Israelites honoured Achior and prayed, worshipped God

Previously we read that Achior, who told the invading Assyrians under Holofer'nes the general that the Israelites were winning victories with God's help and the favour of God was dependent on the obedience of the Israelites, was now being referred to by Holofer'nes as a hireling of the Israelites or E'phraim. Instead the Assyrians put up their king, Nebuchadnez'zar to god-status, claiming that with him, their side is invincible. Countless kingdoms, cultures, empires have put their leaders in such god-like positions, but none of them survived.

As an act of humiliation and punishment for Ach'ior who dared mention that another god was more powerful than the Assyrian king-god Nebuchanez'zar, Holofer'nes threatened Ach'ior with revenge and abandoned him in Israelite territory. As a contrast, the Israelites who found Ach'ior treated him with great hospitality although Ach'ior's people the Ammonites have been at war with the Israelites on different occasions. The Israelites held a banquet for Ach'ior as well as repented before Almighty God with all night prayer and petition.


Judith 6 
Achior Handed over to the Israelites
When the disturbance made by the men outside the council died down, Holofer′nes, the commander of the Assyrian army, said to Ach′ior and all the Mo′abites in the presence of all the foreign contingents:

2 “And who are you, Ach′ior, and you hirelings of E′phraim, to prophesy among us as you have done today and tell us not to make war against the people of Israel because their God will defend them? Who is God except Nebuchadnez′zar? 3 He will send his forces and will destroy them from the face of the earth, and their God will not deliver them—we the king’s[a] servants will destroy them as one man. They cannot resist the might of our cavalry. 4 We will burn them up,[b] and their mountains will be drunk with their blood, and their fields will be full of their dead. They[c] cannot withstand us, but will utterly perish. So says King Nebuchadnez′zar, the lord of the whole earth. For he has spoken; none of his words shall be in vain.

5 “But you, Ach′ior, you Am′monite hireling, who have said these words on the day of your iniquity, you shall not see my face again from this day until I take revenge on this race that came out of Egypt. 6 Then the sword of my army and the spear[d] of my servants shall pierce your sides, and you shall fall among their wounded, when I return. 7 Now my slaves are going to take you back into the hill country and put you in one of the cities beside the passes, 8 and you will not die until you perish along with them. 9 If you really hope in your heart that they will not be taken, do not look downcast! I have spoken and none of my words shall fail.”

10 Then Holofer′nes ordered his slaves, who waited on him in his tent, to seize Ach′ior and take him to Bethu′lia and hand him over to the men of Israel. 11 So the slaves took him and led him out of the camp into the plain, and from the plain they went up into the hill country and came to the springs below Bethu′lia. 12 When the men of the city saw them,[e] they caught up their weapons and ran out of the city to the top of the hill, and all the slingers kept them from coming up by casting stones at them. 13 However, they got under the shelter of the hill and they bound Ach′ior and left him lying at the foot of the hill, and returned to their master.

14 Then the men of Israel came down from their city and found him; and they untied him and brought him into Bethu′lia and placed him before the magistrates of their city, 15 who in those days were Uzzi′ah the son of Micah, of the tribe of Sim′eon, and Chabris the son of Gothon′iel, and Charmis the son of Mel′chiel. 16 They called together all the elders of the city, and all their young men and their women ran to the assembly; and they set Ach′ior in the midst of all their people, and Uzzi′ah asked him what had happened. 17 He answered and told them what had taken place at the council of Holofer′nes, and all that he had said in the presence of the Assyrian leaders, and all that Holofer′nes had said so boastfully against the house of Israel. 18 Then the people fell down and worshiped God, and cried out to him, and said,

19 “O Lord God of heaven, behold their arrogance, and have pity on the humiliation of our people, and look this day upon the faces of those who are consecrated to thee.”

20 Then they consoled Ach′ior, and praised him greatly. 21 And Uzzi′ah took him from the assembly to his own house and gave a banquet for the elders; and all that night they called on the God of Israel for help.

If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off

Matthew 5:30
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Those who know Yshua well would know that He is not advocating people to maim themselves nor is there other evidence to suggest that He likes people to hurt themselves. On the contrary, many of His miraculous deeds include healing people, which means Yshua loves to heal and make others whole. This particular verse in Scripture is written in dramatic fashion to specifically highlight the seriousness of sin. We are supposed to treat sin as such a danger that it is better to lose a limb if that can help avoid us from sinning. It also spells out the consequence of sin quite clearly and it is a dire warning indeed.

For we are labourers together with God

1Corinthians 3:9
For we are labourers together with God:ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. (KJV)

We are God's children, His chosen ones, His image, and we are also His tools here on Earth to fulfill His desire. And his desire is that all should come back to Him and that none shall perish.
Knowing this, as we work to serve God, the main thing that should occupy our minds is that we are working for Him. It is not about our agenda or about how our success in ministry can please God. Rather it is about accomplishing His tasks however mundane or not useful it may seem.

Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells

Peter warns of the Last Days when there will be more scoffers. These are people who would cast doubt on the prophecies of the End Times. They would say that the prophecies are untrue, since the earth is still continuing its path. They forget that the same happened in Noah's day, then the rain came. Then Peter declares that the next and final judgment would not be by water but by fire, consistent with other prophecies. The Lord is patient to wait a long time, but judgment will come.

When the Day of the Lord comes, the present heaven and earth will be destroyed by fire and replaced with a new heaven and earth. It will come as a surprise to some, like a thief in the night, and it will also come very quickly.

The things to do for believers, is to stand firm in the faith in Jesus and His promises which include the new heaven and earth among other things. We are to be diligent and live a blameless life as much as possible, and remember that the patience of God means salvation for many. We are also reminded to be careful of falling away, especially being led away by the wicked. Instead we are supposed to grow in our Lord Jesus.




2 Peter 3
God’s Promise Is Not Slack

1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), 2 that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us,[a] the apostles of the Lord and Savior, 3 knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, 6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. 7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,[b] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The Day of the Lord

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.[c] 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Be Steadfast

14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

17 You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents

The Pharisees complained that Jesus hang out with unholy people or sinners. Jesus responded with a parable that shepherd will do everything he can to find even one lost sheep and will have great joy when that sheep is found. In fact this matter of accepting everyone, especially those who are least deserving is so important to Jesus that He told two additional parables, the parable of the Lost Coin and the parable of the Lost Son. Jesus said that every one sinner who repents will cause great joy in heaven among the angels and God.

The parable of the Lost Son is told in much detail by Jesus, and there are many lessons within that single parable. Here are several points of this parable:
- A son does something extraordinary in asking for his share of inheritance from his father, even though the father is still alive.
- An even more extraordinary event is that the father agreed rather than rebuking and disciplining his son.
- The son wasted his inheritance and sees himself as unworthy, helpless, hopeless, about to die. Or at least that was the perception he planned to convey when he returned to his father.
- The father ran out to meet his son as he returned. According to some commentary, the father abandoned any kind of societal dignity and embarrassment, and was guided by his joy.
- The son confessed and repented and seek for help.
- His father's view is only that his lost son has returned, not holding onto any wrongdoing by his son.
- His self-righteous eldest son felt betrayed in his father's love.
- His father was not apologetic nor comforted his eldest son's sense of betrayal. Instead the father stated two facts which he expected his eldest son to understand: i) the inheritance to his eldest son is already guaranteed, there is nothing better than that ii) the joy of a lost or dead brother who has now been found and alive.






Luke 15
The Parable of the Lost Sheep

1 Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to Him to hear Him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This Man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying:

4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

The Parable of the Lost Coin

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,[a] if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I lost!’ 10 Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

The Parable of the Lost Son

11 Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.

17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.”’

20 “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring[b] out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

25 “Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.’

28 “But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

31 “And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.’”

Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able

The chapter starts with the reports of Pilate executing some Galileans and also perhaps an accident of a building collapse with many fatalities. Jesus answered the question that we are not less sinners than them and will all perish like them unless we repent.

Jesus had on multiple occasions spoken about the fig tree both as a parable and actually cursed a real one. The teaching here about the fig tree appears to be that God has patience to let it grow, but at the end of times, it will be judged.

Jesus was teaching in a synagogue which would have been attended by many ordinary people as well as the Pharisees. As He did on many occasions, Jesus healed a sick woman by loosing the spiritual bondage in heaven, and so too on Earth. The Pharisees accused Him of working on the Sabbath, then Jesus rebuked them to shame that it is the right thing to heal the woman. Interesting to note that the people rejoiced over this shaming of the Pharisees.


Jesus also taught that the Kingdom of God is like leaven and a mustard seed. In answer to another question about are there only few who are saved, Jesus encouraged us to strive to enter into the narrow gate. There is no limit placed on the number that can go through the narrow gate, but it appears to suggest that it is not an easy way to go through - therefore we must actually strive to enter it. The rest who thought they could enter heaven will be cast out.

After that He had some warning from some Pharisees that Herod planned to act against Him. Jesus called Herod a fox and asked them to give the message that He will rise again on the third day.





Luke 13
Repent or Perish

1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree

6 He also spoke this parable: “A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree and find none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ 8 But he answered and said to him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. 9 And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that[a] you can cut it down.’”

A Spirit of Infirmity

10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite![b] Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large[c] tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

The Parable of the Leaven

20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures[d] of meal till it was all leavened.”

The Narrow Way

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”

And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

31 On that very day[e] some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”

32 And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ 33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

Jesus Laments over Jerusalem

34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly,[f] I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’

Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven

Jesus continues with His teaching which includes the following:
- Be humble like a little child and readily accept them - when we have that attitude, then we can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is not counter to salvation by faith but rather the attitude that is able to accept Christ by faith and obedience thereafter.
- It is a serious offence to cause another younger Christian to stumble.
- We should avoid sin so much to the extent that we should maim ourselves if we need to.
- To God, every person is precious. Jesus uses the parable of the Lost Sheep to show the analogy of the shepherd finding one lost sheep with God.
- Jesus teaches the steps in dealing with a brother or sister in Christ who have sinned.
- When two or more gathered and agree in prayer, their request will be granted and Jesus will be among them.
- Jesus taught about unlimited number of forgiveness towards any person. He used the Parable of the Unforgiving servant to teach that God gives unforgiveness extremely seriously.





Matthew 18
Who Is the Greatest?

1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Jesus Warns of Offenses

6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!

8 “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. 9 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. 11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.[a]

12 “What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Dealing with a Sinning Brother

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’[b] 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

19 “Again I say[c] to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. 23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ 29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet[d] and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’[e] 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. 32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ 34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”[f]

For they shall be like the Jewels of a Crown

This is a proclamation against Hadrach and Damascus, as well as Hamath, Tyre, Sidon. Tyre was a prosperous metropolis port city. She will be destroyed by the Lord and her neighbours will witness it. The surrounding nations too will be judged, including Ashkelon, the Philistines, Ashdod. Those who survive will turn towards God.

In the second part, Messiah is introduced as the King who will come riding on a young donkey. His nature is described as just, bringing salvation and real peace to all nations and His authority is over the whole earth.

The prophecy then turned towards God's people, that because of the covenant, they will be saved again. God will restore Judah and defend her. They are like jewels of a crown to God and they will prosper in the land again.




Zechariah 9
Israel Defended Against Enemies

1 The burden[a] of the word of the Lord
Against the land of Hadrach,
And Damascus its resting place
(For the eyes of men
And all the tribes of Israel
Are on the Lord);
2 Also against Hamath, which borders on it,
And against Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise.
3 For Tyre built herself a tower,
Heaped up silver like the dust,
And gold like the mire of the streets.
4 Behold, the Lord will cast her out;
He will destroy her power in the sea,
And she will be devoured by fire.
5 Ashkelon shall see it and fear;
Gaza also shall be very sorrowful;
And Ekron, for He dried up her expectation.
The king shall perish from Gaza,
And Ashkelon shall not be inhabited.
6 “A mixed race shall settle in Ashdod,
And I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
7 I will take away the blood from his mouth,
And the abominations from between his teeth.
But he who remains, even he shall be for our God,
And shall be like a leader in Judah,
And Ekron like a Jebusite.
8 I will camp around My house
Because of the army,
Because of him who passes by and him who returns.
No more shall an oppressor pass through them,
For now I have seen with My eyes.


The Coming King

9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your King is coming to you;
He is just and having salvation,
Lowly and riding on a donkey,
A colt, the foal of a donkey.
10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
And the horse from Jerusalem;
The battle bow shall be cut off.
He shall speak peace to the nations;
His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,
And from the River to the ends of the earth.’[b]


God Will Save His People

11 “As for you also,
Because of the blood of your covenant,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
12 Return to the stronghold,
You prisoners of hope.
Even today I declare
That I will restore double to you.
13 For I have bent Judah, My bow,
Fitted the bow with Ephraim,
And raised up your sons, O Zion,
Against your sons, O Greece,
And made you like the sword of a mighty man.”
14 Then the Lord will be seen over them,
And His arrow will go forth like lightning.
The Lord God will blow the trumpet,
And go with whirlwinds from the south.
15 The Lord of hosts will defend them;
They shall devour and subdue with slingstones.
They shall drink and roar as if with wine;
They shall be filled with blood like basins,
Like the corners of the altar.
16 The Lord their God will save them in that day,
As the flock of His people.
For they shall be like the jewels of a crown,
Lifted like a banner over His land—
17 For how great is its[c] goodness
And how great its[d] beauty!
Grain shall make the young men thrive,
And new wine the young women.

Because the Philistines dealt Vengefully and took Vengeance with a Spiteful Heart

God makes proclamations against other nations to Ezekiel. Ammon will rejoice when they see Israel facing judgment, they will speak against the Temple and against the land of Israel. For this, God will judge the Ammonites by letting their nation to be plundered and will destroy them so that they will know the Lord. Moab will also face the same judgment for rejoicing against the calamity of Judah. Interesting to note that God said the Ammonites will not be remembered among the nations, and today, we seldom hear of the historical Ammonites except through the Word.

A similar proclamation was also made to the nations of Edom and Philistia. Both these nations seem to have done more than rejoicing, it appears that they may have taken part in destroying Judah out of vengeance. For this, God will also take vengeance on them.





Ezekiel 25
Proclamation Against Ammon

1 The word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, set your face against the Ammonites, and prophesy against them. 3 Say to the Ammonites, ‘Hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God: “Because you said, ‘Aha!’ against My sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity, 4 indeed, therefore, I will deliver you as a possession to the men of the East, and they shall set their encampments among you and make their dwellings among you; they shall eat your fruit, and they shall drink your milk. 5 And I will make Rabbah a stable for camels and Ammon a resting place for flocks. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”

6 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced in heart with all your disdain for the land of Israel, 7 indeed, therefore, I will stretch out My hand against you, and give you as plunder to the nations; I will cut you off from the peoples, and I will cause you to perish from the countries; I will destroy you, and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

Proclamation Against Moab

8 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because Moab and Seir say, ‘Look! The house of Judah is like all the nations,’ 9 therefore, behold, I will clear the territory of Moab of cities, of the cities on its frontier, the glory of the country, Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kirjathaim. 10 To the men of the East I will give it as a possession, together with the Ammonites, that the Ammonites may not be remembered among the nations. 11 And I will execute judgments upon Moab, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Proclamation Against Edom

12 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because of what Edom did against the house of Judah by taking vengeance, and has greatly offended by avenging itself on them,” 13 therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will also stretch out My hand against Edom, cut off man and beast from it, and make it desolate from Teman; Dedan shall fall by the sword. 14 I will lay My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, that they may do in Edom according to My anger and according to My fury; and they shall know My vengeance,” says the Lord God.

Proclamation Against Philistia

15 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Because the Philistines dealt vengefully and took vengeance with a spiteful heart, to destroy because of the old hatred,” 16 therefore thus says the Lord God: “I will stretch out My hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Cherethites and destroy the remnant of the seacoast. 17 I will execute great vengeance on them with furious rebukes; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I lay My vengeance upon them.”’”

And their Gold will be like Refuse

There seems to be a heightened sense of urgency and definiteness about the proclamation of the end. Repeatedly, God tells them the reason for the coming judgment is the abomination of the people. The society has become violent and wicked as a result of their abominations. Again it mentions those in the city will be faced with the sword, while those outside will face pestilence and famine.

When it is over, the people will be in a terrible state. They will be weak. Their savings and money in gold and silver will be worthless. They will not be able to satisfy their physical and spiritual hunger. God will let their wicked enemies posses their property. God will turn His face away from them, that is not listening to them, when they beg for peace from the disasters.




Ezekiel 7
Judgment on Israel Is Near

1 Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 “And you, son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel:

‘An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.
3 Now the end has come upon you,
And I will send My anger against you;
I will judge you according to your ways,
And I will repay you for all your abominations.
4 My eye will not spare you,
Nor will I have pity;
But I will repay your ways,
And your abominations will be in your midst;
Then you shall know that I am the Lord!’
5 “Thus says the Lord God:

‘A disaster, a singular disaster;
Behold, it has come!
6 An end has come,
The end has come;
It has dawned for you;
Behold, it has come!
7 Doom has come to you, you who dwell in the land;
The time has come,
A day of trouble is near,
And not of rejoicing in the mountains.
8 Now upon you I will soon pour out My fury,
And spend My anger upon you;
I will judge you according to your ways,
And I will repay you for all your abominations.
9 ‘My eye will not spare,
Nor will I have pity;
I will repay you according to your ways,
And your abominations will be in your midst.
Then you shall know that I am the Lord who strikes.
10 ‘Behold, the day!
Behold, it has come!
Doom has gone out;
The rod has blossomed,
Pride has budded.
11 Violence has risen up into a rod of wickedness;
None of them shall remain,
None of their multitude,
None of them;
Nor shall there be wailing for them.
12 The time has come,
The day draws near.
‘Let not the buyer rejoice,
Nor the seller mourn,
For wrath is on their whole multitude.
13 For the seller shall not return to what has been sold,
Though he may still be alive;
For the vision concerns the whole multitude,
And it shall not turn back;
No one will strengthen himself
Who lives in iniquity.
14 ‘They have blown the trumpet and made everyone ready,
But no one goes to battle;
For My wrath is on all their multitude.
15 The sword is outside,
And the pestilence and famine within.
Whoever is in the field
Will die by the sword;
And whoever is in the city,
Famine and pestilence will devour him.
16 ‘Those who survive will escape and be on the mountains
Like doves of the valleys,
All of them mourning,
Each for his iniquity.
17 Every hand will be feeble,
And every knee will be as weak as water.
18 They will also be girded with sackcloth;
Horror will cover them;
Shame will be on every face,
Baldness on all their heads.
19 ‘They will throw their silver into the streets,
And their gold will be like refuse;
Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them
In the day of the wrath of the Lord;
They will not satisfy their souls,
Nor fill their stomachs,
Because it became their stumbling block of iniquity.
20 ‘As for the beauty of his ornaments,
He set it in majesty;
But they made from it
The images of their abominations—
Their detestable things;
Therefore I have made it
Like refuse to them.
21 I will give it as plunder
Into the hands of strangers,
And to the wicked of the earth as spoil;
And they shall defile it.
22 I will turn My face from them,
And they will defile My secret place;
For robbers shall enter it and defile it.
23 ‘Make a chain,
For the land is filled with crimes of blood,
And the city is full of violence.
24 Therefore I will bring the worst of the Gentiles,
And they will possess their houses;
I will cause the pomp of the strong to cease,
And their holy places shall be defiled.
25 Destruction comes;
They will seek peace, but there shall be none.
26 Disaster will come upon disaster,
And rumor will be upon rumor.
Then they will seek a vision from a prophet;
But the law will perish from the priest,
And counsel from the elders.
27 ‘The king will mourn,
The prince will be clothed with desolation,
And the hands of the common people will tremble.
I will do to them according to their way,
And according to what they deserve I will judge them;
Then they shall know that I am the Lord!’”

Woe to Those who Go Down to Egypt for Help

Continuing from the previous chapter when God's people formed an alliance with Egypt to protect themselves against invaders, that act of not trusting God is another wrongdoing on their part. They trusted the physical, like chariots and horsemen, rather than the Lord.

However God reaffirms that He will come to the defence of His people and He will deliver them. It also mentions the defeat of Assyria by spiritual forces, not by physical man. It states quite clearly that Zion and Jerusalem are the fire and furnace of the Lord.


Isaiah 31
The Folly of Not Trusting God

1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
And rely on horses,
Who trust in chariots because they are many,
And in horsemen because they are very strong,
But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
Nor seek the Lord!
2 Yet He also is wise and will bring disaster,
And will not call back His words,
But will arise against the house of evildoers,
And against the help of those who work iniquity.
3 Now the Egyptians are men, and not God;
And their horses are flesh, and not spirit.
When the Lord stretches out His hand,
Both he who helps will fall,
And he who is helped will fall down;
They all will perish together.



God Will Deliver Jerusalem

4 For thus the Lord has spoken to me:

“As a lion roars,
And a young lion over his prey
(When a multitude of shepherds is summoned against him,
He will not be afraid of their voice
Nor be disturbed by their noise),
So the Lord of hosts will come down
To fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.
5 Like birds flying about,
So will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem.
Defending, He will also deliver it;
Passing over, He will preserve it.”
6 Return to Him against whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted. 7 For in that day every man shall throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold—sin, which your own hands have made for yourselves.

8 “Then Assyria shall fall by a sword not of man,
And a sword not of mankind shall devour him.
But he shall flee from the sword,
And his young men shall become forced labor.
9 He shall cross over to his stronghold for fear,
And his princes shall be afraid of the banner,”
Says the Lord,
Whose fire is in Zion
And whose furnace is in Jerusalem.

It Is Good To Give Thanks To The LORD

Following from the previous psalm of recognizing those who dwell in the LORD will be protected, this psalm encourages thanksgiving and praise to God. It even lists the musical instruments for music for praise such as strings, lute and harp.

It reminds us that God ultimately triumphs. It even suggests that wicked ones spring up just so that they can be finally destroyed by God. In contrast, the righteous will flourish and be fruitful even till old age.


Psalm 92
A Psalm. A Song for the Sabbath day.

 1 It is good to give thanks to the LORD,
         And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
 2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
         And Your faithfulness every night,
 3 On an instrument of ten strings,
         On the lute,
         And on the harp,
         With harmonious sound.
 4 For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work;
         I will triumph in the works of Your hands.
        
 5 O LORD, how great are Your works!
         Your thoughts are very deep.
 6 A senseless man does not know,
         Nor does a fool understand this.
 7 When the wicked spring up like grass,
         And when all the workers of iniquity flourish,
         It is that they may be destroyed forever.
        
 8 But You, LORD, are on high forevermore.
 9 For behold, Your enemies, O LORD,
         For behold, Your enemies shall perish;
         All the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.
        
 10 But my horn You have exalted like a wild ox;
         I have been anointed with fresh oil.
 11 My eye also has seen my desire on my enemies;
         My ears hear my desire on the wicked
         Who rise up against me.
        
 12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
         He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
 13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
         Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
 14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
         They shall be fresh and flourishing,
 15 To declare that the LORD is upright;
         He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

None of Them can by any Means Redeem his Brother

This psalm brings the revelation that only God can be our Salvation. No amount of riches is able to buy our salvation. The wealth that is stored up, amounts to nothing beyond this life. The fame, honour and respect gained in this life is not transferable beyond this life. To depend on any such things apart from God is foolishness.

Psalm 49
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah.

 1 Hear this, all peoples;
         Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
 2 Both low and high,
         Rich and poor together.
 3 My mouth shall speak wisdom,
         And the meditation of my heart shall give understanding.
 4 I will incline my ear to a proverb;
         I will disclose my dark saying on the harp.
        
 5 Why should I fear in the days of evil,
         When the iniquity at my heels surrounds me?
 6 Those who trust in their wealth
         And boast in the multitude of their riches,
 7 None of them can by any means redeem his brother,
         Nor give to God a ransom for him—
 8 For the redemption of their souls is costly,
         And it shall cease forever—
 9 That he should continue to live eternally,
         And not see the Pit.
        
 10 For he sees wise men die;
         Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish,
         And leave their wealth to others.
 11 Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever,[a]
         Their dwelling places to all generations;
         They call their lands after their own names.
 12 Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain;[b]
         He is like the beasts that perish.
        
 13 This is the way of those who are foolish,
         And of their posterity who approve their sayings.  Selah 
 14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave;
         Death shall feed on them;
         The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning;
         And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.
 15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave,
         For He shall receive me.  Selah 
        
 16 Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,
         When the glory of his house is increased;
 17 For when he dies he shall carry nothing away;
         His glory shall not descend after him.
 18 Though while he lives he blesses himself
         (For men will praise you when you do well for yourself),
 19 He shall go to the generation of his fathers;
         They shall never see light.
 20 A man who is in honor, yet does not understand,
         Is like the beasts that perish.

Psalm of Judgement Against the Wicked

David opens up the Psalm with praise to God, as we should also open our prayers. The theme to me seems to be about the righteous judgement of God over wickedness. God has prepared a throne of judgement, He will judge the world in righteousness. Yet at the same time, He is a refuge for those who need and trust in Him, "He does not forget the cry of the humble".

Although the judgement seems to be aimed against nations in this passage, it can also be applied to individuals. There is wickedness among individuals, there are also individuals who surrender and trust God. The chapter ends by asking God to put fear in them "That the nations may know themselves to be but men" - implying that men has thought of themselves as something more.



Psalm 9

To the Chief Musician. To the tune of “Death of the Son.”[a] A Psalm of David.

 1 I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;
         I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
 2 I will be glad and rejoice in You;
         I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
       
 3 When my enemies turn back,
         They shall fall and perish at Your presence.
 4 For You have maintained my right and my cause;
         You sat on the throne judging in righteousness.
 5 You have rebuked the nations,
         You have destroyed the wicked;
         You have blotted out their name forever and ever.
       
 6 O enemy, destruction are finished forever!
         And you have destroyed cities;
         Even their memory has perished.
 7 But the LORD shall endure forever;
         He has prepared His throne for judgment.
 8 He shall judge the world in righteousness,
         And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.
       
 9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
         A refuge in times of trouble.
 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
         For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
       
 11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion!
         Declare His deeds among the people.
 12 When He avenges blood, He remembers them;
         He does not forget the cry of the humble.
       
 13 Have mercy on me, O LORD!
         Consider my trouble from those who hate me,
         You who lift me up from the gates of death,
 14 That I may tell of all Your praise
         In the gates of the daughter of Zion.
         I will rejoice in Your salvation.
       
 15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made;
         In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.
 16 The LORD is known by the judgment He executes;
         The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.
Meditation.[b]  Selah

       
 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell,
         And all the nations that forget God.
 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten;
         The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.
       
 19 Arise, O LORD,
         Do not let man prevail;
         Let the nations be judged in Your sight.
 20 Put them in fear, O LORD,
         That the nations may know themselves to be but men.  Selah

Joshua’s Farewell Address

The warnings and reminders to the children of Israel are repeated throughout the Old Testament, because God knows that Israel, like all humans will stray from the path. Yet God in His infinite patience continues to warn and remind.

Here at the end of Joshua's leadership, when all the nations are conquered and Israel is set to have some rest, God again reminds Israel. God uses Joshua to warn the people:
"Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, 8 but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day."

Specifically, the Israelites are reminded that all their victories are due to God. They should love God and not turn back to the other nations. They should not marry the local people and not be influenced by their pagan cultures. Whatever God has said had come to pass including the blessings and the curses. If they turn away and worship other gods, then they will surely perish.


Joshua 23

Joshua’s Farewell Address

 1 Now it came to pass, a long time after the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua was old, advanced in age. 2 And Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them:
“I am old, advanced in age. 3 You have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has fought for you. 4 See, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, as far as the Great Sea westward. 5 And the LORD your God will expel them from before you and drive them out of your sight. So you shall possess their land, as the LORD your God promised you. 6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, lest you turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 and lest you go among these nations, these who remain among you. You shall not make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause anyone to swear by them; you shall not serve them nor bow down to them, 8 but you shall hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. 9 For the LORD has driven out from before you great and strong nations; but as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day. 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, as He promised you. 11 Therefore take careful heed to yourselves, that you love the LORD your God. 12 Or else, if indeed you do go back, and cling to the remnant of these nations—these that remain among you—and make marriages with them, and go in to them and they to you, 13 know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out these nations from before you. But they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land which the LORD your God has given you.
14 “Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one word of them has failed. 15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all the good things have come upon you which the LORD your God promised you, so the LORD will bring upon you all harmful things, until He has destroyed you from this good land which the LORD your God has given you. 16 When you have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you shall perish quickly from the good land which He has given you.”