Showing posts with label faithful. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faithful. Show all posts

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Psalms Help Topics



Finding Comfort and Counsel in the Psalms
When You Wonder:                  Know God Is:        Praise and Pray to Him with Psalm:
Why you are here                       Creator                  8, 19, 89, 97, 104, 147
What is important                       Glory                      66, 67, 96, 98, 99, 148
Whom you can trust                   Faithful                   12, 85, 98, 149
How to confess sin                     Peace                    32, 51
Where you are safe                    Refuge                  18, 31, 46, 91, 146
Which way to go                         Guard & Guide      23, 48, 73 
How to go on                              Strength & Joy      30, 63, 126 
When to be thankful                   Praiseworthy         24, 29, 30, 46, 62, 65, 84, 96, 100
Who can help you                      Relief & Remedy   40-43, 125, 126
How to escape danger               Rescue                  3, 4, 43, 54-57, 121 
What is truth                               Wisdom                 1, 37, 49, 52, 73, 83, 94
How to cope with sorrows          Comforter              31, 42 
What happens at death              Life Everlasting     16, 103, 116, 139

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Temptation itself is not sin and many of us need to be reminded of that. To be human means that we will be tempted. The temptation itself is different for different people, in fact it fits the nature of that person. The level of temptation is according to the level of control or inner nature of that person. It may confuse people, but it actually raises the awareness of what is good and bad. God allows us to be tempted to the degree we can bear and He walks with us through it.

temptation, overtaken, faithful, escape, bear

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good

1 Peter 4:19
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.

Our Lord Yshua warns us of suffering in the Christian life. Miracles do happen and some of the saints do get saved miraculously while others go through the complete suffering sometime with their lives. No one in their right mind asks for suffering. However, Yshua told us that suffering would come so that we can be prepared and thus accept it as part of being His followers. However to accept suffering is only the first part and it is not so that we can boast of the suffering that we withstand. Instead, as this Scripture shows, the reason to prepare for it is so that we will not be overcome by it, and even more, we can continue to do good, that is God's works.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this


Revelation 4
After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

God tells things to his friends, and his friends include humans. There have been a few people, whom we know well, whom God has regarded as His friends such as Abraham, Moses, David, etc. However we also see that God seems to be silent for a majority of people. So to whom does God would say, "come up here" or "I will show you things".

There have been various commandments of God, but one which is simple and non-legalistic that God repeatedly tells His people is to obey His statutes and commandments and not turn away from them. Basically He wants our obedience and we all know what are the things God told us already. We just need to obey, and that will bring us close to Him, and He will reveal even more to us - like the parable the more we are faithful, the more He will trust us in.

A word to be careful in temptation is that it leads us directly to the opposite direction. Instead of being a little faithful and being led higher by God, temptation tempts us with little things. When we sin a little, the next temptation will be greater and leads us to the next level further away from God.



Saturday, December 28, 2013

I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star

Revelation 22:1-21

The angel affirms that the revelations are true to John. At the presence of such experience, John was also in fear and fell down to worship the angel. The angel immediately told John not to worship him and explained that the angels are fellow servants of the prophets and those who belong to Yshua. Instead we should all "worship God". In addition, the angel asked John not to seal the contents of the book - meaning that it should be told to people because the time of the Lord is near.

Finally Jesus spoke and referred to Himself as the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and End, the First and the Last. This shows the divine nature of Yshua being above all creation, who exist before and after it. Jesus warns that He is coming quickly. Those who obey His commandments will have immortality with Him, by being able to eat from the Tree of Life and entering through the gates. Then the invitation goes out to those who thirsts, to come and drink the water of life from Yshua.

Finally, there is a warning on this extraordinary and abstract book of revelations. The warning is that anyone who adds or remove any content of this book will be cursed with the judgments described in this book and be damned by having their names removed from the Book of Life. This warning is very fitting to prevent people from modifying the contents which are so unusual. The Scripture, and this book, ends with asking our Lord Yshua to come!



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!



After the judgment and destruction of the "woman", which is the great city that led nations into corruption, there is great rejoice in heaven. Those in heaven including the twenty four elders and the four beasts worshipped and glorified God. They also praised God for His judgment on the great city that has caused many saints to perish.

The next praise and rejoicing is for the marriage of the Lamb to His bride, which is the church of Y'shua. The angel pronounced blessings on those attending the marriage supper of the Lamb. As the angel finished the sayings, John tried to worship him but the angel stopped him and told him to worship God instead, because the angel is also a fellowservant.

In the next vision, John saw Jesus riding on the white horse. Y'shua is described as Faithful, True, judging and waging war in righteousness, eyes of flaming fire, head with crowns, having an unknown name, dressed in blood, has the name Word of God, sword in his mouth that can smite nations, rule nations with an iron rod, has the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God, has the names written on His thigh Lord of lords, King of kings, is followed by an army on white horses.

If the Revelation is revealed in a chronological order, at least in this chapter, then the destruction of the Great City comes first. This city, also known as the Woman, Whore and Babylon, may be the prime city in the world, a world capital or a nations state. Following its destruction is the marriage of the Lamb to His saints. After this is the great battle. An angel calls on all flying creatures to celebrate the wedding of the Lamb, by preparing to devour the earthly kings, leaders, armies and all the people remaining. The beast will lead the earthly kings with armies against Y'shua and His armies. There are no other details of the battle. The next description is about the total defeat of the Beast (Anti-Christ), the False Prophet, and those that worshipped the image of the Beast. The Beast and the False Prophet were thrown into the Lake of fire burning with brimstone. The rest of the people are slain by Y'shua and eaten by the flying creatures.




Revelation 19
Heaven Exults over Babylon

1 After these things I heard[a] a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord[b] our God! 2 For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” 3 Again they said, “Alleluia! Her smoke rises up forever and ever!” 4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, “Amen! Alleluia!” 5 Then a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both[c] small and great!”

6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the[d] Lord God Omnipotent reigns! 7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

9 Then he said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Christ on a White Horse

11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had[e] a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean,[f] followed Him on white horses. 15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp[g] sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:

KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.

The Beast and His Armies Defeated

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the birds that fly in the midst of heaven, “Come and gather together for the supper of the great God,[h] 18 that you may eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and of those who sit on them, and the flesh of all people, free[i] and slave, both small and great.”

19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. 20 Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. 21 And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

The waters which you saw, where the harlot sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and tongues

Revelation 17:7-18

There are things the Scripture describes using allegory / symbolic and there are things which are literal. For the most cases when it is not literal, as in this chapter, the Scripture itself will provide the explanation. Hence in other parts of Scripture which does not give specific explanations, they are generally meant to be taken as literal.

In this chapter, the Woman and the Beast are symbolic and are explained by the angel. The beast is said to be "Was, is not, and yet is". The angel does not explain more than that. People have usually taken this to mean that the Beast represents the Anti-Christ and that he will be mortally wounded and appeared to have died. And then the Beast would come back to life again, causing people to think that he was resurrected.

There's another phrase about they "whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world". This might mean the non-believers, those who choose not to follow Y'shua Jesus. The interesting part about this is that they may have been pre-determined not to be in the book of life from the beginning.

More details are revealed that the seven heads of the beast are actually seven mountains. They may correspond to seven kingdoms with seven kings. At that time, five kings have already been known and fallen, one king is there at that time, and there will be one more to come. The seventh kings will reign a short time and will give rise to the resurrected beast who will be the eighth king.

The ten horns are another set of ten kings with no kingdoms, but will be given to reign a short time with the beast at the End Times. The fact that the have no kingdoms, has led to some interpretation that they are spiritual beings, followers of the Enemy, rather than earthly kings. They will worship and support the beast and will be ultimately defeated by the Lamb.

Finally the woman is revealed as the great city which "reigns over the kings of the earth". This may be a capital of a united world of kingdoms. The water which the woman sits on is also revealed as peoples and  nations. So it seems to be an oppressive worldwide government. However, this worldwide regime will be opposed by the ten kings who worship the Beast. So although it seems like the evil forces are fighting with another evil force, the result is that the people of the nations who will endure great suffering in those battles.


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot

Previously, the things of the Old Covenant was explained as being the foretaste of the New Covenant. Here it starts by explaining that the rituals of the Old Covenant cannot bring righteousness back to the sinners. The sacrifices had to be done yearly, still not effective.

God does not desire the sacrifices. It is a way to teach the people what Messiah will do and has done. Sacrifices and offerings cannot take away sins or bring sanctification. Only the sacrifice of Yshua the Messiah once only, is able to cover all sins.

The Holy Spirit is the witness to the establishment of the New Covenant with God's people. God's laws will be written in the hearts and minds of believers. In addition the sacrifice of Messiah which is complete, mean that there is no longer the need for sacrifices.


Now that Yshua has paid for our salvation with His Blood, we should hold tight to our hope and faith.  In addition, we should have love towards others and continue in good works. There is also a warning for believers that since we have been saved, and if we continue to sin, there is no other sacrifice left. It is also an insult to Christ and the Holy Spirit. We are warned against such situations and that God will have His vengeance.





Hebrews 10
Animal Sacrifices Insufficient

1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’”[a]
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.”[b] He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Christ’s Death Perfects the Sanctified

11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

15 But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,

16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,”[c] 17 then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”[d] 18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hold Fast Your Confession

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.


The Just Live by Faith

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[e] says the Lord.[f] And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”[g] 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

32 But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: 33 partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; 34 for you had compassion on me[h] in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.[i] 35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:

37 “For yet a little while,
And He[j] who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the[k] just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”[l]
39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house

The author of Hebrew relates to the Hebrew audience by referring them to Moses who is faithful. There was no question about the faithfulness of Moses and Moses can be seen as a foundational figure in Judaism. Now the author brings in Jesus as a comparison and shows that Jesus too is faithful and even more so. Jesus is the High Priest and Apostle and is more worthy of glory than Moses. Moses can be regarded as a servant in God's house, but Jesus Himself is the owner of the house, whom we can belong to.

Then the Holy Spirit reminds the readers against hardening of hearts which is essentially rebellion against God. The historical example is made to the refusal of the Israelites to conquer the Promised land, and so they had to wait for forty years until the current generation has passed away. This account in history would be very familiar to the Hebrew audience. They are now called to accept Y'shua the Messiah and not have hardened hearts by sin and unbelief.



Hebrews 3
The Son Was Faithful

1 Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, 2 who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. 3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. 4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. 5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, 6 but Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end.[a]

Be Faithful

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
8 Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
In the day of trial in the wilderness,
9 Where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,
And saw My works forty years.
10 Therefore I was angry with that generation,
And said, ‘They always go astray in their heart,
And they have not known My ways.’
11 So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’”[b]
12 Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God; 13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called “Today,” lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end, 15 while it is said:

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”[c]


Failure of the Wilderness Wanderers

16 For who, having heard, rebelled? Indeed, was it not all who came out of Egypt, led by Moses? 17 Now with whom was He angry forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose corpses fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

That we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith

This is an encouragement to pray for one another. It also reminds us that the Lord is faithful to protect us and keep us from evil. The believers are warned to avoid people who are disorderly and those who are lazy to work. Instead the believers are urged to work diligently to earn a living. Furthermore, the believers are not to treat the disorderly people as enemies but to correct them as brothers.




2 Thessalonians 3
Pray for Us

1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.

3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.

5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.

Warning Against Idleness

6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he[a] received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.

10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.

13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Benediction

16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.

17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.

18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Friday, March 1, 2013

For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God


The famous teaching about man cannot serve God and mammon comes at the end of the parable of the unjust steward. This may not be an easy teaching to understand. It appears that a servant has dealt dishonestly and unjustly with his master's goods. When he was discovered, he went to his master's customers and seemed to have tricked them in order to gain money to survive since he has lost his job. Jesus used this to teach that those who are not faithful and just with money and faith, whatever they have will be taken away, those who deal honestly and justly will be given more.

The Pharisees heard this teaching and complained to Jesus, because they loved money too. But Jesus told them those "For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God". Jesus declared that the age of the law and prophets have given way to the kingdom of God since it was first preached by John the Baptist.

Then the account of the rich man and Lazarus was told, but the author does not mention this as a parable. The rich man died and went to Hades, but poor, afflicted Lazarus also died and went to heaven. The rich man was told that nothing can save him. However the rich man asked if Lazarus can visit his brothers to save them from going to Hades. Then Abraham in heaven told him that if they had not obeyed the Moses and the prophets, they would not obey even a dead man coming back to warn them.




Luke 16
The Parable of the Unjust Steward

1 He also said to His disciples: “There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. 2 So he called him and said to him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.’

3 “Then the steward said within himself, ‘What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.’

5 “So he called every one of his master’s debtors to him, and said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 And he said, ‘A hundred measures[a] of oil.’ So he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ So he said, ‘A hundred measures[b] of wheat.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

9 “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail,[c] they may receive you into an everlasting home. 10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

13 “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”



The Law, the Prophets, and the Kingdom

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. 15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.

18 “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.



The Rich Man and Lazarus

19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[d] from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred


God recounts His love for Israel from the very beginning. The identity of the nation started when God saved them out of Egypt. However, not too long after that, they started worshipping other gods. Even so, God had been with them, helping them with invisible hands throughout time. Their lack of repentance required judgment, so they were defeated by the Assyrians. God continues to love them and could never destroy them completely. God will live among them again and they will again walk after Him.



Hosea 11
God’s Continuing Love for Israel

1 “When Israel was a child, I loved him,
And out of Egypt I called My son.
2 As they called them,[a]
So they went from them;[b]
They sacrificed to the Baals,
And burned incense to carved images.
3 “I taught Ephraim to walk,
Taking them by their arms;[c]
But they did not know that I healed them.
4 I drew them with gentle cords,[d]
With bands of love,
And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck.[e]
I stooped and fed them.
5 “He shall not return to the land of Egypt;
But the Assyrian shall be his king,
Because they refused to repent.
6 And the sword shall slash in his cities,
Devour his districts,
And consume them,
Because of their own counsels.
7 My people are bent on backsliding from Me.
Though they call to the Most High,[f]
None at all exalt Him.
8 “How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I set you like Zeboiim?
My heart churns within Me;
My sympathy is stirred.
9 I will not execute the fierceness of My anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim.
For I am God, and not man,
The Holy One in your midst;
And I will not come with terror.[g]
10 “They shall walk after the Lord.
He will roar like a lion.
When He roars,
Then His sons shall come trembling from the west;
11 They shall come trembling like a bird from Egypt,
Like a dove from the land of Assyria.
And I will let them dwell in their houses,”
Says the Lord.


God’s Charge Against Ephraim

12 “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies,
And the house of Israel with deceit;
But Judah still walks with God,
Even with the Holy One[h] who is faithful.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

For I Relent concerning the Disaster that I Have Brought upon You


The leaders of the armed forces including Johanan, who defeated Ishmael, came to Jeremiah to ask God about how they should live. They were repentant and obedient and earnestly seek God. Jeremiah agreed to ask the Lord and would tell them what the Lord says. The Lord told them to stay in the land with the remnant and that He will stop the destruction of the land. Instead He will protect them and have mercy on them. Babylon would not harm them even though Babylon had defeated them.

God warned them that if any of the remnant choose to flee Judah, such as going to Egypt, they will be faced with disasters from famine, violence and pestilence. What God wanted was obedience and trusting Him to live through the judgment on the land and the people.



Jeremiah 42
The Flight to Egypt Forbidden

1 Now all the captains of the forces, Johanan the son of Kareah, Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people, from the least to the greatest, came near 2 and said to Jeremiah the prophet, “Please, let our petition be acceptable to you, and pray for us to the Lord your God, for all this remnant (since we are left but a few of many, as you can see), 3 that the Lord your God may show us the way in which we should walk and the thing we should do.”

4 Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard. Indeed, I will pray to the Lord your God according to your words, and it shall be, that whatever the Lord answers you, I will declare it to you. I will keep nothing back from you.”

5 So they said to Jeremiah, “Let the Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not do according to everything which the Lord your God sends us by you. 6 Whether it is pleasing or displeasing, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God to whom we send you, that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.”

7 And it happened after ten days that the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah. 8 Then he called Johanan the son of Kareah, all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest, 9 and said to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, to whom you sent me to present your petition before Him: 10 ‘If you will still remain in this land, then I will build you and not pull you down, and I will plant you and not pluck you up. For I relent concerning the disaster that I have brought upon you. 11 Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom you are afraid; do not be afraid of him,’ says the Lord, ‘for I am with you, to save you and deliver you from his hand. 12 And I will show you mercy, that he may have mercy on you and cause you to return to your own land.’

13 “But if you say, ‘We will not dwell in this land,’ disobeying the voice of the Lord your God, 14 saying, ‘No, but we will go to the land of Egypt where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor be hungry for bread, and there we will dwell’— 15 Then hear now the word of the Lord, O remnant of Judah! Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘If you wholly set your faces to enter Egypt, and go to dwell there, 16 then it shall be that the sword which you feared shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt; the famine of which you were afraid shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there you shall die. 17 So shall it be with all the men who set their faces to go to Egypt to dwell there. They shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. And none of them shall remain or escape from the disaster that I will bring upon them.’

18 “For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘As My anger and My fury have been poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so will My fury be poured out on you when you enter Egypt. And you shall be an oath, an astonishment, a curse, and a reproach; and you shall see this place no more.’

19 “The Lord has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt!’ Know certainly that I have admonished you this day. 20 For you were hypocrites in your hearts when you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the Lord our God, and according to all that the Lord your God says, so declare to us and we will do it.’ 21 And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, or anything which He has sent you by me. 22 Now therefore, know certainly that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go to dwell.”

Thursday, March 15, 2012

The Fear of the Lord is a Fountain of Life



The sayings continue about the actions and consequences of the wise over those who are foolish. Again the foolish does things which displeases God and have a twisted view of things, leading to wickedness. The wise are prudent and understands things, and ultimately submits to God.

A few favourite quotes are:
- The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
- There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.
- The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
- He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,



Proverbs 14
1 The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord,
But he who is perverse in his ways despises Him.

3 In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride,
But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 Where no oxen are, the trough is clean;
But much increase comes by the strength of an ox.

5 A faithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter lies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it,
But knowledge is easy to him who understands.

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,
When you do not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools mock at sin,
But among the upright there is favor.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,
And the end of mirth may be grief.

14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from above.[a]

15 The simple believes every word,
But the prudent considers well his steps.

16 A wise man fears and departs from evil,
But a fool rages and is self-confident.

17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
And a man of wicked intentions is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil will bow before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor,
But the rich has many friends.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?
But mercy and truth belong to those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit,
But idle chatter[b] leads only to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
But the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivers souls,
But a deceitful witness speaks lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of people is a king’s honor,
But in the lack of people is the downfall of a prince.

29 He who is slow to wrath has great understanding,
But he who is impulsive[c] exalts folly.

30 A sound heart is life to the body,
But envy is rottenness to the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,
But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,
But the righteous has a refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king’s favor is toward a wise servant,
But his wrath is against him who causes shame.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

For The Enemy Has Persecuted My Soul


The psalmist, David, was most likely in a time of great persecution by his enemies. His appeal to God is based on knowing God is faithful and righteoues. He knows he is not perfect but asks to be delivered from his current situation where he describes "my spirit is overwhelmed within me,
my heart within me is distressed".

He remembers the past, before the time of persecution, where he enjoyed walking with God. And these memories comfort him and remind him that he can trust God. He knows about God's lovingkindness, uprightnessm, mercy and that God's Spirit is good. He invites God to teach him, lead him and revive him and to destroy his enemies



Psalm 143
An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance
A Psalm of David.

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.

2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.

3 For the enemy has persecuted my soul;
He has crushed my life to the ground;
He has made me dwell in darkness,
Like those who have long been dead.

4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me;
My heart within me is distressed.

5 I remember the days of old;
I meditate on all Your works;
I muse on the work of Your hands.

6 I spread out my hands to You;
My soul longs for You like a thirsty land. Selah

7 Answer me speedily, O Lord;
My spirit fails!
Do not hide Your face from me,
Lest I be like those who go down into the pit.

8 Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For in You do I trust;
Cause me to know the way in which I should walk,
For I lift up my soul to You.

9 Deliver me, O Lord, from my enemies;
In You I take shelter.[a]

10 Teach me to do Your will,
For You are my God;
Your Spirit is good.
Lead me in the land of uprightness.

11 Revive me, O Lord, for Your name’s sake!
For Your righteousness’ sake bring my soul out of trouble.

12 In Your mercy cut off my enemies,
And destroy all those who afflict my soul;
For I am Your servant.

Friday, November 4, 2011

David Not Ashamed of the LORD

David praises God with all honesty and humility. The keywords in this Psalm are repeated in other psalms including God is David's trust, rock, refuge, fortress, strength. Then David calls upon God again to help in a situation where it appears David was turned away from his friends. Some description here seem to suggest this is in the later part of his life. And David continues to call on God for His mercy.

Yet in his time of trouble, David again tells God that he still trusts God and still clings to Him. He has confidence in God who would deliver those who fear Him and trust Him. Despite the persecutions, despite the enemies plotting against him, despite the wickedness surrounding him, David had the peace and joy in the LORD, remembering that God would protect him and hide him in His secret place.

David closes with an encouragement:
"Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful"


Psalm 31

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 In You, O LORD, I put my trust;
         Let me never be ashamed;
         Deliver me in Your righteousness.
 2 Bow down Your ear to me,
         Deliver me speedily;
         Be my rock of refuge,
         A fortress of defense to save me.
       
 3 For You are my rock and my fortress;
         Therefore, for Your name’s sake,
         Lead me and guide me.
 4 Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
         For You are my strength.
 5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
         You have redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.
       
 6 I have hated those who regard useless idols;
         But I trust in the LORD.
 7 I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy,
         For You have considered my trouble;
         You have known my soul in adversities,
 8 And have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy;
         You have set my feet in a wide place.
       
 9 Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am in trouble;
         My eye wastes away with grief,
         Yes, my soul and my body!
 10 For my life is spent with grief,
         And my years with sighing;
         My strength fails because of my iniquity,
         And my bones waste away.
 11 I am a reproach among all my enemies,
         But especially among my neighbors,
         And am repulsive to my acquaintances;
         Those who see me outside flee from me.
 12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind;
         I am like a broken vessel.
 13 For I hear the slander of many;
         Fear is on every side;
         While they take counsel together against me,
         They scheme to take away my life.
       
 14 But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD;
         I say, “You are my God.”
 15 My times are in Your hand;
         Deliver me from the hand of my enemies,
         And from those who persecute me.
 16 Make Your face shine upon Your servant;
         Save me for Your mercies’ sake.
 17 Do not let me be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon You;
         Let the wicked be ashamed;
         Let them be silent in the grave.
 18 Let the lying lips be put to silence,
         Which speak insolent things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.
       
 19 Oh, how great is Your goodness,
         Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
         Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
         In the presence of the sons of men!
 20 You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence
         From the plots of man;
         You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion
         From the strife of tongues.
       
 21 Blessed be the LORD,
         For He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city!
 22 For I said in my haste,
         “I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
         Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
         When I cried out to You.
       
 23 Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints!
         For the LORD preserves the faithful,
         And fully repays the proud person.
 24 Be of good courage,
         And He shall strengthen your heart,
         All you who hope in the LORD.

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