Shalom,


Psalm 150 is an entire Psalm devoted to praise! It gives us a summary of some essentials for worship:

• The focus of worship:  The LORD!   (Verses 1a, 6b)
• The places of worship:  Heaven and earth!  (Verse 1b)
• The themes of worship:  God's Acts and Attributes!  (Verse 2)
• The The means of worship:  Musical instruments and human voices!  (Verses 3-6)

1a PRAISE THE LORD!  6b Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!)


The phrase "praise the Lord" is actually the Greek words "Hallelu Yah", or our English word, "Hallelujah!" We know what "halal" means: to be clamorously foolish in praise to Him! "Yah" is the Covenant Name for God. It can also be "Yahweh". Thats is a GREAT way to begin and end a Psalm of praise! 


Here is the song "Let Everything That Has Breath" from Hillsong Music:

John 10:17-18:


17 For this [reason] the Father loves Me, because I lay down My [own] life -- to take it back again. 18 No one takes it away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily, [I put it from Myself] I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father.


The Father GAVE His only Son and the Son GAVE Himself! Why? For the JOY that was set before Him (Hebrews 12:2)! THAT is US! Thank YOU, Jesus! Celebrate that today! He did it all on purpose and He did it all for YOU! GLORY TO GOD!


1 Samuel 27:1:


1 BUT DAVID said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape into the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any more within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.


Remember the last time you got discouraged, were tempted to give up, lost faith or something like that? Well, it has happened to the best of us, including David, who was a man after God's heart! That means that when he missed it, he would eventually repent and then get right back going AFTER GOD! Now YOU go and do likewise! NEVER allow yourself to stay down and discouraged! God has promised you things in His Word that you need to remind yourself of on a daily basis, so that you can keep encouraging yourself and continuing to grow!


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 149 is another psalm that could be used as an instruction manual on praise and worship! In this Psalm we see how to:

• Worship the LORD intelligently -- Verses 1-2.
• Worship the LORD fervently -- Verses 3-4.
• Worship the LORD gratefully -- Verse 5.
• Worship the LORD triumphantly -- Verses 6-9.

And then I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament:

Everything that God's people do in serving and glorifying the Lord must flow out of worship, for without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). The most important activity of the local church is the worship of God, for this is the activity we will continue in heaven for all eternity. This psalm is a primer on worship and gives us the basic instructions we need. Here is the song "Search My Heart" from the Aftermath CD by Hillsong United. Without HIM, I am NOTHING! Thank GOD I am NEVER without Him! AMEN!

In John 9 we read about the healing of the man who was born blind. The disciples wanted to know WHY the man was born blind. Jesus had a  more important statement to make! Remember that there was NO punctuation in the original languages. The translators added these to try and make it more readable. Allow the Holy Spirit to show you some Truth by taking some of that away! Try reading it like this:

3 Jesus answered, It was not that this man or his parents sinned, but he was born blind. In order that the workings of God should be manifested (displayed and illustrated) in him, I must work the works of Him Who sent Me and be busy with His business while it is daylight. 

Do you see how that would make these verses so much clearer? I LOVE the Word of God AND being taught by the Spirit of God!

The saying "Behind every great man is a great woman" may not be entirely true, and  isn't found in the Bible, but it was certainly true of David in the situation with Nabal! Abigail's intervention saved David and his men from the results of taking vengeance for themselves! Remember that the Word of God says that vengeance belongs to God (Deuteronomy 32:35; Psalm 94:1; and Romans 12:19)! We need to take care of OUR business, and let GOD take care of HIS! AMEN! 

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


We've mentioned before that in Psalm 148 we find the word "praise" 13 times in 14 verses! In all but one of these it is the Hebrew word "halal", which we should know by now means: to shine, to show, to boast, to be clamorously foolish, to rave, to celebrate, to stultify (to appear to be foolish or ridiculous or absurd), to act like a madman! This Psalm says that all of His creation praise Him this way, including all of the hosts of Heaven! How can we do any less? Jesus said in Luke 19:40 that if WE don't praise Him, the stones will cry out! I don't know about you, but there is no way in this world that I want to be outdone by a rock when it comes to praise and worship! He ALONE is worthy! 


In John 8 Jesus continues to share the Word of Truth with as many as would listen to Him. John 8:27-29:


27 They did not perceive (know and understand) that He was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus added, When you have lifted up the Son of Man [on the cross], you will realize (know, understand) that I am He [for Whom you look] and that I do nothing of Myself (of My own accord or on My own authority), but I say [exactly] what My Father has taught me. 29 And He Who sent Me is ever with Me; My Father has not left Me alone, for I always do what pleases Him. 30 As He said these things, many believed in Him [trusted, relied on, and adhered to Him].


They heard and believed! Then the understanding came! Jesus went on to say in verses 31-32:


31 So Jesus saids to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. 32 And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.


It is NOT the Truth that sets us free! It is KNOWING the Truth that sets each individual person free! How well do YOU know His Word? It is time to take stock and be responsible for our lives! The results we are living with now are a direct result of what we did previously! Start today to make it YOUR determined purpose, just like Paul, to KNOW HIM! Amen!


1 Samuel 22 begins with David escaping to the Cave of Adullam. Bill Novak, the Pastor of The Spoken Word Church, has done an excellent teaching on David and the Cave of Adullam, and how it pertains to believers in Jesus of Nazareth. Contact us through the Church website to find out how to receive that teaching! Here is a picture from Israel of what MAY have been the cave that David hid:

Then we see that David went into a stronghold for protection. Some scholars believe that it was Masada, which was about 30 miles from the cave. Here is a picture of Masada so you can see just what a great stronghold it would be:

Even though he was in a safe place, the prophet Gad had other instructions for him. Verse 5:


5 The the prophet Gad said to David, Do not remain in the stronghold; leave, and get into the land of Judah. So David left and went into the forest of Hareth.


The LORD continued to show Himself strong in protecting David from everything that Saul tried to do to him! I believe that by NOT hiding out in a stronghold, David was able to realize the protection of God so that he could operate in faith and not fear as he faced other situations as king! Be BOLD and be STRONG for the LORD YOUR God is with YOU! AMEN!


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Do YOU want to be pleasing to the LORD? Here's how in Psalm 147:11:


11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy and loving-kindness.


It brings Him pleasure when we walk in the "fear of the LORD", which means reverence and respect; being aware and in awe of His presence IN us as believers! One of the reasons He does is because of what THAT attitude does for US! Psalm 111: 10:


10 The reverent fear and worship of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom and skill [the preceding and the first essential, the prerequisite and the alphabet]; a good understanding, wisdom, and meaning have all those who do [the will of the LORD]. Their praise of Him endures forever.


And we saw in Psalm 147:1 that it is a GOOD thing to give thanks unto the LORD! There were two songs I wanted to use with this Psalm, but I couldn't find a good video of either! One was "It IS HE" by Lamb (featuring Joel Chernoff). The other was "The LORD Is Building Up Jerusalem" by Hosanna Music. Here is a video, but without lyrics, of the second song. And, of course, the WORDS are in your Bible! AMEN!

In John 7:5 we see this:


5 For [even] His brothers did not believe in or adhere to or trust in or rely on Him either.


People are so moved by the natural senses! The problem with basing everything on the senses is that when something is no longer in front of us, we WILL forget! After all of the signs, wonders, miracles, healing, deliverances, casting out devils, and leaving the religious leaders speechless, even His own brothers still did not believe! What would it take? 1 Corinthians 2:14 tells us that the Word of God must be spiritually discerned! For real understanding to come, the disciples had to be born again, with the Holy Spirit living in them as Teacher! They finally believed on Him when He actually went through the Crucifixion and Resurrection, and they saw Him again, face to face! THEN they received the Holy Spirit and were born again! At the Day of Pentecost they were FILLED with the Holy Spirit and were even better able to understand the Word! Even with all of that, without diligence to feed on the Word of God on a daily basis, you and I will NOT be able to know and understand the Word enough to be DOERS of it! How  much is it worth to YOU? I can only answer that for myself!


In 1 Samuel 20-21 we find David and Jonathan parting after making a covenant together. For those who put King David on a spiritual pedestal as someone to emulate, we see today and the next few chapters some of the deadly mistakes he made! The mistake of going to Ahimelech for help, instead of relying on God, cost the lives of the priests! And then he lied to him! Of course we know that he repented and got back into fellowship, which is what we all must do, everyday! But there has never been a perfect believer except Jesus Himself! Don't get down on yourself for YOUR mistakes! But DO stop them and confess the sin and get right back in fellowship again! Take THAT example from David and do it! AMEN!


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 146 is the first of the five "Hallelujah Psalms" that finish the Book of Psalms. Hallelujah comes for the Hebrew word "halal" which we have looked at many times and means: to shine, to boast, to, to be clamorously foolish over, to celebrate. Verse 10 says it all!


10 The LORD shall reign forever, even Your God, O Zion, from generation to generation. Praise the LORD! (Hallelujah!) 


HE reigns on this earth when WE take His Word, His Name, and the authority HE has given us and preach the Good News of the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out devils and set the captives free! And, just as in the time that Jesus ministered, some will want and accept the Good News, and others won't! Don't spend a lot of time contemplating the ones who won't! Pray for other laborers across their path and move on! The fields are ripe and we ARE the ones to reap this Harvest before He returns! 


In John 6 we see Jesus continuing to minister around the Sea of Galilee. It is also known as Lake Tiberias, Lake of Gennesaret, or Kinneret. We visited this area on our Israel tour and here are a few pictures of it today. 

Yesterday we referred to verse 63:


63 It is the Spirit Who gives life [He is the Life-giver]; the flesh conveys no benefit whatever [there is no profit in it]. The words (truths) that I have been speaking to you are spirit and life.


The Word of God, when received and acted on, will produce LIFE in any and every situation! It did when Jesus spoke it during His earthly ministry, and it does now when believers in Jesus of Nazareth speak it out! God Himself confirms His Word (Mark 16:20)! It takes time to get the Word of God IN us in abundance so that we can speak it out in faith! Be a DOER of Joshua 1:8 and John 15:7 and you, too, can speak the Word and see it confirmed right before your eyes! 


1 Samuel 18-19 reveal the progress of Saul's jealousy toward David. If Saul had followed the LORD with his whole heart, he wouldn't have lost the kingdom. Observing the way each handled these situations gives a very good lesson in the proper attitude to have, and why! Proverbs 27:21, in the Complete Jewish Bible, says this:


21 The crucible [tests] silver, and the furnace [tests] gold, but a person [is tested] by [his reaction to] praise.


Saul had always eaten up the praises of the people. In fact, he must have lived on it! When David began to receive more praise than Saul, jealousy entered in and Saul's downfall was rapid! The KJV says Saul was "wroth". This is the Hebrew word "charah", which means: to be hot, to be furious, to burn, to become angry, to heat oneself in vexation, to blaze up. Saul had ceased caring about pleasing and obeying the One, True God and was only concerned for himself. Make sure that you seek approval from God alone and you will never have a jealousy problem again! 


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 145 is a Psalm of David. It is also the only Psalm called "A Psalm of Praise". David is telling us not only all of the reasons for praising the LORD, he is also telling us WHEN and WHERE to praise Him! We are to praise Him (taken from the Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament):

• From day to day: Verses 1-2.
• From generation to generation: Verses 3-7.
• From nation to nation: Verses 8-13a.
• From need to need: Verses 13b-16.
• From prayer to prayer: Verses 17-21.

Verses 21 says:

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD; and let all flesh bless (affectionately and gratefully praise) His holy Name forever and ever.

Last year on this blog we covered all of the different words for praise and ways to praise. Now we know when and where! He SHOULD be "being praised" all day, every day, everywhere and in every way! I am only responsible for doing MY part and for sharing with you about yours! Let's be DOERS! AMEN!

John 5: 2-3:

2 Now there is in Jerusalem a pool near the Sheep Gate. This pool in the Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porches (alcoves, colonnades, doorways). 3 In these lay a great number of sick folk -- some blind, some crippled, and some paralyzed (shriveled up) -- waiting for the bubbling up of the water. 

Here is a picture from our Israel trip of the remains of the area where theses pools, porches, colonnades and doorways were:

This was a very real place and Jesus healed a very real man who was afflicted with very real problems! Verses 5-9:

5 There was a certain man there who had suffered with a deep-seated and lingering disorder for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well? [Are you really in earnest about getting well?] 7 The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me. 8  Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk! 9 Instantly the man became well and recovered his strength and picked up his bed and walked. But that happened on the Sabbath.

What just happened here? A man who had been in this terrible condition for thirty-eight years was miraculously healed AND had instantaneously regained all the strength needed, in muscles that had not been used for all of those years, to pick up his bed and walk! Wouldn't YOU be overjoyed to even just see this happen to someone else? But the "religious" ones were more concerned with the day! Don't mention the fact that THEY had never healed ANYONE! THAT is what religion does! We are not interested in religion! Jesus said this in John 6:63:

63 It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

THAT is what I am interested in! How about you?

In 1 Samuel 16-17 we see a lot take place, from David being anointed king, to David being asked to play for Saul to ease his tormented spirit, to David killing Goliath. Today, the most important verse to ME is found in 1 Samuel 16:7b:

7b For the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.

Don't ever let other people sway you from pursuing God's plan for your life with your whole heart! Don't look for approval from man, and don't be moved by criticism. Receive correction when the Holy Spirit brings it, whether He uses another person to deliver it or not. But don't EVER do something JUST BECAUSE! Remember, God is not looking for sacrifice, but OBEDIENCE (1 Samuel 15:22)! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 144:9-10:


9 I will sing a new song to You, O God; upon a harp, an instrument of ten strings, will I offer praises to You. 10 You are He Who gives salvation to kings, Who rescues David His servant from the hurtful sword [of evil].


The word "new" here is the Hebrew word "chadash", which can mean both something brand new that never existed before, or something renewed or made new. As we who are believers in Jesus of Nazareth set our hearts, like David, to sing a new song to HIM, the Holy Spirit will give us new songs in other tongues and in our known languages. It is not necessary to be a musician to sing OUR new song to HIM! It isn't a song that comes out of natural skill and ability, but one given by the Holy Spirit! It also may involve musical instruments. Not out of someone's natural ability, but by the Spirit. I have been in services where the musicians are playing supernaturally, by the Spirit of God. I have also been in services where the musicians are just ad-libbing, which was NOT by the Spirit of God! There is a distinct and noticeable difference! Just allow the Holy Spirit to be the Leader in this and you will be very blessed, energized, and "being filled" with the Spirit of God! AMEN! And the reason we do this is the same reason David did, because the One, True God is our SALVATION (deliverance in every area of life)! Here is the Hillsong song called "For Your Name" that mentions singing a new song!

In John 4:34-36 Jesus said this to His disciples:


34 Jesus said to them, My food (nourishment) is to do the will (pleasure) of Him Who sent Me and to accomplish and completely finish His work. 35 Do you not say, It is still four months until harvest time comes? Look! I tell you, raise your eyes and observe the fields and see how they are already white for harvesting. 36 Already the reaper is getting his wages [he who does the cutting now has his reward], for he is gathering fruit (crop) unto life eternal, so that he who does the planting and he who does the reaping may rejoice together.


If that was the message to the disciples of Jesus then, it is so much more urgent NOW! The most important mission of any of our lives is to BE the WITNESS for HIS free gift of eternal Salvation! We are ALL given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18) - telling the portion of the world that we are responsible for that God isn't holding anything against them! Jesus already paid the price for every sin EXCEPT the sin of rejecting Him! Let them know HOW to become a born again child of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! AMEN!


Have you ever heard the saying "Loose lips sink ships"? We have already seen a couple of examples of that as we're making our way through the Old Testament! Rash statements or declarations that were NOT needed and resulted in problems for the speaker! Saul did it in 1 Samuel 14:24 when he declared that anyone who ate that day would die! He was so very out of touch with the One, True God! Jonathan, on the other hand, was the one used by God too bring deliverance that day! There is a very real reason that we are told to be slow to speak in James 1:19:


19 Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.


When we are slow to speak it gives us time to actually listen to and hear the direction of the Holy Spirit so that we can speak "as the oracles of God" (1 Peter 4:11)! Let's BE the difference in our world! 


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 143:5-6:


5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all Your doings; I ponder the work of Your hands. 6 I spread forth my hands to You; my soul thirsts after You like a thirsty land [for water]. Selah [pause and calmly think of that]!


David is not only calling out to the LORD in this Psalm, he is encouraging himself in the LORD! He had a habit of doing this (1 Samuel 30:6)! When he says in verse 5 that he was remembering the days of old, he wasn't remembering past failures. He said "I meditate on all YOUR doings"!  He was remembering that every time he called on the LORD, he was delivered! Then in verse 6 he gives us the key for standing on the Word, waiting on the LORD, staying strong in faith and maintaining expectant hope and eager anticipation for the answer! David said LITERALLY: "my soul -- after YOU" or "my soul -- for YOU"! Thirst is not in there, but is implied by the phrase "thirsty land". But those 4 simple words say so very much! My soul, it's MY CHOICE! No one else can make it for me! "After YOU"! The soul of a person is the mind, emotions and will! When we renew our minds with the Word of God, we are in position to keep our emotions under OUR control and to make wise and Godly decisions! The VERY BEST decision we can ever make is to go all out AFTER GOD! "After You" is a Hebrew preposition which means: toward, for the purpose of, belonging to. Make it YOUR top priority in life to go all out after HIM, and HIS way of living your life! 


In John 3 we see God's plan of Salvation for all mankind! He so greatly loved and dearly prized the entire world that He gave His Son to pay the price for our sin. The only sin that was not taken care of by the Blood of Jesus of Nazareth is the sin of rejecting Him! Is there any reason YOU can't receive Jesus of Nazareth as YOUR Lord and personal Saviour right now? Read John chapter 3 again and then prayer this prayer, believing in your heart, and you WILL be saved!


Almighty God, I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ came to this earth, died on the cross for me, was raised from the dead, and is now seated at Your right hand. I accept and receive Jesus Christ as my personal Saviour and I invite Him to come into my heart and become Lord over my life. I thank You now Father, for welcoming me into Your family. You are my Father. I am Your child. Jesus is my Lord! Amen.


When John was told that Jesus was also baptizing, he said this to his followers in John 3:30-31:


30 He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.] 31 He Who comes from above (heaven) is [far] above all [others]; he who comes from the earth belongs to the earth, and talks the language of earth [his words are from an earthly standpoint]. He Who comes from heaven is [far] above all others [far superior to all others in prominence and in excellence].


We must make that same statement about our lives! We want the Light of HIS Life to shine through us, rather than our flesh nature! Here is a song from Hillsong's A Beautiful Exchange CD called "You":

In 1 Samuel 12-13 Samuel is reminding the Israelites of all that the LORD their God had done for them, delivering them time after time after time. Then he said this in verses 12-13:

12 But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, No! A king shall reign over us -- when the LORD your God was your king! 13 Now see the king WHOM YOU HAVE CHOSEN (emphasis mine!) and for whom you have asked; behold, the LORD has set a king over you.

Samuel then warned them that if they and their king followed after the LORD, it would be well with them. If not, then the hand of the LORD would be against them! Keep reading!

Shalom in Him

Shalom,


Psalm 142 is another Psalm of David. This one is called a "didactic" or reflective poem. Didactic means:  designed or intended to teach. We can and should learn from ALL of the Word of God. Sometimes we learn what to do in certain situations. Other times we learn what NOT to do! Learning is the key, and the Holy Spirit is our teacher!  Verses 1-3:


1 I CRY to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD do I make supplication. 2 I pour out my complaint before Him; I tell before Him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed and fainted [throwing all its weight] upon me, then You knew my path. In the way where I walk they have hidden a snare for me.


What can we learn from these verses? COMMUNICATION! That's what prayer really is! We pour our hearts out to God. He already KNOWS what we are going through! Speaking it out to Him helps us to face what the Pastor of The Spoken Word Church refers to as "the worst-case scenario"! We look at the worst that can happen so that nothing will take us by surprise! Then we listen to the Holy Spirit as He directs us to what the Word of God has to say about the situation or circumstance that we are facing. With our mind clear and renewed by the Word of God, we can stand strong ON the Word and AGAINST the lies and attacks of the enemy, knowing that "if God be for me, it doesn't do anyone any good to be against me" (Romans 8:31)!


John 2 tells of the first miracle that Jesus performed when He turned the water into wine. We also see this in verse 12:


12 After that He went down to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and disciples, and they stayed there only a few days. 


We visited the ruins of Capernaum when we were in Israel last year. Here is a picture of the ruins of a synagogue from that time:

Then we see Jesus cleaning the Temple of the money changers and merchants. I learned something new from my study this time. We know the obvious reason why Jesus did this, but I found out something more. The place where this was all taking place was in the court of the Gentiles! What the Jews should have been doing is sharing the news of the One, True God with them, instead of trying to make money off of them! Someone searching for the Truth certainly wasn't able to find it there. At least not before Jesus cleaned it out! Remember that even in this, Jesus did not sin! He did what needed to be done, but He did this, like He did everything else, IN LOVE! 


In 1 Samuel 10:17-19:


17 And Samuel called the people together to the LORD at Mizpah 18 And said to the Israelites, Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: It was I Who brought up Israel out of Egypt and delivered you out of the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you. 19 But you have this day rejected your God, Who Himself saves you from all your calamities and distresses; and you have said to Him, No! Set a king over us. So now present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and by your thousands.


They had rejected the very One Who had provided everything for them! Even at this point the people could have repented and changed their thinking to agree with the One, True God! But they didn't. They took so much for granted! Yet, every time they called on the LORD, He delivered them! 1948 marked a return to the land for the Israelites and now they will NOT be forced out again! Soon and very soon they will be faced with the fact that they are alone, with not a friend in the world, and they will have to rely COMPLETELY on the One, True God! Keep reading in 1 Samuel to see how this king-thing works out for them! 


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 141 is another Psalm of David, written when he was in danger. David always knew where to turn for help, even when he missed it himself! He would receive the correction from the LORD and then move on in confidence of God's delivering power! I enjoyed reading this one in several Bible Translations this time. Here are verses 3-5a in the Message Bible:


3 Post a guard at my mouth, GOD, set a watch at the door of my lips. 4 Don't let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall into bad company. And these people who only do wrong -- don't let them lure me with their sweet talk! 5a may the Just One set me straight, may the Kind One correct me,


We really do need to watch our eyes and ears to control what goes in, because we are instructed in Proverbs 4:23 to do this:


23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for our of it flow the springs of life.


What goes IN through our eyes and ears will eventually come OUT of our mouths! Guard them! AMEN! Verse 2 in the Amplified Bible says:


2 Let my prayer be set forth as incense before You, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.


I love how this verse was put to song by Hillsong in "Like Incense":

John 1:4-5:


4 In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].


"Life" in these verses is the Greek word "Zoe", which means: of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belong to God; life in the absolute sense, life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which he gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself, and which the Son manifested in the world.


WE have that same life IN us, as believers in Jesus of Nazareth! And this Life brings the Light that exposes all darkness! Here is a  new song from Hillsong United called "Light Will Shine". Double click to listen on You Tube and see the lyrics!

In 1 Samuel 8, we see that even Samuel, who grew up around the Word of God and heard the voice of God at a young age, did not have children that walked in the ways of God! Verse 1, 3-5:


1 WHEN SAMUEL was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. 3 His sons did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after gain, took bribes, and perverted justice. 4 All the elders of Israel assembled and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5 And said to him, behold, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint us a king to rule over us like all the other nations.


They wanted a king so they could be like all the other nations! They wanted to "fit in"! The One, True God was their King, and they wanted a natural king instead! God warned them through Samuel just how domineering a king would be and how much freedom they would be giving up, but they were stubborn! Sounds just like the Israelites we've come to know, doesn't it? We'll see how this all works out as we continue in 1 Samuel!


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 140 is a psalm of David, probably written when he was being pursued by Saul. David was continually on the run for his very life! How do you think YOU might react to that situation? We're not just talking about a few harsh words here, but actual death threats! David said this in verses 8-11:


8 Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; further not their plot and device, lest they exalt themselves. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 9 Those who are fencing me in raise their heads; may the mischief of their own lips and the very things they desire for me come upon them. 10 Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into floods of water or deep water pits, from which they shall not rise. 11 Let not a man of slanderous tongue be established in the earth; let evil hunt the violent man to overthrow him [let calamity follow his evildoings].


Some scholars have argued with the translation of these verses, saying that David was simply speaking of what would take place and not how he felt or what he desired. This is simply not true! David was a human being, subject to the same feelings and emotions as we are, In fact, David was anointed with the Holy Spirit, but he did NOT have the Spirit of God living IN him, like we do! Do YOU ever cry out to God about a situation or circumstance involving people? We know that David didn't follow through on his own, but trusted in God for deliverance, because he had Saul within his grasp more than once and refused to harm him! This attitude is revealed in verses 7 & 12-13:


7 O God the LORD, the Strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle. 12 I know and rest in confidence upon it that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will secure justice for the poor and needy [of His believing children]. 13 Surely the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall give thanks to Your Name; the upright shall dwell in Your presence (before Your very face).


David was angry, but he sinned NOT (Ephesians 4:26)! God knows your every thought, so you might as well be honest with Him about how you REALLY feel! Then LISTEN to His instructions and DO the right thing! AMEN!


In 2 Corinthians 13:5:


5 Examine and test and evaluate  your own selves to see whether you are  holding to your faith and showing the proper fruits of it. Test and prove yourselves. Do you not yourselves realize and know [thoroughly by an ever-increasing experience] that Jesus Christ is in you -- unless you are [counterfeits] disapproved on trial and rejected?


 Paul, who has been instructing this church in both personal visits and letters, reminds them that the ultimate responsibility for their spiritual growth is THEIRS! Every believer must examine their own lives to see how THEY line up with God's Word! Some people have thought they were Christians, only to find out that they had never accepted Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and Saviour! Others have THOUGHT that they were standing on the Word of God for something, only to find out that they simply agreed with what was being said without meditating on the Word until it was in them in abundance! It is the Word (Truth) that I know that will set ME free (John 8:32)! So, LIVE in the Word of God and let your own life prove His presence in you!


I know that I have shared this before, but I LOVE this account in 1 Samuel 5:1-4:


1 THE PHILISTINES brought the ark of God from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 They took the ark of God into the house of dagon and set it beside dagon [their idol]. 3 When they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, dagon had fallen upon his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD. So they took dagon and set him in his place again. 4 But when they arose early the next morning, behold, dagon had fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and [his] head and both the palms of his hands were lying cut off on the threshold; only the trunk of dagon was left him.


The One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible had proven Who was REALLY GOD, not once, but twice! This deaf and dumb statue that they worshiped (after THEY made it, of course!) could not stand in the presence of the One, True God! If this wasn't proof enough for them, in every place that the ark was taken the people were dying and/or breaking out in tumors and boils. Do you think THAT had an effect on who they worshiped? Look ate verse 5:


5 This is the reason neither the priests of dagon nor any who come into dagon's house tread on the threshold of dagon in Ashdod to this day.


Wouldn't you have thought that they would burn down the house, or temple, of dagon after he proved to be no match for the God of Israel? They didn't! And unbelievers are no different today! That's why we pray for their eyes to be open to the Gospel and for laborers to cross their path! Only GOD can melt the coldest heart! Here is Hillsong's "Sing Of Your Great Love":

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 139:13-18:


13 For You fashioned my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I thank You because I am awesomely made, wonderfully; You r works are wonders - I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from You when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes could see me as an embryo, but in Your books all my days were already written; my days had been shaped before any of them existed. 17 God, how I prize Your thoughts! How many of them there are! 18 If I count them, there are more than grains of sand; if I finish the count, I am still with You.


These verses are often used to oppose the horrendously evil practice of abortion, and rightly so! But there is so much more that your Heavenly Father wants you to understand from this! If He spent so very much time and care to shape and form your physical, human body that perishes, HOW MUCH MORE is He interested in all the days of your life here on earth! He has THOUGHTS concerning us! Jeremiah 29:11-13:


11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the LORD, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. 12 Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. 13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.


He, Who made you so wonderfully, has definite plans and purposes for your life! Seek Him with your whole heart and He WILL reveal Himself AND His plan for you! Then set your heart to obey Him, whatever the cost, and have GREAT rewards in eternity! THAT TIME is fast approaching, so let's get to it! 


Read again verses 7-12 and then enjoy this song from Lamb! 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 speaks about Paul's thorn in the flesh. There has been so very much false teaching concerning this passage of Scripture! The first important thing to note is that Paul said that this thorn was a "messenger of satan". The source of this "messenger" was the devil, NOT GOD! As you study the word "thorn in the flesh" in the Word of God, you will find that it always refers to people. When the Israelites did not totally drive out the people of the nations they had conquered, they were told that these people would be thorns in their sides and pricks in their eyes (Numbers 33:55; Judges 2:3)! The second important thing to realize is that God DID NOT say no to Paul! He said, in verse 9, that His grace was ENOUGH to deliver Paul already! Paul then said that he would glory in all of these trials because God's grace WOULD deliver him! Verses 9-10:


9 But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 10 So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).


That sounds like someone who is expecting to get the victory, EVERY TIME! Not because of WHO Paul was, but WHOSE he was! AMEN! I also really like the Wuest Translation for these verses:



 Concerning this three times I begged the Lord that he might depart from me. And He has said to me, and His declaration still stands, My grace is enough for you, for power is moment by moment coming to its full energy and complete operation in the sphere of weakness. Therefore, most gladly will I the rather boast in my weaknesses in order that the power of the Christ [like the Shekinah Glory in the Holy of Holies of the Tent of Meeting] may take up its residence in me [working within me and giving me help]. Wherefore I am well content in weaknesses, in insults, in necessities, in persecutions, and in circumstances under which I am subject to extreme pressure on behalf of Christ, for when I am weak, then I am filled with ability and power.

Doesn't that just make you so aware of the power of God IN YOU? It should! Meditate!


In 1 Samuel 3-4 we find Samuel first hearing the voice of the LORD. He was unfamiliar with His voice yet. We see this in 1 Samuel 3:7:


7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, and the Word of the LORD was not yet revealed to him. 


We read in verse 1 that "the Word of the LORD was rare and precious in those days". We, as believers in Jesus of Nazareth, have the Holy Spirit living IN us! We have the Word of God, sometimes in several translations, in our own homes! When we receive the INFILLING of the Holy Spirit, we gain a greater sensitivity to hear His voice, IF we use our Heavenly prayer language on a  regular basis! Then we will hear His plan for our lives more clearly! Verse 19 says this:


19 Samuel grew; the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.


That means that when Samuel spoke, God confirmed His Word! He will do the same for us when we dare to speak His Word! We have this promise from John 15:7:


7 If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My Words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.


So there you have the instruction and the promise! What will YOU do with it?


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 138:1-2:


1 I WILL confess and praise You [O God] with my whole heart; before the gods will I sing praises to You. 


The Hebrew word translated "confess" and "praise" here is "Yadah", which means: to cast, to give thanks, to laud, to praise. The Dictionary definition of "laud" is: to praise highly, especially in a public context. The reason the psalmist is praising the Lord in public, particularly in the face of the so-called gods, is so that HIS works may be  known by the world so that they can turn and follow HIM: the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Verse 4-5 say this:


4 All the kings of the land shall give You credit and praise You, O LORD, for they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled]. 5 Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD and joyfully celebrate His mighty acts, for great is the glory of the LORD.


WE are to tell of His wondrous works (Psalm 105:2) so that the world will see and know that HE IS, and that HE IS GOD! Go ahead, glorify Him in public! He is worthy and THEY deserve to hear about it! Here is "For Your Name" by Hillsong. A great song to give glory to God!

As you read and meditate 2 Corinthians 11 today, allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart concerning the Pastor of your local church. I believe that Paul was writing this so that the church that he was responsible for in Corinth would understand where he was coming from in his care and concern for their well-being. Look at verses 2-3:


2 For I am zealous for you with a godly eagerness and a divine jealousy, for I have betrothed you to one Husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ.


Paul was concerned about protecting them from false teachers and false teaching. There are  many other concerns that a Pastor has for the people and families that they are responsible for. Good and Godly Pastors give of their time, energy and resources to make sure that their people are being fed the Word of God and given an environment in which to continually grow up in the things of God. Electronic churches and teaching ministries are a valuable tool and gift from God for our growth, but they will NEVER replace the local church and your own personal Pastor! Remember that YOUR Pastor was given to YOU as a gift from God (Ephesians 4). Appreciate your Pastor and contribute to their support, in every way that you have opportunity! That greatly pleases your Heavenly Father! AMEN!


I learned something new in my study of 1 Samuel 1-2 today! I LOVE when that happens! First of all, here is something that I found interesting from the Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament:

During the period of the judges, the Israelites were in dire straits because they lacked godly leadership. The priesthood was defiled, there was no sustained prophetic message from the Lord (3:1), and the Law of Moses was being ignored throughout the land. As He often did in Israel's history, God began to solve the problem by sending a baby. Babies are God's announcement that He knows the need, cares about His people, and is at work on their behalf. The arrival of a baby ushers in new life and a new beginning; babies are signposts to the future, and their conception and birth is a miracle that only God can do (Gen 30:1-2). To make the event seem even greater, God sometimes selects barren women to be the mothers, as when He sent Isaac to Sarah, Jacob and Esau to Rebekah, and Joseph to Rachel. 

As I was reading further, I noticed that Elkanah was a Levite who had responsibility to minster at the Tabernacle. He had two wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Remember that Jesus said in Matthew 19 what God's plan for marriage was. What is suspected here is that because Hannah appeared to be barren, Elkanah had taken another wife so he could have children and heirs. That sounds a lot like Abraham and Haggar, doesn't it? He didn't have faith to believe for his wife to have children! Whose child was used by God? Hannah's! It PAYS to do things God's Way! We'll see more of Samuel and how God used him as we continue in this book! 


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 137 recalls the plight of the Israelites during their captivity in Babylon. This is from the Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament:


Psalms 137
A Jew, probably a Levite, wrote this psalm after he had returned home from Babylon with the remnant in 536 B.C. Twenty years later, Babylon was destroyed. The psalmist was with a group of former exiles (note the "we" and "us" in vv. 1-4), recalling some of their experiences, and from this encounter with the past, he learned some lessons about the human memory, himself, and the Lord.

The psalmist was remembering how they were treated in Babylon, but that's not the only thing he was remembering! Verses 7-8:


7 Remember, O LORD, against the Edomites, that they said in the day of Jerusalem's fall, Down, down to the ground with her! 8 O Daughter of Babylon [you devastator, you!] who [ought to be and ] shall be destroyed, happy and blessed shall he be who requites you as you have served us.


He also remembered what God's Word had to say about the future of those who oppressed God's people! The Edomites were the descendants of Jacob's (Israel) brother Esau. They were blood relatives of the Israelites and should have shown them mercy! Instead, their SURE reward for touching God's anointed was foretold in Isaiah 63:1-6; Jeremiah 49:7-22; Ezekiel 25:12-14 & 35:1;and in  Obadiah. Babylon, who had gone to the extreme in their inhumanity to the Israelites, were facing what was spoken in Isaiah 13 and Jeremiah 51:56. Notice above that "Twenty years later, Babylon was destroyed". Speaking in New Testament terms, THAT is why we are to bless those who curse us and pray for those who despitefully use us! Why? Because they also have a sure reward for their behavior! Our prayer is that the eyes of their understanding will be open to the Truth so that they can receive Jesus of Nazareth as their personal Savior and can repent of their actions toward us!


2 Corinthians 10:17-18:


17 However, let him who boasts and glories boast and glory in the Lord. 18 For [it is] not [the man] who praises and commends himself who is approved and accepted, but [it is the person] whom the Lord accredits and commends.


"Commends" is the Greek word " sunistao:, which means: to recommend, to give approval to, to approve, to represent as worthy. We can brag on ourselves all day long, but that pulls no weight in Heaven! The ONLY commendation that should mean anything to us is that which comes from the One Who will say "Well done, good and faithful servant"! Let's brag and boast about our wonderful God and declare  His wonderful works! Then we can EXPECT His commendation for our lives! Here is a song that BOASTS of the Lord! Hillsong Kids with "Jesus, You're My Super Hero"

We finished Ruth today and I found out something I hadn't seen before! Naomi had an idea! She knew that Boaz was a near kinsman who would be able, IF he so chose, to marry Ruth and then HE would provide for them both! She instructed Ruth on all the proper procedures and Ruth obeyed everything that Naomi told her, exactly the way she told her to do it! WE can learn a lesson from Ruth about how to obey the Lord and His Word! Don't try it OUR way, do it ALWAYS His way and receive HIS blessing! AMEN! When Ruth came back, the Amplified Bible says this in verse 16:


16 And when she came home, her mother-in-law said, How have you fared, my daughter? And Ruth told her all that the man had done for her.


The Complete Jewish Bible tells us what Naomi REALLY asked Ruth!


16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she asked, "Who are you? My daughter?" She told her everything the man had done for her.


What Naomi was asking is: Are you still Ruth the Moabitess, or are you soon to be Mrs. Boaz? 


Isn't it fun to see something different in the Word every time you study it? I LOVE it! Keep meditating! There is SO much more in the Word of God than we will EVER know this side of Heaven!


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 136 is called by rabbis "The Great Hallel". It reveals and then celebrates the One, True God for Who He is and for what He has done for His people. To break it down a little, I've taken this from the Bible Exposition Commentary - Old Testament.  He is revealed as:

• The Creator - He brings forth - Verses 1-9.
• The Redeemer - He brings us out - Verses 10-12.
• The Shepherd - He brings us through - Verses 13-16.
• The Conqueror - he brings us in - Verses 17-22.
• The Deliverer - he brings us back - Verses 23-25.

The psalmist started at the very beginning with the Creation and ended with this very appropriate verse:

26 O give thanks to the God of heaven, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! 

Remember that the word "mercy" is the Hebrew word "checed", which means: favor, loving-kindness, steadfast love, grace, mercy, faithfulness, goodness, devotion. The Vine's Expository Dictionary says: 

'In general, one may identify three basic meanings of the word, which always interact: "strength", "steadfastness", and "love". Any understanding of the word that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness.'

THAT is the way our wonderful Heavenly Father responds to us! Celebrate that Truth! Here is "Stronger" by Hillsong - a celebration of the faithfulness of our God!

We went into more detail on 2 Corinthians 9 on the post for May of 2010. Today we want to look at verses 11-14:

11 Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God. 12 For the service that the ministering of this fund renders does not only fully supply what is lacking to the saints (God's people), but it also overflows in many [cries of] thanksgiving to God. 13 Because at [your] standing of the test if this ministry, they will glorify God for your loyalty and obedience to the Gospel of Christ which you confess, as well as for your generous-hearted liberality to them and to all [the other needy ones]. 14 And they yearn for you while they pray for you because of the surpassing measure of God's grace (His favor and mercy and spiritual blessing which is shown forth) in you.

When we give, we are not only instrumental in the provision of God getting to His people, but we also help create the opportunity for people to give praise, thanksgiving and worship to the One True God! They thank HIM! God gets the glory! Hallelujah! And He continues to get the glory as they watch OUR lives be blessed because of our giving! All in all, people are blessed and GOD gets the GLORY! Never pass up an opportunity to allow God to use YOU to bless someone! It is an unbelievable experience that cannot be surpassed! 

We begin the Book of Ruth today. I love this account of God's great blessing on Ruth for being a blessing to her mother-in-law! She didn't have to do it, but she chose to follow the One, True God and to be a blessing to one of His own! When we bless and pray for the Jewish people, the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem, stand and watch the blessing of the One, True God literally POUR into your life! God truly blesses those who will bless Israel! THAT'S a promise (Genesis 12:3)! AMEN!

Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 135:12-14:


12 [The LORD] gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to Israel His people. 13 Your Name, O LORD, endures forever, Your fame, O LORD, throughout the ages. 14 For the LORD will judge and vindicate His people, and He will delay His judgments [manifesting His righteousness and mercy] and take into favor His servants [those who meet His terms of separation unto Him].


When we encourage you to continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and then city of Jerusalem, we are doing so because God's Word says to! God Himself set the boundaries for the nation. We have covered much of that as we have made our way through the Old Testament in our Spoken Word Daily Bible Reading Plan. (If you would like one, you can purchase them through the website by following the link at the left of this blog. You can also follow it daily on the site). Psalm 135 is another confirmation of God's will concerning Israel! It also tells us this concerning idols in verses 15-18:


15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 16 [Idols] have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; 17 They have ears, but they hear not, nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make [idols] are like them; so is everyone who trusts in and relies on them.


They take wood, use some for firewood, use some for furniture, take the rest and make it into the image of something, then fall down and worship it! Does that make ANY sense to you? I hope not! How are those who make these idols like them? They cannot see the Truth of God's Word, they cannot hear the Truth of God's Word, because there is no LIFE OF GOD in them! This psalm is all about praising and blessing the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! In HIM, there IS Life (John 1:1; 1 John5:11-13)! Here's a children's song about where the TRUTH is found! The B-I-B-L-E by the Go Fish Guys! 

2 Corinthians 8:1-3:


1 WE WANT to tell you further, brethren, about the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which has been evident in the churches of Macedonia [arousing in them the desire to give alms]; 2 For in the midst of an ordeal of severe tribulation, their abundance of joy and their depth of poverty [together] have overflowed in wealth of lavish generosity on their part. 3 For, as I can bear witness, [they gave] according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability; and [they did it] voluntarily.


These believers were confident that the Word of God was true concerning their giving! They gave out of their own extreme need so that someone else would be blessed! You CANNOT  out give God! What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you (Ephesian 6:8)! Jerry Savelle wrote a book titled, "Sowing In Famine" that addresses this very thing! Seed, Time, and Harvest - God ordained it to be so (Genesis 8:22)! BE a giver!


Judges 21:25 shows us the reason for all of the horrendous things that happened in the last few chapters that we have read!


25 In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.


The One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible was SUPPOSED to be their king! Can you even imagine a better king than the King of kings? I found this commentary at Bible Gateway:


Judges 21:25 This statement is made three times in these latter chapters. All was well while Joshua and those who assisted him lived; then gradually came disorder. "What is the meaning of this?... There was no king [or counselor] in Israel because in Israel there was no God. The Lord is King. You cannot have a [true] king if you have not a God. There was no nominal renunciation of God, no public and blatant atheism, no boastful impiety; there was a deadlier heresy--namely, keeping God as a sign but paying no tribute to Him as a King, worshiping Him possibly in outward form but knowing nothing of the subduing and directing power of godliness. That is more to be dreaded than any intellectual difficulty of a theological kind... Dead consciences, prayerless prayers, mechanical formalities--these are the impediments which overturn... the chariots of progress. This was the case in Israel. Where God is, the king is not [merely] a man with a crown on, but a king in the sense of kingliness, sovereignty, authority, rule--the spirit of obligation and responsibility... You find the right monarch where you find the right God" (Joseph Parker, cited by James C. Gray and George M. Adams, Bible Commentary).


So very true! This is also true of many so-called churches in the USA today! They "have a form of godliness, but lack the power thereof" (2 Timothy 3:5). Why? Because they do not know the One, True God! God is moving in tremendous ways through His TRUE church today! Get involved with a TRUE local church and be part of what God is doing in the earth TODAY! If you don't know of  church, contact us through our web site and we will help you find one! If you're in our area, visit us! You'll be very glad you did!


Shalom in Him!

Shalom,


Psalm 134:1-3:


1 BEHOLD, BLESS (affectionately and gratefully praise) the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, [singers] who by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in holiness and to the sanctuary and bless the LORD [affectionately and gratefully praise Him] 3 The LORD bless you out of Zion, even He Who made heaven and earth.


We've probably all heard the songs that say something like "from the rising of the sun, till the time that it goes down, the Name of the Lord shall be praised". The sun is rising somewhere in the world every moment! When people on one part of the earth are going to sleep, others are just rising! So, the Name of the Lord is being praised ALL THE TIME! David thought that it SHOULD be that way. After all, we serve the God Who never slumbers or sleeps (Psalm 121:3-4)! David set up the praise choirs to be praising day and night (1 Chronicles 9:33)!  I found this interesting from the Bible Exposition Commentary: Old Testament:



 The greatest responsibility and highest privilege of individual believers and of churches is to worship God, for everything that we are and do flows out of worship. Yet today, worship is often trivialized into cheap, clever entertainment, and the sanctuary has become a theater. As the choir in the temple lifted their hands to heaven (see on Ps 28:2), they were pointing to the Source of all good things and praising Him for His mercy and grace. True worshipers lift "clean hands and a pure heart" to the Lord (24:4; James 4:8), for the Lord looks on the heart. We will worship God for all eternity (Rev 4-5), so we had better start learning now. 


We have had to make adjustments in our worship over the years, at The Spoken Word Church, so that we could continue to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, from the inside out! I LOVE being in the company of TRUE worshipers and so does HE! AMEN! Here is the Hillsong song "From The Inside Out:

In 2 Corinthians 7 Paul is speaking of his previous letter to them and how well they responded to his exhortation and correction. Verses 10-11:


10 For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter.


When the church at Corinth received the correction from Paul, it resulted in "repentance" on their part. This is the Greek word "metanoia", which means: a change of mind; a turning from sin and turning to God. That repentance produced "salvation" for them. This is the Greek word "soteria", which means: deliverance, preservation, safety, health, rescue. Don't ever shy away from the correction of the Lord! He ALWAYS corrects with His Word and NEVER by harmful things! Remember ALWAYS the difference between the Lord and the enemy found in John 10:10:


10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).


Keep making those adjustments so you can continue to walk in and thoroughly enjoy LIFE!


Judges 18:1-2:


1 IN THOSE days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the Danites sought for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no [sufficient] inheritance had been acquired by them among the tribes of Israel. 2 So the Danites sent from the whole number of their tribe five brave men from Zorah and Eshtaol to spy out the land and to explore it, and they said to them, Go, explore the land. They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there.


The tribe of Dan was given a specific territory, by God, to possess (Joshua 19:40-48). They had no business scouting out new land, they needed to do what was required to possess what God had already given them! If they would have obeyed God, He would have worked with them to enable them to possess it! Instead, they coveted other land and proceeded to MURDER innocent people! We need to understand that God's people are His because He chose them, NOT because they were perfect or did no wrong! They continually disobeyed God, which is why they were taken into captivity in Babylon, and later were dispersed throughout the world. They paid the price for their disobedience, but WOE to those who harmed them! Remember to continue to pray for the peace and prosperity of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem and be blessed! 


Shalom in Him!