Galatians 4:21-5:1 ~ children of promise

Galatians 4:21-5:1   ~   (New International Version)

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 ²¹ Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. ²³ His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.

 ²⁴ These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. ²⁵ Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. ²⁶ But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. ²⁷ For it is written:
   "Be glad, O barren woman,
      who bears no children;
   break forth and cry aloud,
      you who have no labor pains;
   because more are the children of the desolate woman
      than of her who has a husband." 

 ²⁸ Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. ²⁹ At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. ³⁰   But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son." ³¹ Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.

Galatians 5

 ¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Paul stood in the crossroads of time and used an analogy of the Old Covenant to the New Covenant.  When we believe our Scriptures, the family of Abraham set in motion the problems similar to divorce, re-marriage (Abraham is recorded as marrying after Sarah’s death), favoritism, limits of life, poverty, power, legitimacy, holiness and envy carried into generations. 

Consider how so many feel about the Mountain of the Temple.

Why? Why did this happen? 

We are supposed to follow the Lord when life is too complex and the choices are too few or too many. My son recently said his religion professor said her favorite chapter in the Bible is Judges 19 – the man treats his concubine terribly and she is killed by the tribe of Benjamin. My son asked me why this terrible passage in the Bible occurs.  Just what you want to be asked out of the blue. But the Lord gave me a good answer for my child, my college student. I said it is like finding out your dad raped a 12 year old. It is like finding out your child tortured and killed a small animal, you are supposed to put aside the consequences of your pain and do the right thing for the Lord. 

Abraham had good intentions to create for himself a son, but he divided his inheritance. And God told Abraham not to share. God was begged to bless Ishmael.  And out of the havoc created by one man, God plan still worked. Not without some feeling as seeds cast among thorns. 

It was a mess.

How was man to continue? The children of Ishmael and the children of Noah, cast aside.  Once God gave us His Son, we were to look to the Son of God to know we are all adopted into the Family of God. No matter if the generations and the situations of life cast you into slavery of sin. You are worthy in the Holy Spirit. 

You are not a child under law, you are blessed to be a child of the Holy Spirit.  You are chosen, special, loved.  Because you are a child of God, you rise above the circumstances of your family sin.  Like Paul, you find your joy instead of any other emotion. You rise above our personal limitations and sin. When you are a child of the new covenant, the story of Abraham, Isaac, and all the saints is your story.  You are a child of Promise, you are a child of the Most High God. 

Luke 12:32

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.

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Psalm 119:73-176 ~ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments.

Psalm 119:73-176 

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Yodh

73 Your hands have made and fashioned me;

give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,

because I have hoped in your word.

75 I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,

and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

76 Let your steadfast love comfort me

according to your promise to your servant.

77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;

for your law is my delight.

78 Let the insolent be put to shame,

because they have wronged me with falsehood;

as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.

79 Let those who fear you turn to me,

that they may know your testimonies.

80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,

that I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

81 My soul longs for your salvation;

I hope in your word.

82 My eyes long for your promise;

I ask, “When will you comfort me?”

83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,

yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

84 How long must your servant endure?

 [How many are the days of your servant?]

When will you judge those who persecute me?

85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;

they do not live according to your law.

86 All your commandments are sure;

they persecute me with falsehood; help me!

87 They have almost made an end of me on earth,

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

88 In your steadfast love give me life,

that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

89 Forever, O Lord, your word

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;

you have established the earth, and it stands fast.

91 By your appointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

92 If your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93 I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have given me life.

94 I am yours; save me,

for I have sought your precepts.

95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

96 I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

Mem

97 Oh how I love your law!

It is my meditation all the day.

98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for your testimonies are my meditation.

100 I understand more than the aged, [the elders]

for I keep your precepts.

101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.

102 I do not turn aside from your rules,

for you have taught me.

103 How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104 Through your precepts I get understanding;

therefore I hate every false way.

Nun

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

106 I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your righteous rules.

107 I am severely afflicted;

give me life, O Lord, according to your word!

108 Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and teach me your rules.

109 I hold my life in my hand continually,

but I do not forget your law.

110 The wicked have laid a snare for me,

but I do not stray from your precepts.

111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

112 I incline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, to the end.

[statutes; the reward is eternal]

Samekh

113 I hate the double-minded,

but I love your law.

114 You are my hiding place and my shield;

I hope in your word.

115 Depart from me, you evildoers,

that I may keep the commandments of my God.

116 Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,

and let me not be put to shame in my hope!

117 Hold me up, that I may be safe

and have regard for your statutes continually!

118 You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,

for their cunning is in vain.

119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,

therefore I love your testimonies.

120 My flesh trembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121 I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122 Give your servant a pledge of good;

let not the insolent oppress me.

123 My eyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

124 Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and teach me your statutes.

125 I am your servant; give me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies!

126 It is time for the Lord to act,

for your law has been broken.

127 Therefore I love your commandments

above gold, above fine gold.

128 Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

I hate every false way.

Pe

129 Your testimonies are wonderful;

therefore my soul keeps them.

130 The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts understanding to the simple.

131 I open my mouth and pant,

because I long for your commandments.

132 Turn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity get dominion over me.

134 Redeem me from man's oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

135 Make your face shine upon your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

136 My eyes shed streams of tears,

because people do not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137 Righteous are you, O Lord,

and right are your rules.

138 You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness

and in all faithfulness.

139 My zeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

140 Your promise is well tried,

and your servant loves it.

141 I am small and despised,

yet I do not forget your precepts.

142 Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is true.

143 Trouble and anguish have found me out,

but your commandments are my delight.

144 Your testimonies are righteous forever;

give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

145 With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!

I will keep your statutes.

146 I call to you; save me,

that I may observe your testimonies.

147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I hope in your words.

148 My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

149 Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O Lord, according to your justice give me life.

150 They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

151 But you are near, O Lord,

and all your commandments are true.

152 Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have founded them forever.

Resh

153 Look on my affliction and deliver me,

for I do not forget your law.

154 Plead my cause and redeem me;

give me life according to your promise!

155 Salvation is far from the wicked,

for they do not seek your statutes.

156 Great is your mercy, O Lord;

give me life according to your rules.

157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,

but I do not swerve from your testimonies.

158 I look at the faithless with disgust,

because they do not keep your commands.

159 Consider how I love your precepts!

Give me life according to your steadfast love.

160 The sum of your word is truth,

and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

161 Princes persecute me without cause,

but my heart stands in awe of your words.

162 I rejoice at your word

like one who finds great spoil.

163 I hate and abhor falsehood,

but I love your law.

164 Seven times a day I praise you

for your righteous rules.

165 Great peace have those who love your law;

nothing can make them stumble.

166 I hope for your salvation, O Lord,

and I do your commandments.

167 My soul keeps your testimonies;

I love them exceedingly.

168 I keep your precepts and testimonies,

for all my ways are before you.

Taw

169 Let my cry come before you, O Lord;

give me understanding according to your word!

170 Let my plea come before you;

deliver me according to your word.

171 My lips will pour forth praise,

for you teach me your statutes.

172 My tongue will sing of your word,

for all your commandments are right.

173 Let your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen your precepts.

174 I long for your salvation, O Lord,

and your law is my delight.

175 Let my soul live and praise you,

and let your rules help me.

176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,

for I do not forget your commandments.

Each of the 22 sections of Psalm 119 has a letter as the title, a song to sing as they approached the Temple stairs or progressed towards the Tent of God. Several sections seems to say the Psalmist is convinced of self-righteousness and God would do well to bless the Psalmist’s supplication.  This is really meant as corporate worship. The Psalm ends with a sympathetic prayer, even if the commandments are all followed, there is a gap between spiritual worthiness and love.  Far better than the cries of righteousness, knowing God loves us and will come to find us in our times of need.

It would be presumptuous of just one individual to express worthiness. This is one of the prayers of the entire Community, the Temple of the Lord.  When Paul thought about worthiness, he wrote he knew he was a sinner. We know we sin, and sometimes it is the actions and thoughts of self-centeredness, innate in our characters from birth.

This Psalm isn't just the petition of the worthy, but in placing our prayers together, we are the community Jesus told his disciples that some prayer petitions require prayer and fasting. This is the strength of community prayer.

Jesus would agree prayer is not repetition.  He asked us to offer praise to God. Not acknowledge our holiness, but His.  The Lord’s will and wisdom first. To ask God to supply our concerns. To give mercy, as well as rely upon God’s mercy. For the Lord to protect us from evil and temptation. To live for the glory of God. And the Shepherd, who is good, will find us. 

Pray, and let God worry 

- Martin Luther

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Joel 3:12-21 ~ And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim.

Joel 3:12-21 

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12 Let the nations stir themselves up

and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;

for there I will sit to judge

all the surrounding nations.

13 Put in the sickle,

for the harvest is ripe.

Go in, tread,

for the winepress is full.

The vats overflow,

for their evil is great.

14 Multitudes, multitudes,

in the valley of decision!

For the day of the Lord is near

in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and the moon are darkened,

and the stars withdraw their shining.

16 The Lord roars from Zion,

and utters his voice from Jerusalem,

and the heavens and the earth quake.

But the Lord is a refuge to his people,

a stronghold to the people of Israel.

17 “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God,

who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.

And Jerusalem shall be holy,

and strangers shall never again pass through it.

18 “And in that day

the mountains shall drip sweet wine,

and the hills shall flow with milk,

and all the streambeds of Judah

shall flow with water;

and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord

and water the Valley of Shittim.

19 “Egypt shall become a desolation

and Edom a desolate wilderness,

for the violence done to the people of Judah,

because they have shed innocent blood in their land.

20 But Judah shall be inhabited forever,

and Jerusalem to all generations.

21 I will avenge their blood,

blood I have not avenged,

[Or I will acquit their bloodguilt that I have not acquitted]

for the Lord dwells in Zion.” 

The Scriptures repeat themselves again and again. It’s a blessing.

Matthew 25:31-36

 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Two things in life are certain – death and taxes. But if you die this year, your pockets will belong to someone else and they get to pay. Another truism failed.  So instead we realize…. we are all going to leave this life. 

When doubts come to me, I remember what I believe. 

I remember my grandmother’s dreams of Heaven, with her husband Ray waiting for her.  The fruit of her dreams -  peace and joy. She spoke about her dreams for the rest of her time on earth.  What were her dreams? The gift of God for her faith.  Her faith came first. Before her dreams.

When the Day of the Lord is at Hand

Unfortunately, maybe instead you have seen death avoidance modeled to you. Have you seen relatives and friends avoid a death bed? If you avoid it, it will stay away from you. Right. Death is part of the plan. It is only a comma. When we trust in Jesus Christ, we have already attained eternal life. 

I’ve been part of death 6 times, intimately with loved family, in 4 decades. Each time I have marveled at the peace surrounding death. As I’ve driven home from the dying, I wondered at the Ecclesiastes time passage – a time to be born, a time to die.  God usually provided a peace for this time. How many times does He provide?

Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

Revelation 15:3

And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

Revelation 15:4

Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed."

Revelation 21:23-25

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, 25and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there.

For whom will this salvation occur?

Jesus said:

John 10:9

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

1 John 4:10

 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 10:10-13

 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Luke 11:15-26 ~ whoever is not with me scatters

Jesus the Good Shepherd, by Del Parson

Luke 11:15-26

English Standard Version, Max McLean

15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters

24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

I really like October. I love to garden and October coolness brings new invitation to open windows and sit outside. I’m not fond of the increase of supernatural media that Halloween brings. So what. We approach “Thee Super Natural” every time we open our minds to prayer. And we aren’t fooling around with “From goulies & ghosties, long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us!” When we pray.


You know why you don’t hear a sermon on the 700 exorcisms in London each year; you know why you don’t hear a sermon on the exorcisms priests have told about in Dallas? Because a man of God has no reason to go to faith through the back door. These things that go bump in the night exist. So what.

“When danger lurks, what kind of protection do you seek? Jesus came to free us from the greatest danger of all – the corrupting force of evil which destroys us from within and makes us slaves to sin and Satan (John 8:34). Evil is not an impersonal force that just happens.” ~ Don Schwager

Philippians 2:9-10
Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth

Matthew 16:18
I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

John 1:4-5
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.

Father God, You are the Light of the World. In all circumstances You are there. In You, we live, move and have our dwelling. Happy, joyous, filled, hopeful, loving, sincere, moved and grateful are those who take refuge in You. You gather us as chicks under Your wing. You are the LORD - Jesus Christ. Amazing grace, You have given us in Jesus. Amen.

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Jonah 4 ~ save him

Nineveh is almost in the center of the orange Assyrian Nation

Probably Jonah sat under a Castor Oil plant

Jonah painted by Michelangelo Buonarroti in the Sistine Chapel

Jonah 4
Max McLean Audio Bible, English Standard Version

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, [it was exceedingly evil to Jonah] and he was angry. 2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live.” 4 And the Lord said, “Do you do well to be angry?”

5 Jonah went out of the city and sat to the east of the city and made a booth for himself there. He sat under it in the shade, till he should see what would become of the city. 6 Now the Lord God appointed a plant [probably the castor oil plant] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be a shade over his head, to save him from his discomfort [his evil]. So Jonah was exceedingly glad because of the plant. 7 But when dawn came up the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. 8 When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” 9 But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” 10 And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?”

Jonah had an enemy. He really did not want the Chaldeans/Assyrian /Babylonian Nation to receive mercy or to be part of their forgiveness. Judah had fallen from being the golden state of Israel and was divided, merely hoping and hopping along. Successive kings had done evil, the Scriptures had been lost and reclaimed. Various Empires threaten peace and security.

We experience this from time to time, envy of each other. We wonder if God knows what He is doing. Asaph, David’s appointed Celebrant of God, writer of the 73^rd Psalm knew about envy.

Psalm 73

2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,

my steps had nearly slipped.

3 For I was envious of the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

4 For they have no pangs until death;

their bodies are fat and sleek.

5 They are not in trouble as others are;

they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;

violence covers them as a garment.

7 Their eyes swell out through fatness;

their hearts overflow with follies.

8 They scoff and speak with malice;

loftily they threaten oppression.

9 They set their mouths against the heavens,

and their tongue struts through the earth.

Jonah does not even have the satisfaction of calling Nineveh heathen. Jonah didn’t want to make peace with the enemy, he wanted God to be victorious in war. God doesn’t leave Jonah to brine in his own spleen. God doesn’t suddenly become busy. God genuinely has sympathy for Jonah. God the Father hurts for the people holding fast to Him, even the reluctant Jonah. God takes time to sit with Jonah, feeling what Jonah feels. God takes time for Jonah, knowing Jonah is going to be a hero.

We have to take this up to the larger level and say God knows what is coming to Israel, His chosen people. God’s mercy for the decades of Israel’s defection is coming to a close. Seeing a larger picture, Babylon is going to grow, and eventually the seed planted in Nineveh will grow to become Nebuchadnezzar – the first king outside of the Davidic line who will have God’s blessing. Psalm 73 isn’t the Assyrian Nation, it is Israel.

Something bigger than Jonah is here. God the Father is offering salvation to all of His Children. Not just the children of Abraham. Jesus loved Jonah, and mentions him in Matthew 12 and Luke 11. The Holy Spirit of God has empowered Jonah to do amazing work. This reform is not going to be seen again until the Son of God walks the earth. Because the Jews are God’s Chosen People, this Book of Jonah is read every year in Yom Kippur - the Day of Atonement.

God is so forgiving; He not only forgives racism, but anger, rebelliousness to Himself and still loves.

How will we reach out to the people we just are not thrilled with? How will we cope with our less than loving feelings? God gives us an answer in:

Psalm 8

O Lord our Governor:

how glorious is your name in all the earth!

Your majesty above the heavens is yet recounted :

by the mouths of babes and sucklings.

You have founded a strong defense against your adversaries:

to quell the enemy and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers:

the moon and the stars which you have set in order,

What is man, that you should be mindful of him :

or the son of man, that you should care for him?

Yet you have made him little less than a god :

and have crowned him with glory and honor.

You have made him the master of your handiwork :

and have put all things in subjection beneath his feet,

All sheep and oxen:

and all the creatures of the field,

The birds of the air and the fish of the sea:

and everything that moves in the pathways of the great waters.

O Lord our Governor :

how glorious is your name in all the earth!

What we share with the people we don’t rush to love, is this: God is the God of us all. We share that amazing regard. God created this person and in God’s eyes, this person is just below the Lord in the order of His creation. God is mindful of us all.

John 15:9

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.

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