What movies or TV series have you watched more than 5 times?
Hey Neighbor,
Nowadays…I have to say, that I am just not a 📺watcher anymore.
Now my kids can’t get enough of a TV Series called, Psych!! In fact, whenever my teenage son gets sick, he takes over my bed, with tissue paper and snot rags 😷 and turns on Psych!!
My Aunt is old school, so she can’t get enough ‘Gunsmoke.’ I asked her what she does after the final season plays, and her response was,,,
“I just start it up all over again!!”
Wow!!
Now, I did have a few favorite tv shows, as a kid- particularly the ones that I got to watch in bed w/My Mom…
We only had a 13 or 14 inch black and white tv, back then, and we watched lots of 1950/1960’s movies and shows together.
Now, Our favorite series featured a ‘redhead‘ beauty named, Lucille Ball.
Yep- You guessed it…It was called – I Love Lucy!!”
And so, I always wondered if Lucy’s hair was really RED 🤣
–Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me.- (Revelation 3:20)
Hey Neighbor!
It’s Another Flashback Friday!!
Where CareBibleStudy replays some of the oldies, but goodies…This one originated back in 2015 – WOW!!
Heads-up….
It might seem a little graphic to some, but it’s time to stop sugar coating THE TRUTH!!
It’s time for REAL TALK…with REAL CHRISTIANS!!
So, Here We Go…..
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My 5 year old son, Hubie has a habit of yelling at our 14 year old daughter, Allie…in total rebellion, against her attempts to redirect him.
He Screams…
“Allie!! I can have WHATEVER I WANT!!”
WOW!!
Just listen to the cries of the flesh!!
I know You hear it too!!
– those ear-shattering screams…
– coming from within Your soul…
– Crying Out – “GIVE ME EVERYTHING I WANT!!
* * Give Me chocolate…🍫
* *Buy me shoes…👠
* * Satisfy my sexual cravings…etc, etc…🙈🙉🙊
* * GIVE ME EVERTHING I WANT!!
– but why sooooo LOUD📢
Well, The Flesh is attempting to drown out the humble cries of the Holy Spirit…
Who is gently attempting to redirect Us…
In hopes of getting Us back on the right track, with God.
He reminds Us that overindulging in chocolate, will only make Us sick 🤢
And those shoes will make Our ‘dogs bark’🐶
And sex – outside of marriage – will make Us itch and burn!! 🔥
The Holy Spirit is right there…gently urging Us to set Our sights on something greater than that which this world can offer…
And instead, to set them on the things that give Us eternal fulfillment…
And on Someone Who can fill Our hearts with ALL that we thought was missing…
AND MUCH, MUCH, more!!
See Neighbor…
Your heart ❤️ does not have a hole shaped like a Hershey’s bar…
Nor does it have a shoe 👠shaped hole…
And no style of sex, can penetrate this 🕳️hole!!
Why??
Because this hole that We all have been foolishly trying to fill…
Is a Jesus-Shaped Hole‼️
Behold…Jesus is standing at the door of Your heart, knocking….
Can You hear Him??
Then…Go Ahead and Let Him In…
And Give Him first place in your life..
Let His Holy Spirit Lead, Guide, and Direct You into All Truth…
And Teach You to set Your sights on an Eternal life with Jesus in Heaven…
Where Ultimately…
You Will Have EVERYTHING That You Want!!
-Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need-
(Matthew 6:33)
So today we have yet another ‘faith-full’ female from the Bible!!
Although this Woman has often gone under the radar, in my opinion, she ranks tops in her class; right along with some of the most courageous women, mentioned in the Bible!! ***************************************** Can You guess who she is??
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My father, the reigning king in Judah- was now dead
My brother was soon seated on the throne, in his stead
The same father we shared, but he and dad, both served Baal.
His reign was a short one, for he was wicked as well
Much like our dad – who was controlled by his wife,
Had been controlled by dad’s widow, for most of his brief life.
She wailed not, nor grieved, after her son was deceased
Instead, she sat on the throne, so our land had no peace
But I took charge of my dear nephew, to preserve his flesh and bone
To rescue and to hide, Judah’s rightful heir to the throne
His grandma had killed every sibling, for she was treacherous in-deed
So, I arose and protected, Judah’s surviving, royal seed. ********************************************* Who Am I??
Which animal would you compare yourself to and why?
The Ostrich (when I was a kid!!)
My mother used to say, there’s no point in hiding your head in the sand, just because you’re afraid. Hiding won’t make the thing that’s troubling you go away- It will continue to hover- only you won’t see it!!
As an adult, I’ve learned to run to Jesus, when I’m troubled. He’s my strong tower, and my place of refuge!! I can hide in Him…
Besides, Jesus wants to hear about all my troubles!!
– And God heard the voice of the boy, and the angel of God called to Hagar from heaven and said to her, “What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the boy where he is. (Gen 21:17)
– Only the trees which you know are not trees for food you may destroy and cut down, that you may build siege works against the city that makes war with you until it falls (Deut 20:20)
Hey Neighbor!
Once Again, It’s Women’s month, so in honor of the women of the Bible- some named, and others unnamed- CareBibleStudy will feature these Super-Faith Sisters throughout the month of March.
In the Scripture above, God (through Moses) gave Israel’s armies instructions for building siege works, against the walls of their enemy’s city.
Now Joab, David’s captain, commanded the army to build siege works against a certain city- to make it’s wall fall, so that he might capture an escaped rebel, who fled there, seeking sanctuary from King David.
However, in the city- was a certain, wise, peaceable, and ‘faith-full’ woman, who requested a one-on-one with Joab, where she respectfully asked David’s commander to retreat, temporarily – and spare her city and its people, while she took matters into her own hands.
Joab agreed, and soon after, that rebels (severed) head came flying over the wall to Joab.
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Can you name this Wise Woman, who became a Head-hunter for God??
Because March is Women’s History Month, we have to honor our Faith-Full Women from the Bible, this month.
Now, some of you have seen this particular trivia question before, and others have not. Either way – here’s your chance to be the first follower, with the right answer!!
Question: Who Were These Two (2) Women from The Bible??
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They were tasked by their ‘king’ to suppress the numerosity amongst the Israelites.
For fear of God, they resisted and refused to follow through on these evil orders.
God recognized them both, and blessed them with households of their own.
– And I will grant the power of prophecy to My two witnesses for 1,260 (42 months; three and one-half years), dressed in sackcloth. (Rev 11:3)
What is the last thing you learned?
Hey Neighbor!
Today I learned that Revelation 11:6 gives us (2) hints, as to who The Lord’s two witnesses may be, in ‘the last days.’
Hint #1:
These [two witnesses] have power to shut up the sky, so that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying (their prediction of events relating to Christ“s kingdom and its speedy triumph);
I’m thinking Elijah…what about you??
ELIJAH THE Tishbite, of the temporary residents of Gilead, said to Ahab, As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, before Whom I stand, there shall not be dew or rain these years but according to My word. (1Ki 17:1)
Hint #2
and they also have power to turn the waters into blood and to smite and scourge the earth with all manner of plagues as often as they choose. (Rev 11:6)
Sounds like Moses to me…how about you??
Thus says the Lord, In this you shall know, recognize, and understand that I am the Lord: behold, I will smite with the rod in my hand the waters in the [Nile] River, and they shall be turned to blood. (Ex 7:17)
And the men of the city came out and fought with Joab, and some of the servants of David fell. Uriah the Hittite died also. (2Sa 11:17)
Hey Neighbor!
In the text above, we see where Uriah, the Hittite was slain (indirectly) by the Ammonites.
Who doesn’t know the salacious story of David and Bathsheba, told in 2 Samuel 11, where King David takes a married woman (Bathsheba) into his bed, impregnates her, and then tries to hide his crime.
In fact, David becomes so desperate to keep his sin a secret, that he has Bathsheba’s husband murdered.
Here’s that scripture:
In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. And he wrote in the letter, Put Uriah in the front line of the heaviest fighting and withdraw from him, that he may be struck down and die. (2Sa 11:15)
So my question to you today is:
If David, King of All Israel, slew Uriah – The Hittite…Then which King of Judah slew Uriah- The Prophet?
– And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are, (1Cor 1:28)
Hey Neighbor!
If you, or I worked in the Human Resources department for a major corporation, and Jesus’ disciples had forwarded their resumes, seeking employment with our company, we would very likely have rejected their applications – deeming them unsuitable, unworthy, and unqualified!!
But not Jesus…
When Jesus walked about – to and fro – seeking disciples in Galilee, He chose many of those who had been considered societal rejects!!
Check out this previous posting, where each of Jesus’ disciples were denied employment- except Judas!!
And so today, we meet Jesus’ latest disciple, Matthew/Levi….
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. (Mk 2:14)
Yes! We did really read that – Jesus has just chosen a Galilean border patrol agent, to become His next disciple!!
I’m sure many of you, who love to travel overseas, have enjoyed your extravagant vacation destinations, but you dread dealing w/customs and the airport staff. Well let’s just say Levi was like a TSA employee – ON STEROIDS!!!!
Overly scrutinizing (and laughing at) your passport picture – from inside his booth….
Going through every single item in your luggage, confiscating items, and falsely declaring them to be banned, unsafe, and/or duty-bound…
And because you’ve refused to entertain his subtle suggestion for you to pay him a bribe, he proceeds to tax and surcharge you left and right- and not according to the government’s policy, because TSA- Levi bases his surplus charges on how much attitude and aggravation you have openly exhibited while waiting @ his booth.
Not only has Levi overcharged you, in favor of the Roman government, but he has also taxed a chunky portion of your hard-earned cash, and stuffed it into his own personal, pocketbook!!
So needless to say- Everybody Hates The Publican!!
But not Jesus ~ Jesus loves The Publican, and The Sinners – and He even Sups with them!!
Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) (Mk 2:15)
So we’ve finally arrived at the Ex-Border Patrol Agent’s House – who has very recently accepted Jesus’ invitation to learn a new trade – along w/Peter, Andrew, James and John.
Levi is now a Spiritual Paramedic in-Training. He has voluntarily walked away from his tax collector’s booth- leaving all of his ill gotten gain behind, and he is now following Jesus.
So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. (Lk 5:28)
But now here comes the FBI!!
Once again, the Scribes and the Pharisees are profiling, and surveilling Jesus, and his disciples…
They’ve not been invited to dinner, but they are present @Levi’s house, just to observe and document Jesus’ every move, and to also interrogate his disciples.
And the scribes [belonging to the party] of the Pharisees, when they saw that He was eating with [those definitely known to be especially wicked] sinners and tax collectors, said to His disciples, Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and [notorious] sinners? (Mk 2:16)
Of course, Jesus’ disciples- even Peter -realized that legally, they/he had the right to remain silent, so Peter kept quiet, and Jesus spoke up instead.
Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” (Mk 2:17)
I can imagine that the morning Jesus stoped by, Levi was alone in his customs booth, where he sat there, praying – after having recently ripped off yet another taxpayer…
Saying, “There is something seriously wrong with me…. Lord God, Please have mercy on me. I confessed my sins, when I went down in the water, with John…but still, I remain held captive to these same filthy sins and iniquities…who can rescue me from this wretched man that I am??
And before Levi could finish that prayer, Jesus showed up, saying, “Follow Me.”
You see – Jesus, the Great Physician had come into Galilee, seeking those who were already aware of their spiritual condition, and who knew that they were in desperate need of a doctor!!
Our Savior had come, seeking the lost: men/women who were spiritually bankrupt – not the ‘spiritually fit,’ like the Pharisees – who confidently trusted in their own self-righteousness, and were cold-hearted, cruel, and critical of others…
Like this Pharisee – who Jesus spoke about in Luke 18:11
‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector (Lk 18:11)
In his prideful prayer, that certain Pharisee, even reminded The Lord God, that he fasts (ritually) not once per week, but twice a week.🤦🏾♀️
Which opens the door to their next line of interrogatories for Jesus to respond to….
And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast: and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but thy disciples fast not? (Mk 2:18)
Now this line of questioning was targeted directly at Jesus, because they wanted it on the record, that Jesus was a ‘law breaker.’
You see, the Pharisees and the Scribes and their forefathers (those having out of exile in Babylon) had established many of their own ‘traditions’ that they followed religiously – in so much that these ‘add-on’ rituals to the Mosaic System had ben strictly practiced as if they were ‘The Law.’
When actually, there were never any requirements/instructions for fasting, passed down to the Israelites, through Moses (God’s mouthpiece) re: Fasting!!
So, Therefore: Jesus was no ‘lawbreaker!!’
However, God did certainly require his chosen people to partake in His Seven Feasts!!
– And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “The feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts (Lev 23:1)
And All seven of these feasts point to Jesus…from the first ~ to the last!!
(#1) The Passover Feast 👉🏼 Jesus- As The Lamb of God…
(#7) The Feast of Tabernacles 👉🏼 Jesus- As The Bridegroom!!
This is why Jesus responds to them, with a parable Re: The 10 Virgins (Matt 25) – further confounding the Scribes, while identifying Himself as The (Divine) Bridegroom, found in Isaiah 61:10-11
Jesus answered them, Can the wedding guests fast (abstain from food and drink) while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. (Mk 2:19)
Still the Pharisees were confounded – They were Blind and deaf elitists; unable to hear or see, nor could they discern that Jesus was The Perfect Fulfillment of The Mosaic Law!!
This is the reason that I speak to them in parables: because having the power of seeing, they do not see; and having the power of hearing, they do not hear, nor do they grasp and understand. (Mat 13:13)
Therefore, the Scribes and The Pharisees continued to bumble around in the dark – holding fast to their (add-on) religious rituals, carrying on with their fake fasts (twice/week)😂
Simply because, they refused to call the doctor, like Levi did!!
“Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, “Lord, Lord, open to us!“ “But he answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.“ “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour 2in which the Son of Man is coming (Mat 25:11)
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Next Week, we will meet Jesus, and his disciples in the Sanctuary – On The Sabbath – Mark 3
In the first four books of The New Testament (The Gospels), God begins to communicate with man, once again, after 400 years of silence.
In the Book of Luke, God (through the angel, Gabriel) initiates a conversation with a Levitical Priest, named Zachariah – promising to give him a long awaited son.
That promised son, was John the Baptist, who would serve as The Lord’s messenger/mouthpiece.
John went forth, as God’s New Testament prophet – not prophesying about a time to come- somewhere in the future tense – as did the prophets of old…
Instead, John came declaring that The Lamb of God had already come!!
The only problem was –John did not know him- nor would he have recognized Jesus’ face, in a public setting – so God was planning a divine encounter between John the Baptist and His Son, Jesus – This introduction would soon take place, in The Jordan!!
In the meantime- while he (John) waited on God’s perfect timing – that great day in which The Bridegroom would come out into the open, John – was faithfully, fulling his divine job description.
He was posted up, in his proper place – The Jordan – where he was dutifully baptizing men and women unto repentance!!
This is he who was mentioned by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness (shouting in the desert), Prepare the road for the Lord, make His highways straight (level, direct). (Matthew 3:3)
John the Baptist was like that pilot car- or the harbinger vehicle that we have all seen on the highways, with flashing lights and signs – announcing that there is an oversized load coming forth from within the distance.
And although the heavy duty load, may not yet be visible to all drivers on the road, The harbinger driver has gone out beforehand, communicating with his flashing lights and warning signs – saying….GET READY!! CLEAR OUT!! and MAKE ROOM!!
Well that was John, the road-worker, making way and crying out to a sin-Sick world that The Heavy-Duty, Holy One is coming – And He’s just behind me.
In the Book of Mark, Jesus makes Himself known, As the Son of Man, The Bridegroom, The Lord of the Sabbath, and as Our Great Physician.
In Chapters 1-8, we will be eyewitness to The Great Physician’s Acts of Compassionate Service to/for his sin-sick patients.
We will also meet Jesus’ (Spiritual) Paramedics – The disciples.
Unfortunately, we will also see the continual, harassment, profiling, and surveillance of Jesus, by His Haters – The Scribes and Pharisees.
Now our leading scripture (above) is so very important, because that was the day that John, the Baptist realized that his own mission – that for which he was born into the world, had been fully accomplished!!
John had just witnessed The Holy Spirit alighting upon Jesus, and John had heard The Voice (God) from heaven, identifying and declaring that This 👉🏼Man was Jesus, The Son of God.
So from this point forward, John realizes that he must decrease, even as Christ increases in Presence and Popularity – After all – John was only there in the wilderness- performing as Christ’s (temporary) surgical assistant.
John’s shift was done – John had prepped Jesus’ patients for spiritual surgery – and all who had heard, heeded to his shouting (voice), and were baptized.
Each one of those sin-sick men/women who had gone down in The Jordan, had willingly submitting to John’s baptism, and had confessed their many and abundant sins – but now they were anxiously awaiting Jesus’ grand arrival – because…
Only the Son of Man could forgive their sins!!
Only The Lamb of God could completely take away those sins!!
And Only The Great Physician could ‘cut their sins out’ completely and permanently!!
Jesus Trains Four New Paramedics
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In Mark 1:16-20, we meet Simon, Andrew, John and James – all formerly fisherman- now turned (spiritual) paramedics in-training. They must be taught to heal the sick, by watching and following Jesus very closely.
This would not be a part-time course of study, but it would become their full-time jobs.
For the next 3 1/2 years, Jesus was about to wow his apprentices with his miracles and wonder-workings. The disciples, along with so great a number of others were about to be completely Amazed by Jesus!!
Jesus @ The Synagogue in Capernaum
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And they were all so amazed and almost terrified that they kept questioning and demanding one of another, saying, What is this? What new (fresh) teaching! With authority He gives orders even to the unclean spirits and they obey Him! (Mk 1:27)
This was the congregation’s reaction, after Jesus preached at their church, in Capernaum.
During the service, Jesus had healed a congregant, whose soul had been held captive by an unclean-spirit. And Before Jesus had cast that demon out, Jesus commanded that he SHUT UP!! – I like that💕
The congregants just stood there, in reverential awe, of Jesus’ authority and power over the demonic dominion.
Eyes had not seen- nor had their ears, ever heard of any such thing – as Performed by The Great Physician, in Capernaum.
Jesus Preaches @ Simon’s (Peter) House
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Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, (Mk 2:2)
Where Jesus goes – Crowds follow!!
Jesus was staying at Peter’s, and the crowds heard word of it, so they rushed to Peter’s house.
At this point the Great Physician’s mighty work had gone viral!!
Everybody was talking about how Jesus had cast out the unclean spirit in the synagogue. They’d heard that the priest had recently pronounced the Leper, that Jesus had touched – CLEAN!! (Mark 1:44)
They had even heard about how Jesus had healed Peter’s mother- in law, who had been laid up sick, for a good long while – and how she had (energetically) arose from her sickbed. This woman remained not weak, nor weary, but she arose to her feet, with great exuberance.
She got up and started serving Jesus!! (Mark 1:31)
And immediately rumors concerning Him spread [everywhere] throughout all the region surrounding Galilee (Mk 1:28)
So now the crowds were flocking to Jesus, recognizing him as The Great Physician- – They came deep – – blocking both the ingress/egress @ Peter’s House, where Jesus was Preaching!
Then there came four men – exhibiting such boldness of faith- that they cut a hole in Peter’s roof!!
Who Does That??
These four men lowered a palsied man down into the inner portion of Peter’s house – where Jesus stood preaching/teaching.
Now Jesus was actually impressed by this…
And when Jesus saw their faith [their confidence in God through Him], He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away [that is, the penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God]. (Mk 2:5)
Amongst those who had located Jesus @ Peter’s house, were Jesus’ Haters- The Scribes, who had begun to regularly stalk and surveil Jesus.
After Jesus had healed the paralyzed man, They just stood there aghast, in a state of agitated confusion, because Jesus had just said, “Your sins are forgiven!!”
And though they (the scribes) failed to outwardly express their feelings of opposition and outrage at what was happening there at Peter’s – Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking, and therefore, Jesus addressed the matter – out in the open!!
Jesus confirmed, in their (scribes) hearing – that He was The Son of Man- and therefore, He had all authority given Him, from Heaven, to forgive men’s sins.
So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home (Mk 2:10)
Once again, this was Jesus doing miraculous things- that no man had ever seen before- and yet, the stubbornness of their (scribes) stony hearts, prevented these haters from falling down at Jesus’ feet, praising The Great Physician, and finally acknowledging That Jesus was truly, The Son of God!!
And yet- the crowds present, had no problems acknowledging that Jesus’ authority had come from Heaven – for they praised God – even as they were making access to the doorway- so that the ‘healed’ paralytic man – could walk out of Peter’s house – on his own two feet!!
And he arose at once and picked up the sleeping pad or mat and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and recognized and praised and thanked God, saying, We have never seen anything like this before! (Mk 2:12)
– When I broke the five loaves for the 5,000, how many [small hand] baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? They said to Him, Twelve. And [when I broke] the seven loaves for the 4,000, how many [large provision] baskets full of broken pieces did you take up? And they said to Him, Seven. And He kept repeating, Do you not yet understand (Mk 8:19)
In the scripture above, we see where Jesus was admonishing his disciples for their (spiritual) short term memory, and their continual lack of faith.
The disciples had just set off on another boat trip, but this time, they had failed to bring enough bread.
They brought with them, just one loaf…and now they were concerned that they would find themselves in lack.
But Jesus reminded his disciples, that there was no lack in/with Him, and if they would only cease affixing their eyes on their own flesh and it’s physical demands/requirements…and keep their eyes on Jesus, He would supply all of their needs – both physical and spiritual!
After all- Jesus had been their Manna from Heaven and their Bread of Life for nearly 2 1/2 years. – Jesus had been their Way, Their Word, and It was Only Jesus – who had the Words of Eternal Life!!
So why were the disciples so worried about bread, or their lack thereof- when Jesus had only recently performed the miracle of feeding the 5000, and shortly thereafter, the miracle of feeding the 4000.
Now, some believe that these 2 miraculous feedings of the multitudes, were not two separate feedings, but only 1!!
However, the Scriptures in Matthew and Mark- set each of these 2 feedings apart, making it clear that they each occurred at two different locations, in two different seasons, and also w/ two separate groups of people – possessing very different mindsets, and spiritual/physical needs.
Now the feeding of the 5000 is mentioned in all 4 of the gospels, but the feeding of the 4000 is only mentioned in Matthew and Mark.
Now we know from the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, that the timeframe of the feeding of the 5000, happened just after the beheading of John The Baptist.
Matthew tells us that Jesus, after hearing of the death of John, got into a boat- to be alone, having desired some private time to himself- but that didn’t happen!!
When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there privately in a boat to a solitary place. But when the crowds heard of it, they followed Him [by land] on foot from the towns. (Mat 14:13)
Mark 6:33 tells us that the people followed Jesus (and his disciples) – on foot – in fact they ran, and beat Jesus to the other side.
Now many [people] saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the surrounding towns, and they got there ahead [of those in the boat]. (Mk 6:33)
Now Jesus, The Good Shepherd felt great compassion for the multitudes, seeing that they were like sheep, without a shepherd…obviously some were physically sick because Luke tells us that Jesus cured them of their physical ailments.
But when the crowds learned of it, [they] followed Him; and He welcomed them and talked to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed restoration to health. (Lk 9:11)
Now Jesus was familiar with the mindsets of the crowd- and although he spoke to them about the kingdom of God- he knew that they were not come unto Him- to seek ye first, the Kingdom of God- These people were not chasing Jesus because they sought spiritual revival, but these people were only looking to be healed, and to feed their flesh!!
John gives us some details/background regarding this:
AFTER THIS, Jesus went to the farther side of the Sea of Galilee–that is, the Sea of Tiberias. And a great crowd was following Him because they had seen the signs (miracles) which He [continually] performed upon those who were sick (Jn 6:1)
So once again, these hungry and infirmed people were seeking Jesus – but not His Face – And still our Merciful Lord taught them, and fed their flesh, until they were full!!
And all the people ate and were satisfied. And they gathered up what remained over–twelve [small hand] baskets of broken pieces. (Lk 9:17)
You see, these people were not like that Syrophoenician Woman, who had come after Jesus, following after his trail, like a blood hound!!
She had not come seeking Jesus, for food, or to temporarily satisfy her flesh…but she was fiending for a forever-filling of The Holy Spirit!!
In contrast, the 5000 were looking to Jesus, because He could make their ailing flesh feel better, and He could fill their bellies!!
These people were seeking Jesus’ hand- and not His face!!
They were only seeking their daily bread, and not (spiritual) food for their eternal souls!!
Still Jesus instructed His disciples, to have those (very) lost sheep, to gather upon the grass, so they could graze-
Jesus said, Make all the people recline (sit down). Now the ground (a pasture) was covered with thick grass at the spot, so the men threw themselves down, about 5,000 in number. (Jn 6:10)
Now where did this feeding of the 5000 occur??
Luke says, Bethsaida-
Upon their return, the apostles reported to Jesus all that they had done. And He took them [along with Him] and withdrew into privacy near a town called Bethsaida. (Lk 9:10)
Luke tells us, specifically, that they were in Bethsaida, Phillip’s hometown- which may be why Jesus asked Phillip, where can we go to get food for this crowd- in the book of John!
Jesus looked up then, and seeing that a vast multitude was coming toward Him, He said to Philip, Where are we to buy bread, so that all these people may eat? (Jn 6:5)
If you will recall, Philip was from Bethsaida- and also Peter and his brother, Andrew!!
The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me. Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter (Jn 1:43)
Now we know that Jesus was not actually leaning on logistical advice from Phillip, nor from His other disciples.
After all, Scripture tells us that the disciples had not shown up, until the end of the day…
And unfortunately, their instinctive answer, as to How to feed the 5000- was to just send them away!!
– And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. (Mat 14:15)
Now we also know this story well…
Jesus refused to send the multitudes away, and instead, He compelled the disciples to feed His sheep – and afterwards, the disciples departed into their boat, again – while Jesus stayed there, to dismiss the crowds.
Did you notice, that not ONE OF THE FOUR gospel writers mentioned how grateful the 5000 were??
Nor do we read about how the multitudes praised, glorified, and worshipped Jesus/God!!
But John does tell us, that Jesus had to quickly separate from those folks, because they desired to make him King- so that their bodies might always be healed, and their bellies might stay full!!
When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. (Jn 6:15)
Now in direct contrast, let’s look at the 4000…
– And a great multitude came to Him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the dumb, and many others, and they put them down at His feet; and He cured them, So that the crowd was amazed when they saw the dumb speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they recognized and praised and thanked and glorified the God of Israel (Mat 15:30)
After Jesus departed from Bethsaida, we know that at some point he had gone into the region of Sidon and Tyre, where Jesus healed the Syrophoenician woman’s daughter…
And from there, Jesus passed along the shore of Galilee…and there, this new crowd (above) showed up…
Notice that there were many, who were infirmed in this crowd as well – but yet they dwelled (camped) there, on the ground, with Jesus – even after He had healed them.
– And ordering the crowd to recline on the ground, (Mat 15:35)
In fact, The multitude of the 4000, were extremely thankful, and grateful for The Lord’s healing touch upon their bodies.
These people were the ‘Hallelujah Crowd’ Who desired to continue on, and hangout- At Jesus’ feet!!
They didn’t come there, to get what it was they desired, and then depart…
In fact, this ‘Hallelujah Crowd’ stayed with Jesus all of that day, and 2 additional days – WITHOUT FOOD!!
And yet our Lord was seriously concerned about their physical nourishment.
Indeed Jesus had fed them, The Word of God, but He would not neglect to care for their flesh.
– …Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat (Mk 8:1)
– Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way (Mat 15:32)
Ok!! So here we go again- the disciples are, once again, at a loss, and they cannot fathom how they could possibly feed this crowd of 4000 Men + Women and children, without exhausting every penny in the money bag- (kept by Judas 🤯)
How soon had the disciples forgotten???
Which takes us back to our initial verse, above…
Where Jesus was admonishing his disciples for their temporary amnesia, considering that together, they had recently fed both of these multitudes of peoples – The 5000 + The 4000!!
What was going on with Jesus’ disciples??
What were they thinking??
Mark Explains this:
For they failed to consider or understand [the teaching and meaning of the miracle of] the loaves; [in fact] their hearts had grown callous [had become dull and had lost the power of understanding]. (Mk 6:52)
So it seems that the 5000 were not alone in their lack of understanding, regarding: Who Jesus Really Was!!
It seems that the disciples had not yet, completely wrapped their heads around the fact that Jesus was The Messiah – even though they had heard others, including the Syrophoenician woman, make such bold confessions of faith!!
They had not given proper (spiritual) weight to the miracles previously done by Their Good Shepherd, and Their Great Physician, who had also took time out to feed the multitudes…
(Above) Mark says that their hearts were hardened…
Jesus said that the disciples had ears – but they could not hear…
And having eyes – they could not see…
– Do you not yet discern or understand? Are your hearts in [a settled state of] hardness? Having eyes, do you not see [with them], and having ears, do you not hear and perceive and understand the sense of what is said? And do you not remember (Mk 8:17)
But their eyes were finally opened, when The disciples saw Jesus walking upon the water…
So…much like the Pharisees, The disciples had their sights ‘out of focus’ – although temporarily…
They too, had been looking for leaven— A SIGN—-before they could/would truly believe that Jesus was the Son of God!!
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat knelt and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God (Mat 14:32)
Instead, at once, a woman whose little daughter had (was under the control of) an unclean spirit heard about Him and came and flung herself down at His feet. Now the woman was a Greek (Gentile), a Syrophoenician by nationality. And she kept begging Him to drive the demon out of her little daughter. (Mark 7:26)
Hey Neighbor!
The Syrophoenician Woman, was a Canaanite- a woman from the ancient Roman province of Syria and Phoenicia.
She was an idol worshipper, having made a home for herself, and her daughter, in the coastal area of Tyre and Sidon…that is where Jezebel was trained up in her worship of Baal!!
But one day, this woman woke up – and she was hungry!!
Her hunger pains were unbearable!!
The Syrophoenician Woman had no choice but to depart from her little girl, leaving her in the care of others, while she went in search for BREAD!
Was she literally searching for bread??
No!!
But she was spiritually starved, having found herself, and her little girl, on the outskirts of salvation – and without a Savior!!
The Syrophoenician woman was not suffering from a physical starvation!!
She was in spiritual agony, and emotionally distraught about her little girl, who had been possessed, and tormented by a demon!!
Here is an example of a boy- possessed by an unclean spirit, in Scripture:
–And wherever it lays hold of him [so as to make him its own], it dashes him down and convulses him, and he foams [at the mouth] and grinds his teeth, and he [ 9falls into a motionless stupor and] is wasting away (Mk 9:18)
This woman’s daughter was demon possessed and none of the witch doctors, nor the prophetesses of baal could deliver her from her torment!!
So the Syrophoenician woman had no choice, but to depart from her little child, leaving her safe in the care of others, while she went in search of the Bread of Life!!
This woman had heard about Jesus, and she believed that He could cast the demon out of her little daughter, and make her whole once again.
And much like the woman with the Issue of Blood, this woman was determined to get to Jesus!!
You see, she was finally fed-up with sin and idolatry, for none of her futile idols had brought forth any spiritual sustenance, nor relief for her child!!
Now when she had finally located Jesus, at one of the neighboring (Canaanite) homes, she approached him with boldness, although she realized that she was a sinner, unworthy to even draw near to Him…she loudly proclaimed and identified him as the Promised Messiah!!
– And behold, a woman who was a Canaanite from that district came out and, with a [loud, troublesomely urgent] cry, begged, Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is miserably and distressingly and cruelly possessed by a demon! (Mat 15:22)
Now, remember that many times after Jesus had healed someone, he prevented that man or that woman from public identifying him as the Messiah, but here…in a land outside of Israel…this woman was violently confessing that Jesus was The Son of God!!
Where in contrast, many from Jesus’ own community, and the religious leaders in Israel, had despised and rejected Jesus, and had even attempted to kill him.
But this spiritually starved mother, was boldly identifying Jesus, as the Promised Messiah, before all who were in the house, but Jesus ignored her!!
What??
But He did not answer her a word. (Matthew 15:23)
Jesus was ghosting the girl…
She was crying out for Him, and Jesus’ disciples were becoming annoyed by this women- They began to plead with Jesus to send her away.
Then suddenly, Jesus spoke!!
–He answered, I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. But she came and, kneeling, worshiped Him and kept praying, Lord, help me (Mat 15:24)
This woman collapsed before Jesus, crying out:
HELP ME LORD!!
HELP ME LORD!!
-And she kept begging Him to drive the demon out of her little daughter. (Mark 7:26)
The Syrophoenician Woman was now appealing to Jesus, out of a mother’s fervent desperation!!
She didn’t care what Jesus’ disciples were saying about her, nor was she afraid of their faces…Her eyes were lazer-focused on Jesus!!
She was like the Shunammite woman who had come in search of Elisha, after her son died…
She gone seeking The Man of God- Not His Help!! (Gehazi)
The Syrophoenician woman knew that only Jesus possessed The Power of God, and the Willingness, of A Savior, to drop his crumbs of mercy on a Gentile!!
Jesus’ response was:
-And He answered, It is not right (proper, becoming, or fair) to take the children“s bread and throw it to the little dogs. (Mat 15:26)
At this retort, many of us would have gotten up abruptly, and would’ve walked away, highly offended!!
Did Jesus just call this woman a dog?? Referring to the non-Israelites/ Gentiles??
Well, at this point, race/gender discrimination was not an offense to her!!
She replied to Jesus with a rare, spirit of meekness and humbleness…conveying her perceived understanding of Jesus’ retort…
You see, as a mother – herself, the Syrophoenician woman realized, that no loving mother, whether Israelite, nor Canaanite, would go through all the effort of preparing a meal for her beloved children…just to toss it to the dogs!!
Can you imagine…as one’s children sat anxiously, at the dinner table, awaiting their dinner, a mother would just callously, overlook her own children and begin to feed little ‘Bow-wow’ underneath their table??
Therefore, The Syrophoenician Woman agreed with Jesus!!
Yes!! I am only a little welp! And yes! That is unfair!!
You see, The Syrophoenician woman understood that Jesus had come into the world seeking to find his own lost sheep, although some had resisted their Good Shepherd – like those from his hometown!!
Indeed she realized that she was not one of Jesus’ lost sheep, because she was a Gentile, but she was willing to be his little welp, if it meant that she could rest, beneath Jesus’ table!!
The Syrophoenician Woman was willing to beg, like the poor man, Lazarus, when he knelt beneath the rich man’s table!!
She didn’t care if Jesus’ disciples wanted to shoo her away…
She refused to go away!!
She would not relent!!
She had come there searching for Jesus, like a hound dog searches for his prey!!
She had sniffed and sniffed until she had found Jesus’ hiding place!!
-And Jesus arose and went away from there to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He went into a house and did not want anyone to know [that He was there]; but it was not possible for Him to be hidden [from public notice]. (Mk 7:24)
The Syrophoenician Woman had found Jesus’ trail, and she had come there hungrily scratching at the man’s door, begging to get inside and get fed!
Of course she did not expect Jesus to welcome her into his sheepfold, nor make her equal to his own chosen ones- the descendant’s of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!!
She knew she was not worthy to be called his daughter, so she was ok with being called a dog!!
Because she desperately needed Jesus to let some of His miraculous morsels of mercy fall upon her, and her daughter…beneath Jesus’ table!!
She said, Yes, Lord, yet even the little pups (little whelps) eat the crumbs that fall from their [young] masters“ table. Then Jesus answered her, O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish. And her daughter was cured from that moment (Mat 15:27)
In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, (Gen 22:17)
I WILL lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]–From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth (Ps 121:1)
Hey Neighbor!
This week we will continue exploring some of the special facts about Sacred, Mt. Moriah –
Now, last week, we left off where David had gone further up the mountain range (beyond Mt Zion), to build an altar, at the threshing floor of Ornan – which David had acquired, for the total price of 600 shekels of gold.
And whether David realized it, or not…
He had just purchased and secured the (physical and spiritual) keys to the gates of his ancestor’s enemies, which had long since been promised and prophesied about, upon that very same mountain range.
⁃ AFTER THESE events, God tested and proved Abraham and said to him, Abraham! And he said, Here I am. [God] said, Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains of which I will tell you (Gen 22:1)
If you will recall, Abraham was called a Hebrew, because he was ‘one from the other side.’ He was a ‘passenger’ in Canaan, and not a possessor of land – aside from the burial plot (in Hebron), which Abraham purchased from Ephron, the Hittite for 400 shekels of silver. (Gen 23:7)
But now, King David had just purchased and received the title deed to Abraham’s, enemy-occupied territory, which had long ago been God-promised, God-given, and divided-up, and distributed by Joshua. (Joshua 14)
Scripture tells us, that Caleb had gone up to take the hill country of Hebron; but both Judah and Benjamin failed to go further up the mountain to wholly take possession of the land.
⁃ Hebron was given to Caleb as Moses said, and he expelled from there the three sons of Anak. But the Benjamites did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; the Jebusites dwell with the Benjamites in Jerusalem to this day (Judg 1:20)
⁃ But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out; so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day (Josh 15:63)
So now, this explains why we find Ornan, the Jebusite, and his 4 sons, still in residency upon Mount Moriah. (1 Chronicles 21)
David and his military commander, Joab had previously taken possession of Mt. Zion, after their victorious battle against the Jebusites, who were still the inhabitants of Jerusalem – formerly called Jebus, during King Saul’s reign.
It was Joab, who strategically, utilized the aqueducts, and/or the water shafts, in order to breach the Jebusite stronghold, and David took possession of that southern portion of the mountain slope.
⁃ Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the City of David. David said on that day, Whoever smites the Jebusites, let him get up through the water shaft and smite the lame and the blind who are detested by David“s soul. So they say, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house (2Sa 5:7)
Now, after David took possession of Mt. Zion, he proceeded to build himself a house, but sometime afterwards, David had an overwhelming desire to design and build a house for God.
Last week, we discussed how David continued on, making extensive plans and preparations for God’s house – Even after God said No!!
God said to David, I am going to build you a SURE HOUSE, for You and Your posterity…
But your son, Solomon, He is going to build MY HOUSE!!
The Question is: Where??
The Answer is: On Ornan, the Jebusite’s Threshing Floor!!
Now before Solomon can begin to build the Temple, God has to address two issues!!
The Sin Issue
The Jebusite Issue
Remember, Israel was guilty of sin, and Ornan, the Jebusite was still in possession of the threshing floor – located just north of Mt. Zion.
But God had a remedy for sin, and for spiritual trespassers!!
Thus…David’s Census, and God’s command for David to go up, and make the peace and burned offerings, upon a new altar – which must be built on Ornan’s threshing floor- Land belonging to Abraham’s children!!
Now we know that Abraham had been called the father of many nations, but before he was blessed with sons, and descendants, as innumerable as the sands of the seashore, Abraham was the father of just TWO!!
⁃ Ishmael and Isaac
Now, Ishmael (Abraham’s son by the Egyptian bond woman, Hagar) had already been sent away, at Sarah’s request/demand, and God backed Sarah’s grievance and complaint, 💯 percent!!
But now we find Abraham, still grieving, about being separated from his firstborn…
But God reset Abraham’s focus- on 👉🏼Isaac!!
⁃ God said to Abraham, Do not let it seem grievous and evil to you because of the youth and your bondwoman; in all that Sarah has said to you, do what she asks, for in Isaac shall your posterity be called. (Gen 21:12)
And just when it seemed as if everything was going to be ok, after that loss…
Abraham was accepting God’s rejection of Ishmael, and was now adapting to life w/out his firstborn…
Abraham planted a few trees around his and Sarah’s garden…
And now, Abraham, and his lovely wife, and their son, Isaac began to bask in the shade of Abraham’s mature, tamarisk trees…
Then One day – God said to Abraham, Go up to The Land of Moriah and build me an altar, upon which you shall sacrificeIsaac!!
Now we all know this story, quite well!!
God goes on to tell Abraham, there’s going to be a three day journey between you, and Land of Moriah – but never fear, Abe…I’ll show you where!!
This had actually become, quite a familiar and semi-comfortable father/son dialogue thing, happening between God and Abe, for over 30 years now!!
God Leads…
And Abraham follows…
Until God says, “Right Here!”
But this time – there was no comfort in following God’s command!!
Can you imagine how many tears Abraham must’ve shed over Isaac, along that 3 day journey…
I can imagine that most of Abraham’s tears were shed (quietly) in his tent, after Isaac had fallen asleep – and just after they had all camped for the night.
Can you imagine the ‘back and forth’ dialogue, that went on, in that tent, between God and Abraham…
Still…Abraham got up each day, and continued on, following God’s designated route, in obedience… until that third day, when God said…Right Here!! 👇
⁃ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. And Abraham said to his servants, Settle down and stay here with the donkey, and I and the young man will go yonder and worship and come again to you (Gen 22:4)
There must have been something hopeful, and/or reassuring, that God had communicated to Abraham, during those all-nighter tent meetings, that caused Abraham, (by the third day) to become fully convinced, that his God was STILL FAITHFUL!!
Notice what Abraham said, to his two servants before going up the mountain range –
“TWO of us are going up!!”
And
“TWO of us are coming back down!!”
In Hebrews 11, we learn about the Heroes of Faith, where Abraham is listed, amongst the FAITH-Full. And where we receive confirmation- after the fact- from the author – that Abraham’s mind had been renewed, and his hope in God was revived, in that tent!!
⁃ By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,“concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense (Heb 11:17)
Well, whatever was whispered between Abraham and God, in that tent…Abraham came out of the tent, early that morning, with a fresh, optimistic conclusion, regarding God’s ‘sacrificial’ request/command!!
Abraham now, had a new, confident expectation, that Isaac would be coming back down that mountain with his father- with ALL certainty!!
And when Isaac asked his father, as they were treading up the Mount, “Dad, where is the sacrifice??
Abraham’s answer was:
…My son, God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering. So the two went on together. (Gen 22:8)
Once again, we know this story well…
And we know that just before Abraham was about to deliver the death blow to his son, God spoke to him, from the heavens!!
⁃ And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.“ (Gen 22:12)
Just then, Abraham’s eyes were opened, and there was God’s provision – a ram caught in the thicket!!
– Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son! So Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided (Gen 22:13)
In that moment, God was simply providing a momentary, temporal, substitutionary sacrifice, for Isaac’s life.
Thereafter, The Angel of The Lord continued on, speaking from the heavens, and He swore a prophetic oath.
– The Angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time And said, I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that since you have done this and have not withheld [from Me] or begrudged [giving Me] your son, your only son, In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies, And in your Seed [ 5Christ] shall all the nations of the earth be blessed and [by Him] bless themselves, because you have heard and obeyed My voice (Gen 22:17)
But Now, God was saying, Abe, You’ve indeed been obedient to my command – BUT at this point- no further participation will be necessary from you, or your son, Isaac – in order to further fulfill My Prophetic Oath!!
And, since you’ve remained faith-full – on this day- and have not withheld, your only son from Me…
I will not withhold MY Only Begotten, Son- Jesus from you- nor from your posterity!!
Jehovah Jireh was now, swearing by His own prophetic oath, to Provide The Ultimate Sacrifice, to die for sin-full man, one time and for all times!!
Why??
⁃ Because the blood of bulls and goats is powerless to take sins away (Heb 10:4)
God had just vowed, to send His Son, Jesus into the world, tented in flesh…and His Son would take upon himself, the burdensome weight of mankind’s multitudinous sins…
Jesus – The PERFECT Son of God – A Man Who knew no sin, would become God’s Flawless Lamb, that Abraham had been believing God for – by Faith!!
⁃ Abraham called the name of that place The Lord Will Provide. And it is said to this day, On the mount of the Lord it will be provided. (Gen 22:14)
And upon that very same mount – Mt Moriah – David’s son, Solomon – a man of peace – did begin to build The Lord’s Temple…
But don’t forget that David – A Man after God’s own Heart, laid the Temple’s foundation – NOT WITH HIS HANDS- but with his ❤️
– THEN SOLOMON began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite (2Chr 3:1)
AGAIN THE anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and He moved David against them, saying, Go, number Israel and Judah. (2Sa 24:1)
Hey Neighbor!
Once Again, The children of Israel had sinned…
Although Scripture mentions not, what their specific charge was- on this particular occasion – we do know that Israel had just recently come out of a 3+ year famine – where the Lord had punished the people because of the sins of their former king, Saul.
What was The Lord’s charge against Saul??
According to 2Samuel 21:1, King Saul had attempted to wipeout any trace of the Gibeonites from the land of Israel, in direct defiance with a peace treaty, that had been established between the Gibeonites and Joshua, back in Joshua 9:15.
The Gibeonites approached David, not requesting gold or silver from the house of Saul, but instead, they demanded life for life, for their wrongfully shed blood.
David relinquished over to the Gibeonites, 7 of Saul’s sons/grandsons in order to avenge the breach upon them. And after God’s anger was appeased, He sent rain!!
But here again- just one harvest season later, We find The Prophet, Gad, approaching David with the potential threat of God extending the previous famine – by adding on another three years. – NOT because of the sin and/or disobedience of King Saul again, but this time, it was because of King David!!
God is now giving David 3 options regarding his punishment…
In essence, David must now choose which rod – out of three- he will be beaten with, for his sin of numbering the people.
Here are those 3 options:
⁃ So Gad came to David and told him and said, Shall seven years of famine come to your land? Or will you flee three months before your pursuing enemies? Or do you prefer three days of pestilence in your land? Consider and see what answer I shall return to Him Who sent me. (2Sa 24:13)
David chose the latter option, trusting and believing that The hand of The Lord would prove to be more merciful upon his very own sheep – as He wields the rod – as compared to David’s enemies, who would certainly, make every effort to completely consume them.
⁃ And David said to Gad, I am in great distress. Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercies are many and great; but let me not fall into the hands of man (2Sa 24:14)
Now, what about this sin of David numbering the people?
⁃ Shouldn’t the King be familiar with the statistics and size of his armies?
⁃ Shouldn’t the Shepherd have an accurate accounting of his sheep?
Well…God’s Answer re: David’s census was obviously, No!!
And this was not the first time God had said No to David!!
Remember when David wanted to build a house for the Lord?? – A permanent structure for the ark of God vs. Moses’ tent/tabernacle..
Remember, God said, “No!!”
And on that occasion, God sent Nathan to approach David with the bad news…
– And Nathan said to the king, Go, do all that is in your heart, for the Lord is with you (2Sa 7:1)
Oops! Not that One!😂
That answer above, was Nathan’s initial (instinctive) response, but the Lord required Nathan to go back to David, and to correct that response – with a, Thus says the Lord Response!!
God explained to David that He was a bloody man – a man of war- who had shed much blood in The Lord’s sight, and therefore, David’s hands could not be permitted to ‘build’ the Lord’s temple.
I’m sure David was quite disappointed with Nathan’s second response…
But God went on to reassure David that He -The Lord God- would be the One Who would build David a House!!
Hiram had just recently completed the construction of David’s earthly home, but God was promising to build David’s house (posterity) on THE ROCK!! – And that SURE and ETERNAL FOUNDATION would be David’s future son/descendant, Jesus Christ!!
Still, I can imagine David was plagued continually, with dreams, plans, and ideas regarding the construction of the Lord’s house…
When David couldn’t sleep well, He was probably walking the floors all night with visions of pomegranates, lillies, gourds, and palm trees…
When he could sleep, he was probably dreaming about columns, and lavers, golden lamp stands, and show bread tables…
David may have even been hyper-focusing on the different styles and sizes of nails that would be used in the temple…
Now, what was David suppose to do with all of his heart’s desires to build The Lord’s House?? – After God said No!!
So…if we advance this story, chronologically, about 20+ years from God’s No – pertinent to the temple…
That gets us back to David’s Census…
Where now we find that David has decided to focus his attention, and concentrations on something new…such as numbering the people 🤦🏾♀️
So David calls for his ever faithful, commander in Chief – who was also the king’s nephew – Joab, who then attempts to talk David down from his Census Mountain, but David would not cooperate, nor come down!!
Well, it took Joab about 9 months, or so, to fully complete David’s census, and when the stats had came back, instead of relishing, in satisfaction about his grand census report, David became remorseful!!
Here’s that Scripture:
⁃ But David“s heart smote him after he had numbered the people. David said to the Lord, I have sinned greatly in what I have done. I beseech You, O Lord, take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have done very foolishly (2Sa 24:10)
David immediately begins to repent to The Lord, upon his bed, and by morning’s light…
In comes Gad, with those 3 options that we discussed earlier…
Or shall I say, Gad came in with a choice of 3 means, or methods, wherein which David could opt, to receive the wages for his sin!!
And it came to pass that before the evening sacrifice was offered, David had received an instant direct deposit!!
Word had come that 70,000 men had already been consumed by that plague.
And now David was receiving further instructions, via Gad, to offer a sacrifice, in order to appease God’s wrath, and to stay the hand of the destroying angel, who was now hovering over Jerusalem!!
But How could David Go??
The brazen alter wasn’t anywhere nearby. It was still in Gibeon, along with the tabernacle.
⁃ For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon. (1Chr 21:29)
And David was terrified!!
Much like Baalam’s donkey, David was not trying to go anywhere near the destroying angel, whose sword was unsheathed…
But God, in His mercy, allowed David to erect a new altar, further north, on the mountain range – at the site of the threshing floor of Ornan.
So without delay, David made his way up to Ornan’s threshing floor- not to forcefully acquire the property from Ornan- who was it’s current owner, but David respectfully offered to purchase the land from Ornan – at its full price.
And after completing that transaction, personally…David hurriedly offered burnt offerings, and peace offerings to The Lord, and The Lord’s anger towards David’s sin, and the people’s sin, was appeased.
The Angel who had been standing by Ornan’s threshing floor, did eventually stay his hand, per God’s command, and soon after, returned his sword to its sheath.
Now Scripture tells us that in 1 Chronicles, Verse 21:28, David had noticed that The Lord sent His response, to David’s prayer of repentance, right there at Ornan’s threshing floor.
⁃ At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there. (1Chr 21:28)
What was so significant about that mountain, where Ornan’s threshing floor was located??
We’ll learn more about this very special mountain next week- so stay tuned!!
I can get lost in The Lord’s Word 📖 – It’s My cure-all for whatever ails me!!
How can we begin to ‘know’ the Lord, personally, and intimately – without His Word??
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– AS THE hart pants and longs for the water brooks, so I pant and long for You, O God. My inner self thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God (Ps 42:1)
Ahab said to Naboth, Give me your vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near my house. I will give you a better vineyard for it or, if you prefer, I will give you its worth in money. Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid that I should give the inheritance of my fathers to you (1Kings 21:2)
Hey Neighbor!
If Tuesday’s Trivia question was little too tough for you, then I have another one….that’s closely related.
So from the Scripture, (above) we learned that The King of Israel began to covet Naboth’s vineyard, but Naboth refused to sell his inheritance to the King – so Ahab went home, had a temper tantrum, and refused to eat.
Now, when his wicked wife, Jezebel came home, she asked her husband, “Ahab, are you the King of Israel…or what??🤣
And I’m sure Ahab’s answer was a profound, “Yes!!”
But even the King of Israel, also being a descendant from amongst the 12 tribes of Jacob, knew that, if he were to forcefully take Naboth’s land, he would be breaking ‘patrimony’ law, according to Numbers 36:9.
⁃ No grant of land may pass from one tribe to another; each tribe of Israel must keep its allotted portion of land.” (Num 36:9)
Now, we are not specifically told, from which Northern tribe Ahab was descended – but we do know that Naboth’s vineyard was situated in the land of his own, tribal forefather.
Prior to December 2024, If you had asked me, “Are You Superstitious?” My answer would have been…
“Of course not!!”
But come to find out – I REALLY was….🤦🏾♀️
I just didnt realize it…
For about two decades now, I’ve been ⛓chained to several superstitions – in the form of what I will call, ‘Laundry Room Taboos’
– All relative to ‘Black Folks’ New Year’s Traditions…or at least, I think that’s where they stem from🤷🏾♀️
1. All of the laundry must be washed/dried and folded prior to Dec 31st. 🧺
2. Absolutely no laundry can be washed or dried on Dec 31st. 🧽
In fact, if my Auntie Jo Ann is in town during the Month of December, I am required to 🔌 unplug both the washer, and the dryer….
And I have to completely 🔐 shutdown the laundry room, until AFTER New Year’s Day
And according to ‘tradition,’ if I violate ANY of these laundry 🚱taboos- then I am at risk of ‘washing’ one of my loved ones, out of my life. 🪦
…And don’t get me started on the Food ‘must-haves,’ for New Year’s Eve…🐡
And the Dinner must-haves, for New Year’s Day….🥬🍛
AndWho 🧔🏾♂️ MUST be the first New Year’s guest, to walk through the front door – for Good Luck 🍀 ALL-YEAR…
Whew!! 😰
I’m done with ALL OF THAT‼️
This past December, I decided that I’d had enough!! 🤯
I’m done being 🔓chained to cultural traditions, and superstitious customs, that I know nothing about…
Butwherever they originated from, they can get out of my laundry room, and go back there ☄️
They don’t determine who lives or dies in my household…
I DO🥊‼️🤣😂
And these fruitless, false, superstitions, don’t get to have a say, in whether or not I’m going to have a good day…
Today…tomorrow…or otherwise!!
Because the REAL truth is….
I don’t need luck 🍀 BECAUSE I’m BLESSED!!
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💕Tam
And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God. Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock. Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough. Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out (Deuteronomy 28:2)
– Jezebel his wife said to him, Do you not govern Israel? Arise, eat food, and let your heart be happy. I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. (1Ki 21:7)
Hey Neighbor!
In the Scripture above, we just read where that most wicked and wretched, Jezebel was found reassuring the King of Israel, that she is going to take matters into her own hands, to insure that her husband gets immediate possession of that vineyard, that he coveted!!
Now, we know that this story will not end well, for Naboth…no Bible story ever ends well, when Jezebel plays the main character…except when the dogs eat her corpse🤯 (2Kings 9:30-37)
According to the law, Naboth had no legal obligation to sell his vineyard to the covetous king.
The land in question, was Naboth’s patrimony; ie his tribal inheritance; therefore, the estate was to remain in the possession and care of Naboth, and his own heirs.
Of course there were certain exceptions; ie financial hardship and/or death.
Well, Jezebel’s plan was to make sure that Naboth met with a speedy demise, both himself, and his surviving sons, so that the King of Israel could take immediate possession of Naboth’s vineyard.
Now, back in Egypt, during the seven years of famine, the landowners sold their estates to Pharoah, willingly – in exchange for food and sustenance.
The famine had become so oppressive, that it practically bankrupted everyone in Egypt – except for a select group of citizens.
Scripture tells us that these certain ‘citizens’ of Egypt, were not required to sell their estates to the Prince of Egypt, in order to survive.
At this point in my life, I’ve learned that the joys of shopping can be fleeting…
When I was younger, I could have pinpointed for you, every store, city, country and/or continent😂
But now my heart seeks for a long-lasting fulfillment, that can ONLY be found in My Lord and Savior- Jesus Christ!!
And don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy nice stores, and nice things…
They’re just not my primary pursuit, anymore.
And besides…once you’re done with all that shopping, you’ve got to have some place to store all of that stuff!! 😰
So why not store up (spiritual) treasures in your heavenly home; where there is plenty enough room!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾
Plus, satan won’t be able to get in, up there, to steal your treasures.
His thieving days will be done….because God has a Fiery Pit, for him…w/his name on it!! 👇⏬
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💕Tam
But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:20-21)
Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven final plagues (afflictions, calamities) came and spoke to me. He said, Come with me! I will show you the bride, the Lamb“s wife. (Revelation 21:9)
Hey Neighbor!
Pictured above, is a cartoon image of Christ and His Fiancé!!
Yes! That Woman is Christ’s betrothed…
Now, the joyous sounds of singing, and celebrating have not yet begun to ring out from within their banquet hall…
But in the meantime, Jesus has removed the yoke, that once kept her harnessed to satan and his darkness, which this woman had previously borne upon her neck…
That former, weighty, unbalanced yoke had nearly broken this woman’s back!!
But when Jesus came…Knocking on her door ✊
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. (Revelation 3:20)
He did not come with an engagement ring 💍 in His hand, but instead, He came, carrying a Fresh Yoke – but not just any ordinary yoke…
But His very OWN ✨YOKE which she joyfully accepted…
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good–not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. (Mat 11:28)
I hope you didn’t miss that….because that was a proposal!!
And her answer was – An ASTOUNDING YES!!
So…She Yoked-Up with Jesus!!
And look at her now…
Her poise and posture have been restored!!
She’s standing upright in His righteous!!
She has a new strut in her stride – Walking in the JOY OF SALVATION!!
Jesus has made her feel Brand New (Born Again)
Now she’s JUSTIFIED (just as if I’d never sinned) by FAITH!!
This woman is totally confident in her beloved, knowing that as they begin to plow towards their mark – they will make spiritual progress, together…
She knows she won’t have to put an excessive strain on her back, or overly stress her neck muscles…
Because Jesus won’t let her bear the brunt of the load…
She won’t be drenched in sweat…
Because Jesus promised her, if she would Believe on Him- And say Yes to Him, He would make sure that she received Help!!
He promised to be with her…Standing by her side…making it so much easier to bear up under the struggles and difficulties of life!!
Jesus promised to be to her a Calming, and compassionate Comforter in the midst of chaos!!
And to be A Sturdy Strengthener, in Times of Trouble!!
But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me. But you also will testify and be My witnesses, because you have been with Me from the beginning. (Jn 15:26)
So Will You say Yes to Jesus, Today and Allow the Holy Spirit to come in, and begin to prep and prepare you for a future Wedding Feast w/ The Lamb?
Or Would You prefer to Yoke-Up with an around the way girl…like Lot did??
Screenshot
And We all know how Lot’s marriage ended. 🧂
And Jesus reminds us in Luke 17:32 to “Remember Lot“s wife.”
If only Lot had Listened…🤦🏾♀️
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel (2Cor 6:14)
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We will develop this Lesson further next week w/ Part 2.
This [ark] contained a golden jar which held the manna and the rod of Aaron that sprouted and the [two stone] slabs of the covenant [bearing the Ten Commandments]. (Heb 9:4)
In the Book of Hebrews, (above) you will find this list of items, contained within the ark of the covenant.
Now, we know, according to The Scriptures, that the Israelites carried that ark (upon poles) through the wilderness, until they finally reached the Promised Land.
The Israelite’s also carried a ⚰️coffin through the wilderness, for 40+ years…..
–And let it so be that the girl to whom I say, I pray you, let down your jar that I may drink, and she replies, Drink, and I will give your camels drink also–let her be the one whom You have selected and appointed and indicated for Your servant Isaac [to be a wife to him]; (Gen 24:14)
Hey Neighbor!
Ladies, God is concerned about what young man you shall marry..
Young men, God is indeed concerned about what woman you shall marry…
The Scriptures say that when a man findeth a wife, he findeth a good thing!!
And Abraham knew this well, because he’d found a good wife in Sarah, over 100+ years ago.
And waaayy back then…one morning, God woke Abram up saying – “Abe, It’s Time to Go!!” –
And wouldn’t you know, that it was Sarai, who helped Abe pack up all their luggage…and who had faith-fully followed after him, wherever he ‘wenteth’ –
Even though God had not given Abram a definitive destination!!
Now, That’s A Good Woman!!
But after Sarah died, Abraham realized that it was not good for their son to remain alone.
It was now time for Isaac to find his own wife..
And not just any girl…she must be a good girl!!
She must not be one of the girls from around there…for they were daughters of idolatry, and they would soon turn Isaac’s heart away from following after God.
So as Abraham pondered, he recalled that his brother, Nahor had been blessed with sons and daughters, back in their homeland of Mesopotamia.
–Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham, saying, “Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor (Gen 22:20)
So Abraham decided that he must send greetings to his nephews, and pray that God would provide for Isaac, a wholesome, chaste virgin girl – via the seed of Abraham’s brother, Nahor.
However, Abraham knew that he could not permit Isaac to depart, from before his sight…therefore Abraham called for his Faith-full servant, Eliezer!!
Now, we know that Eliezer accepted Abraham’s task, agreeing to go on a wife-hunting mission for his Master’s son, Isaac…
–So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter. Then the servant took ten of his master“s camels and departed, for all his master“s goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the city of Nahor (Gen 24:9)
And off he went, loaded up with essentials…ten camels and much of His Master’s treasure – yet never forsaking faith…nor The Providential Guidance of The Angel of the Lord!!
– And Terah lived 205 years; and Terah died in Haran. (Gen 11:32)
Hey Neighbor!
In the Scripture above, we see where Abram and Sarai’s father, Terah, departed from his tent of flesh, at the ripe old age of 205.
I’m sure that you can recall in Scripture, that Abram and Sarai were in fact siblings…
They had the same dad, (Terah,) but they each, had a different mother.
⁃ And moreover she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife: (Gen 20:12)
So when Abram was born, obviously Terah and one of those (two) mothers – named their son, Abram…
But we know that God would later call him, Abraham!!
⁃ Nor shall your name any longer be Abram [high, exalted father]; but your name shall be Abraham [father of a multitude], for I have made you the father of many nations. (Gen 17:5)
And just ten years later, Terah and that other mother, would name their daughter, Sarai…
But God would call her, Sarah = Princess!!
⁃ And God said to Abraham, As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai; but Sarah [Princess] her name shall be. (Gen 17:15)
Now we also know that many years after these two siblings, became one – Abram and Sarai, heard the call of God, and they departed from their father’s⛺️ tent….headed for a destination, unknown!!
Abram and Sarai’s POD (point of destination) was ‘to be determined’ by God!!
⁃ NOW [in Haran] the Lord said to Abram, Go for yourself [for your own advantage] away from your country, from your relatives and your father“s house, to the land that I will show you. (Gen 12:1)
And for years and years, thereafter, Abraham and Sarah journeyed onward, by faith…and together, they endured many of life’s trials and hardships.
On several occasions, they suffered from hunger, causing them to move from place to place, to find food.
If you will recall…they pulled up their tent stakes, and sojourned in Egypt for a time, during their first famine..
Then, they sojourned in Gerar, during another famine…
But it seems that Abraham and Sarah settled down, and hammered in their tent stakes, one final time, in a place called, Beersheba!!
Where Abraham and Sarah lived together, until Sarah left their🎪tent in Beersheba…
And after leaving their tent in Beersheba, Sarah was dearly departed from her own, ‘fleshly tent’ ina place called, ______________________.
Now we know that this ‘Faith-Full’ Matriarch, Sarah was blessed to live a long, full, and prosperous life…
In fact, she is the only matriarch whose age, upon death, was recorded in the Bible.
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But just How Old Was Sarah, when she departed from her tent??
–Then Joseph made ready his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen; and he presented himself and gave distinct evidence of himself to him [that he was Joseph], and [each] fell on the [other“s] neck and wept on his neck a good while. (Gen 46:29)
Hey Neighbor!
When Joseph was finally reunited with his father, Jacob, after a 20+ year absence, Joseph realized that his father might not recognize him.
Not because Jacob’s vision had diminished so drastically…
And not because he (Joseph) had aged so rapidly – Joseph was now about 40 years old…
But because, by all outward appearances, Joseph looked just like an Egyptian!!
This is why Joseph’s older brothers did not recognize him, back when Jacob had first sent his 10 sons to Egypt, to purchase food.
⁃ Joseph knew his brethren, but they did not know him. (Gen 42:8)
Joseph’s brother’s also believed ‘the man’ who had accused them of being ‘spies,’ was an Egyptian Lord, because ‘the man’ (Joseph) pretended as if he could not understand their Hebrew tongue; thus Joseph had called for an interpreter.
But today Joseph would finally see his father’s face again; therefore he would make himself plain – even if it required wiping off the Egyptian makeup, that he had grown accustomed to wearing, and/or taking off his Egyptian garments…
Today Joseph would once again, be Israel’s favorite Hebrew son.
Now there was another Hebrew man, who also looked just like an Egyptian…
In fact, this Hebrew man’s wife, had mistakenly identified him as an Egyptian, on the first day they met.
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Can You Name That Wife??
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If You would like to read more CarBibleStudy Lessons about Jacob, Joseph, and his brothers, here’s a link:
But forty years after the Israelites left Egypt, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses addressed the people of Israel, telling them everything the Lord had commanded him to say. (Deuteronomy1:3)
Hey Neighbor!
Moses spent quite some time, before his death, expounding on The (Mosaic) Law, which God had previously given to the Israelites.
Thus….The Book of Deuteronomy is called the ‘Second Law.’
Now within The Law, there was one such law, written specifically, to cure an estate inheritance problem, for a widow.
You see, If a husband died, without giving his wife a son; an heir to his father’s property, that deceased man’s name would have been blotted out in Israel!!
So, in order to salvage the deceased’s name, and to protect the rights and welfare of the deceased’s (childless) widow…this law was penned to paper.
Otherwise, the deceased’s widow could/would find herself, neglected and mistreated by the surviving members of her husband’s family.
And Yes…we’ve seen this problem arise in Scripture, where the deceased’s widow was thereafter put out of the home…and sent back to her own mother’s and father’s estate.
Her husband had died, and she was displaced from her husband’s home, because their was no heir.
Tamar’s widow’s rights remained unprotected, before this Law existed.
If you will recall…Tamar found herself in a bad place, after her husband, Er, died.
Onan, Er’s younger brother was left with the weighty responsibility to ‘build up’ his deceased brother’s house.
Therefore, Onan was required to marry his deceased brother’s wife, Tamar, and to give her a son, in the name of his deceased brother, Er –
Now, that (newborn) son would become heir to Er’s estate, which would prevent Tamar from being displaced from her first (Er’s) husband’s estate.
Now we know that Onan, would not/could not fulfill his brotherly obligations, so the weight fell upon Judah’s third, and youngest son, Shelah – who at the time of Er’s death, was underage.
Now, if you know the rest of this tawdry tale, then you know that Tamar decided to bypass the youngest brother, Shelah, and proceeded to take matters into her own hand, where she tricked Er’s father, Judah, into impregnating her.
If there had been a law written and enacted, to protect Tamar’s rights, after Er’s death, She could have simply taken Shelah to court, once he had reached maturity.
In court, Shelah could have relinquished his brotherly obligation, however he would have been forever shamed for refusing to ‘build up’ his brother’s house.
And after Shelah’s public refusal to marry Tamar, The courts would have been permitted Tamar to unloosen Shelah’s shoe- and then, spit in his face!!
Wow!!🤯
Tamar would have then, been permitted to marry outside of Judah’s (son’s) house.
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Can You Name That Law??
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If you would like to read more about Tamar, Er, Onan, and Shelah – Here’s a link:
“Go back. Go home and live with your mothers. And may God treat you as graciously as you treated your deceased husbands and me. May God give each of you a new home and a new husband!“ She kissed them and they cried openly. (Ruth 1:8)
Hey Neighbor!
Ruth was not looking for a husband when she stepped across the threshold, into The Land of Judah…
She fully expected the Israelite people to look down on her…calling her a heathen woman, and a daughter of paganism, because Ruth was a descendant of peoples who had originated from Sodom and Gomorrah.
It happened just after the two angels had rescued Abraham’s nephew, Lot, from the fury of God’s fire and brimstone…that Lot’s two ‘Sodomite’ daughters, connived together, and slept with their inebriated father…producing two sons, out of incest.
One son was called, Ammon…
The other son was called, Moab…
And although Abraham loved his nephew, Lot dearly, God cursed Lot’s descendants, and completely excluded the Ammonites and the Moabites from having any sort of peace, and/or fellowship with Israel’s descendants.
And just to add a little fuel to that fire – Ruth was believed to be a daughter of that ruthless Moabite King named, Eglon.
Yes!! Eglon was that fat King, who had enslaved and tormented the Israelite’s for nearly 18 years.
Ruth’s mother-in-law, Naomi, had done her very best to dissuade Naomi from continuing to follow after her…
Naomi had urged Ruth, over and over again, to turn back towards Moab- and to go back home to her own people…
and to her own gods!!
She had even given Ruth fair warning, regarding just what her life would be like in Bethlehem, Judah…
In Bethlehem…
Ruth would be kept ostracized and isolated, by the Hebrew women…
She would be ignored and/or abused, by the Hebrew men…
Thus and Therefore…
Ruth would be destined to live out her days in The Land of Judah, as a poor, pitiful, widow…in perpetuity!!
And Yet..
Here we find Ruth…still cleaving tightly to her Israelite mother-in law…
Ruth adamantly refused to go back, and she persisted in her refusals to Let Naomi Go!!
Ruth’s grip on Naomi was tighter than Jacob’s had been, when he wrestled in the tent with The Angel of God!!
Jacob defiantly refused to let Him go!!
You see, Jacob just couldn’t go back to a lifestyle of repetitive lying and cheating…
And Ruth could not go back to participating in those abominable, temple rituals and ceremonies, that required the sacrificial blood of children.
Ruth had finally denounced that detestable god, Chemosh…once and for all!!
And now she was firmly declaring that God Almighty, would hereafter, and forever be her One, True God!!
And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me (Ruth 1:16)
Somebody turn up the Super-Faith Soundtrack…because there must have been A Powerful Praise Party going on in the heavens, when this Super-Faith Sister began to sing the chorus of: 🎶 Where You Go – I will Go!!
– Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place: ye are witnesses this day (Ruth 4:9)
Hey Neighbor!!
Zoom ID Login: 395-378-962
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Did You know that Ruth’s Great Grandson, David was a shepherd, a king, a lyricist, and a composer of many multiples of songs and melodies??
Many of these songs that David composed were like Love songs to the Lord!!
I can imagine that as David faithfully followed after Jesse’s sheep – that he carried with him, the shepherd’s staff, in one hand….and his poetry pen, in the other.
Whilst also carrying his trusty sling shot – on one shoulder…and his handy harp, on the other.
The Holy Spirit too, has composed 66 letters/books, all of which were written to reveal God’s Perfect Love for Us…and to us!!
Now within these writings, we can find ‘lyrics’ of love songs that reveal to us what marital and romantic love can and should look like today.
In February we are going to read some of these ‘lyrics,’ and we pray that The Holy Spirit will begin to put them to music in the depths of our hearts…causing His sweet soundtracks to reverberate throughout our lives, as He causes the Truth of The Lord’s Lyrics to become manifest in our marriages, and in our love-lives.
In the days when the judges ruled in Israel, a severe famine came upon the land. So a man from Bethlehem in Judah left his home and went to live in the country of Moab, taking his wife and two sons with him. (Ruth 1:1)
Hey Neighbor!
Yesterday I did a repost of a Super-Faith Sunday Lesson, and added a link to the accompanying Riddle.
That lesson, on Naomi was originally posted in May, 2022.
After rereading the lesson, I realized that I had, and still have so many questions that I would like to ask Naomi and Elimelech.
We know so little about those two…
I wondered what they were thinking during those days of famine, and how they reconciled their choice to disobey God.
And Yes..their lives existed during a time when every man did what seemed right in his own eyes…The Judges!!
But I would like to believe that Naomi and Elimelech’s fears overwhelmed their Faith, and therefore they weren’t just behaving selfishly and irresponsibly.
I would like to believe that this couple was acting out of desperation, when they mortgaged their home and left their God-given inheritance, which was located in ‘The House of Bread and Praise.’
Either way, Naomi and Elimelech made their decision to leave!!
They walked out- in direct disobedience to God’s commands, and years later, it was Naomi, who had survived to reap her harvest of bitterness. *******************************************
In attempts to fill in some of the ‘gaps’ in the storyline of Chapter 1 and verse 1, in the Book of Ruth; Dewitt and I prepared this little skit for our 30 Pieces of Silver Lesson.
Below is a (written) snippet of our lesson…
But If you prefer to watch it, here is the Facebook link, where you can view the entire lesson.
So- Naomi had already given her Landlord 30 days notice. They were finally done with all of their cleaning.
Naomi was preparing to return the home back to the Landowner, and to leave that dark, desolate place behind her.
They had donated the clothes, and sold most of the furniture items, that had been left there by the deceased… and all the rest, they burned.
There wasn’t much left for Naomi to pack, considering she had lost everything in Moab.
⁃ Scripture says, Naomi went out full, but the Lord had brought her back home again, empty-handed.
I’m sure Naomi packed several sentimental things, that would now remain as her keepsakes; to remind her of her beloved husband and her two boys.
They had all died there in that house…and in that land. Of the ones who walked out of Bethlehem, on that very sunny and warm Fall day 10+ years ago…only Naomi had survived.
She now shared the four walls with her deceased son’s widows, Ruth and Orpah; wherein, together they had celebrated many birthdays, anniversaries, and of course the wedding feasts.
But now all of those days were like distant, melancholic memories, from yester-year….10 years gone by in a blink!!
Nothing but the ghosts remained in that place, causing Naomi to sometimes forget that her lost loved-ones were absent from the body, but present w/the Lord…
Some days, Naomi still found herself anticipating when Elemilech and the boys would come through the front door, after a long day of harvesting.
……Anticipation without manifestation.
The three widows had buried their dead in the ground…but now Naomi must leave those ghosts behind, and vacate that home, and that land, where she too remained entombed in misery, sadness, and bitterness…….
You can watch the remainder of this video lesson online…
To be continued on Facebook or Our YouTube @CareBibleStudy.
There she was returning to Judah; having long since survived the famine; and having stayed ten years too long in Moab.
What had been the draw in Moab??
That is…what was the ‘thing’ that caused her husband, Elimelech to remain in Moab beyond their original intended stay??
We may never know the answer…but what we do know is that Elimelech died in Moab, leaving his wife Naomi widowed, with 2 sons, Mahlon and Chilion.
Now instead of grieving for her husband, and together with her sons, burying Elimelech, and then immediately returning to their homeland in Judah…
Naomi again extended their stay in Moab!!
In fact, Mahlon and Chilion took wives of the daughters of Moab, after their father’s death. Their wives were named Orpah and Ruth.
But unfortunately, like their father, Mahlon and Chilion also died suddenly in Moab, leaving their wives and their mother to mourn them.
Now Widowed and Childless, Naomi decided that it was high time that she had returned to her home in Bethlehem, Judah.
Now Orpah remained in Moab, but Ruth clung to her mother-in-law, refusing to separate herself from her beloved Naomi.
Now we know that nothing can separate us from the Love of God, but here we find that nothing can separate Ruth from Naomi either.
Scripture tells us that, Ruth’s love for her mother-in-law was greater than that of seven sons!!
And Ruth promised to abide with, and to remain by Naomi’s side, even unto death.
And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts me from you. (Ruth 1:16-17)
Now the word had spread quickly amongst the women in Bethlehem, Judah that their most pleasant friend, Naomi, who they had known well, prior to her families’ departure had returned home with a most bitter disposition.
She was now refusing to be called by her given name, Naomi- meaning ‘pleasant,’ but instead she insisted that her friends now call her Mara- meaning, ‘bitter.’
And Yes!!
Naomi was indeed imbittered, having lost every one of her loved ones in Moab- First her husband, and then both of her sons- one after the other.
Naomi had come home empty-handed, and weighed down with sadness and she was greatly discouraged.
She was convinced that The Lord had dealt with her unfairly in Moab, but God still loved Naomi and He was going to show Naomi that he had not forgotten her.
He was going to show Naomi His unfailing love through the love of a daughter- who was not her own!!
Ruth was not Naomi’s flesh and blood, nor was she a daughter of the Promise!!
Ruth was an idol worshipping, pagan woman – a Moabitess, who had converted to the Faith.
Ruth had obviously seen Naomi’s faith-walk, prior to her loosing her husband and her sons.
She had seen her mother-in-law continue to profess the name of the Lord- even when he had removed the hedge from about her. as He done with Job!!
Yet Naomi still desired to return to the Love and Shelter of the Lord- having heard that His blessings to her people in Judah had been renewed.
Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in Moab how the Lord had visited His people in giving them food. (Ruth 1:6)
Now, Ruth wanted to remain with Naomi, because she had seen Naomi’s desire to be near her God!!
And Ruth wanted to be near Naomi’s God also, and to rest and abide underneath the protection of His wings, right alongside her beloved mother-in-law.
Ruth wanted to abide with Naomi…
In Naomi’s home…
And in Naomi’s hometown of Bethlehem…
Where The Lord was present – like a cloud by day and like fire by night, blessing and protecting his chosen people.
Now again, we know that Ruth was not an Israelite, but God loved Ruth as His own ‘chosen’ daughter, and He honored her because she had abandoned her idol worshipping lifestyle and had sought His Face instead!!
God saw and honored Ruth’s loyalty and dedication to her aged mother-in-law!!
And because Our God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him, He opened up His windows in Heaven and blessed Ruth more abundantly than He had blessed the daughters of Israel!!
What a beautiful love story this is!!
We see the Abundant love that God has for his daughters, Naomi and Ruth!!
We see the precious love shared between a mother and her daughter!!
But we also get to witness the romance shared between Boaz and Ruth – but that is another story for another day!!
Now we’re gonna need a steeping hot pot of tea for that story!!
Now back to Naomi!!
God remembered Naomi and blessed her through the unfailing love of her daughter-in-law Ruth, restoring the joy of motherhood into Naomi’s bosom.
And may he (Obed) be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher and supporter in your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him. (Ruth 4:15)
Yes! It was Ruth the Moabitess, who had conceived and bore this son by her husband Boaz, but it was Naomi, who took the child into her bosom!!
And no longer did Naomi’s friends and neighbors call her ‘bitter,’ but now they called her, ‘blessed,’ and they lovingly called the child, – ‘A son is born to Naomi!’
And He (Obed) was the father of Jesse, the father of David [the ancestor of Jesus Christ (Ruth 4:17)
– Now these are the descendants of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron of Ram, Ram of Amminadab, Amminadab of Nahshon, Nahshon of Salmon, Salmon of Boaz, Boaz of Obed, Obed of Jesse, and Jesse of David [the ancestor of Jesus Christ]. (Ruth 4:18-21)
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. (Rom 12:19)
Hey Neighbor!
Here is Part II of our Lesson…
Now my original title for this lesson was, ‘The Fall of The House of Eli,’ and last Friday, I posted Part I for you.
But you may actually want or need to go back a bit further than last Friday’s lesson, if you really wanna get caught up…
Here is the link to the beginning of this series, from March 2023.
It shows us just how Eli erred in honoring his two sons…above God; and also, where Eli was warned that God was fed up with it, and He was therefore, going to judge Eli’s House – Forever!!
But for today, we will finally see what happens when evil men’s tongues make false statements against The Lord’s anointed – God will repay the wicked!!
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Here is where we left off:
And the king said to the guard that stood about him, Turn and slay the Lord“s priests, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hands against the Lord“s priests. (1Sa 22:17)
Wow!!
Finally someone with the Fear of the Lord!!
Up to this point, King Saul has shown no reverential fear for God, nor any awe for The prophet’s (Samuel) office, so we certainly can’t expect Saul to turn back now, nor expect him to execute Justice unto the High Priest…even after Ahimelech’s fervent proclamation of his own innocence.
Now we know that God is able to turn the heart of the king, thus requiring him to execute Justice, (Prov 21); But The Lord can also use that king’s (Saul’s) disobedient and defiant heart to execute God’s Own Judgement against an unrepentant man (Eli) ….
Therefore King Saul (prophetically) called for Ahimelech and all of The Lord’s priests to be utterly destroyed…
⁃ The king said to Doeg, You turn and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests and slew that day eighty-five persons who wore the priest“s linen ephod. And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the sword; both men and women, children and sucklings, oxen and donkeys and sheep, he put to the sword (1Sa 22:18)
Now look at this treacherous Edomite (descendant of Esau), who was Saul’s chief herdsman: He was a wicked warrior, ready and willing to slay God’s Anointed High Priest, and his entire family…without any reverential fear of God!!
Here’s what David had to say about this most treacherous Doeg, in Psalm 52!!
⁃ To the Chief Musician. A skillful song, {or} a didactic {or} reflective poem. +[A Psalm+] of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, David has come to the house of Ahimelech.
⁃ WHY BOAST you of mischief done against the loving-kindness of God [and the godly], O mighty [sinful] man, day after day? Your tongue devises wickedness; it is like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. You love evil more than good, and lying rather than to speak righteousness, justice, and right. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! You love all destroying and devouring words, O deceitful tongue. ( Psalms 52-14)
So we see where God used those lying lips of a wretched man, with a very deceitful heart to draw the sword against Ahimelech….as God was Himself, actively casting Eli’s descendants out of His Tabernacle.
But indeed there were still troubling consequences 🤕 to come upon this wretched, wicked man, Doeg!!
More From King David and Psalm 52, regarding Doeg The Edomite…
⁃ God will likewise break you down and destroy you forever; He will lay hold of you and pluck you out of your tent and uproot you from the land of the living. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that (Psalms 52:5)
Indeed Our God is a God of Justice!!
But still there remained one more lone survivor of Eli’s ‘grandchildren.’ – Abiathar!!
–And one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub named Abiathar escaped and fled after David. (1Samuel 22:20)
So God still has some work to do!!
He has not yet, fully completed His mission against The House of Eli!!
So we will get to see it to completion next week, when we will witness the fall and failure of Abiathar, after he faithlessly withdraws his support from the throne of his dying King.
And even though we find King David ailing, and practically confined to his sick-bed, he was still a man after God’s on heart, with a mind to establish a hit-list of treacherous ones for Solomon to detain, pursue, and remove from their positions of power, within the kingdom.
And Guess What??
Abiathar’s name, was read amongst those, on David’s list…because Abiathar was Eli’s great, great, grandson…
⁃ The Lord told Samuel, Behold, I am about to do a thing in Israel at which both ears of all who hear it shall tingle. On that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end (1Samuel 3:10-12)
Are Your ears tingling yet??…if not yet, they soon will…
– And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time. And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim (Judg 4:4)
Last Night was Thirty Pieces of Silver night, so I invited my handsome hubby to Tag-Team 🖐🏾 it with me, once again…
He and I had so much fun…He couldn’t decide if he wanted portray Barak, the military commander…
Or Barack Obama…
So he did Both!!😂
Dewitt has been such a blessing…He always has some wonderful ideas for staging our (studio) 🎥 set…Check out the Palm 🏝️Trees he found!!
He dug them out from our Christmas-time Nativity Scene…and he even picked up a Palm tree poster for the backdrop 🎬
So what’s with all the Palm 🌴Trees??
Well, since I was (portraying) Deborah…for this particular production, I knew that I wanted to be underneath my Palm tree; but instead of soaking up all the shade for myself, I messaged that mighty man of valor, Bara(c)k, 😂to come and sit down beside me…
– And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? (Judg 4:6)
After all, Barak was the Work+ to my Faith…
And I (Deborah) was the Faith + to his Works…
And together we were God’s Tag-Team – Deliverer 🦸🏽♂️🦸🏾♀️ Duo from The Book of Judges, Chapters 4 & 5.
David said to Abiathar, I knew that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I have occasioned the death of all your father“s (Ahimelech’s) house. (1Samuel 22:22)
Hey Neighbor!
This is actually an older lesson (from 2023) that I forgot to post.
It was a Part II- of a previous post. I felt like it was too lengthy, so today I’m divided it into two lessons…I will post the next half on Next Friday.
It’s timely though- it lines up with our ‘Snitch’ Trivia that we had on Tuesday.
Well once again, we find David running from Saul!!
And this time, He ran to the Strong Tower – The Lord’s House – where he met with Ahimelech, who was serving in the office of The High priest.
Now remember that Ahimelech was Eli’s great grandson, who may or may not have realized that there was a ‘hereditary hit’ out, upon his head!!
Yep!!
Now Ahimelech and the entirety of his Father’s house, have a curse upon each of their heads, and God has vowed to judge and punish them (Eli’s male descendants) until they are completely removed from the priesthood.
Now on that day in Nob, when David met with Ahimelech, he was hungry, desperate, and afraid.
David had showed up at the tabernacle in great haste; weaponless…without a sword or a spear!!
And Although Ahimelech was hesitant to meet with David, he obliged his every request, believing that David had come there (on a special mission) in the name of King Saul.
⁃ David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has charged me with a matter and has told me, Let no man know anything of the mission on which I send you and with what I have charged you. (1Sa 21:2)
Now, Ahimelech did not yet realize that David had become a fugitive in Israel; on the run from the wrath of King Saul. So Ahimelech provided David with provisions (show bread.)
And, he even gave David Goliath’s sword, which had been safely kept in the tabernacle at Nob- the city of the priests.
Now unfortunately, there was an Edomite (Doeg) present that day; Doeg was a descendant of Esau, and a hater of Jacob’s (Israel) sons.
-Now a certain man of Saul“s servants was there that day, detained before the Lord; his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul“s herdsmen. (1Sa 21:7)
Now Doeg was certainly not a fan of David, so he watched everything that transpired between and betwixt David and the High Priest; and When the Lord had released him from his detainment, Doeg hightailed it to Saul to snitch on David!!
Doeg told everything…and some EXTRA!!
He even (lied) told King Saul that Ahimelech had sought the will of The Lord for David, as if David was (still) a prince of Israel, which further enraged a very temperamental Saul, who then called Ahimelech and his sons forward to be indicted; accusing Ahimelech and his entire household of colluding with the son of Jesse.
Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father“s house, the priests who were at Nob, and they all came to the king. (1 Sam 22:11)
Saul’s Indictment:
⁃ Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, giving him bread and a sword and inquiring of God for him, so he could rise against me to lie in wait, as he does this day (1Sa 22:11)
Saul’s Judgement: Guilty!!
Now, although Ahimelech had actually been mislead by David, Saul would hear none of the (justifiable) declarations of innocence from Ahimelech.
Ahimelech’s Punishment: Execution!!
[Saul] said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father“s house. (1Sa 22:16)
So, Saul called for Ahimelech’s immediate execution; he and all 85 of Eli’s descendants – all who had been sanctified for The Lord’s service in the tabernacle, and who had worn the linen ephod.
⁃ And the king said to the guard that stood about him, Turn and slay the Lord“s priests, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me. . (1Sa 22:17)
Wow…The heart of a Desperate and Ruthless King🤦🏾♀️
And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal“s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. (1Sa 25:36)
Hey Neighbor!
Once again, Many of you have expressed difficulty viewing the Facebook link from this previous post, so I made my way to YouTube to download this video.
Enjoy!!
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For Those of You who prefer to read through this lesson: Here’s Your Oldie But-a Goodie for Friday 10/11/24.
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Hastily she went…
though the roads had been made crooked…
and the paths made rocky and rough…
Abigail had to press on, in order to right the wrongs of her husband…if she was to save her family!!
For David was on the warpath…LITERALLY!!
He had sworn to avenge himself, and to kill every male w/in Abigail’s household, because of her husband’s hasty tongue, and his careless words!!
Now Nabal was a rich man in Maon, having acquired a great wealth of possessions…though the greatest of his possessions was his folly!!
But what else can you expect when your parents have named you: FOOL!!
And unfortunately for Abigail and her household, this fool had a short fuse and had not been held accountable for his hostile temperament, nor his rash words.
No- Nabal was never slow to speak!!
Nor was he slow to anger!!
Nabal was easily offended, snappy and quick to rail and rebuke; so much so, that to commune with Nabal was like fanning a flame upon a fire.
Nabal was not a wise man!!
But his lovely wife, Abigail was both wealthy and wise!!
Quite Wealthy was she, in both understanding and discretion…
But Abigail’s greatest possession was not her wealth, but it was her Fear for The Lord God…and it profited her great Wisdom!!
So now, Abigail must use her WORDS!!
And her God-given WISDOM…
To soothe and pacify David’s unrelenting anger towards Nabal!!
You see…
A young shepherd, from Abigail’s household had forewarned Abigail, that David had threatened evil against her household, because of Nabal’s reckless tongue.
Abigail’s servant had given her a full report Re: Nabal’s selfish behavior and his wretched treatment towards David’s soldiers, who had come to him, humbly asking Nabal to show them kindness by sending meat, bread, and water to his soldiers…who had in turn, protected Nabal’s sheep and his shepherds in the wilderness.
Abigail learned that Nabal responded to David’s men, and his message, by going off😡🤬…sowing the seeds of rebuke, rage, and defamation against David’s good character.
Nabal had accused David of being a worthless fugitive…on the run from his master and thus pretended as if he (Nabal) did not recognize the name of the boy who had killed Goliath, nor the valiant soldier who had slain 10,000’s, while his master (Saul) had only killed thousands.
But Abigail had heard of David’s great name and his fame, in Carmel!!
And like the other women in Israel, who had sang of David’s victories in battle, Abigail had also heard of David’s many triumphs and of his valor, and she was now convinced that God would cause David to prevail over all of his enemies in the land!!
Can you imagine being married to a cold, hard-hearted man like Nabal??
How could Nabal be so cruel to David, who had not only fought for all of Israel, prevailing against the Philistines, but David had also protected their personal property from being pillaged and taken into the hands of these same Philistines.
But David had every intention of holding Nabal fully accountable for his words, and for his folly!!
Abigail could not delay another moment…
-Then Abigail made haste and took 200 loaves, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five measures of parched grain, 100 clusters of raisins, and 200 cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. And she said to her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she did not tell her husband Nabal (1Sa 25:18)
‘Faith- Full’ Abigail went forth, hastily, bearing an abundance of ‘foodstuffs’ for the Man of God…at the risk of loosing her own head, to David’s bloody sword!!
So Abigail quickly, lighted off her donkey and dropped to her face…where she pleaded with David to allow her to speak.
Kneeling at his feet she said, Upon me alone let this guilt be, my lord. And let your handmaid, I pray you, speak in your presence, and hear the words of your handmaid.
Realizing that life and death are in the power of the tongue, Abigail must now speak life… and life abundantly, she spoke, humblyto David
-Though man is risen up to pursue you and to seek your life, yet the life of my lord shall be bound in the living bundle with the Lord your God. And the lives of your enemies–them shall He sling out as out of the center of a sling (1Sa 25:29)
And just 10 days later…
The Lord avenged David’s reproach, and slung out Nabal’s soul, from his foolish flesh.
And Because of Abigail’s calming demeanor and her soothing advice, David had relented from his oath to annihilate every male in Nabal’s household.
The Lord smote Nabal and removed his precious pearl (Abigail)…that virtuous woman, likened unto that of Proverbs 31…
Abigail was worth more than rubies…
Who could find her??
Well Nabal had found her first, but because he was careless with her, and unaware of her worth and value, he continually mistreated her, and eventually lost her.
But Nabal’s loss was David’s gain, and David pounced upon the opportunity to take hold of such a wealthy woman, in wisdom and beauty: Abigail became David’s most virtuous, crown jewel!!
David took Abigail to himself, to be his wife, and to reign with him, as his queen in Hebron and later, in all of Israel!!
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This is just another reminder to wait on God to avenge your enemies…Although wicked Nabal intended evil for David and his men, God turned it all around for both David’s, and Abigail’s Good!
Well, Who Was this Faith-full Man from The Scriptures?
He was The Good Samaritan, from The Book of Luke 10:25-37,where a foreigner from Samaria was found to be more righteous, than both the Priest and the Levite – who had both, ignored and abandoned their neighbor; an injured Israelite – a man, having been nearly beaten to death, and left for dead, on the side of the road.
And Yet, This Good Samaritan, who had been reviled by The Israelites, stopped immediately, to see about the man…
He proceeded to bandage up his weeping wounds…
The Samaritan cared for this fallen fellow, as if he were his very own brother.
The Samaritan Man even paid an innkeeper💰so that the injured Israelite could remain in that inn, free of charge, and receive continual medical treatment there, until the patient was well enough to return home to Jerusalem.
Who Does That??
Obviously not the Priest…
Nor the Levite….
Who were both sons of Levi, and considered to be The First-Born of Israel…chosen, appointed, and anointed to care for the contents of The Tabernacle/Temple, and to also teach the Israelites God’s Laws and Precepts.
These sons of Levi were held in High Esteem by all Israelites…
The Priests and The Levites were God’s ‘chosen’ tribe…’chosen’from amongst God’s ‘Chosen’ People.
They carried the weighty responsibility to teach God’s people the difference, between right and wrong, good and bad…trespasses and sin.
And yet, these two Levites…who were enroute from Jerusalem to Jericho, found themselves caught up in their very own sins…
They had been found guilty of failing to love their neighbor!!
No…The Law did not require the Israelites to be ‘neighborly’ towards the Samaritans; therefore, They openly despised and reviled them, and they refused to consider The Samaritans worthy of their time andattention.
But unfortunately, that unbrotherly disease of disgust and disdain for these Samaritans, had metastasized, rapidly within their hearts…and now these two sons of Levi, could find no empathy, nor locate any compassion in their hearts, for one of their very own brothers – in his time of need!!
How sad…🤦🏾♀️
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I pray that You would take some time out to read Luke 10:25-37, as you study more about This Good Samaritan.
The Lord may not have given us the Samaritan’s name, but I believe Jesus gave this man Salvation!!
Jesus gave this narrative, in the form of a parable…a story which may, or may not have actually occurred…but I believe Jesus’ parables were about real people…who really existed.
And although Jesus kept sealed, these ‘real’ men’s identities, in this narrative, I believe He openly revealed these men’s hearts, in order to teach us about the deceptiveness of sin.
CareBibleStudy 
