Podcasts about ammonites

This week we dive deep into the story of Jephthah, a man scorned by his community for being the son of a prostitute but recognized by God as a mighty man of valor. The narrative explores themes of judgment, redemption, and the resilience of faith against adversity. As Israel turns away from God, worshiping multiple false gods, they face prolonged oppression from the Ammonites. In a twist of fate, Jephthah is called upon to lead the Israelites into battle against their oppressors, despite being previously cast out. The latter part of the episode transitions to the rule of several subsequent judges, highlighting the cyclical nature of Israel's faithfulness and rebellion against God. Finally, we are introduced to the birth of Samson and the beginnings of his tumultuous journey as a Nazirite. Interspersed with personal reflections, the episode calls listeners to examine their own faith journeys, encouraging them to seek God's truth and embrace true repentance. 00:00 Introduction to Jephthah: The Gileadite 01:21 Israel's Rebellion and God's Response 02:33 Jephthah's Leadership and Negotiation 03:47 The Ammonite Conflict and Spiritual Lessons 05:15 Personal Reflections on Faith and Salvation 07:54 A Prayer for Salvation 09:35 The Consequences of Victory and Obedience 11:47 The Ephraimite Confrontation 17:17 The Test of Dialect and Speech 21:17 Quiet Faithfulness of Israel's Judges 23:13 The Quiet Life of Service 24:30 Review of Judges and Transition to Samson 25:00 Introduction to Samson's Birth 28:18 The Nazarite Vow and Its Significance 33:46 Manoah's Encounter with the Angel of the Lord 44:47 Samson's Birth and Early Life 45:06 Preview of Samson's Story

Even King David wasn't perfect. He had a major public failure but God still forgave Him. There were consequences but there was still grace. But make sure when we think someone else needs to learn a lesson, stop and look in the mirror first. 2 Samuel 12:1-14  1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms,[a] and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.”7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master's house and your master's wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.' 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.'” 13 David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord,[b] the child who is born to you shall die.”Following Jesus and enjoying life are not mutually exclusive. Let's connect to learn more about how that can look in your own life.Let's connect on⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Three good questions to ask in regard to the God of the Bible.“Why does God choose messy people? “Why does God show us so much of that mess?” “Why doesn't people's mess undermine God's reputation and derail His purposes?”Three good answers in regard to the God of the Bible.God doesn't choose messy people, He chooses ordinary people. It just turns out that ordinary people are messy and He already knows that.God doesn't hide people's mess because the Bible it isn't a story about people, it's a story about Him. God chooses to write His story in conjunction with ordinary people to highlight His power and grace. Our mess doesn't derail God's purposes because He isn't dependent on us, we are dependent on Him.2 Samuel 11:1 (NIV) In the spring, at the time when kings go off to war, David sent Joab out with the king's men and the whole Israelite army. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained in Jerusalem.2 Samuel 11:2-5 (NIV) 2 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (Now she was purifying herself from her monthly uncleanness.) Then she went back home. 5 The woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.”Messy Lesson #1 Be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there. Messy Lesson #2 The more power and authority you carry the more trouble you can cause.Messy Lesson #3 Cover ups are costly.2 Samuel 11:14-17 (NIV) 14 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 15 In it he wrote, “Put Uriah out in front where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die.” 16 So while Joab had the city under siege, he put Uriah at a place where he knew the strongest defenders were. 17 When the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of the men in David's army fell; moreover, Uriah the Hittite died.Messy Lesson #4 God doesn't miss anything. Thank God!Messy Lesson #5. The only way to clean up your mess is to confess your mess.2 Samuel 12:13 13 Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”Messy Lesson #6 God redeems all repentances.2 Samuel 12:21-25 (NIV) 21 His attendants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat! 22 He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The Lord may be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But now that he is dead, why should I go on fasting? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and made love to her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord loved him; 25 and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.Messy Lesson #7 Redemption takes away the sin but often leaves a limp. No one is exempt from temptation or failure or sin and yet there isn't anyone or any circumstance God can't redeem when we and it are submitted to Him. Messy Lesson #8 Don't hide your limp. Your limp testifies to God's redemptive power and grace. Psalm 51 (NIV) Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so, you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. 5 Surely, I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. 6 Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. 7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. 10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will sing of your righteousness. 15 Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. 18 May it please you to prosper Zion, to build up the walls of Jerusalem. 19 Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous, in burnt offerings offered whole; then bulls will be offered on your altar.Messy Lesson #9 You can live with a limp because God's hesed is never ending.Messy Lesson #10Learn the first lesson the first time.Be watchful. Messy seasons can come out of nowhere.Confess your mess. God will redeem it.Keep limping forward. God can do amazing things through leaders with a limp!

The power of opposition is intense. History has proved again and again how empires have fallen when facing internal weakness and external pressure. From the Persians seeing Alexander the Great sweep across the known world, to the Inca and Aztec’s falling to Spanish conquistadors, and the Western Roman Empire collapsing under the attacks of small Germanic tribes, it is amazing how opposition exploits weaknesses. Nehemiah and the people were making great progress on the walls, but Sanballat, Tobiah the Ammonite, the Arabs, and men of Ashdod were not ok with Jerusalem coming back to power. They began use weapons of mass disruption by taunting the workers and ridiculing their efforts. Sadly, this would likely be enough to deter many today from the Lord’s work. The people held strong through prayer, but then faced the threat of physical attack. This was no longer a group of bullies, but a real life threatening situation with enemies on all sides growing impatient, and putting their destruction. This brought on the natural discouragement of doing hard work under pressure, and the constant fear of attack and failure. For each of us today these same things plague our lives. From ridicule and threat, to discouragement and fear we all constantly see opposition from outside and within. There is a reality of an enemy who hates us. There is the sinful flesh that distracts us. Both of these desire to destroy us. How do we battle them and keep walking in obedience to God’s call? By doing what Ephesians 6 tells us, and armoring up! Join us for one of our worship services this weekend and MBC as we continue in the book of Nehemiah! - Pastor Ben Key Verse - Nehemiah 4:9 - "But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat." For Scripture, notes, upcoming events, & more: http://bible.com/events/49450999

1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat…

This week, we continue our series, Quest for a King, in the book of 1 Samuel. In chapters 9-11, we are introduced to Saul, whom God has chosen as king for His people. Saul embarks on a journey to find his father's donkeys but ends up meeting Samuel, who anoints Saul as king. The Spirit of God rushes upon King Saul, and his humble beginning as Israel's new king starts with defeating the Ammonites. Pastor Eric helps us to consider whose kingdom we are building by summarizing today's text into three points: Chapter 9: The call of Saul Chapter 10: The anointing and confirmation of King Saul Chapter 11: Saul's early success

Have you ever felt something in your past holding you back from allowing God to work through you? Jephthah was rejected by his family and community, yet God used his circumstances to make him a mighty warrior, leading Israel in victory over the Ammonites. Follow along in Judges 11 as Pastor Larry unpacks this inspiring true story!

Thursday with Tabitha 3. Amos Amos was a prophet during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam of Israel. His prophecy came somewhere roundabout the year 760 BC, give or take a few decades! At this time Israel and Judah were enjoying an unusual spell of prosperity and political stability. This was especially the case in Israel, where the land was very fertile and abundant crops were growing. The threat from the kingdom of Assyria seemed to have lessened, at least for the time being, so life was pretty good. Unfortunately the people of Israel and Judah had wandered far from the standards of holiness that God had intended for them. Idolatry was rampant, the rich were getting richer and more corrupt by the day and the wealthy were exploiting the poor. The Israelites falsely concluded that their prosperity was a sign of God's obvious blessing. They were looking forward to “the Day of the Lord” when God would finally crush their enemies. It is into this environment that Amos was called to prophesy. We're told that Amos came from Tekoa, a small village in Judah, south-east of Bethlehem. He is identified as a shepherd or maybe a sheep breeder. A rather unlikely choice for a prophet on the face of things! Amos begins his message in chapter 1 with a series of proclamations of God's judgement on the neighbours of the Israelites. He has words of judgement for Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, the Ammonites and the people of Moab. These people groups were enemies of the Israelites. The charges against them relate to their violence, cruelty and abuse of other human beings, particularly during times of war and conquest. The Israelites would probably have been nodding along happily until the beginning of chapter 2. At this point Amos suddenly turns his attention to Judah and then to Israel. The judgements leveled against God's people are of a different order altogether. God accuses them of violating the terms of his covenant with them - they are called to a higher standard of moral and spiritual living than the pagan nations around them. Amos doesn't hold back! The sins of the Israelites include oppression and exploitation of the poor, sexual sins, idolatry, misuse of God's temple, abuse and silencing of the prophets, and empty, ritualistic worship. God had patiently tried to warn his people, by sending them prophets and providing examples of holiness in the form of people like the Nazirites, who took vows of holiness and of abstinence from wine. But God's people had not listened and now God would judge them. The main message in the book of Amos is this: God's judgement is universal; Israel and Judah are not immune. Chapters 3 to 6 expand on the initial judgements outlined in the first two chapters. Even the women of Israel are exposed as people who oppress the poor - God likens them to the fat cows that graze in the fields of Bashan! God is appalled at the nature of the people's idolatrous worship. The people had started to offer sacrifices in places other than the temple in Jerusalem and they had appointed priests who were not Levites. These things were deviations from the instructions that God had provided for worship. They had even turned to worshipping golden calves and other idols. The Israelites thought that they were offering worship that was pleasing to God but it was actually detestable to him. In chapter 4 God summarises a series of warning shots that he gave to the people, which were intended to bring them back to him, but the tragic refrain is repeated over and over again: “yet you did not return to me”. In chapter 5 Amos entreats the people to turn back to God, telling them that it's perhaps not too late. God laments over Israel like a father whose virgin daughter has been raped or become a prostitute. In chapter 5 God declares the following: “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. (Amos 5:21-24 ESV) God calls the people to repent and come back to him and seek justice. In chapter 6 further sins are described which include the complacency of the people in the self-indulgence of the rich at the expense of the poor. Chapter 7 to 9 contain a series of visions which Amos has. These visions declare that God's judgement is unavoidable if God is to be just, which he must. The judgement is imminent. The final vision pictures God standing by the altar of the temple shaking it to its foundations. This is a prophecy about the final downfall of Israel. The prophecy was fulfilled very soon after this. Assyria gained power again and conquered Israel in 722 BC. After all the serious judgements and the terrifying reality of the impending downfall of Israel, the book of Amos ends on a tantalizing note of hope. Despite the people's willful disobedience and the depth of their depravity and sin, God is a God of mercy and deliverance. There is a promise of future restoration of the Israelites. God promises to repair the dwellings of David and preserve a remnant of his people for the future. So what can we learn from the book of Amos? Firstly, we learn that God is always just. God is a God of love and he is mercifully patient but he has to judge sin, otherwise he is not really loving at all. Despite appearances to the contrary, nobody is getting away with anything. Every human being who has ever lived or who will ever live must stand before God to be judged. And the truth is that none of us can stand before him with a perfect account, with an unblemished record of our own. However, the message of hope at the end of Amos hints at the salvation that would eventually come through Jesus. God never meant his judgements on Israel and Judah to be the last word. In mercy he preserved a remnant through the line of David through which the Messiah would come. Through Jesus, God has provided the means of our deliverance and restoration. Those who've trusted in Jesus' perfect, sinless record and accepted his payment for their sin (the sacrifice of his own life) will be able to stand before God without fear. Amos's message also shows us that the knowledge of God comes with responsibility. Those who know more of God and his standards of holiness will be held more accountable than those who have never heard about him. God chose the people of Israel out of all the peoples of the earth, but not because they were better or more numerous or more powerful. Quite the opposite in fact! They were chosen by grace alone. God made his covenant with the people of Israel and gave them clear boundaries of ethical and moral conduct and instructions for their spiritual worship. These were for their own protection and their own benefit. Today, as the new covenant people of God we are no longer required to keep all the requirements of the original old Testament law that God gave to Moses. However, Jesus did not come abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). Just because we have been freed from the demands of the law we are not simply free to do whatever we want. In fact as Jesus pointed out we are called to go above and beyond the requirements that the old law demanded. Rather than restraining ourselves to proportional revenge on our enemies we are called to love them. Instead of simply giving the bare minimum required we are called to give extravagantly. Jesus teaches us that the standard of holiness we are called to is so much higher than we would think. We should view sin with such seriousness that hating somebody should feel as bad as murder and lusting after another person should be regarded as adultery in the heart. Amos' words need to speak to us today, reminding us that God's standard of holiness is so much higher than we realize. Instead of passing our own judgement on the sinful Israelites we need to look honestly at our own lives and realize just how similar to them we can be. God calls his people to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him (Micah 6:8). Are we doing that? Do we actively look for opportunities to defend the rights of the poor in our society and our world? Do we think carefully about how we worship God? God is so merciful and patient with us – he calls us to come back to him, to abide in his love, to learn from him and to be his hands and feet in the world we live in.   Right Mouse click or tap here to download this episode as an audio mp3 file

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 1 Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which…

2 Chronicles 20 After this, the armies of the Moabites, Ammonites, and some of the Meunites[a] declared war on Jehoshaphat.2 Messengers came and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army from Edom[b] is marching against you from beyond the Dead Sea.[c] They are already at Hazazon-tamar.” (This was another name for En-gedi.) 3 Jehoshaphat was terrified by […]

BOOK OF JUDGES Wounded Leaders 6.15.25 Judges 11:1-3 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. 2 And Gilead's wife also bore him sons. And when his wife's sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You shall not have an inheritance in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.” 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless fellows collected around Jephthah and went out with him. Judges 11:29-33 Then the Spirit of the Lord was upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If you will give the Ammonites into my hand, 31 then whatever comes out from the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites shall be the Lord's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.” 32 So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them, and the Lord gave them into his hand. 33 And he struck them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a great blow. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel. Judges 11:34-35 Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah. And behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. She was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And as soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me. For I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I cannot take back my vow.” Passion or zeal for God, if not rooted in the truth of God's character and the authority of Scripture, can lead to disastrous outcomes. Jephthah reasons with God like a warrior, not a worshipper. Jephthah shows us the consequences of operating in our own wisdom and strength rather than trusting God's character and faithfulness. When a leader carries deep insecurities and unhealed hurt, that pain doesn't remain internal. It leaks into their decisions, relationships, and the culture they create. God's Spirit may empower someone, but that doesn't mean all their actions are good or Spirit-led.

Cet épisode est une rediffusion de Petit Poisson deviendra Podcast. Avec Combats et Nomen, PPDP est l'un des 4 petits frères de Baleine sous Gravillon. Nous diffusons cette série Céphalopodes du petit frangin chez le grand à l'occasion de la journée mondiale de l'océan, le 8 juin de chaque année._______On connaît tous la Pieuvre, mais qu'en est-il du Nautile ou de l'Argonaute ? La classification des Céphalopodes est pleine de surprises et de tentacules.“Céphalopode” désigne une classe de mollusques marins regroupant les différentes espèces de Poulpes, Seiches, Calmars, Nautiles… Elles sont caractérisées par des bras attachés à la tête, selon l'espèce elles peuvent avoir de 8 à plus de… 90 bras !Saviez-vous que les noms “Pieuvre” et “Poulpe” désignent les mêmes animaux ? C'est Victor Hugo qui a popularisé le terme Pieuvre, en l'utilisant dans son livre Les Travailleurs de la mer paru en 1866. Ce nom était utilisé par des pêcheurs de Guernesey.La classe des Céphalopodes comprend 3 sous classes, les Ammonites (éteintes depuis 66 millions d'années), les Nautiloïdes (les Nautiles) et les Coléoïformes (l'immense majorité). Ces derniers n'ont pas de coquille externe mais certains ont une structure interne rigide. Les Seiches ont un sépion et les Calmars une plume. Enfin les Poulpes n'ont rien de rigide, à part leur bec.Les espèces de ce taxon vivent dans tous les océans du monde et même dans des conditions extrêmes. La Pieuvre dumbo se déplace dans les abysses alors que Vulcanoctopus hydrothermalis vit près des volcans sous-marins.Les Poulpes ont 9 cerveaux ! Chacun de leurs 8 bras contient un système nerveux périphérique.Du Kraken, au sous-marin Nautilus du Capitaine Némo, en passant par la gastronomie, les Céphalopodes nourrissent l'imaginaire et la culture.______

Pour vous abonner et écouter l'émission en une fois, sans publicité :https://m.audiomeans.fr/s/S-tavkjvmo Pendant longtemps, on a cru que les Israélites étaient un peuple venu d'Égypte, libéré par Moïse, qui aurait conquis la Terre promise sous la conduite de Josué. Mais les découvertes archéologiques récentes racontent une tout autre histoire. Ce que l'on voit, ce n'est pas une invasion brutale, mais l'installation progressive de petits groupes de nomades dans les montagnes de Canaan, à partir du XIIe siècle avant notre ère. Ces nomades vivaient auparavant dans le désert, entre transhumance et agriculture saisonnière. Peu à peu, ils défrichent, cultivent, construisent des maisons de pierre, élèvent du bétail, fondent des villages, et deviennent sédentaires.L'archéologie montre que ces villages sont très modestes : pas de palais, pas de temples, pas de fortifications, aucune trace d'armes ou de luxe. Juste des maisons sobres, de la vaisselle utilitaire, des silos à grains et des outils agricoles. Une société rurale, égalitaire, pacifique. Rien ne correspond à l'idée d'un peuple conquérant. En fait, ces nouveaux arrivants sont sans doute des Cananéens eux-mêmes, fuyant les cités de la plaine devenues trop dures, trop inégalitaires, trop taxées. Ils se réfugient dans les hauteurs et se reconstruisent, loin du pouvoir. Ce sont eux, les premiers Israélites.Ces populations passent par plusieurs cycles : parfois sédentaires, parfois de nouveau nomades en cas de crise. Et malgré des ressemblances très fortes avec leurs voisins – les Moabites, les Ammonites, les Édomites – un détail va les distinguer : ils ne mangent pas de porc. C'est la seule trace claire d'une identité culturelle partagée dans cette société en formation. Bien avant le monothéisme, bien avant les récits de l'Exode, c'est cette pratique alimentaire qui forge peu à peu une conscience collective.Mais cette société naissante ne vit pas en paix très longtemps. Elle doit faire face aux Cananéens, puis aux Madianites venus de l'est, et enfin aux redoutables Philistins venus de la mer Égée. Ces derniers, armés de technologies nouvelles, imposent leur domination sur toute la région. Face à eux, les tribus israélites, dispersées et sans chef, sont impuissantes. C'est cette menace qui les pousse à s'unir. Ils élisent un roi : Saül. C'est le début de la royauté israélite.L'histoire que racontent les fouilles est donc très différente de celle que l'on lit dans la Bible. Pas de conquête miraculeuse, mais un enracinement lent, pragmatique, douloureux parfois. Un peuple qui naît non dans l'héroïsme des batailles, mais dans l'effort patient de la terre et la résistance quotidienne aux puissants. L'épopée d'Israël commence dans le silence des collines. Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Pour vous abonner et écouter l'émission en une fois, sans publicité :https://m.audiomeans.fr/s/S-tavkjvmo Pendant longtemps, on a cru que les Israélites étaient un peuple venu d'Égypte, libéré par Moïse, qui aurait conquis la Terre promise sous la conduite de Josué. Mais les découvertes archéologiques récentes racontent une tout autre histoire. Ce que l'on voit, ce n'est pas une invasion brutale, mais l'installation progressive de petits groupes de nomades dans les montagnes de Canaan, à partir du XIIe siècle avant notre ère. Ces nomades vivaient auparavant dans le désert, entre transhumance et agriculture saisonnière. Peu à peu, ils défrichent, cultivent, construisent des maisons de pierre, élèvent du bétail, fondent des villages, et deviennent sédentaires.L'archéologie montre que ces villages sont très modestes : pas de palais, pas de temples, pas de fortifications, aucune trace d'armes ou de luxe. Juste des maisons sobres, de la vaisselle utilitaire, des silos à grains et des outils agricoles. Une société rurale, égalitaire, pacifique. Rien ne correspond à l'idée d'un peuple conquérant. En fait, ces nouveaux arrivants sont sans doute des Cananéens eux-mêmes, fuyant les cités de la plaine devenues trop dures, trop inégalitaires, trop taxées. Ils se réfugient dans les hauteurs et se reconstruisent, loin du pouvoir. Ce sont eux, les premiers Israélites.Ces populations passent par plusieurs cycles : parfois sédentaires, parfois de nouveau nomades en cas de crise. Et malgré des ressemblances très fortes avec leurs voisins – les Moabites, les Ammonites, les Édomites – un détail va les distinguer : ils ne mangent pas de porc. C'est la seule trace claire d'une identité culturelle partagée dans cette société en formation. Bien avant le monothéisme, bien avant les récits de l'Exode, c'est cette pratique alimentaire qui forge peu à peu une conscience collective.Mais cette société naissante ne vit pas en paix très longtemps. Elle doit faire face aux Cananéens, puis aux Madianites venus de l'est, et enfin aux redoutables Philistins venus de la mer Égée. Ces derniers, armés de technologies nouvelles, imposent leur domination sur toute la région. Face à eux, les tribus israélites, dispersées et sans chef, sont impuissantes. C'est cette menace qui les pousse à s'unir. Ils élisent un roi : Saül. C'est le début de la royauté israélite.L'histoire que racontent les fouilles est donc très différente de celle que l'on lit dans la Bible. Pas de conquête miraculeuse, mais un enracinement lent, pragmatique, douloureux parfois. Un peuple qui naît non dans l'héroïsme des batailles, mais dans l'effort patient de la terre et la résistance quotidienne aux puissants. L'épopée d'Israël commence dans le silence des collines. Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Pour vous abonner et écouter l'émission en une fois, sans publicité :https://m.audiomeans.fr/s/S-tavkjvmo Pendant longtemps, on a cru que les Israélites étaient un peuple venu d'Égypte, libéré par Moïse, qui aurait conquis la Terre promise sous la conduite de Josué. Mais les découvertes archéologiques récentes racontent une tout autre histoire. Ce que l'on voit, ce n'est pas une invasion brutale, mais l'installation progressive de petits groupes de nomades dans les montagnes de Canaan, à partir du XIIe siècle avant notre ère. Ces nomades vivaient auparavant dans le désert, entre transhumance et agriculture saisonnière. Peu à peu, ils défrichent, cultivent, construisent des maisons de pierre, élèvent du bétail, fondent des villages, et deviennent sédentaires.L'archéologie montre que ces villages sont très modestes : pas de palais, pas de temples, pas de fortifications, aucune trace d'armes ou de luxe. Juste des maisons sobres, de la vaisselle utilitaire, des silos à grains et des outils agricoles. Une société rurale, égalitaire, pacifique. Rien ne correspond à l'idée d'un peuple conquérant. En fait, ces nouveaux arrivants sont sans doute des Cananéens eux-mêmes, fuyant les cités de la plaine devenues trop dures, trop inégalitaires, trop taxées. Ils se réfugient dans les hauteurs et se reconstruisent, loin du pouvoir. Ce sont eux, les premiers Israélites.Ces populations passent par plusieurs cycles : parfois sédentaires, parfois de nouveau nomades en cas de crise. Et malgré des ressemblances très fortes avec leurs voisins – les Moabites, les Ammonites, les Édomites – un détail va les distinguer : ils ne mangent pas de porc. C'est la seule trace claire d'une identité culturelle partagée dans cette société en formation. Bien avant le monothéisme, bien avant les récits de l'Exode, c'est cette pratique alimentaire qui forge peu à peu une conscience collective.Mais cette société naissante ne vit pas en paix très longtemps. Elle doit faire face aux Cananéens, puis aux Madianites venus de l'est, et enfin aux redoutables Philistins venus de la mer Égée. Ces derniers, armés de technologies nouvelles, imposent leur domination sur toute la région. Face à eux, les tribus israélites, dispersées et sans chef, sont impuissantes. C'est cette menace qui les pousse à s'unir. Ils élisent un roi : Saül. C'est le début de la royauté israélite.L'histoire que racontent les fouilles est donc très différente de celle que l'on lit dans la Bible. Pas de conquête miraculeuse, mais un enracinement lent, pragmatique, douloureux parfois. Un peuple qui naît non dans l'héroïsme des batailles, mais dans l'effort patient de la terre et la résistance quotidienne aux puissants. L'épopée d'Israël commence dans le silence des collines. Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Nehemiah 4 NIV4 [a]Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, 2 saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they're doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices?[b] Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?”3 Tobiah the Ammonite, who was standing beside him, remarked, “That stone wall would collapse if even a fox walked along the top of it!”4 Then I prayed, “Hear us, our God, for we are being mocked. May their scoffing fall back on their own heads, and may they themselves become captives in a foreign land! 5 Do not ignore their guilt. Do not blot out their sins, for they have provoked you to anger here in front of[c] the builders.”6 At last the wall was completed to half its height around the entire city, for the people had worked with enthusiasm.7 [d]But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious. 8 They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. 9 But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.10 Then the people of Judah began to complain, “The workers are getting tired, and there is so much rubble to be moved. We will never be able to build the wall by ourselves.”11 Meanwhile, our enemies were saying, “Before they know what's happening, we will swoop down on them and kill them and end their work.”12 The Jews who lived near the enemy came and told us again and again, “They will come from all directions and attack us!”[e] 13 So I placed armed guards behind the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I stationed the people to stand guard by families, armed with swords, spears, and bows.14 Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don't be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”15 When our enemies heard that we knew of their plans and that God had frustrated them, we all returned to our work on the wall. 16 But from then on, only half my men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. The leaders stationed themselves behind the people of Judah 17 who were building the wall. The laborers carried on their work with one hand supporting their load and one hand holding a weapon. 18 All the builders had a sword belted to their side. The trumpeter stayed with me to sound the alarm.19 Then I explained to the nobles and officials and all the people, “The work is very spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. 20 When you hear the blast of the trumpet, rush to wherever it is sounding. Then our God will fight for us!”21 We worked early and late, from sunrise to sunset. And half the men were always on guard. 22 I also told everyone living outside the walls to stay in Jerusalem. That way they and their servants could help with guard duty at night and work during the day. 23 During this time, none of us—not I, nor my relatives, nor my servants, nor the guards who were with me—ever took off our clothes. We carried our weapons with us at all times, even when we went for water.[f]

Pour vous abonner et écouter l'émission en une fois, sans publicité :https://m.audiomeans.fr/s/S-tavkjvmo Pendant longtemps, on a cru que les Israélites étaient un peuple venu d'Égypte, libéré par Moïse, qui aurait conquis la Terre promise sous la conduite de Josué. Mais les découvertes archéologiques récentes racontent une tout autre histoire. Ce que l'on voit, ce n'est pas une invasion brutale, mais l'installation progressive de petits groupes de nomades dans les montagnes de Canaan, à partir du XIIe siècle avant notre ère. Ces nomades vivaient auparavant dans le désert, entre transhumance et agriculture saisonnière. Peu à peu, ils défrichent, cultivent, construisent des maisons de pierre, élèvent du bétail, fondent des villages, et deviennent sédentaires.L'archéologie montre que ces villages sont très modestes : pas de palais, pas de temples, pas de fortifications, aucune trace d'armes ou de luxe. Juste des maisons sobres, de la vaisselle utilitaire, des silos à grains et des outils agricoles. Une société rurale, égalitaire, pacifique. Rien ne correspond à l'idée d'un peuple conquérant. En fait, ces nouveaux arrivants sont sans doute des Cananéens eux-mêmes, fuyant les cités de la plaine devenues trop dures, trop inégalitaires, trop taxées. Ils se réfugient dans les hauteurs et se reconstruisent, loin du pouvoir. Ce sont eux, les premiers Israélites.Ces populations passent par plusieurs cycles : parfois sédentaires, parfois de nouveau nomades en cas de crise. Et malgré des ressemblances très fortes avec leurs voisins – les Moabites, les Ammonites, les Édomites – un détail va les distinguer : ils ne mangent pas de porc. C'est la seule trace claire d'une identité culturelle partagée dans cette société en formation. Bien avant le monothéisme, bien avant les récits de l'Exode, c'est cette pratique alimentaire qui forge peu à peu une conscience collective.Mais cette société naissante ne vit pas en paix très longtemps. Elle doit faire face aux Cananéens, puis aux Madianites venus de l'est, et enfin aux redoutables Philistins venus de la mer Égée. Ces derniers, armés de technologies nouvelles, imposent leur domination sur toute la région. Face à eux, les tribus israélites, dispersées et sans chef, sont impuissantes. C'est cette menace qui les pousse à s'unir. Ils élisent un roi : Saül. C'est le début de la royauté israélite.L'histoire que racontent les fouilles est donc très différente de celle que l'on lit dans la Bible. Pas de conquête miraculeuse, mais un enracinement lent, pragmatique, douloureux parfois. Un peuple qui naît non dans l'héroïsme des batailles, mais dans l'effort patient de la terre et la résistance quotidienne aux puissants. L'épopée d'Israël commence dans le silence des collines. Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Pour vous abonner et écouter l'émission en une fois, sans publicité :https://m.audiomeans.fr/s/S-tavkjvmo Pendant longtemps, on a cru que les Israélites étaient un peuple venu d'Égypte, libéré par Moïse, qui aurait conquis la Terre promise sous la conduite de Josué. Mais les découvertes archéologiques récentes racontent une tout autre histoire. Ce que l'on voit, ce n'est pas une invasion brutale, mais l'installation progressive de petits groupes de nomades dans les montagnes de Canaan, à partir du XIIe siècle avant notre ère. Ces nomades vivaient auparavant dans le désert, entre transhumance et agriculture saisonnière. Peu à peu, ils défrichent, cultivent, construisent des maisons de pierre, élèvent du bétail, fondent des villages, et deviennent sédentaires.L'archéologie montre que ces villages sont très modestes : pas de palais, pas de temples, pas de fortifications, aucune trace d'armes ou de luxe. Juste des maisons sobres, de la vaisselle utilitaire, des silos à grains et des outils agricoles. Une société rurale, égalitaire, pacifique. Rien ne correspond à l'idée d'un peuple conquérant. En fait, ces nouveaux arrivants sont sans doute des Cananéens eux-mêmes, fuyant les cités de la plaine devenues trop dures, trop inégalitaires, trop taxées. Ils se réfugient dans les hauteurs et se reconstruisent, loin du pouvoir. Ce sont eux, les premiers Israélites.Ces populations passent par plusieurs cycles : parfois sédentaires, parfois de nouveau nomades en cas de crise. Et malgré des ressemblances très fortes avec leurs voisins – les Moabites, les Ammonites, les Édomites – un détail va les distinguer : ils ne mangent pas de porc. C'est la seule trace claire d'une identité culturelle partagée dans cette société en formation. Bien avant le monothéisme, bien avant les récits de l'Exode, c'est cette pratique alimentaire qui forge peu à peu une conscience collective.Mais cette société naissante ne vit pas en paix très longtemps. Elle doit faire face aux Cananéens, puis aux Madianites venus de l'est, et enfin aux redoutables Philistins venus de la mer Égée. Ces derniers, armés de technologies nouvelles, imposent leur domination sur toute la région. Face à eux, les tribus israélites, dispersées et sans chef, sont impuissantes. C'est cette menace qui les pousse à s'unir. Ils élisent un roi : Saül. C'est le début de la royauté israélite.L'histoire que racontent les fouilles est donc très différente de celle que l'on lit dans la Bible. Pas de conquête miraculeuse, mais un enracinement lent, pragmatique, douloureux parfois. Un peuple qui naît non dans l'héroïsme des batailles, mais dans l'effort patient de la terre et la résistance quotidienne aux puissants. L'épopée d'Israël commence dans le silence des collines. Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

In this epic biblical story, we dive into the courageous rescue of Jabesh-gilead by King Saul, the first king of Israel. The Ammonites had besieged Jabesh-gilead, and its people were in dire need of help. King Saul, driven by the Spirit of God, rallied his people and bravely led the charge against the Ammonites, ultimately saving the city from destruction. Join us as we explore this pivotal moment in biblical history and discover the bravery, faith, and leadership of King Saul.

In this message from Judges 12, Pastor Troy Dorrell examines the tragic and unnecessary conflict between Jephthah and the tribe of Ephraim following Israel's victory over the Ammonites. Highlighting the pride, selfishness, and false accusations that drove Ephraim to threaten their own deliverer, Pastor Dorrell shows how internal strife among God's people can be more damaging than battles with external enemies. Drawing from the historical and moral failures of Jephthah and his generation, the sermon exposes the consequences of leadership without godliness and unity without humility, urging believers to learn from Israel's mistakes and pursue peace under God's direction.Eastland is a Place to BelongEastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging.Join Us Find service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join. Connect with UsWebsite: https://www.eastlandbaptist.orgFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptistTo support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give

In this Bible Story, David remains home from battle to rest. While his men fight on the front lines of the Ammonites, he eventually grows complacent, and sleeps with the wife of one of his mighty men, Uriah. She becomes pregnant, and David sends Uriah to the front lines to be killed to cover up his sins. This story is inspired by 2 Samuel 11. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Samuel 11:2 from the King James Version.Episode 102: It was spring, the time when most kings go to war, but David feeling content and desiring some rest sent Joab in his stead. However, this choice would prove fatal. In his ease, David looked out and saw something he should not have, and gave into desire for another man's wife. This sin would not only taint his kingdom, it would also lead to the death of one of his closest friends as well as their child as a result.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Bible Story, we witness the triumph of David over the Syrians and Ammonites. He claims victory after victory in battle, and brings Israel into a place of peace with many surrounding nations. This story is inspired by 2 Samuel 10 & 1 Chronicles 19-20. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 2 Samuel 10:12 from the King James Version.Episode 101: David's friend Nahash, king of the Ammonites had died, and his son Hanun took his place. David, wishing to show compassion to Hanun, sent him some servants with gifts to mourn the loss of his father. But Hanun's servants were evil and spoke lies about David's servants in his ears. Believing these lies Hanun shaved the servants, shamed them, and sent them away. This led to a ferocious battle between David and the Ammonites. Many lives were needlessly lost because of the lies Hanun believed.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: The history from the times of the patriarchs to the Babylonian exile is outlined. Although the relationships between Jew and Gentile were often hostile, they were not necessarily so. Some Gentiles came to be associated with the promises which God made to Abraham, through their faith. To this day Gentiles can share in these blessings through belief and baptism into the things concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ.# SummaryThis PRESENTATION delves into the history of the nations surrounding Israel, focusing on groups such as the Philistines, Phoenicians, Syrians, Kenites, and the descendants of Abraham, including the Amalekites, Moabites, and Ammonites. It explores their origins, interactions with Israel, and the impact of their relationships on the biblical narrative. The speaker highlights both the conflicts and alliances formed between these nations and Israel, emphasising the overarching theme of redemption and faith in God's plan, exemplified through figures like Ruth and Naaman.

Istrouma Baptist Church (BR) May 11, 2025 ========== May 11 - Anxiety Welcome! We're glad you've joined us today for our Sunday morning worship service! For more information about Istrouma, go to istrouma.org or contact us at info@istrouma.org. We glorify God by making disciples of all nations. ========== Connection Card https://istrouma.org/myinfo May 11, 2025 - Micah Cating "Fight for your Family" Nehemiah 4:14 17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been burned with fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, and we will no longer be in disgrace.” 18 I also told them about the gracious hand of my God on me and what the king had said to me. They replied, “Let us start rebuilding.” So they began this good work. Nehemiah 2:17–18 NIV 6 So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart. 7 But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem's walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry. 8 They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. 9 But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. 11 Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” 13 Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows. Nehemiah 4:6–9, 11, 13 NIV RECOGNIZE THE OPPOSITION BUILD WITH COURAGE 14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don't be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” Nehemiah 4:14 NIV REMEMBER THE LORD · Prayer · The Word · Church FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families… FIGHT FOR YOUR FAMILY · Teach Biblical Truth at Home · Guard the Gates · Stand Firm in a Shifting Culture 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God. Nehemiah 6:15–16 NIV Want to receive weekly announcements in your inbox each week? https://istrouma.org/email Give Online Text ISTROUMA IBC to 73256 or go to: https://istrouma.org/give Our Website https://istrouma.org

Matthew week 92   Matthew 14:30 ESV   30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.”       Romans 7:21-23 ESV   21 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.       Matthew 15:13-14 ESV   13 He answered, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. 14 Let them alone; they are blind guides.       Matthew 15:21 ESV   21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.             Matthew 15:22 ESV   22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”       Judges 10:6 ESV   6 The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals and the Ashtaroth, the gods of Syria, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites, and the gods of the Philistines. And they forsook the Lord and did not serve him.       Matthew 15:23 ESV   23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”       Matthew 15:24-28 ESV   24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.       Genesis 12:3 ESV   3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”         Matthew 5:7 ESV   7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.       1 Timothy 1:13a ESV   13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy       1 Timothy 1:16 ESV   16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

“What To Do When You Don't Know What To Do” May 11, 2025 2 Chronicles 20:1-23 Rev. Bill Vogler  Sermon Application [file]    ----more---- 2 Chronicles 20:1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. [2] Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). [3] Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. [4] And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord. [5] And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, [6] and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. [7] Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? [8] And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, [9] ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.' [10] And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— [11] behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. [12] O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” [13] Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. [14] And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. [15] And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. [16] Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. [17] You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.” [18] Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. [19] And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice. [20] And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” [21] And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” [22] And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. [23] For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.      I. Recognize Our Weakness    II. Turn Our Eyes to God's Character   III. Remember God's Faithfulness in the Past   IV. Trust God's Promise for the Present    V. Move Forward in Faith, Not Fear

Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Tola and Jair: Complacency or Commitment? Part 2 Series: Judges Scripture: Judges 10 Episode: 1252 In Judges 10, the story shifts to two lesser-known leaders, Tola and Jair, who serve as judges of Israel and bring brief periods of peace. After their rule, Israel once again falls into idolatry, serving multiple false gods and abandoning the Lord. As a result, God allows them to be oppressed by the Ammonites and Philistines, causing great distress. When the Israelites cry out, God rebukes them for their repeated unfaithfulness. However, after they repent and remove their foreign gods, God's compassion is stirred. Key themes include leadership transitions, Israel's cycle of idolatry, repentance, and God's mercy.

Gospel Daily with Josh Weidmann Tola and Jair: Complacency or Commitment? Part 1 Series: Judges Scripture: Judges 10 Episode: 1251 In Judges 10, the story shifts to two lesser-known leaders, Tola and Jair, who serve as judges of Israel and bring brief periods of peace. After their rule, Israel once again falls into idolatry, serving multiple false gods and abandoning the Lord. As a result, God allows them to be oppressed by the Ammonites and Philistines, causing great distress. When the Israelites cry out, God rebukes them for their repeated unfaithfulness. However, after they repent and remove their foreign gods, God's compassion is stirred. Key themes include leadership transitions, Israel's cycle of idolatry, repentance, and God's mercy.

Two judges of Israel follow the death of Abimelech, and we know little about them, except that they each judged Israel for over 20 years with no ruckus to speak of. When Israel turns to idols yet again, they suffer under the Philistines & the Ammonites. They cry out to the Lord, but he rejects their pleas. When they confess sin and burn their idols, God begins to become weary of their misery. Later, God appoints a ne'er-do-well named Jephthah to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. Sadly, Jephthah doesn't truly know the Lord or His commands, and he makes a vow to the Lord that is abominable in the Lord's sight, standing in direct conflict with the statutes handed down through Moses. Thinking that he is being faithful to the Lord, he makes a heartbreaking decision.Judges 10 - 1:02 . Judges 11 - 5:00 . Judges 12 - 13:19 . Psalm 80 - 16:18 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Deuteronomy 23 contains sundry laws. Verses 1-8 talk about those who have been excluded from the congregation of the LORD. The first excluded group was the eunuchs – either those who became so through accident, or through human agency. Verses 2-6 tell of the exclusion of the children to their tenth generation from forbidden unions, of Ammonites and Moabites. The hostility of the Ammonites and Moabites being the reason for their exclusion. In addition to coming against Israel in warfare, while the people of the LORD we're approaching the Promised Land the Moabites sought the services of Balaam the seer in an effort to curse the congregation of God. Edomites were excluded for two generations – their grandchildren were allowed to join in union with the Israelites. Verses 9-14 describe some causes of uncleanness and consequent prohibition of entry to the camp. These verses also speak of the removal of refuse from the camp of God in order to prevent both physical corruption and to ensure health and holiness. Verses 15-25 tell of sundry laws which cover care and kindness for the stranger; the morality of the nation's virgins; the forbidding of unconscionable interest being charged of the LORD's people – “usury” could be imposed upon foreigners (but again, in the spirit of the chapter, it is to be hoped that care and kindness will be shown to them). Vows were to be performed with faithfulness. The chapter concludes with the call for the people of the Almighty to allow their neighbours to satisfy immediate hunger, but not to take advantage of one another.

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 12:26-31 With the daily reports of warfare in almost every corner of the world, we may not expect or desire to come to the Bible and read about wars.  But the stories of Old Testament Israel are filled with accounts of the fierce fighting between the Israelites and their enemies.  This is especially true of the reign of King David, who was described as a “man of war” (1 Chron 28:3).  2 Samuel 12:26-31 describes the battles between Israel and the Ammonites.  It was the Ammonites that Israel was fighting when David committed his sin of adultery (2 Sam 11:1).  One question for us is this: what are we to learn for our own lives from Old Testament passages like this, recounting the wars of Israel? One truth revealed in this passage is the faithfulness of God to His promises.  He had promised, "By the hand of My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies" (2 Sam 3:18).  God's promises and warnings are all true and utterly reliable.  God's faithfulness to His word is illustrated in this passage. Second, God's holiness and justice are revealed in this passage.  The Ammonites were a detestable, idolatrous people.  Their main god was Molech (or Moloch or Milcom) and people offered their children as sacrifices to this god (Lev 18:21; 20:1-5; 2 Kgs 23:10).  So when the Israelites defeated the Ammonites in war, this was God's judgment on the wickedness of these idolaters.  God used war as an instrument of His justice.  These Old Testament stories have relevance to us in that they reveal attributes of the living God who never changes.  This is the same God who reigns over his world today.  Let us come to know Him and rejoice.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. TranscriptGood morning. My name is Chet. I'm one of the pastors here. We are in First Samuel chapter 10, and we're picking up where we left off last week. Last week, we read about Saul being anointed as king. He went looking for some lost donkeys, and eventually, he went to a place where there was a prophet. It turned out that prophet was Samuel. Samuel sees Saul, and God tells Samuel, "That's him. That's the guy I told you was going to be king. I told you you'd see him today." And there he is. He anoints him as king. Saul goes to a dinner where he sits at the head of the table. Then he goes home and tells no one that he has been anointed king.We're going to pick up today where we left off. Spencer told us a little bit about where this ends up with Saul, and that it doesn't go well for him. But we're not there yet in the story, and today we're going to look at how his story begins. It starts off okay. So, we're going to look at verse 17 of 1 Samuel chapter 10. It says this: Now Samuel called the people together to the Lord at Mispa. He said to the people of Israel, "Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, I've brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all the kingdoms that were oppressing you. But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your calamities and your distresses, and you have said to him, 'Set a king over us.' Now therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and by your thousands."They said they want a king. They're bringing together to give them a king. Normally, in these sorts of things, the first person who gets up and talks pumps some ceremony and highlights the importance of the day. Samuel gets up and says, "You used to follow God who saves you from everything. You've rejected him, and today you won't have God. You'll have some guy." Now, line up. It's not the best start, but they're going to line up. They're going to choose a king by lot.By lot just means a system for randomly choosing. We do some things by lot culturally; we don't call it that, but we draw straws, flip a coin, pull a name from a hat, hold a lottery, or a raffle. Paper rock scissors is just competitive lots where you feel like you won something, even though it was still pretty random.A lot of things were done by lot historically and culturally all over the place. It just means they have a random system for choosing. They would use urim and thummim. They had the breastplate of the high priest that they would use for this at times. They also may have used some other different methods. People trusted that God would give them the answer through this.This is not uncommon to them. We see a whole section of this playing out in Joshua chapter 7, where they are trying to find out who sinned against God, and they walk it all the way down to the household of Achan. So they're going to choose by lot. Samuel, verse 20, brings all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot.Now, God already told Samuel who was going to be king. Samuel already told Saul he was going to be king. They're going to do this now by lot. Samuel is going to see, and Saul's going to see, that God is overseeing the lot. But for everybody else, they're just going to see that this is how God works in choosing, and they may not have known or wouldn't have known already that Saul is the one to be chosen. But Benjamin is the tribe he comes from, that Saul is from.It says the tribe of Benjamin was taken by lot. He brought the tribe of Benjamin near by its clans, and the clan of the Matrites was taken by lot. Saul, the son of Kish, was taken by lot. But when they sought him, he could not be found.So, however they were taking lots and doing this, there was some sort of representative tokens or something used to pick a person because they selected a person who's not there. So the lot falls on Saul, the son of Kish, and he's not there.They looked for him. So they're doing this, and they're like tribe of Benjamin. They move up, and then they do the next process, and they say the clan of the Matrites. Then everybody moves off, and the Matrites come near somehow and then they say Saul, the son of Kish. So is Saul here? Where's Saul? Like, they have to go look for him, and the whole country's here, and now we're looking for Saul. The whole process has stopped to the point that it says, "But when they sought him, he could not be found."Verse 22: So they inquired again of the Lord, "Is there a man still to come?" It slows down so much that they're like, "Let's ask God again." They inquire of the Lord, "Are we waiting for somebody else? Did we do what is happening?" And God says, "Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage."We know that Saul showed up, but we don't know at what point he hid. Maybe it was right when they said line up. Maybe it was when Benjamin got picked and he thought, "Oh no." Maybe he waited till it was the Matrites, then he was like, "Oh no." But he definitely wasn't there when they said Saul, the son of Kish. The baggage is the luggage that everybody has shown up with; they just piled all their gear up, all their supplies in a certain spot. And Saul goes and hides, which is a real cute look for your new king.So God tells them, "No, I picked the right person. He's hiding." Then it says, "Then they ran and took him from there." I would assume, just trying to picture this, they're excited. They run. I also think that means there's a lot of children involved. They say he's in the supplies, and everybody just takes off. This whole group takes off and finds Saul hiding.I don't know how he hid. The text doesn't tell us. It's possible there was no one near the supplies and he just went there. It's possible he hid. You remember playing hide-and-seek? The better your hiding spot, the more awkward it is to get out of it once you've been caught. We're told that Saul's a big dude. I don't know if he was just tucked behind stuff, and they were like, "God told us you were here," and he came out. Or if he was in stuff, and they had to be like, "Hey man, get up," and he had to crawl out of things. But it's not a good look.They bring him out. Samuel said to all the people, oh sorry, they ran and took him, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward. They bring him out, and he's a head taller than everybody. Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people."There are a couple of ways to understand what he's saying there. He possibly is just saying now that he is king, he stands above everybody else. Here's your king, and no one's like him. It's a from now on kind of thing. It's also possible that all he's saying here is look at him, remember what he looks like, and he looks different than everybody. So later, when you see a guy who's taller than everybody, you can say, "Oh yeah, I remember that. That's our king." It's possible he's just commenting on what he looks like. It's also possible that what he means is now he stands above everybody, not literally but figuratively.All the people shouted, "Long live the king." They've chosen the king. They know who it is, and they all shout, "Long live the king."Samuel told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, wrote them in a book, and laid it before the Lord. We don't know what he wrote. My guess is it included some of the stuff we've read in Deuteronomy about what a king is supposed to be like. It probably included some things Samuel said—that if you get a king, he's going to do all this stuff—but he gives some restrictions, this is what a king is allowed to do, and duties, here's what he's supposed to do, has to do. He declares it all to everybody, like, "Alright, y'all got a king now and here's what a king can and can't do and should do." He writes it all down and puts it before the Lord.Samuel sent all the people away, each to his home. We're going to get more information about how this plays out. I appreciate the detail. They get everybody together; they choose a king. Then they go play hide-and-seek with the king, find him, then Samuel says, "Look at him." He announces, and then he just goes, "Alright, go home."We're told Saul goes home because they've never had a king before. He doesn't have a palace. He's no castle. They just say, "Here's what kings are allowed to do. You got one. Yay. Go home."It says, "Saul also went to his home at Gibeah." He just was like, "Okay, I'm king now. I'm going home." With him went men of valor whose hearts God had touched.God begins to work and sends brave, capable, valiant men with Saul. But some worthless fellows said, "How can this man save us?" They despised him and brought him no present. Other people were apparently prepared to give something to honor the king. But they're like, "We're not doing it. He'll get no present from us. We don't like him."They despised him, brought him no present, but he held his peace. We're told God touches the hearts of valiant men, and these worthless men reject Saul. But I can't help but feel like the worthless men have a point. They're in a time of war. Part of the reason they've picked a king is they want someone to save them. That's part of the reason Samuel's upset with them: God saves them.But they are constantly at war with the people around them. They want someone to go out and fight their battles. They say, "How can this guy save us?" Saul's start isn't a good one.What do we know about Saul at this point? We've read chapters 9 and 10 and were introduced to him in chapter 9. We know his dad is wealthy. If you wanted to talk about that nicely, you'd say he's from a well-off family. If you didn't like Saul, you'd say, "Yeah, daddy's rich." You could spin that one way or the other.We know his family is wealthy. We know Saul is tall and handsome, so if you wanted to date him, these are the categories you'd pick. I told you a couple of weeks ago that they're not the best ones, but tall, handsome, rich—that doesn't make you king.So far, we've seen him unsuccessfully find donkeys, and then hide when they called his name. That's what we know of Saul. He was humble, but he seems humble to the point of not wanting to do this.I don't know if we would like him. Some people would like that he was tall, might like that he was wealthy, and you might appreciate that he's handsome. But I don't know if we'd pick him as king.In our country, Kennedy and Nixon have a debate, and Nixon was sweaty and people were like, "Seems real sweaty. Can't elect that guy." He lost. I can tell you it's a big deal because I know about it.The first election I was able to vote in was Obama, way after Kennedy and Nixon. If Nixon had been hiding in the back under a table, not well, hyperventilating, and they had to start off by saying, "Candidate Nixon is hiding in the back under a table, breathing in a bag, refuses to come out, says that he'd like to speak to his mother," they would have had a tough time. They would ask Senator Kennedy what he thought about that. But Nixon was just sweaty. He glistened too much on TV, and people said, "Can't trust him." People were kind of right.So there you go. This guy hid. They had to go find him. What makes him special? Why is God blessing and sending valiant men with him? And why are these people called worthless? He didn't win a battle. He didn't accomplish anything. He didn't win a tournament. He wasn't the most anything, really—most tall. I want to show you all what it says.Verse 24: Samuel said to all the people, "Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen?" Now we know why he's special—the Lord chose him. Therefore, it's worthless to reject him whom the Lord has chosen, and it's a good thing to do to follow him whom the Lord has chosen because he's chosen.That's what makes him special—God, in his divine choosing, chose him.But everybody goes home. Saul keeps his peace. We're going to chapter 11.Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and besieged Jabesh Gilead. We've been hearing about problems with the Philistines on the west. Israel is in the middle. Jabesh Gilead is over here on the east, and the Ammonites are over here. The Ammonites have now besieged Jabesh Gilead on the other side of the Jordan.Isn't it nice to live where and when we do, where this doesn't happen as often? Historically, this was super common: an army shows up, you're hanging out, suddenly you see people marching, your walled city is surrounded, and they just besiege it. If you have a big enough army, you're ready to go get some stuff.All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a treaty with us and we will serve you." That phrasing is actually "cut a treaty with us," which is how they would cut a covenant. They would cut up an animal, mingle the blood, then walk through. It's officially called a suzerain and vassal covenant, where you have one ruling authority over a vassal state that will pay tribute, taxes.So they say, "That's a nice besieging army you have there." They send out an envoy and say, "We'll cut a covenant with you and start sending you money. Deal." Nahash says, "Deal." But Nahash the Ammonite said, "On this condition: I will make a treaty with you that I gouge out all your right eyes and thus bring disgrace on all Israel."They're not going to cut up an animal; they're going to cut up you. Line up. I'll pop out all your right eyes and bring shame on all Israel. That'll be the covenant, then you'll owe me taxes.The elders of Jabesh said, "Give us seven days' respite that we may send messengers through all the territory of Israel. Then if there is no one to save us, we will give ourselves up to you."That's desperation. What else can they do? They said, "Let us go through all Israel and ask." He says yes, which seems crazy culturally—that he would say yes.They basically say, "Give us a chance to see if someone wants to come kill you. If they do, thanks for waiting. If they don't, you can gouge our eyes out." It makes some sense because his goal was to bring shame on all Israel.They said, "Let us go through all Israel and ask." He apparently says yes because next we hear: when the messengers came to Gibeah of Saul, they reported the matter to the people, and all the people wept aloud.They heard the news; they were heartbroken. This is awful. They seem despondent. What are we going to do?The people of Israel have been a loose collection of peoples, tribes, and have never really banded together for some things. That's part of the reason Nahash thinks, "Sure, try to get those people together."Now Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. He's gone back to work. Saul said, "What is wrong that the people are weeping?" They told him the news about Jabesh.The spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled. He took a yoke of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them throughout all Israel by messengers, saying, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and Samuel, so shall it be done to his oxen."Then the dread of the Lord fell upon the people, and they came out as one man.Imagine someone rides into your town with two-day-old ox pieces, tosses it down, and says, "Hey." Everybody's like, "What are you doing?" He says, "Saul, our king, cut that ox up." He says, "Get your weapons and muster or he's going to cut your oxen."It's an effective message. The dread of the Lord fell on the people, and they come as one man.Verse 8: When Saul mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were 300,000, and the men of Judah 30,000. They told the messengers, "Say this to Jabesh Gilead: Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, you shall have salvation."Their city's besieged. To get that message in, these people must cross back through. Nahash knows they're going back in; people are returning now with the answer. When the messengers told Jabesh, they were glad.Verse 10: They said to Nahash, "Tomorrow we will give ourselves up to you and you may do to us whatever seems good to you."That phrase is fair translation, or, "We'll come out to you. We'll march out." They intentionally tightrope walk—"We'll come on out; you can do whatever you want to."There's a little eye play on words, too: "We'll let your eyes do what you want to do," which is what they said.Verse 11: The next day Saul put the people in three companies; they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, before sunrise, and struck down the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered so no two of them were left together.Nahash surrounded a city, very confident, then 330,000 Israelites showed up in the middle of the night, and it went very poorly for Nahash.Verse 12: The people said to Samuel, "Who said Saul shouldn't reign over us? Bring those men so we may put them to death." Those who stood against Saul did it publicly. After Saul showed he can lead, muster, bring rescue, they said, "Who said Saul wasn't going to be in charge? Let's kill them, too."Those guys are there because they all showed up, and they were like, "No, this turned real quick."Saul said, "Not a man shall be put to death today, for today the Lord has worked salvation in Israel."Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingdom." All the people went to Gilgal; there they made Saul king before the Lord. They sacrificed peace offerings before the Lord, and Saul and the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.So we've seen Saul anointed, chosen, and now solidify as king.We've seen bits and pieces of his character. One thing to keep asking: what makes him special? Why is he special? What's worked here to make this good?Reading the text, God chose him and empowered him. The Spirit of the Lord fell on him, kindled his anger, then Saul acted. The last time we saw him do something good was prophesying when the Spirit fell on him.He's been chosen and empowered by the Spirit. God hasn't just picked out the best guy—he's picked someone and is empowering them.I want to take a moment as a church family, as Christians, those following Jesus, to wrap our heads around what Saul has. We have something even better.What happened for Saul? Something even better has happened for us. So, turn with me to Ephesians 1.Paul writes to Christians about what it means to belong to the Lord. In verse 3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."That's wonderful. We are blessed in Christ with every spiritual blessing."He chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him."What makes us special? He chose us. What made Saul special? He was chosen.In the New Testament, he chooses those whom he blesses. We're blessed because he chose us."He chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him." If you belong to Jesus, you are holy and blameless because of Jesus, not you. You're blessed because of his choosing, not you.He did this before the foundation of the world. If you're a Christian and wonder why you're special, why did I get to believe this, why me? Because he chose. He did this.When we look at Saul and say, "Why did he choose Saul?" It doesn't tell us why. It tells us some things, but not the reason.Why did he choose me? It says, "In love." It's not in us; it's in his love.We were loved in him, so we love him because he first loved us."He predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of his will."He loves us and brings us to himself, which is wonderful. If you belong to Jesus, you don't get in on a technicality like, "Try not to cause problems; you got in because you trusted in Jesus." No."In love, he predestined us for adoption as sons." He wants you and me, the church, to belong to him, to be enjoyed, to be delighted in.Why does he love me? "According to the purpose of his will."Then it says to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he blessed us in the beloved. Grace is unearned favor—unearned, unmerited, undeserved.What gets praised? Not anything you've done or accomplished; it's grace, glorious grace.You say, "I don't feel good enough." It's not about that. He saved you by glorious grace, and he's wonderful.According to the purpose of his will.This is beautiful—that it's by his divine choosing.Imagine being gathered with the people of Israel and the lot falling to you and saying, "What?"But what we've been chosen for is so much more glorious, wonderful, eternal. It's staggering what he, in his divine purpose and glorious grace, has chosen in the blood.It keeps going. Ephesians 1:7, "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time—to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth."Highlight this: in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.If you're keeping score at home, trespasses are what you brought."According to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us in all wisdom," making known the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ, not in you.He purposed and accomplished it in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him—heaven and earth.This is about Jesus and God's glorious will.If you belong to him, it's because he has made you belong to him.You've been chosen because he's chosen.You brought sin that made the sacrifice necessary, but you didn't earn, achieve, or keep it. It's not about you.If they had gathered the people and said, "Hold on. Let's see if he's good at this. Let's watch him a while."They would all be wrong because God already chose.If you've trusted Jesus, it's in response to his divine choosing.You are kept, held, worked on because of him and what he has done.He has qualified you.It's about him, not you.And if you've met yourself, that's great news.I've had times when I go into a tough conversation prepared, using pep talks, and still fall apart.It's not about your ability to hold it together or keep it.It's not about your ability to earn it.It's about him.Ok, hold on, sorry.Verse 11 repeats, but in him we have attained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.If chosen, it's because he did this.So we who first hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.So he's glorified, praised, exalted.It's not about you.You're involved as the object, the recipient.When you consider your walk with Jesus, you're not the subject or the verb.God is doing the work, Christ is doing the work.You're down here being acted on by a glorious God who divinely chooses, rescues, saves, redeems, and keeps according to the purpose of his will, because of his love, because of his glorious grace, and to the praise of his glory.You shouldn't think, "I must be one of the good ones."God didn't pick you because of something special.You wouldn't conclude you earned or achieved this.You'd conclude you need to praise his glory.Why are you a Christian? Because Jesus is wonderful, good; he redeems, saves, and loves.That would all turn back to praising his glory and grace.But you say, "Saul falls apart. God chooses, Saul loses it."Good point.That's why I said we have something better than Saul.Saul was chosen for a role in an earthly kingdom.He was chosen temporarily as a king in a temporary kingdom.He was empowered by the Spirit for some of what God was going to do, but he ultimately lost it.We in Christ are not chosen by lot.We're chosen by grace.Not chosen by Samuel through lots, but chosen by Jesus through his blood.Chosen for an eternal kingdom.Verse 13: "In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation"—that is, Jesus Christ came, died on the cross, rose again so you might have hope and faith.That's proclaimed in baptism: Jesus was dead and buried, and with him we die and bury our sin.Without Jesus, we don't rise, but because Jesus rose, we rise.We are washed clean, made new, given new life; our sin is dead and buried with Christ, and we rise with him with justification—we're made new and whole.That's what we celebrate.The gospel says when you heard it and believed it, believed in him, you said, "It's not about me; it's about him. I don't believe in me; I believe in him."That's your process, your response.You were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.Sealed.Saul was empowered; we are too.The New Testament tells us he's empowered us for mission.But we're not just empowered; we're sealed.The promised Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it.The Spirit will keep you going until you get the full inheritance of all the blessings of Christ.It's guaranteed; a guarantee is as good as the person who makes it.And it's the God of the universe.You're not just empowered; you're sealed, kept, and guaranteed.Jesus says you're put in his Father's hand, and no one takes anything from the Father's hand.If that's true for me and my sons, 10 and 7, it's true for God.If He's holding something, He's not letting go.It's guaranteed.Sealed by the Spirit, and it's working.He says in chapter 4, "Don't grieve the Spirit by whom you were sealed for the Day of Redemption."You say, "But I'm doing bad stuff, grieving the Spirit, causing problems."He says, "Yes, don't do that, but you're sealed for the day of redemption."That's the Spirit you're grieving—who will be with you the entire time until he brings you to the conclusion of the inheritance, till he gets you where he plans to take you by his purpose.He ends, "To the praise of his glory."Oh, that he might be praised, exalted, lifted up.Do you realize you've been chosen in a lottery far better than being the king of Israel?If you belong to Jesus, you've been chosen by his divine choosing and good pleasure, according to the purpose of his will.He lavished grace upon you, made you his forever, sealed you with the Spirit, and will bring you to the end.May we praise him, honor him, follow him, and not grieve the Spirit.At all points, may we know it is by his glorious grace, accomplished in him, brought about by him, and about him.At no point say, "But I haven't done this," or "I haven't done that."Have you trusted in him? Then stop talking about you.Do you believe in him? Or do you believe in yourself?We say, "No, I believe in him."Therefore, we are made free; we are brought to the end.Praise his name.Let's pray

In this episode, Pastor Dorrell explores the story of Jephthah, whose life reflects the consequences of disobedience, flawed leadership, and rash vows. Despite Israel's descent into apostasy and Jephthah's troubled past, God empowers him to lead Israel to victory over the Ammonites. However, Jephthah's tragic vow serves as a sobering reminder of the complexities of human choices and the enduring need for God's grace in the midst of our mistakes.Eastland is a Place to Belong Eastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging. Join Us Find service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join. Connect with Us Website: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptist To support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give.

Two judges of Israel follow the death of Abimelech, and we know little about them, except that they each judged Israel for over 20 years with no ruckus to speak of. When Israel turns to idols yet again, they suffer under the Philistines & Ammonites. They cry out to the Lord, but he rejects their pleas. When they confess sin and burn their idols, God begins to become weary of their misery. Later, God appoints a ne'er-do-well named Jephthah to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. Sadly, Jephthah doesn't truly know the Lord or His commands, and he makes a vow to the Lord that is abominable in the Lord's sight, standing in direct conflict with the statutes handed down through Moses. Thinking that he is being faithful to the Lord, he makes a heartbreaking decision.Judges 10 – 1:15 . Judges 11 – 4:56 . Judges 12 – 13:24 . Psalm 74 – 16:27 :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

In this episode, Pastor Daniel explores the story of Saul in 1 Samuel 11, highlighting his transformation from an uncertain new king to a courageous leader who responds to a desperate cry for help. The sermon emphasizes the importance of active faith, selfless service, and God-centered leadership, showcasing how Saul's actions not only led to victory against the Ammonites but also demonstrated the power of grace, humility, and the lasting impact of unseen contributions within the community.Eastland is a Place to Belong Eastland Baptist Church is located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We are a welcoming and close-knit family community that loves to care for each other through the Church. We strongly believe in loving and supporting each other and our neighbors. Our members don't just attend our Church; they feel a strong sense of belonging. Join Us Find service times and our location at https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/join. Connect with Us Website: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eastlandbaptisttulsa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eastlandbaptist To support the ministry of Eastland Baptist Church, tap here: https://www.eastlandbaptist.org/give.

In this Bible Story, Saul rises as king. He leads the Israelites into victory over the Ammonites, and all the people rejoice over their new leader. However, a flickering light of pride dwells within Saul's heart. This story is inspired by 1 Samuel 11. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is 1 Samuel 11:13 from the King James Version.Episode 80: All was well in Jabesh-Gilead, a farming village in Israel, until one day the Ammonites raided them, taking the people captive. The elders of the city begged for a treaty and Nahash, the commander of the Ammonites, gave them an offer of humiliation, pain, and servitude. The elders agreed but requested 7 days for a rescuer to come first. Little did Nahash know that God had given them a King, Saul, who would gather the people and come to their rescue!Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Adam Barralet, Kyle Perez , Ashley Leavy and Nicholas Pearson in Episode #29 of the Crystal Confab Podcast as they do a deep dive into Ammonite & Fossils meaning, including: Kitchen witchery & Fossils Opal and Fossils combining to make Ammolite Horns of Ammon, Avalon connection and Ammonite   Tune in now for a deeper look at Ammonite & Fossils meaning!   Podcast Episode Transcript: Crystal Confab Podcast Introduction: Are you just starting with crystals? Or maybe you have a whole collection but aren't sure how to use them? Join four crystal nerds, healers, workers, and lovers for a casual chat about all things crystals. Adam Barralet: Hello, and welcome to this week's episode of crystal confab. Each week, we like to talk about things that are buried in the ground and have been waiting for a long, long time for us to discover them. But today, we're doing something a little bit different because we won't be talking about a crystal. We're gonna be exploring the world of fossils and things like amylenite and ammolite. So I'm gonna be honest with you. Fossils don't really thrill me. So I've set a challenge to the other three to see if they can win me over by the end of the episode. So to dive in and explore these, welcome, Kyle, Nicholas, and Ashley. Kyle, I know you like the ammolites and ammonites. Talk us a little bit through them. Kyle Perez: Well, for me, I am kind of like you in the way that I'm not a huge fossil person, but I know other people around the confab are much much bigger. I will start with fossil light, ammolite. But what I wanna talk about first is what I've seen as an explosion of interest in fossils recently. I don't know if the rest of you have seen this as well, but last year at the gem show that I worked at, people gave no crap about the crystals. I had to learn on the fly about the fossils that we had because that's where a huge amount of interest was. Our ammolite shells, our ammonites, the megalodon teeth, like amber, green ambers, all of these sorts of things were, like, really exciting. Have you seen that sort of thing, or is it maybe just a niche thing that's happening here? Nicholas Pearson: Yeah. I'm pretty much seeing it industry wide, but I would love to say that it's probably people like Ashley and me who might be bringing some more crystal folks to the dark side. I haven't been to any, like, really big trade shows in a hot minute, but I know Ashley frequents them. So she might have some more insight there too. Ashley Leavy: Yeah. I think if I really reflect on it, the fossil boots might have been a little bit busier than they normally are. Usually, I'm one of, like, two or three people shopping at those booths for the store. So maybe that is the case. I haven't noticed it yet trending amongst the crystally people, the healy feelies, like all of us. I feel like I'm always being like the fossil evangelist out there, trying to get people to appreciate them a little bit. I know Nicholas is the same. We actually did an amazing event last year hosted by Anwen Avalon who did, like, a fossil symposium, and it was Anwen, Nicholas, myself, Brett Holyhead, and Moss Matthew. And it was just, like, five days of fossils, and it was super fun. But that is very much not the norm. I think it takes a little, a little bit of special interest to get people going.   Are you captivated by the ancient wisdom of fossils? Elemental energies shape the world and guide our spiritual practice. By working with fossils, you can access these ancient forces and bring balance, empowerment, and connection into your life. That's why I created the Fossils for Elemental Magic Course—a beginner-friendly journey into the magic of Earth, Water, Air, Fire, and Spirit.     In this course, you'll explore how fossils act as conduits for elemental energy, empowering you to align with nature's forces in your rituals, divination, and healing work.

In this episode, we explore the historical and biblical context surrounding Israel's second judge, Ehud, during a time when the Israelites once again turned away from God after the death of Othniel. As a result, God allowed King Eglon of Moab—along with allies from the Ammonites and Amalekites—to oppress Israel for 18 years. We dive into the origins and cultural backgrounds of these three groups, particularly the Moabites, descendants of Lot, and their ongoing territorial conflicts with Israel. The story climaxes with Ehud, a left-handed (or ambidextrous) warrior from the tribe of Benjamin, who assassinates Eglon in a daring and strategic move, leading to Israel's liberation. This episode also examines archaeological evidence surrounding the City of Palms (Jericho), the political symbolism of the tribute to Eglon, and the significance of Ehud's actions, which brought 80 years of peace to Israel.   If you'd like to support "The History of the Bible", visit our Patreon Page at https://patreon.com/TheHistoryoftheBible. Your feedback is valuable to us! Share your thoughts and insights via our feedback form at https://forms.gle/AtzUReJ8gLuFYPaP8. Let us know how our podcast has impacted you or someone you know by filling out our impact form at https://forms.gle/jr4EdGsqCaFk4qZm8. If you have concerns about any information presented, please inform us via our correction form at https://forms.gle/PiMMkPnJFaa4j5p37.   #BibleStudy #OldTestament #BookOfJudges #Ehud #Israelites #Moab #BiblicalHistory #BiblePodcast #ChristianPodcast #FaithBasedContent #ChristianTeaching #BibleTeaching #ScriptureStudy #BibleStory #HebrewBible #Moabites #Ammonites #Amalekites #BiblicalArchaeology #SpiritualGrowth #ChristianHistory #GodsDeliverance #LeftHandedWarrior #KingEglon #CityOfPalms #JerichoHistory #ChristianYouTube #FaithJourney #BibleExplained #ChristianEducation   Episode's Sources Bible, NIV Study Bible.  https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-moabites https://armstronginstitute.org/38-uncovering-the-bibles-buried-civilizations-the-moabites Bible, ESV https://armstronginstitute.org/309-uncovering-the-bibles-buried-cities-jericho  

As we continue reading from 1 Samuel, Fr. Mike points out how God gave the people a king like they wanted, even though it was not part of his plan. This reveals to us that even when we choose things that God does not want for us, he is still with us. The readings are 1 Samuel 11-12 and Psalm 55. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Summary of Judges 10:Judges 10 introduces two minor judges, Tola and Jair, who led Israel after Abimelech's violent reign.Tola, from the tribe of Issachar, judged Israel for 23 years and lived in Shamir in Ephraim.Jair, from Gilead, judged for 22 years. He had 30 sons who rode 30 donkeys and controlled 30 towns in Gilead.After Jair's death, Israel once again turned away from God, worshiping the Baals and foreign gods. In response, God allowed them to be oppressed by the Philistines and Ammonites.The Israelites cried out in repentance.God reminded them of all the times He had rescued them despite their disobedience.He initially refused to help but their sincere repentance and abandonment of idols moved Him.The chapter ends with Israel preparing for battle against the Ammonites, while seeking a leader.Your words were found and I ate them

When David sends a merciful diplomatic contingent to Ammon, his kindness is met with violence. David seeks to cover the shame of his men while also seeking justice against the Ammonites who have defied him. As Ammon strengthens its position through menacing mercenaries, David sends Joab, whose wisdom and trust in God leads to success. After the Ammonite threat against Israel ends, David ensures that Syria too will no longer trouble the people of God. Even as David continues to succeed militarily, his weaknesses begin to show in this chapter, particularly in his absence from an initial battle.  Rev. Nate Hill, pastor at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Winchester, TX, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 2 Samuel 10:1-19.  "A Kingdom Unlike All the Nations” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through 1-2 Samuel. This time in Israel's history has its highs and lows, but the LORD's faithfulness never wavers. He provides His Word to be proclaimed faithfully through prophets like Samuel and Nathan. Even as princes like Saul and David sit on an earthly throne, the LORD remains King over His people, even as He does now and forever through the Lord Jesus Christ. Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God's Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen. Submit comments or questions to: listener@kfuo.org

Further reading: Reconstructing fossil cephalopods: Endoceras Retro vs Modern #17: Ammonites Hammering Away at Hamites An endocerid [picture by Entelognathus - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=111981757]: An ammonite fossil: A hamite ammonoid that looks a lot like a paperclip [picture by Hectonichus - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=34882102]: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. When you think about cephalopods, if that's a word you know, you probably think of octopuses and squid, maybe cuttlefish. But those aren't the only cephalopods, and in particular in the past, there used to be even more cephalopods that are even weirder than the ones we have today. Cephalopods are in the family Mollusca along with snails and clams, and many other animals. The first ancestral cephalopods date back to the Cambrian, and naturally we don't know a whole lot about them since that was around 500 million years ago. We have fossilized shells that were only a few centimeters long at most, although none of the specimens we've found are complete. By about 475 million years ago, these early cephalopod ancestors had mostly died out but had given rise to some amazing animals called Endocerids. Endocerids had shells that were mostly cone-shaped, like one of those pointy-ended ice cream cones but mostly larger and not as tasty. Most were pretty small, usually only a few feet long, or less than a meter, but some were really big. The largest Endoceras giganteum fossil we have is just under 10 feet long, or 3 meters, and it isn't complete. Some scientists estimate that it might have been almost 19 feet long, or about 5.75 meters, when it was alive. But that's just the long, conical shell. What did the animal that lived in the shell look like? We don't know, but scientists speculate that it had a squid-like body. The head and arms were outside of the shell's opening, while the main part of the body was protected by the front part of the shell. We know it had arms because we have arm impressions in sections of fossilized sea floor that show ten arms that are all about the same length. We don't know if the arms had suckers the way many modern cephalopods do, and some scientists suggest it had ridges on the undersides of the arms that helped it grab prey, the way modern nautiluses do. It also had a hood-shaped structure on top of its head called an operculum, which is also seen in nautiluses. This probably allowed Endoceras giganteum to pull its head and arms into its shell and use the operculum to block the shell's entrance. We don't know what colors the shells were, but some specimens seem to show a mottled or spotted pattern. The interior of Endoceras giganteum's shell was made up of chambers, some of which were filled with calcium deposits that helped balance the body weight, so the animal didn't have trouble dragging it around. 3D models of the shells show that they could easily stick straight up in the water, but we also have trace fossils that show drag marks of the shell through sediment. Scientists think Endoceras was mainly an ambush predator, sitting quietly until a small animal got too close. Then it would grab it with its arms. It could also crawl around to find a better spot to hunt, and younger individuals that had smaller shells were probably a lot more active. We talked about ammonites way back in episode 86. Ammonites were really common in the fossil record for hundreds of millions of years, only going extinct at the same time as the dinosaurs. Some ammonites lived at the bottom of the ocean in shallow water, but many swam or floated throughout the ocean. Many ammonite fossils look like snail shells, but the shell contains sections inside called chambers. The largest chamber, at the end of the shell, was for the ammonite's body,

Today's readings are Judges 9-11, Ruth 4, and Psalm 137. In the reading from Judges, we hear about the rise and fall of Abimelech, as well as the misguided and heartbreaking vow Jephthah makes to God in return for victory over the Ammonites. We also conclude the book of Ruth with the marriage of Boaz and Ruth. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

In this Bible Story, Jephthah makes a promise to God that he would sacrifice the first thing he saw after his battle. Little did he know it would be his daughter. So Jephthah mourned, and was remembered for his foolishness. This story is inspired by Judges 10:6-11:40. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Judges 11:34 from the King James Version.Episode 65: After 18 Years of oppression by the Ammonites and the Philistines, the people of Israel once again cry out to God for rescue. Answering in accordance with their constant rebellion and refusal to learn, God says they should ask their gods, the idols they are worshiping to save them. But when they show true repentance, God shows up and chooses an outcast named Jephthah to lead them into victory and relief from their enemy.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world's greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YOU'D THINK that being anointed king over the northern tribes because of Solomon's disobedience to God would have caused Jeroboam to be more careful about his theology. We follow up last week's study with the consequences of Jeroboam's decision to set up altars with golden calves. Contrary to some who teach that the golden calves were idols representing God, we believe the locations—Bethel (“House of El”) and Dan, at the foot of Mount Hermon—point to the Canaanite father-god El, whose main epithet was “Bull El.” Mount Hermon was El's “mount of assembly,” which is one of the reasons we argue that El was Shemihazah, leader of the sons of God who rebelled in Genesis 6:1–4. Because Jeroboam drew the northern tribes back into the worship of El, who was known as Dagon to the Philistines and Milcom (Molech) to the Ammonites, God sent a prophet to decree that a future king named Josiah would desecrate Jeroboam's altars by sacrificing the priests of the high places and burning human bones on them. Bear in mind that Jeroboam began his reign over the northern kingdom in 930 BC and Josiah would not become king of Judah until 640 BC, 290 years later! Question of the week: Is there a difference between the terms “Jesus Christ” and “Christ Jesus”? Sharon's niece, Sarah Sachleben, was recently diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer, and the medical bills are piling up. If you are led to help, please go to GilbertHouse.org/hopeforsarah. Our new book The Gates of Hell is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! Derek's new book Destination: Earth, co-authored with Donna Howell and Allie Anderson, is now available in paperback, Kindle, and as an audiobook at Audible! If you are looking for a text of the Book of 1 Enoch to follow our monthly study, you can try these sources: Parallel translations by R. H. Charles (1917) and Richard Laurence (1821) Modern English translation by George W. E. Nickelsburg and James VanderKam (link to book at Amazon)Book of 1 Enoch - Standard English Version by Dr. Jay Winter (link opens free PDF)Book of 1 Enoch - R. H. Charles translation (link opens free PDF) The SkyWatchTV store has a special offer on Dr. Michael Heiser's two-volume set A Companion to the Book of Enoch. Get both books, the R. H. Charles translation of 1 Enoch, and a DVD interview with Mike and Steven Bancarz for a donation of $35 plus shipping and handling. Link: https://bit.ly/heiser-enoch Follow us! • X: @gilberthouse_tv | @sharonkgilbert | @derekgilbert• Telegram: t.me/gilberthouse | t.me/sharonsroom | t.me/viewfromthebunker• YouTube: @GilbertHouse | @UnravelingRevelation• Facebook.com/GilbertHouseFellowship JOIN US AND SPECIAL GUEST CARL TEICHRIB IN ISRAEL! Our next tour of Israel is October 19–30, 2025 with an optional three-day extension to Jordan. For more information and to reserve your place, log on to GilbertHouse.org/travel. Thank you for making our Build Barn Better project a reality! We truly appreciate your support. If you are so led, you can help out at GilbertHouse.org/donate. Get our free app! It connects you to these studies plus our weekly video programs Unraveling Revelation and A View from the Bunker, and the podcast that started this journey in 2005, P.I.D. Radio. Best of all, it bypasses the gatekeepers of Big Tech! The app is available for iOS, Android, Roku, and Apple TV. Links to the app stores are at www.gilberthouse.org/app/. Video on demand of our best teachings! Stream presentations and teachings based on our research at our new video on demand site! Gilbert House T-shirts and mugs! New to our store is a line of GHTV and Redwing Saga merch! Check it out at GilbertHouse.org/store! Think better, feel better! Our partners at Simply Clean Foods offer freeze-dried, 100% GMO-free food and delicious, vacuum-packed fair trade coffee from Honduras. Find out more at GilbertHouse.org/store. Our favorite Bible study tools! Check the links in the right-hand column at www.GilbertHouse.org.

The Old Testament gives us the history of God's people, the Israelites, before the coming of their long-awaited Messiah, Jesus Christ. And throughout their history they had good times and bad times—times when they obeyed God and times when they went far astray. Eventually, they split into two nations, Israel and Judah, with ten of the tribes forming the Israel nation and two forming the nation of Judah. I want to focus your attention to one of the most wonderful chapters in the Bible, in my opinion, 2 Chronicles 20, which tells us about Jehoshaphat, king of Judah. Jehoshaphat was one of the godly kings who obeyed the Lord and led his people to follow Yahweh. But they were a small nation, not well fortified, and therefore very vulnerable to their enemies. In chapter 20 of 2 Chronicles, Jehoshaphat finds himself and his nation in a truly frightening predicament. Here are the first four verses of that chapter: After this, the Moabites and Ammonites with some of the Meunites came     to make war on Jehoshaphat. Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, "A vast army is coming against you from Edom, from the other side of the Seas. It is already in En Gedi.” Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him. Jehoshaphat is faced with a grave dilemma. His entire army and his entire country could be wiped out by this enemy army. And he is alarmed. Who wouldn't be? But notice what Jehoshaphat does in his alarmed condition: He resolves to inquire of the Lord. He could have inquired of his political advisers. They would have undoubtedly told him to try to make a peace treaty with this vast enemy and save their necks, even if it meant giving up the land. He could have inquired of his military advisers, who would have told him to retreat and get out as fast as possible, because there was no way they could defeat this great military army coming against them. But Jehoshaphat didn't inquire of people or counselors or advisers. He inquired of the Lord. Where have you been running for answers as you face your impossible situation? Is the Lord the first one you turn to? Amazing how often we do everything else except inquire of the Lord. This should be the first thing we do when we don't know what to do: Inquire of the Lord. Notice that Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord; he set his will to do it. I can imagine his feelings were taking him in different directions. I can believe he wanted to start running fast and take some kind of action immediately. But he knew he would only find answers by inquiring of the Lord, so whether he felt like it or not, he resolved to do that. Many times, we run with our emotions when we're up against impossibilities. And our emotions take us to hasty action, to running away, to seeking advice from the wrong people, etc. If we would first inquire of the Lord, sit down with his Word and ask for direction, spend time in prayer to listen to his voice, we would find the answers we need. I remember at one point in my life, many years ago now, when I was suddenly faced with what seemed at the time to be a potentially disastrous situation, and I truly didn't know what to do. So, what did I do? I picked up the phone to call my best friend and ask her what to do! Now, there's nothing wrong with seeking godly advice from trusted advisors, but that's not the first place we should go, is it? Well, wouldn't you know she wasn't there. This was long before we all had cell phones, and so I couldn't reach her. I just kept redialing and redialing her number, pacing the floor, and becoming angry with her for not being there when I needed her. It was one of those teaching moments in my life, when I could hear the voice of God in my head clearly saying to me, “Why would you call her before you call me?

“Then David confessed to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the Lord.’ Nathan replied, ‘Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin.’” (2 Samuel 12:13 NLT) You could argue that, aside from Adam and Eve’s eating of the forbidden fruit, no sin has gotten as much press as David’s adulterous affair with Bathsheba. It seems like everyone has heard the story. In 1 Corinthians 10:12, the apostle Paul writes, “If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall” (NLT). So if you read David’s story and think, I would never do anything like that, you’re missing the point. A better response would be, “God, help me not to make those kinds of decisions. Instead, help me stay close to You.” The story in 2 Samuel 11 begins with David in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was on the roof of his palace in Jerusalem when he should have been with his army, battling the Ammonites. From his roof, he saw an extraordinarily beautiful woman taking a bath. It was Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah the Hittite, one of David’s loyal soldiers. David sent for her and slept with her. And Bathsheba became pregnant with his child. At that point, David could have repented and faced the consequences. Instead, he tried to cover it up. He arranged for Uriah to be sent home from the front. He wanted Uriah to sleep with Bathsheba so that Uriah and everyone else in Israel would assume that her baby was his. But Uriah refused to enjoy the pleasures of home while his fellow soldiers were still fighting. Instead, he slept outside the palace gates. So David took a more sinister approach. He sent Uriah back to the front with a letter for Joab, his commander. In the letter, David ordered Joab to station Uriah where the battle was fiercest and then pull back the rest of his forces. In other words, he wanted Joab to make sure that Uriah was killed in battle. (David probably didn’t sign that letter, “A man after God’s own heart.”) This time, his plan worked. Uriah was killed, and David immediately took Bathsheba as his wife so that her pregnancy would seem legitimate. For a moment, he might have thought he’d gotten away with everything. But there was one problem: “The Lord was displeased with what David had done” (2 Samuel 11:27 NLT). Twelve months later, God sent the prophet Nathan to confront David. To his credit, David immediately admitted his guilt. David and Bathsheba’s child died, and they had to live with that loss for the rest of their lives. But, as devastating as his sin was, David made a comeback. He faced repercussions, but ultimately his life ended well. Remember, David came from Bethlehem. And that’s where Jesus was born. Why? Because Jesus was the offspring of David through the bloodline of Mary and the lineage of Joseph. That’s why Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be taxed. Want to know who else made it into the messianic line of Jesus Christ? Bathsheba. She repented, too, and was included in the most exclusive genealogy in human history. When you look at the family line of David, you find not only Bathsheba but also two other women, Tamar and Rahab, both prostitutes who turned to the God who gives second chances. The ideal, of course, is obeying Him in the first place. We need to understand that God’s plans are better than ours. Having said that, it does not mean that they are always the easiest plans or even the most appealing at the moment. There are times when we are going through life that we might not like the plan of God. But God’s plans are always better for us in the long run. Reflection question: What God-given second chance are you most thankful for? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.