Jeremiah 31:31-34 ~ I will write it on their hearts

Jeremiah 31:31-34

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

Praise God for His mercy, His love as high as the sky. The days are coming.

What did it mean to write on their hearts? To have the promises of God in us. We know. When we look at the Word of the Lord, God has given us the wisdom to understand in our spirits.

Acts 8:26-36
26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27 And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30 So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter
and like a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he opens not his mouth.
33 In his humiliation justice was denied him.
Who can describe his generation?
For his life is taken away from the earth.”

34 And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

It isn't a question of learned wisdom, like learning to read, but a spiritual wisdom. God gives us the ability to believe. As Christians, we study the passages of God to learn of God, but it is the new Covenant promise God writes on our hearts. God opens the passage to our soul. God breathes His promises and they remain.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

People sometimes want to know why there is an Old Covenant and a New Covenant. It isn't as if God changed His mind. History is His story. From the beginning, God's creation of man has wanted to be and triumph over - God. We rejected God dwelling with us as God. We lived with God as a powerful source, but His mighty Acts frightened people and they wanted to keep Him behind a curtain. People were mostly afraid of God. No one enjoyed seeing a dove or larger animal struggle & be killed. Yet this was the system of God, high above us, and we acknowledged we were not holy - which is true. Sacrifice was for sin release. Then our desire for God became merely a system, we followed the rules and felt self-righteous.

God was pointing out to us, man does not understand God, or live His holiness. Man has rarely wanted God, more to the point, mankind wants to be in control.

The New Covenant isn't something easy for God. It required God to choose to be as a man. To not look upon His creation, but to be them. To know illness and death in the ones we love. To feel poverty. Homelessness. To know war. To understand escape. Having a happy childhood and growing past it. To understand complete degradation, the horror of being labeled as a criminal. To briefly have honor, then brutal beatings and public humiliation. To allow us to reject Him, again, in another attempt to love us. To die. To forgive. To defeat death.

When Jesus gave us His Holy Spirit, he fed the hunger the world had for Someone to care for them. Hope beyond the brief span of our years. Hope to live beyond ourselves.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

Abba. Abba. Abba. We are Yours. Alleluia.

<><

Romans 8:1-21 ~ the law of the Spirit of life has set you [me] free in Christ Jesus

Romans 8:1-21

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. [who walk not according to the flesh (but according to the Spirit) ] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set [me] you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, [and as a sin offering] he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

12 So then, brothers, [brothers and sisters] we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

Creation waits.... with eager longing.... for the revealing of the sons of God! .....Repeat that on a beautiful sunrise - faith, hope and love will surge straight into you.

This is what sets us apart in Jesus Christ, from the rest of the Universe. The Law of the Spirit of Life vs. the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics.

All in all, this isn't one of the most comfortable passages. Incredible beauty. There isn't one of us who won't feel the twinge of knowing we are still in these bodies and they are flesh. The meditations of our thoughts and the words of our mouth are not always acceptable. How well we know this. We all have two natures.

What we tend to rush right past... because we know it.... we know it.... we know it.... the sacrifice of Jesus Christ covers all of our sins. All. of. them. We have to declare God is God. He is the One Sovereign.

I have a memory from my childhood - being in the car on a warm, comfortable summer day. Pre-teen. My mother starts telling me about our chores for the day. Yuck and bother. I start to complain and my mother says, "Are you interested in knowing one of the most elemental laws of the universe?"

This was an attention getter, a unique reply from my mother and I said, "What?" With real wonder.

"The Universe is in decay."

"What do you mean?" -Sounded ominous to me.

"I mean everything is winding down, this is why we clean. Everything you come in contact with will need feeding, mending, replacing, painting, cleaning & polishing. For all of your life, every single thing." My mother cheerfully declared.

"That is the Worst Thing I've ever heard in my life." And you know, it still is.

Dust - according to a childhood friend of mine who is really enjoying home schooling her kids, in science - is not just made up of particles of human skin. Really. This is the 2nd law of Thermodynamics. Dust is the universe in decay.

So, what is our Endust?

In Christ Jesus, we cannot forget, we are children of God. The mercy and grace of God is what sets us apart. Renewal. Redemption. It is He that made us and not we, ourselves. Faith. Promises of God. Praise in the good times. Prayer, praise and faith in the difficult times. Hope.

The Word in Romans 8 says something important. Even if our flaws are pointed out to us. It repeats in:

Ephesians 2:4-9
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.


Here is a good note to end on for the mind of the Spirit:

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.

Father God. Abba. Jesus. Holy Spirit. Jesus loves us, He will not fail us. On this, You raise us up.

<><

Psalm 64 ~ hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy

Psalm 64

¹ Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint;
protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

² Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
from that noisy crowd of evildoers.

³ They sharpen their tongues like swords
and aim their words like deadly arrows.

⁴ They shoot from ambush at the innocent man;
they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.

⁵ They encourage each other in evil plans,
they talk about hiding their snares;
they say, "Who will see them ?"

⁶ They plot injustice and say,
"We have devised a perfect plan!"
Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning.

⁷ But God will shoot them with arrows;
suddenly they will be struck down.

⁸ He will turn their own tongues against them
and bring them to ruin;
all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.

⁹ All mankind will fear;
they will proclaim the works of God
and ponder what he has done.

¹⁰ Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD
and take refuge in him;
let all the upright in heart praise him!

When we lost our daughter at birth in September 2008, we were told by someone very wise, grief in America is something people don't want to face. You will be deserted like a widow. When I hear about the experiences of people who have lost children, they agree. So, we were prepared.
And unprepared.

It hurt to see gregarious people hurry away and very shrilly say, "Oh, I can't talk, I'm in a hurry." And frankly, it must have hurt those people who hurried away. Because that was only round 1. If someone feels guilty, they don't want that guilt. So why did a 44 yr old woman become pregnant and lose a daughter at birth? They reason, maybe we were trying to conceive and we are foolish. Or maybe it is punishment - we deserved it. Or you were just plain stupid not to have an abortion at your age to not face this possibility.

And maybe sometimes, having a heart that hurt so badly, things just hurt.

When grieving parents join groups like 'Compassionate Friends', stories are told about the truly horrific things that are said to the grieving. (Not in the group, things said to the grieving in their life.)Things like: "You have the worst life imaginable, let's go around the table and all agree to this, people." "Oh, no, the dog is old - will that be next?" "Let's not hear of something this unfortunate, like this, happening next year." The week after the funeral, "when are you going to start working on your weight? Next month - "I haven't seen progress yet." At the holidays, "You are starting to look like Elvis." "Let's pray for our sister, I am sensing a lot of pride and spirit that has grown cold to the Lord." "I can tell you like children, maybe next month you could help in our childrens' department." From someone who didn't send cards or a flower, invites to dutch lunch where the conversation is: "I hope you are working on your mental health, now." "Are you thinking of selling the house, downsizing would be good for you, I know someone who is very interested. They'd be very lenient on the time you need to get out." "It's probably for the best, you wouldn't have been so good with a son / daughter." " I hope you won't talk about this for a long time and bring it up." Invited on a walk by an old friend, "You think this is hard on you, my other friend lost a child and it has just made me so depressed"... the rest of the walk is about that person's wounded sensibilities. Or.... people pretend not to see you or just talk over you in conversations.

So... even if you are 4 or 100 years old, this is called verbal abuse. Sometimes it is speaking having not thought. Sometimes it's called bullying because there is malice.

The Scriptures have advice on verbal abuse. More about that later.

What do the Leading Experts on Defense For Verbal Abuse have to say? They almost all agree.

Verbal defense, for comments or rudeness in being ignored.

1. Acknowledge to yourself, you are under attack

2. You do not have to reply – maintain eye contact or just leave

3. You might, repeat what they have said - with emphasis

4. You do not owe a response

5. Do not agree.

6. Be confident, firm, modest

7. Do not go for the jugular, in attempt to verbally kill the speaker - i.e. do not insult back

8. Do not assume the speaker is your enemy.

So, what is the Scriptural advice?

Matthew 5:39
But I say to you, That you resist not evil: but whoever shall smite you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.


Luke 6:29
Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also

Wow. With the Word being living and active, I'd say that sometimes turning the other cheek is walking away. This is gold. We have now discovered why the Roman Empire, world conquers all, wanted to know Jesus Christ in just a few years. Such a difference from the eye for an eye - mean, old world.

Why does this work for verbal abuse? A. it informs the person they have been rude. B. It does not require you to be kicked again - verbally. C. It allows plenty of room for both parties to forgive. D. It allows for your dignity not to reply.

Perfect. Especially if you are like me and you will think of the witty come-back in a week. Offer the other "cheek".... repeat their comment back to them (cheek). If they start in on you again, offer the next cheek and just walk away. No need for nervousness.

This particular passage is about the mob mentality of people, this advice works for a group. Feel compassion for the bully who seeks power so badly, in such a distorted way. There is an apt phrase for the bully as well:

Ecclesiastes 11:1
Put out your bread on the face of the waters;
for after a long time it will come back to you again.

It is the Biblical version of - what goes around comes around. The bully only alienates himself in the long run. Perfect love casts out fear.

But the reason this works is this....

John 1:9
The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.

We all have fallen short of the glory of God. Forgiveness is the key. God testifies that even the bully has light of Christ in Him.

Father God, when it hurts, You are there. Guide us and lead us in living in Your light and basking in Your goodness. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

<><

Romans 14:7-12 ~ For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself

Romans 14:7-12

7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. 8 For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; 11 for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess [shall give praise] to God.”

12 So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

We all have a sermon we remember, more than all the others. (If you don't, you need to find one.)

Mine was an Episcopal priest. One Sunday, my newlywed husband & I were missing church, in our huge church, and we decided to attend the chapel (small) service at 5 in the afternoon. It was warm - everyone was very relaxed.

People, everyone, visited in the pews. "Did you hear? ~ Yes, it was in the newspapers. ~ I heard about that, was it really Father ----? ~ No, it was his son. ~ I read about that, and didn't know if it was him. ~ Where is he? ~~ He is very upset. ~ That's to be understood, I hope he has someone helping him. ~ I heard he was on sabbatical. ~~ Good for him, he'll need it. ~~ Did he have more children? ~ Did they know the other boy?"

Our priest, his 17 year boy, had been shot to death by a long time friend, a gun accident. It had been in the papers. As we visited - information was exchanged - people were sad - this was a loved man, a priest who had long been a loved part of the church family.

Our visiting was interrupted... a cassock-ed figure had stepped up to the small podium. In shock, we realized our Father had not gone on sabbatical. He began by ruefully looked up and said, " I can tell by the looks on all of your faces, you know about the terrible tragedy that befell my family this week." He glanced down, there was a grimace at the floor. He looked up, his expression squared away. "No matter, it is better you understand as we begin."

"No, let's begin from the beginning. This is a catharsis for me. Today, because of the circumstances, I will read from the text and give the sermon. We will be having the communion service today after the reading and sermon."

The Text today is Romans 14:7-12. And this precious man read it to us. Perfectly.

"Let me begin by saying, this was an accident between two young men exploring what it is grow up in an area of the country where men are familiar with fire arms. The young man who shot and accidentally killed my boy was unaware the gun, a hunting rifle, would go off. He is enormously distraught, as is his family. It will be many years before they, and we, recover from this. Your prayers would be appreciated."

"Although, I said that easily, as a man who has been a priest for many years. I do not mean to be that cliche and let me say on a softer note, please pray for this family, the boy who shot and, of course, my boy."

"Let me start out by quoting a song that I have often hummed, probably as I washed one of my first cars I ever owned. Well, the chorus:"

Father McKenzie writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear
No one comes near.
Look at him working, darning his socks in the night when there's nobody there
What does he care?

All the lonely people
Where do they all come from?
All the lonely people
Where do they all belong?

Ah, look at all the lonely people
Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby died in the church and was buried along with her name
Nobody came
Father McKenzie wiping the dirt from his hands as he walks from the grave
No one was saved

"This week, I've spent hours in the cemetery, at the grave of my son. It has been cathartic for me, to be there alone, the peace, the quiet, a place for prayer. About my fourth visit, I saw in the distance a little, little funeral. Sad. Lonely. A minister saying a prayer. I waited. I thought surely the minister was praying before people arrived. I prayed, at a distance, with him. Soon, I saw the lump of dirt going into the grave. At this point, as a man of God, who conducts funerals, I realized it was my duty to go over and be a mourner with this minister. He happened to look up, I waved and he waited for me to cross the cemetery to him."

When I arrived, I explained I was a priest & had the intention of joining with him in prayer. The minister said he'd be glad to have my company and we would read the service together. We did. I learned this was an elderly woman, who was old and had been part of the congregation for so long, people really didn't remember why she was without family or friends. She was very much like Eleanor Rigby. " Waits at the window, wearing the face that she keeps in a jar by the door. Who is it for?" She'd sat towards the back, by herself, for many years. People had assumed there were family or friends for her. Perhaps she had outlived them. But no one came. No one."

"My boy was blessed, he'd known something about life that this poor woman did not."

"If you never hear another sermon, hear me. This is what it is about."

"Life."

"Every Day."

"Every Day, you have the opportunity to build your life."

"What are you working towards?"

"Exactly. Exactly."

"Will people know the Light of Jesus Christ through you?"

"Do not end up as Eleanor Rigby, where no one was saved. "

"It is not all about you. You are called to save others with you."

"Every day, you build, you build your epitaph."

"Make each day count."

"Make each day end, knowing that you have served the Lord."

<><

Jeremiah 21 ~ escape with his life

Palace of Nebuchadnezzar, Iraq

Jeremiah 21 (New International Version)

- Audio Link ~ Jeremiah 21

¹ The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said: ² "Inquire now of the LORD for us because Nebuchadnezzar " [ Nebuchadrezzar or Nebuchadnezzar] king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us."

³ But Jeremiah answered them, "Tell Zedekiah, ⁴ 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians [Chaldeans] who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city. ⁵ I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in anger and fury and great wrath. ⁶ I will strike down those who live in this city—both men and animals—and they will die of a terrible plague. ⁷ After that, declares the LORD, I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.'

⁸ "Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. ⁹ Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life. ¹⁰ I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the LORD. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.'

¹¹ "Moreover, say to the royal house of Judah, 'Hear the word of the LORD; ¹² O house of David, this is what the LORD says:
" 'Administer justice every morning;
rescue from the hand of his oppressor
the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no one to quench it.

¹³ I am against you, Jerusalem,
you who live above this valley
on the rocky plateau,
declares the LORD—
you who say, "Who can come against us?
Who can enter our refuge?"

¹⁴ I will punish you as your deeds deserve,
declares the LORD.
I will kindle a fire in your forests
that will consume everything around you.' "

(Click the Red Play Button - Map of Empire Histories)

People who do not know the Scriptures say the God of the Old Testament was violent. It took decades and millenniums of abuse before God's great mercy turned aside.

There were 3 invasions of Judea by the Babylonians, this is the 3rd. When God's Word was followed (rarely), peace was obtained. It is historically ~ Astonishing ~ the Assyrian Empire did not wallop the smaller nation of Israel - next door. God protected Israel for following His Word. The Lord told His children, His Word, which is His Law should be followed to obtain His mercy.

It is often said history is written by the victors, this is an unusual history. Well, people who do not want to understand, God is God, would say Scripture was written after the events to match some sibilance of history. We know the fate of Jeremiah, who spoke for the Lord; he was saved! Jeremiah was given freedom & allowed to choose where he would live - it was a promise to him from God. Jeremiah should not be a hero to the captives. The remaining children of Israel were swept to Babylon. The enduring Word of God - His Scriptures - were kept with the victims. When the children of Israel returned from Babylon, freed, they returned with the remaining Scriptures. This history honors those who followed the Lord, it does not honor the ones who kept this history.




Psalm 137

1 By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.

2 There on the poplars
we hung our harps,

3 for there our captors asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

4 How can we sing the songs of the LORD
while in a foreign land?

5 If I forget you, O Jerusalem,
may my right hand forget its skill .

6 May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if I do not remember you,
if I do not consider Jerusalem
my highest joy.

7 Remember, O LORD, what the Edomites did
on the day Jerusalem fell.
"Tear it down," they cried,
"tear it down to its foundations!"

8 O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy is he who repays you
for what you have done to us-

9 he who seizes your infants
and dashes them against the rocks.

The people returning from exile with Psalm 137:8-9 returned from exile hailing God's instructions and Jeremiah as the victors. On one hand they didn't like being captured and they repented for the wrong they'd done to the Lord. It wasn't just politically correct to honor Jeremiah, Psalm 137:8-9 demonstrates they were not politically correct. So, the Biblical history is not just honoring what the Babylonian captors wanted them to record.

This would be a good time to point out, with 3 invasions, the true King Jehoachin, did follow Jeremiah's Word from the Lord and lived with Nebuchadnezzar - at the King's table in peace. Zedekiah was a puppet king, actually the Davidic line's (Jehoachin's) uncle, who tried to throw off Nebuchadnezzar's own puppet appointment.

God's will is accomplished by those who work for it and by those who work against it. Jesus knew He wanted to work His Father's will. Jesus, did as Jeremiah said, He submitted to the authorities. Jesus was sacrificed on Golgotha, outside the city. John 19:19,20

Hebrews 13:12
And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.

Father God, Your way is holiness. Only in Your grace, can we hope. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

<><

Matthew 14:1-12 ~ the fame of Jesus

Herod Antipas -the Tetrarch, coin minted during his era, called the Fox by Jesus

Matthew 14:1-12

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, [his brother's wife] 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

To be Spiritual doesn't sound all bad at all. What were some of the factors in this man's spiritual downfall - how did someone who was pleased to meet Jesus fail?

So, why did it go so poorly for John the Baptist? Herod Antipas survived being the son of Herod the Great by learning when to remain in the background and not create a stir. Herod Antipas wasn't lion like, but crafty and rather inferior, like the lesser animal - a fox.

It would be difficult to be the son of a renowned King and to be afraid for your life. Herod the Great had murdered his wife and sons. Herod Antipas, his nickname and official name in history, had been raised and educated in Rome, to insure father and son loyalty. But Herod the tetrach, his title refers to his father's kingdom being broken into parts; Herod the tetrach received a much smaller portion than one of his younger brothers. One of Herod Antipas' building projects, the city of Sepphoris, was just 4 miles from Jesus' hometown Nazareth.

Herod Antipas could have been the bridge between Rome and the godly Jews, but Herod was more interested in pleasing himself - fame. In pleasing himself, he placed his interests with pleasing Rome. It wasn't godly to put aside his first marriage, arranged by Caesar Augustus, or godly to allow Augustus to arrange his marriage to create political gain and harmony. It wasn't godly to remarry his half-brother's wife. Herod had pleased himself for so long, he'd dug himself into a spiritual ditch. A deep one. If Herod acknowledged God, Herod would have consequences.

Herod was a King in Judea, God's chosen nation, he knew well enough God acted. Herod believed in magic, magicians, spells and spirits. He adopted beliefs held from Rome, beliefs that built foreign altars Israel worshiped in high places, and the gods of the neighboring countries. Herod Antipas was the spiritual head of the Second Temple and he decided on the priest placements.

Adding water to Herod Antipas' deep spiritual ditch would be marrying a woman he knew accepted his marriage for ambition. Herodias was interested in self. Herod Antipas (different from Herod Agrippa who died of worms) was eventually brought to ruin - politically and financially from Herodias' family. They died in exile. But they had entered exile spiritually by their own choices.

Herod Antipas wasn't king by birth, rather by political appointment, he was a type of king. Herod was like Saul, he didn't really believe circumstance could be placed in front of him by God - Herod believed in the power of might - in his own sword.

Father God, it is more comfortable and prestigious to sit on the fence. Help us to remember Your love and Your care to have our choices already decided instead of allowing circumstance to dictate our fall. In the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ, we ask. Amen.

<><

2 Samuel 16 ~ what shall we do?

St. Martin's Church, Yorkshire, Stained Glass by William Morris

2 Samuel 16

1 When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of donkeys saddled, bearing two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred bunches of raisins, a hundred of summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 2 And the king said to Ziba, “Why have you brought these?” Ziba answered, “The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat, and the wine for those who faint in the wilderness to drink.” 3 And the king said, “And where is your master's son?” Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he remains in Jerusalem, for he said, ‘Today the house of Israel will give me back the kingdom of my father.’” 4 Then the king said to Ziba, “Behold, all that belonged to Mephibosheth is now yours.” And Ziba said, “I pay homage; let me ever find favor in your sight, my lord the king.”

5 When King David came to Bahurim, there came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera, and as he came he cursed continually. 6 And he threw stones at David and at all the servants of King David, and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. 7 And Shimei said as he cursed, “Get out, get out, you man of blood, you worthless man! 8 The Lord has avenged on you all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the Lord has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, your evil is on you, for you are a man of blood.”

9 Then Abishai the son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and take off his head.” 10 But the king said, “What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah? If he is cursing because the Lord has said to him, ‘Curse David,’ who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’” 11 And David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son seeks my life; how much more now may this Benjaminite! Leave him alone, and let him curse, for the Lord has told him to. 12 It may be that the Lord will look on the wrong done to me, [will look upon my affliction] and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing today.” 13 So David and his men went on the road, while Shimei went along on the hillside opposite him and cursed as he went and threw stones at him and flung dust. 14 And the king, and all the people who were with him, arrived weary at the Jordan. And there he refreshed himself.

15 Now Absalom and all the people, the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him. 16 And when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, came to Absalom, Hushai said to Absalom, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 17 And Absalom said to Hushai, “Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with your friend?” 18 And Hushai said to Absalom, “No, for whom the Lord and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, his I will be, and with him I will remain. 19 And again, whom should I serve? Should it not be his son? As I have served your father, so I will serve you.”

20 Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give your counsel. What shall we do?” 21 Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Go in to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the house, and all Israel will hear that you have made yourself a stench to your father, and the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 22 So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof. And Absalom went in to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. 23 Now in those days the counsel that Ahithophel gave was as if one consulted the word of God; so was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, both by David and by Absalom.

2 Samuel 12: 10-12
10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’”

Advice - in the midst of trouble - Joab manipulated David to allow a violent son, Absalom, to return to David's affections from exile (Chapter 14). Shimei & Mephibosheth both give advice the Lord is returning Saul's fate to David's blame. Hushai is a double agent and wants Absalom to claim the worldly victory, in the view of Israel, to take David's harem.

David, isn't the Lord, but he gives us an example of operating in God's will under pressure. Saul became increasingly violent trying to hold on to a kingdom slipping away from him. David asks and looks for God's will as events spiral around him. David must have been holding on to the Lord's promise that David was his anointed. Hard to remember God's own promises when the river of events is very swift.

The Lord gave advice to Martha in the midst of her own self-centered issues:

Luke 10:41-42
But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.

This is the reason David is God's anointed. Sinful, but forgiven. David looks for God's will and God's mercy even when it comes with a cost to himself.

Which brings us to Jesus' advice to the woman at the well, this is what David, anointed of God, lives.

John 4:21-23
²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

Father God, no one reads about David without wanting to be like him. Help us each day to remember the promises Jesus gave us, to receive in faith. Help us, in adversity, to remember to want Your will and hold on to Your promises. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

<><

Romans 1 ~ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world

Romans 1

1 Paul, a servant [slave or bondservant ] of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David [ who came from the offspring of David] according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you. 11 For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you— 12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I want you to know, brothers, [brothers and sisters] that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, [non-Greeks] both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, [beginning and ending in faith ] as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” [The one who by faith is righteous shall live]

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

The Book of Romans is something we, as Christians, toss into the category of another Book in the New Testament. In Proclaiming ~ Jesus as Lord ~ the foundations of the world order were changing! It begins to tell us of the impact of God's Son choosing to come into the world as Truth and Grace.

The Book of Romans must have been written prior to 49 A.D, at that time, Jews were expelled by the Roman Emperor from Rome. Much of the Book of Romans is proclaiming to the Jews that the Grace of God is to all of mankind. Already Paul was telling Christians to submit to authorities, in Chapter 13. Claudius did not want his power questioned, he wanted a pure strain of Eleusinian Greek mysteries deifying the Roman Emperor. Claudius was stirred to action when Jews and Christians argued to the point of uproar over claims Jesus was, and still is, today, the Messiah. The druids were also removed from Rome, for good measure.

Short work for a little known religion springing out of the outskirts of provincial Judea! Not really a surprising amount of time or attention for the Son of God. Jesus working miracles in bringing the hearts of His people to know and love Him. Imagine, in just about 16 YEARS after Jesus took his disciples to talk about the power in the world in Caesarea, Matthew 16:16-28 , Jesus' predictions about Rome, the Empire of the whole world, are already happening.

Paul says in the Book of Romans, the Good News of Jesus Christ is being proclaimed in all the world. Jesus Christ is receiving vast attention in the heart of the Roman Empire, Rome itself and the Emperor.

John 1:1-5, 9-14
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Father God, we thank You for Your Son. How often we accept without wonder Your words. We give You thanks, You are the light of the world. Amen.

<><

Jeremiah 15:10-21 ~ of strife and contention

Jeremiah 15:10-21

10 Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. 11 The Lord said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress? 12 Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?

13 “Your wealth and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, for all your sins, throughout all your territory. 14 I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”

15 O Lord, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance take me not away;
know that for your sake I bear reproach.
16 Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
17 I did not sit in the company of revelers,
nor did I rejoice;
I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,
for you had filled me with indignation.
18 Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail?

19 Therefore thus says the Lord:
“If you return, I will restore you,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
but you shall not turn to them.
20 And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,
declares the Lord.
21 I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

A child of God with a job to do - an unwanted task. A very honest conversation with God Almighty. Commendable. Yet unnecessary, we cannot hide from God.

Psalm 139:7-12
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.

Jeremiah complains to the Lord. At first to declare his righteousness, Jeremiah declares himself to be an island - separated from man. The LORD is not impressed. He declares the fate of all mankind will be Jeremiah's.

God does not ask for isolation, He asks for mercy. Mercy even when it causes pain. God asks for us to delight in Him.

This wonderful passage on man's unkindness & God's mercy as high as and wide as His Kingdom can be summarized:

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

John 15:19
If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

John 17:16
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Romans 8:38-39)

Romans 12:2
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Father God, who could envy You Your Grace? We fall short of each other and You continue to give to us. Thank you, Father. Amen.

<><

1 Kings 21:17-29 ~ went about

Ahab is remembered for being an evil man & king. Elijah brought him the Word of the Lord, but Ahab didn't like Elijah and thought of Elijah as his enemy. The Lord was more impressed Ahab reached beyond the messenger to hear Him with faith. Father God's willingness for compassion & mercy, is something we can all be glad for in His nature. God hears our prayers, even sinners have His steadfast love.


1 Kings 21:17-29

Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying: Go down to meet King Ahab of Israel, who rules in Samaria; he is now in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession. You shall say to him, "Thus says the Lord: Have you killed, and also taken possession?" You shall say to him, "Thus says the Lord: In the place where dogs licked up the blood of Naboth, dogs will also lick up your blood."

Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you. Because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the Lord, I will bring disaster on you; I will consume you, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel; and I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have caused Israel to sin. Also concerning Jezebel the Lord said, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.' Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat; and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the air shall eat."

(Indeed, there was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the Lord, urged on by his wife Jezebel. He acted most abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the Lord drove out before the Israelites.)

When Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth over his bare flesh; he fasted, lay in the sackcloth, and went about dejectedly. Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite: "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son's days I will bring the disaster on his house."

<><