Reading Scripture helps us know God's Love. Every Bible verse is written for you. Jesus Christ is all mankind's Light. John 1!

Sunday, July 12, 2020

Matthew 24:32-51 ~ From the fig tree learn its lesson +






Matthew 24:32-51



32 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates.



 34 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.




36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. 

37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. 42 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 

44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 

46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 

48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know 51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.




Joy. Peace. Love.

Thou hast created us for Thyself, and our heart is not quiet until it rests in Thee.
Saint Augustine



I've had two phone calls about this troubled season of life and dying. One about The Tribulation. And had a talk about the doubtfulness hell exists. With a phone call from one son who was exposed to Covid-19 being handed a water bottle by someone asymptomatic. And our neighborhood street concerned for one family we all know with Covid-19 and apparently recovering.
.


God gives us His Word as a compass. We can do as frail humanity does and understand everything is upheld by God's Word.

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature,
and he upholds the universe by the Word of His power.


Usually we don't discuss hell much. But in this season, perhaps we are more afraid of hell arriving on earth and the topic should be discussed. God says we can look at the seasons like a Fig Tree.



The leaf of a Fig is bold, it is not an Elm and is not an Orange leaf. A Fig leaf is very apparent.

Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

The season is an apparent time of Trouble. We are not eating and drinking and going to weddings. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has not found all the ends of the earth. The number of people praying is astonishing. When we want to see God's hand in this season, we could honestly say medical professionals state medical history shows illness carries off the old and the young.

We are in a time of great achievement, travel and change. A time when the State of Israel exists again. And people want to do all they can for their children.

It's a total miracle this virus does not seriously affect children.






It isn't time to say there is no hell. What we do know of hell - God doesn't want hell to be an eternity.

Revelation 21:8
for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.


This time of life is brave and not Cowardly. I don't believe seeing all of us shelter at home and all work to return to normal, donning masks when asked - this is not a time of cowards.

God has never asked us to sit on His Throne and to determine who is to live or die. He has instead -asked us - to look at the Season. And in His Word He tells us we are fully able to employ His Word to determining the Season.


God tells us to examine His Word. The Words He has used here are:

The Branch that is tender puts out leaves:

Matthew 13
31 He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man planted in his field. 32 Although it is the smallest of all seeds, yet it grows into the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.”


When we see the Church welcoming people.
We see a season of Spiritual Health. God did not invite us to pick Judgement upon each other. God invites the Church to be welcoming. This season has found many people in touch with Church in innovative ways. We do not want to see, God Himself does not want to see the Church turn away people in a political agenda way.

Eating - drinking and marrying.
This season we have seen this activity shut down. So this tribulation is not part of the Season.

The death rate is not 50%. Thank God.

the night the thief was coming
 All people should not be afraid to have the police arrive. We should not have to fear a thief. We should not be defunding what is needed. And we should be grateful for cameras and the people releasing the film. Probably Police. And still Room for improvement.

Our Nation and the world are asking about equality... My master is delayed,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards. We should all be concerned with equality of opportunity. In all capacities. We need to be a class system with Hope.



A Tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches


Not Revelation 21
for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.

Love.
The Kingdom of Heaven is fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

We need to be nourished and fed. Not by the temporary - fed by the Eternal.
We aren't asked to judge who is cowardly, faithless, polluted, murderer, fornicator, sorcerer, idolater, liar. We are not to - Be -the cowardly, faithless, polluted, murderer, fornicator, sorcerer, idolater, liar.

Micah 6:8 tells us to walk with God with humility. All people sin.

If we judge, we judge incorrectly and leave no room at all for the Hope of the New in Jesus Christ.

God tells us we are The Church. We are to edify the Blessings of God to one another. Providing a path of Hope, Faith and Love.

It's easy to tear down. Difficult to Nourish. See more Heaven on earth. Be more Heaven on earth.






Abba, Father God,

You have blessed us to ask for more Heaven on earth. Not last year, every year.

You have blessed us to be invited to be in Prayer with You. All the time.

We will give thanks and let You know we honor the Lord's Prayer.


You are our Heavenly Father. You keep us mindful of Heaven.

Hallowed be Your Name. When we pray, we ask the Highest Name of Jesus to pray with us.
Abiding in You, the prayers of the righteous man availeth much.

Thy Kingdom come. Glorious and Good. We long to see Your Kingdom today. Help us keep our
eyes on Heaven. Bringing more Heaven to earth as we are able. Asking You to teach each day.

Thy Will be done on earth as it is Heaven. Amen.
We pray for an end to suffering the news shows us around the world. We pray Peace on this Nation, the media. The White House, President Trump and Vice-President Pence and the Legislatures. We ask for their families to be encouraged in all Your Blessings.

Give us This Day. Help us rejoice in this day. Help us be living stones building a life, You see
as treasure of Your Holy Spirit.

Help us to pray for what we can't help with and You do so well. We pray for my mother suffering with Alzheimer and heart failure, now in decline, to pass on to You with all Your Mercy and Grace. Several phone conversations in the last few weeks from all over. A merciful passing.

We pray for Dee - for her healing and blessing the family, she and Wayne adore and have such joy in.

We pray for the healing of Alberto and his family. The safety of Alexander when people in his employment have had Covid=19. And for Houston, Texas and all of the states in the USA. Blessings upon us all doing our part to end the Virus.

Give us this daily Bread. We live in a world shaken. Help us in all aspects to live knowing Your
Kingdom Unshaken.

Forgive us our Trespasses. We want Your help not to have to say Sins. Help us to be placed under You Wing and Abide in Your Word.

As we forgive those who trespass against us. Help us with right determination, heal those in need of healing and pray and not become those who live as You would not have us do.

Lead us not into Temptation, in the Name of Jesus. Deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory. Amen.


When we pray to see Jesus and Father God first, We pray to have Hope, Faith and Love seing God First. 

When we see God first, we are seeing the Kingdom of God on earth. Heaven.

Privileged. to ask in the Name of Jesus, His Love to fill those we Love.
We Trust You, Father God.

We are asking Jesus to pray with us.

For the USA and other nations to find Life filled with Joy and Love.

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

President Donald Trump, and his family,

Vice President Pence and his family,
The White House Staff,
The Administration Coronavirus Response Team,
Dr. Deborah Birx, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, God Bless Them!


On Friday, Dr. Redfield said the Virus has a defect, and while siting the Home Studies - families in close contact with active Virus were not contagious. The Defect in the Virus is our Blessing. 6 foot Social Distancing kills transmission.
Safety and wisdom for Governor Abbott and all 50 United States Governors and our Legislatures

The Beauty of the Whole Church Blazing the Love Jesus Gives.



Saturday, July 11, 2020

1 John 1 ~ The Word of Life



Edward and I have been part of a Couples Group at our Church for 17 years. In 2007, our Pastor asked the group leaders to take a book called "100 Most Important Stories/Chapters from the Bible" and to create Bible Studies from the Chapters. One of the draws was because we all do Bible Studies and it was interesting to see how people create different Bible Studies from the Chapter.


I found out I loved creating the Bible Studies - so we have, 14 years later, Scripture for Today Blogspot. Each day, sitting down to write the blog, is an "I get to do this..." moment!


This year has been a year to assess our lives, our past and have concerns about the future. God has found in you the delight for you asking Him. Our Father God is Gracious, Merciful and Loving.



God tells us Jesus is His Exact Representation. His Nature.
We love God because He has loved us first.

Jesus' Disciple John stayed with Jesus always, even on Good Friday. When John was asked to explain his love for Jesus he said:

1 John 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

John said simply - God is Love.

The Bible is a road map for all the twists and turns of life. And yet, if we know only God is Love and Jesus Loves us and Believe - we have completed our relationship with God. Love.

God tells us how to please Him:

Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mankind, what is good
 And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Zechariah 7:9
"This is what the LORD Almighty said: 
'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another."




Jesus Christ is Living Water. God decides where He will go. He will go exactly where He determines to nourish and refresh.


How to study the Bible for beginners?
How to start reading the Bible?
How to memorize Bible Scriptures?
What are the most popular Scriptures in the Bible?





How to study the Bible for beginners?

Jesus asked Peter if he was going to leave when some of the 72 Disciples were upset at the idea of Communion.

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, "LORD, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."


This is the curiosity of the Word of God - Life. Overcoming what is temporary to live in the Eternal.

The Gospels are the place to begin. Each of the four Authors with the Help of the Holy Spirit explain how they see Faith unfolds personally beginning with the First Chapter. To look to see Jesus alive. Each time we read, we will find something new.

Psalms are a great place to begin. All of mankind's emotions are spread sincerely in front of God. We arrive in conversation to Father God exactly as we are. Psalms are a wonderful place to skin when we are awake at night and asking for God. Comfort will always be found.

Computer searches for your key word and the Word "Bible" in front will help you find a starting place.

All of the Scripture explains God.



How to start reading the Bible?

With Prayer. This is come as you are. The Creator of All Things greets you with His Living Son Jesus Christ. God wants to save the world in Jesus Christ.



How to memorize Bible Scriptures?

Index cards. The cards are filled as you place what moves you and fills your heart to warmth on your Road to Emmaus with Jesus. And as you collect these index cards, you might want to place them on a Large Key Ring. And you will be able to move through the verses living in your heart, mind and soul more easily.

You can always text yourself and have your list on your phone.


What are the most popular Scriptures in the Bible?

http://topverses.com/bible is a wonderful search tool.


John 3:16
Bible Rank: 1
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. NIV




John 1:1
Bible Rank: 2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 14:6
Bible Rank: 3
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. 
No one comes to the Father except through me."



Matthew 28:19
Bible Rank: 4
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father 
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.


Romans 3:23
Bible Rank: 5
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God 



Ephesians 2:8
Bible Rank: 6
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – 
and this is not from yourselves, 
it is the gift of God 
















In the middle of telling you, a beginner, in this Post about Bible Study -
what is actually being pointed out is the richness and truth of Millenniums old Bible Stories.

There is always an incredible layer of Truth. These are not just 'oral histories.

This is Blessing.

Given to you to find out gently. Not prepare for a PhD.





Here is one of the Bible Studies I wrote. The answers are provided, it is meant to think and discuss your way through it. It really goes better as a discussion. Here we go:




Questions - this is not the Samson of kiddie Sunday School but so much more and so much less....


1. How many centuries before the birth of Christ?

2. What are Samson’s 3 fatal flaws? Why would Samson have been included in the Bible?

3. How many births in the bible fit into the fantastic category of being foretold by a messenger of God?

3.5 Samson is the bad mirror twin of King David - how? How does Samson compare to Solomon?


4. How does Samson fit into the Biblical theme of Israel's Judges time period where everyone self-governed and it was sort of like today's decisions of right and wrong for our own lives. Samson is very much like the war we are experiencing in the Middle East today. How is Samson a hero and why does God pick him to be a 'hero'?



5. Bible studies on Samson fit him into: 1 the category of flawed leader,2 God using the weakest side of a strong man, 3 Someone who turned to God in His weakest moments and found strength, 4 Poor parenting example of Samson's parents 5. Example of intermarriage 6. Relationship anti-paragon 7. Pornography example 8. Co-habitation example BUT given this verse:


• The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

• Who and what would you say Samson is?




The Bible tells an episode about Ashkelon in the story about the hero Samson (Judges 13-16). Ashkelon is mentioned in Judges 14, where Samson kills 30 men in revenge for the Philistines having given his (Philistine) wife to another man. Samson himself came from Timna, an Israelite town. After the 13th Century, Ashkelon disappeared from the map, until this century when it became again a sizeable city, which lies outside of the excavations.


Judges 13-16

The Birth of Samson

13:1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.


2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, 7 but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”




8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?” 13 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe.”



15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord, to the one who works [1] wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.



21 The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” 23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.” 24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.



Samson's Marriage

14:1 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”



4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.



5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson's eyes.



8 After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. 9 He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion.



10 His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for so the young men used to do. 11 As soon as the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 And Samson said to them, “Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes, 13 but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.” And they said to him, “Put your riddle, that we may hear it.” 14 And he said to them,


“Out of the eater came something to eat.
Out of the strong came something sweet.”
And in three days they could not solve the riddle.


15 On the fourth [2] day they said to Samson's wife, “Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?” 16 And Samson's wife wept over him and said, “You only hate me; you do not love me. You have put a riddle to my people, and you have not told me what it is.” And he said to her, “Behold, I have not told my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?” 17 She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her, because she pressed him hard. Then she told the riddle to her people. 18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down,

“What is sweeter than honey?

What is stronger than a lion?”

And he said to them,

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,
you would not have found out my riddle.”



19 And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father's house. 20 And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.



Samson Defeats the Philistines

15:1 After some days, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife with a young goat. And he said, “I will go in to my wife in the chamber.” But her father would not allow him to go in. 2 And her father said, “I really thought that you utterly hated her, so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.” 3 And Samson said to them, “This time I shall be innocent in regard to the Philistines, when I do them harm.” 4 So Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took torches. And he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails. 5 And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines and set fire to the stacked grain and the standing grain, as well as the olive orchards. 6 Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. 7 And Samson said to them, “If this is what you do, I swear I will be avenged on you, and after that I will quit.” 8 And he struck them hip and thigh with a great blow, and he went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam.



9 Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah and made a raid on Lehi. 10 And the men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?” They said, “We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us.” 11 Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?” And he said to them, “As they did to me, so have I done to them.” 12 And they said to him, “We have come down to bind you, that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines.” And Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves.” 13 They said to him, “No; we will only bind you and give you into their hands. We will surely not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. 15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men. 16 And Samson said,

“With the jawbone of a donkey,

heaps upon heaps,

with the jawbone of a donkey

have I struck down a thousand men.”



17 As soon as he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his hand. And that place was called Ramath-lehi. [3]



18 And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, “You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” 19 And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore; [4] it is at Lehi to this day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.



Samson and Delilah



16:1 Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. 2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” 3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.

4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”



7 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.



10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.” 11 And he said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.

13 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 14 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. [5] And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.



15 And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” 16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. 17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”



18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.



The Death of Samson

23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” [6] 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.


28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.



Footnotes

[1] 13:19 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew Lord, and working
[2] 14:15 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew seventh
[3] 15:17 Ramath-lehi means the hill of the jawbone
[4] 15:19 En-hakkore means the spring of him who called
[5] 16:14 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and fasten it tight . . . into the web
[6] 16:24 Or who has multiplied our slain




Straining all his nerves, he bowed:
As with the force of winds and waters pent,
When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars
With horrible convulsion to and fro
He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew
The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder
Upon the heads of all who sat beneath,
Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,
Their choice nobility and flower.” ~

Written by Milton, Samson Agonistes



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

Questions - this is not the Samson of kiddie Sunday School but so much more and so much less....


1. How many centuries before the birth of Christ? The answer is 14 generations

2. What are Samson’s 3 fatal flaws? Arrogance, Self-centeredness even foreshadowing the Temple Pharisees of entitlement. Sexually mis-centered conduct.


Why would Samson have been included in the Bible? Proving no one in the Scriptures is perfect and can accomplish godly living without Christian community and accountability, godly leadership. Plus Bible Study discussion always has a good laugh or too. And someone always has a good and un-thought of point to make.


3. How many births in the bible fit into the fantastic category of being foretold by a messenger of God? I thought it was four, but I was incorrect and you'll have to figure it out yourself. There are more.


3.5 Samson is the bad mirror twin of King David - how? How does Samson compare to Solomon? How does he compare to your life & does that make you feel a bit smug? Aren't comparisons grand, but think of the comparisons - it is a great learning tool.


4. How does Samson fit into the Biblical theme of Israel's Judges time period where everyone self-governed and it was sort of like today's decisions of right and wrong for our own lives. Samson is very much like the war we are experiencing in the Middle East today. How is Samson a hero and why does God pick him to be a 'hero'?


Here is a plug to join a Bible Study - it is good for what ails you and iron sharpens iron in human relationship.


5. Bible studies on Samson fit him into: 1 the category of flawed leader,2 God using the weakest side of a strong man, 3 Someone who turned to God in His weakest moments and found strength, 4 Poor parenting example of Samson's parents 5. Example of intermarriage 6. Relationship anti-paragon 7. Pornography example 8. Co-habitation example BUT given this verse:


• The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

• Who and what would you say Samson is? Would you have included him in the Bible - why and why not?






Some Historical facts going along with the Bible Narrative:

Gaza
called also Azzah, which is its Hebrew name (Deut. 2:23; 1 Kings 4:24; Jer. 25:20), meaning: strong
a city on the Mediterranean shore, remarkable for its early importance as the chief center of a great commercial traffic with Egypt


It is one of the oldest cities of the world (Gen. 10:19; Josh. 15:47). Its earliest inhabitants were the Avims, who were conquered and displaced by the Caphtorims (Deut. 2:23; Josh. 13:2, 3), a Philistine tribe. In the division of the land it fell to the lot of Judah (Josh. 15:47; Judg. 1:18). It was the southernmost of the five great Philistine cities which gave each a golden emerod as a trespass-offering unto the Lord (1 Sam. 6:17). Its gates were carried away by Samson (Judg. 16:1-3). Here he was afterwards a prisoner, and "did grind in the prison house." Here he also pulled down the temple of Dagon, and slew "all the lords of the Philistines," himself also perishing in the ruin (Judg. 16:21-30). The prophets denounce the judgments of God against it (Jer. 25:20; 47:5; Amos 1:6, 7; Zeph. 2:4). It is referred to in Acts 8:26. Philip is here told to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (about 6 miles southwest of Jerusalem), "which is desert", i.e., the "desert road," probably by Hebron, through the desert hills of Southern Judea.



Philistines
(Gen. 10:14, Revised Version; but in the King James Version: "Philistim")


Philistinism is a derogatory term used to describe a particular attitude or set of values. A person called a Philistine (in the relevant sense), is said to despise or undervalue art, beauty, intellectual content, and/or spiritual values. Philistines are also said to be materialistic, to favor conventional social values unthinkingly, and to favor forms of art that have a cheap and easy appeal (e.g. kitsch).


A tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a branch of the primitive race which spread over the whole district of the Lebanon and the valley of the Jordan, and Crete and other Mediterranean islands


Some suppose them to have been a branch of the Rephaim (2 Sam. 21:16-22). In the time of Abraham they inhabited the southwest of Judea, Abimelech of Gerar being their king (Gen. 21:32, 34; 26:1). They are, however, not noticed among the Canaanitish tribes mentioned in the Pentateuch. They are spoken of by Amos (9:7) and Jeremiah (47:4) as from Caphtor, i.e., probably Crete, or, as some think, the Delta of Egypt. In the whole record from Exodus to Samuel they are represented as inhabiting the tract of country which lay between Judea and Egypt (Ex. 13:17; 15:14, 15; Josh. 13:3; 1 Sam. 4).


This powerful tribe made frequent incursions against the Hebrews. There was almost perpetual war between them. They sometimes held the tribes, especially the southern tribes, in degrading servitude (Judg. 15:11; 1 Sam. 13:19-22); at other times they were defeated with great slaughter (1 Sam. 14:1-47; 17). These hostilities did not cease till the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8), when they were entirely subdued. They still, however, occupied their territory, and always showed their old hatred to Israel (Ezek. 25:15-17). They were finally conquered by the Romans.


The Philistines are called Pulsata or Pulista on the Egyptian monuments; the land of the Philistines (Philistia) being termed Palastu and Pilista in the Assyrian inscriptions. They occupied the five cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath, in the southwestern corner of Canaan, which belonged to Egypt up to the closing days of the Nineteenth Dynasty. The occupation took place during the reign of Rameses III. of the Twentieth Dynasty. The Philistines had formed part of the great naval confederacy which attacked Egypt, but were eventually repulsed by that Pharaoh, who, however, could not dislodge them from their settlements in Palestine. As they did not enter Palestine till the time of the Exodus, the use of the name Philistines in Gen. 26:1 must be proleptic. Indeed the country was properly Gerar, as in ch. 20.


They are called Allophyli, "foreigners," in the Septuagint, and in the Books of Samuel they are spoken of as uncircumcised. It would therefore appear that they were not of the Semitic race, though after their establishment in Canaan they adopted the Semitic language of the country. We learn from the Old Testament that they came from Caphtor, usually supposed to be Crete. From Philistia the name of the land of the Philistines came to be extended to the whole of "Palestine." Many scholars identify the Philistines with the Pelethites of 2 Sam. 8:18.








Abba,

Edward and I have Covid 8089786 times again with sore throats. We pray to survive again!

I pray for the Houston area, who are so bravely and well living with Covid-19 rising numbers.
We pray for all of the USA and world to go forth in Jesus and thrive.

Usually when we pray, we pray for key points, Abba. This is covering the concerns of many with words of care
written in Your Living Word.

When we pray to see Jesus and Father God first, we are praying to have the ability to see God interweaving all things to good. We pray to have Hope, Faith and Love in these few words to see God First. When we see God first, we are seeing the Kingdom of God on earth. Heaven. Knowing to ask this is to - be - this.

Privileged. Jesus actually has told us to ask to fine more Heaven on earth. A blessing to be asked this in prayer. With God communication is straight to the Love.

When we pray for God to fill those we Love. We are asking the best for them always. Ephesians 3 says we will live together as family. God makes Family. His ingredient is Love.

As we ask to God's Mercy, we cover up flaws and sins. To Please God isn't difficult, He creates all things and upholds the Universe with His Word. God makes all things New in Jesus Christ.

Prayer is finding Joy. The Joy of the Lord is our Strength. This year and all of life has moments we ponder what could be better. God sustains us to know now and always He is filling us with His Goodness. Redemption. Strength. Overcoming. Praying the Victory! And Virus end!


Jesus Son of God - Bless, Sustain, Comfort, Guide. This is Proverbs. This is Jesus. This is Joy.



We are asking Jesus to pray with us. Good prayer given and heard:


For the USA and other nations to find the unity of peace and Justice for all.
To Live Life with Joy and Love.

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


President Donald Trump, and his family,

Vice President Pence,
The White House Staff,
The Administration Coronavirus Response Team,
Dr. Deborah Birx, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Dr. Robert Redfield, God Bless Them!


On Friday, Dr. Redfield said the Virus has a defect, and while siting the Home Studies - families in close contact with active Virus were not contagious. The Defect in the Virus is our Blessing. 6 foot Social Distancing kills transmission.
Safety and wisdom for Governor Abbott and all 50 United States Governors and our Legislatures

The Beauty of the Whole Church Blazing the Love Jesus Gives.




Father God,
We pray for those in trouble and concerns.
We lift to Jesus Himself 
the brains confused by the virus
and the sadness of this quiet and worrisome year.

We Believe You will Uphold Us.

Thank You for Your Living Word and Mercy, Jesus. Amen!










♔ Lord Jesus Saves!   



















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About scripture-for-today.blogspot.com/

We believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He has saved all who call upon His name and rely on Him for His Grace. The Scriptures are living & active and are for understanding the Lord Almighty. Biblical readings are chosen from the Ecumenical Christian Church and the Nicene Council, 325 A.D., approved Apocrypha. People remember not just from reading, but by sight and orally- an image has been added as well as audio readings. God tends to link the passages together with fascinates - this blogger, Anne-Laurel Gardere

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Email registry at bottom.! “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say. The Bible is unique; comprised of 80 separate books, & written over a period of thousands of years by more than 40 writers with one Author, spanning the centuries, different states of peace & war & different situations in life. The Bible answers the question: of who is God, who is man & what can their relationship can be. Although the Bible was written on perishable material and copied by hand for many centuries, its accuracy is not in doubt, proven by Dead Sea Scrolls and papyrus from 2,000 years. The Bible has survived persecution & criticism to be read with great interest in each generation. The Bible gives witness to the greatness of the Creator. A loving Father concerned for all of his creation. With each verse of the bible witnessing to God is love and the multitude & vastness of His attributes. The Bible was written for you. <><

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New Posts by Subject Matter

Overcoming



The World Changed Rapidly after the first Easter

Our God of All





Posts by Subject Matter





Blessings, Anne-Laurel





Who Jesus Is
1 Timothy 1:1-11 ~ God our Savior, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope
Matthew 16:13-20 ~ who do people say the Son of Man is?

Good News for us to remember and Think Upon
Animals are found in Heaven ~ 6 Prophets See Animals in Heaven

Anger, Jealousy=Trouble




The Bible explains the Bible, Prophetically

Bible - in your hand, today

Bible Accuracy



Blessing







Blessing our Father God

Blessing - unaware

Boundaries

Brothers
Christmas - His Word Upholds the Universe - December 25th


Psalm 135 ~ who is in your midst
John 1:1-14, 16, 29-51 ~ He was in the world

Details - Putting it all together and discovering it is about God

Psalm 108 ~ In triumph I will parcel out Shechem

Determine your own path, just love Him

Judges 16 ~ like any other man
John 4:43-54 ~ Doing what Jesus says


Earthquake

Every Day, Still Today
Today, Yesterday, Tomorrow


Exodus - History












Heavenly Hosts
His Messengers of Light












Elements of Nature Displaying HIS Glory
Exodus 40:16-38 ~ In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected.

I Decide What is Right and Wrong - God noticed this in the Garden of Eden from Eve

Individualism and Groups

It's the End of the World as We Know it, And I Feel Fine. (One of our most read posts.)
Grandpa - The Bible is Really the Life Story of People and
their Abba









Gates of Heaven


Gifts of God, all of us


Giving - God certainly is





























Glory


God sees His Creation as Good!!!


Gravity






















Good Friday

Gossip

Gratitude

Greatest

Grief, Forgiveness, Homecoming


Hated Emotion - Fear




































History - Is There History Showing Jesus was Alive - VERY EXTENSIVE HISTORY

Holiness


Holy Spirit ~ Manifestations

Homeward Bound, still a sojourner

Honey, Do this

Invitation
John 3:31-36 ~ that God is true

Israel - Destroyed Completely and Rebuilt. A sign of Jesus. Existing today.

Jesus clearly put a Foundation for His Resurrection to be Believed by the Multitudes of all of Israel and the Nations

Jesus and His Childhood Privacy
Nazareth - What Jesus did See Growing Up

John the Beloved Disciple


The Journey of Joseph


























Live It
Psalm 117 ~ Praise the Lord
Psalm 82 ~ rescue the weak and the needy
2 Samuel 4:1-12 ~ David answered
Hebrews 12 ~ Thankful
Psalm 31:3-8,17-21 ~ Thou hast redeemed me
Isaiah 40:1-11 ~ His reward is with Him
Matthew 13:31-32 ~ the birds of the air come and perch in its branches
Matthew 6:25-34 ~ your heavenly Father knows that you need
Luke 11:29-32 ~ Rise up
Psalm 126 ~ shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves
Luke 14:15-24 ~ there is still room
Joshua 1:1-9 ~ I am giving
Acts 5 ~ speak in the name of Jesus
John 1 ~ the Light shines
John 3:5-8 ~ born again
~ they went on from there and passed through Galilee
Judges 20 ~ Israel

Losing a Loved One - Passing ON

Revelation 21:22-27 ~ those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life

Not Being Tossed Back and Forth with Emotion
Ephesians 4 ~ speaking the truth in Love

Marriage
Romans 7:1-12 ~ bear fruit for God
1 Corinthians 7 ~ For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband
Genesis 37:12-24 ~ when Reuben
Psalm 143 ~ Your steadfast love
Psalm 86 ~ For great is your steadfast love

Media... taking it down the path
1 Corinthians 10 ~ Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God





Mercy, an Inseparable Component of Truth
Matthew 23:23-26 ~ clean
1 Samuel 12 ~ serve the Lord with all your heart
Matthew 22:34-40 ~ The great and first commandment. And a second is like it

Miscellaneous
Job 38 ~ Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding.
Psalm 19 ~ the heavens declare the glory of God
2 Kings 5:1-15 ~ a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper
1 Chronicles 13 ~ the Lord blessed the household of Obed-edom










Peace




Pharisee ~ Religion
Luke 11:42-46 ~ Woe to you Pharisees!


Pictorial Images of the 12 Tribes of Israel








Picture It


















Overcoming, with God's help!


Positive Attitude in Trouble




Prophets - the Law and the Old Men in Robes or People who Love the Lord. Flaws and Virtues. What They Sought in the Lord and What Drew Them to Him.



Praise



























Prayer

Psalm 91 ~ Prayer is always heard, God has an open door policy



Prayer Needs




Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words

Promises

Prosperity Gospel











Repeat and Repeat







Rest

Restore

Revelation 8:2
Seven Angels who stand before God

Revisionist History - Moses and Jeremiah said
there would be days like this
Deuteronomy 8
Jeremiah 23


Rock


SALVATION! What is needed?

Science - Blinded me - No - He Who Opens the Eyes of the Blind - With Science!!!

Second (3rd or 4th) Rate Seventh Level of Heaven

Seventh Level of Heaven







Shepherd

Smile!



Time Management





Life and Travels of Paul

Shroud

Transfiguration



True
The World Changed Rapidly after the first Easter



Trust Him

Uncomfortable Scripture

Video Game Player

Visual







Who is like our God?

Willingly

Works and Grace
Mark 1:4-11 ~ You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased

Worry

Wrathful, Nasty Old God from the Old Testament

Yahweh




Years - Thousands of Them are Yesterday in His Sight


80 Books of the Bible
Holy Spirit Approved by the First Council Nicaea and St. Nicholas
Included by the Essenes in the Dead Sea Scrolls
Today included by the Catholic Church
God wants to save the world.
The Apocrypha has Purpose; other cultures blend here.





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