Psalm 80:8-11 again reveals the Source and scope of the nation of Israel according to GOD'S WORD!
8 You brought a vine [Israel] out of Egypt; You drove out the [heathen] nations and planted it [in Canaan]. 9 You prepared room before it, and it took deep root and it filled the land. 10 The mountains were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs of it were like the great cedars [cedars of God]. 11 [Israel] sent out its boughs to the Mediterranean] Sea and its branches to the [Euphrates] River.
The One, True, God HIMSELF appointed the land for the nation of Israel! He brought them out of Egypt, lead them (after 40 years of discipline!) to the land, ordered the removal of all of the heathen (those who refused the One, True God), and established them FOREVER! He removed the Israelites from the land when their sin and rebellion threatened to overrun the entire nation and the land. He has been in the process of bringing them ALL back to the land since HE re-established the nation in 1948! I don't care who CLAIMS to own the land, my Bible says that the earth and ALL of its fullness belong to HIM (Psalms 24:1; 50:12; 89:11; 1 Corinthians 10:26 & 28)! If HE wants to designate a certain area for a certain people, HE has every right to do it! How dare ANYONE to claim otherwise? Join with the One, True God in calling the nation ISRAEL and its capital JERUSALEM! AMEN! Also, join in praying verse 19 with and for Israel:
19 Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; cause Your face to shine [in pleasure, approval, and favor on us], and we shall be saved!
Here are some interesting images of Israel and Jerusalem:
The borders of Israel according to the Bible.
Another look at Biblical Israel.
The city of Jerusalem.
The Western Wall. Jerusalem has NEVER been the capital of any other nation. Only ISRAEL!
We continue to pray for peace and prosperity!
We begin Luke today and I wanted to share this from the Bible Exposition Commentary: New Testament.
In this Gospel you meet individuals as well as crowds, women and children as well as men, poor people as well as rich people, and sinners along with saints. It's a book with a message for everybody, because Luke's emphasis is on the universality of Jesus Christ and His salvation: "good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people" (Luke 2:10).
Dr. Luke is named only three times in the New Testament: in Col 4:14; 2 Tim 4:11; and Philem 24. He wrote Acts (compare Luke 1:1-4 with Acts 1:1) and traveled with Paul (note the "we" sections in Acts 16:10-17; 20:4-15; 21:1-18, and 27:1-28:16). He was probably a Gentile (compare Col 4:11 and 14) and was trained as a physician. No wonder he began his book with detailed accounts of the births of two important babies! No wonder he emphasized Christ's sympathy (my change - compassion) for hurting people! He wrote with the mind of a careful historian and with the heart of a loving physician.
Isn't that a great background for this Gospel? The phrase "from the very first" in verse 3 is actually the Greek word "anothen", which can be translated: from above. Luke was indeed the writer of this Gospel, but the Holy Spirit was the Author! If we pay attention, the Author, Who lives IN us, will make the Word come alive and give us increased understanding, so that we can be in the best possible position to walk daily in the Blessing of God! Verse 4:
4 [My purpose is] that you may know the full truth and understand with certainty and security against error the accounts (histories) and doctrines of the faith of which you have been informed and in which you have been orally instructed.
We learn from this account that there were messages delivered by the angel Gabriel to two different people. They each had a different response: Zachariah questioned how it could be possible, while Mary asked how it would be done! God is NOT against questions, He is against unbelief! Stay in the Word and you will stay in faith and be pleasing to God!
2 Chronicles 31-32 tell of the good and godly things done by king Hezekiah. He had the people cleanse the land from all of the tools of idol worship. He called for the people to resume paying tithes and giving offerings. The people obeyed to such a great extent that what they brought in had to be laid in "heaps" Hezekiah did other good things in keeping with the Word of God and this was said of him in 2 Chronicles 31:20-21:
20 Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah, and he did what was good, right, and faithful before the LORD his God. 21 And every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in keeping with the law and the commandments to seek his God [inquiring of and yearning for Him], he did with all his heart, and he prospered.
What is the Scriptural key to Divine prosperity in every area of life? Find out what God wants done and DO it - HIS WAY! 3 John 2:
2 Beloved, 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.
Your soul (mind, emotions, and will) prospers when you feed on the Word of God. Then you can do things HIS WAY, and the rest will follow!
Shalom in Him!
