Shalom,
Psalm 53 is almost identical to Psalm 14. The Hebrew word for God here is "Elohim", which is a plural word for God that refers to the Godhead. Verses 1-3:
1 The [empty-headed] fool has said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt and evil are they, and doing abominable iniquity; there is none who does good. 2 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any who understood, who sought (inquired after and desperately required) God. 3 Every one of them has gone back [backslidden and fallen away]; they have altogether become filthy and corrupt; there is none who does good, no, not one.
This certainly is another picture of the times in which we live! The world has altogether become filthy and corrupt! Most of them do not make the Word of God their standard anymore. The abortion issue, the gay marriage issue, the welfare situation, corrupt politicians, and the list goes on and on! These really are not issues, according to the Word of God. They are SIN! Every nation that was once powerful and then fell had these same "issues" going on! What hope is there? There is a nation that exists in the USA and in all of the other nations of the world! It is the "nation" or "kingdom" of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! All born again believers are Ambassadors of this nation here on earth! We represent the Kingdom of Heaven while we are here! As long as God's people, who are called by HIS Name, will stay humble and pray (for their earthly nations and leaders, for the Body of Christ, for God's plan here on earth) then God Himself will direct the happenings of earth for HIS purpose! Keep up the good work while there is still time. Soon and very soon, we are going to see JESUS appearing for us in the sky! Let's make it our goal to take everyone we know with us! AMEN!
In Mark 3 we see that Jesus again healed someone in the synagogue, and again the Pharisees, who should have been overjoyed at the display of the power of God, sought how they might kill Jesus! Verses 7-10:
7 And Jesus retired with His disciples to the lake, and a great throng from Galilee followed Him. Also from Judea 8 And from Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from Tyre and Sidon -- a vast multitude, hearing all the many things that He was doing, came to Him. 9 And He told His disciples to have a little boat in [constant] readiness for Him because of the crowd, lest they press hard upon Him and crush Him. 10 For He had healed so many that all who had distressing bodily diseases kept falling upon Him and pressing upon Him in order that they might touch Him.
Do you realize how far these people had come to receive from the ONE they had heard about? From Jerusalem to Galilee alone is about 68 miles! There were no cars, no trains, no planes or helicopters then! Most of these people either walked or rode on donkeys or camels! These people came from everywhere because they believed! They weren't empty-headed fools! We are so blessed in this nation that we only have to go as far as our bookshelves, our stereos, out TVs, our iPods, our computers, to hear and be taught the Word of God! Do WE appreciate the ONE? Who He is, why He came, what He's done, what He WANTS to do THROUGH US? If not, it's high time to start! If so, keep it up!
Isaiah 19-20 speak of Egypt and God's plan for that nation! Isaiah 19:24-25 says this:
24 In that day Israel shall be the third, with Egypt and with Assyria [in a Messianic league], a blessing in the midst of the earth, 25 Whom the LORD of hosts has blessed, saying, Blessed be Egypt My people and Assyria the work of My hands and Israel My heritage.
Don't forget that after the Rapture of the Church and the Tribulation, earth is going to be a very busy place for another 1000 years, while Jesus Himself rules and reigns from Jerusalem! We don't yet know what OUR part in this will be, but we KNOW that it will be a blessing, because OUR God is a GOOD GOD! Hallelujah! Here is an exciting song from Hillsong United called "Go":
Shalom in Him!
