Podcasts about Arise

Morning: 1 Chronicles 20–22 1 Chronicles 20–22 (Listen) The Capture of Rabbah 20 In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, Joab led out the army and ravaged the country of the Ammonites and came and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem. And Joab struck down Rabbah and overthrew it. 2 And David took the crown of their king from his head. He found that it weighed a talent1 of gold, and in it was a precious stone. And it was placed on David's head. And he brought out the spoil of the city, a very great amount. 3 And he brought out the people who were in it and set them to labor2 with saws and iron picks and axes.3 And thus David did to all the cities of the Ammonites. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem. Philistine Giants Killed 4 And after this there arose war with the Philistines at Gezer. Then Sibbecai the Hushathite struck down Sippai, who was one of the descendants of the giants, and the Philistines were subdued. 5 And there was again war with the Philistines, and Elhanan the son of Jair struck down Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver's beam. 6 And there was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number, and he also was descended from the giants. 7 And when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother, struck him down. 8 These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. David's Census Brings Pestilence 21 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” 3 But Joab said, “May the LORD add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” 4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword. 6 But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab. 7 But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. 8 And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 9 And the LORD spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the LORD, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.'” 11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Choose what you will: 12 either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the LORD, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.' Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 13 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.” 14 So the LORD sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the LORD saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.” David Builds an Altar 18 Now the angel of the LORD had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 So David went up at Gad's word, which he had spoken in the name of the LORD. 20 Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 22 And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the LORD—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 23 Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” 24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 25 So David paid Ornan 600 shekels4 of gold by weight for the site. 26 And David built there an altar to the LORD and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the LORD, and the LORD5 answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the LORD commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath. 28 At that time, when David saw that the LORD had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon, 30 but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the LORD. 22 Then David said, “Here shall be the house of the LORD God and here the altar of burnt offering for Israel.” David Prepares for Temple Building 2 David commanded to gather together the resident aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he set stonecutters to prepare dressed stones for building the house of God. 3 David also provided great quantities of iron for nails for the doors of the gates and for clamps, as well as bronze in quantities beyond weighing, 4 and cedar timbers without number, for the Sidonians and Tyrians brought great quantities of cedar to David. 5 For David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house that is to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, of fame and glory throughout all lands. I will therefore make preparation for it.” So David provided materials in great quantity before his death. Solomon Charged to Build the Temple 6 Then he called for Solomon his son and charged him to build a house for the LORD, the God of Israel. 7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. 8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you who shall be a man of rest. I will give him rest from all his surrounding enemies. For his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for my name. He shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish his royal throne in Israel forever.' 11 “Now, my son, the LORD be with you, so that you may succeed in building the house of the LORD your God, as he has spoken concerning you. 12 Only, may the LORD grant you discretion and understanding, that when he gives you charge over Israel you may keep the law of the LORD your God. 13 Then you will prosper if you are careful to observe the statutes and the rules that the LORD commanded Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Fear not; do not be dismayed. 14 With great pains I have provided for the house of the LORD 100,000 talents6 of gold, a million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weighing, for there is so much of it; timber and stone, too, I have provided. To these you must add. 15 You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working 16 gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The LORD be with you!” 17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, 18 “Is not the LORD your God with you? And has he not given you peace7 on every side? For he has delivered the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the LORD and his people. 19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the LORD your God. Arise and build the sanctuary of the LORD God, so that the ark of the covenant of the LORD and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the LORD.” Footnotes [1] 20:2 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [2] 20:3 Compare 2 Samuel 12:31; Hebrew he sawed [3] 20:3 Compare 2 Samuel 12:31; Hebrew saws [4] 21:25 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [5] 21:26 Hebrew he [6] 22:14 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [7] 22:18 Or rest (see 22:9) (ESV) Evening: John 10:22–42 John 10:22–42 (Listen) I and the Father Are One 22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me,1 is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. 32 Jesus answered them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?” 33 The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” 34 Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods'? 35 If he called them gods to whom the word of God came—and Scripture cannot be broken—36 do you say of him whom the Father consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,' because I said, ‘I am the Son of God'? 37 If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; 38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.” 39 Again they sought to arrest him, but he escaped from their hands. 40 He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing at first, and there he remained. 41 And many came to him. And they said, “John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42 And many believed in him there. Footnotes [1] 10:29 Some manuscripts What my Father has given to me (ESV)

All this talk in the REST course of sitting with discomfort and feeling what is asking to be felt has made me realize that I really haven't a clue how exactly to do this.From my earliest childhood I remember my emotions were problematic for my mother who often told me, “Don't be like that.” I could see my emotions were frequently in turn annoying or too needy or overwhelming or terrifying for her to deal with. My father, while kind, was mostly emotionally absent in my life. Having no real role models for dealing with feelings, I turned to food at a young age and still use it to numb and cope. Another strategy I've employed my whole life is to journal about feelings. Now when I hear you talk about exploring the edges of the identified mind's comfort zones, I'm wondering how exactly to do this? When I try to sit with  feelings I find myself trying to name them and narrating the experience. Or I write about them and similarly find myself involved with choosing the closest labels. Inevitably this leads to writing words that invent and describe the psychology of the system, complete with numerous finger-pointing stories.Intuitively this feels more removed than what you're describing. That the words are a dodge, a movement away from feeling them.It is a little embarrassing to ask, but what do you mean by and how to feel the feelings that arise? How are they witnessed when they've been blocked out by the system for most of my life?  I would appreciate any pointers you could offer.

6 Easter First Psalm: Psalm 119:97–120 Psalm 119:97–120 (Listen) Mem 97   Oh how I love your law!    It is my meditation all the day.98   Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,    for it is ever with me.99   I have more understanding than all my teachers,    for your testimonies are my meditation.100   I understand more than the aged,1    for I keep your precepts.101   I hold back my feet from every evil way,    in order to keep your word.102   I do not turn aside from your rules,    for you have taught me.103   How sweet are your words to my taste,    sweeter than honey to my mouth!104   Through your precepts I get understanding;    therefore I hate every false way. Nun 105   Your word is a lamp to my feet    and a light to my path.106   I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,    to keep your righteous rules.107   I am severely afflicted;    give me life, O LORD, according to your word!108   Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD,    and teach me your rules.109   I hold my life in my hand continually,    but I do not forget your law.110   The wicked have laid a snare for me,    but I do not stray from your precepts.111   Your testimonies are my heritage forever,    for they are the joy of my heart.112   I incline my heart to perform your statutes    forever, to the end.2 Samekh 113   I hate the double-minded,    but I love your law.114   You are my hiding place and my shield;    I hope in your word.115   Depart from me, you evildoers,    that I may keep the commandments of my God.116   Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,    and let me not be put to shame in my hope!117   Hold me up, that I may be safe    and have regard for your statutes continually!118   You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,    for their cunning is in vain.119   All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,    therefore I love your testimonies.120   My flesh trembles for fear of you,    and I am afraid of your judgments. Footnotes [1] 119:100 Or the elders [2] 119:112 Or statutes; the reward is eternal (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalms 81–82 Psalms 81–82 (Listen) Oh, That My People Would Listen to Me To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith.1 Of Asaph. 81   Sing aloud to God our strength;    shout for joy to the God of Jacob!2   Raise a song; sound the tambourine,    the sweet lyre with the harp.3   Blow the trumpet at the new moon,    at the full moon, on our feast day. 4   For it is a statute for Israel,    a rule2 of the God of Jacob.5   He made it a decree in Joseph    when he went out over3 the land of Egypt.  I hear a language I had not known:6   “I relieved your4 shoulder of the burden;    your hands were freed from the basket.7   In distress you called, and I delivered you;    I answered you in the secret place of thunder;    I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah8   Hear, O my people, while I admonish you!    O Israel, if you would but listen to me!9   There shall be no strange god among you;    you shall not bow down to a foreign god.10   I am the LORD your God,    who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.    Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11   “But my people did not listen to my voice;    Israel would not submit to me.12   So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,    to follow their own counsels.13   Oh, that my people would listen to me,    that Israel would walk in my ways!14   I would soon subdue their enemies    and turn my hand against their foes.15   Those who hate the LORD would cringe toward him,    and their fate would last forever.16   But he would feed you5 with the finest of the wheat,    and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” Rescue the Weak and Needy A Psalm of Asaph. 82   God has taken his place in the divine council;    in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:2   “How long will you judge unjustly    and show partiality to the wicked? Selah3   Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;    maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.4   Rescue the weak and the needy;    deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 5   They have neither knowledge nor understanding,    they walk about in darkness;    all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6   I said, “You are gods,    sons of the Most High, all of you;7   nevertheless, like men you shall die,    and fall like any prince.”6 8   Arise, O God, judge the earth;    for you shall inherit all the nations! Footnotes [1] 81:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 81:4 Or just decree [3] 81:5 Or against [4] 81:6 Hebrew his; also next line [5] 81:16 That is, Israel; Hebrew him [6] 82:7 Or fall as one man, O princes (ESV) Old Testament: Leviticus 26:27–42 Leviticus 26:27–42 (Listen) 27 “But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me, 28 then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins. 29 You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. 30 And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols, and my soul will abhor you. 31 And I will lay your cities waste and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your pleasing aromas. 32 And I myself will devastate the land, so that your enemies who settle in it shall be appalled at it. 33 And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste. 34 “Then the land shall enjoy1 its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies' land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths. 35 As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, the rest that it did not have on your Sabbaths when you were dwelling in it. 36 And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf shall put them to flight, and they shall flee as one flees from the sword, and they shall fall when none pursues. 37 They shall stumble over one another, as if to escape a sword, though none pursues. And you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. 38 And you shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And those of you who are left shall rot away in your enemies' lands because of their iniquity, and also because of the iniquities of their fathers they shall rot away like them. 40 “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, 41 so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, 42 then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. Footnotes [1] 26:34 Or pay for; twice in this verse; also verse 43 (ESV) New Testament: Ephesians 1:1–10 Ephesians 1:1–10 (Listen) Greeting 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful1 in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual Blessings in Christ 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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us2 for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known3 to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Footnotes [1] 1:1 Some manuscripts saints who are also faithful (omitting in Ephesus) [2] 1:5 Or before him in love, 5having predestined us [3] 1:9 Or he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight, making known . . . (ESV) Gospel: Matthew 22:41–46 Matthew 22:41–46 (Listen) Whose Son Is the Christ? 41 Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, 42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” 43 He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, 44   “‘The Lord said to my Lord,  “Sit at my right hand,    until I put your enemies under your feet”'? 45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” 46 And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions. (ESV)

Nolan goes house shopping, Riot talks with her reflection, and the Omen returns to the north. The theme of tonight's episode is Rebels.   (To avoid spoilers, content warnings are listed at the end of this episode description).     The bonus story that goes with this episode is ‘Green Light', and is available for Hallowoods patrons on the show's Patreon, along with behind-the-scenes, exclusive merchandise, and more! Because the show runs without ads or sponsors, we rely on support from fans to guarantee the survival of this LGBTQ+ horror podcast.   Dashiell Spade was played by Harlan Guthrie. Harlan is the writer, creator, and composer of the Malevolent podcast, which follows private eye Arthur Lester as he loses his eyesight and gains an eldritch guide who helps him solve cases.   You can find Malevolent wherever you're listening to this show, or at @malevolentcast on Twitter, or @malevolentpodcast on Instagram.    Hello From The Hallowoods is written and produced by William A. Wellman, a queer horror author and writing coach. You can visit their website for more information!    The transcript for this episode is available on the Hello From The Hallowoods Website. Click here to read!   You can also find Hello From The Hallowoods on social media! The show is on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @thehallowoods. If you'd like to connect with other fans of the show, there's even a fan-run Discord Server!   Music for this episode was used under license from Artlist.com. The soundtracks featured were:    ‘Forest Overture', by Yehezkel Raz,  ‘Spiral Limbus', by Yehezkel Raz,  ‘A Journey's End - Epilogue', by Sivan Talmor,  ‘Zircon', by Ottom,  ‘82 Years Old', by Yehezkel Raz,  ‘The Sky Above', by Borrtex,  ‘First Light', by Evert Z,  ‘Mysa', by Laurel Violet,  ‘Don't Mind The Rain', by the Oriole Orchestra (public domain),  ‘Odd Numbers', by Curtis Cole,  ‘The Wanderer', by Yehezkel Raz,  ‘Ganymede', by Yehezkel Raz,  ‘Gravity', by Piotr Hummel,  ‘Arise', by Onyx Music,  ‘Exhale', by Salt of the Sound,  And ‘Farewell', by Maya Belsitzman and Matan Ephrat    Content warnings for this episode include:    Ableism, Violence, Death + Injury, Blood, Birds, Gun Mention, Gunshots (including sfx), Static (including sfx), Torture (brief mention), Emotional Manipulation, Bugs, Worms, Body horror, Al has no skin

Roberto Gonzalez of Steam Box RI joins Codex Prime this week to discuss Moon Knight, the latest Disney+ MCU series! Tune in as they delve into their perspectives on the Oscar Isaac-led show... Carl also highlights a couple of comic book pickups, and Victor highlights Deathloop on the PS5 and Alex Garland's third directorial feature Men (which is... oh, dear...) Arise, lunar knights and let's GET IT! Recorded May 24, 2022 Visit STEAM BOX RI at http://www.steamboxri.com/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Purchase SILK CITY HOT SAUCE here: https://levinskystopshelf.com/silk-city-hot-sauce - Use CODEX to get 15% off of your order! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy Codex Prime Shirts at: @MFAMUCUSTOMS (Instagram) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Catch Codex Prime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or other podcast platforms. Email: CodexPrimePodcast@gmail.com Buy Codex Prime Shirts at: @MFAMUCUSTOMS (Instagram) SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: www.facebook.com/codexprime Twitter: twitter.com/codexprimecast Instagram: instagram.com/codexprimepodcast/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCbDMNJNgnM6y3WB3fA1a1HA SoundCloud: @codex-prime Victor Omoayo - https://www.instagram.com/victoromoayo/ Carl Byrd - Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat: @mrbyrd1027 - bookmrbyrd1027@gmail.com

This week, we'll be studying Acts 5:17-32 under the theme "Reformation Opposition." The opening quarter of the Book of Acts narrates both the otherworldly success and the earthly opposition of the Early Church. Though the religious establishment hoped to silence the Apostles, they responded "We must obey God rather than men?" What are the implications of this conviction for us now in a post-Christian society? 

Ezra 8–10 Ezra 8–10 (Listen) Genealogy of Those Who Returned with Ezra 8 These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king: 2 Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, Hattush. 3 Of the sons of Shecaniah, who was of the sons of Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered 150 men. 4 Of the sons of Pahath-moab, Eliehoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him 200 men. 5 Of the sons of Zattu,1 Shecaniah the son of Jahaziel, and with him 300 men. 6 Of the sons of Adin, Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him 50 men. 7 Of the sons of Elam, Jeshaiah the son of Athaliah, and with him 70 men. 8 Of the sons of Shephatiah, Zebadiah the son of Michael, and with him 80 men. 9 Of the sons of Joab, Obadiah the son of Jehiel, and with him 218 men. 10 Of the sons of Bani,2 Shelomith the son of Josiphiah, and with him 160 men. 11 Of the sons of Bebai, Zechariah, the son of Bebai, and with him 28 men. 12 Of the sons of Azgad, Johanan the son of Hakkatan, and with him 110 men. 13 Of the sons of Adonikam, those who came later, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men. 14 Of the sons of Bigvai, Uthai and Zaccur, and with them 70 men. Ezra Sends for Levites 15 I gathered them to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there none of the sons of Levi. 16 Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight, 17 and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers and3 the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God. 18 And by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18; 19 also Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20; 20 besides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all mentioned by name. Fasting and Prayer for Protection 21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, “The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. Priests to Guard Offerings 24 Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them. 25 And I weighed out to them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered. 26 I weighed out into their hand 650 talents4 of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents,5 and 100 talents of gold, 27 20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics,6 and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold. 28 And I said to them, “You are holy to the LORD, and the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers. 29 Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, within the chambers of the house of the LORD.” 30 So the priests and the Levites took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God. 31 Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way. 32 We came to Jerusalem, and there we remained three days. 33 On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed into the hands of Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of Binnui. 34 The whole was counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded. 35 At that time those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD. 36 They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's satraps7 and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God. Ezra Prays About Intermarriage 9 After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands with their abominations, from the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. 2 For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race8 has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” 3 As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled. 4 Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice. 5 And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the LORD my God, 6 saying: “O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. 7 From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, and to utter shame, as it is today. 8 But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a remnant and to give us a secure hold9 within his holy place, that our God may brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery. 9 For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection10 in Judea and Jerusalem. 10 “And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your commandments, 11 which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with their uncleanness. 12 Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.' 13 And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, seeing that you, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a remnant as this, 14 shall we break your commandments again and intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us until you consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? 15 O LORD, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our guilt, for none can stand before you because of this.” The People Confess Their Sin 10 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. 2 And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: “We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3 Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord11 and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. 4 Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.” 5 Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath. 6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night,12 neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. 7 And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem, 8 and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles. 9 Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the heavy rain. 10 And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel. 11 Now then make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do his will. Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.” 12 Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, “It is so; we must do as you have said. 13 But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. 14 Let our officials stand for the whole assembly. Let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every city, until the fierce wrath of our God over this matter is turned away from us.” 15 Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and Meshullam and Shabbethai the Levite supported them. 16 Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men,13 heads of fathers' houses, according to their fathers' houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter; 17 and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women. Those Guilty of Intermarriage 18 Now there were found some of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, some of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers. 19 They pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was a ram of the flock for their guilt.14 20 Of the sons of Immer: Hanani and Zebadiah. 21 Of the sons of Harim: Maaseiah, Elijah, Shemaiah, Jehiel, and Uzziah. 22 Of the sons of Pashhur: Elioenai, Maaseiah, Ishmael, Nethanel, Jozabad, and Elasah. 23 Of the Levites: Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah (that is, Kelita), Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer. 24 Of the singers: Eliashib. Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, Telem, and Uri. 25 And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah,15 and Benaiah. 26 Of the sons of Elam: Mattaniah, Zechariah, Jehiel, Abdi, Jeremoth, and Elijah. 27 Of the sons of Zattu: Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, Jeremoth, Zabad, and Aziza. 28 Of the sons of Bebai were Jehohanan, Hananiah, Zabbai, and Athlai. 29 Of the sons of Bani were Meshullam, Malluch, Adaiah, Jashub, Sheal, and Jeremoth. 30 Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh. 31 Of the sons of Harim: Eliezer, Isshijah, Malchijah, Shemaiah, Shimeon, 32 Benjamin, Malluch, and Shemariah. 33 Of the sons of Hashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliphelet, Jeremai, Manasseh, and Shimei. 34 Of the sons of Bani: Maadai, Amram, Uel, 35 Benaiah, Bedeiah, Cheluhi, 36 Vaniah, Meremoth, Eliashib, 37 Mattaniah, Mattenai, Jaasu. 38 Of the sons of Binnui:16 Shimei, 39 Shelemiah, Nathan, Adaiah, 40 Machnadebai, Shashai, Sharai, 41 Azarel, Shelemiah, Shemariah, 42 Shallum, Amariah, and Joseph. 43 Of the sons of Nebo: Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad, Zebina, Jaddai, Joel, and Benaiah. 44 All these had married foreign women, and some of the women had even borne children.17 Footnotes [1] 8:5 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks of Zattu [2] 8:10 Septuagint; Hebrew lacks Bani [3] 8:17 Hebrew lacks and [4] 8:26 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [5] 8:26 Revocalization; the number is missing in the Masoretic Text [6] 8:27 A daric was a coin weighing about 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams [7] 8:36 A satrap was a Persian official [8] 9:2 Hebrew offspring [9] 9:8 Hebrew nail, or tent-pin [10] 9:9 Hebrew a wall [11] 10:3 Or of the Lord [12] 10:6 Probable reading; Hebrew where he went [13] 10:16 Syriac; Hebrew And there were selected Ezra . . . [14] 10:19 Or as their reparation [15] 10:25 Septuagint; Hebrew Malchijah [16] 10:38 Septuagint; Hebrew Bani, Binnui [17] 10:44 Or and they put them away with their children (ESV)

Monday, 23 May 2022   But Solomon built Him a house. Acts 7:47   The previous verse referred to David, saying, “who found favor before God and asked to find a dwelling for the God of Jacob.” With that, Stephen now notes, “But Solomon built Him a house.”   It was David's intent to build a house for the Lord to dwell in, but he was a man of war and so that honor was denied him –   “Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the Lord God of Israel. 7 And David said to Solomon: ‘My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the Lord my God; 8 but the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight. 9 Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days. 10 He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.”'” 1 Chronicles 22:6-10   As David could not build the house, Solomon was given charge to do so. But David had prepared all that was necessary for the task in advance. That is recorded in the same chapter –   “Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand talents of gold and one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone also, and you may add to them. 15 Moreover there are workmen with you in abundance: woodsmen and stonecutters, and all types of skillful men for every kind of work. 16 Of gold and silver and bronze and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the Lord be with you.” 1 Chronicles 22:14-16   But there is more than just the “house” which is the temple that is referred to in the original promise made to David as is recorded in 2 Samuel 7. The Hebrew word bayith, or house, is used again and again in that chapter. There, it has two main meanings. The first is a literal structure, a temple, where the Lord would dwell. The second refers to a family, such as saying “the house of David.”   Both ideas are found in one paragraph of 2 Samuel 7 –    “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 15 But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” 2 Samuel 7:12-16   The words “He shall build a house for My name” immediately refer to Solomon, as Stephen indicates in Acts. However, the words go further, referring to the work of Christ who is the One to build the true house of God. Peter, using the same word that Stephen uses, says –   “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5   This is the same thing that Paul refers to as well. In his words, the edifice he refers to is a temple, but it is the same idea as the “house” that Peter refers to –   “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22   Stephen's words are intended to wake the council up to the truth that what man has made is not, nor can it be, the final home of God. It is simply a perishable structure that meets a temporary purpose. He will confirm this in his words ahead. It is the apostles who then explain this so that we can understand just what the Lord is referring to in using the word “house” when speaking of a holy dwelling place as well as an eternal family in His words to David. What He says goes beyond the line of Solomon and the temple which Solomon built by referring to what Christ would do in building the true house of God through David's greater Son, Jesus.   Life application: Let us remember that no matter where we worship, the true church is not a building. Rather, it is the people of God. If you attend an online church, you are as much a part of the “church” as a person who has sat in the same pew for 45 years. Paul shows us this several times in his epistles, such as –   “To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:” Philemon 1:1, 2   The church meets in a building; the building is not the church. Wherever you are, you are a living stone in the true house that God is building. Be confident in this and don't worry if the latte machine in the corner of the building is broken. It will not affect your salvation at all. Be assured of your position in Christ. He has you safely cared for as a member of His true church.   Heavenly Father, thank You for the knowledge that we are accepted members of Your church because of the work of Jesus. We are accepted, and we are being built into a house that will endure forever. Thank You for Your kind care for each one of us. Glory to You in the highest. Amen.  

Witchcraft Sent to Hinder Our Voices Winnie Osegueda - 5/12/22 (David's note in red)   This morning I was attacked twice with sleep paralysis. To get out of it I had to do spiritual warfare in my "dream” but I was not actually fully asleep, and so I commanded the demons to leave in the name of Jesus.   In this sleep paralysis state David said to me, "They're sending witchcraft to stop us from using our voices.” (Our voices go out in many different ways: Videos, audios, books, missionaries, broadcasts, internet, telecasts, word of mouth, etc. Witchcraft from the faction in political and “Christian” circles always attempts to stop this.) When I got up I asked for two heads for confirmation, and I received two heads.   I asked for a verse by faith at random and received the cross reference right where my finger landed on the last part of the verse. Psalm 25:18  (18-22 for context) Consider mine affliction and my travail; And forgive all my sins. 19  Consider mine enemies, for they are many; And they hate me with cruel hatred. 20 Oh keep my soul, and deliver me: Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in thee. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, For I wait for thee. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, Out of all his troubles.   We received this text in our morning prayer meeting by faith at random yesterday on 5/21/22 that perfectly describes the situation in Winnie's dream above.  Neh 4:1-20  But it came to pass that, when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews. (The faction has fought against us building the wall of sanctification for our brethren. Narcissists because of their ego, care not about anyone but themselves and they project their own evil and sins onto others.)    2  And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? (They are Samaritans which is one who is not a Jew by blood, but only in religion like all apostates and factious people.) will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, seeing they are burned? (These people do not want the restoration of the Kingdom of God because they are foreign to it and it is a threat to them and their demons.)    3  Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they are building, if a fox go up, he shall break down their stone wall. (The Ammonites also factioned against their chosen brethren.)    4  Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn back their reproach upon their own head, and give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity;  5  and cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee; for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.     6  So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto half the height thereof: for the people had a mind to work.  7  But it came to pass that, when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth;  8  and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Jerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. (As we build the wall with our Biblical materials they have warred against us by taking down our website, by taking down our videos, by slandering us to others so as to steal the food out of the mouths of God's children. They have failed as God said.)   9  But we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.  10  And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.  11  And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come into the midst of them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease… (They can only spiritually or physically slay those who have failed the test of obedience, faith and love like they did.)      ... 14  And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.  (I exhort everyone to do spiritual warfare against these enemies who are against your families, the Church and State. Cast down their demonic schemes, witchcraft prayers, slanders, railings, and evil leadership in Jesus name. Cast down the dragon of Rev 12 in and out of the Church. Pray for the elect among them to come out and be saved.)   15  And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, (because they do their work in darkness) and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. (Amazingly God tells us of their evil plans just like in Winnie's dream. Also Narcissists love to brag of their evil works to each other, when we are listening.) ...18  and the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me. (Our sword is the Word of the Lord in our mouths and the enemy curse themselves by cursing us as the Lord promised to Abraham.) …20 ...our God will fight for us.   Our Voices Amplified in the Rock  Vanessa Weeks - 5/19/22 (David's notes in red)   I dreamed that I was standing in a rock with a few other people. (Representing the Bride body that is hidden in the rock of Christ.) Song 2:14  O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, In the covert of the steep place, Let me see thy countenance, For sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. (As we are about to see, our voices in Christ to the lost bring them into the Kingdom and satan's willing accusers try to stop this.)   On the right side was an opening and we saw some very green trees. (I think the green trees are people just outside of the rock of Christ. The Bride sees with the eyes of the dove, seeing these people as the Lord sees them, by faith and full of the life of God.)   Our tour guide was a thin man wearing a ranger uniform and he was explaining the things we were seeing. (I believe the ranger represents the Man-Child leading [us to build the wall in our own lives and in others.])   This tour guide said, "When we are in the rock our words are heard by the trees just outside the rock." I knew he was saying the rock made our voices amplified to those outside.   I think this is amazing, since Winnie had the dream about the same time, of evil forces trying to stop our voices. I thought of Mat. 16:18-19   18  And I also say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19  I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.   Thank you Father that as we abide in the rock our voices can not be stopped.     Apostates Mocking a Tired Bride to Their Own Destruction Claire Piennar - 5/13/22 (David's note in red)   I dreamed I was sitting at a school desk, complaining about how tired I was. (The Bride represented by Claire is in the School of Sanctification. She is learning all the truths and promises of the Word so that, as the first fruits, she can bring wisdom and understanding to her "little sister”. But we must not grow weary in well doing or murmur. Gal. 6:9 And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. And  Php. 2:14-16  Do all things without murmurings and questionings: 15 that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world, 16 holding forth the word of life; that I may have whereof to glory in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain neither labor in vain.)    I was not really saying anything bad about anyone, but I was re-telling this situation:   I had no time to do anything because, as I got home from my long journey of doing grocery shopping, my phone rang. A specific person rang me but I can't remember who. It was someone who needed help with something, and they had questions about faith, etc. Even simple things like unpacking groceries are tough because I drive 1.5 hrs to fetch the groceries and then drive 1.5 hrs back; it was wearing me down.    While at the school desk, I reiterated that I was tired, and wanted some support. It was clear that I should not have asked the people in the class for support, as they did not understand the reason for the tiredness I was experiencing. The person at the entrance to the classroom, Louis, my brother-in-law, thought I was being pathetic, not being able to juggle a phone call between unpacking shopping bags. (Her brother-in-law is legalistic and critical and judgmental and not interested in truth of the situation. We know these people.)      Nadene, my sister-in-law, (meaning hope, possibly representing false hope.) was sitting at another desk and she was glaring at me, and snarling and being rude in her facial expressions. Then Louis, my brother-in-law, came in and got in my face and mocked me, leered at me, and mimicked my story in a sarcastic tone. (Louis means, "famous warrior", possibly representing factious, warring apostate Christians who persecute their brother as Esau did.) (The In-laws represent our brethren who have been captured by faction and the apostate church system.)    I realized then that I probably should not have moaned about having no time. They continued to go on and on at me. (The factious are so arrogant they act as though they are God in constantly judging the righteous but their judgment will return upon their own heads as God has said.) Obe. 1:3-10  The pride of thy heart hath deceived thee, O thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 Though thou mount on high as the eagle, and though thy nest be set among the stars, I will bring thee down from thence, saith Jehovah. 5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night (how art thou cut off!), would they not steal only till they had enough? If grape-gatherers came to thee, would they not leave some gleaning grapes? (These thieves must reap what they sow in order to fulfill the Word of God.)   6 How are the things of Esau searched! how are his hidden treasures sought out! (Esau hated his chosen brother like the factions today.) 7 All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee on thy way, even to the border: the men that were at peace with thee have deceived thee, and prevailed against thee; they that eat thy bread lay a snare under thee: there is no understanding in him. 8 Shall I not in that day, saith Jehovah, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Esau? (Psa 37:12-13  The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth.  13  The Lord will laugh at him; For he seeth that his day is coming.)    9 And thy mighty men, O Teman, shall be dismayed, to the end that every one may be cut off from the mount of Esau by slaughter. 10 For the violence done to thy brother Jacob, shame shall cover thee, and thou shalt be cut off for ever.)   Back to Claire's dream: Then Riaan came in and invited the couple to come onto the Zoom outreach. Louis said he'd join, but I had a feeling in the dream that he was coming on to make trouble or to prove a point so I prayed peace over the meeting.    Then we watched them from Zoom as they entered their yard and the grass was about thigh-high. (These apostates are overcome by their own flesh not realizing that they have no fruit in the Kingdom.  1Pe 1:24-25  For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth:  25  But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you. )     They were ambushed by dark people, who were stealing, killing and pillaging everything in that area. I knew this was a judgement on my in laws, and it was hard to watch. (It will be hard to watch the judgment of the apostates by God. We have heard that over 400 sites across U.S. are planned for Liberal protests  These 400 planned protests will turn into riots as being planned by Deep State, Antifa and Left Wing Extremist. We have also heard in the Bible where Babylon burned the houses of God. National Guard are planned to be deployed throughout the U.S. If it gets bad enough the army will be deployed.  The DS has armed the anarchists)   Nadene said to her children, “Come and get into the car right now!” She was very scared. As Louis asked for prayer for the situation, out of pure necessity, the screen went blank. We typed in the chat box “PRAY” in big letters as Louis also typed “PRAY” in big letters. We prayed for justice and mercy. Then I woke up.  (Psa 109:5-7  And they have rewarded me evil for good, And hatred for my love.  6  Set thou a wicked man over him; And let an adversary stand at his right hand.  7  When he is judged, let him come forth guilty; And let his prayer be turned into sin. Some who are caught up in faction and apostasy will repent when God begins to judge them in earnest.)   I asked for a word by faith at random and received Psa 68:13-14, (My finger was on “pinions” and “almighty”, which is exactly where we are in Psalm 91 Under his pinions (wings), under the shadow of the Almighty.) When ye lie among the sheepfolds, It is as the wings of a dove covered with silver, And her pinions with yellow gold. When the Almighty scattered kings therein, It was as when it snoweth in Zalmon. (Those people who are persecuting the Bride are going to be destroyed. Our God and His holy people will not be mocked.) (Gal. 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. And  Pro. 17:5  Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.)   Riaan received this word by faith at random too: Malachi 3:11-12  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground ...   Man-Child and Bride Survive Sheol and Clean Up Good  Claire Pienaar - 5/11/22 (David's note in red)   I dreamed my in-laws came to fetch me and they wanted me to go with them. They were pretty forceful and it was like a hostage situation. (The legalistic and judgmental always want to force their opinions on others but they're not qualified to judge anything. Howbeit, this persecution brings about a death to the righteous that they may receive resurrection life. I was once put under law in a religion and what I discovered about the law actually turned me to grace. Rom. 7:4-6  Wherefore, my brethren, ye also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ; that ye should be joined to another, even to him who was raised from the dead, that we might bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were through the law, wrought in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held; so that we serve in newness of the spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.)   They walked me into a mine shaft, and my mother-and-father-in-law were walking in front of me. (The Law came first to show us that we could not be saved by the works of the law. Jesus came to bring us a new covenant of death to self in following in His footsteps. Jesus was persecuted by those under the law and received resurrection life which we call perfection. Heb. 7:28 For the law appointeth men high priests, having infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was after the law, appointeth a Son, perfected for evermore.)   I felt no fear in me but I was aware of fear in the mine. (Jesus said if you love me you will keep my commandments. This is death to our old nature. Perfect love casts out fear but our flesh is fearful of death even as our spirit man welcomes it.)    My daughters were walking with their grandparents. (Father is going to cleanse the fruit of the Bride through the death to self, represented by the mine, that His Word demands.  Isa. 4:3-4 And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem; 4 when the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof, by the spirit of justice, and by the spirit of burning.)   I was walking with Riaan on my right side, and my son Daniel, who has blonde hair, was walking in-between us. We were each holding one of his hands. (Riaan represents the corporate Man-child as his name means “little king” like Mordecai in Esther; and I represent the corporate Bride as my name means “brilliant”, representing her brilliant garment of righteous acts in Rev 19:7-8. Daniel, my son, represents our fruit and our personal Man-child or spirit man in each one of us due to his blonde hair. His name means “God is my judge”).    When we finally came up out of the mine there were baths all along both sides of the train tracks that led into the mine shaft. They were under a corrugated roof covering. The baths were old white porcelain with golden feet. My in-laws did not come up out of the mine. (Those who are enslaved to legalism will not bear the fruit of resurrection hence they are not bathed.)   I walked to the third bath on the left, to wash up after being full of soot from the mine… I filled the tub with nice warm water and started washing my arms, but the water remained clean. There was no soot from the mine. (The soot is darkness that has been washed away.) Then I woke up. (The Water represents the pure Word of God that we are washed with that is never defiled.  Rom 6:4-12 We were buried therefore with him through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.    5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection; 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him , that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin; 7 for he that hath died is justified from sin. 8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him; 9 knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death no more hath dominion over him... 11  Even so reckon ye also yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus. 12  Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey the lusts thereof:)   I asked the Lord for a word about this dream by faith at random and received, Jer 48:24  (with my finger on “Bozrah”.) (In context 21,24 & 25)   And judgment is come ...upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near. The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, saith Jehovah.” (Bozrah was the capital of the Edomites, those from Esau. It was also a city of Moab). (Bozrah is the Edomite sheepfold. These people never come out of the “mine” only the elect of God do.)   The Multi-Faceted Demonic Faction Attack on Evangelism Claire Pienaar - 5/2/22 (David's note in red)   In this dream I was looking at my pantry, and the shelves were covered in orange dust. (Orange represents danger.)   I peered into the pantry corner to see where it was coming from and I saw a huge ugly thing the size of the length and breadth of a grown man's shoe come out of a Mission Tortilla bag. It was bright orange, scary and looked like it had very large fangs or pincers. It was a spider but really ugly, with an elongated body.    I DID have a terrible time with a factious Jezebel recently who came into my house, but the Lord took me through it with His grace that I was able to pour out on her through hospitality and kind words. It happened the morning after I received this dream.  I believe she might be pursuing a goal to become a “missionary” for her church, hence why the spider came out of the brand of tortilla chips called “Mission”.    (Our mission from God to the world is attacked because of the food we serve from our pantry (ministry materials) is saving people from the apostate church. This always angers the apostate preachers when they lose people as it was with the Pharisees in Jesus' day. The many legged spider, represents many legs of faction both overseas and here in this country. The Demons all over the world are coordinating their attacks against the righteous.)    The spider jumped at me and I moved out of the way. It was now running on the floor towards the door. I called Riaan and he got out the vacuum cleaner and sucked it up, because no other method could kill it. I had tried to beat it but it was too large and nothing harmed or stopped it. (Faction and witchcraft are spirits and can only be stopped by exercising authority through faith. The vacuum imprisoned the faction like the dream we recently received of the Bride sending the angels to imprison the factious until their lethal injection took them out. And we had the dream of the angel warriors throwing their own bombs back at them.) These revelations can be found on our site under: Preserved From the Beast (21) -  UBM Protected by Special OPs Angels and Factious Dogs in the DS and Church Rounded Up and Euthanized   I woke up and asked the Lord for a word by faith at random, and received: Pro. 27:5-6  Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.    Witchcraft Trying to Hinder the Kingdom Work Angelica Garza - 5/15/22 (David's note in red)   In this dream, I got re-hired at Driscoll Children's Hospital (This was my former employer in the natural. Spiritually, I believe this children's hospital represents our ministry in the Kingdom of God to bring healing to those that are babies and young in the Lord). (Driscoll means, descendant of the messenger; a go-between, intermediary, or news bearer. We are messengers of the Gospel descended from Jesus who was the ultimate messenger. We bear the good news of the gospel to lost and wounded people who are in need of spiritual as well as physical healing.)       I was trying to clock in as I had the day before, but the code that had been given to me was not working when I punched it in on the phone. (As we will see, then enemy tries to give us lying “codes”. A code represents something that is hidden that can be found out by those hungry for truth and can be revealed by those who know the hidden Manna. The enemy perverts these codes to sabotage our work in others lives and our progress.) (I thought of John 9:4  We must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 5 When I am in the world, I am the light of the world.)   It seems that whoever was in charge of that department did not want to help me. (The department represents demonic principalities and powers who are assigned to resist and hinder the work of the saints.) So I had to go to the main building because this building I was working in was an extension of the main hospital. (This may represent our individual positions in the body or "departments" of ministry focus).  (Eph. 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.)   Then I was in the main building trying to talk to a lady on the phone about how I needed to clock in but was not able, and I needed her to do something about it. She also was not interested in helping me. I remember thinking or saying to her that I was going to bypass them and speak to the higher-ups and her boss, because she was not going to help me. (I thought about Jesus and God the Father as being the higher-ups). (I received this by faith at random yesterday.  Luk 1:68  Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; For he hath visited and wrought redemption for his people,  69  And hath raised up a horn of salvation for us In the house of his servant David  70  (As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old),  71  Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; ... 74  To grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies Should serve him without fear,  75  In holiness and righteousness before him all our days. )   Then I realized I knew this woman. Her name was Lupe. (The name Lupe means “from the wolf's river". Wolves in the Bible symbolize false teachers or shepherds who spew the false doctrines and lies of the Serpent/dragon. Rev 12:15  And the serpent cast out of his mouth after the woman water as a river, (representing lying words and deception) that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream.) (The enemy is using witchcraft to keep us from working at the children's hospital to bring healing to the children.)   I also realized my ex, Isaiah's father, was there coaching her on what to say. (I also thought maybe she represented a witchcraft attack from our religious enemies.) Then I woke up.   I asked for a word by faith at random in my Vines Dictionary and landed on page 255 on the word Fraud, meaning to keep back, deprive, to be lacking. My finger landed on "the Law required the prompt payment of the laborer. Then it references Deu. 24:15 (14-15 in context) 14 Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy sojourners that are in thy land within thy gates: 15 in his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it (for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it); lest he cry against thee unto Jehovah, and it be sin unto thee. As a confirmation, Winnie received this same verse for the morning prayer meeting on 05/14/22.   David Receives New Body?  Claire Pienaar - 5/11/22 (David's note in red)   I dreamed Riaan and I had a home on a large avenue with lovely large homes on either side of the avenue. The homes had no fences and had large green trees in the front yards. (The large green trees in this community of saints represents the fruit of their land which represents their natural life. It shows a flourishing life because they are planted by the waters of life as in Psa. 1:1-3  Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the wicked, Nor standeth in the way of sinners, Nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: 2 But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; And on his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, That bringeth forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also doth not wither; And whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.    The lack of fences in this community represents the saints dwelling in unity. Psa. 133:1-3  Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious oil upon the head, That ran down upon the beard, Even Aaron's beard; That came down upon the skirt of his garments; 3 Like the dew of Hermon, That cometh down upon the mountains of Zion: For there Jehovah commanded the blessing, Even life for evermore.) (Riaan: As we will see, In this dream it seems like the homes represent a dwelling place before entering the wilderness tabernacles and that the Man-Child Davids have gone before us through their own trials and overcoming).     We had a white tent up in the front of our home on the avenue. Inside the tent were a few people from UBM. (Representing the corporate tabernacle of the righteous who consume the Unleavened Bread from UBM ministries.) (Riaan: Many of the first fruits of the called-out ones are ready to enter the wilderness and have experienced their own personal wildernesses before the corporate wilderness experience of the Church in tribulation).     Brandy was handing out colored tennis balls.  He told us that we were to be grouped according to the colors of the tennis balls. I think the colors were blue, pink, purple and orange... (Riaan: The colors could represent different ministries/appointments/callings perhaps gifts. In children's tennis, kids are grouped according to skill level and play with different colored balls. The colors of the balls will mean something different for each group.)(Brandy is a distilled liquor or spirit produced from fermented fruit. Grapes are most commonly used. Wine represents the blood of Jesus which is our life. Father is using Brandy to represent the Spirit because of his name.    1Co 12:4-11 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are diversities of ministrations, and the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of workings, but the same God, who worketh all things in all. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit to profit withal. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom; and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit: 9 to another faith, in the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, in the one Spirit; 10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discernings of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; and to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.)   My parents (Representing the apostate church) came into the tent, very distraught, and told Brandy that they would be devastated if Dr Lopez died. (This was the family doctor who was from Bolivia when I was a child. The name “Lopez” means “son of a wolf”.). Then they left again. (The “family doctor" of the apostates represents “the prophet and the priest who dealeth falsely” to create sons of wolves in Jer. 6:13-15 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14 They have healed also the hurt of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall; at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith Jehovah. The apostate Christians are sons of wolves. Mat. 7:15 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.) (Riaan: The sons of perdition have been part of the family for a long time and some will struggle to accept their destruction).     Brandy then turned to me, and said, “David has moved his tent into the front yard of his house. His body is failing”. (Representing the death and burial of the carnal or fleshly man and the resurrection. The tent in the front yard represents a near and future event of anointing and catching up to the throne authority for the Man-child Davids?)    In the dream I had an intense desire to help David any way that I could, and I could feel tears stinging my eyes as I fought them back to the words, “His body is failing”. (Watching the suffering and death to self experiences of our brethren in Christ is painful to watch and we bear their grief and burdens with them. Gal. 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.) (Riaan: 2 Cor 5:1-3 For we know that if the earthly house of our tabernacle be dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 2 For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our habitation which is from heaven: 3 if so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.).     Then, I had a vision of David mowing his lawn and putting up a camouflage tent on the front lawn of his home. His home was directly opposite our home in the dream. The grass was already short and manicured but David was giving it an extra trim, it seemed. (Mowing the grass twice represents, “giving the more diligence” in 2 Pe 1:10-11 Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: 11 for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And 1Co 9:27  but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.   The camouflaged tent represents being hidden in Christ. (Col. 3:1-4 If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth. 3 For ye died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall be manifested, then shall ye also with him be manifested in glory.) (Riaan: The Man-child has already had his wilderness experience and is skilled in cutting down the flesh ("all flesh is as grass"). He is the example we have to follow, giving up the carnal/fleshly life by faith to inherit a heavenly life at the end.)     Deb Fenske then had this Word from the Lord in the dream for me: “Do not be distressed. Keep doing what I have called you to do, and David will keep doing what I have called him to do. I love you very much. You cannot help me, but I see your love and I will reward you”.      Then we were in another home, for a Pot Blessing. Matt and Anna rested on a lazy boy leather couch with Shoshana, in a little sunroom adjacent to the dining room we were all in and we set things up all around them… (Matthew means, "Gift of God" and Anna means, “grace”. They represent the Man-child and Bride bodies who are in the rest in the sun/Son room. Everything that the first fruits does centers around the striving to be in the Man-child and Bride bodies. Shoshana means, “lily” and represents the fruit of the Bride typed in Song of Solomon as “the lily of the valley” Song 2:1-2  I am a rose of Sharon, A lily of the valleys. As a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.)   My children brought all their reading and coloring books along, and Tabitha was sitting at a table with her books laid out all around her. David Eells walked into the room and looked at Tabitha's books and said, “That's an unconventional book of Acts you've got there, Tabitha. I hope you enjoy reading it”. (We just received this text in the book of Acts concerning Tabitha in our morning meeting today by faith at random. How prophetic that we just saw a resurrection and now Tabitha also speaks of a resurrection.    Act 9:36-42  Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did.  37  And it came to pass in those days, that she fell sick, and died: ... 40  But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up.  41  And he gave her his hand, and raised her up; and calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.  42  And it became known throughout all Joppa: and many believed on the Lord. (God's Church will arise above all the wishes of the wicked.)    ...Then we got into our groups that we were divided into with the colored tennis balls, and David started speaking. I knew we were going to take shifts to pray in 4-hour segments, with 4 balls in each group...  This would continue all weekend. Then I woke up. (Riaan: 4 is the number for creation or world.) (We are getting ready through prayer to go to the world as per each one's calling or gifts.)     I Speak Peace to You; Fear Not Word from the Lord - Debbie Fenske - 5/11/22 “My children, I speak peace to you. Hear Me. Fear not. Allow My peace to dwell in your heart as you rest in Me. Stay in that rest. For you have been planted in Me. Do not allow yourselves to be moved, and uprooted. I alone must be your rest, and your peace. Be steadfast in your stand in Me, Jesus, your king and Lord. I am speaking this to all of my Called and My Elect, saying, set your heart and set your eyes on Me. Set your faces like flint, unchangeable, so that through you My purposes will be performed, and through you I will be glorified. Shake off the earthly cares of this world. Stay strong, steadfast, and immovable, abounding in the work of My kingdom; not as so many of My people, who find their rest and their peace in so many earthly, and vain things. If only they would sit at My feet, and desire to be fed from My hand where is the unleavened truth of My Word. Yet, I will lead them to my Word, to my truth, for now is the time. It is so near for the unfolding of My plans and My purposes in this time as I raise up My anointed Man-Child, and Bride to feed, strengthen, and restore many to life in Me.  There is no other life. So, be prepared, stay prepared for the things soon to come; for My plans for this earth, and My plans for you that I have precisely timed to come about. Even now your work which you perform for Me, for My kingdom, is drawing many unto Myself. Be encouraged, for many have come to My side, walking with Me, and learning to follow My steps, even as you are. Stay focused in Me, freed from the things of this world. Put away all earthly plans and desires and let your life continually be hid in Me. Take heed that now is the time for continual prayer and warfare with fasting; coming against the evil powers who think they are in control. Nothing has happened in all the ages of this world that has not been exclusively under My control. These evil workers of wickedness think they are something when they are nothing. I laugh at them for the high standard they have of themselves, for they are but puppets. They will see that there is one high standard: the standard which My holy corporate people who have risen to in obedience to Me.  It is to this high and holy standard; the high calling that I call all of my Elect to obtain to. This is you, My humble, holy ones: humble, yet knowing the power and the might of My Spirit in you, who through Me in you will bring down the mighty, and their works; who do not know the power of The Almighty God, nor do they know the power of My Spirit in My mighty, and holy kingdom people. So many of My people do not know the power of My Spirit, and that it can dwell in them. They have not the slightest inclination that the evil days, the dark days prophesied to be upon this earth, and upon the people of this earth, are here. My eyes still roam throughout this earth looking for those whose hearts are right towards Me, and for those whose hearts are searching for truth. What power and anointing is about to break forth, and brighten this dark earth with the light of My truth, and the light of My presence, My holiness shining upon my anointed ones all over the earth. This you know. So, I say, this is the time to keep Me, Jesus, as your Standard, lifted high while exercising continual spiritual alertness through much prayer, and expectation for what I am about to accomplish in you, and through you, My people, all over this earth.” “I see some of you, My people, who are growing weary. I speak to you now, “Be renewed,” that you be not weary in well doing. Let the refreshing waters of My Word wash over you, refreshing your mind, your body, and your spirit.” Thank you Father for your encouragement, and your exhortation to us, and thank you for your compassion, how you show us you are concerned with everything about us. I pray you strengthen the weary and the feeble, and all who are bowed with cares. Thank you for doing so, Lord. Help us to remember to pray for one another, and to cast all of our cares upon You, because we know that You, Lord, care so much for us. Amen. The Lord led me to include just some of the scriptures He referred to in this Word to us: Isa. 26:3-4 - (He will keep us in perfect peace) Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee ; because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in Jehovah for ever; for in Jehovah, even Jehovah, is an everlasting rock. 1 Co. 15:57 - (We have the victory through Christ), but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Co. 16:13 - (Stand firm, Be on your guard), Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.  Gal. 6:9 - (Be not weary), And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Eze. 3:9 - (Fear them not),  As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house. Isa. 50:7 - (Set your face as flint), For the Lord Jehovah will help me; therefore have I not been confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. 2 Ti. 1:9 - (We are saved to a high and holy calling), who saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, Joh. 6:37 - (Those who Father draws will come), All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Jer. 1:5 - (Before we were born He knew us),  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee; I have appointed thee a prophet unto the nations. 1 Pe. 2:10 - (Worldly desires wage war against our souls),  who in time past were no people, but now are the people of God: who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 1 Jn. 2:15 - (Do not love the world), Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Isa. 41:10 - (Fear not), fear thou not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God; I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Psa. 91:1 - (We dwell in the secret place of the Most High), He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Psa. 90:1-2 - (the Lord, our dwelling place) Lord, thou hast been our dwelling-place In all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, Or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, Even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. Mat. 11:28 - (Come unto me), Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 2 Co. 6:2 - (Now is the day of salvation), (for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation): Mar. 13:33 - (Keep watch, and pray), Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. Ecc. 3:11 - (He has made all things beautiful in His time), He hath made everything beautiful in its time: also he hath set eternity in their heart, yet so that man cannot find out the work that God hath done from the beginning even to the end. Joel 2:12-13 - (Turn to me with with fasting, weeping, and mourning), Yet even now, saith Jehovah, turn ye unto me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto Jehovah your God; for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abundant in lovingkindness, and repenteth him of the evil. Col. 3:2-3 - (Think on things above), Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Psa. 37:12-13 - (The Lord laughs at the wicked), The wicked plotteth against the just, And gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord will laugh at him; For he seeth that his day is coming. 2 Pe. 1:10 - (Your calling and election sure), Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: Isa. 49:9 - (Say to the bound, “Go forth, ”to those in darkness, “show yourself”), saying to them that are bound, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and on all bare heights shall be their pasture. Isa. 60:1-3 - (Arise, shine, your light has come), Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples; but Jehovah will arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And nations shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

1 Chronicles 11:11-14 | Dr. Dameion L. Royal, Pastor

With family: Numbers 30; Psalm 74 Numbers 30 (Listen) Men and Vows 30 Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel, saying, “This is what the LORD has commanded. 2 If a man vows a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. Women and Vows 3 “If a woman vows a vow to the LORD and binds herself by a pledge, while within her father's house in her youth, 4 and her father hears of her vow and of her pledge by which she has bound herself and says nothing to her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. 5 But if her father opposes her on the day that he hears of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. And the LORD will forgive her, because her father opposed her. 6 “If she marries a husband, while under her vows or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself, 7 and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand. 8 But if, on the day that her husband comes to hear of it, he opposes her, then he makes void her vow that was on her, and the thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she bound herself. And the LORD will forgive her. 9 (But any vow of a widow or of a divorced woman, anything by which she has bound herself, shall stand against her.) 10 And if she vowed in her husband's house or bound herself by a pledge with an oath, 11 and her husband heard of it and said nothing to her and did not oppose her, then all her vows shall stand, and every pledge by which she bound herself shall stand. 12 But if her husband makes them null and void on the day that he hears them, then whatever proceeds out of her lips concerning her vows or concerning her pledge of herself shall not stand. Her husband has made them void, and the LORD will forgive her. 13 Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself,1 her husband may establish,2 or her husband may make void. 14 But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her pledges that are upon her. He has established them, because he said nothing to her on the day that he heard of them. 15 But if he makes them null and void after he has heard of them, then he shall bear her iniquity.” 16 These are the statutes that the LORD commanded Moses about a man and his wife and about a father and his daughter while she is in her youth within her father's house. Footnotes [1] 30:13 Or to fast [2] 30:13 Or may allow to stand (ESV) Psalm 74 (Listen) Arise, O God, Defend Your Cause A Maskil1 of Asaph. 74   O God, why do you cast us off forever?    Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?2   Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old,    which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage!    Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt.3   Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins;    the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! 4   Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place;    they set up their own signs for signs.5   They were like those who swing axes    in a forest of trees.26   And all its carved wood    they broke down with hatchets and hammers.7   They set your sanctuary on fire;    they profaned the dwelling place of your name,    bringing it down to the ground.8   They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”;    they burned all the meeting places of God in the land. 9   We do not see our signs;    there is no longer any prophet,    and there is none among us who knows how long.10   How long, O God, is the foe to scoff?    Is the enemy to revile your name forever?11   Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?    Take it from the fold of your garment3 and destroy them! 12   Yet God my King is from of old,    working salvation in the midst of the earth.13   You divided the sea by your might;    you broke the heads of the sea monsters4 on the waters.14   You crushed the heads of Leviathan;    you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness.15   You split open springs and brooks;    you dried up ever-flowing streams.16   Yours is the day, yours also the night;    you have established the heavenly lights and the sun.17   You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth;    you have made summer and winter. 18   Remember this, O LORD, how the enemy scoffs,    and a foolish people reviles your name.19   Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts;    do not forget the life of your poor forever. 20   Have regard for the covenant,    for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence.21   Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame;    let the poor and needy praise your name. 22   Arise, O God, defend your cause;    remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!23   Do not forget the clamor of your foes,    the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually! Footnotes [1] 74:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [2] 74:5 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [3] 74:11 Hebrew from your bosom [4] 74:13 Or the great sea creatures (ESV) In private: Isaiah 22; 2 Peter 3 Isaiah 22 (Listen) An Oracle Concerning Jerusalem 22 The oracle concerning the valley of vision.   What do you mean that you have gone up,    all of you, to the housetops,2   you who are full of shoutings,    tumultuous city, exultant town?  Your slain are not slain with the sword    or dead in battle.3   All your leaders have fled together;    without the bow they were captured.  All of you who were found were captured,    though they had fled far away.4   Therefore I said:  “Look away from me;    let me weep bitter tears;  do not labor to comfort me    concerning the destruction of the daughter of my people.” 5   For the Lord GOD of hosts has a day    of tumult and trampling and confusion    in the valley of vision,  a battering down of walls    and a shouting to the mountains.6   And Elam bore the quiver    with chariots and horsemen,    and Kir uncovered the shield.7   Your choicest valleys were full of chariots,    and the horsemen took their stand at the gates.8   He has taken away the covering of Judah. In that day you looked to the weapons of the House of the Forest, 9 and you saw that the breaches of the city of David were many. You collected the waters of the lower pool, 10 and you counted the houses of Jerusalem, and you broke down the houses to fortify the wall. 11 You made a reservoir between the two walls for the water of the old pool. But you did not look to him who did it, or see him who planned it long ago. 12   In that day the Lord GOD of hosts    called for weeping and mourning,    for baldness and wearing sackcloth;13   and behold, joy and gladness,    killing oxen and slaughtering sheep,    eating flesh and drinking wine.  “Let us eat and drink,    for tomorrow we die.”14   The LORD of hosts has revealed himself in my ears:  “Surely this iniquity will not be atoned for you until you die,”    says the Lord GOD of hosts. 15 Thus says the Lord GOD of hosts, “Come, go to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the household, and say to him: 16 What have you to do here, and whom have you here, that you have cut out here a tomb for yourself, you who cut out a tomb on the height and carve a dwelling for yourself in the rock? 17 Behold, the LORD will hurl you away violently, O you strong man. He will seize firm hold on you 18 and whirl you around and around, and throw you like a ball into a wide land. There you shall die, and there shall be your glorious chariots, you shame of your master's house. 19 I will thrust you from your office, and you will be pulled down from your station. 20 In that day I will call my servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, 21 and I will clothe him with your robe, and will bind your sash on him, and will commit your authority to his hand. And he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. 22 And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open. 23 And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place, and he will become a throne of honor to his father's house. 24 And they will hang on him the whole honor of his father's house, the offspring and issue, every small vessel, from the cups to all the flagons. 25 In that day, declares the LORD of hosts, the peg that was fastened in a secure place will give way, and it will be cut down and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off, for the LORD has spoken.” (ESV) 2 Peter 3 (Listen) The Day of the Lord Will Come 3 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,1 not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies2 will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.3 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Final Words 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. Footnotes [1] 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account [2] 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12 [3] 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up (ESV)

2 Kings 6–8 2 Kings 6–8 (Listen) The Axe Head Recovered 6 Now the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See, the place where we dwell under your charge is too small for us. 2 Let us go to the Jordan and each of us get there a log, and let us make a place for us to dwell there.” And he answered, “Go.” 3 Then one of them said, “Be pleased to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” 4 So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. 5 But as one was felling a log, his axe head fell into the water, and he cried out, “Alas, my master! It was borrowed.” 6 Then the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, he cut off a stick and threw it in there and made the iron float. 7 And he said, “Take it up.” So he reached out his hand and took it. Horses and Chariots of Fire 8 Once when the king of Syria was warring against Israel, he took counsel with his servants, saying, “At such and such a place shall be my camp.” 9 But the man of God sent word to the king of Israel, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are going down there.” 10 And the king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God told him. Thus he used to warn him, so that he saved himself there more than once or twice. 11 And the mind of the king of Syria was greatly troubled because of this thing, and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me who of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” 13 And he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and seize him.” It was told him, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” 14 So he sent there horses and chariots and a great army, and they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, “Please strike this people with blindness.” So he struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha. 19 And Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” And he led them to Samaria. 20 As soon as they entered Samaria, Elisha said, “O LORD, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the LORD opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria. 21 As soon as the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I strike them down? Shall I strike them down?” 22 He answered, “You shall not strike them down. Would you strike down those whom you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” 23 So he prepared for them a great feast, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the Syrians did not come again on raids into the land of Israel. Ben-hadad's Siege of Samaria 24 Afterward Ben-hadad king of Syria mustered his entire army and went up and besieged Samaria. 25 And there was a great famine in Samaria, as they besieged it, until a donkey's head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and the fourth part of a kab1 of dove's dung for five shekels of silver. 26 Now as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” 27 And he said, “If the LORD will not help you, how shall I help you? From the threshing floor, or from the winepress?” 28 And the king asked her, “What is your trouble?” She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.' 29 So we boiled my son and ate him. And on the next day I said to her, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him.' But she has hidden her son.” 30 When the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes—now he was passing by on the wall—and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth beneath on his body—31 and he said, “May God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on his shoulders today.” 32 Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Now the king had dispatched a man from his presence, but before the messenger arrived Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent to take off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door and hold the door fast against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?” 33 And while he was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him and said, “This trouble is from the LORD! Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?” Elisha Promises Food 7 But Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD: thus says the LORD, Tomorrow about this time a seah2 of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel,3 and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.” 2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned said to the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” But he said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” The Syrians Flee 3 Now there were four men who were lepers4 at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,' the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” 5 So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. 6 For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.” 7 So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. 8 And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them. 9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king's household.” 10 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city and told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and behold, there was no one to be seen or heard there, nothing but the horses tied and the donkeys tied and the tents as they were.” 11 Then the gatekeepers called out, and it was told within the king's household. 12 And the king rose in the night and said to his servants, “I will tell you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the open country, thinking, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive and get into the city.'” 13 And one of his servants said, “Let some men take five of the remaining horses, seeing that those who are left here will fare like the whole multitude of Israel who have already perished. Let us send and see.” 14 So they took two horsemen, and the king sent them after the army of the Syrians, saying, “Go and see.” 15 So they went after them as far as the Jordan, and behold, all the way was littered with garments and equipment that the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. And the messengers returned and told the king. 16 Then the people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. 17 Now the king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to have charge of the gate. And the people trampled him in the gate, so that he died, as the man of God had said when the king came down to him. 18 For when the man of God had said to the king, “Two seahs of barley shall be sold for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, about this time tomorrow in the gate of Samaria,” 19 the captain had answered the man of God, “If the LORD himself should make windows in heaven, could such a thing be?” And he had said, “You shall see it with your own eyes, but you shall not eat of it.” 20 And so it happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate and he died. The Shunammite's Land Restored 8 Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Arise, and depart with your household, and sojourn wherever you can, for the LORD has called for a famine, and it will come upon the land for seven years.” 2 So the woman arose and did according to the word of the man of God. She went with her household and sojourned in the land of the Philistines seven years. 3 And at the end of the seven years, when the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, she went to appeal to the king for her house and her land. 4 Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me all the great things that Elisha has done.” 5 And while he was telling the king how Elisha had restored the dead to life, behold, the woman whose son he had restored to life appealed to the king for her house and her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, here is the woman, and here is her son whom Elisha restored to life.” 6 And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed an official for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, together with all the produce of the fields from the day that she left the land until now.” Hazael Murders Ben-hadad 7 Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?'” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?'” 10 And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,' but5 the LORD has shown me that he shall certainly die.” 11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The LORD has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.” 14 Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth6 and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place. Jehoram Reigns in Judah 16 In the fifth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah,7 Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, began to reign. 17 He was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned eight years in Jerusalem. 18 And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. 19 Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy Judah, for the sake of David his servant, since he promised to give a lamp to him and to his sons forever. 20 In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of their own. 21 Then Joram8 passed over to Zair with all his chariots and rose by night, and he and his chariot commanders struck the Edomites who had surrounded him, but his army fled home. 22 So Edom revolted from the rule of Judah to this day. Then Libnah revolted at the same time. 23 Now the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 24 So Joram slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Ahaziah his son reigned in his place. Ahaziah Reigns in Judah 25 In the twelfth year of Joram the son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign. 26 Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was a granddaughter of Omri king of Israel. 27 He also walked in the way of the house of Ahab and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was son-in-law to the house of Ahab. 28 He went with Joram the son of Ahab to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead, and the Syrians wounded Joram. 29 And King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Syrians had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick. Footnotes [1] 6:25 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams; a kab was about 1 quart or 1 liter [2] 7:1 A seah was about 7 quarts or 7.3 liters [3] 7:1 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams [4] 7:3 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [5] 8:10 Some manuscripts say, ‘You shall certainly not recover,' for [6] 8:15 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [7] 8:16 Septuagint, Syriac lack when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah [8] 8:21 Joram is an alternate spelling of Jehoram (son of Jehoshaphat) as in verse 16; also verses 23, 24 (ESV)

With family: Numbers 29; Psalm 73 Numbers 29 (Listen) Offerings for the Feast of Trumpets 29 “On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets, 2 and you shall offer a burnt offering, for a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish; 3 also their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah1 for the bull, two tenths for the ram, 4 and one tenth for each of the seven lambs; 5 with one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you; 6 besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and its grain offering, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offering, according to the rule for them, for a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the LORD. Offerings for the Day of Atonement 7 “On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation and afflict yourselves.2 You shall do no work, 8 but you shall offer a burnt offering to the LORD, a pleasing aroma: one bull from the herd, one ram, seven male lambs a year old: see that they are without blemish. 9 And their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for the bull, two tenths for the one ram, 10 a tenth for each of the seven lambs: 11 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the sin offering of atonement, and the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings. Offerings for the Feast of Booths 12 “On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work, and you shall keep a feast to the LORD seven days. 13 And you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD, thirteen bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish; 14 and their grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths for each of the two rams, 15 and a tenth for each of the fourteen lambs; 16 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering. 17 “On the second day twelve bulls from the herd, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 18 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 19 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings. 20 “On the third day eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 21 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 22 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering. 23 “On the fourth day ten bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 24 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 25 also one male goat for a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering and its drink offering. 26 “On the fifth day nine bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 27 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 28 also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering. 29 “On the sixth day eight bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 30 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 31 also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offerings. 32 “On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen male lambs a year old without blemish, 33 with the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 34 also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering. 35 “On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly. You shall not do any ordinary work, 36 but you shall offer a burnt offering, a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD: one bull, one ram, seven male lambs a year old without blemish, 37 and the grain offering and the drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, in the prescribed quantities; 38 also one male goat for a sin offering; besides the regular burnt offering and its grain offering and its drink offering. 39 “These you shall offer to the LORD at your appointed feasts, in addition to your vow offerings and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your grain offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings.” 40 3 So Moses told the people of Israel everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Footnotes [1] 29:3 An ephah was about 3/5 bushel or 22 liters [2] 29:7 Or and fast [3] 29:40 Ch 30:1 in Hebrew (ESV) Psalm 73 (Listen) Book Three God Is My Strength and Portion Forever A Psalm of Asaph. 73   Truly God is good to Israel,    to those who are pure in heart.2   But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled,    my steps had nearly slipped.3   For I was envious of the arrogant    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4   For they have no pangs until death;    their bodies are fat and sleek.5   They are not in trouble as others are;    they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.6   Therefore pride is their necklace;    violence covers them as a garment.7   Their eyes swell out through fatness;    their hearts overflow with follies.8   They scoff and speak with malice;    loftily they threaten oppression.9   They set their mouths against the heavens,    and their tongue struts through the earth.10   Therefore his people turn back to them,    and find no fault in them.111   And they say, “How can God know?    Is there knowledge in the Most High?”12   Behold, these are the wicked;    always at ease, they increase in riches.13   All in vain have I kept my heart clean    and washed my hands in innocence.14   For all the day long I have been stricken    and rebuked every morning.15   If I had said, “I will speak thus,”    I would have betrayed the generation of your children. 16   But when I thought how to understand this,    it seemed to me a wearisome task,17   until I went into the sanctuary of God;    then I discerned their end. 18   Truly you set them in slippery places;    you make them fall to ruin.19   How they are destroyed in a moment,    swept away utterly by terrors!20   Like a dream when one awakes,    O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.21   When my soul was embittered,    when I was pricked in heart,22   I was brutish and ignorant;    I was like a beast toward you. 23   Nevertheless, I am continually with you;    you hold my right hand.24   You guide me with your counsel,    and afterward you will receive me to glory.25   Whom have I in heaven but you?    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.26   My flesh and my heart may fail,    but God is the strength2 of my heart and my portion forever. 27   For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.28   But for me it is good to be near God;    I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,    that I may tell of all your works. Footnotes [1] 73:10 Probable reading; Hebrew the waters of a full cup are drained by them [2] 73:26 Hebrew rock (ESV) In private: Isaiah 21; 2 Peter 2 Isaiah 21 (Listen) Fallen, Fallen Is Babylon 21 The oracle concerning the wilderness of the sea.   As whirlwinds in the Negeb sweep on,    it comes from the wilderness,    from a terrible land.2   A stern vision is told to me;    the traitor betrays,    and the destroyer destroys.  Go up, O Elam;    lay siege, O Media;  all the sighing she has caused    I bring to an end.3   Therefore my loins are filled with anguish;    pangs have seized me,    like the pangs of a woman in labor;  I am bowed down so that I cannot hear;    I am dismayed so that I cannot see.4   My heart staggers; horror has appalled me;    the twilight I longed for    has been turned for me into trembling.5   They prepare the table,    they spread the rugs,1    they eat, they drink.  Arise, O princes;    oil the shield!6   For thus the Lord said to me:  “Go, set a watchman;    let him announce what he sees.7   When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs,    riders on donkeys, riders on camels,  let him listen diligently,    very diligently.”8   Then he who saw cried out:2  “Upon a watchtower I stand, O Lord,    continually by day,  and at my post I am stationed    whole nights.9   And behold, here come riders,    horsemen in pairs!”  And he answered,    “Fallen, fallen is Babylon;  and all the carved images of her gods    he has shattered to the ground.”10   O my threshed and winnowed one,    what I have heard from the LORD of hosts,    the God of Israel, I announce to you. 11 The oracle concerning Dumah.   One is calling to me from Seir,    “Watchman, what time of the night?    Watchman, what time of the night?”12   The watchman says:  “Morning comes, and also the night.    If you will inquire, inquire;    come back again.” 13 The oracle concerning Arabia.   In the thickets in Arabia you will lodge,    O caravans of Dedanites.14   To the thirsty bring water;    meet the fugitive with bread,    O inhabitants of the land of Tema.15   For they have fled from the swords,    from the drawn sword,  from the bent bow,    and from the press of battle. 16 For thus the Lord said to me, “Within a year, according to the years of a hired worker, all the glory of Kedar will come to an end. 17 And the remainder of the archers of the mighty men of the sons of Kedar will be few, for the LORD, the God of Israel, has spoken.” Footnotes [1] 21:5 Or they set the watchman [2] 21:8 Dead Sea Scroll, Syriac; Masoretic Text Then a lion cried out, or Then he cried out like a lion (ESV) 2 Peter 2 (Listen) False Prophets and Teachers 2 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell1 and committed them to chains2 of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;3 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,4 and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge5 in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, 13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions,6 while they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery,7 insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. 17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves8 of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” Footnotes [1] 2:4 Greek Tartarus [2] 2:4 Some manuscripts pits [3] 2:6 Some manuscripts an example to those who were to be ungodly [4] 2:9 Or temptations [5] 2:10 Greek who go after the flesh [6] 2:13 Some manuscripts love feasts [7] 2:14 Or eyes full of an adulteress [8] 2:19 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface (ESV)