Shalom in Him!
Psalm 85 was written at a time when the captives had returned from Babylon. The psalmist is calling on God to restore them to their there previous state of "salvation", the Hebrew word, "yesha`", where the Name "Yeshua' comes from! It means: liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety, welfare, victory. Verse 8-9:
8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him)--but let them not turn again to [self-confident ] folly. 9 Surely His salvation is near to those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, [and is ready to be appropriated] that the manifested presence of God, His] glory may tabernacle and abide in our land.
As born again believers, He doesn't just "abide in our land", but He lives and dwells WITHIN US! We MUST keep in daily fellowship with Him so that we don't get caught up, again, in the way the world looks at situations and circumstances. As believers, we can go into "captivity" in our minds by not controlling our thought life. Proverbs 4:23 tells us to protect our hearts (the spirit/soul combination) because that is where the source of the life we now live is found! WE ARE the Temple of the Living God, but He will only operate in our life THROUGH us! Spend time listening to the Spirit of God every day to get to know Him. Then you will have faith, trust and confidence in Him as He leads you moment by moment and day by day! AMEN!
The last time through Luke we looked at the response of the people and of the religious leaders when Jesus healed the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath. Verse 11 sums up the response of the religious leaders, who SHOULD have known both Jesus AND the Truth, but they did not:
11 But they were filled with lack of understanding and senseless rage and discussed (consulted) with one another what they might do to Jesus.
This is the Amplified Bible and it is a VERY accurate description of their mindset and attitude! Why? Because they felt that He threatened their positions. Never be moved by the response of other people to the Word of God! Remember John 17:17:
17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth.
Stick to the Truth of God's Word and you will ALWAYS be right!
Hosea 11-12 shows us more of Israel and how the people refused to listen to the prophets that god sent to try to get them to return to Him. Hosea 11:7:
7 My people are bent on backsliding from me; though, [the prophets] call them to Him Who is on high, none at all will exalt Him or lift himself up [to come to Him].
And Hosea 12:6:
6 Therefore return to your God! Hold fast to love and mercy, to righteousness and justice, and wait [expectantly] for your God continually!
Did they listen and obey? More tomorrow!
Shalom in Him!
