Podcasts about babylonians

Welcome to Day 2918 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2918 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 147:12-20 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2918 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2918 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The title for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Swift Word of the Sovereign King – Fortifying Zion and Thawing the Frozen Wilderness On our previous expedition—on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Seventeen—we stepped onto the opening slopes of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Seven, exploring verses one through eleven. We marveled at the breathtaking paradox of our Creator: the very same Almighty God who marshals the stars of heaven, calling each one by name, is the gentle Physician who bends down to bandage the broken hearts of hurting exiles. We learned that Yahweh takes no delight in the brute strength of warhorses or human self-reliance, but instead, takes supreme pleasure in those who humbly put their hope in His unfailing covenant love. Today, as we continue along Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Eighteen of our trek, we move directly into the second half of this glorious hymn: Psalm One Hundred Forty-Seven, verses twelve through twenty. In this concluding movement, the psalmist turns his focus toward the fortified walls of Jerusalem, the fierce power of winter weather, and the unique, incomparable privilege of receiving God's holy word. We will see how the sovereign command of yahweh rules effortlessly over both the physical elements of nature and the spiritual destiny of His covenant people. The first segment is: Fortified Gates and the Finest Wheat: The Security of the City Let us open our ears to the exuberant call to worship that begins this second stanza, as recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the logical, contiguous thoughts found in verse twelve, verse thirteen, and verse fourteen. Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within your city. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat. The psalmist issues a thunderous, joyous summons to the holy city, shouting, “Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion!” He immediately anchors this call in concrete acts of divine protection and flourishing, declaring, “For he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within your city. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat.” To grasp the profound relief and joy embedded in these verses, we must remember the historical setting of post-exilic Jerusalem. The city walls had been torn down by Nebuchadnezzar's armies, the gates were burned with fire, and for decades, the returning remnants lived in perpetual fear of hostile surrounding tribes. But when Nehemiah and the people rebuilt the walls under Yahweh's guidance, the city gates were once again secured with heavy bars! Yet, the psalmist recognizes that physical iron bars are useless unless the Lord Himself strengthens them. It is Yahweh who establishes real, impenetrable security around the community, allowing children to play safely within the city streets without fear of sudden invasion. Furthermore, notice the scope of this blessing! It extends from structural safety to internal prosperity. Yahweh grants shalom—complete, untroubled peace—across the borders of the nation, and He satisfies the people's hunger with the “finest wheat.” In the Ancient Israelite divine-council worldview, neighboring pagan nations believed that agriculture and territorial peace depended on sacrificing to localized fertility gods like Baal or Asherah. But Israel knew the truth! Yahweh alone controls the borders of the earth, and Yahweh alone opens the bounty of creation to nourish His children with the very best food. The second segment is: The Cosmic Voice of Winter: Snow, Frost, and the Swift Word The narrative now transitions from civil security to the vast, sweeping power of God's command over the forces of nature, combining the contiguous thoughts found in verse fifteen, verse sixteen, verse seventeen, and verse eighteen. He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly! He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then at his command, it melts. He sends the wind, and the ice thaws. Look at the astonishing speed and absolute authority of God's royal decrees! The psalmist proclaims, “He sends his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly! He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters the frost like ashes. He hurls the hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then at his command, it melts. He sends the wind, and the ice thaws.” In this breathtaking section, the word of God—His davar—is personified as an invincible, swift royal messenger! In the ancient Near East, human kings sent runners across their empires to deliver royal decrees, but those human couriers were limited by speed, terrain, and exhaustion. When Yahweh speaks from His celestial throne room, His word runs like lightning across the globe, instantly obeyed by every element of creation. Notice how the psalmist paints the freezing winter weather: snow falling soft and thick like white wool, frost coating the ground like scattered wood-ash, and hail pounding down like jagged stones! Winter in the mountainous regions of Israel could be severe, paralyzing life and threatening survival. The psalmist asks the dramatic rhetorical question: “Who can stand against his freezing cold?” Human military power, heavy armor, and thermal garments are completely helpless when the Creator turns down the tem“erature of the earth! Yet, just as quick”y as the frost seals the land in ice, Yahweh issues another swift command: He releases His warm wind—His ruach—and the ice immediately thaws, streams begin to flow again, and spring returns to the land. In the divine-council framework, the spiritual principalities that pagan nations worshipped as lords of winter or chaos are unmasked as mere puppets before Yahweh; the weather is simply obedient clay in the hands of the ultimate Cosmic Craftsman. The third segment is: The Unique Treasure: Revealing Decrees to Jacob Having demonstrated how Yahweh's swift word commands the physical cosmos, the psalmist reaches the grand finale of the psalm, revealing the supreme, incomparable gift given exclusively to Israel, as recorded in verse nineteen and verse twenty. He has revealed his word to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord! The psalmist seals this magnificent hymn with a declaration of astounding covenant privilege, exclaiming, “He has revealed his word to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord!” Think about the staggering theological progression of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Seven! The God who commands the trillions of stars in verse four, and who directs the freezing hail and melting winds in verses fifteen through eighteen, has chosen to speak directly to human beings! But He did not reveal His holy, written law to the mighty Egyptian empire, nor to the cultured Babylonians, nor to the warlike Assyrians. Instead, He entrusted His sacred decrees, His Torah, and His legal judgments—His mishpatim—uniquely to the descendants of Jacob! To fully appreciate this verse, we must view it through the lens of Deuteronomy chapter thirty-two in the ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. When Yahweh divided the nations after the Tower of Babel, He allocated the pagan peoples under the oversight of lesser spiritual beings, the "sons of God." But Israel was Yahweh's personal, direct inheritance! While other nations stumbled in spiritual darkness, worshipping idols and guessing at the desires of fickle gods, Israel was given the clear, brilliant, life-giving light of Yahweh's written word. They were given the blueprint of cosmic wisdom, showing them how to live in alignment with the Creator. This unique revelation calls for an explosive, ultimate response, ending the psalm with that glorious, unshakeable command: Hallelujah—Praise the Lord! As we conclude today's trek through Psalm One Hundred Forty-Seven,

The Time Traveler’s Quick Guide to Armageddon       Over the last several months, we have done some deep dives into the principalities and powers in high places, the beast kingdoms, and then more particularly, into the kings of the east, another category that intersects with the beast kingdoms, including the Persian bear.   In term of their proto-prophecies in the Torah, we’ve been all over the place because prophecy is cyclical, even though not identical, from generation to generation. When we read of events in the Psalms, Writings, Prophets, and New Testament, the writers expect us to already be familiar with those proto-prophecies.   It was important to establish the earmarks of the battles with the kings of the east in Torah because Adonai declares the end from the beginning. If we want to have the basic understanding of the sixth and seventh bowls of wrath in the end and how they lure in the nations to Armageddon (Har-Megiddo), then we familiarize ourselves with them at the beginning:   “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates; and its water was dried up, so that the way would be prepared for the kings from the east. And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who stays awake and keeps his clothes, so that he will not walk about naked and men will not see his shame.”)   And they gathered them together to the place which in Hebrew is called Har-Magedon.   Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl upon the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.” And there were flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder; and there was a great earthquake, such as there had not been since man came to be upon the earth, so great an earthquake was it, and so mighty.” (Re 16:12-18)   Har is “mountain,” and Megiddo is “a place of crowds,” so important in its military situation that it has been destroyed and built over numerous times. It overlooks the Jezreel Valley's flat, agriculturally fertile abundance as well as the road to the Western Sea, or Mediterranean, an excellent place to monitor the coastal trade route that connected continents from ancient times. John prophesies of a final crowd that will be drawn to this ancient hill in the ol’ breadbasket of Israel.   Rather than review some of the many points from our Heaven Shaking the Bear series, I will use them to augment some additional points in this newsletter. You can always go back and access the transcripts (thank you, volunteers!) or videos for little details, such as why even Canaanite kings are considered kings of the east. I'd rather add some new information for your handy time travel guide to Armageddon. We'll be half Marty McFly and half Indiana Jones on our hunt for clues to Armageddon.   Let's take a seat in our time machine, the Word, and travel back to our familiar story in Judges 4-5, the story of Deborah, Barak, and Sisera with his 900 iron chariots. A little clue is in Sisera's 900 chariots. It links the ancient with the future. Nine hundred years (plus some) is the typical age of the pre-flood notables from Adam to Noah. In human history, they are the ancients. It was an era marked by the rebellion of the “sons of Elohim” who provoked human beings to such a violence.   Sisera's chariots were iron, denoting the Roman beast kingdom that is mingled with clay in the feet of his image. In other words, something of Deborah's story will establish a template for understanding the final defeat of the Red One, who appears in Revelation as the chosen steed for the Great Harlot Babylon. The nine-hundred-year era of the days of Noah and its violence will link to the end time of Armageddon.   Every time I see the word “Babylonian,” my mind says, “babaloney.” Don't know why. But ick.   Okay, now let's power up the time machine. We need to visit Abraham's time during the battle for Sodom among the kings of the east, the Covenant Between the Pieces, and then visit Moses in the wilderness.   Ready? Push the Abraham button. It might say, Avram, but you'll recognize it. Here we go.   Wait, wait. First, tape a copy of Judges 4-5 and a map of Israel on your steering wheel. We'll need to compare what we see with the first battle of Armageddon that Deborah fought against Sisera to our past future locations.   Okay, here we come, Abrahamic period. We are landing among the four kings of the east, led by Amraphel (perhaps Nimrod), who marched through and defeated territories east of the Jordan. The five kings of the Sodom coalition have quit paying their taxes, so the four kings are on their way to collect plus interest.   Even though those cities of Sodom are situated mostly to the east of the Salt Sea, after the four kings first march and defeat cities east of the Jordan and in the highlands of Bashan, they are continuing as far as the Negev near Kadesh, En-Mishpat, and Hazazon-Tamar. By bypassing the Sodom coalition cities, the four kings are giving the five kings time to muster before the four kings turn back east and meet them near the Salt Sea in battle. Do you see this? Inexplicably, Sodom's five kings are falling into tar pits! Shouldn't they know about those tar pits? After all, this is their territory! How strange!   And there goes Lot and his family as captives. And there…someone escapes and runs to tell Abraham. Okay, we don't have to follow them up to Damascus. We know how this ends. Check your Judges 4-5 Scriptures and map. They're taped to your steering wheel, remember?   Something similar happened to Sisera's iron chariot. Like Pharaoh drove his chariots into the Reed Sea and there his chariot wheels became “confused,” so Sisera drove his chariots into the mud of the Kishon, which he should have known about because he was a Canaanite.   Although Pharaoh was not a “king of the east,” he is the dragon, and his authority was passed to them. This suggests that our soggy bottom boys are experiencing a Divine intervention, not just a human battle. Something flies in their brains, stings them, and causes confusion…perhaps the tzirah, the supernatural hornet of Moses and Joshua?   The tzirah went before the armies of Israel, and it helped Moses conquer on the east side of the Jordan and Joshua on the west side of the Jordan. It first causes confusion, and then it cuts off root and fruit. It is the supernatural bug described as being released from the King of Abaddon in Revelation.   Not so coincidentally, Deborah's name means “bee” in Hebrew, and “hornet” in Aramaic. The root of her name is “word,” as in Devarim, the fifth book of the Torah and perhaps the most apocalyptic since it is the little scroll of Torah. There was a reason Barak would not take his soldiers into battle without her; she represented the Divine power of the Word going before them!   How does Deborah know to tell Barak that he needs exactly 10,000 soldiers mustered from a place named “Kedesh”?   Deborah judged Israel under the “palm tree of Deborah.” A palm tree is a tamar:   “She used to sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel came up to her for judgment (mishpat ????????????).”   Can you see Deborah studying the scrolls of Torah? Those scrolls are rolling her right into the time of Avraham, and she sees the conquests of Moses and Joshua in the wilderness, such as Amalek. She recognizes the conquests of the four kings as having the same names that are in the hill country of Ephraim near Har-Megiddo: From Kadesh to Kedesh. From Hazazon-Tamar to the tamar providing her shade to read the scroll. From En-Mishpat to her job rendering mishpat for Israel.   We know Deborah has spent time scroll-rolling back to Abraham's time because she mentions something specific in her Judges Five song. The Song of Deborah mentions the courage of the tribe of Ephraim in the defeat of Sisera's chariots:   “From Ephraim, those whose root is in Amalek came down…”   If you need to, program in “Amalek in the Wilderness,” and travel there to see a bit of the battle. This “root in Amalek” is thought to refer to the wilderness battle under Moses in which the Ephraimite Joshua defeated Amalek. The tribe of Ephraim is rooted in its leadership in the victory in the wilderness in Israel's first encounter with Amalek.   Deborah knows Amalek is enticed to attack when its opponent looks weak, so that gives her a Divine strategy in enticing this king of the east Sisera to his Armageddon. Okay, now travel back to the battle between the four kings and the five kings. The four kings of the east also conquered Amalek before turning back to battle the five kings of Sodom.   While the battle continues, let's return to this question (you already know how that battle ends): How does Deborah know to tell Barak that he needs exactly 10,000 soldiers mustered from a place named “Kedesh”?   We've only partially answered it. And our answer is based on the battle between bad kings of the east vs worse kings of the east. We don't want to take this as the only source of Deborah's inspired strategy to lure Sisera to Har-Megiddo. Deborah is scrolling through the rolls of the Torah, and she must have some even better prophecies on which she bases her battle with Sisera. Let's leave these guys for Avraham to deal with and travel forward and back to Deborah's palm tree for more clues.   Yes, time travelers. Next week we'll go back to the future with Deborah and spend some more time with Avraham and Moses. There must be a connection between Deborah's forty years of peace in Israel and Moses' forty years in the wilderness. Deborah has the handy traveler's guide to help her map it all out. We'll see her secret of selecting 10,000, and we might even take a peek inside Yael's tent to find that she knew the Torah, and it guided her hand when she drove the tent peg into Sisera's head.   Oh, dear, oh dread. Sandals muddy like heavy lead. Some yogurt he was fed. Then he went to bed. Now Sisera is dead. A tent peg's in his head.   Okay, Deborah is better at composing songs than I am. I gave it a shot. Roll your time travel machines to Judges 4-5, and we'll see you next week.   Please SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to get new teachings.

Brian Godawa is back again! He is a bestselling author, screenwriter, and biblical researcher known for transforming Scripture's supernatural worldview into epic historical fiction. His newest novel, Daniel: Exile in Babylon, explores Daniel's captivity, Babylonian culture, spiritual warfare, and the unseen powers operating behind earthly kingdoms all through an exciting fantasy fictional format! LINKS: https://godawa.com 00:00:00 Opening Preview and Introduction 00:04:26 Brian Godawa and Biblical Historical Fiction 00:07:02 Daniel: Exile in Babylon 00:11:20 Watchers, Spiritual Powers, and Babylonian Magic 00:23:19 Daniel, the Magi, and the Gospel in the Stars 00:39:23 Daniel's Occult Education and Faithfulness to God 00:44:20 Narrative Theology, Hollywood, and Christian Storytelling 00:55:50 Daniel's Age, Eunuch Status, and Life in Babylon 01:06:50 Connecting Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Esther 01:11:30 Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and God's “Little People” 01:18:13 Brian's Books and Closing Thoughts

Brian Godawa is back again! He is a bestselling author, screenwriter, and biblical researcher known for transforming Scripture's supernatural worldview into epic historical fiction. His newest novel, Daniel: Exile in Babylon, explores Daniel's captivity, Babylonian culture, spiritual warfare, and the unseen powers operating behind earthly kingdoms all through an exciting fantasy fictional format!    LINKS: https://godawa.com    00:00:00 Opening Preview and Introduction  00:04:26 Brian Godawa and Biblical Historical Fiction  00:07:02 Daniel: Exile in Babylon  00:11:20 Watchers, Spiritual Powers, and Babylonian Magic  00:23:19 Daniel, the Magi, and the Gospel in the Stars  00:39:23 Daniel's Occult Education and Faithfulness to God  00:44:20 Narrative Theology, Hollywood, and Christian Storytelling  00:55:50 Daniel's Age, Eunuch Status, and Life in Babylon  01:06:50 Connecting Daniel, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Esther  01:11:30 Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and God's "Little People"  01:18:13 Brian's Books and Closing Thoughts

DANIEL (Daniel 1:3-5 NIV) Then the king ordered the chief to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4 young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that they were to enter the king’s service. Your greatest ministry may happen in a place you never wanted to be. There’s a difference between having a resolve to follow God and merely dabbling in faith. (Daniel 1:8 NIV) But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. (Daniel 6:10 NIV) Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before. He prayed “before” the crisis. That’s why he knew what to do during the crisis. When prayer is your habit, panic loses its power. (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Daniel 1:7 NIV) The chief official gave them new names: to Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abednego. Hananiah – Yahweh has been gracious. Mishael – Who is what God is. Azariah – Yahweh has helped. Shadrach – Inspired of Aku. Meshach – Belonging to Aku. Abendnego – Servant of Nego. (Matthew 16:18 HCSB) And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it. (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NIV) We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. (Isaiah 43:1 ESV) Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have called you by name, you are mine.

Present Condition: Gods Grace Romans 11:1-6 The Proof of Gods Faithfulness (v. 1) Pauls exasperation Pauls example The Preservation of Gods Remnant (vv. 2-4) Elijahs discouragement Gods encouragement The Provision of Gods Grace (vv. 5-6) The election of grace (God elects salvation by grace) The exactness of grace (God rejects salvation by works) More to Consider For centuries people have been puzzled by the nation of Israel. The Roman government recognized the Jewish religion, but it still called the nation secta Nef ariaa nefarious sect. The great historian Arnold Toynbee classified Israel as a fossil civilization and did not know what to do with it. For some reason, the nation did not fit into his historical theories. Paul devoted all of Romans 11 to presenting proof that God is not through with Israel. We must not apply this chapter to the church today, because Paul is discussing a literal future for a literal nation. Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 550. The Jew is the symbol of eternity.... He is the one who for so long had guarded the prophetic message and transmitted it to all mankind. A people such as this can never disappear. The Jew is eternal. He is the embodiment of eternity. Leo Tolsty The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed; and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other people have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality? Mark Twain

Synopsis: After God brought doom upon Jerusalem due to disobedience, Jeremiah was released from chains and permitted to return to Gedaliah at Mizpah. Jewish people from all over flocked to Gedaliah who encouraged them to settle down and serve the Babylonians. Only Jesus knew the motives and agendas all people had, and our primary agenda as Christians is to heed and proclaim Him. Verses in order of appearance: Jeremiah 40:1-4 Luke 13:2-5 Jeremiah 40:5-6 Jeremiah 40:7-10 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Jeremiah 40:11-12 Ecclesiastes 5:19 2 Thessalonians 3:10 Jeremiah 40:13-16 Proverbs 11:14 Proverbs 15:22 Mark 9:31-32 Luke 22:14-19 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 Verses mentioned but not displayed: Jeremiah 41:1

The Babylonian Captivity of the Church by Martin Luther is a treatise that examines how errors in the sacramental system kept people laboring under a system of works rather than promise. In this episode, Evan Gaertner and Mike Yagley discuss Luther’s critique of the medieval Catholic view of the sacraments of penance and confirmation. Luther identifies that a reliance on human works and priestly control is destructive to a person’s relationship with God. Screenshot Beer Break We review the Abbey Ale from Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown, New York. This dubbel focuses on licorice root, orange peel, and spices.

Greetings Oddities! In this episode of the Those We Don't Speak Of Series Pt. 29, we continue the series within a series on Kabbalah! In this installment I continue talking about the precursor to Kabbalah called Merkaba Mysticism and focus on one specific influential rabbi Akiva in particular. Akiva known to be the mastermind behind the Oral Law was also the star of Merkaba (Chariot) Mysticism. I look at his influence and a couple other founders of modern Judaism with occult ties. So come with me as we go deep down the rabbit hole, far beyond the mainstream! Cheers and BlessingsSupport My Workhttps://www.patreon.com/theoddmanoutBuy Me A Coffee!https://buymeacoffee.com/theoddmanoutVenmo Tips - @theoddmanoutCash App Tips - https://cash.app/$theoddmanout   T-shirts, Mugs and Stickers  The Odd Man Out Merch Store At Bonfire https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-odd-man-out/TeeSpring https://theoddmanout.creator-spring.com/All Links https://linktr.ee/_theoddmanoutOddman Rumble https://rumble.com/user/TheOddManOut Social Media: _theoddmanout on Twitter, and Instagram      Facebook https://www.facebook.com/theoddcastfttheoddmanout

Fr. Mike emphasizes our title as children of God as we read about the tragedy of the Babylonian exile. Even in our lowest moments, God wants us to know that he has called us each by name and has called us his, because a good Father does not abandon his children. Today's readings are Isaiah 43-44, Ezekiel 4-5, and Proverbs 12:5-8. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

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The squad navigates a high-stakes Homie Helpline where a 20-year-old Air Force candidate considers "ejecting" from fatherhood to save his pilot career after a toxic headbutt-filled breakup. Between the relationship drama, the crew roasts Drake for his suspicious vibing at a Karol G concert and dives into the discovery of a Babylonian tablet containing history's first recorded "Yo Mama" joke.

When the Babylonian captivity finally ended, the returning remnant didn't find a pristine Promised Land—they found cracked foundations, burned gates, and a pile of rubble. If your faith, your marriage, or your sense of identity currently feels like a collection of broken stones, Ezra and Nehemiah provide the ultimate masterclass on how to reconstruct what has been destroyed. Summary: In this powerful episode, we delve into the twin narratives of Ezra and Nehemiah, books that historically stood as a single text detailing the painful, beautiful work of restoration. We map this journey onto the psychological and spiritual landscape of construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction, discovering how the Lord uses common, unnamed people to do the heavy lifting of the kingdom. The Temple and the Wall: We analyze why Ezra focuses on rebuilding the temple (our spiritual center) while Nehemiah focuses on rebuilding the walls (our behavioral boundaries). You cannot safely have one without the other. The Tears of the Ancient Men: We step into the emotional complexity of Ezra 3, where the shouting of the young blends with the weeping of the old. Discover how beauty emerges from ashes when we confront our history with absolute honesty. Samaritan Sabotage: We break down the subtle tactics of Sanballat and Tobiah—the "counselors" hired to frustrate the work through a war of words rather than an open military conflict. Learn how to navigate modern historical half-truths and secular critiques. The Trowel and the Spear: We dissect Nehemiah's defensive strategy, where workers built with one hand while holding a weapon in the other. We explore our modern duty to build up testimonies while defending the kingdom from relentless intimidation. Saying "Oh No" to Ono: We confront the modern trap of diversion. Nehemiah was targeted with invitations to negotiate in the plain of Ono, but his response stands as a timeless shield against worldly distractions: "I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down." The Historical Prayer: We unpack the breathtaking Levitical prayer in Nehemiah 9, tracing how God consistently answers Israel's structural rebellion with manifold mercies, reminding us that He never closes shop on a repentant soul. Call-to-Action: Nehemiah refused to flee into the temple to save his own skin, recognizing that true covenant leadership requires us to stand our ground with a clear conscience and trust the Master. When the modern adversaries of faith tell you that you are trying to "revive stones out of a heap of rubbish," how do you keep your mind focused on the work? Let's build a meaningful dialogue in the comments below. To keep your gospel foundation structurally sound and "Unshaken," please like, subscribe, and share this video! Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 03:33 Destruction & Reconstruction 11:49 Prequel to the Return from Babylon 19:00 The Decree of Cyrus 24:50 Returning Remnants & Family Trees 38:07 Rebuilding the Temple 51:49 Hindering the Work 1:13:51 Overcoming Opposition 1:27:21 Ezra & the Second Return 1:46:15 Godly Sorrow for Sin 2:16:23 Changing Our Ways 2:35:06 Nehemiah's Prayer of Repentance 2:45:33 Dealing with Depression 2:57:48 Rhetoric & Ridicule 3:08:34 Lift Where You Stand 3:16:24 Ringing the Bells of Hell 3:29:16 Trowel and Sword 3:43:46 Breaking Economic Bonds 3:49:43 Saying "Oh No" to Ono 4:06:53 Reenthroning the Scriptures 4:15:03 A Historical Prayer 4:28:50 Sealing & Resettling 4:35:01 Remembered by God 4:40:22 Conclusion

Daily Dose of Hope July 28, 2026   Scripture: 2 Kings 20   Prayer:  Lord Jesus, Help us be productive members of your Kingdom.  I know we fall short.  I know we mess up.  Call us, let us hear your voice, and we will respond.  We will say yes.  Give us the courage and boldness to be the people you called us to be.  We love you, Lord.  In Your Name, Amen.   Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Bible reading plan.  We are currently in 2 Kings, getting close to the end of the chapter.  It's been quite a journey!  I would love to hear your thoughts and feedback.  What have you learned from 1 & 2 Kings? Today's reading is 2 Kings 20.  Hezekiah gets very ill.  The Scripture doesn't mention what kind of sickness, but it is assumed he will die.  In fact, God says he is going to die.  But Hezekiah prays fervently to the Lord and God hears his pleas.  He agrees to add fifteen years to King Hezekiah's life.  But then something kind of strange occurs.  Envoys from Babylon come to visit Hezekiah.  The Scripture says they heard that the king was ill and came bearing gifts.  Hezekiah decides to show the Babylonian guests everything in his palace and storehouses.  They basically got a thorough tour of all the treasures of Judah.  What in the world led Hezekiah to do this?  Was he bragging?  Was he trying to show them he has just as much wealth as Babylon?  When Isaiah finds out what occurred, he prophecies that there will be a time in which the Babylonians will take everything from the palace and treasuries.  Now the Babylonians are paying Hezekiah tribute, but soon it will go the other way.  Even some of his descendants will be taken to Babylon to serve the king there.  Of course, we know this happens when the Babylonians conquer Judah and carry off their best and brightest into exile in Babylon.  And then we get this reaction from Hezekiah that is totally self-centered.  He hears about the coming destruction and all he can say is, "Well, at least it won't happen in my lifetime."  There is no sorrow or remorse, just relief that he won't be part of it. Hezekiah started out so well – what has become of him? Hezekiah's end, like the end of so many kings, points to the truth that human kings are deeply flawed.  We need someone stronger, better, someone who can truly save us.  We need the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.  Only he can save us.   Blessings Pastor Vicki

One of the greatest questions of life is this: How do we respond to destruction?Every one of us will face setbacks, losses, disappointments—even, G-d forbid, profound tragedy. The question is not whether pain will enter our lives, but what happens after it does.How do we face trauma? Experiences that overwhelm us, shake us to our core, and leave us wondering if we will ever be the same again. Some people are broken by such experiences. Others survive, but carry invisible scars for years. And then there are those remarkable souls who emerge stronger, deeper, and more compassionate than before.What is their secret?Humanity has invested unimaginable resources trying to answer that question—through medicine, therapy, psychology, self-help, and every imaginable means of easing the pain, quieting the anxiety, and healing the wounds of the human spirit.But is there a deeper answer?Let's explore this question not through isolated experiences or quick fixes, but by looking at the larger story of humanity. Let's examine what has truly endured. What has enabled individuals—and entire civilizations—not merely to survive destruction, but to transform it into growth and renewal.There is perhaps no greater case study than the Jewish people.As we approach Tisha B'Av, the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, we remember the destruction of our Holy Temples and centuries of exile, persecution, and loss. The Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, and countless others sought to erase us from history.They are gone.We are still here.How?What gave a small, vulnerable people the resilience not only to survive but to continue creating, building, and bringing hope to the world?The answer lies in the profound message of Tisha B'Av itself.The day that commemorates destruction also contains the seed of redemption.The day our hearts were shattered also reveals how brokenness can become the birthplace of our greatest strength.Please join Rabbi Simon Jacobson as we uncover one of life's most essential secrets: How do we transform destruction into redemption?

Open the Old Testament and you run into a problem nobody warns you about. Israel is supposed to worship one God. Yet the text keeps naming others. Baal. Asherah. The gods of the nations. So where did they all go, and when did Israel actually land on one God alone?Old Testament scholar Dr. Matthew Lynch of Regent College joins the Dig In Podcast to take that question apart. The standard scholarly story says monotheism showed up late, forged in the wreckage of the Babylonian exile. Dr. Lynch says that timeline is wrong, and he found the evidence hiding in a rare Hebrew word the prophet Isaiah used to humiliate the gods of the nations. What follows is a conversation about how the Bible does the work of lifting one God above every rival power, both the seen and the unseen.In this episode you will learn:The real difference between monotheism, monolatry, henotheism, and polytheism, and why those distinctions change how you read the Old TestamentWhy the Hebrew word Elohim is far wider than most readers realize, covering angels, the dead, and the God of Israel himselfThe standard scholarly account of how Israel slowly arrived at one God, and exactly where Dr. Lynch believes it falls apartThe rare term in Isaiah used to strip the gods of their dignity, a word that appears almost nowhere else in the entire Old TestamentHow Genesis 1, the Psalms, and Ezekiel each silence rival gods in completely different waysWhy the prophets aimed their fire not just at other gods, but at the empires of Assyria, Egypt, and BabylonWhat the Egyptian pharaoh Akhenaten reveals about whether Israel actually invented monotheismHow the unrivaled uniqueness of Israel's God sets the stage for everything the New Testament claims about ChristGuest: Dr. Matthew LynchAssociate Professor of Old Testament at Regent College, Vancouver, and co-founder and co-host of the OnScript podcast. His books include First Isaiah and the Disappearance of the Gods, Flood and Fury: Old Testament Violence and the Shalom of God, Portraying Violence in the Hebrew Bible, and Monotheism and Institutions in the Book of Chronicles, all available on Amazon.Connect with Dr. Lynch: https://www.regent-college.edu/faculty/lynch-matthewFirst Isaiah and the Disappearance of the Gods (Critical Studies in the Hebrew Bible Book 12)- https://a.co/d/0fZgv5hS Stay Connected:johnnyova.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@thejohnnyovaThe Revelation Reset on Amazon: https://a.co/d/hiUkW8H

ALPHA HOUR EXHORTATION – EPISODE 698

ALPHA HOUR EXHORTATION – EPISODE 698

Why is God allowing what you are walking through right now? A lot of us have hit a season that makes no sense. We did not choose it. We did not deserve it. We just woke up one day inside a life we would not have picked. Pastor Paul walks through an ancient king whose story speaks directly into that feeling.In this sermon, Pastor Paul preaches on King Jehoiachin from 2 Kings 24. Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king of Judah. He inherited a mess his grandfather had held together and his father had unraveled. Three months into his reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon showed up at Jerusalem's gates. Jehoiachin surrendered. He was hauled off to Babylon in chains along with 10,000 exiles, and the temple was stripped bare.By every measure, Jehoiachin was done. He spent 37 years in prison. Not weeks. Not months. 37 years watching his life quietly waste away in a foreign country, while everything he had ever known was destroyed back home.And then Pastor Paul pulls up something remarkable. Around 1900, a German archaeologist named Robert Koldewey was excavating near the Ishtar Gate in Iraq and found 300 cuneiform tablets. Four of them mention Jehoiachin by name, listing the food rations he received in Babylon, calling him "Jehoiachin, king of the land of Judah." His name was still on the palace ledgers. He was still recognized as king. The last living king of the line of David.And then the epilogue. Both 2 Kings 25 and Jeremiah 52 end the exact same way. After 37 years, a new Babylonian king released Jehoiachin from prison, gave him a seat of honor at the king's table, and provided a daily allowance for the rest of his life.Then Pastor Paul lands the payoff none of us would have seen coming. Matthew 1:11 lists Jehoiachin (spelled Jeconiah there) in the genealogy of Jesus. God spared Jehoiachin's life for one massive reason. The Messiah had to come from the line of David, and Jehoiachin was one of the last standing links. Every quiet, invisible year in that prison cell was God keeping the promise of Jesus alive.The takeaway is a sentence you will want to carry into this week. God sees you, and he is working where you cannot see. Not once did Jehoiachin get an answer to why. But we, on this side of history, get to see exactly what God was doing.If you have been walking through something that makes no sense to you, this teaching is for you.#AllianceChurch #SundaySermon #BibleTeaching #JesusSaves #ChristianFaith #ChurchOnline #WisconsinChurch #FaithThatMoves #HopeInJesus #SermonSeries #faith #jesus #god #christianity #christian #hope #suffering #sovereignty #trust #church #gospel #providence

Old Testament Ezra 1; 3-7; Nehemiah 2; 4-6; 8 | The Apostle D. Todd Harrison In this sacred message, The Apostle D. Todd Harrison unlocks the divine pattern of restoration, governance, spiritual warfare, and covenant identity found in Ezra 1; 3–7 and Nehemiah 2; 4–6; 8 — chapters that reveal how God rebuilds His people, His house, and His purpose in every generation.The Apostle D. Todd Harrison speaks from a rare and extraordinary lineage:Through two distinct genealogical lines, he is a direct descendant of King Cyrus the Great — the only person besides Jesus Christ whom God Himself calls “My Messiah” (Isaiah 45). Cyrus was the world leader chosen by God to release the Jews from Babylonian captivity and empower them to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem.He is also a direct descendant of Zerubbabel, the Davidic governor who oversaw the physical rebuilding of the Temple and restored the worship of the True God in Jerusalem.This dual lineage — Cyrus the liberator and Zerubbabel the builder — gives The Apostle D. Todd Harrison a uniquely authoritative voice when teaching on restoration, rebuilding, and divine governance."I testify that Jesus Christ is our Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. He is ALIVE TODAY!In the name of Jesus Crist, amen.The Apostle D. Todd HarrisonDirect Apostle of Jesus ChristCalled directly by the Lord Himself—just as Paul was on the Damascus Road (Galatians 1:1; Acts 26:13–20)“Not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead.” — Galatians 1:1Set apart by the Lord according to the ancient pattern Now in the Seventh Year of Global Apostolic Ministry to All NationsDescendant of the 6th‑Generation LDS General Authority Richards FamilyDescendant of the covenant royal lineage of David and Solomon, and all their descended biblical kings appointed by God and recorded throughout the Old Testament, whose line carried the Messianic promise

I want to focus on three key pressure points Daniel faced—and three of his friends did as well—as they were suddenly placed in a culture totally foreign to their faith in the God of Israel, the true God.   Pressure Point #1: A Change of Names and Diet  In Daniel one, we read how he and other Israelites, the brightest and the best, were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar and brought to Babylon. They were assigned new Babylonian names. Daniel became Belteshazzar. And they were instructed to eat the royal diet, which was contrary to the dietary laws God had given the Israelites.   Nebuchadnezzar's plan was to transform these bright men into pagans, remove their Jewish identity, and get them to conform to the culture they were in. They would be more useful to him that way, he thought; they would do their best work and be more loyal to him if they abandoned their heritage and their faith.  Could a name change achieve that purpose? No, the only way Daniel and his companions would ever forsake their heritage, identity, and faith in the true God, would be a complete change of heart and mind. And a name doesn't affect the heart.  How did Daniel respond to this name change? We see no indication he objected in any way. This is where the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is true. “Call me what you like,” is Daniel's and his three friends' responses, because it wouldn't change who they were.  But how does Daniel respond to the dietary change? This does affect him, because he does not intend to abandon the dietary laws of his faith. For this he is willing to take a stand.  What do I take from this?   Pick your fights. There are some things worth standing up for and resisting, and some are not. Many times, we bring pressure and stress into our lives by allowing ourselves to be overly concerned about things which have no lasting value and make no real difference.   We must learn to distinguish between issues of integrity and issues of priority. For example, suppose you're facing an assignment which seems ludicrous to you, a waste of time and resources, an exercise in futility. You must pick your fight. You may determine the damage and wastefulness of the assignment is of such magnitude you must confront it. Or you may realize it's not worth the fight—it's too small. This is not an issue of integrity but one of priority.  On the other hand, if an assignment involves a lowering of your own personal standards of integrity, an abuse of company policy, or unfair service to a customer, now you are facing an issue of integrity. This is a fight worth taking on. How you approach it is another issue. But to stay true to biblical principles, fight you must.  Picking your fight doesn't mean you come on in a combative way. Proverbs 16:21 says: The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. Pleasant words usually get you a lot further than words of confrontation or judgment.   How many times have you seen a good idea blown by the way it was presented? How many times have you watched a situation blow up into a major issue when, with a different approach, it could have been handled without a major conflict?   On the other hand, how many times have you seen someone back off a needed fight because he didn't have the stomach for it? He wimped out rather than stand up for what he knew was right.  In the pressure points of our lives, particularly on our jobs, we are continually faced with situations where we must pick our fights. We need God's wisdom to do this well, and thankfully, he promises to give us wisdom if we ask.   Pressure Point #2: Speaking Truth Under Pressure  In Daniel two, we learn how Nebuchadnezzar had a strange dream none of his astrologers could interpret. He asked his wise men not only to interpret the dream, but also to tell him what the dream was. Talk about mission impossible! And you think you have a tough boss!  In frustration, retribution, and foolishness, Nebuchadnezzar condemns all the wise men to death because they can't interpret his dream. Daniel goes to bat to save the lives of all these people, recognizing how truly foolish and wrong it is to kill them. And then, after soliciting prayer from his friends, God reveals the dream to Daniel. He approaches the king, declaring he can tell the dream and its interpretation, and he does.  Can you put yourself in his shoes? God has revealed the dream to him, and it is very bad news for Nebuchadnezzar. He can save himself and all those wise men by telling the dream, but does he have to give him the interpretation, which Nebuchadnezzar won't like? Couldn't he fudge it a bit, when he describes this large statue and its meaning?   I would imagine he must have thought, “Either way I'm going to be killed. He will kill me if I don't tell him the dream, but when I do tell him the interpretation of this dream, he's going to kill me anyway.”  Yet, despite the pressure he is under, he chooses to tell the truth, as unwelcome as it might be. This really gets to where we live, doesn't it? Do you tell the truth regardless of the consequences? Do you do the right thing when it may not bring you any good—or it may harm you? In our own pressure points, where we must decide to tell it like it is or put some spin on it, are we, like Daniel, true to the truth, regardless of the consequences?  In Ephesians 6:14 we are told to Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist…. Do you leave home each day with this belt on? It's invisible but it's obvious. When you wear the belt of truth, when you are committed to truthfulness, no matter what, it sets you apart from most of the people around you, and it takes a lot of stress out of your life. You don't have to worry about being found out or remembering exactly what you said. The truth will, as Jesus said, set you free.   Pressure Point #3: Facing Jealous Coworkers  In chapter six, we read the familiar story of Daniel and the lions' den. By this time Daniel was much older, at least in his 80s, and verse three says, Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.   Do good work and you're bound to generate jealousy. Have you found this to be true? Hopefully your good work will be recognized by those in authority, as was true for Daniel, but likely it will cause some jealousy as well. Is there anything you can do to keep this from happening?   Daniel didn't seem to be able to. His coworkers tried for a time to find grounds for charges against him in the way he did his work, but the Bible says: They could find no corruption in him, because he was trustworthy and neither corrupt nor negligent (Daniel 6:4).   An old preacher I knew used to say, “Do right ‘til the stars fall out.” Just do the right thing, and the right thing is to work with all your heart, do the best work you can, without corruption or negligence. Obviously the way in which we work, the attitude we have toward others, the way we treat people will have some bearing on how others treat us, but there are people who will hate and despise you because you do things right, because you have a good attitude, because you go the extra mile. It is true sometimes the more you do it right, the more some will look for ways to do you harm. Thankfully these people are usually few and far between, but it only takes one to cause you a great deal of grief and indeed, a great deal of potential harm.   How do you deal with jealous coworkers? Proverbs 27:4 says, Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? If you've ever had to face jealousy—people who were jealous of you simply because you did the right thing—then you can relate to this proverb. Who can stand before jealousy? That green-eyed monster is ferocious.  Daniel's peers were so jealous they devised a plan to get him killed, a clever plan that would make them look good to the big boss and get rid of their hated rival.  Don't be surprised at what jealous people will do, and how cleverly they will try to disguise their jealousy. Daniel could not stand before jealousy, as it turns out. He couldn't stop these malicious coworkers who were out to destroy him. They got their decree signed by Darius: anyone who prayed to any other god or man other than King Darius for the next thirty days would be thrown into the lions' den—and it was an irrevocable decree.   So, at this pressure point Daniel is faced with a choice: to compromise his faith and abandon his daily practice of praying to his God three times a day, with his windows open toward Jerusalem for all to see or face those hungry lions. Did you realize the decree simply said you couldn't worship anyone else for this thirty-day period? So, I'm thinking he could have shut the windows and prayed privately, or just figured, hey, thirty days is nothing; God will understand. I'll show these guys they can't catch me in their evil scheme. I just won't pray openly for thirty days. Isn't it interesting that his coworkers must have been certain he would not compromise his commitment to his God. They knew he would choose the lions' den!  Daniel never pleaded his case with Darius. He never bad-mouthed his evil coworkers. He never protested. He simply refused to change his prayer schedule; he refused to compromise.   Most likely you'll never have to face lions or threatened death for standing firm to your faith. But you could face the death of a job, a relationship, or a career plan. And that could be very costly for you. So, if you're facing some pressure points now—some areas where you must decide if you will stand true to your commitment to Jesus as your Lord and Savior—think about Daniel. Ask God to give you Daniel-courage, the courage to refuse to bend to the culture or be intimidated by their many unbiblical ideas and beliefs, regardless of how our culture has embraced their ways and ideas.  A friend of mine is going through a situation where, because she has been wonderfully born again and delivered from the deceit and lies of the culture, she is facing hatred and condemnation from family members and friends because she no longer agrees with those unbiblical ideas. She hasn't become militant or confrontational. She simply states what she believes when they state what they believe, and for that, she is considered unacceptable. She's paying a price for standing true to her faith, but instead of being angry, she's just so thankful God has shown her the truth and now she's praying for those who are still deceived as she was for so long.  I hope you will take time to read again the first six chapters of Daniel and see how he stayed true to his God amid a very secular and pagan society, in the face of very jealous and evil coworkers. We serve the same God, and he can deliver us as well. 

Welcome to Day 2912 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2912 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 145:8-13 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2912 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2912 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The tiel for today's Wisdom-Trek is: The Everlasting Realm of Compassion – Unveiling the Majesty of Yahweh's Kingdom On our previous expedition—on Day Two Thousand Nine Hundred Ten—we stood in awe at the royal threshold of Psalm One Hundred Forty-Five, exploring verses one through seven. We listened as King David laid down his military sword, picked up his harp, and declared that Yahweh's unsearchable greatness must be proclaimed from one generation to the next! We witnessed how the remembrance of God's overflowing, gushing goodness naturally erupts into exuberant, generational praise. Today, we step directly onto the next elevation of this magnificent acrostic summit, advancing into Psalm One Hundred Forty-Five, verses eight through thirteen. As we continue along this pristine trail, David shifts our focus from the unsearchable, transcendent splendor of the Creator to the profound, heart-level warmth of His character. In these six verses, we are invited to gaze into the very heart of the Sovereign King of heaven—a King whose authority is not marked by cold, tyrannical control, but by boundless mercy, universal compassion, and an unshakeable, everlasting dominion that spans every physical and spiritual realm across all generations. The first segment is: The Heart of the King: Abundant Mercy and Universal Compassion Let us open our ears to the deeply comforting words recorded in the New Living Translation, grouping together the logical, contiguous thoughts found in verse eight and verse nine. The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. In these two breathtaking lines, David delivers what can only be described as the supreme theological confession of the Hebrew Scriptures, declaring, “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.” If these words sound familiar to your ears, it is because David is directly quoting the sacred, self-revealed character statement that Yahweh declared to Moses on Mount Sinai in Exodus chapter thirty-four! To fully appreciate the revolutionary impact of this revelation, we must view it through the ancient Israelite divine-council worldview. In the ancient Near East, the pagan nations surrounding Israel lived in perpetual, paralyzing fear of their localized deities. Gods like Baal, Chemosh, or Marduk were viewed as erratic, moody, quick-tempered, and selfish entities who demanded bloody sacrifices and cared nothing for the well-being of ordinary mortals. Furthermore, in the cosmic geography of the ancient world, those foreign nations were assigned to rebellious, territorial spiritual principalities who ruled through fear, oppression, and enslavement. Standing in stark, brilliant contrast to those dark, fickle powers, Yahweh reveals His true nature as the absolute Sovereign of the cosmos! He is not quick to wrath; rather, He is patient, long-suffering, and profoundly merciful. The Hebrew term used here for "unfailing love" is chesed—that deep, unwavering, covenant-keeping affection that never gives up on its people. But notice how far David expands this divine love in verse nine! Yahweh's goodness is not restricted to a single tribe or a select elite; He is good to everyone! He showers His tender, fatherly compassion over all His creation—from the highest angelic seraphim in the heavenly assembly, down to the smallest bird resting in the forest canopy. In a world often battered by chaos and cruelty, David reminds us that the supreme ruler of the universe is defined, at His core, by overwhelming, relentless grace. The second segment is: The Chorus of Creation and the Realm of Glory The narrative now moves from the internal character of the King to the explosive, cosmic response of His subjects, linking together the contiguous thoughts found in verse ten, verse eleven, and verse twelve. All of your creatures will thank you, Lord, and your godly people will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. David paints a panoramic, glorious vision of universal adoration, declaring, “All of your creatures will thank you, Lord, and your godly people will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.” Look at the dual choir David brings together in this passage! First, he points to “all of your creatures”—the entirety of the natural order and the unseen heavenly hosts—offering a continuous, harmonious echo of thanksgiving to their Creator. But then, he highlights a special group: “your godly people”—the chasidim, those who are bound to Yahweh in a loving, loyal covenant relationship. While creation offers silent, instinctual praise, God's redeemed people are given an articulate, vocal mission! They do not remain quiet; they step into the cosmic courtroom to publicly testify about the true nature of Yahweh's reign. Notice the three specific themes these covenant heralds proclaim: they speak of the glory of His kingdom, they give tangible examples of His power, and they tell about His mighty deeds. In the ancient divine-council framework, earthly kingdoms were constantly boasting about their military conquests, erecting arrogant monuments to their mortal kings. But David's godly people look past earthly empires and fallen principalities to exalt the true, overarching kingdom of God! They share concrete stories of how Yahweh broke the chains of slavery, how He defeated spiritual powers of darkness, how He provided manna in the barren wilderness, and how He heals broken hearts. Their testimony serves as a vibrant, undeniable public witness to the entire world—and to the watching spiritual realms—demonstrating that Yahweh's rule is unmatched in majesty, splendor, and liberating power. The third segment is: The Unshakeable Dominion: An Everlasting Kingdom The psalmist now reaches the ultimate, unshakeable bedrock of his royal hymn, anchoring his narrative in the eternal stability of God's rule, as recorded in verse thirteen. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule through all generations. The Lord is always faithful to his promises; he is gracious in all he does. With triumphant, absolute confidence, David seals this section of his psalm, exclaiming, “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule through all generations. The Lord is always faithful to his promises; he is gracious in all he does.” This verse contains a colossal, mind-boggling truth that provides ultimate comfort for our daily trek through life. Throughout human history, massive empires have risen with terrifying power, only to crumble into forgotten dust. The ancient Egyptian pharaohs, the ruthless Assyrian conquerors, the mighty Babylonian kings, and the vast Roman legions all believed their rule would last forever. Yet, every single one of those human regimes—along with the fallen, territorial spiritual principalities that animated them—faded away into the pages of history. But David declares that the kingdom of Yahweh belongs to a completely different category! His rule is an everlasting kingdom—a reign that knows no geographical boundaries, no political decline, no military defeat, and no expiration date! Furthermore, look at the second half of verse thirteen, which highlights the moral foundation of this eternal throne. Unlike human rulers who break treaties, abandon alliances, and act out of selfish ambition, Yahweh is "always faithful to his promises; he is gracious in all he does." In the ancient Near Eastern world, a king's word was often treacherous. But the Supreme King of the divine council binds Himself to His word! Every promise He makes to His children—promises of presence, protection, forgiveness, and ultimate restoration—is locked in an unshakeable, eternal vault. His authority is executed through pure grace, ensuring that those who take refuge under His reign will never be disappointed, forgotten, or cast aside....

A king is murdered, a throne becomes a prize, and the world's biggest empire has to prove it can still hold together. We pull away from the Peloponnesian War just long enough to track the Persian succession shocks that set the stage for Persia's return to Greek politics, starting with the assassination of Xerxes and the hard-won rise of Artaxerxes I. Along the way, we sort Babylonian cuneiform evidence from Greek accounts packed with intrigue, and we ask what those contradictions tell us about propaganda, perspective, and how ancient history gets written.From there, we follow the early tests of Artaxerxes' rule, especially the Egyptian revolt led by Inaros and the disastrous Athenian intervention in the Nile Delta. It's a sharp reminder that the Achaemenid Empire is not just a backdrop to Greek history: it has its own internal pressures, powerful nobles, and regional flashpoints that can either drain imperial attention or force rapid adaptation.The story then turns to the chaotic handover after Artaxerxes' death and the violent climb of Darius II. Once stability returns, Persia pivots west with a smarter approach than invasion: leverage. We dig into how Persian objectives in Asia Minor shape support for Sparta, why Tissaphernes and Pharnabazus pursue different strategies, and how later decisions, including the rise of Cyrus the Younger, help set up the flow of Persian silver that changes the naval war against Athens.If you enjoyed this deep dive into Persian successions, satrap politics, and the Persian Empire's role in the Peloponnesian War, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review so more listeners can find the series. Support the show

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IntroductionAbraham struggled to trust God's promises even after receiving a vision and an explicit word from God. The Lord assured Abraham that he is Abraham's shield (Genesis 15:1). The Lord will protect him and defend him. Peter also doubted the path to glory through the suffering of the cross. The thought of a distant God protecting a people who seem so far away just seems absurd. Christians today may wonder whether God has abandoned his people. We face trials, and we might wonder if God is really in the midst of them. This becomes even more apparent when Peter addresses us as exiles. If we are in exile, we would think that God is even more removed from us. Peter, who struggled to believe Christ would protect him, assures the church that the Triune God has neither forgotten nor forsaken His people. Rather, He is actively guarding them until they receive the inheritance He has prepared for them. The Triune GodPeter tells us that the Father has chosen us. It is his foreknowledge. Why does he know? It is because he has decided it (1 Peter 1:1). Our exile status is intentional. The Son has redeemed us through his blood. The Holy Spirit is sanctifying us to conform to Christ. (1 Peter 1:2) Peter writes to believers living in exile. We are outside the promised land. We have to see that exile does not mean abandonment. The Father elects/chooses His children, the Son continues to reign as Lord and Redeemer, and the Spirit remains present, sanctifying and preserving God's people. The Lord refines his people through the painful trials. The trials are like gold passing through the flame. These trials are not signs of God's absence. No, the trials are used to burn away the impurities of our faith, conforming us to be more faithful children of God. The Triune God is personally guarding us as he protected and guarded his people in foreign lands. We are currently in exile on a Christian pilgrimage to the promised land, being guarded by God. It is true that we are reminded of our creaturely status when we contemplate the doctrine of the Trinity. We know that our God is beyond our full comprehension. However, we can know and do know our God. We know that he is actively working on our behalf. Our Certain ApplicationYes, we are in exile. We are away from the promised land. However, our Lord works to protect us. The Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that the Holy Spirit has been given to me. We might think of someone more spiritual having the Spirit. However, the Holy Spirit is given to me. I am a temple of the Holy Spirit by God's grace. The Holy Spirit will be with us from this age to the age to come. We might not think that this is very important. However, Peter assures us that God is giving us double protection. The inheritance that Christ has won for us is being guarded in heaven. We are continually and actively being guarded by God to receive that inheritance. The assurance of this is that no Babylonian or Assyrian can take our inhertiance like we saw with Israel in the past. Yes, we will face trials in this age. We will get some bumps and bruises along the way, but the Lord will be the shield and defender, guaranteeing that we will receive what he has set apart for us. This means that as the Holy Spirit is given to us by Christ, we will be protected. It means that as the Father has chosen us, we will receive his chosen inheritance. This is not because it is grounded in us, but by our God working in history. Conclusion Peter knows the struggle of the Christian life. He too wanted glory now. He did not understand Christ's mission to gain heaven through the cross. In fact, Peter denied Christ three times when Christ was heading to the cross. Peter did not understand the suffering to glory. Peter had an awkward breakfast with the Lord, where the Lord asked him three times if Peter loved him and charged Peter to care for his people after Peter's three answers. Peter knows the grace of Christ. Peter was assured that he would persevere until the end. It is not because Peter is so competent, but because the Lord is that faithful. Let us take Peter's testimony seriously. Let us hear his inspired words to encourage us in this life. Our God is not distant. We might not fully understand the doctrine of the Trinity, but we know that our God guards our inheritance and he actively guards us. We will receive what he has set out for us. Christ has earned it. The Father has chosen us. The Spirit applies Christ's distinct blessings. As we face trials in this age, let us be confident that the Lord is refining us to be the people he has called us to be. He is shepherding us in the midst of it. We will dwell with him in our inheritance he secured for us. Let us live out the days he has numbered for us in the confidence of his protection and faithfulness. I did a series on “Sojourning Under the Sun.” You can read a short summary of exile on the Gospel Coalition's website.

How does the Lord answer Habakkuk's concerns? Habakkuk 1:5–11 prepares us for the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must remember God Himself, when we consider His providence. This devotional explores the theme of divine providence through Habakkuk's encounter with God regarding the rise of the Chaldeans. Pastor emphasizes that God's ways are beyond human scrutiny, requiring believers to cultivate humility rather than judgment. By examining the wickedness of the Babylonians, the text illustrates how God sovereignly uses even evil nations to accomplish His purposes for discipline and justice. The message encourages trusting in God's character and wisdom despite present hardships, pointing to the cross as the ultimate proof of His goodness. Ultimately, the devotional calls for a posture of faithful submission and confidence in God's control over all circumstances.

It's Wednesday, July 22nd, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark and Adam McManus Christian convert in Somaliland, Africa poisoned to death by Muslim family Morning Star News reports a Christian convert was poisoned to death in Somaliland earlier this month. Somaliland is a partially recognized state in the Horn of Africa. Islam is the official religion of the state. Converting to another religion is punishable by death.  Back in April, Sharif Ali came to Christ secretly. However, his Muslim relatives suspected his conversion and eventually poisoned him. His own family poisoned him! Before his death, he told a visiting underground church leader, “If I die, I rejoice because I have believed in [Jesus].” Psalm 116:15 says, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” Amnesty withdraws report that Christian pro-life groups are a threat Amnesty International withdrew a recent report that labeled Christian and pro-life groups as a threat. The British organization claims to support humans rights. However, the group's July report smeared Christian organizations as “anti-rights.”  One of those organizations was Christian Concern. Tim Dieppe is the head of public policy at Christian Concern. He said, “The multiple successes in our cases relating to Christian freedoms and right to life show that Christian Concern, far from being ‘anti-rights' is actually very much on the right side of rights. Truth is on our side. It is Amnesty that is now anti-rights.” French legislature legalized assisted suicide France's National Assembly passed a bill to legalize assisted suicide last week.  The measure now awaits approval by France's Constitutional Council before it can become law.  The National Council of Evangelicals of France lamented the passing of the bill. A spokesman said, “[We call] on the evangelical Protestant churches of France to redouble their efforts in providing support, visiting and offering comfort. Today more than ever, our local communities are called upon to be witnesses of hope, presence and practical solidarity amongst the most vulnerable.” Proverbs 24:11 says, “Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter.” Arkansas gave $1.7 million to pro-life pregnancy centers In the United States, Arkansas awarded $1.7 million to pro-life pregnancy resource centers over the last year, reports LifeNews.  The state's legislature also voted to increase this funding to $3.5 million over the next year.  Arkansas is among 19 states that provide some form of alternatives to abortion funding for life-affirming pregnancy help organizations. States with the biggest programs include Texas, Florida, Tennessee, and Oklahoma. Trump pauses billion dollars in Medicaid to CA and MN over fraud The Trump administration is pausing over one billion dollars in Medicaid funding to California and Minnesota.  U.S. Health Secretary ‌Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the reason is suspected fraud and noncompliance.  Listen to his comments.  KENNEDY: “If your state wants Medicaid funding, it must meet basic documentation requirements. If we suspect fraud, you will not receive taxpayer dollars until you prove that those payments are legitimate. “That's how we make America healthy again. That's how we restore the integrity of our democracy. And that's how we make America great again!” Trump imposes 50 percent tariffs on Canadian goods U.S. President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on Canadian goods on Monday.  The 50 percent tariff will affect a wide range of products from wine to hockey sticks and cement.  The White House stated, “President Trump is taking action to hold Canada accountable for its continued discrimination against and unreasonable and unequal treatment of U.S. commerce that has burdened and disadvantaged hardworking Americans.” Wooden beams from Solomon's Temple discovered Archaeologists recently unearthed wooden beams from Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem.  King Solomon built this temple, known as the First Temple, in the 10th century B.C. The Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, destroyed this temple later in 586 B.C. The Israel Antiquities Authority is now unearthing the charred remains of the structure.  Dr. Johanna Regev is studying the charred beams. She told The Jerusalem Post, “It is very rare in Israel to find wood with such a large number of growth rings. Here in the City of David, we found thick beams with many rings. ... Until now, we could date finds within a range of hundreds of years. Now, we can attain much greater precision, narrowing the dating range down to as little as 10 years.” McVeda kids in Great Falls, Montana raised $347 for The Worldview Melissa McVeda in Great Falls, Montana wrote, “My family listens to The Worldview several days every week. Being a busy mom and in a rural area, I am not able to catch other news sources very often. We really appreciate the convenience of being able to listen to The Worldview when it works with our schedule -- usually lunchtime -- rather than trying to get our radio to the right spot at the right minute to catch radio news. “We also appreciate that The Worldview team has done the legwork of bringing the news stories to us rather than us surfing the internet to find them. “We especially perk up when there is world event news, Good Samaritan stories, stories having to do with children, other Christians, and historical stories like the one you wrote and voiced on the anniversary of Perpetua's martyrdom. “My older children, Anna, age 10 and Eppie, almost 9, have organized a fundraiser for The Worldview, aided by their younger siblings Claire, age 7, and Caleb, age 5. They sold homemade items at our farm on Monday, with plans to continue fundraising one to two times per week. That first day, combined with their own contributions, brought in $205. Attached is a photo of Eppie with the fundraiser table and her older cousin, Grace, who joined in the fun. May Christ be glorified by what you and the team do with this program.” Well, let me tell you. Last night, I surprised the McVeda family in Great Falls, Montana with a phone call.  I called them and got a chance to talk to the whole family on speaker phone.  There were lots of giggles in between their answers. Since they have regular customers who buy fresh milk from them, they decided to set up a table and sell their homemade goodies which included chocolate chip cookies, meringue cookies, iced tea, and crocheted hand puppets. You heard me correctly. Hand puppets including a boar, a rabbit, and a Welsh Corgi. Anna and Eppie McVeda spent three to four hours each crocheting the puppets which they sold for approximately $20 each. Can you believe that? They spent hours of their time crocheting hand puppets to raise money for the six-member Worldview newscast team. It's incredible!  And Claire and Caleb helped make the tea and the cookies. Last night, Caleb confessed to me that he ate a couple of the cookies as well. I don't blame him. The McVeda kids in Great Falls, Montana said they were inspired by a boy who sold lemonade last year in our listenership to help fund this important cause.  If you are a kid, do you want to help raise money for The Worldview as well? Every dollar counts. Now, if you're not old enough to have email yet, make sure to have your parents email me to let me know how you are raising the money for this Christian newscast. 7 Worldview listeners gave $1,517 And finally, by Tuesday night at 7:45pm Central, 7 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate and invested their treasure to fund the six-member team behind The Worldview for another year. We were touched by the generosity of Jeff in Boise, Idaho who gave $75 and the McVeda family in Great Falls, Montana who raised $142. And we're grateful to God for Dawn in Estero, Florida who gave $200, Loren in Brighton, Colorado who gave $300, Carlee in Keswick Ridge, New Brunswick, Canada who pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300, and Krystoffer in Fullerton, California who gave $500. Those 7 gifts add up to $1,517. Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (drum roll sound effect) $43,755 (sound effect of people cheering) That means, in just three days, we need to raise $37,471.50 to hit our $81,226.50 goal by this Friday, July 24th! The finish line is $123,500 by Friday, July 31st to be fully funded for another year. Listen, if four kids under the age of 11 in Great Falls, Montana can raise $347 in a matter of two weeks with an initial donation of $205 and the one last night for $142, what could you give? If you were touched by their generosity of time and treasure, I wonder whether you might consider making a one-time donation of $347 yourself. If 108 Worldview listeners gave $347 – just like the McVeda kids did – today, on Wednesday, July 22nd by 8:00pm central, we will have hit our July 24th goal one day early.  Listen, you are one of tens of thousands of people listening to the sound of my voice at this moment.  Will you be one of 108 people to give $347 right now? Please, go to TheWorldview.com, click on Give, select the dollar amount, and make sure to click on the “recurring” button if that's your wish.  And remember, if you want to continue your monthly pledge to The Worldview that you started in a previous year, please let me know so we can count your generous ongoing gift toward our total. Let's see what the Lord will do on this Wednesday. I have a sneaking suspicion that at least 108 of you will rise to the occasion and make that $347 one-time donation. Just go to TheWorldview.com and click on Give. Close And that's The Worldview on this Wednesday, July 22nd, in the year of our Lord 2026. Subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

The Israelites acknowledge their disobedience and rebellion against God, which led to their punishment and suffering: The prayer highlights the Israelites' tendency to become complacent during times of prosperity, forgetting about God and worshiping idols. This pattern is evident through their history, from the wilderness to the Babylonian captivity. God's mercy is a recurring theme in the Israelites' story. They cry out to Him in times of trouble and He delivers them. However, they continue to disobey and rebel again and again. The Israelites make a new covenant with God, promising to follow His laws and statutes. Related Episodes: 1 Samuel 15:1-11 (From Creation) - Why Did God Want Saul to Kill ALL The Amalekites? Judges 3:1-11 (From Creation) - Can Trials Be Good For Us? Deuteronomy 20:10-20 (From Creation) - Chance after Chance after Chance Hey! Don't leave before looking at other P40 stuff: YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnh-aqfg8rw Ko-Fi - https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries Website - https://www.p40ministries.com Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/p40ministries Contact - jenn@p40ministries.com Books - https://www.amazon.com/Jenn-Kokal/e/B095JCRNHY/ref=aufs_dp_fta_dsk Merch - https://www.p40ministries.com/shop YouVersion - https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/38267-out-of-the-mire-trusting-god-in-the-middle Check out LifeAudio for other faith-based podcasts on parenting, studying Scripture, and more:www.lifeaudio.com Need help memorizing Scripture? Check out Verse in the Chorus: https://www.youtube.com/@VerseintheChrous Become a member to gain access to The Bible Explained on Fridays: https://ko-fi.com/p40ministries Support babies and get quality coffee with Seven Weeks Coffee https://sevenweekscoffee.com/?ref=P40 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This evening at sundown marks the onset of Tisha B'Av, a 25-hour period in the Jewish calendar which is the saddest of the year. We commemorate and remember the destruction of the First and Second Temples, among the most important events in Jewish history. These disasters led to the dispersal of the Jewish people for thousands of years. They never abandoned their dream of returning to their ancient homeland, but throughout the centuries of exile they were persecuted ruthlessly and relentlessly. In Spain. England. Throughout Europe. In the middle east. And today, we are clearly in the early stages of yet another era of extreme tumult. For Jews.In this episode I speak with Dr. Yiftach Shalev of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Just a few weeks ago, Dr. Shalev and his team discovered charred wooden beams used in the construction of a grand home adjacent to the First Temple, which was destroyed by the Babylonians. The parallels regarding what transpired during this time and on October 7 are eerie. And we are only able to understand the commonalities because of strides in scientific and forensic analysis. Think about it. For a wooden beam charred more than 2,000 years ago to be preserved so that it can be analyzed is extraordinary. What kind of wood was used? Where did it come from? Why did it not decay? Dr. Shalev analyses the detail to preserve and present the big picture. The attackers had a plan. They ignited concentrated fires that incinerated the Temple and adjacent buildings, with temperatures reaching 700 degrees Celsius. Just as Hamas did on October 7. They had a similar plan, going house to house, torching the living and murdered.Everything about this story is fascinating; the scientific advances that make this forensic archaeological work possible. And how much it enhances our understanding of the present, in the context of the past. This is more than archaeology. It is history, war, conquest, and political reality tumbled together. If nothing else listen to the introduction and watch the two minute video. You'll be hooked by then. Trust me. I have never been one to show great interest in “archaeological” stories. This changed everything.Podcast NotesDr. Yiftah Shalev is a leading field archaeologist and the Scientific Advisor for the Jerusalem District of the Israel Antiquities Authority. Over the course of his career, he has directed and participated in major excavations throughout Israel. He spent fifteen years excavating at Tel Dor, one of the most important archaeological sites on Israel's Mediterranean coast, before turning his primary research focus to Jerusalem.Since 2017, Shalev has co-led the Givati Parking Lot excavations in ancient Jerusalem. The excavations he directs have reshaped our understanding of the city's development from the Iron Age through the Persian and Hellenistic periods. Among the remarkable discoveries he has helped bring to light are a monumental rock-cut moat that once divided ancient Jerusalem, an elite public building destroyed during the Babylonian conquest of 586 BCE, the first decorated ivory panels discovered in Jerusalem, and vessels that once contained wine flavored with vanilla. He is also advancing a pioneering interdisciplinary project that uses cosmic-ray muons to investigate underground spaces and structures without excavation.Following the October 7, 2023 attacks, Shalev was called upon to take part in the emergency effort in the communities near the Gaza border, where he used archaeological methods as part of the search for missing persons.Shalev is a teaching fellow at Tel Aviv University and Jerusalem University College. He has published extensively on the archaeology of Jerusalem, ancient economy, and Mediterranean trade networks. His interdisciplinary research has appeared in leading journals, including PNAS, Scientific Reports, PLOS ONE, the Journal of Applied Physics, the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, Tel Aviv, and the Israel Exploration Journal. He is married, a father of three, and enjoys hiking and traveling with his family.Show your support for STLV at buymeacoffee.com/stateoftelavivState of Tel Aviv is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.stateoftelaviv.com/subscribe

Join hosts Rod Hembree and Janice as they delve into the fascinating world of Ezekiel's prophecies. This audio program explores the vivid visions and historical context of the prophet Ezekiel, providing insights into his life during the Babylonian exile. Discover the significance of Ezekiel's experiences and the messages he conveyed through divine revelations. Perfect for those interested in biblical studies and prophetic literature.

The Biblical Pastor: God's Shepherd vs. the Modern Hireling: Foundational Issues 6 | KIB 540 Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Description Welcome to Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Episode 540 with Dr. Michael Lake and Mary Lou Lake. What does Scripture actually teach about the office of the pastor? In today's church culture, many believers have inherited traditions that differ greatly from the biblical model of shepherding. In this message, Dr. Michael Lake continues the Fivefold Ministry series by examining the character, responsibilities, and calling of the biblical pastor through the lens of both the Old and New Testaments. Drawing from the teachings of Jesus, the Apostle Paul, Peter, and the biblical imagery of the Good Shepherd, this episode explains why pastors are called to protect, feed, disciple, and care for God's people—not build personal platforms or entertainment-driven ministries. Mary Lou also shares a timely exhortation concerning America's spiritual condition, the necessity of the fear of the Lord, and why she believes God is preparing His people for a great deliverance from modern Babylonian bondage. If you desire a deeper understanding of biblical leadership, spiritual maturity, and Christ-centered discipleship, this teaching will challenge and encourage you. In this episode, you'll discover: The biblical definition of a pastor The difference between a shepherd and a hireling Why pastors must protect the flock from deception The biblical qualifications for pastoral ministry Why pastors must become students of God's Word The importance of discipleship over entertainment How the Fivefold Ministry works together The responsibility of pastors to pray, teach, restore, and equip believers Why biblical shepherds are desperately needed in the last days Encouragement for faithful pastors serving quietly and sacrificially

In Daniel 2, we see the young prophet respond to miraculous revelation with intense humility, offering genuine worship rather than seeking personal advancement. While kings, pagan officials, and false religions constantly grab glory for themselves, Daniel points the Babylonian king directly to the one true God who alone possesses perfect wisdom and power.

Matthew Ehret closes out his five week Occult Tesla series with the big finale: Tesla versus Einstein, and it is not the underdog story you were told in school. Using Tesla's own poem mocking Einstein as "a long haired crank," Ehret unpacks why Tesla clung to a flat, Newtonian universe while Planck, Einstein, and Riemann were busy proving space itself curves. From there the show pulls back the curtain on Isaac Newton himself, alchemist, closet Rosicrucian, and self declared heir to Babylonian magic rather than the square jawed genius of the paintings. Expect Cambridge Apostles, secret societies masquerading as scientific academies, and a hard look at how "empiricism" became less a method and more a lattice built to keep real discovery boxed in. It is dense, it is contrarian, and it asks who actually gets to define what counts as science. Tech hiccups and all, Ehret gets his slides up eventually.

Lynne's Handouts can be found here:https://scripturecentral.org/archive/books/book-chapter/ezra-and-nehemiah?searchId=0eb3e36bfb24dcd9bb1d1bece1531216b59539a8fde17ee80224af0653c92aa3-en-v=fadf3b9 What can we learn about the faithful women who helped preserve covenant identity during one of Israel's most important periods of restoration? In this episode of Handmaidens, Harems, and Heroines, Bible scholar Lynne Hilton Wilson explores the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah, focusing on the often-overlooked women who lived during the return from Babylonian exile and the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Although these books primarily highlight the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, careful readers will discover women whose faith, family influence, and covenant commitment played a vital role in the restoration of God's people. Join us as we examine the lists of returning families, the significance of women in preserving Israel's lineage and religious identity, the challenges faced by wives and mothers during a time of social and spiritual reform, and the covenant renewal that united the community. Lynne also discusses the difficult passages concerning intermarriage, the status of women in post-exilic Judah, and what these stories reveal about faithfulness, sacrifice, and covenant belonging.

Who was King Zedekiah in the Bible? Was Zedekiah a godly king or a wicked king? Why did Zedekiah rebel against the Babylonians?

In the book of Daniel, we see the dramatic final moments that lead to the fall of the Babylonian empire. And in these fascinating details, we receive a clear warning about the judgment of God. On this episode of The Verdict, Pastor John Munro discusses crucial lessons to be learned from the fall of Babylon.

Welcome to Day 2906 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. Day 2906 – Theology Thursday – Prayer as Communion, Petition, and Covenant: From Ancient Near East to Modern Faith Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2906 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2906 of our Trek.   The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found that his lessons are short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who desire to learn more of God's Word. John's lessons can be found on his website   theologyinfive.com.   Today's lesson is titled PRAYER AS COMMUNION, PETITION, AND COVENANT: FROM THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST TO MODERN FAITH. In the religious systems of the ancient Near East, prayer was a vital function, though its framework was drastically different from what later developed in Israelite and Christian thought. Prayer was primarily a method of maintaining the cosmic order through appeasement and transaction. Gods in Mesopotamia, Canaan, and Egypt were seen as powerful but unpredictable, often requiring elaborate rituals, sacrifices, and formulas to grant favor or avert wrath. These cultures did not operate under a theology of relational covenant but rather through a pattern of reciprocity: offerings and words were meant to provoke a specific divine response. Babylonian prayer texts like the “Shurpu” and “Maqlu” series reflect a deep concern with curses, omens, and unseen transgressions. The supplicant might not even know which god was offended or what sin was committed. In such cases, prayers became generalized pleas for forgiveness from all deities. Egyptian prayers often took the form of hymns to the gods, extolling their attributes and requesting protection or intervention, especially concerning the afterlife. Canaanite prayer and sacrifice, while less preserved in textual form, mirrored these transactional patterns. Ultimately, prayer in the ANE was primarily about control, using proper language and rites to maintain divine favor and personal or national survival. The first segment is: The Distinctive Voice of Ancient Israel: Relational and Covenant-Based. The emergence of Israel as a people devoted to Yahweh introduced a significant break from the ANE paradigm. While early Israelite religion still bore some cultural similarities to its surroundings, the theology of Yahweh as a covenantal, relational deity revolutionized the nature of prayer. No longer was prayer simply a means of magical manipulation or guesswork. It became a medium through which a person engaged with a God who had revealed His name, His character, and His promises. The earliest biblical prayers, such as those found in Genesis, reflect this relational nature. Abraham argues with God over the fate of Sodom, appealing not to ritual but to God's justice. Moses intercedes for Israel after the golden calf incident, reminding Yahweh of His promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These prayers do not treat Yahweh as distant or unknowable but rather as a God who can be reasoned with, challenged, and persuaded because of His own covenant loyalty. The Book of Psalms shows the breadth of human emotion brought before God: joy, fear, doubt, anger, and praise. Lament becomes a central form of worship, as seen in the cries of David or the national laments after Jerusalem's destruction. These are not sterile performances but passionate expressions of faith. Prayer becomes an act of courage, a wrestling with God, a protest against silence, and a clinging to hope when the world falls apart. The second segment is: From Temple to Synagogue: Formalization in Second Temple and Rabbinic Judaism. As the Hebrew Bible gave way to the practices of Second Temple Judaism, especially after the exile, prayer began to evolve in response to historical necessity. With the destruction of the First Temple and the loss of the sacrificial system, the Jewish people turned increasingly to prayer and study as their central forms of worship. What was once spontaneous became structured. What was once private became communal. During this period, daily prayer rhythms began to emerge. Fixed times of prayer, morning, afternoon, and evening, mirrored the times of temple sacrifice and were eventually institutionalized. The Amidah, or “Standing Prayer,” developed into a core liturgical centerpiece. It offered a framework of blessings praising God, requesting needs, and praying for national restoration. The Shema, a declaration of God's unity and Israel's devotion, became part of daily prayer and identity. After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, Rabbinic Judaism restructured prayer life around the synagogue. Prayer was no longer centered on the priesthood and sacrificial rites but on the Torah, communal liturgy, and ethical action. This shift preserved Jewish identity during centuries of diaspora. Though formalized, prayer retained its relational element. It became the heartbeat of Jewish life, binding communities together and anchoring them to God's enduring promises. The Third Segment is: Prayer Reimagined in Early Christianity: Access through Christ. The earliest Christians, being Jews themselves, inherited this rich tradition of covenantal and liturgical prayer. Yet their belief in Jesus as the risen Messiah transformed their approach to prayer in significant ways. Central to this transformation was the idea of direct access to God through Christ. Jesus's own prayers, such as the Lord's Prayer, serve as both instruction and theological statement. The address “Our Father” reflects unprecedented intimacy. It reaffirms the covenantal relationship while highlighting the nearness and care of God. The prayer also orients the believer toward God's will, God's kingdom, and daily dependence, not merely petition. The Apostle Paul builds on this foundation by portraying prayer as a Spirit-driven communion. Believers are said to cry out “Abba, Father” by the Spirit. Paul claims that even when words fail, the Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for speech. This understanding of prayer shifts it away from set ritual toward a continual, personal interaction with the divine. In Christian theology, Jesus becomes the eternal High Priest, interceding on behalf of believers. This transforms the act of prayer from an attempt to reach an uncertain deity into an assurance of access to a loving Father through a faithful Son. Whether corporate or private, spontaneous or formal, prayer is understood as the believer's participation in the divine relationship secured by Christ. The Fourth Segment is: Boundaries and Prohibitions: When Prayer Becomes Misuse. While prayer is central to both testaments, not all prayer is accepted. The Bible gives several warnings about misguided or forbidden types of prayer. Chief among these is prayer to other gods. The First Commandment is clear: Israel was not to call on or serve any deity but Yahweh. This was not a cultural preference but a matter of covenant loyalty. Invoking Baal, Molech, or Asherah was not neutral. It was spiritual adultery. Another prohibited form was manipulative or theatrical prayer, often seen in paganism. The prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel danced and cut themselves, trying to compel their god to act. Elijah mocks this as futile. Jesus echoes this in the New Testament when He warns against “vain repetitions” and showy public displays. The goal of biblical prayer is not to impress people or mechanically control God. It is relational. Also forbidden were necromancy and communication with the dead, practices common in surrounding cultures. Deuteronomy 18 lists these among the detestable practices of the nations that Israel was not to imitate. Prayer was not to be blended with conjuring or attempts to access hidden knowledge through forbidden means. Later rabbinic tradition added safeguards to ensure prayer was done with the right heart. One was not to pray while intoxicated, or in moments of ritual impurity, or without focus. Christian writers like James and Peter also warn against praying from selfish motives or while harboring unresolved sin. The Fifth segment is: Rhythm and Repetition: Between Discipline and Pagan Imitation Repetitious or rhythmic prayer is sometimes misunderstood. Scripture does not forbid repetition outright, but it sharply distinguishes between reverent repetition and pagan-style incantations. Psalm 136 repeats the phrase “His steadfast love endures forever” 26 times as an act of worship, not manipulation. Many psalms and prayers use repetition as a poetic or liturgical feature, meant to reinforce covenant truths and lead the heart toward trust. The Shema and priestly blessing were repeated regularly in Jewish worship. Jesus's warning in Matthew 6 verse seven, “Do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do,” targets the kind of mechanical babbling seen in magical or pagan rituals. It does not prohibit...

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We're all guilty of the sin of pride, although we might be quicker to point it out in the lives of others! On this episode of The Verdict, Pastor John Munro explores the considerable pride of King Nebuchadnezzar, the ruler of the Babylonian empire. But, remember pride comes before the fall!

ALPHA HOUR EXHORTATION – EPISODE 698

ALPHA HOUR EXHORTATION – EPISODE 698

Start Here QuestionWhy did King Josiah remove objects from the temple?Short AnswerKing Josiah removed temple objects because many had become closely associated with pagan worship and Assyrian religious practices. Rather than rejecting the temple itself, he sought to restore covenant worship by removing symbols that no longer pointed people toward God. According to this episode, these reforms represented spiritual cleansing and covenant renewal rather than political power or religious innovation. Key TakeawaysKing Josiah inherited Judah during a period of political, economic, and spiritual collapse.The rediscovery of the Book of the Law sparked a national covenant renewal rather than the creation of a new religion.Many temple objects Josiah removed had become symbols of idolatry under Assyrian influence.Jeremiah praised Josiah for defending the poor, seeking justice, and remaining faithful to God’s covenant.Josiah’s death at Megiddo marked the end of Judah’s last righteous king before the Babylonian captivity. Continue readingThe post Come, Follow Me with FAIR – 2 Kings 16–25 – Jennifer Roach Lees appeared first on FAIR.

Join us for an incredible cruise with amazing spiritual momentum where you hear from Elaine Dalton, myself, Jasen Wade, Kirby Heyborne, Jenny Oaks Baker, Nathan Pacheco, and more. During July you can get $250 off for the second person, and $50 of for each person with the discount code KERRY. Go to https://www.goanddotravel.com/momentum-27-west-2 and join right away!Also, you can get Kerry's free booklet that helps us understand the storyline of the history of Israel by going to https://www.patreon.com/c/EnlightenEdgeEDU and clicking on "collections" and going to the TSAR handouts collection.Also, join us for fantastic content on our Patreon website: https://www.patreon.com/c/EnlightenEdgeEDU . This week on Patreon we will show you many of the key places we talk about and tell you details of the stories of the fall of Jerusalem and Israel. We will do this both this week and next, so that by the end you have a comprehensive overview and view of what happened.In this episode Kerry provides an overview of the fall of Israel to the Assyrian Empire. and the scattering of the ten tribes. He shows how Judah comes under the control of the Assyrian Empire. He sets things up for the discussion that he and his wife, Julianne, have regarding the fall of Israel and the rescue of Jerusalem. Together they contrast the two kingdoms during that time period and how the kings of Israel turned to idols while Hezekiah turned to the Lord. They delve into the way Hezekiah learned to rely on God after having started to rely on the world. They discuss Isaiah's role in this and lessons we can learn from it. Kerry addresses the false idea that Israel was supposed to be worshipping a female deity. They talk about how God will fight our battle if we keep our covenant as they talk about the miraculous deliverance of Jerusalem. Then Kerry and George Pierce look at the archaeology of Jerusalem at the time of the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians. They talk about what the remains can teach us about the siege, the attacks, the burning, and the terrible living conditions during the siege, including the diseases people had and the starvation happening during the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. Then Kerry and Andrew Skinner discuss the fall of Judah by looking at the bigger picture and the sins of Judah that led to this fall. They look at the reigns of Manasseh and Josiah, and even discuss Lehi during the time of Josiah. They then examine the history of the sons of Josiah and how their reigns led to the destruction and Babylonian captivity. They set up the stories of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Kerry discusses the way these stories, and the eventual gathering of Israel, demonstrate so powerfully God's love and longsuffering and unending mercy.We are grateful for our executive producers, P. Franzen, J. Parke, D. Watson, B. Van Blerkom, the Dawsons, M. Cannon, M. Rosema, B. Fisher, J. Beardall, D. Anderson, M. Zitar, J. Edwards, A. Dixon, T. Cottrell, and H. Umphlett, and for all our generous and loyal donors. We are also very grateful for all our Patreon members. We are so thankful for Beehive Broadcast for producing the podcast and for Rich Nicholls, who composed and plays the music for the podcast.

As we finish our journey in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles, Fr. Mike highlights the Babylonian exile as a critical event in the story of salvation. Although the exile is a dark and devastating part of Israel's history, Fr. Mike reminds us that it's not the end of their story. Today's readings are 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36, and Proverbs 9:1-6. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Andrew Collins is a science and history writer who investigates advanced civilizations in prehistory. He is the co-discoverer of a massive cave complex beneath the Giza plateau, now known as “Collins' Cave.” The author of several books, including Origins of the Gods and Göbekli Tepe: Genesis of the Gods, he regularly appears on radio shows, podcasts, and TV series, including Ancient Aliens, The UnXplained with William Shatner, and Lost Worlds. He lives in Essex, England.Karahan Tepe is arguably the most exciting archaeological discovery of the twenty-first century. Consisting of a series of stone enclosures and rock-cut edifices carved out of a hillside in the remote Tektek Mountains of southeastern Turkey, it is changing everything we know about the emergence of civilization in the immediate aftermath of the last ice age.Chronicling his explorations of Karahan Tepe, Andrew Collins presents the first in-depth investigation of the discoveries at the site: who built it, its astronomical alignments, and its cosmological connections. He examines the intricate carvings and architectural features, including a newly discovered statue of a giant human figure. Explaining how the site functioned as a shamanic oracle center, Collins shows how its rock-cut structures were used to connect with the Milky Way's Galactic Bulge and stars of Scorpius in their role as the head and active spirit of a perceived cosmic serpent. He traces this serpent motif throughout history, identifying it with the biblical serpent of Eden, the kundalini of Vedic tradition, and the black snake of the Yezidis. He demonstrates how the belief in the existence of the Milky Way serpent among the inhabitants of Karahan Tepe went on to influence the foundation of the Gnostic Ophite mysteries suppressed by the Christian Church. He also shows how the founders of Karahan Tepe were recalled in Hebrew myth and legend as the Watchers and Nephilim and in Sumerian and Babylonian mythology as the Anunnaki.His book on Karahan Tepe is in-depth investigation of the ancient structures at Karahan Tepe, its builders, and its cosmic shamanic purpose – now both available in English and Turkish: https://www.andrewcollins.com/page/books/index.htm Follow Andrew's work:https://www.instagram.com/andrew_collins_author/ https://www.facebook.com/AndrewCollinsAuthor https://www.andrewcollins.com/ Visit Law of Positivism:https://www.instagram.com/lawofpositivism/Website: https://www.lawofpositivism.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lawofpositivism/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/lawofpositivismTikTok: www.tiktok.com/@lawofpositivism 

→ Watch on YouTube → Detailed Show Notes(00:00) Israel is scattered because they rejected God's statutes and covenants.(09:05) Israel caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire and the Lord was very angry with them for this. These chapters are a warning to us today. We are to take care of the weakest among us. When we do, we show the Lord we desire his presence.(11:48) In 721 BC the Assyrian empire carried away the ten tribes of Israel. The text offers clues as to when this record was written.(13:21) King Hezekiah sends an invitation to all of Israel to return to the temple in order to avoid destruction. Individual families who are obedient are saved.(19:01) The Israelites have divided loyalties to many gods. Being committed to our faith significantly impacts our posterity.(21:33) In Isaiah's day, the kingdom of Judah is ruled by King Hezekiah. He takes a bold stand against the Assyrian army and Rabshakeh's rhetoric. This story is also found in Isaiah 36-37.(26:23) Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord promises to stop the Assyrian army, defend Jerusalem, and preserve a remnant of Judah. The incredible fulfillment of this prophecy is a pivot point in world history.(36:37) Hezekiah allows Babylon to see all the precious things of his house and he is reprimanded by Isaiah for doing so. Isaiah prophesies that Babylon will carry Judah into exile.(39:09) Hezekiah secures the city of Jerusalem by building a tunnel to divert water from the Spring of Gihon into the pool of Siloam inside Jerusalem's walls. He also covers up the water source so that his enemies cannot access it. God honors our best efforts with blessings.(43:43) Manasseh is an evil king of Judah who shed innocent blood, including sacrificing his own son. According to tradition, he even killed the prophet Isaiah.(46:12) Josiah is 8 years old when he began to reign as king. Hilkiah, the high priest in Josiah's day, discovered “The Book of the Law,” which many believe to be the core text of Deuteronomy. The prophetess Huldah proclaims that God's wrath will come upon the people of Judah.(50:29) Josiah's religious reforms are outlined in 2 Kings 23. Josiah burns the Asherah, takes down the high places, slays many priests, stops child sacrifice, and holds Passover.(55:37) The Book of Mormon and doctrines of the Restoration help bring balance to the reforms of Josiah.(1:04:42) Josiah is killed in battle and is replaced by a series of unrighteous kings. King Zedekiah is the last of the kings of Judah. Many of the people of Judah are carried captive into Babylon during this time. This is where the story of Lehi in the Book of Mormon picks up. He prophesies of the coming destruction and takes his family into the wilderness for safety.(1:09:33) After King Zedekiah is captured, Jerusalem and the temple are destroyed by the Babylonians. Gedaliah, a Judean, is appointed to govern the remnant. King Jehoiachin, after over 30 years of captivity in Babylon, is released and allowed to live, sparking hope for the return of the Davidic dynasty.(1:12:05) One son of Zedekiah, Mulek, flees to the Americas and his posterity are the people of Zarahemla, or the “Mulekites” in the Book of Mormon.(1:15:01) Christ is The King. If we put someone or something else on that throne, we will end up lost, captive, and scattered. → For more of Bryce Dunford’s podcast classes, click here. → Enroll in Institute → YouTube → Apple Podcasts → Spotify → Amazon Music → Facebook The post Ep 380 | 2 Kings 16-25, Come Follow Me 2026 (July 13-19) appeared first on Talking Scripture.

Episode 4170 │ July 5, 2026 You are an heir and owner of everything. The entire Babylonian system depends on you never believing it. Brad Cummings explains why it's true. WHAT THIS EPISODE COVERS Scott Kesterson and Brad Cummings open the day after the 250th with the question underneath everything the founding week examined — not whether the republic can be saved, but whether the people of God understand who they actually are — tracing the pathway to sonship through the three feasts of Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles as a life process rather than a checklist, and connecting Galatians 4's legal concept of adoption — not orphan rescue but a son come of legal age to operate the estate — to the founding generation's own self-understanding as spiritual Israel appealing to the courts of heaven in the final paragraph of the Declaration of Independence. Brad maps the Quaker thread through William Penn, Thomas Paine, and the first abolitionist movement in Pennsylvania as the seed of the nation's deepest virtues — a people who would not speak until they heard God's voice, who saw peacemaking not as pacifism but as the sword of love wielded by sons of God — and closes with the covenant framework from Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 that explains exactly why God allows tyranny over His people when they forsake the covenant, and the only path back: not political rebellion without repentance, but national humiliation before God — prayer, fasting, and the acknowledgment that we have given away our birthright. The episode closes with Brad's prayer that God would open the ear of every disciple pursuing Him — and that the nation would be restored to its original assigned purpose. KEY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED  What is the legal meaning of adoption in Galatians 4 — and why does understanding yourself as a son come of legal age to operate the Father's estate, rather than an orphan rescued by God, completely reframe your identity, your authority, and your relationship to the systems trying to convince you that you own nothing? What is the Quaker thread running through William Penn, Thomas Paine, Pennsylvania's first abolitionist movement, and the founding of the republic — and why did the nation that practiced the most voluntary, Spirit-led self-government produce more fruit than every European monarchy watching it fail? What is the covenant framework from Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26 — and why does Brad argue that political rebellion without national repentance and humiliation before God not only fails, but makes the tyranny worse? ABOUT BARDSFM BardsFM is a daily independent podcast covering faith, liberty, history, and information warfare. Hosted by Scott Kesterson — combat veteran, documentary filmmaker, and rancher. Over 4,100 episodes and 50 million lifetime downloads. New episodes every weekday. bards.fm This episode was researched and produced under the Sentinel Framework v3 — the analytical methodology built by Scott Kesterson — with AI-assisted research synthesis at a 70/30 human/AI authorship ratio, fully disclosed. All analysis, conclusions, and editorial judgments are those of Scott Kesterson. AFFILIATE LINKS Bards Nation Health Store: www.bardsnationhealth.com MYPillow promo code: BARDS >> Go to https://www.mypillow.com/bards and use the promo code BARDS or... Call 1-800-975-2939.  EMPShield protect your vehicles and home. Promo code BARDS: Click here Treadlite Broadforks...best garden tool EVER. Promo code BARDS26: TreadliteBroadforks.com EnviroKlenz Air Purification, promo code BARDS to save 10%: www.enviroklenz.com Morning Intro Music Provided by Brian Kahanek: www.briankahanek.com Founders Bible 20% discount code: BARDS >>> TheFoundersBible.com Windblown Media 20% Discount with promo code BARDS: windblownmedia.com White Oak Pastures Grassfed Meats, Get $20 off any order $150 or more. Promo Code BARDS: www.whiteoakpastures.com/BARDS Mission Darkness Faraday Bags and RF Shielding. Promo code BARDS: Click here DONATIONS: If you wish to support this podcast directly you can donate here... DONATE: Click here MAILING ADDRESS: Xpedition Cafe, LLC Attn. Scott Kesterson 591 E Central Ave, #740 Sutherlin, OR  97479

Is it time to update the constellations? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen dive into astrophysics, folklore, and our ancient connection to the stars with astrophysicist Moiya McTier, Ph.D. Originally Aired December 6, 2022. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here:  https://startalkmedia.com/show/cosmic-queries-astro-lore-with-moiya-mctier/ Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thousands of years before the story of Noah and the Ark, people in ancient Mesopotamia were already telling tales of a devastating divine flood. Written into the Epic of Atrahasis, this ancient story describes a man chosen to survive catastrophe by building a great boat and preserving life from destruction.Today, Tristan Hughes is joined by Sophus Helle to explore this legend from ancient Babylonian folklore. What does the story of Atrahasis reveal about ancient Babylonian beliefs? How similar is it to the biblical account of Noah? And why did the memory of a great flood become one of humanity's most enduring stories?MOREEpic of Gilgamesh: Rise of EnkiduListen on AppleListen on Spotify Babylon's Epic of CreationListen on AppleListen on Spotify We're going on *TOUR* to Australia and New Zealand! - grab your tickets here.Presented by Tristan Hughes. Audio editor is Aidan Lonergan. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.All music courtesy of Epidemic SoundsThe Ancients is a History Hit podcast.Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week PLUS early access, ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.