Wisdom Led the Israelites through the Desert

Wisdom is portrayed here as being with the Israelites during the Exodus saga. The equivalence of Wisdom with God is therefore implied here. As the wicked constructed idols and worshipped them, the Lord punished them, including creating beasts which seemed like the description of dragons. The last section acknowledges God's limitless power alongside His character to see men repent and to show mercy. As the chapter progresses, the reference to the person of Wisdom became the reference to the person of the Lord



Wisdom 11 (RSVCE)
Wisdom Led the Israelites through the Desert
11 Wisdom[a] prospered their works by the hand of a holy prophet.
2 They journeyed through an uninhabited wilderness,
and pitched their tents in untrodden places.
3 They withstood their enemies and fought off their foes.
4 When they thirsted they called upon thee,
and water was given them out of flinty rock,
and slaking of thirst from hard stone.
5 For through the very things by which their enemies were punished,
they themselves received benefit in their need.
6 Instead of the fountain of an ever-flowing river,
stirred up and defiled with blood
7 in rebuke for the decree to slay the infants,
thou gavest them abundant water unexpectedly,
8 showing by their thirst at that time
how thou didst punish their enemies.
9 For when they were tried, though they were being disciplined in mercy,
they learned how the ungodly were tormented when judged in wrath.
10 For thou didst test them as a father does in warning,
but thou didst examine the ungodly[b] as a stern king does in condemnation.
11 Whether absent or present, they were equally distressed,
12 for a twofold grief possessed them,
and a groaning at the memory of what had occurred.
13 For when they heard that through their own punishments
the righteous[c] had received benefit, they perceived it was the Lord’s doing.
14 For though they had mockingly rejected him who long before had been cast out and exposed,
at the end of the events they marveled at him,
for their thirst was not like that of the righteous.

Punishment of the Wicked
15 In return for their foolish and wicked thoughts,
which led them astray to worship irrational serpents and worthless animals,
thou didst send upon them a multitude of irrational creatures to punish them,
16 that they might learn that one is punished by the very things by which he sins.
17 For thy all-powerful hand,
which created the world out of formless matter,
did not lack the means to send upon them a multitude of bears, or bold lions,
18 or newly created unknown beasts full of rage,
or such as breathe out fiery breath,
or belch forth a thick pall of smoke,
or flash terrible sparks from their eyes;
19 not only could their damage exterminate men,[d]
but the mere sight of them could kill by fright.
20 Even apart from these, men[e] could fall at a single breath
when pursued by justice
and scattered by the breath of thy power.
But thou hast arranged all things by measure and number and weight.

God Is Powerful and Merciful
21 For it is always in thy power to show great strength,
and who can withstand the might of thy arm?
22 Because the whole world before thee is like a speck that tips the scales,
and like a drop of morning dew that falls upon the ground.
23 But thou art merciful to all, for thou canst do all things,
and thou dost overlook men’s sins, that they may repent.
24 For thou lovest all things that exist,
and hast loathing for none of the things which thou hast made,
for thou wouldst not have made anything if thou hadst hated it.
25 How would anything have endured if thou hadst not willed it?
Or how would anything not called forth by thee have been preserved?
26 Thou sparest all things, for they are thine, O Lord who lovest the living.[f]

Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand

This Scripture begins with a stern warning for the wealthy and privileged. God is not against wealth but is against those who place their confidence in their self created wealth and resources. It warns that the riches like gold and silver can be corroded. They gain their wealth immorally by not paying what is due to their employees. God hears this injustice and judgment will come.

The believers are urged to be patient as they wait for the Lord's Coming and justice to be carried out. We are to see the prophets as examples for their sufferings and their patience. The Lord God is merciful and compassionate. We are also to speak simply and it is not necessary to make oaths and promises.

We are to live a life of prayer and worship. When we are suffering or in need - pray. When we are happy and content - sing psalms and praises to Yshua. If we are sick or in repentance, we can also ask others including elders of the church to pray for us. There is no formula or rules of who can pray, rather we should pray for each other. Elijah is said to be like any of us in many ways - except that he is an earnest prayer person. In addition we are also called to bring any brethren back if they fall away.




James 5
Rich Oppressors Will Be Judged

1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.[a] 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as[b] in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

Be Patient and Persevering

7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. 8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned.[c] Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! 10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. 11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.[d]

Meeting Specific Needs

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses[e] to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

Bring Back the Erring One

19 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul[f] from death and cover a multitude of sins.

I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people

This chapter starts by summarizing that Jesus is the ultimate High Priest. He is in heaven now to serve as a priest which would be more effective than if He served here. With Jesus, there is also the New Covenant which is better than the Old. The Old Covenant established since Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, had the Levitical priesthood and various rituals of offerings and sacrifices. However, that system was external and cannot cause people to change their hearts. The New Covenant established by Jesus is one that puts God's Laws in the hearts and minds of His people. The believers would not need to instruct each other because all will "Know the Lord" from their hearts.



Hebrews 8
The New Priestly Service

1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.

3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices. Therefore it is necessary that this One also have something to offer. 4 For if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are priests who offer the gifts according to the law; 5 who serve the copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was divinely instructed when he was about to make the tabernacle. For He said, “See that you make all things according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”[a] 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

A New Covenant

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. 8 Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— 9 not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. 12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds[b] I will remember no more.”[c]

13 In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted

Speaking to Hebrew audience, this chapter starts from the common believe that God has used angels to send messages to men and that the messages were reliable. Then it reveals that the Lord Himself spoke about salvation and was confirmed by other witnesses of His Word and also the miraculous signs and Holy Spirit. So it must be fully certain that the promise of salvation is real.

A reference is made to Scriptures on man being made a little lower than angels but were crowned by God with honour and glory. Then it mentions that Jesus too was made a little lower than the angels, meaning that Jesus was made a man. This was done in order that He would suffer and die for everyone which was God's ultimate plan for salvation of humankind.

Going into more detail on the death that is required of Messiah, this enables God's children to take part of His flesh and blood. Death had to occur for Messiah, so that He could conquer it by being raised. This breaks the stronghold the Enemy had on man and free people from bondage. It is interesting that it stated the Messiah did not help the angels but helped the (spiritual and physical) children of Abraham. So the divine Lord is made a man, to serve as a merciful and faithful High Priest, to suffer and be tempted by the same evil, thus able to help His fellow man.




Hebrews 2
Do Not Neglect Salvation

2 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?

The Son Made Lower than Angels

5 For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. 6 But one testified in a certain place, saying:

“What is man that You are mindful of him,
Or the son of man that You take care of him?
7 You have made him a little lower than the angels;
You have crowned him with glory and honor,[a]
And set him over the works of Your hands.
8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet.”[b]
For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

Bringing Many Sons to Glory

10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11 For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, 12 saying:

“I will declare Your name to My brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You.”[c]
13 And again:

“I will put My trust in Him.”[d]
And again:

“Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”[e]
14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 16 For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham. 17 Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

For He is kind to the unthankful and evil

Jesus was questioned by the Pharisees when his disciples broke the law on the Sabbath. Jesus used David as an example and also declared His divinity by saying He is "Lord of the Sabbath". In another instance, The Pharisees was waiting for Jesus to break another Sabbath law by healing people on the Sabbath. It is amazing that they knew Jesus could heal people, yet did not genuinely investigate if this is God's work, instead they tried to trap and accuse Jesus. Knowing their plans, Jesus deliberately healed a man with a withered hand anyway.

Jesus called His twelve disciples. Jesus also healed (including casting out unclean spirits) a multitude of people from Jerusalem, Judea, Tyre and Sidon. Another amazing fact is how Scripture recorded the healing that, when people touched Him, power went out from Jesus and the people got healed. So the healing was spiritual, that is not physical, but somehow it is also tangible in a sense to be described as going out.

Many of Jesus important teachings are recorded here. They include:
- The Beatitudes - essentially those who are disadvantaged in this life will be blessed in heaven, presumably if they knew Jesus.
- The Woes - these are the opposites of the Beatitudes where those who enjoy life on earth, presumably without Jesus, will have no enjoyment in eternity.
- Jesus teaches about loving your enemies. In the same topic, He says about God "For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful."
- Jesus teaches about not judging, about forgiveness and to be generous.
- Jesus teaches that good fruit comes from good trees. Hence to bear good fruit, we must ourselves be good. A well known saying here is "For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks".
- Jesus teaches that hearing His words is not enough. We must do according to His words so that our foundations will be as strong as rock foundations. Otherwise our house would fall.




Luke 6
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

1 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first[a] that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands. 2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

3 But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?” 5 And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Healing on the Sabbath

6 Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 So the scribes and Pharisees watched Him closely, whether He would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against Him. 8 But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man who had the withered hand, “Arise and stand here.” And he arose and stood. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I will ask you one thing: Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?”[b] 10 And when He had looked around at them all, He said to the man,[c] “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.[d] 11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The Twelve Apostles

12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13 And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14 Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15 Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16 Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

Jesus Heals a Great Multitude

17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases, 18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed. 19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.



The Beatitudes

20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said:

“Blessed are you poor,
    For yours is the kingdom of God.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    For you shall be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
    For you shall laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men hate you,
    And when they exclude you,
    And revile you, and cast out your name as evil,
    For the Son of Man’s sake.
23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!
    For indeed your reward is great in heaven,
    For in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.


Jesus Pronounces Woes

24 “But woe to you who are rich,
    For you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you who are full,
    For you shall hunger.
Woe to you who laugh now,
    For you shall mourn and weep.
26 Woe to you[e] when all[f] men speak well of you,
    For so did their fathers to the false prophets.


Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

32 “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Do Not Judge

37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

39 And He spoke a parable to them: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 41 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the plank in your own eye? 42 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit

43 “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart[g] brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Build on the Rock

46 “But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.[h] 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell.[i] And the ruin of that house was great.”

Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

Just after the people of Nineveh declared that they will repent from their sins, Jonah became very upset. This chapter reveals why Jonah ran away from his assignment earlier on. He knew that God was merciful and gracious and so Job could not stand the people not facing his kind of justice.

So Jonah went out of the city and sulked. He was still waiting to see if Nineveh would get destroyed. God, in his grace and loving patience comforted Jonah in his misery. God tried to show Jonah how much He cared for the people of Nineveh by example of creating a plant to protect Jonah from the sun.




Jonah 4
Jonah’s Anger and God’s Kindness

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry. 2 So he prayed to the Lord, and said, “Ah, Lord, was not this what I said when I was still in my country? Therefore I fled previously to Tarshish; for I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. 3 Therefore now, O Lord, please take my life from me, for it is better for me to die than to live!”

4 Then the Lord said, “Is it right for you to be angry?”

5 So Jonah went out of the city and sat on the east side of the city. There he made himself a shelter and sat under it in the shade, till he might see what would become of the city. 6 And the Lord God prepared a plant[a] and made it come up over Jonah, that it might be shade for his head to deliver him from his misery. So Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7 But as morning dawned the next day God prepared a worm, and it so damaged the plant that it withered. 8 And it happened, when the sun arose, that God prepared a vehement east wind; and the sun beat on Jonah’s head, so that he grew faint. Then he wished death for himself, and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.”

9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

And he said, “It is right for me to be angry, even to death!”

10 But the Lord said, “You have had pity on the plant for which you have not labored, nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not pity Nineveh, that great city, in which are more than one hundred and twenty thousand persons who cannot discern between their right hand and their left—and much livestock?”

And He Relents from Doing Harm

Here is a description of the Day of the Lord. It will be a spectacular event, heralded by trumpets, and people will tremble. It appears that some kind of heavenly army will come with chariots and horses and warring angels. The mighty men on earth would be terrified.

God calls for repentance even at this very last stage. He urges people to fast, weep and mourn. Instead of tearing their garments to show they are mourning, God suggests that they tear their hearts instead. The grace and mercy of God is emphasised. He does not want to harm anyone, He is slow to anger, people still have a narrow chance to repent even at that time.

The judgment is followed by a renewal. This process of rebirth is described of the restoration of the land and nature which will become fruitful and abundant again. The people will be able to enjoy the blessings that God intended. The chapter ends with the well known prophecies of the last days where God will pour out His Spirit on the remnant and the old men shall dream dreams, and the young men shall see visions. Again it is repeated that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.



Joel 2
The Day of the Lord

1 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm in My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;
For the day of the Lord is coming,
For it is at hand:
2 A day of darkness and gloominess,
A day of clouds and thick darkness,
Like the morning clouds spread over the mountains.
A people come, great and strong,
The like of whom has never been;
Nor will there ever be any such after them,
Even for many successive generations.
3 A fire devours before them,
And behind them a flame burns;
The land is like the Garden of Eden before them,
And behind them a desolate wilderness;
Surely nothing shall escape them.
4 Their appearance is like the appearance of horses;
And like swift steeds, so they run.
5 With a noise like chariots
Over mountaintops they leap,
Like the noise of a flaming fire that devours the stubble,
Like a strong people set in battle array.
6 Before them the people writhe in pain;
All faces are drained of color.[a]
7 They run like mighty men,
They climb the wall like men of war;
Every one marches in formation,
And they do not break ranks.
8 They do not push one another;
Every one marches in his own column.[b]
Though they lunge between the weapons,
They are not cut down.[c]
9 They run to and fro in the city,
They run on the wall;
They climb into the houses,
They enter at the windows like a thief.
10 The earth quakes before them,
The heavens tremble;
The sun and moon grow dark,
And the stars diminish their brightness.
11 The Lord gives voice before His army,
For His camp is very great;
For strong is the One who executes His word.
For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible;
Who can endure it?


A Call to Repentance

12 “Now, therefore,” says the Lord,
“Turn to Me with all your heart,
With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.”
13 So rend your heart, and not your garments;
Return to the Lord your God,
For He is gracious and merciful,
Slow to anger, and of great kindness;
And He relents from doing harm.
14 Who knows if He will turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind Him—
A grain offering and a drink offering
For the Lord your God?
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
Consecrate a fast,
Call a sacred assembly;
16 Gather the people,
Sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and nursing babes;
Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber,
And the bride from her dressing room.
17 Let the priests, who minister to the Lord,
Weep between the porch and the altar;
Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord,
And do not give Your heritage to reproach,
That the nations should rule over them.
Why should they say among the peoples,
‘Where is their God?’”


The Land Refreshed

18 Then the Lord will be zealous for His land,
And pity His people.
19 The Lord will answer and say to His people,
“Behold, I will send you grain and new wine and oil,
And you will be satisfied by them;
I will no longer make you a reproach among the nations.
20 “But I will remove far from you the northern army,
And will drive him away into a barren and desolate land,
With his face toward the eastern sea
And his back toward the western sea;
His stench will come up,
And his foul odor will rise,
Because he has done monstrous things.”
21 Fear not, O land;
Be glad and rejoice,
For the Lord has done marvelous things!
22 Do not be afraid, you beasts of the field;
For the open pastures are springing up,
And the tree bears its fruit;
The fig tree and the vine yield their strength.
23 Be glad then, you children of Zion,
And rejoice in the Lord your God;
For He has given you the former rain faithfully,[d]
And He will cause the rain to come down for you—
The former rain,
And the latter rain in the first month.
24 The threshing floors shall be full of wheat,
And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil.
25 “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,
The crawling locust,
The consuming locust,
And the chewing locust,[e]
My great army which I sent among you.
26 You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
And praise the name of the Lord your God,
Who has dealt wondrously with you;
And My people shall never be put to shame.
27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:
I am the Lord your God
And there is no other.
My people shall never be put to shame.


God’s Spirit Poured Out

28 “And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
31 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
32 And it shall come to pass
That whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be saved.
For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance,
As the Lord has said,
Among the remnant whom the Lord calls.

Woe to the Rebellious Children

This chapter first warns against the reliance on worldly allies. Not exactly sure about the exact time this passage was written, but it would have been around the same time that Israel, and later Judah were threatened by the new empire of Assyria and Babylon. It was also recorded that the actual kings of Israel or Judah made and alliance with Egypt for protection against the new powers. This alliance, rather than dependence in God, would be futile as this chapter reveals.

The description of the level of rebelliousness of the people was such that they shut up the prophets and seers, not willing to know or hear anything God delivers to them. This became their iniquity which God had to deal with by breaking up the nation.

But God being patient, merciful, just and gracious waited for them as the faithful waited for Him. Although there will be affliction for them, God will again be with them, leading their teachers to guide them. They will cast away their idols and God will bless their land to be plentiful. But this is followed mysteriously by the revelation of a 'great slaughter' and where the Moon and Sun shines much brighter than normal. The last paragraph describes a furious as well as glorious God coming down in judgment and to punish the nations. The nation named here is Assyria.





Isaiah 30
Futile Confidence in Egypt

30 “Woe to the rebellious children,” says the Lord,
“Who take counsel, but not of Me,
And who devise plans, but not of My Spirit,
That they may add sin to sin;
2 Who walk to go down to Egypt,
And have not asked My advice,
To strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh,
And to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
3 Therefore the strength of Pharaoh
Shall be your shame,
And trust in the shadow of Egypt
Shall be your humiliation.
4 For his princes were at Zoan,
And his ambassadors came to Hanes.
5 They were all ashamed of a people who could not benefit them,
Or be help or benefit,
But a shame and also a reproach.”
6 The burden against the beasts of the South.

Through a land of trouble and anguish,
From which came the lioness and lion,
The viper and fiery flying serpent,
They will carry their riches on the backs of young donkeys,
And their treasures on the humps of camels,
To a people who shall not profit;
7 For the Egyptians shall help in vain and to no purpose.
Therefore I have called her
Rahab-Hem-Shebeth.[a]


A Rebellious People

8 Now go, write it before them on a tablet,
And note it on a scroll,
That it may be for time to come,
Forever and ever:
9 That this is a rebellious people,
Lying children,
Children who will not hear the law of the Lord;
10 Who say to the seers, “Do not see,”
And to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things;
Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.
11 Get out of the way,
Turn aside from the path,
Cause the Holy One of Israel
To cease from before us.”
12 Therefore thus says the Holy One of Israel:

“Because you despise this word,
And trust in oppression and perversity,
And rely on them,
13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you
Like a breach ready to fall,
A bulge in a high wall,
Whose breaking comes suddenly, in an instant.
14 And He shall break it like the breaking of the potter’s vessel,
Which is broken in pieces;
He shall not spare.
So there shall not be found among its fragments
A shard to take fire from the hearth,
Or to take water from the cistern.”
15 For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel:

“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”
But you would not,
16 And you said, “No, for we will flee on horses”—
Therefore you shall flee!
And, “We will ride on swift horses”—
Therefore those who pursue you shall be swift!
17 One thousand shall flee at the threat of one,
At the threat of five you shall flee,
Till you are left as a pole on top of a mountain
And as a banner on a hill.


God Will Be Gracious

18 Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you;
And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem;
You shall weep no more.
He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry;
When He hears it, He will answer you.
20 And though the Lord gives you
The bread of adversity and the water of affliction,
Yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore,
But your eyes shall see your teachers.
21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
22 You will also defile the covering of your images of silver,
And the ornament of your molded images of gold.
You will throw them away as an unclean thing;
You will say to them, “Get away!”
23 Then He will give the rain for your seed
With which you sow the ground,
And bread of the increase of the earth;
It will be fat and plentiful.
In that day your cattle will feed
In large pastures.
24 Likewise the oxen and the young donkeys that work the ground
Will eat cured fodder,
Which has been winnowed with the shovel and fan.
25 There will be on every high mountain
And on every high hill
Rivers and streams of waters,
In the day of the great slaughter,
When the towers fall.
26 Moreover the light of the moon will be as the light of the sun,
And the light of the sun will be sevenfold,
As the light of seven days,
In the day that the Lord binds up the bruise of His people
And heals the stroke of their wound.


Judgment on Assyria

27 Behold, the name of the Lord comes from afar,
Burning with His anger,
And His burden is heavy;
His lips are full of indignation,
And His tongue like a devouring fire.
28 His breath is like an overflowing stream,
Which reaches up to the neck,
To sift the nations with the sieve of futility;
And there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people,
Causing them to err.
29 You shall have a song
As in the night when a holy festival is kept,
And gladness of heart as when one goes with a flute,
To come into the mountain of the Lord,
To the Mighty One of Israel.
30 The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard,
And show the descent of His arm,
With the indignation of His anger
And the flame of a devouring fire,
With scattering, tempest, and hailstones.
31 For through the voice of the Lord
Assyria will be beaten down,
As He strikes with the rod.
32 And in every place where the staff of punishment passes,
Which the Lord lays on him,
It will be with tambourines and harps;
And in battles of brandishing He will fight with it.
33 For Tophet was established of old,
Yes, for the king it is prepared.
He has made it deep and large;
Its pyre is fire with much wood;
The breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone,
Kindles it.

When Pride Comes, Then Comes Shame

Here is a collection of many sayings that make up this chapter. There is emphasis on a few virtues and also discouragement in a few other traits. The good virtues that would bring blessings and favour from God are righteousness, uprightness, integrity, merciful, generosity, trusting in God. The traits that bring condemnation, death and destruction to people are perversity, wickedness, pride, dishonesty, unfaithful, talebearer (gossiper) and ungodly.


Proverbs 11

1 Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight.

2 When pride comes, then comes shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright will guide them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But righteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct[a] his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.

7 When a wicked man dies, his expectation will perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.

9 The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

15 He who is surety for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates being surety is secure.

16 A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.

17 The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

18 The wicked man does deceptive work,
But he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.

19 As righteousness leads to life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.

20 Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.

21 Though they join forces,[b] the wicked will not go unpunished;
But the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 There is one who scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.

25 The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.

26 The people will curse him who withholds grain,
But blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.

27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.

28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But the righteous will flourish like foliage.

29 He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who wins souls is wise.

31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

Praise the Lord, All You Gentiles!

Is this the shortest chapter in the Bible? Is there another chapter with one or two verses only? In any case, shortness does not reflect on the content nor the quality.

This psalm calls for praises to God, not among His chosen people, the Israelites, but rather the Gentiles. Even before our LORD Jesus came in the flesh, the Israelites had already begin to fulfil their roles as God's light to the world. They are shining forth of God's glory - clearly reflected in this chapter as they call on all peoples to praise God. It also reveals to all people the merciful and kind nature of God and that He is everlasting truth.


Psalm 117
Let All Peoples Praise the Lord

1 Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles!
Laud Him, all you peoples!
2 For His merciful kindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the Lord endures forever.
Praise the Lord!

What Shall I Render to the Lord

The psalmist expresses his close relationship with God. He knows that the LORD hears him whenever he prays. Although he feels he is at the lowest point of life, even like death, he knows the LORD will lift him up again.

In response to this, the psalmist is full of thanks to God. He has experienced God's wonderful salvation and mercy and knows that there is nothing that he can pay God with. And so he declares himself to be a servant to God. He will praise and give thanks to God.


Psalm 116
Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Death

1 I love the Lord, because He has heard
My voice and my supplications.

2 Because He has inclined His ear to me,
Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live.

3 The pains of death surrounded me,
And the pangs of Sheol laid hold of me;
I found trouble and sorrow.

4 Then I called upon the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I implore You, deliver my soul!”

5 Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
Yes, our God is merciful.

6 The Lord preserves the simple;
I was brought low, and He saved me.

7 Return to your rest, O my soul,
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For You have delivered my soul from death,
My eyes from tears,
And my feet from falling.

9 I will walk before the Lord
In the land of the living.

10 I believed, therefore I spoke,
“I am greatly afflicted.”

11 I said in my haste,
“All men are liars.”

12 What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?

13 I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the Lord.

14 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people.

15 Precious in the sight of the Lord
Is the death of His saints.

16 O Lord, truly I am Your servant;
I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant;
You have loosed my bonds.

17 I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving,
And will call upon the name of the Lord.

18 I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people,

19 In the courts of the Lord’s house,
In the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
Praise the Lord!

God Be Merciful To Us and Bless Us

God is indeed merciful. Today let the angels sings because one of God's child is saved. As the proverb goes, a man plans his ways but it is God who directs His path. The means may not be as planned but it will work out according to God's will.
The result of God's mercy is His Salvation plan. The people should praise him no less. What is lacking now and what is written is that when all the people praise God, as a nation and as a world, the whole earth would be fruitful and all will be blessed.

Psalm 67
To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments.[a] A Psalm. A Song.

 1 God be merciful to us and bless us,
         And cause His face to shine upon us,  Selah 
 2 That Your way may be known on earth,
         Your salvation among all nations.
        
 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
         Let all the peoples praise You.
 4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!
         For You shall judge the people righteously,
         And govern the nations on earth.  Selah 
        
 5 Let the peoples praise You, O God;
         Let all the peoples praise You.
 6 Then the earth shall yield her increase;
         God, our own God, shall bless us.
 7 God shall bless us,
         And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Deliver me from my Enemies, O my God

David calls upon God to save him from his enemies who were hunting him. He describes his enemies as bloodthirsty, workers of iniquity and mighty. They pursue David not because David did any wrong. So David called upon God to show them no mercy. David describes his enemies like dogs who keep on hunting him and return again in the evening not satisfied. He calls God to not destroy them but bring them down and scatter them.
David puts full confidence in God, singing of his power, calling him his strength and his defence.

Psalm 59
To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.”[a] A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him.

 1 Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
         Defend me from those who rise up against me.
 2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity,
         And save me from bloodthirsty men.
        
 3 For look, they lie in wait for my life;
         The mighty gather against me,
         Not for my transgression nor for my sin, O LORD.
 4 They run and prepare themselves through no fault of mine.
        
         Awake to help me, and behold!
 5 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel,
         Awake to punish all the nations;
         Do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors.  Selah 
        
 6 At evening they return,
         They growl like a dog,
         And go all around the city.
 7 Indeed, they belch with their mouth;
         Swords are in their lips;
         For they say, “Who hears?”
        
 8 But You, O LORD, shall laugh at them;
         You shall have all the nations in derision.
 9 I will wait for You, O You his Strength;[b]
         For God is my defense.
 10 My God of mercy[c] shall come to meet me;
         God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.
        
 11 Do not slay them, lest my people forget;
         Scatter them by Your power,
         And bring them down,
         O Lord our shield.
 12 For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips,
         Let them even be taken in their pride,
         And for the cursing and lying which they speak.
 13 Consume them in wrath, consume them,
         That they may not be;
         And let them know that God rules in Jacob
         To the ends of the earth.  Selah 
        
 14 And at evening they return,
         They growl like a dog,
         And go all around the city.
 15 They wander up and down for food,
         And howl[d] if they are not satisfied.
        
 16 But I will sing of Your power;
         Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning;
         For You have been my defense
         And refuge in the day of my trouble.
 17 To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises;
         For God is my defense,
         My God of mercy.

Be Merciful to Me, O God, be Merciful to Me!

A plead and praise to God by David expressing his trusts and asking God for mercy. He was being hunted by his enemies, but he kept exalting God. His enemies are preparing traps for him but they got snared in their own traps. So David continues to glorify God by singing praises to Him.


Psalm 57

–To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.”[a] A Michtam of David when he fled from Saul into the cave.

 1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me!
         For my soul trusts in You;
         And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge,
         Until these calamities have passed by.
       
 2 I will cry out to God Most High,
         To God who performs all things for me.
 3 He shall send from heaven and save me;
         He reproaches the one who would swallow me up.  Selah
         God shall send forth His mercy and His truth.
       
 4 My soul is among lions;
         I lie among the sons of men
         Who are set on fire,
         Whose teeth are spears and arrows,
         And their tongue a sharp sword.
 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
         Let Your glory be above all the earth.
       
 6 They have prepared a net for my steps;
         My soul is bowed down;
         They have dug a pit before me;
         Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen.  Selah
       
 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast;
         I will sing and give praise.
 8 Awake, my glory!
         Awake, lute and harp!
         I will awaken the dawn.
       
 9 I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples;
         I will sing to You among the nations.
 10 For Your mercy reaches unto the heavens,
         And Your truth unto the clouds.
       
 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
         Let Your glory be above all the earth.

What Can Man Do To Me?

The psalmist describes his situation of being hounded by enemies and oppressed by them. A very terrible situation to be in. But he trusts in the LORD and continues to praise God in the midst of trouble. The most courageous thought here is "What can flesh (man) do to me?"
The enemies twist his words and plots against him, yet he trusts in God. He knows that with God on his side, the enemies will be turned back. So he will not be afraid, again reminding that "What can man do to me? "


Psalm 56
To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Silent Dove in Distant Lands.”[a] A Michtam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath.

 1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up;
         Fighting all day he oppresses me.
 2 My enemies would hound me all day,
         For there are many who fight against me, O Most High.
        
 3 Whenever I am afraid,
         I will trust in You.
 4 In God (I will praise His word),
         In God I have put my trust;
         I will not fear.
         What can flesh do to me?
        
 5 All day they twist my words;
         All their thoughts are against me for evil.
 6 They gather together,
         They hide, they mark my steps,
         When they lie in wait for my life.
 7 Shall they escape by iniquity?
         In anger cast down the peoples, O God!
        
 8 You number my wanderings;
         Put my tears into Your bottle;
         Are they not in Your book?
 9 When I cry out to You,
         Then my enemies will turn back;
         This I know, because God is for me.
 10 In God (I will praise His word),
         In the LORD (I will praise His word),
 11 In God I have put my trust;
         I will not be afraid.
         What can man do to me?
        
 12 Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God;
         I will render praises to You,
 13 For You have delivered my soul from death.
         Have You not kept my feet from falling,
         That I may walk before God
         In the light of the living?

Blessed is he who considers the poor

David faced many enemies in his time, not only from foreign kings but those close to him who lied to him and those who have eaten from his own table. Despite all this, David has always trusted God to deliver him from trouble and from his enemies.

The LORD has delivered him, kept him alive, strengthened him, raised him up and most of all set him up before the face of God forever.


Psalm 41

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.

 1 Blessed is he who considers the poor;
         The LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
 2 The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive,
         And he will be blessed on the earth;
         You will not deliver him to the will of his enemies.
 3 The LORD will strengthen him on his bed of illness;
         You will sustain him on his sickbed.
       
 4 I said, “LORD, be merciful to me;
         Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”
 5 My enemies speak evil of me:
         “When will he die, and his name perish?”
 6 And if he comes to see me, he speaks lies;
         His heart gathers iniquity to itself;
         When he goes out, he tells it.
       
 7 All who hate me whisper together against me;
         Against me they devise my hurt.
 8 “An evil disease,” they say, “clings to him.
         And now that he lies down, he will rise up no more.”
 9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted,
         Who ate my bread,
         Has lifted up his heel against me.
       
 10 But You, O LORD, be merciful to me, and raise me up,
         That I may repay them.
 11 By this I know that You are well pleased with me,
         Because my enemy does not triumph over me.
 12 As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
         And set me before Your face forever.
       
 13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel
         From everlasting to everlasting!
         Amen and Amen.

David's Song of Victory and Thanksgiving for Deliverance from Enemies

The first part of the Psalm says it all about who the LORD is to David: his strength, rock, fortress, deliverer, strength, shield, salvation, stronghold. David describes his hopeless condition of being surrounded by fierce enemies, then he described the awesomeness of God with the earth shaking and trembling as God came to save David.

David understands how to gain the favour of the LORD, which is by doing right in God's eyes, being blameless, staying away from wickedness, keeping His statutes. He understands that God will save the humble and bring down the proud. God is merciful to those who are merciful.

To David, God is his lamp and shield. David attributes all his being to God, including his strength, his agility, his war prowess. His success in avoiding Saul was attributed to God, so were all his victories against his enemies. From the victories of his conquest to his authority over a vast kingdom and empire of foreign nations - all these David attributed them to God's help. Whether as a leader of his band of misfits, or king over his empire, David had not dwell on his accumulated successes. Instead his continues to be grateful to God and depend on Him as his Rock and Salvation. David saw himself as God's king and God's anointed and no doubt lived for God's purpose.


Psalm 18

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:

 1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
         My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
         My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
         So shall I be saved from my enemies.
       
 4 The pangs of death surrounded me,
         And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
 5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
         The snares of death confronted me.
 6 In my distress I called upon the LORD,
         And cried out to my God;
         He heard my voice from His temple,
         And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.
       
 7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
         The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
         Because He was angry.
 8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
         And devouring fire from His mouth;
         Coals were kindled by it.
 9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
         With darkness under His feet.
 10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
         He flew upon the wings of the wind.
 11 He made darkness His secret place;
         His canopy around Him was dark waters
         And thick clouds of the skies.
 12 From the brightness before Him,
         His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.
       
 13 The LORD thundered from heaven,
         And the Most High uttered His voice,
         Hailstones and coals of fire.[a]
 14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
         Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
 15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
         The foundations of the world were uncovered
         At Your rebuke, O LORD,
         At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.
       
 16 He sent from above, He took me;
         He drew me out of many waters.
 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
         From those who hated me,
         For they were too strong for me.
 18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
         But the LORD was my support.
 19 He also brought me out into a broad place;
         He delivered me because He delighted in me.
       
 20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
         According to the cleanness of my hands
         He has recompensed me.
 21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
         And have not wickedly departed from my God.
 22 For all His judgments were before me,
         And I did not put away His statutes from me.
 23 I was also blameless before Him,
         And I kept myself from my iniquity.
 24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
         According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.
       
 25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
         With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
 26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
         And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
 27 For You will save the humble people,
         But will bring down haughty looks.
       
 28 For You will light my lamp;
         The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
 29 For by You I can run against a troop,
         By my God I can leap over a wall.
 30 As for God, His way is perfect;
         The word of the LORD is proven;
         He is a shield to all who trust in Him.
       
 31 For who is God, except the LORD?
         And who is a rock, except our God?
 32 It is God who arms me with strength,
         And makes my way perfect.
 33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
         And sets me on my high places.
 34 He teaches my hands to make war,
         So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
       
 35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;

         Your gentleness has made me great.
 36 You enlarged my path under me,
         So my feet did not slip.
       
 37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
         Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
 38 I have wounded them,
         So that they could not rise;
         They have fallen under my feet.
 39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
         You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
 40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
         So that I destroyed those who hated me.
 41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
         Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
 42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
         I cast them out like dirt in the streets.
       
 43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
         You have made me the head of the nations;
         A people I have not known shall serve me.
 44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
         The foreigners submit to me.
 45 The foreigners fade away,
         And come frightened from their hideouts.
       
 46 The LORD lives!
         Blessed be my Rock!
         Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
 47 It is God who avenges me,
         And subdues the peoples under me;
 48 He delivers me from my enemies.
         You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
         You have delivered me from the violent man.
 49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles,
         And sing praises to Your name.
       
 50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
         And shows mercy to His anointed,
         To David and his descendants forevermore.

Hezekiah Reinstates Passover

Hezekiah reintroduced the Passover and send messengers throughout all Judah and Israel to join in the Passover. This is especially significant since it calls upon the people of Israel too, even though Israel and Judah had hostilities between them at various times. It is a true call to repentance to the people to return to God and reminding them that God is gracious and merciful, whose wrath can be turned away.

Imagine the excitement of the people being called to renew a tradition that has long been forgotten. Although many from various parts of Israel did not attend, there were many from Israel who did come to Jerusalem. Also most people in Judah supported their king in this initiative. Having so many people attend the festivities, which had not practised for some time, some of the purification customs were not followed exactly. However, we glimpsed Hezekiah's character when he prayed to God for forgiveness for the people who did not perform the celebrations in the correct way. God accepted this and healed the people.

The Passover Feast of Unleavened Bread was practised for seven days. There were much confession, much singing and praising, much offerings, and teaching by the Levites on the knowledge of the LORD, and Hezekiah's encouragement to the Levites and priests. It was written that these celebrations was like those in the days of David and Solomon and that the priests' and Levites' blessings on the people rose to heaven.



2 Chronicles 30

Hezekiah Keeps the Passover

 1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel. 2 For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at the regular time,[a] because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem. 4 And the matter pleased the king and all the assembly. 5 So they resolved to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that they should come to keep the Passover to the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem, since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner.
6 Then the runners went throughout all Israel and Judah with the letters from the king and his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the king: “Children of Israel, return to the LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; then He will return to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 And do not be like your fathers and your brethren, who trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, so that He gave them up to desolation, as you see. 8 Now do not be stiff-necked, as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD; and enter His sanctuary, which He has sanctified forever, and serve the LORD your God, that the fierceness of His wrath may turn away from you. 9 For if you return to the LORD, your brethren and your children will be treated with compassion by those who lead them captive, so that they may come back to this land; for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.”
10 So the runners passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh, as far as Zebulun; but they laughed at them and mocked them. 11 Nevertheless some from Asher, Manasseh, and Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. 12 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD.
13 Now many people, a very great assembly, gathered at Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread in the second month. 14 They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the incense altars and cast them into the Brook Kidron. 15 Then they slaughtered the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and the Levites were ashamed, and sanctified themselves, and brought the burnt offerings to the house of the LORD. 16 They stood in their place according to their custom, according to the Law of Moses the man of God; the priests sprinkled the blood received from the hand of the Levites. 17 For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had charge of the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to the LORD. 18 For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD provide atonement for everyone 19 who prepares his heart to seek God, the LORD God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” 20 And the LORD listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.
21 So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing to the LORD, accompanied by loud instruments. 22 And Hezekiah gave encouragement to all the Levites who taught the good knowledge of the LORD; and they ate throughout the feast seven days, offering peace offerings and making confession to the LORD God of their fathers.
Levites, all the assembly that came from Israel, the sojourners who came from the land of Israel, and those who dwelt in Judah. 26 So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem. 27 Then the priests, the Levites, arose and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; and their prayer came up to His holy dwelling place, to heaven.