Shalom,


Psalm 82:1-2:


1 GOD STANDS in the assembly [of the representatives] of God; in the midst of the magistrates or judges He gives judgment [as] among the gods. 2 How long will you [magistrates or judges] judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 


God sees and knows what is happening in the nations of the earth! He holds men responsible for the choices that they make! The judges are supposed to ensure that EVERYONE gets fair treatment! Verses 3-4:


3 Do justice to the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the afflicted and needy. 4 Deliver the poor and needy; rescue them out of the hand of the wicked.


This is the responsibility of those whom GOD has put in positions of authority! It does not always happen this way, so verse 5 is what has taken place on the earth!


5 [The magistrates and judges] know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in the darkness of the earth [the fundamental principles upon which rests the administration of justice] are shaking.


I really like the Message Bible for these verses:


1 God calls the judges into His courtroom, He puts all the judges in the dock. 2 "Enough! You've corrupted justice long enough, you've let the wicked get away with murder. 3 You're here to defend the defenseless, to make sure that the underdogs get a fair break; 4 Your job is to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them." 5 Ignorant judges! Head-in-the-sand judges! They haven't a clue to what's going on. And now everything's falling apart, the world's coming unglued. 6 "I commissioned you judges, each one of you, deputies of the High God, 7 But you've betrayed your commission and now you're stripped of your rank, busted."


Then verse 8:


8 Arise, O God, judge the earth! For to You belong all the nations.


And He is about to do just that! Make sure that YOU are on God's side! 


In Luke 3 we see Jesus revealed as the Son of God! Did you know that Napoleon Bonaparte said this about Jesus: "If Socrates would enter the room, we should rise and do him honor. But if Jesus Christ came into the room, we should fall down on our knees and worship Him." AMEN! John revealed that the One to come was mightier than he was! Verse 16:


16 John answered them all saying, I baptize you with water; But He Who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of Whose sandals I am not fit to unfasten. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.


Do you realize how unusual it was for these Jewish people to be coming to John for baptism? Baptism is not a part of Judaism at all! This was something completely new to them! John was baptizing them as a witness of their repentance from sin and a looking toward the Messiah! Jesus was further revealed as the Son of God by the Father and the Holy Spirit in verses 21-22:


21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized, and [while He was still] praying, the [visible] heaven was opened  22 And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven, saying, You are My Son, My Beloved! In You I am well pleased and find delight!


God the Son came to earth as the Son of God to give His life for the eternal salvation of all mankind. Only those who accept and receive Him are saved and become members of the family of Almighty God! Have you? If not, use the link at the left to go to The Spoken Word Church website and find out how, Then let us know about your decision! We would love to hear from you!


Hosea 4:1-2 certainly describes the world of our day!


1 HEAR THE Word of the LORD, you children of Israel, for the LORD has a controversy (a pleading contention) with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, love, pity, and mercy, or knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land. 2 There is nothing but [false] swearing and breaking faith and killing and stealing and committing adultery; they break out [into violence], one [deed] of bloodshed following close on another. 


Unbelievers will soon find out that God is God! We, as believers in Jesus of Nazareth, are to be about our Father's business! We are here to preach the Gospel and to be a living witness of the goodness and glory of the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Verse 6 tells us that God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge and that it is because they have rejected knowledge. That word "destroyed" can be translated: dumb, silenced, brought to silence. Without a working knowledge of the Word of God, we cannot preach the Gospel! Find out what God's Word says and then preach it! We are ALL called to the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18)! Telling the world that God has already reconciled them to Himself through the precious blood of Jesus! Now all they need to do is receive! Hallelujah! God is SO good! AMEN! Here is Hillsong United with "Mighty To Save":

Shalom in Him!