Psalm 78 ~ we will not hide them from their children

Psalm 78

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
² I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
³ things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
⁴ We will not hide them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,
and the wonders that he has done.

⁵ He established a testimony in Jacob
and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children,
⁶ that the next generation might know them,
the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
⁷ so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
but keep his commandments;
⁸ and that they should not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
whose spirit was not faithful to God.

⁹ The Ephraimites, armed with the bow,
turned back on the day of battle.
¹⁰ They did not keep God’s covenant,
but refused to walk according to his law.
¹¹ They forgot his works
and the wonders that he had shown them.
¹² In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders
in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
¹³ He divided the sea and let them pass through it,
and made the waters stand like a heap.
¹⁴ In the daytime he led them with a cloud,
and all the night with a fiery light.
¹⁵ He split rocks in the wilderness
and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
¹⁶ He made streams come out of the rock
and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

¹⁷ Yet they sinned still more against him,
rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
¹⁸ They tested God in their heart
by demanding the food they craved.
¹⁹ They spoke against God, saying,
"Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
²⁰ He struck the rock so that water gushed out
and streams overflowed.
Can he also give bread
or provide meat for his people?"

²¹ Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath;
a fire was kindled against Jacob;
his anger rose against Israel,
²² because they did not believe in God
and did not trust his saving power.
²³ Yet he commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven,
²⁴ and he rained down on them manna to eat
and gave them the grain of heaven.
²⁵ Man ate of the bread of the angels;
he sent them food in abundance.
²⁶ He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,
and by his power he led out the south wind;
²⁷ he rained meat on them like dust,
winged birds like the sand of the seas;
²⁸ he let them fall in the midst of their camp,
all around their dwellings.
²⁹ And they ate and were well filled,
for he gave them what they craved.
³⁰ But before they had satisfied their craving,
while the food was still in their mouths,
³¹ the anger of God rose against them,
and he killed the strongest of them
and laid low the young men of Israel.

³² In spite of all this, they still sinned;
despite his wonders, they did not believe.
³³ So he made their days vanish like a breath,
and their years in terror.
³⁴ When he killed them, they sought him;
they repented and sought God earnestly.
³⁵ They remembered that God was their rock,
the Most High God their redeemer.
³⁶ But they flattered him with their mouths;
they lied to him with their tongues.
³⁷ Their heart was not steadfast toward him;
they were not faithful to his covenant.
³⁸ Yet he, being compassionate,
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.
³⁹ He remembered that they were but flesh,
a wind that passes and comes not again.



What do we learn from this portion of Psalm 78? We learn to trust God with our journey.


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Matthew 5:27-37 ~ you have heard

Jesus Teaches from a Ship, painted by James Tissot

Matthew 5:27-37

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


²⁷ "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

³¹ "It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' ³² But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

³³ "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' ³⁴ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil.

There are many ways of looking at the Scriptures. We are so fortunate to have the Gospels with the effort Emperor Vespasian put in burning the copies he could find. The early Christian Church created the word "traitor" for the people who gave up copies of Scripture or other Christian followers under torture. Then the Church had to administer grace to the cries of heresy over forgiveness issues.

Matthew was a tax collector/thug who wanted to write to the Jews to explain Jesus as the Messiah, bringing in his friends to the grace Jesus brought to his own life. Mark is John Mark determined to be too much of a light-weight follower of Jesus to be allowed to go with Paul and his missionary worker, Barnabas. Barnabas, John Mark's cousin, believed John Mark (Colossians 4:10), or Mark, would deepen in his faith to become reliable. Mark's gospel is to reach out to the gentiles explaining to them of Jesus' faith, His Jewishness.

Luke (Colossians 4:14, Phil 1:24) is the wonderful physician called to be a worker of Jesus Christ with Paul. It is wonderful to imagine the joy Luke would have seen the healings taking place in the name of Jesus. Luke brought an accurate, thorough, historical documentation to his Savior's life.

John, the beloved disciple, was constantly astonished at the glory of God and wrote of his experiences in awe at the Love and power of God. John had given his word to Jesus not to tell of the transfiguration, and never did write of the experience, yet even his first chapter of his Gospel declares the glory of God.

Not John, Luke, Mark or Matthew would be a fan of cheap grace - living the way we want to and depending on the mercy of God at convenient intervals. The men who knew Jesus and those who encountered the Holy Spirit in the early Church really believed the reaction to God's grace is deliberate and changed behavior. We witness in the Scriptures that all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God, but all did extend themselves to please God.

The Scriptures, being real, give a very real discussion of the disciples learning how seriously their Savior, Jesus Christ, took sin.


Matthew 19:10
The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.”

As a child I wondered why oaths were so important to be discussed. Jesus wants us to act as the Lights of the world. He expects our yes to remain yes and our no to remain no. The Savior of the World, our Hero, said He did not come to abolish the law, but to fufill the law.

Matthew 5:17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.


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Ecclesiastes 6 ~ whatever has come to be has already been named

Ecclesiastes 6

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it lies heavy on mankind: 2 a man to whom God gives wealth, possessions, and honor, so that he lacks nothing of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to enjoy them, but a stranger enjoys them. This is vanity; it is a grievous evil. 3 If a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with life’s good things, and he also has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 For it comes in vanity and goes in darkness, and in darkness its name is covered. 5 Moreover, it has not seen the sun or known anything, yet it finds rest rather than he. 6 Even though he should live a thousand years twice over, yet enjoy [see] no good—do not all go to the one place?

7 All the toil of man is for his mouth, yet his appetite is not satisfied. 8 For what advantage has the wise man over the fool? And what does the poor man have who knows how to conduct himself before the living? 9 Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the appetite: this also is vanity and a striving after wind.

10 Whatever has come to be has already been named, and it is known what man is, and that he is not able to dispute with one stronger than he. 11 The more words, the more vanity, and what is the advantage to man? 12 For who knows what is good for man while he lives the few days of his vain life, which he passes like a shadow? For who can tell man what will be after him under the sun?


The movies love the humanitarian belief saying man makes his own life. The Scriptures disagree, saying God has a plan and the plan is for good. Not all of life is good, but God's plans work towards good. Ecclesiastes continues this thought saying gratitude is the key of a good life.

Of all the histories, events, times of the Bible passing over millenniums - only when the nation of Judah, under Hezekiah, was saved from Assyria did the people voluntarily and with generous hearts give to God. It was a time of great goodness.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise prophecies, ²¹but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²²Abstain from every form of evil.

Colossians 3:15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.


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Psalm 96 ~ declare His glory among the nations

Thorncrown Chapel Eureka Springs, Arkansas





Psalm 96

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹ Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
² Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
³ Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
⁴ For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
⁵ For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

⁷ Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!
⁸ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
bring an offering, and come into his courts!
⁹ Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness [holy attire];
tremble before him, all the earth!

¹⁰ Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!
Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity."

¹¹ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
let the sea roar, and all that fills it;

¹² let the field exult, and everything in it!
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
¹³ before the LORD, for he comes,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness,
and the peoples in his faithfulness.

~ Declare his glory among the nations


1 Timothy 3:16

He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.



~ Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!


Ephesians 3:14-19
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, ¹⁶ that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.


Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.


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1 Timothy 3:16 ~ believed on in the world

Saint Joseph with infant Jesus. Painted by Guido Reni in 1635.

Jesus Christ is celebrated, Today!

1 Timothy 3:16

He appeared in a body,
was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
was taken up in glory.


When Jesus was born, angels and a great company of heavenly hosts proclaimed and rejoiced over Him. Father God used all manners and ways to proclaim His Son. Even as an infant, Jesus had danger in His life. Joseph was chosen and special in Father God’s heart. A descendant of David, Joseph would have been high on the list of available bachelors in little Nazareth. But Joseph determined to show mercy to his pregnant betrothed. Joseph had wisdom to listen to his dreams. Joseph helped Jesus to grow in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.


Psalm 49

1 Hear this, all peoples!
Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high,
rich and poor together!
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom;
the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.

5 Why should I fear in times of trouble,
when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,
6 those who trust in their wealth
and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom another,
or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of their life is costly
and can never suffice,
9 that he should live on forever
and never see the pit.

10 For he sees that even the wise die;
the fool and the stupid alike must perish
and leave their wealth to others.
11 Their graves are their homes forever,
their dwelling places to all generations,
though they called lands by their own names.
12 Man in his pomp will not remain;
he is like the beasts that perish.

13 This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;
yet after them people approve of their boasts. Selah
14 Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
death shall be their shepherd,
and the upright shall rule over them in the morning.
Their form shall be consumed in Sheol, with no place to dwell.
15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
for he will receive me. Selah

16 Be not afraid when a man becomes rich,
when the glory of his house increases.
17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away;
his glory will not go down after him.
18 For though, while he lives, he counts himself blessed
—and though you get praise when you do well for yourself—
19 his soul will go to the generation of his fathers,
who will never again see light.
20 Man in his pomp yet without understanding is like the beasts that perish.





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John 3:5-8 ~ born again

John 3:5-8


5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit [Greek word means both wind and spirit]. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

8 The wind [wind and spirit] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Our minister  gave great, inspirational, easy to understand "filling of the Holy Spirit" grace today! The followers of Jesus Christ waiting with expectation - when is the gift Jesus told us we would receive arriving? With wind and fire their expectations were Filled.

We accomplish things we never would have done with the Power of God. We experience adventure - the abundant life - Jesus Christ spoke of with the Holy Spirit.



We are baptized - we are like a gas lantern. We have that Holy Spirit within us. Gifted by asking. We are filled with the Holy Spirit - that fulfillment - that joy, that presence of God - is the power of the Holy Spirit giving us the ability to do what He has created us to do. To His Glory.

Let your lamp shine!


The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.

Isaiah 6:8
And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Father God, 

Whatever our day is - good or bad, with You we always have the opportunity to look up. You are goodness, righteousness, Love and mercy. We put our hands out today to You. Let us use this day to build our lives in Your goodness. Let us have the outpourings of Your glory. When the day is sunny, we know we have the opportunity to care for others and be merciful. When the day is ugly, we know Your light in us still shines. Each day we will look to You and at the end - we will be with You in Your Paradise.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Your Victory is always assured. The world and all that is in it is Yours. The heavens, and all that we cannot see is, under Your authority. The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coast-lands be glad!

Zion - we are Zion - hear and is glad, daughters of Judah rejoice! Because of Your judgments, O Lord! For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth! You are exalted! AMEN!

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Psalm 133 ~ life forevermore

Psalm 133

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹Behold, how good and pleasant it is
when brothers dwell [together] in unity!
²It is like the precious oil on the head,
running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
running down on the collar of his robes!
³It is like the dew of Hermon,
which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
life forevermore.

Today we will attend the memorial service for my brother-in-law's father. He lived 94 years, lived graciously and well. It will be a celebration of life. What greater blessing than Jesus Christ gives us - life forevermore.

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1 Kings 22 ~ the king died, and was brought to Samaria

The Kurkh Monolith of Shalmaneser III

Ahab is written of in Assyrian records of King Shalmaneser III of Assyria. In an inscription that accounts a battle known as Qarqar, between Ahab and his enemy King Shalmaneser III of Assyria, Shalmaneser records the size of Ahab's army that fought against him.

It seems rather appropriate that Assyria records Ahab.


1 Kings 22

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 For three years Syria and Israel continued without war. 2 But in the third year Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. 3 And the king of Israel said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth-gilead belongs to us, and we keep quiet and do not take it out of the hand of the king of Syria?" 4 And he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to battle at Ramoth-gilead?" And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses."

5 And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Inquire first for the word of the LORD." 6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said to them, "Shall I go to battle against Ramoth-gilead, or shall I refrain?" And they said, "Go up, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."

7 But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here another prophet of the LORD of whom we may inquire?" 8 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is yet one man by whom we may inquire of the LORD, Micaiah the son of Imlah, but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me, but evil." And Jehoshaphat said, "Let not the king say so."

9 Then the king of Israel summoned an officer and said, "Bring quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah." 10 Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes, at the threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. 11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made for himself horns of iron and said, "Thus says the LORD, 'With these you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed.'" 12 And all the prophets prophesied so and said, "Go up to Ramoth-gilead and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king."


13 And the messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, "Behold, the words of the prophets with one accord are favorable to the king. Let your word be like the word of one of them, and speak favorably." 14 But Micaiah said, "As the LORD lives, what the LORD says to me, that I will speak." 15 And when he had come to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we refrain?" And he answered him, "Go up and triumph; the LORD will give it into the hand of the king." 16 But the king said to him, "How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?" 17 And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, 'These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.'"

18 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?" 19 And Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing beside him on his right hand and on his left; 20 and the LORD said, 'Who will entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another. 21 Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, saying, 'I will entice him.' 22 And the LORD said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.' 23 Now therefore behold, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these your prophets; the LORD has declared disaster for you."

24 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near and struck Micaiah on the cheek and said, "How did the Spirit of the LORD go from me to speak to you?" 25 And Micaiah said, "Behold, you shall see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide yourself." 26 And the king of Israel said, "Seize Micaiah, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son, 27 and say, 'Thus says the king, "Put this fellow in prison and feed him meager rations of bread and water, until I come in peace."'" 28 And Micaiah said, "If you return in peace, the LORD has not spoken by me." And he said, "Hear, all you peoples!"


29 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead. 30 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your robes." And the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

31 Now the king of Syria had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel." 32 And when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, they said, "It is surely the king of Israel." So they turned to fight against him. And Jehoshaphat cried out. 33 And when the captains of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him. 34 But a certain man drew his bow at random [ in his innocence] and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded." 35 And the battle continued that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died. And the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot. 36 And about sunset a cry went through the army, "Every man to his city, and every man to his country!"

37 So the king died, and was brought to Samaria. And they buried the king in Samaria. 38 And they washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood, and the prostitutes washed themselves in it, according to the word of the LORD that he had spoken. 39 Now the rest of the acts of Ahab and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? 40 So Ahab slept with his fathers, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place.


41 Jehoshaphat the son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. 42 Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 43 He walked in all the way of Asa his father. He did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the LORD. Yet the high places were not taken away, and the people still sacrificed and made offerings on the high places. 44 Jehoshaphat also made peace with the king of Israel.

45 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, and his might that he showed, and how he warred, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 46 And from the land he exterminated the remnant of the male cult prostitutes who remained in the days of his father Asa.

47 There was no king in Edom; a deputy was king. 48 Jehoshaphat made ships of Tarshish to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go, for the ships were wrecked at Ezion-geber. 49 Then Ahaziah the son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants go with your servants in the ships," but Jehoshaphat was not willing. 50 And Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place.


51 Ahaziah the son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. 52 He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD and walked in the way of his father and in the way of his mother and in the way of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin. 53 He served Baal and worshiped him and provoked the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger in every way that his father had done.


With all the names of the kings of Judah and Israel being multi-syllabled, they are a little hard to remember. Yet Jehoshaphat (who jumps only in fictitious literature) had a very successful, godly reign.

Ahab - the villain king we all consider to be the kind of king the spirits before God would delight in ruination. Not so with a loving Father God.

1 King 21
20 Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, O my enemy?" He answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of the LORD. 21 Behold, I will bring disaster upon you. I will utterly burn you up, and will cut off from Ahab every male, bond or free, in Israel. 22 And I will make your house like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah, for the anger to which you have provoked me, and because you have made Israel to sin. 23 And of Jezebel the LORD also said, 'The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the walls of Jezreel.' 24 Anyone belonging to Ahab who dies in the city the dogs shall eat, and anyone of his who dies in the open country the birds of the heavens shall eat."

25 ( There was none who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of the LORD like Ahab, whom Jezebel his wife incited. 26 He acted very abominably in going after idols, as the Amorites had done, whom the LORD cast out before the people of Israel.)

27 And when Ahab heard those words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his flesh and fasted and lay in sackcloth and went about dejectedly. 28 And the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 29 "Have you seen how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself before me, I will not bring the disaster in his days; but in his son’s days I will bring the disaster upon his house."

It is very, very significant to see Ahab dashes around for many, many chapters in the 1st Book of Kings from chapter 16 to 22 doing what pleases Ahab and not Father God. God our Father wants so very much to bring Ahab to Him. If God were not a Father with steadfast love, Ahab would have been a pillar of salt in 1 Kings 16

33 And Ahab made an Asherah. Ahab did more to provoke the LORD, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him.

Father God is holy, He does fulfill His word, Ahab (just like rotten Harry the Great, Henry VIII has the dogs lick his blood up. Henry was responsible for the ruination of many churches, monasteries, theft of church money, starvation of the former clergy and starvation of the people. The church fed so many people in Henry's day starvation was the 3rd leading cause of death.)

How did all this sinful nature of Ahab's and the sincere heart of repentance interact in this man named Ahab? Ahab can tell the prophet, the one true prophet, is not being honest with him, yet he fails to act on God's advice.

Proverbs 17:20
A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.


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Genesis 49:29-50:14 ~ beyond the Jordan

Jacob's Body Is Taken to Canaan. Watercolor painted by James Tissot.



Genesis 49:29-50:14

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

²⁹ Then he commanded them and said to them, "I am to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, ³⁰ in the cave that is in the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. ³¹ There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife, and there I buried Leah— ³² the field and the cave that is in it were bought from the Hittites." ³³ When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 50

¹ Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him and kissed him. ² And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. ³ Forty days were required for it, for that is how many are required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

⁴ And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, ⁵ My father made me swear, saying, 'I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.' Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father. Then I will return." ⁶ And Pharaoh answered, "Go up, and bury your father, as he made you swear."

⁷ So Joseph went up to bury his father. With him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, ⁸ as well as all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. ⁹ And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company.

¹⁰ When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days. ¹¹ When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning on the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians." Therefore the place was named Abel-mizraim [mourning (or meadow) of Egypt]; it is beyond the Jordan.

¹² Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, ¹³ for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place. ¹⁴ After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

A man who wrestled with God, Jacob, wanted a blessing. Jacob lived believing his son was dead & he lived a time of a great famine in the land promised to Abraham. Yet Jacob, we read in yesterday's passage, believed profoundly in the spoken words of a blessing.

Jacob went out as a great man. His funeral astonishing the people, his neighbors, he left during famine.


Proverbs 16:7
When a man’s ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

What is the fruit of Jacob's life today? His tomb is the "second holiest site" for Jews (after the Temple Mount) and Christians and Muslims. All these faiths say by tradition the Cave of the Patriarchs is the burial place of three biblical couples: Abraham and Sarah; Isaac and Rebecca; Jacob and Leah.

Burial of Sarah, by Gustave Dore

Hebron, Israel today. Abraham was known to live in Hebron, near the Oak of Mamre. Abraham lived in a tent, but was known to have chosen a huge tree to live beside. I rather like that. Don't you?

Excavations of tombs, made honoring and copying Abraham's tomb. Outside of Hebron.



Without a doubt Jacob/Israel was an extraordinary man. A man of tremendous faith. A portrait of family forgiveness. Jacob lived with his sons after finding they lied about Joseph's death. He blessed them at his passing. The Scriptures never record the sons asking Jacob for forgiveness.

What did Jacob see beyond this life? Beyond the temporal, beyond the Jordan? A Homecoming. Not to lie dead and useless. No. A gathering. Jacob says he is being gathered to his people. His blessings for his sons indicate he expects them to be gathered as well in Genesis 49.

When Jacob finished commanding his sons, he drew up his feet into the bed and breathed his last and was gathered to his people.

Exodus 3:6
And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob."

Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:29 - it is important to know the Scriptures and the Power of God.

Mark 12:26-27
And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.

Jacob believed in the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3:15
You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.

In the words of Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.



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Genesis 48:8-22 ~ he blessed

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn painted this painting posthumously for a widowed client. The man's first name was Jacob. He looks rather patristical.

Genesis 48:8-22

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

⁸ When Israel saw Joseph’s sons, he said, "Who are these?" ⁹ Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." And he said, "Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them." ¹⁰ Now the eyes of Israel were dim with age, so that he could not see. So Joseph brought them near him, and he kissed them and embraced them. ¹¹ And Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face; and behold, God has let me see your offspring also." ¹² Then Joseph removed them from his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. ¹³ And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near him. ¹⁴ And Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn). ¹⁵ And he blessed Joseph and said,

"The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
¹⁶ the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the boys;
and in them let my name be carried on, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude [let them be like fish for multitude] in the midst of the earth."

¹⁷ When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him, and he took his father’s hand to move it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. ¹⁸ And Joseph said to his father, "Not this way, my father; since this one is the firstborn, put your right hand on his head." ¹⁹ But his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great. Nevertheless, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude [fullness] of nations." ²⁰ So he blessed them that day, saying,

"By you Israel will pronounce blessings, saying, 'God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh.'"

Thus he put Ephraim before Manasseh. ²¹ Then Israel said to Joseph, "Behold, I am about to die, but God will be with you and will bring you again to the land of your fathers. ²² Moreover, I have given to you rather than to your brothers one mountain slope that I took from the hand of the Amorites with my sword and with my bow."

If we could all sign up to have a blessing from Israel, wouldn't we? Jacob thought blessings were important enough to steal. He believed in them. Only words. Yet more. Jacob wrestled God Himself for a blessing. God is rather, overwhelmingly, fond of Israel.

Galatians 3:6
Consider Abraham: "He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

James 2:22-23
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.

Israel believed he lived a life of meaning. Believing his mere words mattered. As a friend of God. How much more for us, the children God has adopted in Jesus Christ.

Revelation 7:5-12
12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.


9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”


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2 Kings 17 ~ yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him

This art from Google is interesting because the architecture is Phonetician like Eilat Mazar has found in the site of David's Palace in Jerusalem. (Professor Mazar found the site by reading descriptions in the Bible.)

The Visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon. by Edward Poynter. 1890. Probably more accurate of the paintings of Solomon's throne.

1 Kings 10:18-20
The king also made a great ivory throne and overlaid it with the finest gold. The throne had six steps, and at the back of the throne was a calf’s head, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests, while twelve lions stood there, one on each end of a step on the six steps. The like of it was never made in any kingdom.

The above painting is probably more the effect King Solomon was trying to achieve.



2 Kings 17

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea the son of Elah began to reign in Samaria over Israel, and he reigned nine years. ²And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. ³ Against him came up Shalmaneser king of Assyria. And Hoshea became his vassal and paid him tribute. ⁴But the king of Assyria found treachery in Hoshea, for he had sent messengers to So, king of Egypt, and offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. ⁵Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it.

The Fall of Israel

⁶In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria, and he carried the Israelites away to Assyria and placed them in Halah, and on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

Exile Because of Idolatry

⁷And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods ⁸ and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had practiced. ⁹And the people of Israel did secretly against the LORD their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. ¹⁰They set up for themselves pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, ¹¹and there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the LORD carried away before them. And they did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger, ¹²and they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, "You shall not do this." ¹³Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the Law that I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets."

¹⁴But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God. ¹⁵They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do like them. ¹⁶And they abandoned all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made for themselves metal images of two calves; and they made an Asherah and worshiped all the host of heaven and served Baal. ¹⁷ And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. ¹⁸Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. None was left but the tribe of Judah only.

¹⁹ Judah also did not keep the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the customs that Israel had introduced. ²⁰And the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel and afflicted them and gave them into the hand of plunderers, until he had cast them out of his sight.

²¹ When he had torn Israel from the house of David, they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king. And Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD and made them commit great sin. ²²The people of Israel walked in all the sins that Jeroboam did. They did not depart from them, ²³until the LORD removed Israel out of his sight, as he had spoken by all his servants the prophets. So Israel was exiled from their own land to Assyria until this day.

Assyria Resettles Samaria

²⁴ And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath, and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the people of Israel. And they took possession of Samaria and lived in its cities. ²⁵And at the beginning of their dwelling there, they did not fear the LORD. Therefore the LORD sent lions among them, which killed some of them. ²⁶So the king of Assyria was told, "The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the law of the god of the land. Therefore he has sent lions among them, and behold, they are killing them, because they do not know the law of the god of the land." ²⁷Then the king of Assyria commanded, "Send there one of the priests whom you carried away from there, and let him go and dwell there and teach them the law of the god of the land." ²⁸So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

²⁹But every nation still made gods of its own and put them in the shrines of the high places that the Samaritans had made, every nation in the cities in which they lived. ³⁰The men of Babylon made Succoth-benoth, the men of Cuth made Nergal, the men of Hamath made Ashima, ³¹and the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak; and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. ³² They also feared the LORD and appointed from among themselves all sorts of people as priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the shrines of the high places. ³³So they feared the LORD but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away.

³⁴To this day they do according to the former manner. They do not fear the LORD, and they do not follow the statutes or the rules or the law or the commandment that the LORD commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel. ³⁵The LORD made a covenant with them and commanded them, "You shall not fear other gods or bow yourselves to them or serve them or sacrifice to them, ³⁶but you shall fear the LORD, who brought you out of the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm. You shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you shall sacrifice. ³⁷And the statutes and the rules and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods, ³⁸and you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you. You shall not fear other gods, ³⁹but you shall fear the LORD your God, and he will deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies." ⁴⁰However, they would not listen, but they did according to their former manner.

⁴¹ So these nations feared the LORD and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day.

It's interesting, to me, King Solomon used lions decorated his throne and the steps leading up to the throne. When usurpers ended the Davidic line, lions began to attack them.

Critics of the Bible say the Bible comes up with a reason for devastating news. Yet burning children as a sacrifice should cause all of us to want justice. The next, the 18th Chapter, of 2nd Kings, bring Hezekiah back to the Temple when his father had tried to stealthy abandon Jehovah and His Temple for Hezekiah to dismantle the gold to ransom Judah as a puppet/client state. Hezekiah and the people of Judah get very busy praying, seeking God, digging amazing water tunnels available for viewing today and are very miraculously saved from the Assyrians, not just vicious next door neighbors, but the Assyrian Empire.

Cause and effect, a very real and understandable set of circumstances. A very real history.

When we look to the Scriptures for meaning for our lives today, the passage would point out to us God isn't judging the irreligious, but the righteous. Scary. Father God says to the religious, you are putting on a nice show, but your real concerns and interests lay in other places. Idols of money making before God. Success before God. Money and ambition before family needs. Self instead of helping a friend. Comfort before integrity. Personal issues of like and dislike overcoming duty.

We need a Savior. Someone saying to Father God, I understand what it is to be fearful of losing a brother or a child to death. I understand working until fatigue chases away sleep. Diligent labor until pain. Fear of illness. Fear of hunger. Fear of real need. - We do. We have Jesus Christ as our advocate - telling His Father, adopting us, telling our Father, "I understand the real depths of human need and why it causes sin." We have God - who chose to dwell among us as grace and truth. And in Jesus, we discover, the willingness of God to help us. Then. Today. Our response to the steadfast Love of God is the willingness to walk in His ways.

John 5:17
Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Luke 18:1
He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart

Isaiah 8:17
I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him

Proverbs 16:3-4
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.


Father God, since the beginning of Your creation of man, You've been very patient with us. In these days knowing trouble, strengthen the people bringing the Light of God, forgive them their sins. Help us again to bring Your glory and honor to the front of our lives. And in honoring You, let peace come again. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.



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Psalm 113 ~ and lifts the needy

Cross at Ground Zero. Will return the World Trade Center Museum.


Psalm 113

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!

2 Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!

4 The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!


In our county, we are part of a 3 county wildfire going on in Texas. The stock markets. Politics. 3 Wars. Republican Presidential Nomination debate the WWII draft and how fair it was. The children of Ismael and the Children of Israel have trouble. Earthquakes.

Television documentaries - interviews with the families of the World Trade Center families - a loved one passed on. Children. The passengers of United 93, fighting to get home and not allowing the jet to kill more people - praying together the Lord's Prayer.

Each of the surviving family members are living their lives to bring honor to the lives of the ones they loved. Remembering them. Putting their fears behind them. Rebuilding. The work of the Holy Spirit. Each day gathering strength knowing Psalm 113 would be for us and for the ones we love, living or in God's Eternal Kingdom.



Job 33:26
then man prays to God, and he accepts him; he sees his face with a shout of joy, and he restores to man his righteousness

Thousands of years ago Job wondered why suffering existed. And learned to trust God to bring forth His plan, His healing. As Job trusted, he healed.

God raises us. He lifts us. He gives.


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Psalm 126 ~ shouts of joy

Have a heart than never hardens, & a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts. - Charles Dickens

Psalm 126

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us;
we are glad.

4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord,
like streams in the Negeb!
5 Those who sow in tears
shall reap with shouts of joy!
6 He who goes out weeping,
bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
bringing his sheaves with him.

How will Psalm 126 appear to you today? Will you see it as God's promises of Heaven? Will you see it as gratitude ? Gratitude for the gifts in your life?

Lets look at this Psalm today as..... the Willingness of God.... to hear, to bless, like Psalm 23:5b-6

My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

I love the Truth of the Scriptures. It's never the glass is full or empty, it's.... real. We anticipate God being like us. I only have so much of my casserole for my dinner group.... I hope Jack won't have too much.... but Edward needs more and so his plate needs a bit more.

God doesn't give us a couple of ties or a sweater and say to us - now feel full. Love with me, please, how real Psalm 126 is. We acknowledge our blessings..... we've celebrated life with people we love. We give God thanks for our eyesight, for hearing, for health. For a job, for opportunities to come. For the people we were, and are, fortunate enough to love. And have been fortunate to be able to give the gift of giving to.

Psalm 126 acknowledges our lives are blessed and could use some more blessings. It gives us hope and assurance, God doesn't say, "nope, you are blessed enough and my warehouse of blessings is spent."

Amazingly, Jesus Christ has been celebrated for good reason for over 2000 years. God doesn't just give us His blessings for a day, for the continuation of eternal life - for the next life; God gives us the hope of blessings to come. The blessings He will willingly provide.

Shouts of joy ! Will be needed!

Praise to You, Father, for Your great Glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.


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Other Scripture for Today Blogspot passages on Psalm 126:

December 27, 2010
November 23, 2009
November 13, 2008
December 15, 2009


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