Christ Light of mankind.

Dwell in us.

Dwell in those we Love.

Help us to seek You first.

And we will finish well in Jesus Christ. 

Life forevermore! 

 In Jesus. Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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