Psalm 127:2:
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so He gives His beloved sleep.
I have confidence in this verse and use it often when I find myself having trouble falling asleep. I also really like the Amplified Bible for this because it gives me something else to have confidence in!
2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil -- for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep.
When I go to sleep at night, I fully expect to receive the answers and the guidance I am looking for by the time I wake up the next morning! He not only gives me sleep, He blesses that sleep with His anointing and wisdom and glory and power and strength! Cast your care on Him, lay your head down and sleep, and wake up with a new outlook on YOUR life! He has promised, now YOU must expect! Amen!
John 4:1-3:
1 NOW WHEN the Lord knew [learned, became aware) that the Pharisees had been told that Jesus was winning and baptizing more disciples than John -- 2 Though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples -- 3 He left Judea and returned to Galilee.
Notice the reason Jesus left this area. The Pharisees were trying to stir up a competitive spirit among the disciples of Jesus and the disciples of John. The same devil is still trying to do the same thing today! Competition can be good in sports or other contests, but there is absolutely NO PLACE for competition in the preaching of the Gospel! I have been in ministers meetings where some among the ministers were comparing notes about how many churches or ministries THEY had started in the last year! There was no mention at all of God in the matter! This is not a race to see who gets there first or how many trophies we come up with. This race of faith is one that we all share and will be rewarded equally depending on the level of obedience to the calling that the One, True God has placed on our lives! We are to be supporting each other, praying for each other and helping each other to succeed!
So Jesus left the area and went back to the Galilee area to minister. As He did, He decided to take the route that took them right through the Samaria. Most Jews avoided Samaria because the Samaritans were a mixed race. Jesus took care of that though, didn't He! He ministered LIFE to that woman and SHE proceeded to bring all of her friends and loved ones to hear HIM preach! Remember, the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross was for ALL people, for ALL sin, for ALL time! The only thing left to do is present the GOOD NEWS and lead them to HIM! How could they refuse?
Ezekiel 21 concerns the chastening of the LORD for the Jewish people because of the Covenant He had made with them. I like this summary from the Bible Exposition Commentary:
By dealing with the subject of personal and national responsibility, Ezekiel was able to answer the frequent complaints of the people that the Lord was treating them unfairly.
Responsibility and accountability are needed themes in our own day. Irresponsibility is rampant and very few people are willing to take the blame for wrongs committed or mistakes made. In his Devil's Dictionary, the cynical Ambrose Bierce defined responsibility as "a detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, luck, or one's neighbor." After our first parents sinned, Adam blamed Eve and Eve blamed the serpent, but God still held Adam and Eve responsible for their disobedience and punished them accordingly. The Jews in Ezekiel's day were sure that God would deliver them and spare Jerusalem because Israel was God's chosen people, but they forgot that privilege always brings responsibility. They had the greatest law ever given to a nation, but they disobeyed it. The Lord gave them a wonderful land for their home, and they defiled it with idolatry. They violated the terms of the divine covenant and then were shocked when the Lord obeyed the covenant and chastened them.
Then chapter 22 deals with the fall of Jerusalem. Again, this was because the people refused to repent, change their thinking and turn back to the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible! Here is a summary on this chapter:
"David took the stronghold of Zion" (2 Sam 5:7) and made Jerusalem his capital. Not only was the royal throne there but also the holy altar, for it was in Zion that God put His sanctuary. "For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation" (Ps 132:13, NKJV). The Jews were proud of Mount Zion (Ps 48) and claimed that the Lord loved Zion more than any other place (Ps 87). But now the city of Jerusalem and the temple would be invaded by "unclean Gentiles" who were brought there by the Lord! Why would the Lord destroy His own beloved city and temple? Because His people had sinned and broken the covenant and they were beyond remedy. Ezekiel described the true character of the "beautiful city" and named some of the sins that the people in Jerusalem were committing even while he spoke. Ezekiel had exposed the past sins of the nation, but now he brought Jerusalem into the courtroom and brought the record up-to-date.
Verse 30 was a sad indictment on the hearts of the people toward the God of the Covenant!
Shalom in Him!
