tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16499118710143936392024-03-27T09:23:00.774-07:00Mr BibleheadMrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.comBlogger154125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-30663641986376115542024-03-27T09:09:00.000-07:002024-03-27T09:21:58.457-07:002 Statues, 1 Dream and a Fiery Furnace (Daniel 2b-3)<p> Last time we left off, Nebuchadnezzar issued a death warrant to all the wise men under him because no one could tell him what his dream was and what it meant. When the commander of the king's army showed up to bring in Daniel for execution, Daniel asked for a little more time, so he would be able to give the king what he wanted. The king agreed and Daniel went home and prayed with his 3 closest friends that God would reveal the king's dream to Daniel, and enlighten him about what it meant.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OtH_Q-JdAdMtyxNtJTkqdo0UjLffuTprjkKUBBjGW6lEnKX5C9BarhMYudY6nYRAOYzycAJevC95MNvibvLNnI8Uaa_sNIZNIJ95fTSJczAjn6HPi8_PdIcsEbilQkMLKtYxv_SRa3-Fivo8RKBV0yHMtsnvjdDAXUmykFHg6YUXBd0k1bNbhHZ8IE0/s2400/DanielInterpretsDream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OtH_Q-JdAdMtyxNtJTkqdo0UjLffuTprjkKUBBjGW6lEnKX5C9BarhMYudY6nYRAOYzycAJevC95MNvibvLNnI8Uaa_sNIZNIJ95fTSJczAjn6HPi8_PdIcsEbilQkMLKtYxv_SRa3-Fivo8RKBV0yHMtsnvjdDAXUmykFHg6YUXBd0k1bNbhHZ8IE0/w506-h506/DanielInterpretsDream.jpg" width="506" /></a></div><br /></div><br /><p></p><p> That night Daniel had a vision. God revealed to Daniel what Nebuchadnezzar's dream was and what it meant. Daniel prayed again, praising God and thanking Him! The next morning Daniel went straight to the commander of the king's army, Arioch, and told him that he had the information that the king was looking for. So Arioch paused his mass execution of all the wise men and brought Daniel before the king. He wanted to score some points with the king, so instead of telling him the truth (that Daniel came to him), he told the king that he found one of the captives from Judah who could tell him and interpret his dream.</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">"Is this true?" Nebuchadnezzar asked Daniel. "Can you tell me my dream and what it means?" "It is not I, but the one true God that wants you to know what your dream means," Daniel answered. <span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">“In your vision, Your Majesty, you saw standing before you a huge, shining statue of a man.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> It was made of many different materials. A rock came flying out of a nearby mountain and hit the feet of the statue. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Then the whole statue was crushed into small pieces of iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold and the wind blew them away without a trace. But the rock that knocked the statue down became a great mountain that covered the whole earth. God has made you a mighty king, in charge of a vast kingdom, but your kingdom will fall and be replaced several times over. Finally, the </span><span class="text Dan-2-44" id="en-NLT-21779" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever.</span><span class="text Dan-2-45" id="en-NLT-21780" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>That is the meaning of the rock cut from the mountain, though not by human hands, that crushed to pieces the statue of iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. The great God was showing the king what will happen in the future. The dream is true, and its meaning is certain.”</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Dan-2-45" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i>God speaks to us in many ways, through the Bible, through other people, when we sit quietly and listen, and even in our dreams. We need to not only keep our eyes and our ears open to what God might be telling us, but also our hearts. Ask God if that dream you had last night was from Him and what it meant.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Dan-2-45" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Nebuchadnezzar was amazed that Daniel knew his dream and what it meant! He said, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">“Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this secret.” </span><span class="text Dan-2-48" id="en-NLT-21783" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>Then the king appointed Daniel to a high position and gave him many valuable gifts. He made Daniel ruler over the whole province of Babylon, as well as chief over all his wise men.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="text Dan-2-49" id="en-NLT-21784" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span class="versenum" style="display: inline; font-size: 1.2rem; font-weight: 700; line-height: normal; position: relative; top: auto; vertical-align: text-top;"> </span>At Daniel’s request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be in charge of all the affairs of the province of Babylon, while Daniel remained in the king’s court.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Dan-2-49" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i>Daniel continued to give God the glory, but he was also blessed. Whatever we do, we should do it for the glory of God. 1Corinthians 10:31 Anytime anyone compliments you, say thank you and pass that compliment along to God. After all, He gave you the ability to do whatever you did to get that compliment.</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text Dan-2-49" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">The idea of a statue must have remained in Nebuchadnezzar's brain, because soon afterward, he built a ninety-foot gold statue and commanded that, when the musical instruments rang out, all the people would fall on their faces and worship the statue. Anyone who didn't comply would be thrown into a fiery furnace. So, every time the music sounded the people fell to their knees and worshipped the statue. However, some of the king's wise men noticed that </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego did not worship the statue when the instruments were played and they went straight to the king and told him. (You would think that they would have been so happy that Daniel was able to tell the king his dream and save their lives, that they would have kept their mouths shut) Nebuchadnezzar was furious! He </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">demanded that the three men be brought to him and tossed in the furnace. Remember when we first met Nebuchadnezzar, we said that he was very impulsive. He showed it again when blew up and demanded that </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> be executed. But by the time they were rounded up and brought before the king, he had calmed down a bit and gave them one last chance to worship the statue when the musical instruments played. But the three men told the king that they had no intention of worshipping anyone or anything but the One True God. And even more, they told the king that their God was able to rescue them from the fiery furnace, but even if he didn't, they would still never worship the gold statue. Nebuchadnezzar flew into even more of a rage than he had before. He demanded that the furnace be heated to 7 times hotter than usual and that the three men be tossed in. So some guards tied up the men, while other guards fired up the furnace. The furnace was so hot, that when </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were tossed in, the guards that did the tossing were killed instantly.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGi_j7KZgNEHnfzZqNmn1hfpuqsMwmbuTObGyF-5i-_cOJBioCMvg01BexPIz61C365h5hRLST8rH2wUOwZ74Bs-nR7dIMlyW4goaxxB5bP5aazwotU4NMbYFrw5tUAJLpjUTRbLSM2WROQDy0s47TY3tUoWgFb2d83dcsEoPSuoMMq2YNmHJAXe28jF8/s2400/MSEFieryFurnace.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="2400" height="577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGi_j7KZgNEHnfzZqNmn1hfpuqsMwmbuTObGyF-5i-_cOJBioCMvg01BexPIz61C365h5hRLST8rH2wUOwZ74Bs-nR7dIMlyW4goaxxB5bP5aazwotU4NMbYFrw5tUAJLpjUTRbLSM2WROQDy0s47TY3tUoWgFb2d83dcsEoPSuoMMq2YNmHJAXe28jF8/w577-h577/MSEFieryFurnace.jpg" width="577" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i>Sometimes it is hard to be a follower of Jesus. The Bible says that yes, we will have troubles, but God says that He will be with us in those troubles. Jesus said that we will also be persecuted. Which means people will not be nice to us just because we love Jesus. But Jesus said to stay strong because He is stronger than anything this world can throw at us.</i></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">As </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the furnace, the ropes that bound them burned off. Nebuchadnezzar got as close as he could to the furnace without getting burned and he peered into it. Next time we will see what happened to them.</span></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-61549192006868962702023-12-08T09:16:00.000-08:002023-12-08T09:16:58.770-08:00The Book of Daniel (Chapters 1-2a)<p> We are now in the book of Daniel. There is a lot more to the Daniel story than"the lion's den". The timeframe is pretty much the same as the book of Ezekiel which we just finished. Daniel was one of the young men who was taken from Jerusalem when the Babylonians first attacked the city and plundered it. Three of his friends were also captured with him. We know them by their Babylonian names, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. The king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was a very prideful, and eccentric man. He would shower someone with praises and honor one minute, then have them and their families executed the next. It is important for us to know that he was feared not only by his enemies, but also by his friends and all the people in Babylon.</p><p>Chapter 1 begins: Nebuchadnezzar ordered his chief of staff to bring some of the young men who had been captured in Jerusalem to him. He wanted only the strongest, healthiest, good-looking, smartest, and wisest young men to be brought to the palace. "Train the young men in the language and the literature of Babylonia for three years. Give them the same food to eat that is served by the royal kitchen. Then I will select a handful of these men to serve as my royal advisors." Nebuchadnezzar ordered.</p><p>Daniel and his three friends were some of the young men selected for the king's program. Their names were changed to Babylonian names and they were stripped of their Jewish identity. When mealtime came around, all the other young men were more than happy to indulge in the amazing spread of food and wine that was laid out before them. But Daniel and his buddies knew that this kind of food was not acceptable to eat by Jewish law (which God stated way back in the book of Deuteronomy). </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGt2SH65NO5ktitL-1Y5uWulcV1STylombiqZ5RqtMP9iImDDJwUp04B81IVemTLZtTGNC1jrS_NxOwgCL-ahsBAc2m7MKw4sr37Xe8WOiE-U8MH2UqWe4LetvN0pDbQNNDCrV5N3Ae1cEQG5ToiHXaCVZ22kOF7ci1S58AAtFKgcCeEHX0lOApx-HaE/s3300/DanielNotDefiledByFood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3300" height="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGt2SH65NO5ktitL-1Y5uWulcV1STylombiqZ5RqtMP9iImDDJwUp04B81IVemTLZtTGNC1jrS_NxOwgCL-ahsBAc2m7MKw4sr37Xe8WOiE-U8MH2UqWe4LetvN0pDbQNNDCrV5N3Ae1cEQG5ToiHXaCVZ22kOF7ci1S58AAtFKgcCeEHX0lOApx-HaE/w479-h479/DanielNotDefiledByFood.jpg" width="479" /></a></div><br />So rather than defile themselves, Daniel called over the chief of staff and asked for permission NOT to eat the unacceptable food. The chief of staff had gained respect for Daniel, but he responded in fear of the king. "The king has ordered that you eat this food. If you become pale and weak, he will have me beheaded!" Daniel was wise and responded with grace. "Test me and my three friends for ten days by giving us only vegetables and water. Then you can observe our condition and make your decision." So the chief of staff agreed.<p></p><p><i>It would have been so easy for Daniel and his three friends to indulge in the king's food. After all it was just food. But Daniel knew that honoring God begins with little things. He knew all too well about the story of Adam and Eve and the forbidden "food" in the garden. Doesn't the devil test us in "little things" all the time? He knows that once we start bending away from God just a little bit, eventually we will fall completely away. We are tempted all the time. But just like Daniel, we have to already have "purposed in our hearts" not to stray. In other words, plan ahead of time not to give in, and not when temptation strikes.</i></p><p>After ten days, the chief of staff looked over all the young men. He was particularly interested in Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach, and Abed-Nego. They were healthier and looked better nourished than all the other young men who had been dining on the king's food. Their minds were also sharper! So for the three-year training period, Daniel and his friends ate vegetables and drank water. They didn't have to defile themselves by eating the king's food and then they were brought before Nebuchadnezzar. Out of all the young captives that were trained, none impressed the king as much as Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego. So they became advisors to the king. And they did a fantastic job.</p><p>One night Nebuchadnezzar had a troubling dream. He didn't know what it meant, so he brought in his magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers and demanded that they tell him what his dream was, and what it meant. "Tell us what the dream was, and we will tell you what it means." One of the enchanters spoke up nervously. But Nebuchadnezzar got angry and said that anyone could make up a story to fit his dream, but telling him what he dreamt, now that would take special knowledge. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl28944eb0G1OJkbF5H2KLdmWfcgBG3empb3QmPl6l1kvsSKjqQL-8183Y5-ud2f2vAWgKoSDe19v5tEzwLEIdvy8bpoQLjwdeVCrBaubAlyLK5dwqjKMx4InRPzUNwFX7qpl2aLjhAV7xLh_DR8ehOTQSpZKhyUPQfi98zH13sz78Iiymqo_v_trMngA/s3300/NebbyDreaming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl28944eb0G1OJkbF5H2KLdmWfcgBG3empb3QmPl6l1kvsSKjqQL-8183Y5-ud2f2vAWgKoSDe19v5tEzwLEIdvy8bpoQLjwdeVCrBaubAlyLK5dwqjKMx4InRPzUNwFX7qpl2aLjhAV7xLh_DR8ehOTQSpZKhyUPQfi98zH13sz78Iiymqo_v_trMngA/s320/NebbyDreaming.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />The king got so fed up with all their stalling techniques, that he ordered all his magicians, enchanters, astrologers, sorcerers and, advisors to be killed at once. As advisors to the king, Daniel and his three friends were on the execution list. When the commander of the king's army showed up at Daniel's door to kill him, Daniel politely and respectfully asked him why. The commander explained, and Daniel asked for a meeting with the king to tell the king what his dream meant. Daniel asked the king for time to seek God. He immediately went to the home of his friends and asked them to pray that God would reveal the king's dream to him and the secret of what it meant.<p></p><p><i>Daniel knew that only God alone could reveal this to him. He also knew that God worked in the king's heart to give him some time. After all, the king was ready to kill his magicians and enchanters on the spot. Are there times when you need wisdom? or knowledge? In James 1:5 it says "<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking". If you are facing a situation remember these two things, 1. God is working in hearts and behind the scenes. 2. God will give you the wisdom you need to make a Godly decision.</span></span></i></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Next time we will find out Nebuchadnezzar's dream and what it meant.</span></span></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-78063630418192481932023-11-13T12:50:00.000-08:002023-11-13T12:50:53.179-08:00God Tells of His future plans for Israel, Surrounding Lands, and Us. (Ezekiel 33- 48)<p> So Ezekiel spent years in captivity by the Babylonians. He spent all that time warning the remaining Israelites of God's coming judgment and the fall of Jerusalem. Then one day, a Jewish survivor came to Ezekiel from Israel. He told Ezekiel of all the horrible things that were happening there, and that the city of Jerusalem had fallen just as God said it would. We saw in the previous chapters that God had warned Israel time and time again through Ezekiel's words and, sometimes through his strange actions.</p><br /><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1KtnFo61gyG-7KO3KkFzADXn8BVf4zKW_wgf55imOyfysgRWffLYXqEl3gAhX4__gcNALCnLxpneuaRuqXJpxDkeONEccttDPi5Nw5vRC9SXPEEx8ZphWkQ71OMye850sgcPPlI0byXEoVIlyZCojZrhhrJw0sWDYxtxMEX75X0erABlvZ5Pngd711s/s3300/EzekielMessenger.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2945" data-original-width="3300" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl1KtnFo61gyG-7KO3KkFzADXn8BVf4zKW_wgf55imOyfysgRWffLYXqEl3gAhX4__gcNALCnLxpneuaRuqXJpxDkeONEccttDPi5Nw5vRC9SXPEEx8ZphWkQ71OMye850sgcPPlI0byXEoVIlyZCojZrhhrJw0sWDYxtxMEX75X0erABlvZ5Pngd711s/w460-h426/EzekielMessenger.jpg" width="460" /></a></div>God warns us through His word. He wants us to obey Him, not because He is a cosmic killjoy, but because He cares about us. He wants the best for us, and He has a plan for us. In 2 Timothy 2:21 The Bible tells us that If we keep ourselves pure (be obedient to His word), God can use us for His purposes. Don't you want to be used by God? Don't you want to be a blessing to other people? I certainly do! What a blessing it would be to us! That the God of all creation would allow us to be a part of His magnificent plan is amazing!<p></p><p>Well, we have now witnessed God's wrath on surrounding nations, and upon Israel. The Bible says that God is patient and slow to anger. But He is a good God. He is faithful to His word. When He warns of His impending discipline, He cannot go back on His word. But He is also the God of hope. The rest of the book of Ezekiel reveals God's grace and mercy to Israel, the other nations, and ultimately to us. Chapters 34-37 tell of hope for Israel. God promises In Chapter 34 a new David: A new King: A Messianic King! God is letting Israel know that His son, Jesus Christ, is coming. In Chapter 36, He talks about The new King and a new Israel with a new heart for God. These are reminders of what God has promised Israel in Ezekiel chapter 11 and what God said through Moses way back in the book of Deuteronomy. God never changes and His Word is consistent throughout the entire Bible.</p><p>In Chapter 37 Ezekiel sees another strange vision. He is standing in a valley filled with dry human bones. God explains to Ezekiel that this is a metaphor for Israel's spiritual state. In other words. It is a symbol of how the Israelites have turned from the true God, and are now like dry bones. But wait! Suddenly a brisk wind blows. The bones begin to assemble themselves into skeletons, and the skeletons are filled with</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHedLNSl0e1LOj1kF8kwvIg-SugFp4MwZsgEcvLXS21YjULddVdm5pSLd52Jvtdz1Ct9Geosp7zemtKkbCJa-J0wUHnjB_HPyUurpZLvixCiXOwUyNtB72nSpZbathqNRemDXAOj4v06E69xcXc3_pdXvqrgd8-Fz3dKcPSgEok3vlXbJAR2ftIPrjVE/s3300/EzekielDryBones.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3300" height="535" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHedLNSl0e1LOj1kF8kwvIg-SugFp4MwZsgEcvLXS21YjULddVdm5pSLd52Jvtdz1Ct9Geosp7zemtKkbCJa-J0wUHnjB_HPyUurpZLvixCiXOwUyNtB72nSpZbathqNRemDXAOj4v06E69xcXc3_pdXvqrgd8-Fz3dKcPSgEok3vlXbJAR2ftIPrjVE/w535-h535/EzekielDryBones.jpg" width="535" /></a></div><br /> breath and muscles begin to form around the skeletons. Then skin begins to wrap itself over the muscles. Before too long, Ezekiel is standing among a crowd of living breathing people! Doesn't this kind of remind you of Genesis chapter 2 when God breathed into Adam and gave him life? God will breathe new life, His Spirit, into the people of Israel, and eventually all people.<p></p><p>Chapters 38 and 39 talk about hope for the nations. God promises that evil will be wiped out among all the nations. Ezekiel calls this evil Gog from Magog. Gog is a symbol of all the evil kings and kingdoms. And here in these chapters, Gog will be defeated. Gog is also a symbol of the evil around us every day. Anything that is not of God, is evil. We were evil until we accepted His gift of His son Jesus to live in us. The Bible says that we were actually enemies of God, because we loved the things of this world more than we loved Him. Jesus said, "But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world" John 16:33 Ezekiel uses imagery of earthquakes and fires to show the ultimate defeat of Gog (evil).</p><p>In the final 8 chapters of Ezekiel (40-48) God expresses that there is hope for all creation. Ezekiel tells of how, one day, God's presence will one day return to His people and to His temple. Ezekiel has another vision. An angel escorts him to the "new" Jerusalem and gives him a tour of it. It is more amazing, more majestic, and more beautiful than the original temple that Solomon had built with all his riches.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s3dSj0lznrIOuWPJ73N3_5vozwR9FV39n-1bUtFqbRf-qVSXVec3qfNjZ4WxkrWiZMjIPZmThm7RUDzfRPaGJB0BP3ciRf3uAWBL0rFnzl4uEIMowzWbttAsVu57VrzEFedlO_ofSlRgNMD0GdS1meHfJM2LxuIB0wa79hH2X6SYyMt-o4QkX_q0lr8/s941/Screenshot%202023-11-13%20at%201.21.41%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="929" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4s3dSj0lznrIOuWPJ73N3_5vozwR9FV39n-1bUtFqbRf-qVSXVec3qfNjZ4WxkrWiZMjIPZmThm7RUDzfRPaGJB0BP3ciRf3uAWBL0rFnzl4uEIMowzWbttAsVu57VrzEFedlO_ofSlRgNMD0GdS1meHfJM2LxuIB0wa79hH2X6SYyMt-o4QkX_q0lr8/w210-h213/Screenshot%202023-11-13%20at%201.21.41%20PM.png" width="210" /></a></div><br /> Now, remember that strange vision of the<span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: times;">4 creatures that were unlike anything he had ever seen before? These creatures each had large wings and 4 faces. The wings all touched. Each creature hovered above its own wheel. The wings of these strange creatures supported a platform. On that platform was a throne, and on that throne was a glowing being surrounded by an ember-colored ring. Ezekiel realized at that time that it was the Presence of God. Well it appears again and heads right into the "new" temple. Then Ezekiel sees a tiny stream pouring out of the doorway of the temple and it cascaded down the front steps. It quickly turns into a raging river, and then flows through the Dead Sea Desert. As it continues to flow through the desert, trees begin to sprout. Animals appear and the river is overflowing with life. The description of this river is the same description of the Garden Of Eden during creation in Genesis chapters 1 and 2. What an amazing vision! God's plan has always been to restore creation and humanity back to the way it was before Adam and Eve sinned. This vision takes us to the future when all will be restored and then back to God's original creation. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: times;">God is the god of restoration and redemption. He has restored us and redeemed us through the blood of His son, Jesus. God is the god of everything. The world will be restored. He is also the god of individuals. He loves each of us on a one to one basis. We can commune with Him, walk with Him, and talk with Him. We can trust Him. God is faithful and trustworthy. He never changes and He never gives up on us.</span></span></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-22573223954216432682023-04-28T12:44:00.004-07:002023-04-28T12:44:36.610-07:00Ezekiel Warns of God's Judgement (Chapters12-32)<p> We ended chapter 11 with Ezekiel seeing a vision of Jerusalem. It wasn't a vision of the future, but it was a glimpse into what was happening there. Ezekiel was still in Babylon, but God showed him that even though the Babylonians came in to Jerusalem and took many of its citizens captive, the people were still hard-hearted and turned to other gods. This is important to remember, because God is going to have Ezekiel act out a few more scenarios; not for the Jews that had been captured and brought back to Babylon, but for the Jews that were still left in Jerusalem.</p><p><b>Chapter 12</b>: God told Ezekiel to start packing some of his belongings. He wasn't to pack like he was going on vacation, or moving to a new place, but pack a few things like he was in a hurry to get away. He was to place these things out in his front yard for everyone to see. God knew that people passing by would start to wonder what was going on, and they did. Then God told Ezekiel to wait till evening came and bring your belongings in from the front yard. Then dig a hole through the front wall of your house and crawl through it carrying your belongings on your back. (these houses were made of clay and straw) So Ezekiel did just as the Lord had commanded, and the people came to see and try to figure out what Ezekiel was doing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPno83PoILcW7qkd5ml9SOXFOII_RrHrkNSdoIMPxlWxBfPjtziuMARPC2TdSqzLdqHaauv75xY3axeKkrd4GFlonMJEwJ9I0BmlXQJsTFnC6NXDvxHVOeyvZORlL7Mb4Zu90YnKQmMRKrhCx94xuv3sKlT71CFMcBhJYSHmJ9mD7VGY4JAEVIdxfl/s3058/EzekielHouseHole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3058" data-original-width="2913" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPno83PoILcW7qkd5ml9SOXFOII_RrHrkNSdoIMPxlWxBfPjtziuMARPC2TdSqzLdqHaauv75xY3axeKkrd4GFlonMJEwJ9I0BmlXQJsTFnC6NXDvxHVOeyvZORlL7Mb4Zu90YnKQmMRKrhCx94xuv3sKlT71CFMcBhJYSHmJ9mD7VGY4JAEVIdxfl/w427-h448/EzekielHouseHole.jpg" width="427" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> God said to Ezekiel, "When the people ask you what this means, tell them this is a sign that the remaining Jews in Jerusalem will be carried away in captivity, and the king will sneak out in the middle of the night by having a hole dug in in the wall and crawling through with his belongings. He will have guards and many of his men with him, but I will let the king be captured, and I will scatter his men. Many of them will die, but a few will survive so that they can come and bring to you the message that I have done exactly what I said I would do because I am the Lord."</p><p>In the next for chapters, God reminds the Jews, through Ezekiel, how they have turned their backs on Him. He mentions that they are following false prophets. These are the prophets that only tell them what they want to hear and not the truth about the coming judgement. God reminds them about how their leaders turned to false idols and led all in Judah to worship these idols as well. He reminded them of their unfaithful ness to Him and how, time and time again, they broke their promise to Him. God says that He has no choice, but to execute justice upon the Jews, and it will be soon.</p><p><b>Chapter 17</b>: God told Ezekiel a riddle. It was the riddle of the 2 Eagles: <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v3" data-usfm="EZK.17.3" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;">A large eagle with strong wings and beautiful feathers broke the top branch off a cedar tree, </span><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v4" data-usfm="EZK.17.4" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">then carried it to a nearby country and left it in one of their cities. </span></span><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v5" data-usfm="EZK.17.5" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">The eagle also took a seed from Israel and planted it in a fertile field with plenty of water, like a willow tree beside a stream.</span><span class="ChapterContent_note__S7bux f" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; display: inherit;"></span><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;"> </span></span><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v6" data-usfm="EZK.17.6" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #121212;">The seed sprouted and grew into a grapevine that spread over the ground. It had lots of leaves and strong, deep roots, and its branches grew upward toward the eagle.</span><span style="color: #777a7b;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v7" data-usfm="EZK.17.7" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">There was another eagle with strong wings and thick feathers. The roots and branches of the grapevine soon turned toward this eagle, hoping it would bring water for the soil. </span></span><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v8" data-usfm="EZK.17.8" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">But the vine was already growing in fertile soil, where there was plenty of water to produce healthy leaves and large grapes. </span></span><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v9" data-usfm="EZK.17.9" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">Now tell me, Ezekiel, do you think this grapevine will live? As Ezekiel pondered the riddle, God told him to tell the people the answer. No! The grapevine will not live. Here is what the riddle symbolized. The king of Judah was captured by the Babylonians. So the Babylonians place a new king in charge of the rest of the people that were left in Judah. This was Zedekiah. They could have put one of their own in charge, but they elected to give them a Jewish king as long as he signed a treaty, or a promise, that Judah would remain loyal to Babylonia. Well after king Zedekiah signed the treaty, he went back on his word and sent ambassadors to Egypt and asked for horses and men. He broke his promise. </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v9" data-usfm="EZK.17.9" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_mMz7Pn7lOcqp-M_KST3Oy_uRzc9PmasAZtyG5KN9r6R-cYuK3QayG3JOYSzzmpljLhbLfORDAU74V5z6oE4w97j8eRCWXYQl2mSeSS1kQHwLNb9UHzYd7QGx82Seck-_sCgMa0SsjMjo6r9na0PhEv3NLYlZ7MeqFgcHPrXn4hWkDL8AmHUfGFr/s3300/EagleEzekielRiddle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3300" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_mMz7Pn7lOcqp-M_KST3Oy_uRzc9PmasAZtyG5KN9r6R-cYuK3QayG3JOYSzzmpljLhbLfORDAU74V5z6oE4w97j8eRCWXYQl2mSeSS1kQHwLNb9UHzYd7QGx82Seck-_sCgMa0SsjMjo6r9na0PhEv3NLYlZ7MeqFgcHPrXn4hWkDL8AmHUfGFr/w490-h490/EagleEzekielRiddle.jpg" width="490" /></a></span></span></div><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v9" data-usfm="EZK.17.9" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v9" data-usfm="EZK.17.9" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">God is really big on keeping promises. Not only to Him, but to each other. Did you know that when you willfully break a promise that you made to someone, it is a sin. You either lied at the time of the promise, or you lied with your actions when you broke your promise. God says in Ecclesiastes 5:5-6 that i<i>t is better not to promise anything, than to promise and not do it. Don't let your words cause you to sin.</i></span></span></p><p><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v9" data-usfm="EZK.17.9" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;"> In <b>Chapter 24 </b>God has Ezekiel perform another sign. He tells Ezekiel to fill up a pot with water and the best meat he can find. Then empty the pot and scorch the pot over an open flame. This is another sign of Judgement on Jerusalem (the pot) and the captivity of the Jews (meat) that will be removed from "the pot" which will them be destroyed. </span></span></p><p><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v9" data-usfm="EZK.17.9" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">The next 8 chapters are God's judgement on the nations surrounding Israel. The nations mentioned by name are Edom, Philistia, Moab, Ammon, Egypt and Tyre. Right in the middle of these nations being judged, God throws in 2 verses that don't seem to fit. </span></span></p><p><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v9" data-usfm="EZK.17.9" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">Chapter 28 verses 25-26 </span></span><span style="color: #777a7b; text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; text-indent: 1em;">The </span><span class="ChapterContent_nd__K5nsC" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-indent: 1em;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">Lord</span></span></span><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; text-indent: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> God </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">said: </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v25" data-usfm="EZK.28.25" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;">Someday I will gather the people of Israel from the nations where they are now scattered, and every nation will see that I am holy. The Israelites will once again live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob. </span><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v26" data-usfm="EZK.28.26" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; text-indent: 1em; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">They will be safe and will build houses and plant vineyards. They will no longer be in danger, because I will punish their hateful neighbors. Israel will know that I am the </span><span class="ChapterContent_nd__K5nsC" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;">Lord</span></span><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;"> their God. (Cev version) In Chapter 33 we will see God's plan for restoring Israel, and the effect it will have on the rest of the world, including us.</span></span></span></p><p><span class="ChapterContent_label__S_AvV" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #777a7b; display: inherit; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; margin-right: 5px; padding: inherit; position: relative; text-indent: 1em; top: -0.6em; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v26" data-usfm="EZK.28.26" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p><span class="ChapterContent_verse__jS6jM v26" data-usfm="EZK.28.26" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box; color: #121212; font-family: inherit; transition: background-color 0.75s cubic-bezier(0.42, 1, 0.16, 0.93) 0s;"><span class="ChapterContent_content__dkdqo" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgba(59,130,246,0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; border: 0px solid; box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></span></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-58596894147093834562023-01-11T10:10:00.000-08:002023-01-11T10:10:17.735-08:00 Ezekiel :1-11 Strange behavior Pt 2<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjxvYn_gMCeQ7ccEIZC3ysKuiErWUg2DYjF0IXHliOSjbgVH-xd5Hy7KUj0BzkCtbwuXxD6EBZe3m3hocIDOtLzSQyZokhKfwCLcCzZI0QJCU2d7iF3nr3TvJ-KonNfKnvKQDmwszTeB4TLlwxn_Ejx8Q4eNaJrJifRzkeOme-DfRKk40dlLS-r-7/s3130/ezekielOnSide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2174" data-original-width="3130" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEjxvYn_gMCeQ7ccEIZC3ysKuiErWUg2DYjF0IXHliOSjbgVH-xd5Hy7KUj0BzkCtbwuXxD6EBZe3m3hocIDOtLzSQyZokhKfwCLcCzZI0QJCU2d7iF3nr3TvJ-KonNfKnvKQDmwszTeB4TLlwxn_Ejx8Q4eNaJrJifRzkeOme-DfRKk40dlLS-r-7/w477-h283/ezekielOnSide.jpg" width="477" /></a></div> In part 1 of these chapters, we saw Ezekiel confronted by a strange being that he now realizes was God. He was given instructions on a scroll. Then he ate the scroll. He went to Israel and tied himself up in his house. God closed his mouth so Ezekiel could not speak until God allowed him to say "Those with ears, let them hear." Ezekiel built a small replica of Jerusalem and attacked it like a child playing war with their toys. Then we saw Ezekiel cut of all his hair and put it in three piles. He burned one pile, struck another with a sword and toss the last pile into the wind. All these things that were done by Ezekiel were direct orders from God. They were signs of judgement on Israel. But God was not through with these strange requests. We will look at the rest of these 11 chapters and what else God had in store for Israel through Ezekiel's actions.<p></p><p>God had Ezekiel lay on his left side while he was tied up for 390 days! Then on his right side for another 40 days! Each day of the 390 was to represent one year that Israel had turned it's back on God. Similarly, each of the 40 days was to represent the years that Judah turned from God. Although he was tied up, Ezekiels right arm was free and outstretched as a symbol of God's mighty arm of judgement. God gave Ezekiel a bread recipe that he would eat during this time. <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">It would amount to almost exactly 8 ounces of bread per day. The water measurement</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiSMz8DkpQDnBUHhYZ8YRX3gs41FN9iTgSjL4xnNudVz7Q6ejxnkvwnzKrK6J5a4EqZyBNyxHOBY3C2EeDtEd5Jwf8wOwawupqVxCjn4ZZjSaISO6qXSWAuF-7-bEyv8Iz02TrxDujMTtldFKwYsjM4SH8tR5BaF5n66CaLxpT6xPsOiKOoJ4dwcZ/s3300/IdolWorshipInTemple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3300" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiSMz8DkpQDnBUHhYZ8YRX3gs41FN9iTgSjL4xnNudVz7Q6ejxnkvwnzKrK6J5a4EqZyBNyxHOBY3C2EeDtEd5Jwf8wOwawupqVxCjn4ZZjSaISO6qXSWAuF-7-bEyv8Iz02TrxDujMTtldFKwYsjM4SH8tR5BaF5n66CaLxpT6xPsOiKOoJ4dwcZ/w360-h380/IdolWorshipInTemple.jpg" width="360" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">would be equal to about a pint, barely enough to keep a man alive! As a symbolic sign of what was to come for the Jews. <br />Food would be so scarce. men could barely survive. Finally God had Ezekiel bake this bread, using animal poop as fuel for the fire. Ezekiel was not happy about it, but it symbolized the misery that would accompany Israel during the siege. God explained to Ezekiel each point of this strange request so that Ezekiel could relay the warning to the people. Ezekiel was a good and faithful servant. He did as God requested, knowing full well, because God told him so, that the Israelites would not listen. <br /></span></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> <i>That is a great lesson for us. God desires faithfulness from us. When He wants us to do something, we are not to weigh the pros and cons. We should't do it with a great expectation of amazing results. God knows what He is doing. If He asks us to do something..... just do it and leave the results up to Him. Example: God wants me to tell that kid over there that He loves him and Jesus died for him. I think to myself, "That kid is bigger than me. I don't want to. He probably won't listen anyway. He is kind of a bully, so I'm not sure if God really wants me to say that to him." Don't call a committee meeting in your head to determine "if you should" Just know that God is good, and do what He wants. It frees us from all the internal debate. And if you don't get a positive response.... it's OK God has got this!</i></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">In Chapter 8, God brings Ezekiel to Jerusalem in a vision. He is virtually escorted to God's temple there in the holy city, however it is not good. Ezekiel sees a large statue, an idol sitting just outside the temple doors. And he see the elders of the church worshipping this idol outside the temple and inside the temple! Remember when Moses came down with the Ten Commandments and the people were worshipping a golden calf? Well here they are again. Not only that, but the women of Israel are worshipping another idol near the temple wall. God doesn't like it and, with a sad heart, He shows Ezekiel. Finally the vision ends with the cloud of God's glorious throne chariot drifting out of the temple and going east.... toward Babylon! Remember last time Ezekiel wondered why God's glory was there with him in Babylon and not in His temple? Well now we know. God answered Ezekiel's question with this vision.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><i>So why did God have Ezekiel do all this? God new the Israelites wouldn't listen, but maybe, just maybe, He knew that we would be reading about this. We would see how the prophesies revealed to and through Ezekiel would come to pass. And that through this story, our faith would be strengthened as we get to know God and His infinite power, wisdom, mercy and grace just a little bit better.</i></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: tahoma, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.85em 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 60px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-84638285439767567092022-11-25T12:15:00.000-08:002022-11-25T12:15:20.272-08:00Ezekiel: 1-11: The message and his bizarre behavior Part 1<p> The book of Ezekiel is a book, pretty much like other prophetic books of the Bible. God is warning His people about His judgement. However, Some of the very unusual things that Ezekiel sees and does, makes this book stand out among some of the others. Remember when we talked in Lamentations about how Babylon came in, gutted Jerusalem, and took many of the Jews into captivity? Well, Ezekiel was one of those taken. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXA9M1tF4nVG024dw6irc8wcYFesKvBkd9TjYYH0zP0W25xfrlT471LvHn3ZZc0eus1UX61PTdTvnGx-CBO0v2UWOhsuOdv569VHJ1_pvmcamGgezlsLdOb6CCvHHUT6Bjan7s2dOJ7FQozp60pI4Pil7Se9FOfkGvb1cZQiFuaLpPBqhW8IpYvJK-/s2100/EzekielByRiver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="2100" height="403" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXA9M1tF4nVG024dw6irc8wcYFesKvBkd9TjYYH0zP0W25xfrlT471LvHn3ZZc0eus1UX61PTdTvnGx-CBO0v2UWOhsuOdv569VHJ1_pvmcamGgezlsLdOb6CCvHHUT6Bjan7s2dOJ7FQozp60pI4Pil7Se9FOfkGvb1cZQiFuaLpPBqhW8IpYvJK-/w441-h403/EzekielByRiver.jpg" width="441" /></a></div><br />Five years later, on his birthday, Ezekiel goes and sits down by a river and begins to ponder all that had happened. Suddenly, one large storm cloud rolls in. He is watching this cloud and 4 creatures begin to appear. They were unlike anything he had ever seen before!These creatures each had large wings and 4 faces. The wings all touched. Each creature hovered above its own wheel. The wings of these strange creatures supported a platform. On that platform was a throne, and on that throne was a glowing being surrounded by an ember colored ring! It took a few minutes, but suddenly Ezekiel realizes that he is in the presence of God! And he fell on his face in reverence. Ezekiel was a bit perplexed however. He knew that the glory of God was always above the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. What was He/God doing in Babylon. Ezekiel learned that God cannot be put in our mind-conceived boxes. He is God, and not limited to our human notions. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaOm2D_DNpJH3GbdzsCKn3-gmj_U9W29-lFJyNz1a8HsK7joTvd8iNcN5EEcGyUkVj326zd1f5h9nKvqgfYmQQqgN3qdr3qslgn3J6CP966RhQ9Y9VB7ymCL9ZKR0LTZ07mQaWXXchKw4ILiesyyIRwKRpx9WJs9MZ7qBsamg8WaP1AgqVkgTdDdS/s2100/4headedCreature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="2100" height="404" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJaOm2D_DNpJH3GbdzsCKn3-gmj_U9W29-lFJyNz1a8HsK7joTvd8iNcN5EEcGyUkVj326zd1f5h9nKvqgfYmQQqgN3qdr3qslgn3J6CP966RhQ9Y9VB7ymCL9ZKR0LTZ07mQaWXXchKw4ILiesyyIRwKRpx9WJs9MZ7qBsamg8WaP1AgqVkgTdDdS/w404-h404/4headedCreature.jpg" width="404" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p> <i> We do this all the time. Have you ever thought something was too small for God to care about, or too big for Him to do? How about our prayers? Does God hear so many prayers that He cannot possibly answer them all? Am I too bad that God can't save me? These are all ways that we put God in a box. Nothing is too bog or too small for God. He is all powerful, and He loves each and every single person so much that, no matter how bad we are, He sent his son Jesus to die for us. </i></p><p><i> </i>Ezekiel was told by God to stand up and listen to what He was going to say. Ezekiel had trouble standing and the Holy Spirit placed Ezekiel on his feet. "I want you to go back and speak to the Israelites. Many of them will not listen to my message to them. They are a rebellious and stubborn people. They will insult you and maybe even try to harm you. But don't worry about that." God said to Ezekiel. Then He continued. "Whether they listen or not, continue with the message that I am giving you." </p><p> <i>God wants us to share the good news with others. He knows that some will ignore us or even worse, but we are called to be faithful and not be concerned about the results. Ultimately it is the Holy Spirit that changes hearts, not us. Just like Ezekiel, we are called to share God's message. </i></p><p><i> </i> Now begins some of Ezekiel's strange behavior. God gives Ezekiel a scroll with His message to the Israelites, and He tell Ezekiel to eat it! So he ate it. He said it was delicious! It was very sweet like honey! </p><p> <i>That is how we should be with the Bible. No not literally eat it! LOL! But God's word is nourishment. We should savor it, and put it in us. The Bible tells us to keep God's word in our hearts. And one day, when we really need a certain scripture, the Holy Spirit will bring it to our minds for comfort or direction. </i></p><p><i> </i>Ezekiel is now headed to Israel to confront the people left there, and those that have been scattered by the invasion of Babylon. He is going to tell them that because of their rebellion and the worshipping of other gods, there will be another invasion, and this time, Jerusalem will be completely destroyed and the temple will be in complete ruins, and the wall surrounding the city will be left in shambles. Ezekiel tell the people everything that God had asked him to, but then God asks His prophet, Ezekiel, to do some more bizarre things. First, Ezekiel was to go into his house and tie himself up. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv4t58WEEo8YuGZ5itrk4aekf1NNKGADW1itoCCgpDkhaLMx-rG952mQroyfKrVrZolucLHWjPJF4RgSg4FwIftk6kez2At7sLgX_pjFx4K5CouTnppAxgJMq0qTqxlDRrVbZS6qH07Y_IrpgSYg1sxaETLc3cD5H8lyCDMp5dcI9cBjt-WYuNmxd/s2356/EzekielCutsHair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2356" data-original-width="2100" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv4t58WEEo8YuGZ5itrk4aekf1NNKGADW1itoCCgpDkhaLMx-rG952mQroyfKrVrZolucLHWjPJF4RgSg4FwIftk6kez2At7sLgX_pjFx4K5CouTnppAxgJMq0qTqxlDRrVbZS6qH07Y_IrpgSYg1sxaETLc3cD5H8lyCDMp5dcI9cBjt-WYuNmxd/w392-h440/EzekielCutsHair.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><br />God said that He would make it so that Ezekiel could not speak as a symbol of doom and helplessness that would fall upon the city. Then finally God allowed Ezekiel to speak these words. "He who has ears, let him hear." (the same words that Jesus used when talking in parables) Next, God wants Ezekiel to build a small replica of the city, then stage an attack on them, just like a child playing war with his or her toys. This was like a visual parable to the people of what was coming. Next God had Ezekiel cut off all his hair with a sword and shave his beard. Then divide all the hair into 3 piles. I'm sure this strange behavior drew quite a crowd as Ezekiel was out in the street in front of his house. Then Ezekiel burned one pile, struck another pile with a sword and finally the last pile, he threw up into the air and a brisk wind carried it off. God told Ezekiel that the few remaining hairs that fell to the ground, he was to tie them to his robe, then pull them off and toss them into the fire as well. This was a picture of how the people would be scattered after one third were killed by soldiers and another third would die of plagues and famine. And the few that survived would suffer.<p></p><p> <i>God is so merciful! he warned the people over and over again what would happen if they refused to turn back to Him. We should continually thank God for His mercy, grace and patience with us.</i></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-88131709031454041342022-10-16T13:12:00.000-07:002022-10-16T13:12:57.429-07:00(Lamentations 1-5) Crying out to God<p> We are now in the book of Lamentations. It is a unique book, as it consists of 5 poems. These poems are acrostics, which means that each line begins with a new letter of the Greek alphabet (which has 22 letters). The third poem goes through the Greek alphabet 3 times, so it is the longest of the five. The last poem uses the letters, but not in a sequential order as the first 4 poems do. We will see why this may be intentional when we discuss poem 5. The word Lament means to cry out in grief or sorrow with passion. So the 5 poems are a crying out to God. <i>Do you think God minds if we cry out to him when we are sad or angry, or hurt? No, and just the fact that this book is in the Bible proves that. Crying out to God is a prayer. It is a prayer of despair. The book of Psalms is filled with David's many laments. God wants us to come to him in good times and in bad. James 5:13 Sad-pray, glad-pray, and everything in between-pray. </i></p><p>CHAPTER1 In the first poem of lament, Jerusalem is depicted as a lonely old widow. Now we have to realize that these 5 poems were written about 580 B.C. after Jerusalem was taken over by Babylon and most of the Jews were captured and/or scattered. So the lonely old widow has lost her husband, and she has no one to turn to. She finally calls out to Lord to notice what she is going through; She is grieving and all alone. Through her, the writer of Lamentations who is anonymous by the way, although most Biblical scholars agree that it was probably Jeremiah (the weeping prophet), cries out to God, and the only way to tell Him how she feels, is that it feels like when someone you love dies.<br /></p><p>CHAPTER 2 This chapter focuses on the fact that the sin of the Jews brought on God's wrath and led to their fall. Sometimes we think about God's wrath as Him exploding in anger and tossing fireballs onto the earth. God's wrath in biblical terms is actually His justice. When sin requires discipline, God's wrath is the justice that follows. Psalm 103 says that <i>God is kind and merciful, slow to anger</i>. His wrath is not spontaneous. So the author agrees with God. The Jews broke their covenant by worshipping other gods. But he asks God to show compassion on them once more.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvsJhHSmuJyN5k06djZP7755tLAupzjJYCDOxIZo_5U-n_28w-SDHFYpnHIQmZBgVGGxiY1HAWzW3xpkuelKpnn_nsxI2xuJvkDjXnbap18P1qgq2VgRqUj21Z79lXR8uvc1JkR0Pi8-BAogsQH5V9LQtR86oyNo5U-w1R-FXjVH1iLNwEUepmJd7/s3300/TheOldManAndWidow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3300" height="531" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvsJhHSmuJyN5k06djZP7755tLAupzjJYCDOxIZo_5U-n_28w-SDHFYpnHIQmZBgVGGxiY1HAWzW3xpkuelKpnn_nsxI2xuJvkDjXnbap18P1qgq2VgRqUj21Z79lXR8uvc1JkR0Pi8-BAogsQH5V9LQtR86oyNo5U-w1R-FXjVH1iLNwEUepmJd7/w531-h531/TheOldManAndWidow.jpg" width="531" /></a></div><p></p><p>CHAPTER 3 This chapter is the longest. It basically tells of an old man crying out on behalf of all of Israel. He is grief-stricken. He uses some of the same language that Job used when he cried out to God after he lost everything, including his children. So this is a very passionate plea to God Himself. Just like in chapter 2, he realizes that God had carried out the justice that Israel deserved because they broke their covenant. The writer focuses on the covenant and uses the covenant and God's faithfulness to write these words of hope: Because of the Lord's covenant faithfulness, we do not perish. His mercies never fail: they are new every morning. How great is your faithfulness o God. You are my inheritance, so I will put my hope in you. He was standing on the promises of God! He knew that God promised justice, but He also promised to show mercy and kindness. <i>We can stand on the promises of God too! The Bible is filled with thousands of God's promises. He is faithful. We can trust Him. The more we know what God's word says, the more we can hold His promises near. We can pray to God and remind Him of His promises. Not because He forgot, but so that we can be encouraged through Him and His word</i>.</p><p>CHAPTER 4 This chapter is a vivid comparison of how Jerusalem used to be before the siege, and how it is now. He goes through several examples like: The children used to laugh and play in the streets. Now they walk the streets begging for food. The rich people used to enjoy extravagant meals, now the look through the dirt and in the dump just for a bite to eat. The king used to rule, now he is a prisoner in Babylon. The writer is pretty much crying out to God, "We want things back to the way they used to be!" <i>We do that sometimes, but we can't live in the past. Isaiah 43:18 says leave it behind and do not dwell on the past. The more we live in the past, the less time we have for the present. How can we give God our best, if we are living in the past?</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNFS1dhEC6UoU7dWLlyxRocEgSt6ctj8RrLjvrK7OSBMkol8lsqpqZEHfGaP2dB1s-5YBG2lv57c2m-GmUS-AfmnlJPRLC6EaWztVRhh158wlQu5C1v2eT3uIH40xlgoY41nHDvbKp7Dz6dYrYZ7MWlufJTIDTylar52_E4cmCqfuoLAOeCy0EDzr/s3300/LamentationsKids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2412" data-original-width="3300" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvNFS1dhEC6UoU7dWLlyxRocEgSt6ctj8RrLjvrK7OSBMkol8lsqpqZEHfGaP2dB1s-5YBG2lv57c2m-GmUS-AfmnlJPRLC6EaWztVRhh158wlQu5C1v2eT3uIH40xlgoY41nHDvbKp7Dz6dYrYZ7MWlufJTIDTylar52_E4cmCqfuoLAOeCy0EDzr/w651-h478/LamentationsKids.jpg" width="651" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p>CHAPTER 5 As we said earlier, this poem is a little different, It still uses each letter of the alphabet, but the order and structure has been tossed out the window. It's like "OK God, I can't take it any more". The poet shows the chaos of grief and pain by jumbling up the alphabet. This chapter is another cry for God's mercy. It comes from the people as a whole, and not from an individual who portrays a group of people. The people cry out on behalf of all their fellow Jews who have been suffering in silence. God encourages them to come to Him in their pain, suffering, confusion, anger, and grief. He does the same for us. This book ends in kind of a statement and a desperate question: God is the king of the universe, but it feels like He is nowhere to be found. The last line in the book leaves us hanging. It questions, Unless you've totally rejected us?</p><p><i>One of God's promises in the Bible is that He will will never leave or forsake us. Hebrews 13:5. That is a wonderful promise to keep close to our hearts. Sometimes it feels like He has, but we must stand on the truth of His word and promises and not our fickle feelings.</i></p><p><br /></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-75467509801012376832022-01-27T12:38:00.000-08:002022-01-27T12:38:29.529-08:00Faithfulness: God's desire from us (Jeremiah 38:7 -52)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-CWl7fRfd7Gter32iD2xPu0oqRrYtBoVdXz-jbwJNSMyTQhF4cpPlj7iUR0a6LoWGUk9mEIp-VXUVlI1zY0rgQRM1yawn8L_UdauRtfRxF6esTxiKpyvSyBuGKGkCwbG6S-83525jqXRig4jTnOKjx-OIwnqsv4jk6EJ8V7CZRxIWQhgs11Z5_HD3=s3300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2484" data-original-width="3300" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-CWl7fRfd7Gter32iD2xPu0oqRrYtBoVdXz-jbwJNSMyTQhF4cpPlj7iUR0a6LoWGUk9mEIp-VXUVlI1zY0rgQRM1yawn8L_UdauRtfRxF6esTxiKpyvSyBuGKGkCwbG6S-83525jqXRig4jTnOKjx-OIwnqsv4jk6EJ8V7CZRxIWQhgs11Z5_HD3=w505-h380" width="505" /></a></div> When we left Jeremiah last time, he was sitting at the bottom of a muddy well, left for dead. But God........still had more for Jeremiah to do. God touched the heart of one of the king's servants, an Ethiopian named Ebed-Melech. The servant took his own life in his hands by telling the king that allowing Jeremiah to be thrown into the well to die was wrong. Instead of killing Ebed-Melech, the king had a change of heart and told the young Ethiopian to gather some men and pull Jeremiah out of the well.<p></p><p><i>Sometimes saying the right thing, or telling the hard truth is not easy. God says to do the right thing, not the easy thing. Just as Ebed-Melech risked his life, sometimes we have to risk being made fun of or losing friends. But know this. We always have God on our side when we do right.<br /></i></p><p>So Jeremiah was saved..... well sort of. The king had Jeremiah brought before him. "Tell me what you know!" He ordered. Jeremiah was concerned that if he told him the truth, the king would have him killed anyway. But the king promised that he would not have Jeremiah killed if he told him the truth. So Jeremiah told the king that Babylon would soon attack Jerusalem, but that he should surrender peacefully to them or some bad stuff would happen to the king's family as well as to the king himself. The king was not happy with what Jeremiah said, but he had promised not to kill him, so he had Jeremiah tossed into dungeon.... again.</p><p>While Jeremiah was imprisoned, Jerusalem was taken over by the Babylonians, (just as God said) and the king of Judah didn't listen to what God said through Jeremiah. And remember what God told Jeremiah to tell the king... Some bad stuff would happen? Well the king tried to flee the city during the take over. He was caught and his eyes were gouged out! Also his wife and kids were killed in the palace when it was set on fire.</p><p>Even though Jeremiah was taken to Babylon during the siege, God protected him. Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon set Jeremiah free to live in Babylon. Jeremiah was even given food and some gifts to help him settle in. Since Jeremiah was a prisoner of Judah, and the king of Judah was an enemy of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar showed kindness to Jeremiah. So I guess getting thrown into prison again turned out pretty well for Jeremiah.</p><p><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix1tGmHC8XdZtuDjvw7i6QylrNNxMygZN4k_nPaMaw5oC0QG5B_O7JEInOfD3PgHW0SFrRixyiciCr7LCrNBgciDtJXgS-OKKkKu7E5m0KmrjsL3VzLT_tWAXEAQJtPOdL6HydKHFptawtbt6hHzit-pguz7QgkyrMpmRV0LVFqrii8gPymKKaA7H2=s3300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2654" height="569" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix1tGmHC8XdZtuDjvw7i6QylrNNxMygZN4k_nPaMaw5oC0QG5B_O7JEInOfD3PgHW0SFrRixyiciCr7LCrNBgciDtJXgS-OKKkKu7E5m0KmrjsL3VzLT_tWAXEAQJtPOdL6HydKHFptawtbt6hHzit-pguz7QgkyrMpmRV0LVFqrii8gPymKKaA7H2=w457-h569" width="457" /></a></i></div><i>Sometimes things don't work out like we planned. I'm sure Jeremiah didn't want to be pulled from a well, just to get tossed into a dungeon. God sees all things. We need to trust Him. Have you ever had something go the wrong way, only to find out later that it was absolutely for the best? I have.</i><p></p><p>When Jerusalem was taken over by the Babylonians, a lot of the Jews were taken captive, however, the poorest Jews were left behind and a small governmental system was put in place. Many of the Jews saw that the fighting was over and returned to Judah. The Jews that fled to Egypt however, found life very comfortable there and decided not to return. <br /></p><p>Jeremiah returned to Judah with a word for the people. He said that the people in Egypt should return as well. That Egypt would soon fall to Babylon just like Judah did. He said that the Jews that have remained in Egypt are now worshipping false gods. God said that He would pass judgement upon them and anyone else who is worshipping idols. Some of the new leaders did not like Jeremiah and what he was saying. So they captured Jeremiah and took him to Egypt.</p><p>While in Egypt, Jeremiah faithfully continued to speak the words that God had put in his mouth. The final 5 chapters of the Book of Jeremiah tell of God's judgement on Egypt, Moab, Philistine and neighboring countries. Jeremiah is not mentioned again in these final chapters. Some say he was killed, others say he escaped Egypt. No one really knows for sure.</p><p><i>So even though Jeremiah spent his whole life trying to get his people to turn from their sin and to turn toward God, the people never listened. The outcome was not in Jeremiah's hands. He simply did what the Lord asked him to do. That is called faithfulness. God delights in our faithfulness. We don't have to "save the world". That is God's job. All we have to do is obey Him, and leave the consequences to Him. If you tell someone about Jesus and they accept Him as their savior, God did that, not you. To Him be the glory! And on the same note, if the person you shared Christ with rejects the message, it's not on you. You did what God asked. Leave the rest to Him.</i></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-68617490249000369782022-01-18T07:24:00.000-08:002022-01-18T07:24:12.837-08:00 The People and the King Refuse to Listen to God (Jeremiah 1-38:6)<p> Today we begin a new book of the Bible. It is the 24th book and it is called the Book of Jeremiah.</p><p> Jeremiah was born in Judah. His father was a priest named Hilkiah. So Jeremiah was taught many religious things as a boy. His father had hoped that Jeremiah would become a priest like him. But God... had different plans.</p><p><i> A lot of times we make plans or our parents make plans ... (But God). So we should hold on to our plans loosely as God may have other plans. His plans are always better. Sometimes they are harder, as we will see in the story of Jeremiah, but they are always better. (Isaiah 55:8-9)</i></p><p>When Jeremiah was a boy, there was a good king of Judah named Josiah. He had all the idols destroyed and led the nation in the ways of God. But as soon as Josiah died in a battle, the people of Judah went right back to idol worshipping and sinning. The people were following their king and not following God. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvI7C26DmLg-IhJ7VeITF2aEtBgv1fSRFXVaoX1IUWnq7YTFFmXdj7xf_rIroGWDsvMT5kUVb1NibnDfPbMTYQJiNlUDE0Aplva_rP-4hwQ3WeviSv6889Ro3LT128nVRDMshsvbbQOPcAyasI5eGkBq5PfyWywEZdmgzQMWEoxLxo2A6NAWi2L_WC=s3300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3300" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvI7C26DmLg-IhJ7VeITF2aEtBgv1fSRFXVaoX1IUWnq7YTFFmXdj7xf_rIroGWDsvMT5kUVb1NibnDfPbMTYQJiNlUDE0Aplva_rP-4hwQ3WeviSv6889Ro3LT128nVRDMshsvbbQOPcAyasI5eGkBq5PfyWywEZdmgzQMWEoxLxo2A6NAWi2L_WC=w439-h439" width="439" /></a></div><i>When we go to church, we should be putting our hearts in the hands of God and not our trust in a minister or pastor. They are human beings just like we are. If they mess up or even die, our faith should not be shaken or crumble, because our faith is in God.</i><p></p><p>When Jeremiah was a young man, about 20 years old, God spoke to him. He said that He knew Jeremiah before he was even born... and He had a plan for him to speak for Him as a prophet. But Jeremiah was scared. He told God that he was way too young to speak for Him.</p><p><i>Remember last time in Isaiah we learned that God has a plan for us before we are even born? Well here it is again as God spoke to Jeremiah. God had a plan for Isaiah, and for Jesus, for Jeremiah and He has a plan for you and me!</i></p><p>Jeremiah took his new job as God's prophet very seriously. He knew that telling the people that they must repent of their wickedness would not go over too well. It would be difficult, and sometimes dangerous, but Jeremiah was up to the task and began to tell the people what God was saying about their evil ways. Jeremiah loved God and he loved his country. He preached for over 40 years, but the people turned their back and refused to listen. This made Jeremiah sad and he became known as the "weeping prophet".</p><p><i>How was Jeremiah able to do such a hard thing? God told him to do it, and God gave him the wisdom, courage and strength to carry it out. When God touches our hearts and wants us to do something for Him, don't be fearful, because God will give you all the tools you need, and He'll be right there with you. (Isaiah 41:10)<br /></i></p><p>Jeremiah told the people that they were doing wrong. And he told them that God loved them and that they needed to repent or God would punish them by sending an army from the north to take them over just like He did 100 years earlier. The people laughed. Then Jeremiah went to the king and told him the same thing.</p><p><i>Has anyone ever laughed at you? It doesn't feel good. Especially if it is for doing the right thing. Don't let that stop you. God says that If He is for us, who can be against us. (Romans 8:31) He also says that we should do things that please him, instead of doing things that people want us to do. (Galatians 1:10) God is always on our side when we do what is right. (2 Corinthians 12:9)</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVkIJyIGwG29m-4xVhwGFHeXCFzezT-u35tWcnjC5sypfvIUjl-CrJBl2iBL34pGeStek5xHjGH10aBYrG0cs476TWSeLJUED2QjuHX0HMzNJwwP7C8gTEG4HOk0eh0e6lJp4aFSi-wu_r2DgL6zNF7pPiyhLm7E4r06uuAJCQ3_7FLEJNrYfm86hw=s3300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3300" height="415" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiVkIJyIGwG29m-4xVhwGFHeXCFzezT-u35tWcnjC5sypfvIUjl-CrJBl2iBL34pGeStek5xHjGH10aBYrG0cs476TWSeLJUED2QjuHX0HMzNJwwP7C8gTEG4HOk0eh0e6lJp4aFSi-wu_r2DgL6zNF7pPiyhLm7E4r06uuAJCQ3_7FLEJNrYfm86hw=w415-h415" width="415" /></a></div>God told Jeremiah to go to the temple and tell the people that they have turned away from the one true God. The High priest were infuriated that Jeremiah would come to their temple and preach such words. They called the temple guards and had Jeremiah brought before the judges. The judges had Jeremiah exiled (kicked out of the country). Even in exile Jeremiah sent messages through Baruch, his scribe ( a person who writes down on a scroll what a prophet dictates) to the palace and had a priest read the scroll to the king. After hearing what Jeremiah had written on the scroll, the king cut up the scroll in tiny pieces and burned it. Then the king then had Baruch arrested.<p></p><p><i>One of the most well-known verses in Jeremiah is Jeremiah 29:11. It says: "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." God was warning Israel against false prophets, but that is a promise that we can hold onto for ourselves.</i></p><p><br /><i><br /></i></p><p>Some time later, Jeremiah heard a message from God to go to the palace wearing a yoke. (a collar that oxen wear to pull a plow) He wasn't supposed to enter the palace, but God wanted to send a message to the king that his kingdom would be taken over by Nebuchadnezzar, and unless he surrendered to his yoke (his will) the king's kingdom would be destroyed. Hananiah, one of the king's false prophets pulled the yoke off Jeremiah's shoulders and broke it. The high priests and false prophets were getting tired of Jeremiah and his hard words and so was the king. So the king told the priests to do whatever they wanted with the prophet. So guess what they did? They called the kings guards who threw him in a muddy well with no food and left him to die!</p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-33575440267538872542022-01-03T12:05:00.007-08:002022-03-06T16:04:24.288-08:00(Isaiah 57-66) God's promises<p> Chapter 57 begins with God telling His people that they are treating good people badly. He says that the righteous man is teased and ridiculed. God tells the righteous man not to worry. He will give them peace. Have you ever been teased for <i>doing the right thing</i>? (that is what <i>righteousness</i> is) Well, God promises you His peace, which according to Philippians, surpasses all human understanding. So continue to do the right thing. God has your back.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRCzaeN27ndtW9TZvRpjK8sETPje4xCpTh8f9KXswOgeIIc_RQwfsnQYPRRqEgnfVrFU8fykgA7-5fRxFmmjQOMUS2ZNdGHEKx9fJMKr5LC_OoAgTwGFNr9gYN47lWxDL_WPS559je1ix4HS9iFyk5Rom3VhogSrZMETojisyNojlLJcXaPzUw7COp=s3002" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3002" data-original-width="2980" height="20" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRCzaeN27ndtW9TZvRpjK8sETPje4xCpTh8f9KXswOgeIIc_RQwfsnQYPRRqEgnfVrFU8fykgA7-5fRxFmmjQOMUS2ZNdGHEKx9fJMKr5LC_OoAgTwGFNr9gYN47lWxDL_WPS559je1ix4HS9iFyk5Rom3VhogSrZMETojisyNojlLJcXaPzUw7COp=w20-h20" width="20" /></a></div><p></p><p></p>God says that his patience with the ungodly is running out. And He says that there is no peace for the wicked, but then by the end of the chapter, He tells them four ways to find His peace. 1. Know that He is holy and He alone is to be worshipped 2. Humble yourselves before Him. 3. Know that God loves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg1jDsAqbDUXv1qIyLkJ2NdlT-xbNypvARKqSVMdYVoUJkLQkTPZJ69nDRGJk23wkr8qS8lNSaUziW-SIXIcrkrHB46y5hr93FQ8cYkUS6GTC8YewOXVEP_Nh3SY1UuHlp8rKrzT-SCUDRVZ2Po0d9VHaio8oJXUM0fPm0f0F77AZWSKcBnZA-s7DY=s3002" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3002" data-original-width="2980" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgg1jDsAqbDUXv1qIyLkJ2NdlT-xbNypvARKqSVMdYVoUJkLQkTPZJ69nDRGJk23wkr8qS8lNSaUziW-SIXIcrkrHB46y5hr93FQ8cYkUS6GTC8YewOXVEP_Nh3SY1UuHlp8rKrzT-SCUDRVZ2Po0d9VHaio8oJXUM0fPm0f0F77AZWSKcBnZA-s7DY=w497-h500" width="497" /></a></div><br /> you and wants the best for you. 4. And by accepting the gift of peace. (which we know is Jesus) When we receive God's gift of peace, it doesn't mean that everyone will love everyone around us.... It is an inner peace; a rest for our souls; a peace with God; a contentment even in difficult circumstances. Have you accepted God's gift of peace, grace and love through His son, Jesus?<p></p><p>Chapter 58 is a beautiful chapter that addresses the question. God why don't you answer my prayers? First He tell about how the people were fasting and praying with the wrong motives. God always sees our heart. He knows why we do things. Even if it looks good, like praying or sacrificing something, God knows if our heart is in the right place. It may look good to others but "Man looks at the outward, God looks at the heart" (1Samuel 16:7) God continues the chapter by telling the people that if the pray and fast along with love and doing the right thing; And if they extend love with help to the poor and needy, then their lives will be filled with light and they will hear from God. Wouldn't it be great to hear from God and to have our lives filled with His light. Well, this is straight from God. Do right unto others and help the needy. But do both with love in your heart. Ask God to help you to do things out of love. He will be glad to help you.</p><p></p>In chapter 59 God tells his people that He not only knows their heart, (Chapter 58) but He sees all we do, good or bad. God told them that the reason that they don't feel Him shining His face upon them is because they are sinning in secret, trying to hide from God. While speaking to Job in Job 34:22 God says, "There is no darkness or deep shadow where the one who sins may hide themselves from me." Ever since Adam and Eve felt shame and tried to hide from God because of their guilt, man has been doing the same thing. Have you ever felt guilty for doing something wrong. Don't try to hide it. Confess it. God is a God of light. He wants all things brought into the light. He wanted His people to confess their sins to Him and He wants us to do the same thing."<span style="font-family: inherit;">T<span style="background-color: white;">he light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the<br /> light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed." (John 3:19-20) At the end of the chapter, God says that He will send a Redeemer. That Redeemer is Jesus Christ! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></span></span><p></p><p>Chapter 60 tell of how wonderful it will be when Jesus comes for all men who believe. Then It talks about the second coming of Jesus, (which we are still waiting for) when Jesus rules over all the world and He will be our everlasting light!</p><p>Chapter 61-66 tell of the Millennial Kingdom which is not yet here. The book of Isaiah is so amazing! It has prophesies about the first coming of Jesus which has already taken place, and all of the prophesies concerning Jesus' first coming have come true. But Isaiah also prophesies about the second coming. For example; Those who persecuted Israel will now realize that Jerusalem is the City of the Lord. God will make all things new. Violence will be no more. There will be no need for the sun. Jesus will be our light of day. Jesus will rule over all the earth. Here are a few more straight from Isaiah 65:20-25</p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBknvW6HvUpRgCjI9coL891tzPBicJA7tcAklPD3lHH81uBxRISecCQQEB_kjs-v2O5ZTT8QF72VgfsPMb6E-wl7f2cBHXxBvIohe03hOGhlKx8UaeAteOVc3rabhP75rt9K8eNtB1mJzJ0WtSo4v2GgcV5nqO2AysDWex47Cw-Xp1sUOlUgkapPnf=s3300" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="3129" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhBknvW6HvUpRgCjI9coL891tzPBicJA7tcAklPD3lHH81uBxRISecCQQEB_kjs-v2O5ZTT8QF72VgfsPMb6E-wl7f2cBHXxBvIohe03hOGhlKx8UaeAteOVc3rabhP75rt9K8eNtB1mJzJ0WtSo4v2GgcV5nqO2AysDWex47Cw-Xp1sUOlUgkapPnf=w487-h513" width="487" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;">“No more shall an infant from there</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">live but a few</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161;">days</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;">, </span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">For the child shall die one hundred years old, </span></p><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">They shall build houses and inhabit <span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">them</span>;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.<br /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For as the days of a tree, <span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">so shall be</span> the days of My people,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />They shall not labor in vain,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Nor bring forth children for trouble;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />For they <span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">shall be</span> the descendants of the blessed of the LORD,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />“It shall come to pass<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />That before they call, I will answer;<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />And while they are still speaking, I will hear.</span></span><div><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />The lion shall eat straw like the ox.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br /></span></span><p><br /></p></div>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-13341985408242191972021-12-17T11:41:00.007-08:002021-12-17T11:41:54.815-08:00Isaiah 49-56 Gods Plan for You and for All People (Merry Christmas!)<p> Chapter 49 is amazing. God is telling Isaiah to speak to the people in the words of Jesus. (who wasn't even born for another 700 years) I know that sounds a bit confusing. So, let's just think of it as Jesus telling us what will happen. He said that before He was even born, God already had a plan in place for Him. In Psalm 139:13, God says the same thing about us. He says, "I knit you together in your mother's womb." God knew us even before we were in our mother's womb! He created us.... and get this.... He created us with a purpose! God has a plan for you, just as He had a plan for Jesus. God's ways are so unimaginable. He can have a plan for each individual person and, as he states in verse 3, He also has a plan for nations! Wow! I can't even wrap my brain around that! I'm glad that I cannot completely understand the ways of God. It tells me that His thoughts are way above mine. Since He is good, I must trust that His plan is not only good, but the best plan ever! We all have dreams and try to think about what our lives will be like. Do you know what you want to be when you grow up? God knows, and He has created you with <span style="color: #800180;">special</span> gifts and <span style="color: #800180;">special</span> desires to do that <span style="color: #800180;">special</span> something.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1-asmfok3XAs6pDNl6ocNOEGr-hZMhv0VevzJQLAXbgo8NzNSuV0cKVFwCJWJHloQcf8CShICZJ4eRqBdVn2JcaczBCsZd16PmRSi7xhZDq4rbQdS1c3a1XzSo82eqqcxtPVZ797Ezblu5iGtDlwlll-NJIVncu1jczKT8v4emOvMykpEYSmFJ5Me=s2400" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="2400" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1-asmfok3XAs6pDNl6ocNOEGr-hZMhv0VevzJQLAXbgo8NzNSuV0cKVFwCJWJHloQcf8CShICZJ4eRqBdVn2JcaczBCsZd16PmRSi7xhZDq4rbQdS1c3a1XzSo82eqqcxtPVZ797Ezblu5iGtDlwlll-NJIVncu1jczKT8v4emOvMykpEYSmFJ5Me=w563-h423" width="563" /></a></div>One of the plans that God has for Jesus, it to bring the message and hope of salvation to the whole world. During Isaiah's time, only the Jews were thought of as God's people, but with the coming of Jesus, the whole world will have an opportunity to live with God forever. Verse 6 says <i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif;">I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, </i><i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif;">that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”</i> In John 3:16 it says that <i>"God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son. That whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life." </i>As Christmas time approaches, it is good to reflect on the purpose of Jesus coming to earth. It was a fulfillment of the plan that God had ordained from the beginning of time. Genesis, the first book of the Bible says that Satan will bite, but Jesus will crush him.<br /><p></p><p>The rest of chapter 49 tell of God's amazing promises to Israel and to us. One of the coolest promises is in verse 15b-16. <i style="background-color: white; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif;">I will not forget you!</i><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; bottom: 1ex; font-size: 13.5px; height: 0px; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i><span style="font-weight: 700;"> </span></i></span></span></span></span><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><i>See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; </i>The God of the universe has your name engraved on his hand! First of all, He must have some really, really big hands. Second of all, He must think an awful lot of us to have our names permanently "tattooed" on His hands.</span></span></span></p><p><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Chapter 50 begins with the Jews thinking that God has forsaken them because He has now reached out to the Gentiles. But God tells the Jews that He has not given up on them. This was all part of is plan. Then Jesus continues to tell the plan about how He, God's servant, will come and suffer. Luke 22 also talks about this. Then at the end of the chapter, Jesus pleads with us to trust in Him.</span></span></span></p><p><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">In Chapter 51 The Lord pleads with all people to listen to Him. Verse 1 begins with "listen" Verse 4 begins with "listen" and verse 7 begins with "listen." He says that He has been faithful in the past and promises the same for the future, and that His salvation is forever, and that they should fear Him, (God) and not man. Matthew 10:28 says the same thing. Verse 9 and verse 17 both begin with "Awake awake!" Awake to how awesome God is, and awake to the fact that he is powerful and just. </span></span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-WSQEG2APFUbY4ck0D94H2DI5SnUyNrTSvwsjj8OneM2iZPQZpACwWRR6jfBROQ-gUVm4W_qekCPBp8p-eaTYC_P-6crVYBKap793_R2eCljt60FPrzeNaijB3tKnLqTy82uBMiqEV1sWLzS94ojPQfQLEOry95ZK4GwGm5sommhh5gp3VtZJpaAQ=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="455" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg-WSQEG2APFUbY4ck0D94H2DI5SnUyNrTSvwsjj8OneM2iZPQZpACwWRR6jfBROQ-gUVm4W_qekCPBp8p-eaTYC_P-6crVYBKap793_R2eCljt60FPrzeNaijB3tKnLqTy82uBMiqEV1sWLzS94ojPQfQLEOry95ZK4GwGm5sommhh5gp3VtZJpaAQ=w455-h455" width="455" /></a></div><span face="-apple-system, system-ui, "system-ui", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol"" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: "Baskerville Old Face", serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-size: medium; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Chapter 52 also begins with "Awake, awake!" It is a call to Zion (Jerusalem). Listen to what He (God) is saying and listen to the good news (Gospel) that will be relayed through men. Verse 7 says </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">How beautiful on the mountains </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">are the feet of those who bring good news </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">who proclaim peace, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">who bring good tidings, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">who proclaim salvation, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic;">who say to Zion, </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><i>“Your God reigns!” </i>In other words, God loves when we share the good news of Jesus with others. Have you ever thought if God cares about whether or not I tell </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">others about how Jesus changed my life? Well He does. He ends chapter 52 telling about how Jesus will suffer, but He will have the ultimate victory. Isn't it amazing how much Jesus is talked about in this book and it was written 700 years before He was even born. And many of the prophesies are so detailed that it would be a one in a gadzillion chance that it could ever happen by accident! </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">Chapter 53 continues with Jesus' suffering and how His death atoned (paid a debt) for our sins. We are all sinners. The text says the we are like sheep and have all gone astray. But Jesus took our sins upon Himself and God accepted that payment for all our sins, past, present and future. It is truly an amazing gift that God has offered to us. But we must accept it. In Romans 9:10 It says that </span><span face=""Source Sans Pro", sans-serif" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #3d3d3d; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 0; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: super;"> </span><span style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. </i>Have you </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">accepted Jesus as your Lord and savior? God is offering this wonderful gift to you. If you want to spend eternity with God and allow Jesus to be Lord of your life, God makes it available to everyone, from the rich to poor, the healthy to sick, the tall to short. Just do the ABCs. Admit that you are a sinner and you need Jesus. Believe in your heart that He died for your sins and rose from the dead. And Confess with your mouth that from now on, Jesus is in control of your life. If you did that just now, the angels are throwing a huge party in heaven!<br /></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Chapter 54 discusses how God will restore Israel, and His promise to them of peace, prosperity and protection. Then in Chapter 55 God call to all who can hear His voice, that they to can be restored just as Israel will be. God's invitation includes blessing, leadership and forgiveness. But we need to accept His invitation. He is all powerful and keeps His promises. Chapter 56 continues in asserting that His promises are for all the world, and restoration is possible for all nations and all people as individuals.</span></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-53228751060300972992021-09-20T08:42:00.004-07:002021-09-20T08:42:51.654-07:00Isaiah 41-48 God's Amazing Plan is Filled With Hope<p> In Chapter 40 we see God beginning to reveal his plan for everyone and the hope that we have in Him. Now God continues to speak in chapter 41. He is speaking to people in distant lands, the idol worshippers. He tells them to step into His holy courtroom and present their evidence. Then God begins to explain that He alone is in control of everything. The things that happen in an individuals life, along with worldwide events on a colossal scale are all in His power. People who believe and trust in Him, as well as people who don't, are all subject to God's ultimate plan. </p><p><i>So when we see things on the news about events happening around the world, don't think that they are out of God's control. He is still on the throne and is in control of all things. Remember that it is all a part of His loving plan. (even though to us, it doesn't seem loving)</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiHuq4knVbsJWpY37OawLAzoeECITDXBZEdfoIgmuOXUzAip55zJCd85tksCpqYnGmNrjBJNs-rAvkDHwdmnvCTn-nYnToRkIrKeOQ2UVFUot3yRKSzqLJZFXDKxjnpaTWt-IoXbz0no/s2048/IsaiahReadsScroll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1687" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiHuq4knVbsJWpY37OawLAzoeECITDXBZEdfoIgmuOXUzAip55zJCd85tksCpqYnGmNrjBJNs-rAvkDHwdmnvCTn-nYnToRkIrKeOQ2UVFUot3yRKSzqLJZFXDKxjnpaTWt-IoXbz0no/w395-h480/IsaiahReadsScroll.jpg" width="395" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p>In verse 8 God addresses Israel through Isaiah and tells them not to worry. He's got this. He will protect them and He will be their ever present help in times of need. (psalm46) God continually reminds them not to be afraid. Then He tells the Israelites that he will not only protect them and help them, but He will also provide for them. God is reassuring them that He is always there for them. <i>Fear is a crippling emotion. Have you ever been so afraid that you could't move or think straight? I certainly have! God wants us to live our best lives for Him. He wants our best. How can we give Him our best if we are paralyzed by fear or can't even think straight? We cant. That is why God reminds us over 350 times in the Bible "Do not fear".</i></p><p>Then God readdresses the idol worshippers from the beginning of the chapter after they have laid out their case for worshipping idols. God asks them a simple question. "Can your idols tell you what will happen in the future?" He answers for them. "Of course not! Your idols don't even exist. They have no power." Then God proceeds to tell them some events that will happen in their future.</p><p>Chapter 41 of Isaiah is considered the great I WILL chapter. 14 times God reinforces His promises by saying "I will". Here are some of them: <span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will strengthen you</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">. (</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.10&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.10" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Isaiah 41:1</a>) <span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will help you</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">. (</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.10&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.10" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Isaiah 41:10</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">,</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.13&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.13" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">13</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">, and</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> </span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.14&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.14" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">14</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, helvetica neue, helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif"><span style="background-color: white;">) </span></span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will uphold you with My righteous right hand<i>.</i></span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">(</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.10&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.10" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Isaiah 41:10</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">) </span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">. (</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.15&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.15" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Isaiah 41:15</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">) </span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will open rivers in desolate heights</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">. (</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.18&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.18" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Isaiah 41:18</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">) </span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will make the wilderness a pool of water</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">. (</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.18&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.18" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Isaiah 41:18</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">) </span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will plant in the wilderness the cedar and the acacia tree</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">. (</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.19&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.19" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Isaiah 41:19</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">) </span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will set in the desert the cypress tree</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">. (</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.19&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.19" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Isaiah 41:19</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">) </span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I will give to Jerusalem one who brings good tidings</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">. (</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Isaiah+41.27&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Isaiah.41.27" style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Isaiah 41:27</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">)</span></p><p><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><i>Did you know that God's promises are also for us today? 2Peter 1:4-5 says just that! And Galatians 3:29 states that if we are followers of Jesus, we are children of Abraham and heirs to God's promises.</i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fCIUt1jFNVvg7-lRlpoekYyHP_JuO01ZcGxf0sRpVMG2e_VHeNoGheswLFyxx-L8up9fi9J7eb8IsfuYELkTERMMJHcAmb0aq87i9y1HxvKXdP3UfBM-39u5O4xDV9t9TYrahWqUeAw/s2048/JesusHealsBlindMan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1583" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fCIUt1jFNVvg7-lRlpoekYyHP_JuO01ZcGxf0sRpVMG2e_VHeNoGheswLFyxx-L8up9fi9J7eb8IsfuYELkTERMMJHcAmb0aq87i9y1HxvKXdP3UfBM-39u5O4xDV9t9TYrahWqUeAw/w391-h506/JesusHealsBlindMan.jpg" width="391" /></a></i></span></div><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><i><br /></i></span><p></p><p><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In Chapter 42, He starts off with Behold! My Servant .... which is definitely Jesus. How do we know that? Because when God refers to other servants of His, like Moses, He uses a small letter s at the beginning of the word servant. But here we see a capital S. Isaiah follows up with a beautiful "song" straight from the lips of God about how Jesus will be a light to the world. He will bring justice. He will open the eyes of the blind man and set the captives free. The book of Isaiah is filled with references and prophesies about Jesus. Jesus is the hope of Israel and the whole world. The rest of Chapter 42 is about God's provision for Israel and their rebellion.</span></p><p><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 43. God will allow Israel to be captured by Babylon, But He reassures them that they are still his people. He reminds them how He rescued them from Egypt, and He will do it again from Babylon. </span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Has God ever been there when you needed Him most. He has for me. God wants us to remember those times, because if He did it before... He will certainly do it again. </i>Chapter 43 ends just like 42.... the Israelites neglect to obey God.<i> </i></span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 44 reminds the people of Israel that He alone is the one true God. Idols are mere artifacts made by human hands. They have no power... But he, God, Has ultimate power over everything.</span></p><p><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 45 speaks of how God will use a non-Jew, Cyrus, to bring about His plan. They Israelite didn't think that God could, or would use anyone outside of Israel to bring about His plans.... But God can use whomever He pleases.</span></p><p><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapters 46 and 47 are about Babylon. How they worship false gods. Those false gods are powerless when the one true God moves in to defeat them.</span></p><p><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Chapter 48: God reminds Israel that He made promises to Abraham that ALL came true. So all these things that He is revealing now about being captured by Babylon, the hard hearts of God's own people and the ultimate defeat and fall of Babylon will certainly come to pass. </span></p><p><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>So to wrap it all up. God wants the Israelites to know that He is in control of all things present and all things in the future. God wants us to know the same thing. Sure, we'd like to know exactly what will happen, but that is where trusting God comes in. After all aren't our hearts and trust really the only things that we can give a God who owns everything? So during some of these dark days, hold tightly to God and trust Him for the days to come. </i></span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p><br /></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-26533258946352017712021-05-12T12:29:00.003-07:002021-05-12T12:29:32.146-07:00Hezekiah gets 15 More years (Isaiah 38-40)<p> While all this was going on, (Judah being threatened, and God responding), Hezekiah became very ill.</p><p>The Word of the Lord came to Isaiah with a message for Hezekiah.... and it was not a very pleasant message. "King Hezekiah," Isaiah said as Hezekiah lay feverishly in his bed. "God said that you should get all your affairs in order, because you are going to die very soon."</p><p>Hezekiah was devastated! As soon as Isaiah left, Hezekiah rolled over and faced the wall. Through his tears, he began to pray. He asked God to let him live. He reminded God about all that he had done for Him. </p><p>Meanwhile, God told Isaiah to turn around and go back to Hezekiah with a new message. Hezekiah was surprised to see Isaiah again so soon. Isaiah said, "The Lord has heard your prayer. He has decided to give you an additional 15 years to live as well as keep you and this city protected from the king of Assyria.</p><p><i>Once again we see that God <span style="color: #ff00fe;">hears</span> our prayers. It doesn't matter if you say them out load, whisper them of even think them. God DOES hear our prayers. Many times as we are praying, we think to ourselves, is God even listening? Yes He Is. Also, God <span style="color: #ff00fe;">answers</span> prayers. Hezekiah was a living example of this.</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobWitx4bLnL-xhaR5lub_k6TlImqr85VSyi1mjt5bjFLCMcg2golg9NiH1c5upV3ynZKzF5JQLUlvdX-A67USPriqONe5xJuDWXD40UknN1tkdrQ72CN8GojEsYHSSPK2lPRhAmZCCpU/s2048/HezekiahAndTheSundial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1352" data-original-width="2048" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobWitx4bLnL-xhaR5lub_k6TlImqr85VSyi1mjt5bjFLCMcg2golg9NiH1c5upV3ynZKzF5JQLUlvdX-A67USPriqONe5xJuDWXD40UknN1tkdrQ72CN8GojEsYHSSPK2lPRhAmZCCpU/w560-h369/HezekiahAndTheSundial.jpg" width="560" /></a></i></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p>Then Isaiah continued, "God also said that he will send you a sign so that you will know that He will do this thing He has promised. God will cause the Sundial of Ahaz to move backward 10 units. Then you will know that God has done what He said He would.</p><p>One of Hezekiah's men was looking out the window. He called the king over to witness an amazing thing. The Sundial of Ahaz was moving backward! Hezekiah was overjoyed! He wrote a poem of praise about all he had been through and how God answered his prayers. It is found in verses 10-20.</p><p>The king of Babylon's son, <span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Merodach-baladan, heard that King Hezekiah was very sick, and that he had recovered. He sent a special group of messengers with a gift and his personal best wishes. Hezekiah was very surprised that the son of such a powerful king would even acknowledge his illness and recovery. He was so thrilled when they arrived, that the king brought the envoy around the palace and showed them all the treasures that he had. He was trying to impress the special messengers with all the gold and treasures, but the men were more interested than impressed.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Isaiah showed up just as the special messengers were leaving. "What did those men want?" He asked. "They brought me a gift from Babylon. So I showed them all the treasures I had, every last piece of gold! They were very impressed." Hezekiah answered.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPv8WOzCafkYlEtTwerDIjHHdVJKD1ddqdsg5xFdOqI0NxdMrz1W5G5fv4Vbsh50hqireeD2PwmEjc1V3V9r8OugpOHoeUi5Vpf0mQjwuc3o4tJ0gjNM6nTU20Ldpebxf1ii-LNgfy3Xs/s2048/HezekiahShowsOff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1901" data-original-width="2048" height="463" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPv8WOzCafkYlEtTwerDIjHHdVJKD1ddqdsg5xFdOqI0NxdMrz1W5G5fv4Vbsh50hqireeD2PwmEjc1V3V9r8OugpOHoeUi5Vpf0mQjwuc3o4tJ0gjNM6nTU20Ldpebxf1ii-LNgfy3Xs/w499-h463/HezekiahShowsOff.jpg" width="499" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Isaiah could not believe his ears. He knew that Hezekiah let his pride lead him into major trouble. </span><span class="text Isa-39-5" id="en-NLT-18394" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Listen to this message from God, 'The time is coming when everything in your palace, all the treasures that you and your ancestors have stored up, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left. Even some of your very own grandsons will be carried off into exile." </span></p><p><span class="text Isa-39-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><i>Sometimes we try to impress people with what we have. It not only doesn't impress them, it leads to problems for us. Not only may we lose what we have, but our pride and ego are fed by the compliments of others. God warns us in Proverbs 16:18, "Prides comes before a fall."</i></span></p><p><span class="text Isa-39-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Hezekiah's response was surprising and selfish. He said, "Well I don't have to worry about that in my lifetime. God promised peace and security while I am still around." Instead of honoring God and doing what was right with his extra 15 years, Hezekiah became selfish. </span></p><p><span class="text Isa-39-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><i>God blesses us in many ways, with a loving family, a nice home, friends, food, health etc... we can choose to be selfish, or we can honor God with what he gave us. When we honor God with what we have, that is called stewardship, and God will ask us what kind of steward were we when we stand before Him one day.</i></span></p><p><span class="text Isa-39-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;">Chapter 40 begins a 26 chapter section on the comfort that God will give His people after the Babylonians carry off all the treasures and take the people of Judah away with them. The people of Israel will be very disheartened with God after the exile, but God gives them hope in the next 26 chapters. Much of it is filled with prophesies about Jesus. we will look at those next time. But for now, Chapter 40 focusses on who God is, and how powerful He is. He says that "The grass will wither, but His word (the Bible) will never die. He states that He has no equal. Who can be compared to God. No one! He continues by pointing out that He, and He alone created the stars, the sun, the earth and all things on it. God says that 'He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of His understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even the young will become weak and tired and will collapse from exhaustion....' Vs. (28-30) Then comes one of the most famous verses in the book of Isaiah....</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUr1jPa5Zn1UPx4nO0_9ZMubgf-ZR2WM6_8tg1t73Crjkt7QmvcqT3T-w4QEJiUzK0MnjN7k4LX8GPsZnoIa-tGWJowMcPrRo_xpcLZL3GhctQZ0huRPxjkrbjLXEZ1y_OxRXPVR7bOU/s2048/EagleSihoutte.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1592" data-original-width="2048" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUr1jPa5Zn1UPx4nO0_9ZMubgf-ZR2WM6_8tg1t73Crjkt7QmvcqT3T-w4QEJiUzK0MnjN7k4LX8GPsZnoIa-tGWJowMcPrRo_xpcLZL3GhctQZ0huRPxjkrbjLXEZ1y_OxRXPVR7bOU/w604-h440/EagleSihoutte.jpg" width="604" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span class="text Isa-39-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span class="text Isa-39-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><span class="text Isa-39-5" style="background-color: white; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-18375611112027519682021-04-27T14:17:00.000-07:002021-04-27T14:17:08.066-07:00Hezekiah Prays and Judah is Protected (Isaiah 35-37)<p> So, after God had judged all the nations, God spoke through the prophet Isaiah about a great restoration. It is not only an immediate restoration, but he talks about the ultimate restoration of the whole world after the battle of Armageddon and Jesus reigns as described in the Book of Revelation. This is called a double reference prophesy, and there are many double reference prophesies throughout the Bible. </p><p>These prophesies were 700 years before Jesus was even born, but many of them point to Jesus. Like in verses 5 and 6. "The eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall hear." Jesus not only referred to this passage when speaking of himself, but as we will see, He quoted Isaiah many, many times throughout His ministry.</p><p>Chapter 35 also refers to a "Highway of Holiness' that only a few get to travel. <i>This highway to heaven is like a toll-booth. We have to pay a price in order to travel on it. But the toll is way to high for anyone to ever pay! Well, that doesn't seem fair! But guess, what? Jesus stepped up to the toll booth and paid our toll when He died on the cross for our sins. The toll is paid. We can travel on the highway to heaven if we accept Jesus' payment. How? By admitting that we could not even come close to paying our own way because we are sinners. Then, by believing that Jesus is God, and that He paid our way, and finally by letting Jesus be the master of our lives. Putting His desire for our lives before our own.</i></p><p>In Isaiah chapter 36, The Commander of the Assyrian army is in Jerusalem, (near their water supply) and he is taunting 3 of Judah's military leaders. It is a public place, soon many of the citizens gathered around to hear what was being said. "Go tell your king, Hezekiah that he is a fool!" Said Rabshakeh. " He is trusting that the Egyptians will have his back during any invasions. But Egypt is not only weaker than he thinks, but they are also deceitful, and will side with the stronger army to save their own skin!" Rabshakeh then continued. "Oh I know how your King Hezekiah will respond. He will say something like, 'We have the God of Israel on our side.' Well kindly remind your king of how he turned is back on the God of Israel when he removed the altars and high places."</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1U_panFIuLuhGginq0zOKg1enOPiC09ag0ZMHFQA7__fDXaSrhgqLUPjh4pINS7422lcbKBvAYQKNVpVse-OAzRUmNiiCbZd8Yr8ViAWGy6hYOYoCk79g4MWuz4CGUESmVRZn3_nv_o/s2048/RabshakehThreat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1893" data-original-width="2048" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1U_panFIuLuhGginq0zOKg1enOPiC09ag0ZMHFQA7__fDXaSrhgqLUPjh4pINS7422lcbKBvAYQKNVpVse-OAzRUmNiiCbZd8Yr8ViAWGy6hYOYoCk79g4MWuz4CGUESmVRZn3_nv_o/w435-h402/RabshakehThreat.jpg" width="435" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Rabshakeh thought that the altars and high places were places to worship God. He was mistaken. Hezekiah did the right thing by removing them. They were pagan worship places. God wanted the people to come to the temple in Jerusalem to worship him. <i>The devil sometimes uses twisted logic to discourage us or to get us to do the wrong thing, but remember, God never wavers on truth. Know His Word then the devil won't be able to twist the truth like he did with Eve in the Garden. (Genesis 3:1)</i></p><p>Rabshakeh continued to twist the truth by adding. " Look at how prosperous Assyria is and all the battles we have won. And you Judah, you are struggling to protect yourselves, and to feed your people at times.We could give you 2000 horses. If you could even gather enough men to ride them, our army would crush you in an instant! It looks like the God of Israel is not only against you, but He is on our side! </p><p><i>We see other people around us that have everything. They are healthy and happy. The devil tries to convince us that God loves them more than He loves us. Don't believe it! God loves you more than we can imagine. If you are going through something really hard right now. Like not feeling well, other kids picking on you, your mom and dad having trouble, or a friend hurt you, just remember. God didn't leave you. He is there by your side walking through the tough times with you. Lean into Him, talk to Him and trust Him.</i></p><p>The 3 military officials were getting a little uncomfortable because of the large crowd that had gathered. They wanted Rabshakeh to speak in Aramaic so the people would not understand. Be he continued speaking in Hebrew, and even louder. Hoping to discourage all the citizens. Would't you like to live in peace? And live in total comfort? The king of Assyria is offering that to you. (In other words, surrender) Before Rabshekah showed up, Hezekiah warned to people that he would be talking a lot of rubbish. But do not respond to him with any words. And that is just what they did. They remained silent.</p><p>The scribes went to Hezekiah right away and told the king all that Rabshakeh had said. He was deeply troubled and sent the messengers to the prophet Isaiah to ask for some guidance. </p><p>Isaiah heard the desperation and hopelessness. He responded. "Tell the king , do not be afraid. Yes, Rabshakeh has blasphemed me, but you won't have to worry about him any more. I will take care of him. I'm sure Hezekiah was thinking, okay, but what about the rest of Assyria. They are still going to attack us.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Oo-sMNkZ0bjIKOF4XHZmCIVskZTVWkZrU7nEyVZZrtwC0pkfypiRd_zVruTKssE1hyUCb7cRul0dKod41gFKJqNaqbo0fe1b1VrapdW4M01-ZK6ZQizJTjr1LxJ-OWQJ0NWwINuC-78/s2048/HezekiahPrays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1881" data-original-width="2048" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Oo-sMNkZ0bjIKOF4XHZmCIVskZTVWkZrU7nEyVZZrtwC0pkfypiRd_zVruTKssE1hyUCb7cRul0dKod41gFKJqNaqbo0fe1b1VrapdW4M01-ZK6ZQizJTjr1LxJ-OWQJ0NWwINuC-78/w458-h420/HezekiahPrays.jpg" width="458" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>When Hezakiah returned to his home, there was a threatening letter from Rabshakeh. Hezekiah. He went to the house of the Lord and spread the letter out before the Lord and praised God and prayed for protection. God then spoke to Isaiah and told him. "Go tell Hezekiah this, "That because he prayed, I will answer his prayer."</p><p><i>Did you get that? "Because he prayed". In other words, if Hezekiah had not prayed, Jerusalem would have been destroyed. God hears our prayers. God answers prayers. How many things have we not prayed for, so God didn't answer. "You have not, because you ask not." (James 4:23) </i></p><p><br /></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-26514374621188901112020-11-24T07:53:00.003-08:002020-11-24T07:55:29.776-08:00Isaiah 13-34 Judgements, the New Kingdom and Trusting God<p><br /></p><p>Chapters 13- 17 are prophesies about God's judgement of different lands. A prophesy is basically a God given prediction. But we think of a prediction as something that probably will happen, like a predicted thunderstorm. But God's predictions (prophesies) are for sure. But God in His loving grace and mercy is always giving the people of these lands one more chance. And that's why he sent the prophets.</p><p>Chapter 13 is God's j<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">udgment upon Babylon. Isaiah says the Babylon</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> will never be inhabited, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Nor will it be settled from generation to generation. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">But wild beasts of the desert will lie there, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">And their houses will be full of owls; </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Ostriches will dwell there, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">And wild goats will dance there. T</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">he hyenas will howl there. Chapter 14: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Judgment to come on Assyria and the Philistines. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Chapters 15 and 16: Judgement upon Moab. Chapter 17: </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Judgement against Syria and Israel.<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aEhDfUjMKGNSRvyZVm2yUJlj8U1z9QYHp05dgz2S809ytELLWbpb92-vAjn9Xr5dUF1H490swsox8bKelyfqxJsqx9AWA5sKqbv_XqjBpf6diR88di_wuqwJkhnu74TcGOUD52a89_4/s2048/isaiah13b.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1601" data-original-width="2048" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aEhDfUjMKGNSRvyZVm2yUJlj8U1z9QYHp05dgz2S809ytELLWbpb92-vAjn9Xr5dUF1H490swsox8bKelyfqxJsqx9AWA5sKqbv_XqjBpf6diR88di_wuqwJkhnu74TcGOUD52a89_4/w400-h313/isaiah13b.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Isaiah shifts gears a little in chapter 18. He warns the people of Judah not to accept any help from the Ethiopians. God knows that they will make an offer to Judah, but God tells the people of Judah that He is enough. Judah is fearful that Assyria will attack (and they will) so they are looking elsewhere for help. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><i>Don't we do the same thing? God is our security, but don't we put more trust in things like money, popularity and material things than we do in God? God wants us to remember all the times that He was there for us. He is unchanging. If He did it before, He will be there for us again. Try this: sit very quietly and try to remember some of the hard stuff you went through. Then think about how it all worked out even though you thought it might not. God was there!</i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnS6Cja4mNhV_ldqirWm7JyrF5ADjMlkKFnQIl8y5m97z8SThtQt6ZeJOouuxBaRoALKQtWbDHjgx9H8qi4fv1yBgH-Ejx6WQlzOBseQWuVXgjJe2jM3mejCsZGD49qOk4oU9OkCZRG4/s2048/IsaiahStripped.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwnS6Cja4mNhV_ldqirWm7JyrF5ADjMlkKFnQIl8y5m97z8SThtQt6ZeJOouuxBaRoALKQtWbDHjgx9H8qi4fv1yBgH-Ejx6WQlzOBseQWuVXgjJe2jM3mejCsZGD49qOk4oU9OkCZRG4/w400-h400/IsaiahStripped.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></span></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666;">Isaiah continues with the prophesies of God's judgements. In Chapters 19, 21, 22, and 23, the judgements are prophesied against Egypt, Babylon, Edom, Arabia, Jerusalem and Tyre.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">In chapter 20 </span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 18px;">The </span><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #666666; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">LORD</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 18px;"> </span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 18px;">gives Isaiah a sign to act out. God told Isaiah to remove his outer garments </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 18px;">and his sandals</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-size: 18px;"> (basically strip down to his underwear) for three years as a sign to all of what will happen to Egypt and Ethiopia after the Assyrian invasion. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Then the </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">LORD</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: 700;"> said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years as</span><i style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </i><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: 700;">a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, to the shame of Egypt.”</span></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.85em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In Chapters 24 through 34 Isaiah's prophesies jump from the present to the future great tribulation In chapter 24, 25, 26 and 27 his words point to the end times when Jesus will rule over all the world. Then for the next few chapters he reminds Judah that they talk and act like they trust God, but their actions speak louder than words.They will also be judged. But again in His mercy and grace, God will spare Judah much tribulation during that time, and The Assyrian army will be defeated (by God) as it invades Jerusalem.</p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.85em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>When we trust in God (Jesus as our Lord and savior) we become His children. Just as a father disciplines his child, God will disciple us when we misbehave (sin). Yes it is true that Jesus died for our sins, but that doesn't mean we can go on sinning and not reap the consequences. We are slowly become more and more like Jesus every day. If we "get away" with our sins, we won't change. Just like a car won't turn if the steering wheel doesn't move. So God nudges us, or pushes us in the right directions through His loving discipline.</i></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.85em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0.85em 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></p><div><br /></div>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-85941587480967040952020-10-28T10:38:00.005-07:002020-10-28T10:39:57.890-07:00(Isaiah 7-12) Isaiah's Children as a Warning<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">As chapter 7 begins,</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> the</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">LORD</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> tells</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> Isaiah to go and meet king Ahaz.</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> Isaiah was told to take his son, named </span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Shear-Jashub</span></span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">, which</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> means, <i>A Remnant Shall Return</i></span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">. We will see how God uses both of Isaiah's sons as object lessons in his prophesies. </span></p><p><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> When Isaiah arrived before king Ahaz, he told the king that God said He would give Ahaz some kind of a sign to help convince Ahaz of His word. But Ahaz said that he would not test the Lord. It sounds like Ahaz was being humble, but in fact it was the opposite. Yes it's true, the Bible says not to test God, but if He says to test Him, as in the book of Malachai when God says to test Him with offerings so that He could pour out blessings on us, then it's OK.</span></p><p><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHId4p2g3FrSyQ3H95TM7UggxN9Em0KHHRqeLQtSq9Q3gO_3WVK5y0UlMzCVJsV3Lj-YAkh8uNDKUX8HvK-4b5gNyjSUXjJS133vz_GDMzEFeFzTTOd00gbP4qfHNda7ki7lD7TVXUYlU/s2048/IsaiahWrites.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1978" data-original-width="2048" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHId4p2g3FrSyQ3H95TM7UggxN9Em0KHHRqeLQtSq9Q3gO_3WVK5y0UlMzCVJsV3Lj-YAkh8uNDKUX8HvK-4b5gNyjSUXjJS133vz_GDMzEFeFzTTOd00gbP4qfHNda7ki7lD7TVXUYlU/w640-h618/IsaiahWrites.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">God told Ahaz, through Isaiah, "Very well, then I will send you a sign anyway.</span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: 700; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel</span></span></span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">." This is one of the most famous prophecies regarding the birth of Jesus the Messiah in the Bible. </span><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> We know this passage speaks of Jesus because the Holy Spirit says so through Matthew: </span><i style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-family: helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”</i><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;"> (</span><a class="BLBST_a" href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/search/preSearch.cfm?Criteria=Matthew+1.23&t=NKJV" rel="NKJV.Matthew.1.23" style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-family: helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: nowrap;" target="BLB_NW">Matthew 1:23</a><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">)<br /><br /></span><p></p><p><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">In chapter 8, God tells Isaiah to take a large board and write the words </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;">which means, <i>Plunder and Carry Away</i>. The word plunder means <i>to steal by force, usually during an invasion</i>. So </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;">Isaiah did as God commanded. Isaiah had 2 witnesses. He wasn't sure what this was all about at the time, but he wanted 2 honest men, Uriah and Zechariah, to see him write it so no one could say that he wrote it after the fact.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;">Soon afterward Isaiah's wife became pregnant with their second son and 9 months later, after he was born, God came to Isaiah and said, "Remember those words I asked you to write on a board last year? That is what I want you to name your son, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;">." (Mr. BibleHead paraphrase) God told Isaiah that before the baby is able to say "mommy" Assyria would attack Damascus and Samaria. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdfc29GXrOjYeLL7m8LPSBIs3TNqyD7SSNds75coQ7yXhbnkZurL95_ZukxM9Jehm1d5nvgpNaOSm6slRBrBncqrVH0ShCZJ3kUb8-V3ByuD-hG20pkYCr2rsSSli-jFNeplSuk_UxCU/s2048/IsaiahAndSons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdfc29GXrOjYeLL7m8LPSBIs3TNqyD7SSNds75coQ7yXhbnkZurL95_ZukxM9Jehm1d5nvgpNaOSm6slRBrBncqrVH0ShCZJ3kUb8-V3ByuD-hG20pkYCr2rsSSli-jFNeplSuk_UxCU/w400-h400/IsaiahAndSons.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;">Isaiah went before the people. "See my two sons? God has asked me to give them specific names as a warning to you. Before my youngest son will be able to speak, the Assyrian army will attack and plunder. But my older son is a symbol of hope. There will be an Israelite remnant." <i>A remnant is a small part left over after the large piece of cloth has been cut, but it can be used later</i>. Isaiah said that Judah will be tempted to ask fortune tellers and mediums what would be their fate, but Isaiah said that he is standing right in front of them with his two sons and a message from God. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">We too can seek guidance through wrong means. God reveals all we need to know. Read your Bible. That's how God speaks to us. In the Old Testament, the people needed a prophet. But now we have God's Word.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-size: 16px;">Chapter 9 is a beautiful chapter of God's grace and mercy. He gives hope to Judah and to all people through His words. " Nevertheless, the darkness will not last forever. There will be a time when Galilee will be filled with glory. A light will come into the darkness.(Jesus) And the people will rejoice." </span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Have you ever watched a Charlie Brown Christmas? Then verse 6 will sound familiar to you. It is one of the most recognized prophesies about the coming of Jesus. </span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">For unto us a Child is born,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Unto us a Son is given;</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">And the government will be upon His shoulder.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">And His name will be called</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 700;">Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #004161; font-size: 16px;">God is not only telling them about what will happen 700 years later, He is giving them a chance to turn from their wicked ways and turn toward Him. He is truly a faithful and merciful God!</span><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"> </span><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">It doesn't matter how much we have screwed up. God wants us to come to Him. We don't have to get "right" before we come to Him. He is the one who makes us "right". If we accept what Jesus has done for us. (taking our sins and giving His life as a sacrifice, and if we choose to make him Lord (everything we do is for Him) of our life, God promises that the Holy Spirit will come and live inside us and that we will live with Him forever.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Chapter 10 tell about how God used Assyria as a judgement tool (vs.7) against Israel and Judah, but now it is time to judge prideful, godless Assyria. God says that Assyria will waste away like sick people during a plague. (vs.18) Then God reminds His people again at the end of Chapter 10 and into Chapter 11 about the coming Messiah. It is a beautiful description of a savior coming through the line of David.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Chapter 12 is a beautiful song of praise for salvation that comes through Jesus, and only because of the unimaginable grace and mercy of the living God. <span style="color: #3d85c6;">Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Remember to thank Him always. Because it was nothing that you or I did. It is was Jesus did!</span></span></p><p><span face="helvetica, helveticaneue, "helvetica neue", helvetica-neue, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; color: #414042; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-81245662271886010582020-10-18T06:26:00.001-07:002020-10-18T06:26:49.005-07:00Intro to Isaiah and chapters 1-6<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">The book of Isaiah was written by the prophet Isaiah. He ministered in Israel and Judah. After Israel was taken over by the Assyrians, he continued to minister only in Judah. He was the prophet during the reign of 4 different kings. <br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiSGUvvpjxeOqgAyAMtvOVGQohXQLXp0fTywsQ-sao3eITQpe38SYa3qkgDJi0ZzlYAeeO0_SCOE44U7BZHfIV1kgBTxUkDOOyqxPEgsxiEuo4LK2EuOL8ZiWV80gS0eRa8ta7dpAmog/s2048/Isaiah.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiSGUvvpjxeOqgAyAMtvOVGQohXQLXp0fTywsQ-sao3eITQpe38SYa3qkgDJi0ZzlYAeeO0_SCOE44U7BZHfIV1kgBTxUkDOOyqxPEgsxiEuo4LK2EuOL8ZiWV80gS0eRa8ta7dpAmog/w400-h400/Isaiah.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">The name Isaiah means <i>Salvation of the Lord</i>. It is a perfect name for him, because as you will see, He </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">speaks a lot about Jesus, even though Jesus wouldn't even be born for another 700 years. </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">The book of Isaiah and the book of Jeremiah are the two longest books in the bible. He has a lot to say about the poor and the people who are being controlled by evil judges and the government. He also talks a lot about the holiness of God. Do you know what the word holy means? It means <i>set apart</i>. So God is set </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #414042; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">apart from any other idol that the people worshipped. He is the only true God. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;">When He asks us to be holy, just as He is holy, (1 Peter 1:16) He wants us to be set apart for Him. To obey Him and trust Him and not act like everyone else.</span></p><p><span face="yorkten-slab-normal, serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3f4041;">Isaiah was a faithful and bold prophet of God. He spoke very specifically about Jesus, the coming Messiah and about His justice, His promises to Israel, His life and death, and His majesty. Isaiah also told of God’s judgment on The Israelites as they continued to turn from Him. However, Isaiah understood not only God’s judgment but also His salvation, mercy, grace, and compassion. He told of these things and confirmed God’s promise that His people would not be completely destroyed.</span></p><p><span face="yorkten-slab-normal, serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3f4041;">In Chapter 2, Isaiah tells the Israelites how He chose them and had a perfect plan for them, but that they turned from Him and worshipped idols. God mentions how prideful the Israelites were 10 times in this chapter, so pride is one of their main sins. God says that he "Opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5) He warned the people through Isaiah that judgement for their acts of prideful disobedience was coming. </span></p><p><span face="yorkten-slab-normal, serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3f4041;">Chapter 3 is more about judgement, specifically Jerusalem. And how God himself will make sure that they have no food and water. This may seem a bit harsh, but when we turn from God, He will "take away" anything that will keep us from Him. The Israelites were so self reliant, that they thought they didn't need God anymore. </span><span face="yorkten-slab-normal, serif" style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc;">We can get that way sometimes. When we get comfortable because we live in a house, we have clothes to wear and food everyday, we can think to ourselves. "I'm doing pretty good on my own." </span></p><p><span face="yorkten-slab-normal, serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3f4041;">In Chapter 4 God, speaking through Isaiah, Gives hope to the Israelite survivors. He mentions the "Branch of the Lord", which means Jesus. Jesus is the Great Hope. He ends chapter four saying that He will be a refuge and a shelter from the storm and rain. "He is our refuge and our shelter" (Psalm 92:1)</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNedBTYKxZQa6ARtZR0MkXNAc00pR8cvzxQeN8SCKdW4WflHuPj7QFoATNNAkhGe3qDAn5Ov6y6VxHkKS2UvMnWPnBWFUh4Zz5F2Q5xLz-rZgB0ZgoEplB2ZQq3tGSqpL0s7gwcKFfCs/s2048/IsaiahHotCoals.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1777" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNedBTYKxZQa6ARtZR0MkXNAc00pR8cvzxQeN8SCKdW4WflHuPj7QFoATNNAkhGe3qDAn5Ov6y6VxHkKS2UvMnWPnBWFUh4Zz5F2Q5xLz-rZgB0ZgoEplB2ZQq3tGSqpL0s7gwcKFfCs/w598-h640/IsaiahHotCoals.jpg" width="598" /></a></div><span face="yorkten-slab-normal, serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3f4041;">Chapter 5 begins with a story about a vineyard. The vineyard is Israel, and Isaiah tells how God cleared a way for the Israelites. Then they turned from Him. God is reminding the people that He chose them and He worked everything together for their sake. But now He tells of more judgement because they turned from Him. </span><p></p><p><span face="yorkten-slab-normal, serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3f4041;">Chapter 6 takes a turn and Isaiah tells about a day when he saw the Lord sitting on a throne. H was surrounded by angels who kept praising God saying "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord of hosts. The earth is full of your glory!" The earth shook and Isaiah trembled. "I am not worthy to even be here here! I am a sinner! How can I, a man of unclean lips be here before the King of Kings?" </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4041;">Then one of the angels took a hot coal and touched it to Isaiah's lips and declared him cleansed of his sins. Then God asked Isaiah, "who shall I send to the kings with my message?" Isaiah responded. "Send me Lord!". </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #6fa8dc;">God wants to use us. Timothy 2:21 says if we are cleansed from our sins and keep ourselves pure, then we can be useful tools in His hands. Wouldn't that be amazing to be used by God! </span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #3f4041;">Next Time, Isaiah goes before the kings.</span></p><h1 style="break-after: avoid; margin: 12pt 0cm 3pt;"><br /></h1>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-64709379686612370962020-08-25T13:04:00.004-07:002020-08-25T13:04:48.448-07:00Song Of Songs (or Song of Solomon)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The Song of Songs is a love dialogue between a man (King Solomon) and a woman. We will take a brief overview of the book.... and when you are old enough.... you can read it more in depth.<br />
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The author of this book is King Solomon..... probably written early in his reign.<br />
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The purpose of this book is to show that God is not only interested in who we fall in love with, He initiates it and blesses it. God is love (1John 4:8)<br />
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Song of Songs is the story of a young couple. It begins with dating(courtship), then the wedding, the wedding night and finally the marriage. Many believe it is a picture of God and his love for the church.<br />
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The plot and storyline of this book is this: It is a drama about the relationship between two people in love. The story is very romantic. The man uses many comparisons in nature to describe and compliment his bride-to-be and then his bride. He describes her sixteen times using, fruit, trees and flowers. Then he describes her eleven times using animals. (Some of the beautiful compliments he paid her would not really be compliments today. Like for instance: Chapter 4 verse 1: "your hair falls in waves like a flock of goats") <img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1189" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdEwmUwYwIEQcvynEg9ZFp5y5cNLYeYJ7g0QLnHtpK63taZ-0qul03lDZuLNIup8Pg4_Vtig9GzGDQtgquTBg425FBwX_vDZ987OUmPxLTrop8ZkJ2F1FiShhFzZDyFrIS2-LHOoE7cRE/w793-h800/SOS1.jpg" width="793" /><div><br /></div><div>The story continues when Solomon, a wealthy shepherd meets a country girl. They fall in love and he asks her to marry him. She has to decide if being a queen is something she really would desire for her life. Finally she agrees, and the wealthy shepherd sends a wedding procession to escort her.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WfUuhWVxRabV9-i5qcWf0E5swUkA1Fzd68Ze5fhTwv2JXAkGgT-PPuVcpaT6G9MZx7YWeB39zW8INW7t-8SV0PsTIOLgNeY1eLz8Km3iUl5wWmSEuO1oomWLjpAendeunHiTVLs3Zd0/s1200/SOS2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="960" height="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WfUuhWVxRabV9-i5qcWf0E5swUkA1Fzd68Ze5fhTwv2JXAkGgT-PPuVcpaT6G9MZx7YWeB39zW8INW7t-8SV0PsTIOLgNeY1eLz8Km3iUl5wWmSEuO1oomWLjpAendeunHiTVLs3Zd0/w640-h800/SOS2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
The second half of the book is about their married life and the many problems and temptations they encounter.<br />
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The Song of Songs is a beautiful book that teaches us many things. For instance: God's plan for us is to wait to be married before we sleep with someone of the opposite sex. "Do not awaken love till the time is right." 2:7 Also, if we face hard times or temptation, we don't have to do it alone. The end of Song of Songs describes how the woman's brothers came along side of her and helped her through a difficult time. Are you struggling? look for support. Are you not struggling? look for someone who is and support them. Finally, Loving others sometimes means looking past their faults and mistakes. Jesus loves us in all our failures, sins and mistakes. It's called unconditional love. Or "agape" love in Greek. Imagine if Jesus only loved us when we were doing right? I know for myself... he would be loving me for only a few minutes a day. Love others like Jesus loves. It's not easy.... but it is right.<br />
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<br /></div>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-63634011082875985422020-01-09T08:25:00.001-08:002020-01-09T09:23:15.835-08:00Ecclesiastes Part 1 (Chapters 1-6) Well we have reached the 21st book of the Bible, Ecclesiastes. In Hebrew, the word ecclesiastes means to preach. It was written about 975 years before Jesus was born, by King Solomon. It was written near the end of King Solomon's reign as king of Israel. If you remember from our journey through the Book of 1 Kings, he was given great wisdom at the beginning of his reign. But now, at the end of his regime he has accumulated years of experience. He has written down his observations in this book.... and it may not be what you'd expect.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuV0UQgsQzihwMsewbEkk_Vwx9PL2L7QW19xD3M2UJBibkBtL3M-jmIVq5iOWOx6MDlCfA2QKo5z_PKki1iDMREltOZROCWsjsqGVzSxfPqGR1kwNYjRBXUawSLwxAx5O0yI2EhUOETow/s1600/SolomonNature.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1375" data-original-width="1159" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuV0UQgsQzihwMsewbEkk_Vwx9PL2L7QW19xD3M2UJBibkBtL3M-jmIVq5iOWOx6MDlCfA2QKo5z_PKki1iDMREltOZROCWsjsqGVzSxfPqGR1kwNYjRBXUawSLwxAx5O0yI2EhUOETow/s320/SolomonNature.jpg" width="268" /></a> Have you ever won a game that you are playing with one or more of your friends? It feels good, right? At that moment you feel the rush of victorious joy, but a few hours later, it doesn't much matter who won. You have to play and win again to feel that same feeling. Then, if you win every time, even that feeling wears down nothing. Why is that? Well King Solomon, the wisest and richest man ever, tackles that very question plus a few more. And who better than the man who could have anything, do anything or command anything to share his quest for "the meaning of life."<br />
Basically the book of Ecclesiastes talks about the frustrations, futility and unanswered questions of life, then the teacher (King Solomon) wraps it all up in the very last paragraph by encouraging us to live a God-centered life. We will go through the first six chapters in this post and the last six chapters in the next post. I just wanted to let you know ahead of time that there is a light at the end of the eccliasastical tunnel.:)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53XtCfOKKwpLdGpkEX-m5p68c8GZO4fW3xoSemhyOyzYyopTSJflg_qcfyMRFwc5fwwl_Jzs3U9TJtgcDK8-myow3UaPmpyPSSMo0vbBxhXtY1Q6Ob1TDqtga_kP9TPKtrSS5qfSmk3E/s1600/SolomonVineyards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1228" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53XtCfOKKwpLdGpkEX-m5p68c8GZO4fW3xoSemhyOyzYyopTSJflg_qcfyMRFwc5fwwl_Jzs3U9TJtgcDK8-myow3UaPmpyPSSMo0vbBxhXtY1Q6Ob1TDqtga_kP9TPKtrSS5qfSmk3E/s320/SolomonVineyards.jpg" width="261" /></a> The teacher begins the book and chapter 1 by saying that everything is meaningless. He points out the monotony of nature, instead of God's incredible creation (Psalm 95:4-5). Then he points out how useless it is for men to work, instead of how work is a God-ordained blessing (John 5:17) He ends the first chapter talking about how being wise and searching for wisdom amounts to nothing.When God clearly says that wisdom is a gift from Him to glorify Him (James 3:17)<br />
In chapter 2, the teacher starts off by saying that enjoying life and laughter is totally futile. He built parks and vineyards and large houses, but it was all just a waste of time and resources. But God says in his word that He has made this day, everything good in it is a gift, and we should rejoice in it.(James1:17) (Psalm118:24) Then in chapter 2 he also repeats the fact that wisdom and work are meaningless.<br />
Chapter 3 starts off with a beautiful poem (it was even made into a song by the Byrds in 1965) then the teacher continues by acknowledging God's purpose and living our lives in the light of eternity.<br />
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-1.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>1</b></a></span>For everything there is a season,</i></div>
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<i>a time for every activity under heaven.</i></div>
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-2.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>2</b></a></span>A time to be born and a time to die.</i></div>
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<i>A time to plant and a time to harvest.</i></div>
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-3.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>3</b></a></span>A time to kill and a time to heal.</i></div>
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<i>A time to tear down and a time to build up.</i></div>
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-4.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>4</b></a></span>A time to cry and a time to laugh.</i></div>
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<i>A time to grieve and a time to dance.</i></div>
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-5.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>5</b></a></span>A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.</i></div>
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<i>A time to embrace and a time to turn away.</i></div>
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-6.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>6</b></a></span>A time to search and a time to quit searching.</i></div>
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<i>A time to keep and a time to throw away.</i></div>
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-7.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>7</b></a></span>A time to tear and a time to mend.</i></div>
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<i>A time to be quiet and a time to speak.</i></div>
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-8.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>8</b></a></span>A time to love and a time to hate.</i></div>
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<i>A time for war and a time for peace.</i></div>
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-9.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>9</b></a></span>What do people really get for all their hard work? <span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-10.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>10</b></a></span>I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. <span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-11.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>11</b></a></span>Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end. <span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-12.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>12</b></a></span>So I concluded there is nothing better than to be happy and enjoy ourselves as long as we can. <span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-13.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>13</b></a></span>And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.</i></div>
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<i><span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-14.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>14</b></a></span>And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God’s purpose is that people should fear him. <span class="reftext" style="color: #b34700; font-size: 11px; font-weight: 700; line-height: 15px; margin-left: 1px; margin-right: 2px; vertical-align: text-top;"><a href="http://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/3-15.htm" style="color: #0092f2; text-decoration-line: none;"><b>15</b></a></span>What is happening now has happened before, and what will happen in the future has happened before, because God makes the same things happen over and over again.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: roboto, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Then the teacher returns to the negative script and talks about how life is not fair. Well he is right about that. Sin is in our world. Bad things happen to good people, but God promises to never leave our side.(Deuteronomy 31:8)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> The teacher continues about the unfairness of life in Chapter 4, Then he adds a positive side note. He says that two people together can get more done together than they can seperately. If one falls, the other is there to help him get up. If a man falls alone, he is in trouble. Then he states the fact that three are even better. "A chord of three strands is not easily broken." (vs. 11) Then as a king, he says that he sees the futility of political power. God tells us to pray for our leaders and that He has placed them there for His purpose.(Romans 13:1)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Chapter 5 begins with an exhortation to approach God with reverence. And if we make any promises to God, keep them, and keep them as quickly as possible. For it is better to say nothing, than to make a promise to Him and not keep it.(vs 5) He finishes up the chapter talking about how useless it is to be wealthy. God talks about money a lot in the Bible. Wealth is not useless and money is not bad according to God. Wealthy people who give to bring God glory can bless so many people.(Matthew 6:21) But we don't have to be wealthy to give. God can use a little to accomplish much. And it doesn't just have to be money. It could be our time and our talents as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> In chapter 6 the teacher talks some more about being rich verses being poor. He says that t both rich and poor get sick and they both die, the only difference is that the rich man leaves more behind that he never got the chance to enjoy. God tells us through Paul to be content whether rich or poor because God gives us the strength to live a fulfilled life in Him. (Philippians 4:12-13)</span></div>
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<i> Thanks to Phil Vischer (creator of Veggie Tales) for this clip from whatsinthebible.com</i><br />
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<br />MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-78758203052901710732019-10-05T13:31:00.000-07:002019-10-05T13:31:21.649-07:00Proverbs Pt. 2We will look at a few more proverbs. Remember what we said about the Book of Proverbs? <span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">The main purpose is to teach wisdom to God’s people. Proverbs are short clever explanations, which are easy to remember. They contain truisms. These are things which are typically true however, not always</span><span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">. They deal with life, principles, good judgment, and perception. They often draw distinctions between a wise man and a foolish man with parable type examples.</span><br />
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<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> Proverbs 1:17</span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> <i>The bird see a trap and goes the other way,</i></span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><i> A greedy man sets a trap, then gets caught</i></span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><i> in it himself.</i></span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">In other words, the deeds that go along with being greedy are actually self-destructive.</span><br />
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<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> Proverbs 17:12</span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> <i> Trying to rob a mama bear of her cubs is safer</i></span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><i> than confronting a fool caught in his own folly.</i></span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">In other words, pointing out a stupid mistake to someone is not a very good idea.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGfvwo8K2aZUz8sw1vp-v51yGK4yw-m5P9ogmvFrQyFd3XVa-sZ-tWoq_yj5BOPvj87hAkhVjA2pUyBeuogH6LAD0hfTH_jhk37oEwZWTYz96EQuOy2YCFkeXvc0qgv-Um0UKVSqqMos/s1600/MammaBearCubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGfvwo8K2aZUz8sw1vp-v51yGK4yw-m5P9ogmvFrQyFd3XVa-sZ-tWoq_yj5BOPvj87hAkhVjA2pUyBeuogH6LAD0hfTH_jhk37oEwZWTYz96EQuOy2YCFkeXvc0qgv-Um0UKVSqqMos/s400/MammaBearCubs.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> Proverbs 24:16</span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> <i>A Godly man may trip 7 times, but he always gets up.</i></span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><i> Just one trip-up and the ungodly man is down and out.</i></span><br />
<span class="font2" style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">In other words, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">When God is on our side, we see obstacles as opportunities and brush ourselves off and try again, but the person that doesn't know God, gets totally discouraged after one failure and gives up.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9zODUSUR_07i4C8fFHs2DZvZKtkEJniE4sLEMCm7dmo4riLbcQX6GVO7i09x-MofCkfe3M6fNqzGQHzXCZi6ztVfuSp4D_pq3so5L7ZuNVSa8m3yVqNym8Wrro5yMnMeEJDbtZBmMLM/s1600/ManTrips7Times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1597" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9zODUSUR_07i4C8fFHs2DZvZKtkEJniE4sLEMCm7dmo4riLbcQX6GVO7i09x-MofCkfe3M6fNqzGQHzXCZi6ztVfuSp4D_pq3so5L7ZuNVSa8m3yVqNym8Wrro5yMnMeEJDbtZBmMLM/s400/ManTrips7Times.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> Proverbs 26:17</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"> <i>Yanking a dog's ears is as foolish as interfering </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><i> in someone else's argument. </i></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">In other words, When we get in the middle of two people arguing, we could be the one that ends up getting "bit." The Bible does say "Blessed are the peace makers", but it does not say blessed </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">are the peace keepers. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;">Next time we will be reading another book written by King Solomon called "Ecclesiastes".</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #001320; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-62221131670198925842019-09-20T10:08:00.000-07:002019-09-20T10:08:17.586-07:00ProverbsThe book of Proverbs (known as the proverbs of Solomon) was in fact written by Solomon, However, some of the proverbs that have been collected by Solomon are included in the book. In his lifetime, Solomon wrote 3,000 proverbs and 1000 songs.<br />
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Proverbs is different from other books of the Bible because it is filled with two or three line individual statements, not organized by topic. They teach wisdom through short points. They are not Biblical promises, but rather principals to guide us in our relationship with God and others. The word wisdom shows up 114 times in 31 chapters. The wise man is contrasted with the fool throughout the book.<br />
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So what is wisdom? Or who is the wise person? Wisdom is seeing the world and all that goes on, as God sees it and basing our reactions to any situation from God's perspective. So a wise person is one who knows God, sees the world through His eyes, and acts accordingly.<br />
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Provers 1:2 tells us "The purpose of proverbs is to teach people wisdom and discipline, and to help them understand wise sayings. And verse 3 says, Through these proverbs, people will receive instruction in discipline, good conduct, and doing what is right, just, and fair.<br />
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We can't go through every proverb, so I will pick out 6 proverbs that I think you will learn from and enjoy the pictures. The first one is Proverbs 6:6-7.<br />
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<i>Take a lesson from the ants and be wise. Even though they have no</i><br />
<i> leader, still they work all summer to gather food for the winter.</i><br />
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In other words, even when no one is in charge. Don't be lazy.... be smart.<br />
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And here is another one. Proverbs 11:22<br />
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<i> A woman who is beautiful but lacks good sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.</i><br />
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In other words, beauty may be on the outside..... but inner beauty is what God sees.<br />
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There are 31 one chapters in proverbs, just like days in the month. Some people read a chapter a day for a month because getting God's word past our brains and into our hearts takes repetition and diligence.<br />
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Next time we will see the wisdom in 4 more proverbs.<br />
MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-36643570759908433202019-07-18T10:34:00.000-07:002019-07-18T10:34:43.934-07:00Psalms 98, 114 and 139There are many example of different types of Psalms. Here are three.<br />
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Psalm 114:<br />
A Psalm of remembrance. It is good for us to remember the amazing things that God has done in the past. This Psalm depicts the time God rescued the Israelites by parting the Red Sea. God wants us to remember these biblical stories, but also to remember the times God has been there for us. Stop right now and think of when God protected you, comforted you and made a way for you. It is good to just stop and remember these things because it grows our faith and it draws us nearer to the Provider, Comforter and Protector.<br />
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<br />
<i> Psalm 114:1-4</i><br />
<i> When the Israelites escaped from Egypt, when the family of Jacob left that </i><br />
<i> foreign land, the land of Judah became God's sanctuary, and Israel His kingdom.</i><br />
<i> The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the</i><br />
<i> Jordan River turned away. The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like sheep.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
Psalm 98:<br />
A Psalm of praise. Did you ever hear the birds singing? did you ever thing that their song is a song of praise to God? If the little birdies can sing praises to the Lord, what should prevent us from doing the same. Psalm 22 says that "God inhabits the praises of His people". Which means God lives in our praise! If you want to be closer to God.... praise Him.... sing to Him. He loves it!<br />
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<i><br /></i>
<i> Psalm 98:4-8</i><br />
<i> Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music.</i><br />
<i> Make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing.</i><br />
<i> With trumpets and the blast of a ram's horn, Shout for joy to the Lord, the King.</i><br />
<i> Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all that live in it.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
Psalm 139:<br />
A Psalm of thanksgiving. Nothing in this life is guaranteed. God is the provider of everything, including our next breath. God was there at the beginning. (While we were still in our mom's tummy) He created us with a purpose. He knows everything about us... and He STILL loves us! There is so much to thank God for. We can use the thanksgiving Psalms to show our gratiude for His love, His provision, His protection etc....<br />
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<i><br /></i>
<i> Psalm 139:13-18</i><br />
<i> You made all the delicate , inner parts of my body and </i><br />
<i> knit me together </i><i>in my mother's womb.</i><br />
<i> Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!</i><br />
<i> Your workmanship is marvelous. How well I know it.</i><br />
<i> You watched me as I was being formed in seclusion,</i><br />
<i> as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.</i><br />
<i> You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life</i><br />
<i> was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid</i><br />
<i> out before a single day had passed.</i><br />
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MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-1768571342454892112019-07-11T12:08:00.000-07:002019-07-11T12:32:41.232-07:00The book of PsalmsWe can't illustrate every Psalm, so we are going to pick a few to draw and give an overview of the whole book by asking questions, and answering them.<br />
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(1)Who wrote the Book of Psalms?<br />
The Book of Psalms was written by Moses, King David, Heman, Ethan, King Solomon, Asaph and the son's of Korah. So a lot of people were involved. Although King David wrote almost half of the Psalms.... and there are a few that we don't know who wrote them. What is nice is that, a lot of the Psalms give the author and a brief story of what was happening, and the significance of each one.<br />
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(2) How many years did it take to write the Book of Psalms?<br />
Believe it or not, Psalms was written over a span of nearly1000 years! From 1440 B.C. (during the time of Moses) to 586 B.C. The Psalms cover most of Israels history. (While they were in Egypt, when they escaped into the wilderness, and during the reign of their judges and kings, until the time of their captivity by the Babylonians.<br />
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(3) What is the purpose of the Book of Psalms?<br />
In the New testament, Psalms is referred to many times. It was and is considered a book of wisdom, teaching about God and getting to know God personally. It was actually written in song form. So, many of the Psalms read like poems, with stanzas, alliteration and rhyming. However, since they were translated from Jewish, they lost some of their rhythm.<br />
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(4) How are the Psalms applicable to me?<br />
The Book of Psalms are so full of prayers for many situations. We can read the Psalms from our own perspective and pray them back to God. (By the way, He loves when we pray His words back to Him) The Psalms express a wide range of emotions, from Joy, hope, trust, gratitude and praise, to despair, fear, and sorrow. We can use the Psalms to pray, worship, confess and praise God.<br />
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So as we mentioned in question/answer #3, Psalms teach us. What are some of the things that we <br />
can learn from the Book of Psalms.<br />
(A) It's OK to express how we feel to God, whether positive or negative.<br />
(B) God cares for each of us. The Psalms reinforce our understanding of His love.<br />
(C) The Psalms teach us that serving God and doing right is worth it.<br />
(D) Some Psalms like Psalm 22 point to the coming of Jesus. So we can trust them.<br />
(E) We learn what God desires from us in prayer and worship.<br />
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<b>PSALM 23</b><br />
<b> a Psalm of David</b><br />
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<div class="poetry" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; margin-top: 1em; padding-left: 2.6em; position: relative;">
<div class="line" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Verdana, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqoN3OAw8qCmYCcbI1fPiYbCMFjSAWX9XG35rcqa9R1RGZyw488jiHqfDD0T0VYMlZSHiMIklIlp2SKgeHLdRLR2Zaz7Yz7hk4k9SyhVSPVgVjBY_B7-VsUhSeidVzvD5Lj08CqqW0oQ/s1600/shepherdandl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1159" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqoN3OAw8qCmYCcbI1fPiYbCMFjSAWX9XG35rcqa9R1RGZyw488jiHqfDD0T0VYMlZSHiMIklIlp2SKgeHLdRLR2Zaz7Yz7hk4k9SyhVSPVgVjBY_B7-VsUhSeidVzvD5Lj08CqqW0oQ/s400/shepherdandl.jpg" width="307" /></a><span class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-23-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.</span></span><br />
<span class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-23-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">He makes me lie down in green pastures.</span></span><br />
<span class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-23-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.</span></span><br />
<span class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-23-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.</span></span><br />
<span class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-23-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="chapter-2" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span class="text Ps-23-1" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; position: relative;">Even tho I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,</span></span><br />
I will fear no evil, for you are with me.<br />
Your rod and staff, they comfort me.<br />
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You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies.<br />
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.<br />
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,<br />
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. .</div>
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<br />MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-4103333809426270532019-06-19T12:14:00.001-07:002019-06-19T12:14:49.481-07:00Job...The Finale! (Job 38-42) For the past 33 chapters, Job and his "friends" have been going back and forth. The friends accusing Job of hidden sin and Job defending himself. Also, between the speeches, Job would cry out to God, questioning Him and charging God with not being fair.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBmDV8Ikasle1G9TmY7M8dimN9hMAouBmyCIvUHWLHOaGZbmG6iD1a2wmUxITUnCGPV8z29HsDQUpisyup8-CMGHX_UQuQiMsMky5syqvDdKRKVwe59Pn4Kje2kLTJSzQ9aP3kxoa3K0/s1600/JobisHumbled+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="886" data-original-width="1600" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaBmDV8Ikasle1G9TmY7M8dimN9hMAouBmyCIvUHWLHOaGZbmG6iD1a2wmUxITUnCGPV8z29HsDQUpisyup8-CMGHX_UQuQiMsMky5syqvDdKRKVwe59Pn4Kje2kLTJSzQ9aP3kxoa3K0/s640/JobisHumbled+.jpg" width="640" /></a> In chapter 38, God finally speaks in a whirlwind. "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself and answer some questions I have for you. Where were you when I created the earth? Who determined it's size and laid the foundation? Who keeps the waters inside the ocean wall and who hung each star in the sky?"<br />
God continued to go through each aspect of nature, finishing up with all the animals, pointing out with His questions, that He is the creator and sustainer of all things. Everything was created by Him and for Him. (Col. 1:16) By the beginning of chapter 40, God had finished with the questions for Job.<br />
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Job felt very humbled. All of creation was a witness to God's power and glory. Who was he to question God or advise Him? "I take back everything I said." Job said. "I was taking about things I knew nothing about. I am so sorry and I will sit here in these ashes to show you how sorry I am." Job<br />
realized that his human brain could not comprehend the thoughts of God. God's thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways above our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9)<br />
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<i> We should remember this when we ask God, "Why?" The better question should be "What?" What are you trying to teach me God? Or what is in my future that I need this struggle to strengthen my faith for? Or what do I need to do to get closer to you God? The bible says there are at least five reasons we face trials in our lives. {1} Suffering sometimes comes as a result of sin.(Acts 5:1-11) {2}Sometimes suffering is God discipling or correcting us. (Hebrews 12:7-13) {3}Suffering may be a test of our faith or faithfulness. (James 1:1-19){4} Suffering is sometimes a result of following Jesus. (Phil 3:10) {5} Suffering may just be the result of living in a fallen world. (Job:1-2)</i><br />
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<i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRSZosbmr43r4l_Jmqf0qMNHA8T6S7XHXDhxHgzIF45vnPxBwY9Ne5Q7T43uUZVyVtP0pTuP3HA-tPug0j3794XyA5B_7rIeF3qE0yGaBosqxpTsgsNWcZVCBlS3icWwsbC5VyucUC-Y/s1600/JobRestored.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1475" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpRSZosbmr43r4l_Jmqf0qMNHA8T6S7XHXDhxHgzIF45vnPxBwY9Ne5Q7T43uUZVyVtP0pTuP3HA-tPug0j3794XyA5B_7rIeF3qE0yGaBosqxpTsgsNWcZVCBlS3icWwsbC5VyucUC-Y/s400/JobRestored.jpg" width="368" /></a></i></div>
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After Job responded to God with humility and repentance, God turned to Job's friends and said, "I am angry with you because you have not spoken truthfully about me to Job. Now go make a sacrifice to me and ask for forgiveness." Then God turned back to Job, "While your friends are offering their sacrifice to me, pray for them." So the friends offered a sacrifice and Job prayed for them. God accepted their sacrifice and Job's prayer for them Then God blessed Job with twice as much as he had before and three more daughters and seven more sons, and Job lived another 140 years.<br />
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<i>Why did God ask Job to pray for his friends, because when we take the focus off ourselves and place it on our all-powerful God and other people, we pay less attention to our problems. If we are so focused on what is causing the pain, we cannot give God the honor that He deserves. It is not easy, but try it. While you are in the middle of a struggle, praise God and pray for someone else. You will be blown away at how God's presence brings you peace. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1649911871014393639.post-39341061221342086532019-05-08T11:56:00.000-07:002019-05-12T05:57:50.167-07:00Job's Friends Just Keep on Talking and Talking (Job 4-37) Words are powerful. They can build people up or they can tear people down. "Life and death are in the power of the tongue." (<i>Proverbs 18:21)</i>. In this next section of the Book of Job. Our poor friend Job, who has already suffered great loss and is in the middle of an excruciatingly painful health issue, is now subjected to speech after speech from his so-called friends. You have to give them credit though. They did keep their mouths shut for the first seven days, which is exactly what Job needed at the time, someone to share in his grief.<br />
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<i>When a friend or family member is hurting, sometimes the best thing we can do is put our arm around them and not say a word. There are situations that no words could ever make better. But knowing that someone cares enough to be there in a hard time is comforting.</i><br />
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Job's friends took turns sharing their thoughts on life, God, and Job's situation. But they only made Job feel worse. Paraphrasing Bildad, he told Job that his children probably deserved what happened to them. And things will get even worse, so Job better talk to God and tell Him that he promises to do things differently if He will heal him.<br />
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<i> God is not a deal maker. We can't tell God, "I will listen to my parents if you help me pass this test." Or any other difficult things that pop up in our lives. God ALWAYS does the right thing, and as followers of Jesus, we should do the right thing, not because we want some favor from God, but because we love Jesus and it's the right thing to do.</i><br />
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Job answers Bildad. "What you say is not true, and even if it was, who am I to bargain with God. Everything was created by God and for God <i>(Col 1:16)</i>.... including me." Then Job cried out to God again.<br />
When Job stopped to catch his breath, Zophar chimed in. "Just because you say you are righteous, doesn't make it so, Job. You talk a good game, but you are not so innocent or this would have never happened. I think it is time for you to repent and quit talking about how you didn't do anything to deserve this."<br />
Job responded to Zophar. "You act all high and mighty, but you are no better than I am. If your logic is true, this could have easily happened to you. My fate could be your fate!" Then Job cried out to God again pleading God to free him from his agony.<br />
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The three men continue to attack Job's character for the next 17 chapters, and Job continues to defend his character for the next 17 chapters. Finally in chapter 32 another man shows up. He had been there listening all the while. His name is Elihu. He scolds Job's friends for putting God in a box and trying to explain the ways of our Heavenly Father. Then he tells Job that the more he defends himself, the more arrogant he sounds. Elihu tells Job.... and his friends, "Cry out to God. Not with explanations or justifications, but praise God for who He is. Don't try to make deals with God, but trust Him. God cares. God is understanding. God is just. And God is all powerful." Job and his friends grew very quiet and pondered what Elihu said. Then in chapter 38, the Lord challenges Job.<br />
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<i>Elihu's advice for Job and his friends is great advice for us. Simply put: <span style="color: magenta;">Praise God, pray, and trust God because He loves us, He is good and all- powerful. </span>We will wrap up the Book of Job next time with God's challenge, Job's response and how it all works out.</i>MrBibleHeadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689409226190086912noreply@blogger.com3