Psalm 40 ~ blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud

Psalm 40


1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the Lord.

4 Blessed is the man who makes
the Lord his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
8 I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance [righteousness]
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O Lord.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
12 For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
15 Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the Lord!”
17 As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!

We have several really large pine trees. At the top of one, about 60 feet up, one of the branches had fallen and caught on a lower branch. I pointed out to my husband, the branch looked exactly like a shepherd's crook. It was a large branch. We wondered if it would do damage when it fell, so on one of our walks, we prayed about it. I rather liked that shepherd branch hanging up there!

Years later, we were returning from one of our walks to Starbucks and my husband noticed the branch had neatly fallen into the flower bed, no damage at all. Eagerly we went to see this shepherd's crook. We were discouraged to find one crushed baby sparrow. My husband and I found 3 or 4 more tiny little sparrows. They were cute with little masks, like the one in the photo. We knew not to touch them, or the parent would smell the human scent. I could hear, from inside our house, the parents crying frantically & the babies peeping cries. They couldn't locate the young birds. I was getting frantic myself. And growing more unhappy that neatly shaped branch was the message of impending doom. Time was going on and it seemed the little birds, after falling so many feet in the hollow in the branch, were getting quiet.

Now feeling good & angry, I googled 'rescuing baby birds fallen from the nest'. Amazingly, the human touch and birds scent is a complete myth; it advised getting a basket, putting the remainder of the nest in the basket and using coat hangers to hang the basket in branches at a comfortable, reachable height. Slightly tilt the basket so the birds fold into the original nest. The hollowed branch had nesting materials. Thrilled - yes - to hush the more distressed parents and rescue the oh-so quiet baby birds. I returned to the house, job done. NO. The babies were too distressed to cry & the parents were frantic. One more google search. The answer, me grabbing the baby and holding it high; now the baby bird was squeeling. Oh, that worked. The dad was hysterically fearful of this human. He fearfully and bravely flew to a lower branch, just nearby. Now, the parents could see me put the baby back into the basket/nest. Alleluia, the parents were only too glad to see their brood. My reward - getting to see the parents raise them for the next two weeks. Happy family. Everyone grew up after some flying lessons. We still see their variety of sparrow arrive at our bird bath and feeder. The glow of kindness brightens the day.

This is like the blessings we have in the Lord. We have discomfort, fear and our issues are not immediately resolved. It is in trust, not abandonment, or panic & we are able to see the path God has for us.

Great is the Lord!

We are blessed when we put our trust in Him.


 Help us, Father God, to not abandon or panic about our troubles. To put our problems in Your hands. With faith, and a slice of curiosity, to see how You will bring Your will forth. Great is the Lord! Thank you in Jesus' name. Amen.

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Matthew 9:18-26 ~ And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion

Matthew 9:18-26

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”

19 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. 

20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

So many people say the Gospels were written in the 4th century by oral history. Which is in conflict with Paul writing of the Temple sacrifices being done as he wrote. The Christian bishop, Papias of Hierapolis, about 100–140 AD, wrote: "Matthew collected sayings of Jesus." Matthew identifies himself as a Tax Collector in this Chapter.

Does Jesus know about the confusion mere mortals face? How life isn't always apply this solution to this verse??

Jesus had 3 years to wow the crowd. When we get to the 9th Chapter of Matthew, Jesus had called the first set of disciples together, Matthew had not been part of the group called together in the 4th Chapter. The 8th Chapter lists 4 miracles. Jesus had been speaking with crowds of people who gathered to hear Him. This is the way Matthew arranges his introduction of Jesus ministry. An outsider, later invited in.

It would seem that Jesus, with His exact ideas of what is going to occur would have asked Matthew right away. Instead, Matthew is given time. Just like John the Baptist. John the Baptist tells us he did not know Jesus. He didn't grow up with his cousin. He had time to grow into understanding Jesus. In the middle of being given the idea Jesus did not march along with a perfect day planner, let's remember Jesus rowed back and forth over the Sea of Galilee sometimes several times in one day. If you were God, wouldn't you want to arrange people so you didn't have to row or sail back and forth?

It is another example of God making time for the give and take in life. Jesus has done 4 amazing miracles and, of course, everyone treats Him with respect. It makes sense. No, we are still the people God has to contend with. Still the grumblers in the desert asking for God to do more. People laughed at Jesus. Not with Him. Elijah would have called down fire. If you'll remember, the disciples asked Jesus to do this on one occasion. And Jesus, being God, said no, He had other plans.

Back to the Day Planner thought. In the middle of working with the ruler, Jesus heals. So. There is a 5th miracle and the people still don't like it. And don't trust Him.

How does Jesus feel being pressed in all the time? We see an example.

When Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away."



He is kind enough to give a reason. We don't know Jesus' tone. The people leave after being put out. We can assume the synagogue ruler was in charge of getting them out of the way. You can imagine the ruler wasn't too fussed about moving the laugh-ers out of the way because he'd just seen Jesus heal. Not a huge decision of politically correct thought going on there.

Jesus deliberately chose to step away from being God. He was there in the spoken Word of Creation and saw things we only hope to see in Heaven. He didn't say, "Let me chase the people and not let the sun go down on my anger." He allowed time for obedience and quiet. He saw order and privately settled the matter with the people.

We hold maxims because we remember them. We readily remember 'don't let the sun go down on your anger'. 'Turn the other cheek'. And we hold them to be the immediate Biblical answer. Yet sometimes turning the other cheek is exactly what the evil one would want. Sometimes we have to employ "Rebuke the devil and he will flee from you." Exactly like, if people are not going to reason with you, why provoke another fight by saying there is a time limit.

Jesus knew about conflict, struggling to apply the right solution to the right opportunity for a solution.

Matthew 18:15-17
15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.


To get into the Promised Land, Joshua had to decide.

Joshua 24:14-16
 Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

The Scriptures are written for you. A message of Love explaining the nature of God. Explaining mercy, explaining the subtitles are not from God. Asking Him, how each matter requires integrity, honesty, and expecting the best of mankind - God saw a reason to save each on of us - a Light lighting all of mankind. Prayer, believing God will care when our cares are placed upon Him.


Father God, how I appreciate You did not write in subtitles, asking us, like Jesus, to be able to know what "Is Written." To apply our lives to Your Word, not allowing maxims to direct us rather seeking Justice with Mercy, Walking Humbly with You. For only You, Father God, can save the World. And we shall trust in Him. With Faith Hope in Love in You, Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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Psalm 33:12-13,18-21 ~ in Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his Holy name

 

Psalm 33:12-13, 18-21

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD,
the people he chose for his inheritance.

13 From heaven the LORD looks down
and sees all humankind;

18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him,
on those whose hope is in his unfailing love,

19 to deliver them from death
and keep them alive in famine.

20 We wait in hope for the LORD;
he is our help and our shield.

21 In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.



One the days Father God is in HIS Heaven and all is right with the world, be grateful. On the next day, when basically the same circumstances look bleak, we still need to Trust Him. That He would hold us to HIM, for HIS namesake and not our own waver unrighteousness and selfish concerns.

Letting HIM being our help and shield creates more peace, more bridegroom-Holy-Spirit dwell with in me in joy, than allowing the waves of life knock us one way and then the next. We can always depend upon His unfailing love.

Father God, be part of all of me. Down to my marrow and intricate cells. Help me each day to be a chosen place for you to dwell and help me make this soul to be a joyful place for You to dwell. In Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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Matthew 18:15-20 ~ by my Father in heaven

The art chosen today is for rejoicing. This reminds me of my daughter Isabelle and the miscarriage we suffered and remember even today that brief life. Knowing the hills and highways of Heaven.

Matthew 18:15-20

15 “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 

18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed ^{[shall have been bound...shall have been loosed]} in heaven. 

19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Recently I was involved in a brew ha ha created by, thirteen years, frankly, of ego and narcissism. A neighborhood thing. The skirmish started with a request for servitude. Actually, that was couched with 'a do me a favor.' We should do favors. We should want to help people. But the antenna went up when the request came with an uncalled for insult. And the favor was long-term. When I politely declined to do the favor, I was called on the phone several times and later given a formal attitude with disapproval. I was cheerful, but steadfast.

Boundaries were crossed, people discussed the best way to handle that. Unasked for physical contact resulted from boundaries crossed, uninvited I might add. And still privacy was the rule for the day. This led to more insults disregarding a death in the family. Still Privacy was followed. Another woman was held up to unasked for physical conduct. Still privacy was followed.

My husband was subjected to a narcissistic campaign when I was away from home. Culmination, finally, local authorities had a falsified report handed to them by the ego. And still Edward and I wondered what was too personal to disclose and what was private. Finally, the falsification of the written report flew all over me and thirty minutes later, the truth had been disclosed to the local governing body. Did that feel good? Absolutely not. Revenge is what part of me cried out.

I sat and thought of the twelve different ways I had said this was private, not for gossip fodder. And the phrase 'Fight the good fight' came to me. Isn't the good fight about being truthful? The Lord says give Justice with Mercy. He never said seek to suffer for the sake of suffering. We just think namby pamby nicey is called for. Forgive others the way you want to be forgiven. The Lord never said to the woman caught in adultery, keep your mouth shut even if its not true.

Revenge. Aren't most Christians more than aware Revenge is wrong. However, this revenge-think wasn't clear thinking. The falsified report was wrong. The truth was being sought. The fight was brought on a platter and carried literally to my door. It was time to declare the thirty minute story of injustices spoken, false accusations presented. And to find out the governing authority had remembered the raving egotist. In a career where people make reports every day, this individual was remembered as being out of the norm.

It's so important to remember .... God does not want His Children to suffer and hum "Onward Christian Soldiers." He asks us to bind revenge, not to bind truth. He asks us not to suffer, when honesty is asked for.

Christians remember this Biblical passage. Rejoice in suffering when we overcome the suffering. Bind revenge, but bind unnecessary hurtful behavior. Loosen truthful speaking to the right people. Loosen speaking for the right reason. Loosen letting events roll past and not reclaiming them.

Father God, we pray for the narcissism experienced over the years, the false accusations of hurt property and missing property. Untruths spoken. Boundaries crossed. We pray for the giver of these deeds, that having light shown on the behavior, not that shame will endure, but healing and recovery. Father God, the point of our time here is to grow up, lean into You, and learn with faith - We are called Home to you. Let us speak Truth without fearing we cross lines. Realizing Justice isn't just for the other guy. Thank You, Father God, for wanting all Your children to live in peace and fight the good fight when presented the time to speak. Not accepting suffering to be a duty required from You. And thank You for the opportunity to present truth.

Thank You, Lord Father God, for the blessing of having people around us give us support. Our Pastor who offered to call the egotist. The Church Family who were scandalized with this behavior. The concern for safety and the literal clean up required. The prayers offered and answers received. God bringing light from darkness. In the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. 

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Psalm 81 ~ I relieved your shoulder of the burden; your hands were freed from the basket.

Psalm 81

Sing aloud to God our strength;
shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
2 Raise a song; sound the tambourine,
the sweet lyre with the harp.
3 Blow the trumpet at the new moon,
at the full moon, on our feast day.

4 For it is a statute for Israel,
a  rule^{[just decree]} of the God of Jacob.
5 He made it a decree in Joseph
when he went out over the land of Egypt.
I hear a language I had not known:
6 “I relieved your shoulder of the burden;
your hands were freed from the basket.

7 In distress you called, and I delivered you;
I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah
8 Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!
O Israel, if you would but listen to me!
9 There shall be no strange god among you;
you shall not bow down to a foreign god.

10 I am the Lord your God,
who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 “But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
13 Oh, that my people would listen to me,
that Israel would walk in my ways!
14 I would soon subdue their enemies
and turn my hand against their foes.
15 Those who hate the Lord would cringe toward him,
and their fate would last forever.
16 But he would feed you with the finest of the wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

The Ascension. You would think when Jesus died for us ~ He would have had a honeymoon period. We see almost immediately (opposite of what Jesus did for Peter, to immediately lift Peter up)  the disciples are fed, literally breakfast, by a risen Lord and begin to hide their flaws and to argue rights.

What will John receive? Is Peter really a lover of Jesus or a friend? When is Jesus going to haul the Romans out of Israel? That's about as rude gets. Really.

We fly right past that rudeness usually.

Recently, I participated in a Bible Study were Christians were told complaining is the broken eleventh commandment. Christians push away others by being whiners. I understand the principal, God did become fed up with the Children of Israel whining. However, What HE Really Did NOT Like ~ the failure to live for HIM ~ grab the Land ~ the point was to obtain the blessings ~ and instead they whined of giants inhabiting the land. Action was failed. He put up with A Whole Lot of Whining!

Complaining. I would remind the author of the study - enmity of the world is part of life. Life tends to want to eat everyone's lunch. Even the Son of God, risen from death!  Returning to the ones HE loved.

Could it be possible, we know what Jesus was thinking at the Ascension???

There is a right way and a wrong way to complain to Him. Unfortunately, mankind has not perfected this. I could pretend to say this was incorrect in the desert, but Jacob did this correctly by wrestling with HIM. I could say Paul knew only to ask three times.

Perhaps a more blessed way to pray? NO. Peter had this correct. He did not try to walk on water in his own righteousness again. He had seen his Hero, His Savior, return for him again. Once to reach IMMEDIATELY into the waters for Peter and the next to see Peter get his own hands wet to jump into the fray and make his way quickly to Jesus.

Peter, foolishly, complained he did philo Jesus. Jesus was looking for agape. Still is.

Peter did what mankind does - whine and hide.

Jesus did what God does - react with love and be patient. However, Jesus wasn't Peter's doormat. Jesus told Peter to open his mouth wide. And Peter understood, and was told, the road would be rocky, yet Peter again told Jesus - He has the Words of life. Honest Communication only comes with Honest... complaint. The give and take of forgiveness is an important thing God asks for in communication. He expects us to whine. The Scriptures are filled with people going to God transparently - to complain and tell HIM what they want, need or fret about.

He expects us to live for HIM. HE wants us to be That Centurion - Jesus found to be faithful -

And of course the question is - of course - a whine - HOW??? Like the Centurion Jesus was so pleased with. WE expect HIM to show up. To care about what we cast upon HIM. Yes, we are to be bringers of the Light, fishing - bringing men to Jesus Christ the Lord.

GOD expects us to

John 6:29
Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.

Matthew 8:8-10
8 The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.


And the results of those with great faith, believing in Jesus Christ the Lord, whom HE has sent...




The Scriptures plainly tell us again and again - expect the best - more promises will follow beyond our horizons... Never forgetting to Thank HIM for His blessings, knowing all through the Scriptures - God brings forth blessings in this life -  Hebrews 11:


faith, he was commended as righteous
he did not experience death
He rewards those who earnestly seek him
warned about things not yet seen
became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith
called to go to a place
By faith he made his home in the promised land
looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God
who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise

descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky
blessed his children, and worshiped
spoke about future events
refused to be known as only a rich, powerful man
chose to be mistreated along with the people of God
looking ahead to his reward
not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible
By faith the people passed through impossible obstacles
By faith the walls of impossiblity fell
By faith a low dweller in life, disregarded, did the incorrect thing for the right reason and was chosen to be an ancestor of Jesus Christ the LORD.

faith conquered kingdoms
administered justice
gained what was promised
shut the mouths of lions
quenched the fury of the flames
escaped the edge of the sword
weakness was turned to strength
became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies
received back their dead, raised to life again.!!!!!!
were all commended for their faith

And By Our Faith, we have to do the work of Jesus Christ believing they received HIS promises. We see Jesus return from the dead, but only in faith do we know these Children of the Most High God - received Hope - His Promises are for me. Faith - HE Will do what He promises. LOVE as vast as the universe for me. 

“That’s My King”, by Dr. S.M. Lockridge:

My King

The Bible says my King is the King of the Jews. He’s the King of Israel. He’s the King of Righteousness. He’s the King of the Ages. He’s the King of Heaven. He’s the King of Glory. He’s the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King.

I wonder, do you know Him?

My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. He’s enduringly strong. He’s entirely sincere. He’s eternally steadfast. He’s immortally graceful. He’s imperially powerful. He’s impartially merciful.

Do you know Him?

He’s the greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son. He’s the sinner’s Saviour. He’s the centerpiece of civilization. He’s unparalleled. He’s unprecedented. He is the loftiest idea in literature. He’s the highest personality in philosophy. He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology. He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour.

I wonder if you know Him today?

He supplies strength for the weak. He’s available for the tempted and the tried. He sympathizes and He saves. He strengthens and sustains. He guards and He guides. He heals the sick. He cleansed the lepers. He forgives sinners. He discharges debtors. He delivers the captive. He defends the feeble. He blesses the young. He serves the unfortunate. He regards the aged. He rewards the diligent. And He beautifies the meek.

I wonder if you know Him?

He’s the key to knowledge. He’s the wellspring of wisdom. He’s the doorway of deliverance. He’s the pathway of peace. He’s the roadway of righteousness. He’s the highway of holiness. He’s the gateway of glory.

Do you know Him? Well…

His life is matchless. His goodness is limitless. His mercy is everlasting. His love never changes. His Word is enough. His grace is sufficient. His reign is righteous. And His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.

I wish I could describe Him to you. Yes…

He’s indescribable! He’s incomprehensible. He’s invincible. He’s irresistible. You can’t get Him out of your mind. You can’t get Him off of your hand. You can’t outlive Him, and you can’t live without Him. Well, the Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him. Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him. Herod couldn’t kill Him. Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him.

Yeah! That’s my King, that’s my King.

Amen!

Peter tells us Jesus has the Words of Life -
Jesus tells us something -

sovereign
limitless
enduringly strong
entirely sincere
eternally steadfast
immortally graceful
imperially powerful
impartially merciful

The greatest phenomenon that has ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son...

1 Peter 1:25
But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you.


John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto
you.

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2 Chronicles 29 ~ opened the doors of the House of the Lord

1 Kings 6:2
The Temple that King Solomon built for the LORD was 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high.

A cubit is considered to be about 18- 20 inches, so the temple was about 90 feet long, 30 feet wide, and 45 feet high. In the modern world, the size is not vast like skyscrapers, football stadiums or airports. However, we've probably never seen a Church covered in gold.

2 Chronicles 29

1 Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah the daughter of Zechariah. 2 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done.

3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. 4 He brought in the priests and the Levites and assembled them in the square on the east 5 and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the Lord, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth from the Holy Place. 6 For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They have forsaken him and have turned away their faces from the habitation of the Lord and turned their backs. 7 They also shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel.

8 Therefore the wrath of the Lord came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them an object of horror, of astonishment, and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes. 9 For behold, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this. 10 Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us. 11 My sons, do not now be negligent, for the Lord has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”

12 Then the Levites arose, Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of the Kohathites; and of the sons of Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah; 13 and of the sons of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah; 14 and of the sons of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel. 15 They gathered their brothers and consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, by the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord. 16 The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the Lord into the court of the house of the Lord. And the Levites took it and carried it out to the brook Kidron.

17 They began to consecrate on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the Lord. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the Lord, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished. 18 Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils. 19 All the utensils that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the Lord.”

20 Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the Lord. 21 And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the Lord. 22 So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar. 23 Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, and they laid their hands on them, 24 and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.

25 And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, harps, and lyres, according to the commandment of David and of Gad the king's seer and of Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the Lord through his prophets. 26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

27 Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song to the Lord began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 When the offering was finished, the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped. 30 And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to [filled your hand for] the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings. 32 The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. 33 And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep. 34 But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished—for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves. 35 Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was the fat of the peace offerings, and there were the drink offerings for the burnt offerings.

Thus the service of the house of the Lord was restored. 36 And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had prepared for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.

The events and choices of our lives define us. Solomon said the day of adversity is surely from the Lord as the day of blessing.

Hezekiah is 25 years old when he becomes 14th King of Judah. In his era, Hezekiah is middle aged. Hezekiah is coming to God's Kingdom in a time of great stress. The Assyrian Empire is a huge and powerful force Hezekiah has seen take down the Kingdom of Israel. Peaking back at the last chapter - Ahaz, Hezekiah's father, did not have a victorious reign. He turned his back on the Temple of God and closed the doors - sacrificing to every god, all over the place, and turning to other kings to fight battle for Judah.

How can we imagine a king turning his back on this wonder in the world, this gold Temple and the glorious history of the Lord's power and intervention? Sadly, we can understand this. We see people every day who have decided the Lord's promises do not belong to them.

The Temple of the Lord seemed a fairy tale to Ahaz. He cast his hopes away from the Temple. Ahaz had the benefit of knowing Isaiah. He didn't listen or believe. Perhaps Ahaz was thinking if he made the Temple obsolete, future generations would be able to dismantle the Temple gold to pay armies and make financial arrangements.

Hezekiah could have pillaged the gold covering the Temple. Later, he would try this and cry out to God. Crying to God worked better. Hezekiah forged a path away from asking other kingdoms for help. He relied solely upon the Lord.

Hezekiah opened the doors of the House of the Lord. I'm sure not all who witnessed Hezekiah rely upon the Lord agreed or were pleased. But Hezekiah left a legacy of Scripture written about his faith, his victory, and the wonders of God's works. Hezekiah opened the doors of the House of the Lord, the possibilities from following God were endless.

2 Kings 19:
6 Isaiah said to them, “Say to your master, ‘Thus says the Lord: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.’”

14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it; and Hezekiah went up to the house of the Lord and spread it before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord and said: “O Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth. 16 Incline your ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see; and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. 17 Truly, O Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands 18 and have cast their gods into the fire, for they were not gods, but the work of men's hands, wood and stone. Therefore they were destroyed. 19 So now, O Lord our God, save us, please, from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, O Lord, are God alone.”

2 Kings 20
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, saying, 3 “Now, O Lord, please remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 And before Isaiah had gone out of the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Turn back, and say to Hezekiah the leader of my people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you.

2 Chronicles 30:19-21
19 who sets his heart to seek God, the Lord, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.” 20 And the Lord heard Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with all their might to the Lord.

2 Chronicles 32:19-21
19 And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.

20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.

2 Chronicles 32:23-30

And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

24 In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the Lord, and he answered him and gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for his heart was proud. Therefore wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem. 26 But Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

27 And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of costly vessels; 28 storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds. 29 He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions. 30 This same Hezekiah closed the upper outlet of the waters of Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works

Hezekiah's Water Tunnel




The passage reads:

... the tunnel ... and this is the story of the tunnel while ...

the axes were against each other and while three cubits were left to cut? ... the voice of a man ...

called to his counterpart, (for) there was ZADA in the rock, on the right ... and on the day of the

tunnel (being finished) the stonecutters struck each man towards his counterpart, ax against ax and flowed

water from the source to the pool for 1200 cubits. and 100?

cubits was the height over the head of the stonecutters ...

Zada means prosperous or fortunate.

Father God, You've said in Your word, when we believe Jesus is our Savior, we allow the Holy Spirit to live within us. Each day, Father God, we open our hands like the doors to the Temple and ask You to fill our day and our lives with Your plans. To Your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ, we trust each day You will do this in Your plan. Let Your will be done. Amen.

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Numbers 36 ~ This is what the Lord commands

Numbers 36

1 Then the heads of the clans of Gilead—descendants of Makir, son of Manasseh, son of Joseph—came to Moses and the family leaders of Israel with a petition. 2 They said, “Sir, the Lord instructed you to divide the land by sacred lot among the people of Israel. You were told by the Lord to give the grant of land owned by our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 3 But if they marry men from another tribe, their grants of land will go with them to the tribe into which they marry. In this way, the total area of our tribal land will be reduced. 4 Then when the Year of Jubilee comes, their portion of land will be added to that of the new tribe, causing it to be lost forever to our ancestral tribe.”

5 So Moses gave the Israelites this command from the Lord: “The claim of the men of the tribe of Joseph is legitimate. 6 This is what the Lord commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: Let them marry anyone they like, as long as it is within their own ancestral tribe. 7 None of the territorial land may pass from tribe to tribe, for all the land given to each tribe must remain within the tribe to which it was first allotted. 8 The daughters throughout the tribes of Israel who are in line to inherit property must marry within their tribe, so that all the Israelites will keep their ancestral property. 9 No grant of land may pass from one tribe to another; each tribe of Israel must keep its allotted portion of land.”

10 The daughters of Zelophehad did as the Lord commanded Moses. 11 Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah all married cousins on their father’s side. 12 They married into the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. Thus, their inheritance of land remained within their ancestral tribe.

13 These are the commands and regulations that the Lord gave to the people of Israel through Moses while they were camped on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River across from Jericho.

You have to love the Scriptures that are so antiquated and out of date. Out of Touch really. Done. Finito. Nothing like this compares to the New Covenant.

Except... Jesus. Yes the Risen Lord of All.


Luke 12:13-15
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

And my own great-grandfather was reportedly the largest land owner in Mississippi - his will left clear instructions in-laws were never to hold the land, only descendents. Rather like our Scripture passage today. It's safe to say, his Estate was not exactly divided to his liking. However, a Pastor friend of mine said this is His-story. He makes a path, a way, and a hope with a future.

Jesus was being asked about Primogeniture. We see in the Prodigal Son Parable, the younger son was to inherit a portion, but the older son was to inherit double sized portions. Solomon tells us the day of blessing and the day of misfortune come from His hand. Jesus also invites us to pray non-stop when unjust behavior occurs. And the Youth Pastor was and is correct. We are to thank HIM for the way our lives play out. King Saul would have been much more content to work with David instead of against him, but instead kicked the goads all his life. The Bible points out, just like the movie Knight and Day - WITH HIM, without Him. And we can decide if we are roots of bitterness, or we exist to be the best us He has planned with a Paul type bounce of "seeing how it will go for me.."

Philippians 2:23-24
I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.


One would think Paul would just know all that is to be. Instead Paul, himself, is to walk by faith.

Now, we see Israel was to be preserved. And as soon as Israel was comfortable, gratitude diminished. Israel is a testimony to our own human condition. And we see ingratitude lead to theft. Ahab was King and grabbed a vineyard in his abundance. Odd, but true.

One thing Israel did wrong. Israel had religious pride. Not bending to Syrians. Jonah did not welcome the "God given and directed" opportunity to witness to fertile ground to the Assyrians. And His Story marched on to spread beyond the borders. Remember with me, Jesus was firm with the Syrian woman wanting something from HIM. Yet, so touchingly, Jesus wanted the woman from a country worshiping other gods to acknowledge HIS majesty, and in her humility, Jesus worked a miracle for her daughter.

People are amusing. Just as the risen Jesus returned to the people He died for (forgiving them for running away), they want to know, "What's in it for us?" This really speaks to how readily available Jesus was to them. Not a ferocious leader, but approachable, loving, having breakfast on the beach.



Acts 1:6-8
So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

This is interesting too - in an era so many men feel that they aren't Power Rangers, Super Heroes, then maybe their manhood is in question. Jesus said a real man is approachable, even in trauma and dire circumstance.

His reply is rather... typical of our Father GOD, Lord of All Creation. He is saying this is HIS Story. And will unfold in HIS time and manner. But not to feel as if orphans in the storm, the Holy Spirit provides what Jeremiah cried out in a very difficult time, saying:

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper
you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ...


And did you know, in these days so many of us aren't even reading the news anymore - there is hope in the border of Mexico. People still pray believing HE will answer, DOES LOVE, and will Triumph!!!

Jeremiah is why Jesus is sometimes said to have been called Joshua - really (Joshua refused to give up on the Exodus as a work of God! Creating diligence out of disaster. Obedience from dire need and Hope in the desert. ) - because Jesus comes in where the situation is such a mess, wades in, gets His hands dirty, wet, and immediately cares.

Jeremiah believed like Joshua. This Verse for a Hope and a Future are the most beloved verse in the Bible next to God saving the world.

God tells us to do when events don't go our way. And its actually an incredible and astonishing piece of advice.

John 15:7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Then we look to the Lord's Prayer and see we pray for His Will to be done and like Paul - see how this will go with me - with Gratitude!!

Matthew 28:20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

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