I love how Psalm 81 begins in verse 1:
1SING ALOUD to God our Strength! Shout for joy to the God of Jacob!
"Sing aloud" is the Hebrew word, "ranan", which means: to be overcome, to cry out, to shout for joy, to give a ringing cry in joy, exaltation and praise. "Shout for joy" is the Hebrew word, "ruwa`", which means: to shout a war cry or an alarm of battle, to shout in triumph over enemies, to shout in applause. As you have probably noticed, we seem to see these same words used a lot! Our God is worthy to receive praise and honor and glory! If WE don't give Him praise, the very stones will cry out! (Luke 19:40). Then the Lord reminds the people of all the times He delivered them when they cried out to Him. And yet they STILL continued to disobey! Then in verses 13-16 we see the promise that He makes if they would only hear and obey His Word:
13Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways!
14Speedily then I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their adversaries.
15[Had Israel listened to Me in Egypt, then] those who hated the Lord would have come cringing before Him, and their defeat would have lasted forever.
16[God] would feed [Israel now] also with the finest of the wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I satisfy you.
As born again believers, with a new and better covenant, we should hear and obey God's Word, too! Everything He tells us to do is so that we can be in position to receive His richest and best! Remember 3 John 2:
2Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and [that your body] may keep well, even as [I know] your soul keeps well and prospers.
That is God's perfect will for us! AMEN!
In Romans 9 we begin the first of three chapters that deal with the nation of Israel. Israel is the only nation in the world with a complete history, past, present and future. Chapter 9 deals with Israel's past election. It is to and through Israel that God reveals His presence, His Word, His covenant, worship, the patriarchs and the Messiah! In chapter 10 we will see Israel's present rejection and in chapter 11 we will see Israel's future restoration. We also see US in this chapter in verse 30:
30What shall we say then? That Gentiles who did not follow after righteousness [who did not seek salvation by right relationship to God] have attained it by faith [a righteousness imputed by God, based on and produced by faith],
We are in right standing with God through the precious Blood of Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One and His anointing! Thank You, Jesus!
The general overview of Numbers 5-6 is that God wants the nation of Israel to be a people separated from the world and separated unto Him. They needed to be "clean" before God and to maintain that cleanliness. The purpose for that was to preserve the nation so that the Messiah could come through it! I won't even try to go into the specifics of the chapters this time. I can't even begin to shed light on chapter 5 and that is one of the many passages of Scripture I will be asking the Lord about when I get to Heaven! Why is this chapter all about the woman? What about the men involved? And does the man really get off free if he was wrong and falsely accused her? It just doesn't sound like God to me, so I know that I am probably missing something here! I am SO glad that I have a better covenant, though! Thank You, Jesus!
Shalom in Him!
