Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6  

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

For all the talk of free love, jealousy is always with mankind. Men and women are filled with jealousy. It never ends well and it always causes problems. It brings fights and, if the story of Helen of Troy is accurate, it brings war. This is just one reason why Proverbs says that a person is to stay away from adultery. Like the writer of Proverbs says a person who is jealous will not accept any price but will want revenge.

 

What do you see in this chapter that speaks to you?

Pro 6:1-35
(1)  My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
(2)  Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
(3)  Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
(4)  Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
(5)  Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
(6)  Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
(7)  Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
(8)  Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
(9)  How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
(10)  Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
(11)  So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
(12)  A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
(13)  He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
(14)  Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
(15)  Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
(16)  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
(17)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
(18)  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
(19)  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
(20)  My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
(21)  Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
(22)  When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
(23)  For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
(24)  To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
(25)  Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
(26)  For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
(27)  Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
(28)  Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
(29)  So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
(30)  Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
(31)  But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
(32)  But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
(33)  A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
(34)  For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
(35)  He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.


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Exodus 13 The right route isn't...

The right route isn't...

Exodus 13  

TUESDAY  Reflections

Sometimes, the straightest path is the longest road. When GPS’s (Global Positioning Systems) first came out there was no way they could tell what was on the road only what was the straightest way to your destination. There were times the GPS took you down roads that weren’t safe or through the worst of rush hour traffic. I had a friend whose GPS took him into a cornfield where it said a highway was supposed to be. Using a GPS wasn’t a guarantee you would arrive where you wanted to or in a timely manner.

God knew what was ahead and he sent the Israelites the long way around. The scriptures say, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt" (verse 17). God knew like today’s modern GPS (when it works right) the best way to your destination isn’t the straightest.

In our lives, we need to remember God does not take us on a straight path, but if we are living in obedience it is always the best path. Though, at times, as my editor noted, it seems to take forever.  

Exo 13:1-22
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2)  Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.
(3)  And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
(4)  This day came ye out in the month Abib.
(5)  And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.
(6)  Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the LORD.
(7)  Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.
(8)  And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt.
(9)  And it shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt.
(10)  Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year.
(11)  And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee,
(12)  That thou shalt set apart unto the LORD all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast; the males shall be the LORD'S.
(13)  And every firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb; and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the firstborn of man among thy children shalt thou redeem.
(14)  And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the LORD brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage:
(15)  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the LORD slew all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of beast: therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all that openeth the matrix, being males; but all the firstborn of my children I redeem.
(16)  And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.
(17)  And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt:
(18)  But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt.
(19)  And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.
(20)  And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.
(21)  And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:
(22)  He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

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Exodus 12 Happy New Life!

Happy New Life!

Exodus 12  

MONDAY  Reflections

"This month is to be for you the first month, the first month of your year.” Exodus 12:2 When do you celebrate your new year? In the west, we do it on the 1^st of January. We have celebrations, make promises to do better this year, and look at it as an opportunity to begin again. When God started the Jewish calendar the first month had as its high point the Passover. Passover marked a new beginning then and now.

Passover for the children of Israel saw them go from people under slavery to liberation from bondage. It marked the beginning of them as a nation not like others but a people unto God. It was to be remembered so that the people would live up to what God called them to be.

Christians see Jesus as the Passover lamb. In a very real way, the time we give our life to Christ should represent a new beginning. We have passed from death to life (). We are to be no more under bondage but living in God’s freedom. We remember this every time we take communion, or we should. 

You may not remember the day you gave your heart and life to Jesus, but I recommend making every communion service, a time to celebrate your new year/life in Christ. Commit yourself anew to following him and celebrate that the old is gone and now you are in a new place. Did you mess up bad last week, it may be April but for you, in Christ it’s a new beginning.

Smile, Laugh, and may I wish you, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Exo 12:1-51
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
(2)  This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.
(3)  Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
(4)  And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb.
(5)  Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:
(6)  And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
(7)  And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
(8)  And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it.
(9)  Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and with the purtenance thereof.
(10)  And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire.
(11)  And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD'S passover.
(12)  For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
(13)  And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
(14)  And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
(15)  Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.
(16)  And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you.
(17)  And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever.
(18)  In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even.
(19)  Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land.
(20)  Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread.
(21)  Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
(22)  And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.
(23)  For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.
(24)  And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
(25)  And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service.
(26)  And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service?
(27)  That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
(28)  And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
(29)  And it came to pass, that at midnight the LORD smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.
(30)  And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.
(31)  And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as ye have said.
(32)  Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also.
(33)  And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.
(34)  And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneadingtroughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders.
(35)  And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment:
(36)  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required. And they spoiled the Egyptians.
(37)  And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children.
(38)  And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, even very much cattle.
(39)  And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.
(40)  Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.
(41)  And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt.
(42)  It is a night to be much observed unto the LORD for bringing them out from the land of Egypt: this is that night of the LORD to be observed of all the children of Israel in their generations.
(43)  And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof:
(44)  But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.
(45)  A foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof.
(46)  In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth ought of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall ye break a bone thereof.
(47)  All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.
(48)  And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.
(49)  One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.
(50)  Thus did all the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.
(51)  And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the LORD did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

Isaiah 30

Seeking bad advice is like a rotten apple, you know you shouldn't eat it but...

WEEK 4                                                      Isaiah 30  

SATURDAY  Reflections

Why do we ask the wrong people for help?

Why do we ask the wrong people for advice?

 

There are times when we don’t know anyone else or we don’t have anyone else, but not every time. In my life, I have noticed I and others have gone to the wrong person because we knew they may tell us what we wanted to hear anyway or we didn’t want to hear what the expert said.

 

We may have done something dumb and now we are doing something dumb again and expect something other than a disaster. How ignorant can we be? It seems a lot, but we aren’t alone. Israel did it too.

 

God complains that Israel going to Egypt for help is adding sin on top of sin. When you consider the political truths of the time, it was like going to someone who wants to steal from you to save you from another person who wants to steal from you. This means you are going to lose no matter who wins.

 

Unlike other people or nations, Israel had God they could have called on, but they chose not to. Could they be going to Egypt because they already know what God is going to say (repent) and they do not want to do that? It seems probable to me. What do you think? 

Isa 30:1-33

(1)  Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

(2)  That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!

(3)  Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.

(4)  For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.

(5)  They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.

(6)  The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.

(7)  For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.

(8)  Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

(9)  That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

(10)  Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

(11)  Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

(12)  Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

(13)  Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.

(14)  And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

(15)  For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

(16)  But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.

(17)  One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.

(18)  And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him.

(19)  For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

(20)  And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers:

(21)  And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

(22)  Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence.

(23)  Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

(24)  The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan.

(25)  And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall.

(26)  Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.

(27)  Behold, the name of the LORD cometh from far, burning with his anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: his lips are full of indignation, and his tongue as a devouring fire:

(28)  And his breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.

(29)  Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.

(30)  And the LORD shall cause his glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.

(31)  For through the voice of the LORD shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.

(32)  And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the LORD shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will he fight with it.

(33)  For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; he hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the LORD, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.

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Job 25

Facts can be wrong, while still being right.

Job 25  

FRIDAY  Reflections

Bildad makes a short argument that can be summed up: “since no one is like God or without sin,” it can be assumed Job was in the wrong. Here as in other places, Job’s accusers are saying something which is absolutely true. Bildad and Job might not have had the Scriptures we have but they knew man was not in perfect relationship with God.

Though he was saying the truth, Bildad’s argument did not fit to what was happening to Job. Even today, people grab truths or facts to justify their opinions without checking if they really apply. Bildad ignored the point Job was making in the previous chapter and found a new truth to justify his thoughts on Job’s character.

As we have seen elsewhere, facts can be correct but used wrong.  

Job 25:1-6
(1)  Then answered Bildad the Shuhite, and said,
(2)  Dominion and fear are with him, he maketh peace in his high places.
(3)  Is there any number of his armies? and upon whom doth not his light arise?
(4)  How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?
(5)  Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
(6)  How much less man, that is a worm? and the son of man, which is a worm?

Acts 5

Acts 5  

THURSDAY  Reflections

When God first instituted the Mosaic covenant there were some terrible judgments on those who rebelled against God. Yet later it seems that God waited to allow other nations to do His punishing. Here in the New covenants, it seems God is doing the same thing, using harsh methods to keep His people pure.

 

This maybe confusing but I have to believe the reason is, early in the life of any organization or person if the wrong virus/sickness (sin) enters the person or group will never develop into what they are meant to be. Later sickness/viruses (sin) may come in and cause great grief but the body is strong enough to keep it from being destroyed. Though it may be weaker, it will still be what it was meant to be. 

 

God doesn’t change the laws of nature he created (do a miracle) unless it is truly needed. I believe at this time the sin of Ananias and Sapphira would have been permanently detrimental to the church and God wasn’t going to allow that.

Act 5:1-42

(1)  But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,

(2)  And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.

(3)  But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?

(4)  Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.

(5)  And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.

(6)  And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.

(7)  And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.

(8)  And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.

(9)  Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.

(10)  Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.

(11)  And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.

(12)  And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.

(13)  And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.

(14)  And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)

(15)  Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

(16)  There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

(17)  Then the high priest rose up, and all they that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were filled with indignation,

(18)  And laid their hands on the apostles, and put them in the common prison.

(19)  But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said,

(20)  Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

(21)  And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

(22)  But when the officers came, and found them not in the prison, they returned, and told,

(23)  Saying, The prison truly found we shut with all safety, and the keepers standing without before the doors: but when we had opened, we found no man within.

(24)  Now when the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted of them whereunto this would grow.

(25)  Then came one and told them, saying, Behold, the men whom ye put in prison are standing in the temple, and teaching the people.

(26)  Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.

(27)  And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,

(28)  Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

(29)  Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.

(30)  The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

(31)  Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

(32)  And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

(33)  When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.

(34)  Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;

(35)  And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.

(36)  For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.

(37)  After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.

(38)  And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:

(39)  But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.

(40)  And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

(41)  And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

(42)  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.

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Psalm 24

Open the gates!

Psalm 24  

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

There are three sections that stand out to me. First is the acknowledgment that everything belongs to the Lord. He made it, it’s all his, like it or not. The second is that only those that belong to God (have clean hearts) can come before God. Yes, God made the unredeemed, but they can’t come before Him as family. Finally, there is a call to open the ancient gates. Though this may have to do with the upcoming return of the Messiah, I like to think of it as the final part of this chapter in relation to us. We have to open the gates of our hearts if God is going to come in and make us clean. 

Psa 24:1-10

(1)  A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

(2)  For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

(3)  Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

(4)  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

(5)  He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

(6)  This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

(7)  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

(8)  Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

(9)  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.

(10)  Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

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Exodus 11

The same sun that hardens clay, melts butter.

Exodus 11  

TUESDAY  Reflections

There is a lot of great material about the Passover and the picture of Jesus being the Passover lamb in the coming chapters. However, there is a key here is chapter 11 that I really want us to notice. God uses man's sin and stubbornness to show His power.

"Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you so that My wonders will be multiplied in the land of Egypt.” Moses and Aaron performed all these wonders before Pharaoh, yet the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not let the sons of Israel go out of his land." Exodus 11:9-10

Often people look at this and comment that it wasn't fair of God to harden Pharaoh's heart and then punish him for it, but the question may be first why was God able to harden his heart? My answer is God didn't change Pharaoh's heart but his power caused it to do what it did. Like the old saying goes, "the same sun that melts butter hardens bricks." The difference wasn't the sun it was the material exposed to the sun.

When Pharaoh's heart was faced with God's power it hardened. He had before believed he was a god. The plagues one after another attacked and showed the powerlessness of the Egyptian gods one by one.

There were two "gods" left and both powers that took human life, the Egyptian god of death and Pharaoh’s army. Soon God would show his power over them as well, however, the entirety of the Exodus plagues were to show that God was God and there was no other. Unfortunately, the Israelites didn't learn their lesson very well, but that is a later conversation.

 

What I want to point out here is that God can and does use the stupidity of mankind to demonstrate his power and wonder. The greatest example of this is found in the cross of Jesus. Truly this was a demonstration of man's evil and stupidity, yet God knew all along this was going to be the way of salvation for all of man, the exodus from the life of sin to God's new life. 

Exo 11:1-10

(1)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.

(2)  Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbour, and every woman of her neighbour, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold.

(3)  And the LORD gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians. Moreover the man Moses was very great in the land of Egypt, in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people.

(4)  And Moses said, Thus saith the LORD, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt:

(5)  And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts.

(6)  And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more.

(7)  But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast: that ye may know how that the LORD doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel.

(8)  And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.

(9)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.

(10)  And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh: and the LORD hardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land.

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