1 Samuel 6 ~ returned

For your selection, which one is more like the real Ark of the Covenant

This is very like these chapters of 1 Samuel during

the Judges time.

Perhaps a more Egyptian style Ark of the Covenant

from

The Prince of Egypt

More angels on the Ark with huge wings

More ornate with those who play the harp near 

The Ark of the Covenant

People were very comfortable with 

the Indiana Jones style Ark of the Covenant

One like this, made in the desert during the Exodus

with the travel things

If you chose photograph 4 or 6, you would be correct. The Ark of the Covenant isn't just a box with treasured miracles of the Exodus and the Ten Commandments. The Ark of the Covenant is the Mercy Seat of God. An invitation for The Lord to dwell with us. We wouldn't make a seat and make it profoundly uncomfortable for His Legs when seeking the Living God. Photograph number 4 is more ornate as the other Temple Tools do sound and has the bonus, would be required of legs and not just placing the Ark of the Covenant on the ground.

Josephus wrote in "The History of the Jews", God opened the shut gates of the Court of Women and the Angels in the Holy of Holies would move of their own golden accord, to the wings covering their faces and turn away from one another. The Angels would move in advance of the warning of God's coming wrath. He might have meant the Ark of the Covenant itself, or the huge angels in gold covering the walls of the Holy of Holies. We aren't sure. Josephus did refer only to the ruin of Solomon's First Temple because 2 Maccabees 2 records a very informed Jeremiah carried the Ark to Mount Nebo to be buried and guarded by the Angel of the Lord. The link is included below:

Malachi 1 ~ I have loved you,” says the Lord. 

But you say, “How have you loved us?”

1 Samuel 6

The ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners and said, “What shall we do with the ark of the Lord? Tell us with what we shall send it to its place.” 3 They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you.” 4 And they said, “What is the guilt offering that we shall return to him?” They answered, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines, for the same plague was on all of you and on your lords. 5 So you must make images of your tumors and images of your mice that ravage the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lighten his hand from off you and your gods and your land. 6 Why should you harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? After he had dealt severely with them, did they not send the people away, and they departed? 7 Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. 8 And take the ark of the Lord and place it on the cart and put in a box at its side the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering. Then send it off and let it go its way 9 and watch. If it goes up on the way to its own land, to Beth-shemesh, then it is he who has done us this great harm, but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that struck us; it happened to us by coincidence.”

10 The men did so, and took two milk cows and yoked them to the cart and shut up their calves at home. 11 And they put the ark of the Lord on the cart and the box with the golden mice and the images of their tumors. 12 And the cows went straight in the direction of Beth-shemesh along one highway, lowing as they went. They turned neither to the right nor to the left, and the lords of the Philistines went after them as far as the border of Beth-shemesh. 13 Now the people of Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley. And when they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced to see it. 14 The cart came into the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there. And they split up the wood of the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the Lord. 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the box that was beside it, in which were the golden figures, and set them upon the great stone. And the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices on that day to the Lord. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines saw it, they returned that day to Ekron.

17 These are the golden tumors that the Philistines returned as a guilt offering to the Lord: one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, one for Ekron, 18 and the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both fortified cities and unwalled villages. The great stone beside which they set down the ark of the Lord is a witness to this day in the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh.

19 And he struck some of the men of Beth-shemesh, because they looked upon the ark of the Lord. He struck seventy men of them, and the people mourned because the Lord had struck the people with a great blow. 20 Then the men of Beth-shemesh said, “Who is able to stand before the Lord, this holy God? And to whom shall he go up away from us?” 21 So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Come down and take it up to you.”

When we have rain, we hope for sunshine. When we have sunshine, we hope for rain. And this is the way of Blessings and being Blessed. Job met the Lord and was profoundly moved and changed. Job's quick to employ personal judgement friends and mourners would meet the Lord and see the changes in Job's attitude and manner of living.

Abraham was promised the Promises of God's Blessing and this included the downfall of those who would work against Abraham and The Lord. Much like the long life of the Disciple John.

The Lord Thy God is One. 

He will Fulfill His Purpose. 

He upholds the Universe with the power of His Word.

Biblical Fact:

In The Time of Judges, "Each man decided himself what was good and what was evil." Rather, reminding us of the Story of Eve. Job was deciding for himself. As was Paul. James and John. Many. Many. Many.

Samson's death. Two Philistine temples have been uncovered by archaeologists. One at Tel Qasile, in northern Tel Aviv, and one in Tel Miqne, ancient Ekron, 21 miles south of Tel Aviv. Both temples share a unique design -- the roof was supported by two central pillars! The pillars were made of wood and rested on stone support bases. With the pillars being about six feet apart, a strong man could dislodge them from their stone bases and bring the entire roof crashing down. The archaeological findings match the Biblical story perfectly and attest to the plausibility of the account.

These are the House of Dagon in 1 Samuel 5,6.  Remember with me, what is the name of the man who fell asleep listening to Paul for hours and hours? Eutychus. If you are from the South, this is Ewe teeeeach us.  Easy to remember. And the temple of Goliath and Samson's death god - is the House of Dagon. Dog on. Easy biblical scholar. 

Malachi 1 ~ I have loved you,” says the Lord. But you say, “How have you loved us?”

Who saw the Book of Acts type miracles? 

Today, almost everyone who prays will remember a time a prayer was answered by The Lord. 

And we all know times of prayer that seemed to bounce off the ceiling. And later be answered.

Who found God did His Purpose. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Where all things work together for good, for those who serve the Lord and work according to His Purpose.Paul said in His Chapters written with The Holy Spirit, Paul would decide to travel to a place and see the Holy Spirit say, go elsewhere. And this would happen. Paul would write and say, "he would see how it goes with him, if he is to visit." In the Scriptures.  People would be prophetic with Paul and he would agree easily and with gratitude.  Mark hoped to go travel with Paul again. Mark who was, instead, like a son to Peter and with him to the end of his life. We remember Mark. Matthew, MARK, Luke and John. 

We love Jesus Christ. And most of us like, "The Chosen." We want Jesus. Jesus said He and the Father are One. Paul acknowledged this and said The Exact Nature of God. God is Ecclesiastes 3. For life to function, one is born, one dies. And the Angel of the Lord ushers in the passing on experience. The Lord is Higher than we know. Psalm 139 tells us this is beyond our understanding. 

In faith, we believe The Word of God. His Promises. We know He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. 

In faith, we have Life. And in real life, the Scriptures tell us all about the trials, temptations, bad choices, difficult times. Where meeting, the Messengers of God have us all hear, "Fear Not."

God says instead,

Luke 2

And suddenly

 there was with the angel

 a multitude of the Heavenly Host 

praising God 

and saying, 14 

“Glory to God in the highest, 

 and on earth peace

 among those with whom He is pleased!”

He is pleased with: fearful Elijah of so many daring days of powerful faith. The Disciples wondering and wandering about like drunken honey bees. Jesus in The Garden. Jesus on The Cross. Risen and Victorious Jesus.  In love with Peter, hearing the rooster crow again. Loving John, James and their mother.  The woman grasping His Hem. The Synagogue Jarius Official, almost waiting too late for his daughter.  

Beloved of God. He has Promised. Has Purpose. Is Alive. Is Eternal. Is Unchanging Steadfast Love. Knows and loves you intimately. Saves the world, believing in Jesus Christ. His Plan of Salvation will be Fulfilled.

Make a joyful noise to the LORD 

ALL

the earth!

Matthew 22:37

 Jesus declared, 

“‘Love the Lord your God 

with all your heart 

and 

with all your soul and with all your mind.’ "

Abba, Father,

We are blessed to pray

for more of Your Good Will

on earth

as it is in Heaven.

Help us to 

Go

and

“‘Love the Lord your God 

with all your heart 

and 

with all your soul and with all your mind.’ "

To be more Heaven on earth

To see more Heaven on earth

To bring more Heaven on earth

To Your Joy

and

Glory

1 Timothy 4:10

 Labor and strive 

because we have put our hope in the Living God, 

who is the Savior of all people, 

and 

especially 

of those who believe.

Hebrews 6:10 

For God is not unjust 

so as to overlook your work 

and the love that you have shown for His Name

 in serving the saints, 

as you still do.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father,

We expect to hear Good News.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father,

 guide the nations 

of the world 

into the way of justice and truth, 

and establish among

them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, 

that they

may become the kingdom of our Lord 

and Savior Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Mercy for the merciful.

Eternal God, 

in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn

but the sword of righteousness, 

no strength known but the

strength of love: 

So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, 

that

all peoples 

may be gathered under the banner 

of the Prince of Peace, 

as children 

of one Father; 

to whom be dominion 

and

glory, now and forever. 

Amen.

Dwell in us, Father,

we ask in the Highest Name of Jesus.

Dwell, fully, in those we love

Help us to seek You 

first

and we will finish well 

in Jesus Christ.

We pray 

Peace

for Israel

and Your Good Creation.

We pray healing for Kurt 

and Teresa, who feels better.

And for David's family.

We know we will hear Good news.

Mercy for the merciful. Joy.

Love.

Thank You. Jesus.

Our God is working. His Son,

Jesus is working.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You Jesus

Psalm 100 ~ Bless His Name †

 

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the LORD 

ALL

the earth!

2 Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into His presence with singing!

3 Know that the LORD, He is God! 

It is He who made us, not we ourselves and we are His

we are His people,

and the sheep of His pasture.

4 Enter His gates with Thanksgiving,

and His courts with praise!

Give thanks to Him; 

Bless His name!

5 For the LORD is good;

His Steadfast Love endures forever,

and His faithfulness to all generations.

We Love

to be

The Sheep of His Pasture

There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every matter under Heaven—

Sheep. Are loving and trainable. And have their own ideas. When watching Sheep move to graze from plot to parcel, their movement looks like Ballet.

Sheep know if they are not being cared for. They look like moving unloved, neglected, multiple barrels of wool.  When I consider the 7 people who were far and away too young to pass to Heaven, suddenly they were just gone from this earth. I realized the population seems like the sheep needing a half of day, or more, health care.  We have no one putting an effort into knowing if the pulp being pulled out of autopsy is from vaccine or virus.  Fauci remains and, yet, neither side has been happy there. However, no side can blame the other, when no effort is put to find out answers in the last 4 years.

When Jesus used parables, He sometimes made comparisons within the teaching. Seeds were compared in different appointed seasons. A time for observation. Let's compare wars. The Middle East was approaching peace within 4 years ago. An unheard of situation. 

During the present midnight attack killing families with a vow to kill again, similar to 911, chanting for the Death of America, we find Jordan steps out to protect the one Jewish state in the entire world.  And other neighbors of Israel do not join in the annihilation. We hear headlines again and again of a rant in favor of weird violence within the USA. But we seriously and profoundly and completely need to realize, this percentage of the population is zero point 0.00002. That is a weird portion of the 335 million. 335,000,000 Million more kindly and rational Nation.

Those in total favor of women's athletics ruin? 52 of 35.000 professional women athletics of the United States of America. Same situation. Let's quit discussing this and set up a club for the 52 to compete with one another. And remover another sex sex sex sex headline. Finite. Finito.  More than half the population is female and they prefer to win the trophy, the glory, the... MONEY instead of fetish.

Now, let's consider another point. We have been so very close to Middle East Peace.  With this realization, let's consider why the Scriptures say to reach out. To live peacefully with one another as possible.

Romans 12:18-21 

 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.

Presently, we live with the effects and affects of Covid. The impossible cold virus. Released by someone who made an idiotic invention and walked to the grocery store. If they had malice or just sloppiness. The effects and affects are the same of the "people" growing this in a tube. For solid or wavy reasons, we live in a world someone thought,"Hey, this could be terrible, let's do this. Thing." Thus, this is a cold world.

I have someone, in my life, for decades. I have always enjoyed. Just as my mother did. One of our many godparents. People get tubular ideas and grow them in a petri dish, formerly known as the calculating portion of the brain. One Godmother, of many, decided to end her 3 decades of friendship when my rather affluent parents got their later in life divorce. My mother's affluence was going to be delayed 31 years as she had a new career to earn bread and shelter.

And then 30 years later, the 30-year absent godmother called my mother to say her husband had fallen and needed emotional, physical and meal support. Would today at 1 work, it would give my mother time to make the meal. They would prefer her homemade onion soup.  My mother had an enjoyable life, and she said today wouldn't work for her, how about next week?  Enter the tirade of my godmother to say she knew my mother would need glamorous people in her life, and chop chop, just like Mother's famous employer, jump to do the bidding. My mother said, you mean to say you have been absent for 30 years and planned for me to be a sort of nurse maid? Yes, of course. Hop, hop, onion soup.  Mother said, see you next week, I'm bringing you some flowers. The tirade that followed separated them, even when my mother called in to be kindly. Sometimes. 

Deuteronomy says a priest is known to be corrupt when, he does this, seeks to separate a widow from her home for gain. Enslavement is within the boundary of this. And these plots fall within slavery. Be so careful in what we train ourselves to do to one another. Harm damages the heart within.

Let's fast-forward to today. This person, in my life for decades, went to a party with me and had a bit too much to drink, in 2005. She said she had done some thinking, and between my parents and in law family dying off, my children would move away, I'd be alone and she planned a vacation home. I would be her point person for her time away. I would donate my time freely for affection to make sure her home maintained her standards. And had a reply, I said, honey, you may have had too much to drink, maybe you should Slow Down.

 And it came to pass. But it was black mold and weather. She planned to leave the state and having become enraged with her employee and neighbor, it was time, she felt I had the capability to be the contractor for their black mold rebuild. Edward had an office with black mold. It was unknown black mold. The office looked fine, but in fact the roof had failed. 5 years of steroid use to have lung health. I discussed this with her. But she was having a health crisis and wanted me to be in the house daily discussing with the insurance suggested crew what could be done, how well and how fast.

This is rather chilly.

And I have been contacted several times to step into this roll, with increasing chilly behavior. 

What in the world do people have in their grey matter, brain area. And heart. Perhaps Covid has been in the environment for a while.

And other than being kind, but firm, I will continue to be her helpful friend, but not devotee or slave. I will bring flowers next week and see how the heart is healing. If the chilliness is there, then it is. But not from a kindly heart.

And tying this together.  Remember the Sound of Music. Power plays. Opinions. Unreasonable ideas imposed. And yet, people found their hearts to be kindly. Love finds a shelter!

4 Years ago, we had Middle East Peace. 

 The reason to have a kindly heart, look to the true love and warmth of the People God Has, We are That Close To Peace Again.  Fight the GOOD Fight.

Prepare to have the Love of the Lord surround your heart, soul, mind, family and life. And in the second place, Love yourself. And then, carry that forward with the open-minded, open soul, open heart to know the world contains the Jordan people. The Israel people devoted to good works, the entire nation can boast of. To live with Love and Hope and Expectation.

Do all the good before you, within God and peace to do. And expect to see The Lord around and surround you. See His amazing ways. See Heaven surround you. See more Heaven be born and made and created. Within reasonable peace and not the plot to plot. Instead, the plot to parcel. The Ballet of God carrying mankind forth in His Love and Mercy.

Love The Lord! Love yourself! And in this harmony, true Love finds shelter forever. 

Matthew 22:37

 Jesus declared, 

“‘Love the Lord your God

 with all your heart 

and 

with all your soul and with all your mind.’ "

Deuteronomy 10:12

And now, O Israel, 

what does the LORD your God ask of you 

but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, 

to love Him, 

to serve the LORD your God with all your heart

 and with all your soul

1 John 4:21

And we have this commandment from Him: 

Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.

John 13:34

A new commandment I give you: 

Love one another. 

As I have loved you, so you also must love one another.

1 John 2:7

Beloved, I am not writing to you a new commandment, 

but an old one, 

which you have had from the beginning. 

This commandment is the message you have heard.

1 John 3:11

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: 

We should love one another.

Luke 10:30-37

30 Jesus replied, 

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 

32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 

35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ 

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 

37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.”

 And Jesus said to him, 

“You go, 

and 

do likewise.”

Abba, Father,

We are blessed to pray

for more of Your Good Will

on earth

as it is in Heaven.

Help us to 

Go

and 

do likewise

To be more Heaven on earth

To see more Heaven on earth

To bring more Heaven on earth

To Your Joy

and

Glory

1 Timothy 4:10

 Labor and strive 

because we have put our hope in the Living God, 

who is the Savior of all people, 

and 

especially 

of those who believe.

Hebrews 6:10 

For God is not unjust 

so as to overlook your work 

and the love that you have shown for His Name

 in serving the saints, 

as you still do.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father,

We expect to hear Good News.

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father,

 guide the nations 

of the world 

into the way of justice and truth, 

and establish among

them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, 

that they

may become the kingdom of our Lord 

and Savior Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Mercy for the merciful.

Eternal God, 

in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn

but the sword of righteousness, 

no strength known but the

strength of love: 

So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, 

that

all peoples 

may be gathered under the banner 

of the Prince of Peace, 

as children 

of one Father; 

to whom be dominion 

and

glory, now and forever. 

Amen.

Dwell in us, Father,

we ask in the Highest Name of Jesus.

Dwell, fully, in those we love

Help us to seek You 

first

and we will finish well 

in Jesus Christ.

We pray 

Peace

for Israel

and Your Good Creation.

We pray healing for Kurt and Teresa.

And for David's family.

We know we will hear Good news.

Mercy for the merciful. Joy.

Love.

Thank You. Jesus.

Our God is working. His Son,

Jesus is working.

Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes The Lord Fulfills His Purpose

Thank You Jesus