Underworld in the Old Testament
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Sheol sé an scéim “Coimín Beo” i nDún Lúiche tráthnóna inné seo scéim timpeallachta agus scéim do fheoirmeoiracht inbhuanaithe ar thalamh coimín.
06/14/2026 Rev. Jacob Kim Psalm 55 Cast Your Burden on the Lord To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Maskil[a] of David. 55 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! 2 Attend to me, and answer me; I am restless in my complaint and I moan, 3 because of the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they drop trouble upon me, and in anger they bear a grudge against me. 4 My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. 5 Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me. 6 And I say, “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest; 7 yes, I would wander far away; I would lodge in the wilderness; Selah 8 I would hurry to find a shelter from the raging wind and tempest.” 9 Destroy, O Lord, divide their tongues; for I see violence and strife in the city. 10 Day and night they go around it on its walls, and iniquity and trouble are within it; 11 ruin is in its midst; oppression and fraud do not depart from its marketplace. 12 For it is not an enemy who taunts me— then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me— then I could hide from him. 13 But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. 14 We used to take sweet counsel together; within God's house we walked in the throng. 15 Let death steal over them; let them go down to Sheol alive; for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. 16 But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. 17 Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice. 18 He redeems my soul in safety from the battle that I wage, for many are arrayed against me. 19 God will give ear and humble them, he who is enthroned from of old, Selah because they do not change and do not fear God. 20 My companion[b] stretched out his hand against his friends; he violated his covenant. 21 His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. 22 Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved. 23 But you, O God, will cast them down into the pit of destruction; men of blood and treachery shall not live out half their days. But I will trust in you.
We are going to see David's faithfulness in action, that David is led by God to do the right thing, and how much that is in contrast to Sheol, the current king of Israel, even though God has turned away from Sheol, take out your Bible and look with me to First Samuel and chapter 23 https://get.theapp.co/yjjqTo donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org
1 Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city: 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him, 5 “Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed! 6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.” 7 One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse. 8 Don't reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it. 13 The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways, 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him, 17 “Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he doesn't know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
We are going to see David's faithfulness in action, that David is led by God to do the right thing, and how much that is in contrast to Sheol, the current king of Israel, even though God has turned away from Sheol, take out your Bible and look with me to First Samuel and chapter 23https://get.theapp.co/yjjqTo donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org
Sheol an tAontas Eorpach 100 tonna de ábhair cúnaimh chuig bPoblacht Dhaonlathach an Chongó ag an deireadh seachtaine le tacú leis an bpobal atá buailte leis an víreas Ebola.
1 My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you. 2 Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative, 5 that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words. 6 For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice. 7 I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding, 8 passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house, 9 in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness. 10 Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent. 11 She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house. 12 Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner. 13 So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him: 14 “Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows. 15 Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you. 16 I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving. 19 For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey. 20 He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.” 21 With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him. 22 He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose. 23 Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn't know that it will cost his life. 24 Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth. 25 Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths, 26 for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol,* going down to the rooms of death. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge. 3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.* 6 She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it. 7 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don't depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove your way far from her. Don't come near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one; 10 lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man's house. 11 You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed, 12 and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof. 13 I haven't obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me! 14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.” 15 Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well. 16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you. 18 Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another? 21 For the ways of man are before Yahweh's eyes. He examines all his paths. 22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly. 23 He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: 2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man: 5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: 6 to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't forsake your mother's teaching: 9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us. Let's lay in wait for blood. Let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. 12 Let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. 13 We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with plunder. 14 You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse.” 15 My son, don't walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path, 16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood. 17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird: 18 but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners. 20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. 21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: 22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. 24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; 25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; 26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. 28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; 29 because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of Yahweh. 30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. 32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.” Listen Donate Subscribe:Proverbs Daily PodcastPsalms Daily Podcast
1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal: 2 “Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don't have a man's understanding. 3 I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you know? 5 “Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Don't you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar. 7 “Two things I have asked of you. Don't deny me before I die. 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?' or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. 10 “Don't slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. 11 There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn't bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men. 15 “The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.' “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don't say, ‘Enough!': 16 Sheol,* the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesn't say, ‘Enough!' 17 “The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it. 18 “There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don't understand: 19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden. 20 “So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.' 21 “For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it can't bear up: 22 For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food, 23 for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress. 24 “There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: 25 The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer. 26 The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks. 27 The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks. 28 You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces. 29 “There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going: 30 The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn't turn away for any; 31 the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up. 32 “If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth. 33 For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.” Listen Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
Welcome to Day 2868 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2868 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 130:1-8 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2868 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2868 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 Song of Ascent – Out of the Depths of the Cosmic Abyss In our previous episode on this grand pilgrimage, we traveled along the rugged trails of the tenth Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Nine. We confronted the gritty, painful reality of the survivor. We looked at the deep, bloody furrows plowed across the back of the covenant community by the wicked—the earthly agents of the rebel spiritual principalities. Yet, we celebrated the triumphant, sharp justice of Yahweh, who stepped onto the field and sliced the harnesses of oppression in half. We saw that while the haters of Zion look elevated, they are ultimately nothing more than shallow roof-grass, destined to wither into worthlessness under the heat of divine judgment. Today, we take our next deliberate, introspective steps up the mountain pass toward Jerusalem. We are exploring the eleventh song in this ancient collection: Psalm One Hundred Thirty, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. Historically, this deeply moving psalm has been known in the Christian tradition by its opening Latin words, De Profundis, which translate to, "Out of the Depths." The psalmist shifts our focus from the external persecution of worldly enemies, to the internal, suffocating weight of personal and corporate guilt. We are moving from the battlefield of physical survival, into the profound spiritual depths of the human soul, learning how to cry out for mercy when we are drowning in our own brokenness. Let us step onto the trail, and listen to the desperate cry for redemption. The first segment is: Crying from the Chaotic Waters of Despair Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses one and two. Out of the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer. The song opens not with a shout of triumph, but with a muffled, echoing cry from the dark. "Out of the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer." To truly comprehend the terrifying weight of this opening, we must view the imagery through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview. The Hebrew word for "depths" is ma'amaqim. In the ancient Near East, the deep, dark, and churning waters of the ocean were not viewed merely as a geographic feature; they represented primeval chaos, the cosmic abyss, and the terrifying domain of death. The sea was the playground of Leviathan, and the watery throat of Sheol—the underworld. To be in "the depths" meant you were drowning, completely overwhelmed by cosmic forces, suffocating in total darkness, and entirely cut off from the land of the living. But what has dragged the psalmist down into this spiritual abyss? It is not the armies of Babylon this time; it is the realization of his own sin. The depths of despair represent the suffocating environment of guilt. When you recognize how far you have fallen from the cosmic blueprint of the Creator, the psychological weight can feel like a multi-ton tidal wave, pinning you to the ocean floor. Yet, look at the direction of his cry. Even from the bottom of the chaotic abyss, wrapped in the dark currents of his own failure, the pilgrim directs his voice straight upward. He calls out to the Name of Yahweh. He begs, "Hear my cry, O Lord. Listen to my prayer." This is an act of fierce, desperate faith. The rebel spiritual forces—the corrupt elohim of the Divine Council—want the guilty soul to believe that it is permanently abandoned, that the abyss has claimed them forever. But the psalmist refuses to listen to the blackmail of the enemy. He knows that the voice of the Creator can penetrate the deepest, darkest waters of the cosmic void. When you are drowning in your own brokenness, you must use your final breath to send an SOS straight to the heavenly throne room. The second segment is: The Celestial Ledger and the Scandal of Grace Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses three and four. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. Standing before the cosmic courtroom of heaven, the psalmist poses a chilling, rhetorical question that seals the fate of all humanity. "Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive?" In the ancient Near Eastern worldview, it was believed that the gods kept rigorous, celestial ledgers. The rebel principalities kept meticulous books, recording every infraction, every mistake, and every failure of mankind, utilizing those records to extort, torture, and condemn human beings. They demanded absolute, flawless perfection, but provided absolutely no grace. If Yahweh operated on the same system, the cosmic trial would be over before it even started. The Hebrew word for "survive" here means to stand. If God brought out the unedited ledger of our hidden thoughts, our compromised motives, and our outright rebellions, every single human being, every angel, and every member of the council would instantly collapse under the weight of perfect justice. No one could stand. But then, the psalmist introduces a staggering, paradigm-shifting truth that completely shatters the cosmic legal system of the enemy. Verse four declares, "But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you." This is a beautiful, supernatural paradox. In our human way of thinking, we assume that if a judge lets a criminal off the hook, the criminal will lose all respect for the law. We think that punishment produces fear, and forgiveness produces carelessness. But in the economy of the Most High God, the exact opposite is true. The rebel gods of the pagan nations used fear and guilt to manipulate their followers into slavery. They never offered true, total forgiveness; they only offered temporary, expensive truces. But Yahweh performs a miracle of grace. He skims off the record of our sins, completely erasing the ledger through His covenant love. When a human being, drowning at the bottom of the abyss, experiences the overwhelming, unmerited release of divine forgiveness, it triggers a profound, holy shockwave in their soul. They don't become careless; they become utterly captivated. They develop a deep, trembling, and reverential awe—the true "fear of the Lord." They realize they are dealing with a King who is too good, too powerful, and too merciful to ever be trifled with. Forgiveness doesn't produce license; it produces absolute, unswerving loyalty to the true Sovereign of the cosmos. The third segment is: The Hyper-Vigilant Vigil for the Sun of Righteousness Psalm One Hundred Thirty: verses five and six. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. Having received the assurance of forgiveness, the psalmist transitions into a posture of patient, yet hyper-vigilant, waiting. "I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word." The Hebrew word for "counting on," or "waiting," is qavah, which carries the visceral idea of twisting cords together to make a strong rope. It implies an active, muscular tension. The pilgrim is not waiting passively, like a person sitting bored in a doctor's office. He is binding his soul tightly to the promises of God, bracing himself for the long watch. He has anchored his hope exclusively to the "word"—the cosmic decrees and covenant oaths of Yahweh. He illustrates the intensity of this waiting with a beautiful, hauntingly repetitive military metaphor in verse six. "I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn." To understand this, we must remember our previous treks through the Songs of Ascents, specifically Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Seven, where we learned about the vital role of the watchman guarding the city walls. Imagine a sentry stationed on the high stone battlements of Jerusalem during the ancient night watch. The darkness around him is heavy, absolute, and infested with hidden dangers. The enemy principalities and their human proxies do their most destructive work...
Today we come to one of the most sobering and glorious truthsin all of Scripture. Philippians 2:10 says this: “that at the name of Jesusevery knee will bow.” Notice—not some knees, not many knees, but everyknee. The entire universe will one day acknowledge the lordship of JesusChrist. Right now, some people debate about Jesus. They reject Him. They mockHim. They ignore Him. But the day is coming when all debate will end forever.Every created being will bow before Him. NowPaul divides this into three different groups: “those in heaven, those onearth, and those under the earth”.Whatdoes this include? Those in heaven”refers to the angels and the redeemed believers already in glory. Imagineheaven today—a multitude of angels worshiping Jesus continually. Revelation5:11–12 gives us a picture of this. When John had that vision of heaven, theywere saying, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.” The saints in heaven bowjoyfully because they know the greatness of the Savior. ThenPaul says, “those on earth.” This includes every living person on earth. Kingswill bow, presidents will bow, celebrities will bow, atheists will bow,religious leaders will bow. All will bow one day before the Lord Jesus Christ.No earthly power or fame will matter at that moment. The most powerful peoplein history will stand equal before Jesus Christ. Thenhe says, “those under the earth.” This refers to the realm of the dead andthose awaiting the final judgment. This no doubt includes all those who havegone into eternity without Christ, and whose souls even now are in a terribleplace in the heart of the earth called Sheol, Hades, or hell. Read Luke chapter 16 and Revelation20:11–14.Whata terrible day that judgment will be. But every knee will bow. No one is goingto escape this reality. The tragedy is that many who refuse to bow willinglynow will bow unwillingly later. Today is the day of grace, and today is the dayof salvation. Romans 10:9 reminds us, “If you confess with your mouth theLord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, youwill be saved.” God invites people today to come willingly now inrepentance and faith. But one day, submission will no longer be voluntary.Every knee will bow because Jesus Christ truly is Lord. Thistruth should affect how we live even today. First, it should produce worship.If heaven is centered around Christ, our lives should be too. Worship is notmerely singing in church. It is surrendering every area of our lives to JesusChrist. Second, this truth should produce humility. Pride melts when weremember that every human being will one day bow before Christ. The ground islevel at the foot of the cross, and we too will bow before Him along with allcreation. Third,this truth should produce urgency in evangelism. People around us desperatelyneed the gospel—friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. They are living nowas though Christ does not matter, but eternity says otherwise. One day everyperson you know will stand before Christ. This should burden our hearts topray, to witness, and to share the gospel while there is still time and hope. Finally,this truth gives us as believers great hope. Right now, evil seems strong.Truth seems attacked. The world appears chaotic. But Jesus Christ wins. Historyis not spinning out of control. It is moving toward the visible reign of JesusChrist. As we said yesterday, one day all the world will come to Jesus. It iscoming to Jesus and every knee will bow before Him as Lord. Believers today joyfully bow before the authority of Jesus Christ.Will you join us today in bowing before Him even now? Lord Jesus, we bow before You today as the King of Kings andLord of Lords. Thank You for Your mercy and Your grace. Help us to livesurrendered lives that honor You. Give us boldness to share the gospel withothers before that coming day when every knee will bow. We pray this in Jesus'name. Amen.
Series: Jonah (2026)Service: Sun AMType: SermonSpeaker: Caleb Adkisson
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you; 2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. 3 Don't be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food. 4 Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint. 5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky. 6 Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don't crave his delicacies, 7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. 8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. 9 Don't speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10 Don't move the ancient boundary stone. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless, 11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you. 12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge. 13 Don't withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die. 14 Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. 15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine. 16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. 17 Don't let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long. 18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off. 19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path! 20 Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat; 21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags. 22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don't despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and don't sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him. 25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice! 26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways. 27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well. 28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men. 29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine. 31 Don't look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. 32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things. 34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging: 35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.” Listen Donate Subscribe:Proverbs Daily PodcastPsalms Daily Podcast
The proverbs (truths obscurely expressed, maxims, and parables) of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 [a]That people may know skillful and godly [b]Wisdom and instruction, discern and comprehend the words of understanding and insight, 3 Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity, 4 That prudence may be given to the simple, and knowledge, discretion, and discernment to the youth— 5 The wise also will hear and increase in learning, and the person of understanding will acquire skill and attain to sound counsel [so that he may be able to steer his course rightly]— 6 That people may understand a proverb and a figure of speech or an enigma with its interpretation, and the words of the wise and their dark sayings or riddles. 7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline. 8 My son, hear the instruction of your father; reject not nor forsake the teaching of your mother. 9 For they are a [victor's] chaplet (garland) of grace upon your head and chains and pendants [of gold worn by kings] for your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, Come with us; let us lie in wait [to shed] blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause [and show that his piety is in vain]; 12 Let us swallow them up alive as does Sheol (the place of the dead), and whole, as those who go down into the pit [of the dead]; 13 We shall find and take all kinds of precious goods [when our victims are put out of the way], we shall fill our houses with plunder; 14 Throw in your lot with us [they insist] and be a sworn brother and comrade; let us all have one purse in common— 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them; restrain your foot from their path; 16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. 17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird! 18 But [when these men set a trap for others] they are lying in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy of gain; such [greed for plunder] takes away the lives of its possessors. 20 [c]Wisdom cries aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the markets; 21 She cries at the head of the noisy intersections [in the chief gathering places]; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 How long, O simple ones [open to evil], will you love being simple? And the scoffers delight in scoffing and [self-confident] fools hate knowledge? 23 If you will turn (repent) and give heed to my reproof, behold, I [[d]Wisdom] will pour out my spirit upon you, I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it, 25 And you treated as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic— 27 When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] but I will not answer; they will seek me early and diligently but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord, 30 Would accept none of my counsel, and despised all my reproof, 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way and be satiated with their own devices. 32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, and the careless ease of [self-confident] fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkens to me [Wisdom] shall dwell securely and in confident trust and shall be quiet, without fear or dread of evil. Footnotes Proverbs 1:2 Over the doors of the school of Plato these words were written in Greek, “Let no one enter who is not a geometrician.” But Solomon opens wide the doors of his proverbs with a special message of welcome to the unlearned, the simple, the foolish, the young, and even to the wise—that all “will hear and increase in learning” (Prov. 1:5). Proverbs 1:2 A key term in the book of Proverbs, “Wisdom” is capitalized throughout, as God's design for living and as a reminder of Christ, Whom the apostle Paul calls “the wisdom of God... in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (I Cor. 1:24; Col. 2:3 kjv). Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom here is personified. Read “the Wisdom of God” instead of “Wisdom” and see the wonderful power of this book.
IntroductionWas the cross a plan B?We might dismiss this question, but it is an important question. On the surface, the ministry of Jesus looks like a series of setbacks. The reality is that Christ is rejected by the religious establishment that He has come to establish. Christ is not only rejected, but handed over to Rome in a Kangaroo court. He is then sentenced to death by the demands of his own people. And yet it is this same Peter, the author of this letter, who tells us that we should see Christ's mission as a success despite this major setback. This is shocking because this same Peter once told Christ that he did not have to go to the cross. In fact, Christ rebukes him and associates Peter's words with Satanic temptation (Matthew 16:23). So, why would Peter see the cross as a mission success rather than a failure? God's Intention: The Rejected StonePeter introduces Christ in verse 4 with a striking image as a living stone. Calling Christ a living stone is a strange assertion. We know that stones are many things. They're useful, durable, and some are even valuable. You can build with them, polish them, and set them in a wall. But we don't look at a stone and expect life from it. We would never see stone as a living thing. Peter identifies Christ as the living stone. A living stone is a stone that not only possesses life, but also gives life. Peter is telling us that Christ is the stone that keeps the new temple square. Christ is also the stone that gives the temple life. Peter appeals to Isaiah 28 to establish his claim. In the context of Isaiah 28, Isaiah reminds us that Israel has made a covenant with Egypt, trusting a foreign superpower to protect them from Assyria. Isaiah rebukes it as a covenant with death. He says it is a covenant with Sheol. The people have looked at the geopolitical realities around them and decided to trust what they can see rather than the Lord's protection. The Lord gives the assurance, “I am laying in Zion a stone, a chosen and precious cornerstone.” The cornerstone is the stone that establishes the angle of an entire building. The Lord is not only going to build a new temple, but he will keep the building square. The Lord is not only a shield and defender for his people, but he also continually nourishes his people as a new temple (Isaiah 28:16).Peter adds to this with Psalm 118 and Isaiah 8. Peter applies Psalm 118 to Christ as the stone that the builders rejected, and Isaiah 8:14 tells us that this same stone is the rock of offense, a stumbling stone. Isaiah 8 is telling us that those who will not trust in the Lord's stone will see the stone as a stumbling stone rather than a life-giving stone. Peter shows from these three texts one argument: the rejection of Christ by men was not an accident, but the means that the Lord intended to use to build his building. As we are in Christ by the Spirit and faith, we are part of this building. Christ's Submission: The Anointed OneOur catechism in Lord's Day 12 presses us on what it means to call Jesus Christ, the anointed one. Christ is from Christos in Greek, Messiah in Hebrew. It means he was set apart and empowered by the Holy Spirit for a specific mission. But the catechism is also clear that this anointing was not simply ceremonial. At his baptism, the Spirit descended on him literally, actually equipping him to fulfill his mission. Christ will live up to the words at Baptism and the Transfiguration that the Father is well pleased with His Son. And what does an anointing require? Submission. Every anointing in Scripture is simultaneously an empowering and a binding to submit to the Father's will. Christ is submitting to the Father's will. We know that as a prophet is anointed by God, the prophet does not deliver his own words. He delivers the word of God. A priest anoints the temple ministers according to what God has prescribed. A king anointed to rule rules for God's glory and the people's good. Christ, as our prophet, fulfills this: he reveals what was hidden. What the prophets spoke in shadow, what was veiled in Isaiah and the Psalms, is now made plain in Christ. Christ shows the clear intention of the Lord's prophetic word. The mystery has been revealed because the prophet has spoken, and the incarnate Word, Christ, has confirmed the prophet's word. He submitted to the Father's will. Our Anointing: Living Stones in a Living TempleCalvin puts it plainly: as long as Christ remains outside of us, he is of no benefit to us. This is why Christ has to be the cornerstone and the living stone. He holds the building together, and he gives the building life by uniting the stones to him. Verse 5 assures us that we are that building. Christ's people are part of the new and living temple united to the cornerstone. The cornerstone that was rejected, suffered, and raised to life. Now, that cornerstone gives life to the whole temple, making us the Lord's spiritual house. This is what Peter is teaching in verses 4-8. Peter says that we are living sacrifices. Does this mean that we are living sacrifices called to finish Christ's work? Well, Peter is not calling our attention to sacrifices that take away sin. The sacrifice that Peter alludes to would be thanksgiving offerings. These are sacrifices that people would give if, say, for instance, a child recovered from severe illness, whose harvest exceeded all expectations, whose life turned out better than expected, and the examples continue. The sacrifice of someone who looks at what they have and says simply: I don't know how this happened, but thank you, Lord. Peter is calling us to see that our lives are that offering. We are not finishing Christ's work, but we are the garnish to the work. Our sacrifice is not the substance of the offering, but a display of thankfulness and joy that we are set free in Christ.Then, in verses 9 and 10, Peter reaches back to Exodus 19. At Sinai, the Lord told Israel in Exodus 19:5-6: if you obey, you will be a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession. It was conditional and future. There is a radical change in Christ. Peter picks up that same language and transforms it: “You are a chosen race. You are a royal priesthood. You are a holy nation.” What Moses announced as a future possibility has become a present reality for those built on the cornerstone. Now, we have become what God's people were promised to be. And notice the final word: once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Peter is assuring us that the people who were distant from the Lord's promise are now recipients of the promise. We have received mercy. This is not by our merit, but the Lord's mercy. This is why we live as thanksgiving offerings or out of gratitude as we walk in the Spirit by faith. ConclusionPeter begins this entire section asking whether the cross was a failure, and he ends it with those who were no people at all becoming the building blocks of God's new temple. This is all done by the Lord's mercy. So the Christian life is not a heavy list of obligations designed to earn what Christ has not yet finished. It is the life of someone who has been placed in the building, aligned to the cornerstone, and is now living out of the sheer gratitude of that reality. It is a story that does not end in death, but in life. Christ is the living stone, giving life to the stones in the living temple. As we take hold of Christ by faith and walk in the Spirit, we are the temple people. Let us live out who we are: living stones, built on the living stone, in the temple that God is raising to his own glory.
May 20, 2026Today's Reading: Numbers 16:23-40Daily Lectionary: Numbers 16:23-40; Luke 19:29-48“If these men die as all men die, or if they are visited by the fate of all mankind, then the Lord has not sent me. But if the Lord creates something new, and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you shall know that these men have despised the Lord.” (Numbers 16:29-30)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The time for God's choice between Moses and Korah has come. If Korah dies a natural death and nothing outrageous happens, then Moses isn't God's guy to lead Israel. If Korah lives to see tomorrow, he will take Moses' place and be declared God's chosen servant and leader. However, if something outrageous does happen, if something new and different happens, like the earth opening its mouth and swallowing Korah, then Moses remains. The odds appear to be in Korah's favor, at least they do if you ignore the plagues that God brought upon Egypt through Moses and the whole bit with the Red Sea. If you can forget about that, it seems Korah is a guaranteed winner.As long as you are willing to overlook history and the facts, Korah has everything on his side. His revolt against Moses and his authority is a sure thing, or it would be if his authority didn't come from God. As long as you're blind to everything except this moment, rebellion is a great idea. That's the way it seems, after all, what does authority know? What do parents know about growing up in this world? What do teachers know about having a social life? What do pastors know about living in the real world? Who are they to tell me what to do? As long as you are willing to overlook God establishing them as authorities over you for your good, you're totally right.But if you're not, you, like Korah, might be in trouble. If you're honest with yourself, your history, your rebellion, wanting to do things your way rather than God's way, you might want to keep an eye on the ground beneath your feet. You are in danger unless something even more outrageous than that happens. Unless God would actually choose you. Unless something as outrageous as God becoming Man, a finite infant, would happen. Unless God would choose you over His own Son, deliver up Christ to be crucified that you might live. Unless Jesus rises from the dead to put an end to the power of death and the grave, you might live in fear. Fear not. Your sins are forgiven. Christ is risen!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Lord God, our gracious Father, deliver us from the fear of punishment and death along with the guilt of our sin that we would live boldly and confidently in your mercy and forgiveness for the sake of your crucified and risen Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.Rev. Brett Simek, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD.
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly. 3 Yahweh's eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father's correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence. 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools. 8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness. 10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die. 11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then the hearts of the children of men! 12 A scoffer doesn't love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. 13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit. 14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast. 16 Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred. 18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife. 19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway. 20 A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight. 22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established. 23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! 24 The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. 25 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow's borders intact. 26 Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing. 27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. 28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. 29 Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones. 31 The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. 32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding. 33 The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
What man can live and never see death? Who can deliver his soul from the power of Sheol? Psalm 89:48Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Welcome to Day 2858 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2858 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 124:1-8– Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2858 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2858 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 Song of Ascent – Surviving the Raging Waters of Chaos In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we explored the fourth Song of Ascent, Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Three. We stood safely within the seamless walls of Jerusalem, yet we realized that our souls were still carrying the heavy, agonizing scars of the wilderness. We felt the crushing, suffocating weight of cultural contempt. In response, we adopted the posture of a hyper-vigilant servant. We chose to lift our eyes above the earthly mockery of the arrogant, and we fixed our gaze firmly upon the hand of the Master, waiting desperately for His unmerited, vindicating mercy. Today, we are exploring the fifth song in this ancient pilgrim collection. We are turning our attention to Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. The psalmist shifts our perspective dramatically. Instead of looking upward in exhaustion, he demands that we look backward, and stare directly into the terrifying abyss of what could have been. He forces the congregation to confront a chilling, hypothetical question, imagining a reality where the Creator had ignored their upward gaze. Let us step back onto the trail, and examine the raging waters from which we have been saved. The first segment is: The Horrifying Hypothetical and the Maw of the Underworld Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four: verses one through three What if the Lord had not been on our side? Let all Israel repeat: What if the Lord had not been on our side when people attacked us? They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger. The stanza opens with a dark, shuddering question: "What if the Lord had not been on our side?" The psalmist is not asking this lightly; he commands the entire gathered congregation of Israel to repeat the phrase. He wants the collective community to mentally strip away the protection of Yahweh for just a moment, and truly comprehend their own agonizing vulnerability. Imagine a universe where the Most High God was neutral, apathetic, or simply absent. Imagine facing the hostility of the surrounding pagan nations without the covering of the Divine Shield. The psalmist describes the attackers not merely as human politicians, or enemy soldiers, but as forces of cosmic destruction. He says, "They would have swallowed us alive in their burning anger." To fully grasp the terror of this imagery, we must understand the Ancient Near Eastern, and biblical, worldview. The language of being "swallowed alive" is heavily rooted in the mythology of the Canaanite god of death, Mot. In the ancient world, death was not just an inevitable biological event; death was a predatory, insatiable entity. The underworld, Sheol, was often depicted as a monstrous beast with a gaping maw, a throat that stretched from the dirt all the way up to the heavens, eager to swallow humanity whole. When the psalmist says the attacking armies would have swallowed them alive, he is revealing the spiritual reality behind the human conflict. The nations attacking Israel are the earthly proxies of the rebel elohim—the fallen spiritual principalities of the Divine Council. The ultimate goal of the kingdom of darkness is not just to win a military skirmish; it is to consume, devour, and entirely erase the imagers of God from the face of the earth. Without the intervention of Yahweh, the burning, demonic anger of the rebel gods would have dragged the entire covenant community down into the belly of the grave. The second segment is: The Torrent of Cosmic Chaos Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four: verses four and five The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us. Yes, the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives. The terrifying metaphors continue to escalate. The psalmist shifts from the gaping jaws of the underworld, to the devastating, unstoppable force of a flash flood. "The waters would have engulfed us; a torrent would have overwhelmed us." In the arid, rocky landscape of the Middle East, a sudden rainstorm in the distant mountains can create a deadly, roaring wall of water that completely floods a dry riverbed, or wadi, in a matter of minutes. Anyone caught in its path is violently swept away. But once again, the physical imagery points directly to a massive, cosmic reality. In the biblical worldview, stretching all the way back to Genesis Chapter One, the raging, untamed waters represent primordial chaos. The sea—known as Yamm in the ancient Ugaritic texts—was viewed as a hostile, chaotic deity, a dark, churning realm that constantly threatened to undo the beautiful, organized creation of Yahweh. The rebel spiritual forces use the chaotic waters as their primary weapon against the order of God. When the psalmist says, "the raging waters of their fury would have overwhelmed our very lives," he is describing a spiritual tsunami. Have you ever felt that sensation in your own life? Have you ever felt the toxic culture, the deceptive lies, and the sheer hostility of the world rising up like a dark flood, threatening to sweep you off your feet, and pull you under? That is the exact experience of the exile. The enemy does not just want to defeat you; they want to drown you in despair. They want to engulf your soul in chaos, until you can no longer breathe. And the chilling truth that the psalmist wants us to acknowledge is this: on our own, we are no match for the flood. Human willpower cannot hold back the raging waters of cosmic fury. If the Lord had not been standing as a breakwater on our behalf, the torrent would have absolutely overwhelmed our very lives. The third segment is: Escaping the Teeth of the Beast and the Fowler's Snare Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four: verses six and seven Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart! We escaped like a bird from a hunter's snare. The snare is broken, and we are free! Suddenly, the dark, suffocating tension of the hypothetical question breaks, and the psalm explodes into a brilliant, breathless shout of triumphant gratitude. "Praise the Lord, who did not let their teeth tear us apart!" The psalmist looks back at the jaws of the predator, and he realizes that the mouth of the beast was forcibly slammed shut. Just as God famously shut the mouths of the lions for Daniel in the pit, Yahweh intervened for His people. The rebel gods bared their fangs, the chaotic nations moved in for the kill, but the Creator simply said, "No." He would not permit His beloved exiles to be torn to pieces. He then uses an incredibly delicate, beautiful metaphor to describe our deliverance. "We escaped like a bird from a hunter's snare. The snare is broken, and we are free!" Imagine a small, fragile bird, desperately fluttering its wings, caught tightly in a hidden net laid by a cruel fowler. The bird has absolutely no strength to break the thick ropes of the snare. It is completely helpless, exhausted, and awaiting its execution. This perfectly describes our condition when we are trapped by the deceptive, arrogant schemes of the wicked. But then, the massive, capable hands of the Divine Warrior reach down. God does not just untangle the bird; He violently snaps the trap in half. "The snare is broken!" This is the ultimate, cosmic rescue mission. The rebel spirits set their intricate traps of idolatry, fear, and cultural compromise, hoping to permanently bind the believers. But Yahweh shatters their mechanisms of control. And the result of that divine intervention is absolute, soaring liberty. "...and we are free!" In the biblical sense, freedom is not the ability to do whatever your sinful flesh desires. True freedom is the glorious release from the suffocating, chaotic traps of the enemy, allowing you to fly upward, and live joyfully within the safe, ordered boundaries of God's cosmic blueprint. You have been liberated from the snare of death, so that you can sing in the branches of the Tree of Life. The fourth segment is: The Cosmic Anchor of the Creator Psalm One Hundred Twenty-Four: verse...
Join Southwest Radio Ministries and Watchman on the Wall. As Lise Cutshaw and Micah Van Huss connect the dots between the English word "hell" and the differing locations that "hell" actually depicts in the Hebrew and Greek. Micah describes the differences between biblical Sheol, Tartarus and Gehenna and who dwells there; hints at Jesus' connection with these underworld locations; and leaves us – mysteriously – with a teaser about angels and demons and their roles in the underworld.
1 Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens. She cries from the highest places of the city: 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him, 5 “Come, eat some of my bread, Drink some of the wine which I have mixed! 6 Leave your simple ways, and live. Walk in the way of understanding.” 7 One who corrects a mocker invites insult. One who reproves a wicked man invites abuse. 8 Don't reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you. Reprove a wise person, and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise person, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. The knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied. The years of your life will be increased. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you mock, you alone will bear it. 13 The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 to call to those who pass by, who go straight on their ways, 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.” As for him who is void of understanding, she says to him, 17 “Stolen water is sweet. Food eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he doesn't know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 My son, keep my words. Lay up my commandments within you. 2 Keep my commandments and live! Guard my teaching as the apple of your eye. 3 Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Tell wisdom, “You are my sister.” Call understanding your relative, 5 that they may keep you from the strange woman, from the foreigner who flatters with her words. 6 For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice. 7 I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding, 8 passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house, 9 in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness. 10 Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent. 11 She is loud and defiant. Her feet don't stay in her house. 12 Now she is in the streets, now in the squares, and lurking at every corner. 13 So she caught him, and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him: 14 “Sacrifices of peace offerings are with me. Today I have paid my vows. 15 Therefore I came out to meet you, to diligently seek your face, and I have found you. 16 I have spread my couch with carpets of tapestry, with striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt. 17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let's take our fill of loving until the morning. Let's solace ourselves with loving. 19 For my husband isn't at home. He has gone on a long journey. 20 He has taken a bag of money with him. He will come home at the full moon.” 21 With persuasive words, she led him astray. With the flattering of her lips, she seduced him. 22 He followed her immediately, as an ox goes to the slaughter, as a fool stepping into a noose. 23 Until an arrow strikes through his liver, as a bird hurries to the snare, and doesn't know that it will cost his life. 24 Now therefore, sons, listen to me. Pay attention to the words of my mouth. 25 Don't let your heart turn to her ways. Don't go astray in her paths, 26 for she has thrown down many wounded. Yes, all her slain are a mighty army. 27 Her house is the way to Sheol,* going down to the rooms of death. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Turn your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may maintain discretion, that your lips may preserve knowledge. 3 For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to Sheol.* 6 She gives no thought to the way of life. Her ways are crooked, and she doesn't know it. 7 Now therefore, my sons, listen to me. Don't depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove your way far from her. Don't come near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others, and your years to the cruel one; 10 lest strangers feast on your wealth, and your labors enrich another man's house. 11 You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed, 12 and say, “How I have hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof. 13 I haven't obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor turned my ear to those who instructed me! 14 I have come to the brink of utter ruin, among the gathered assembly.” 15 Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well. 16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you. 18 Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe and a graceful deer— let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated always with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another? 21 For the ways of man are before Yahweh's eyes. He examines all his paths. 22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare him. The cords of his sin hold him firmly. 23 He will die for lack of instruction. In the greatness of his folly, he will go astray. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: 2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man: 5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: 6 to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't forsake your mother's teaching: 9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us. Let's lay in wait for blood. Let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. 12 Let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. 13 We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with plunder. 14 You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse.” 15 My son, don't walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path, 16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood. 17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird: 18 but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners. 20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. 21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: 22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. 24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; 25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; 26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. 28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; 29 because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of Yahweh. 30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. 32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.” Listen Donate Subscribe:Proverbs Daily PodcastPsalms Daily Podcast
This is for Terry Illikainen. No commentar.y As an experiment, I will do the commentary as a separate post. In a sombre Elizabethan pile above Lake Windermere, the air is thick with more than just decay. Miss Prunella Pendleham, the last of a long line, watches her companion, Amelia, wither into a gaunt and listless shadow. Amelia is the sixth companion; three before her never left these walls alive. Amidst the rattle of mountain rain, thin, high screams echo through the stone-vaulted halls. Is it the onset of madness, or is the house reclaiming a brutal, hidden history? As the light fades, the only certainty is the tightening grip of a terror that will have its say. The Triumph of Death first appeared in The Arkham Sampler, Autumn 1949. It was later collected in Strayers from Sheol (1961) and The Best Ghost Stories of H. Russell Wakefield (1978). H. Russell Wakefield (1888--1964) was an English writer best known for his unsettling ghost stories. Drawing on clerical, military, and publishing-world experience, he brought a sharp psychological edge to the classic British supernatural tale.
1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal: 2 “Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don't have a man's understanding. 3 I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One. 4 Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has bound the waters in his garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you know? 5 “Every word of God is flawless. He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Don't you add to his words, lest he reprove you, and you be found a liar. 7 “Two things I have asked of you. Don't deny me before I die. 8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me, 9 lest I be full, deny you, and say, ‘Who is Yahweh?' or lest I be poor, and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. 10 “Don't slander a servant to his master, lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. 11 There is a generation that curses their father, and doesn't bless their mother. 12 There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness. 13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! Their eyelids are lifted up. 14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men. 15 “The leech has two daughters: ‘Give, give.' “There are three things that are never satisfied; four that don't say, ‘Enough!': 16 Sheol,* the barren womb, the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that doesn't say, ‘Enough!' 17 “The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, the young eagles shall eat it. 18 “There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don't understand: 19 The way of an eagle in the air, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man with a maiden. 20 “So is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done nothing wrong.' 21 “For three things the earth trembles, and under four, it can't bear up: 22 For a servant when he is king, a fool when he is filled with food, 23 for an unloved woman when she is married, and a servant who is heir to her mistress. 24 “There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: 25 The ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer. 26 The hyraxes are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks. 27 The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks. 28 You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings' palaces. 29 “There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going: 30 The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn't turn away for any; 31 the greyhound; the male goat; and the king against whom there is no rising up. 32 “If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth. 33 For as the churning of milk produces butter, and the wringing of the nose produces blood, so the forcing of wrath produces strife.” Listen Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
It was really only when Jonah was going down deeper and was about to hit rock bottom, that he then prayed to the LORD his God. Why wasn't he praying during the storm, or for the perishing sailors? Even in this distressful situation, and as low as one can go, and even from the depths of Hell or Sheol, God hears our prayer and answers them. To watch today's video, just click on this link! The post Jonah 2 – God's Compassion For The Ungodly – Even In Our Depths! appeared first on Living Rock Church.
1 Don't boast about tomorrow; for you don't know what a day may bring. 2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. 3 A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool's provocation is heavier than both. 4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy? 5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 The wounds of a friend are faithful, although the kisses of an enemy are profuse. 7 A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet. 8 As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home. 9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man's friend. 10 Don't forsake your friend and your father's friend. Don't go to your brother's house in the day of your disaster. A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother. 11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor. 12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it. 13 Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman! 14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him. 15 A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike: 16 restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand. 17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend's countenance. 18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored. 19 Like water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man. 20 Sheol* and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man's eyes are never satisfied. 21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise. 22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him. 23 Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds, 24 for riches are not forever, nor does the crown endure to all generations. 25 The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in. 26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field. 27 There will be plenty of goats' milk for your food, for your family's food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
Tá grúpa as Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair i Missouri Mheiriceá faoi láthair agus iad páirteach i gCraobh an Domhain den chomórtas Vex Robotics. Sheol na daltaí, Pádraig Ó Dochartaigh, Clint Ó Fearraigh, Rónán Ó Dochartaigh, Kevin Mac Uiginn agus an múinteoir, Keith Ó Fearraigh teachtaireachtaí fuaime chugainn ón chomórtas.
1 When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you; 2 put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite. 3 Don't be desirous of his dainties, since they are deceitful food. 4 Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint. 5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky. 6 Don't eat the food of him who has a stingy eye, and don't crave his delicacies, 7 for as he thinks about the cost, so he is. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, but his heart is not with you. 8 You will vomit up the morsel which you have eaten and waste your pleasant words. 9 Don't speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words. 10 Don't move the ancient boundary stone. Don't encroach on the fields of the fatherless, 11 for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you. 12 Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge. 13 Don't withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die. 14 Punish him with the rod, and save his soul from Sheol. 15 My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine. 16 Yes, my heart will rejoice when your lips speak what is right. 17 Don't let your heart envy sinners, but rather fear Yahweh all day long. 18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, and your hope will not be cut off. 19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path! 20 Don't be among ones drinking too much wine, or those who gorge themselves on meat; 21 for the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; and drowsiness clothes them in rags. 22 Listen to your father who gave you life, and don't despise your mother when she is old. 23 Buy the truth, and don't sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding. 24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him. 25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice! 26 My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways. 27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; and a wayward wife is a narrow well. 28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, and increases the unfaithful among men. 29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? 30 Those who stay long at the wine; those who go to seek out mixed wine. 31 Don't look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. 32 In the end, it bites like a snake, and poisons like a viper. 33 Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will imagine confusing things. 34 Yes, you will be as he who lies down in the middle of the sea, or as he who lies on top of the rigging: 35 “They hit me, and I was not hurt! They beat me, and I don't feel it! When will I wake up? I can do it again. I will look for more.” Listen Donate Subscribe:Proverbs Daily PodcastPsalms Daily Podcast
Did the Apostles’ Creed originally include the phrase “He descended into hell”? Many Christians recite these words—but few stop to ask where they came from or what they actually mean. In this episode, we examine: The historical development of the Apostles’ Creed When and where this phrase appears in church history What Scripture teaches about Christ’s descent We also clarify a common misunderstanding: The phrase is not about Jesus being tormented in hell, but about His true death and descent to the realm of the dead—what Scripture refers to as Sheol (and in Greek, Hades). Filmed in a historic cemetery, this discussion reflects on death, the grave, and the victory of Christ.
Did the Apostles' Creed originally include the phrase “He descended into hell”?Many Christians recite these words—but few stop to ask where they came from or what they actually mean.In this episode, we examine:The historical development of the Apostles' CreedWhen and where this phrase appears in church historyWhat Scripture teaches about Christ's descentWe also clarify a common misunderstanding:The phrase is not about Jesus being tormented in hell, but about His true death and descent to the realm of the dead—what Scripture refers to as Sheol (and in Greek, Hades).Filmed in a historic cemetery, this discussion reflects on death, the grave, and the victory of Christ.Watch all of our videos and subscribe to our channel for the latest content >HereHere
Did the Apostles’ Creed originally include the phrase “He descended into hell”? Many Christians recite these words—but few stop to ask where they came from or what they actually mean. In this episode, we examine: The historical development of the Apostles’ Creed When and where this phrase appears in church history What Scripture teaches about Christ’s descent We also clarify a common misunderstanding: The phrase is not about Jesus being tormented in hell, but about His true death and descent to the realm of the dead—what Scripture refers to as Sheol (and in Greek, Hades). Filmed in a historic cemetery, this discussion reflects on death, the grave, and the victory of Christ.
Voici le vingt-deuxième épisode de l'aventure Game of Rôles - Sheol : diffusé le 12/04/2026 en direct sur Twitch depuis la salle du conclave au palais des papes d'Avignon dans le cadre du Frames FestivalUne aventure écrite et masterisée par Fibre TigreAvec Lâm, MisterMv, Lydia, Daz et la participation exceptionnelle de Clément ViktorovitchEt un accompagnement musical par JotabeAvec le soutien de l'éditeur Elder CraftUne production GozultingMontage du podcast par Zu====Ecoutez Game of Roles sur Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/game…ic/id1350491357Ecoutez Game of Roles sur n'importe quelle app de podcasts: rss.acast.com/game-of-roles-magicRejoignez-nous :Sur le twitter de Qualiter : twitter.com/dequaliterSur la chaine Twitch de Qualiter: twitch.tv/dequaliter Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.
Voici le vingt-deuxième épisode de l'aventure Game of Rôles - Sheol : diffusé le 12/04/2026 en direct sur Twitch depuis la salle du conclave au palais des papes d'Avignon dans le cadre du Frames FestivalUne aventure écrite et masterisée par Fibre TigreAvec Lâm, MisterMv, Lydia, Daz et la participation exceptionnelle de Clément ViktorovitchEt un accompagnement musical par JotabeAvec le soutien de l'éditeur Elder CraftUne production GozultingMontage du podcast par Zu====Ecoutez Game of Roles sur Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/game…ic/id1350491357Ecoutez Game of Roles sur n'importe quelle app de podcasts: rss.acast.com/game-of-roles-magicRejoignez-nous :Sur le twitter de Qualiter : twitter.com/dequaliterSur la chaine Twitch de Qualiter: twitch.tv/dequaliter Hébergé par Acast. Visitez acast.com/privacy pour plus d'informations.
1 Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying,“I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried,and you heard my voice. 3 For you cast me into the deep,into the heart of the seas,and the flood surrounded me; all your breakers and your wavespassed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I am driven awayfrom your sight; yet I shall again lookupon your holy temple.' 5 The waters closed in over me to take my life;the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head.6 To the roots of the mountains I went down,to the land whose bars closed upon me forever. Yet you brought up my life from the pit,O LORD my God.7 When my life was fainting away,I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you,into your holy temple. 8 Those who pay regard to vain idolsforsake their hope of steadfast love. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgivingwill sacrifice to you; what have vowed I will pay.Salvation belongs to the LORD!”10 And the LORD spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.
Resurrections After Death (1) (audio) David Eells, 4/19/26 Faith That Resurrects B. A. - 10/20/2012 Mat.10:1 And he called unto him his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons: freely ye received, freely give. I dreamed I was in bed, sleeping, when, in my sleep, I sensed a presence in my bedroom. I opened my eyes, and an angel of the Lord was standing at the foot of my bed with his arm stretched out toward me. I immediately reached out my arm, and the angel took my hand, and we were immediately outside my house. In what seemed like just a few seconds, we were outside a farmhouse in the woods. As I was taking in my surroundings, the angel lifted me up, and we went through the outside wall of the house, into a couple's bedroom as they were sleeping. Shortly upon the entrance into their bedroom, the wife awoke and reached over to give her husband a kiss on the forehead, like she did every morning. As her lips touched his forehead, she felt the icy coldness of his lifeless body. Without fear or alarm, she calmly got out of bed, reached over on the nightstand, and took up her Bible. Php.4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. She went over to her husband's side of the bed and took his hand in hers. I thought to myself, how could she take hold of his hand if his body had already grown cold? Wouldn't rigor mortis have already set in? The Lord showed me that she wasn't walking by sight but by faith; she knew her husband wasn't dead, but only sleeping. Luk.8:52 And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth. Mar.11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God (have God's faith). 23 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. 24 Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. So with her Bible in hand (trusting and believing in the promises of the Word of God), she knelt down beside the bed and began to pray. I watched as she read scripture after scripture; she would only stop reading scripture when she stopped to sing, worship, and praise the Lord. Psa.118:1 Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; for he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever. 2 Let Israel now say, That his lovingkindness endureth for ever. 17 I shall not die, but live, And declare the works of Jehovah. 18 Jehovah hath chastened me sore; But he hath not given me over unto death. 19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will enter into them, I will give thanks unto Jehovah. Psa.150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: Praise him according to his excellent greatness. 6 Let everything that hath breath praise Jehovah. Praise ye Jehovah. Then, the angel of the Lord opened a window down at my feet, and I was able to see the wife's husband standing in what appeared to be Hell. He was crying out for the Lord to forgive him for putting off surrendering his life to the Lord, as he was a healthy man and believed he had more time. Pro.14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death. Isa.55:6 Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near ... Amo.5:6 Seek Jehovah, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be none to quench it in Beth-el. Deu.4:29 But from thence ye shall seek Jehovah thy God, and thou shalt find him, when thou searchest after him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. Isa.45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. One day, while passing by their bedroom door, he overheard his wife praying, “There's not much time left, Lord, for us to get things right with You, Lord. Help us, Lord, to walk in Your ways; draw us closer to You, Lord”. Jas.4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. “I know, Lord, that You have saved my husband and have brought him into Your kingdom to be a mighty warrior in Your army. Thank you, Lord, for Your goodness and mercy and Your grace”. Act.16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house. Gen.18:19 For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. As the husband stood in Hell, he recalled the words of that prayer his wife had prayed for him, interceding on his behalf. He cried out with such sorrow and pain as he realized he had put off his salvation. I watched as he put his hands over his face and sobbed uncontrollably. It was heartbreaking watching the husband in such anguish and agony, as he believed he had missed the Lord and Hell was his lot. Luk.13:28 There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without. Suddenly, the window to Hell closed, and I was again watching the wife praying for her husband at his bedside. His wife then stood back up on her feet and commanded her husband to get up in the name of the Lord. Joh.11:43 And when he had thus spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. 44 He that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes; and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go. (Could it be that Jesus was commanding the spirits of death to loose Lazarus because death no longer had a hold on him? Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.) Act.9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down and prayed; and turning to the body, he said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes; and when she saw Peter, she sat up. I looked at the husband's fingers and toes, which began to move, and his eyes opened. He rolled over and sat up on the bed for a moment, then he stood on his feet in front of his wife. 1Jn.5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. His wife had a broad smile on her face, as she looked lovingly into her much ALIVE husband's eyes. He reached out and took her small hand into his, and they both knelt down together as he, right then and there, gave his heart to the Lord. Apostates Resurrected from Death M. L. - 10/11/2013 (David's notes in red) I dreamed of a woman (Bride) who gave birth to stillborn twin sons. (Israel and Judah representing non-Spirit-filled and Spirit-filled Christianity who are dead in their sins and bondage to their beastly flesh.) I did not see her face, nor did I see her pregnant. She had given birth at home. Her husband was not with her (in Heaven), nor was anyone else in the room. She wrapped her babies tightly in identical white blankets and took the upper corner and covered each of their faces. A nice soft blanket would be expected to be used, but these blankets were made of a coarse texture (Tribulation). And a plan was forming in her mind. This woman showed no sorrow, nor any kind of emotion. She was going through her days as if guided by her plan. She would anticipate when each would need to be fed, changed, etc. So she acted out the part only for the benefit of others. (Walking by faith for the resurrection of true Israel. The tares will not be resurrected.) Her husband saw her attending them from time to time and was relieved she could do this without his help. She'd make up excuses whenever anyone wanted to see them, or she would not be available herself. One day, she took them for a walk in the old-style baby buggy; the kind that had the top that could be brought up or folded down. Needless to say, the top was up and both babies had their faces covered, laying side by side. (Acting her faith for the resurrection of these baby bodies of fallen Christians. Men would point out that these babies are dead but someone in faith would not have their faith on their sin but see them as alive and righteous.) That way, neighbors would see that she was “out and about”. However, when anyone came out to take a peek, she would always say, “Not now; they are sleeping”. (As Jesus said of Lazarus, by faith, He was not dead but just slept.) She kept up the act for some time until she noticed the baby on the right. There was a yellow stain on the blanket at the forehead area, almost the size of her hand. Now people would know that something was wrong with the one baby and become too curious. (In these days, Judah, representing Spirit-filled Christianity, is showing the corruption more than ever before. They are more guilty than their brother because they have experienced and seen the power and gifts of the Spirit.) There was no odor of death with either baby. (To the world, they are not dead because they would stink, but the world stinks too, so they cannot discern the difference.) What should she do? Then I woke up, and I asked some questions: Who is this woman? (She represents the Bride, for the babies are her children to raise. Psa.45:9 Kings' daughters are among thy honorable women: At thy right hand doth stand the queen in gold of Ophir... 13 The king's daughter within [the palace] is all glorious: Her clothing is inwrought with gold. 14 She shall be led unto the king in broidered work: The virgins her companions that follow her Shall be brought unto thee. 15 With gladness and rejoicing shall they be led: They shall enter into the king's palace. 16 Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, Whom thou shalt make princes in all the earth.) Why didn't she show any emotion? (The Shunammite woman whose son died told her husband, “It is well” by faith, and so Elisha, the Man-child, resurrected him in 2 Kings 4:17-37.) Where was her husband? (With this faith her true husband is In Heaven, He will use the Bride as He did Esther to save the chosen ones of apostate Israel from the Beast, Haman.) Couldn't people see that, with all her excuses, that something was off? (No, because these babies are just like the world: persecution is against the Christ-like.) Why wasn't she honest? (Meaning: why did she hide their death from the worldly? Speaking faith before the worldly Christian is like casting pearls before swine; they will turn and rend you for it, as Jesus said.) I asked for a verse from the Lord. Taking markers out of my Bible, I closed it tightly. I really wanted to know. With eyes closed and opening up to where my finger was on the page, I read the following verse: Eze.37:8 ... but there was no breath in them. (A perfect answer. This text spoke of the valley of dry bones. Of ALL Israel, meaning Ephraim and Judah, who were dead in their sins, but were then resurrected in the following verses of Ezekiel 37, when the Man-child called forth the breath of the Spirit into them. 9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Come from the four winds, O breath (same Hebrew word for spirit), and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. 11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off (repentance). 12 Therefore prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, O my people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 And ye shall know that I am Jehovah, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O my people. 14 And I will put my Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I will place you in your own land: and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have spoken it and performed it, saith Jehovah. (We know this is for a large cross-section of apostates who are dead in their sins and as we just saw sometimes physically dead. This text continues below in M.L.'s original writing.) Then continuing verses 15 through 23: 15 The word of the Lord came again to me saying, 16 And you, son of man, take for yourself one stick and write on it, 'For Judah and for the sons of Israel, his companions'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim and all the house of Israel, his companions'. 17 Then join them for yourself one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand. (Jesus said we would be one flock with one Shepherd, and Ezekiel 34 confirms this will be with Jesus in and through the David Man-child company.) 34:11 For thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Behold, I myself, even I, will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered abroad, so will I seek out my sheep; and I will deliver them out of all places whither they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them upon the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited places of the country ... 23 And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even my servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd. 24 And I, Jehovah, will be their God, and my servant David prince among them; I, Jehovah, have spoken it. 25 And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause evil beasts to cease out of the land; and they shall dwell securely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. Back to our text in chapter 37:18 When the sons of your people speak to you saying, 'Will you not declare to us what you mean by these?' 19 say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will put them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand. 20 The sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes. 21 Say to them, 'Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I will take the sons of Israel from among the nations where they have gone, and I will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; (The apostates are scattered among the world and in bondage to the Beast but all of the elect among them will be resurrected to stand on their land of promise. The two main divisions in the Church is the Spirit filled and the non-Spirit filled. Now notice:) 22 and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king will be king for all of them; and they will no longer be two nations and no longer be divided into two kingdoms. (This happens when Jesus comes in the Man-child through the fruit of the Word and anointing of God to lead them through the wilderness Tribulation to know God. At the beginning of the wilderness the Israelites were baptized in the water and the cloud, which is Spirit baptism. This will happen with the true Church.) 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols, or with their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. And they will be My people, and I will be their God. (What an awesome end-time promise that has never been fulfilled to the larger body.) Davids Must Die for Man-children to Come Eve Brast - 09/08/2008 (David's notes in red) I had a quick dream about David coming to 100-fold maturity. I was in a large building that housed UBM. It had a school with two kindergarten classes and a playground behind it at the back, and two radio station control rooms with sound equipment and control panels in them. One was in the hall that led from the school to the front lobby, and the other was enclosed in glass with a glass door in the front lobby -- both on the right from the school to the front. There were also glass windows all across the front of the entrance. It was sunset outside. I started out in the back of one kindergarten class, learning how to teach the children all the UBM materials from the kindergarten teacher who was in charge of that class. The next moment, I was teaching the kindergarten class next door on my own. Then, in the next moment, I was working the sound booth in the radio station that was located on the right side of the hallway that led up to the front lobby. (This speaks of the maturing of the Bride and her responsibilities for the rest of the church, as the Book of Esther shows. Eve, who had this dream, was the wife of Adam and represents the wife of the last Adam, Jesus.) The next moment, I was standing in the lobby with my husband, and we were looking through the glass booth at Bob Aicardi, who was running the front radio station sound booth. Bob was announcing to all the listening audience that David Eells had a very important announcement to make. (I am being used here as a type of the David man-child ministries to come.) We were all waiting to hear what David had to tell us. He wasn't there in person; he came on over a speakerphone. I was shocked when I heard his voice! He sounded like he was Howard Pittman. (A type is fulfilled here because Howard is a man who went to heaven through death and returned to share heaven's message with God's people.) His voice sounded like he was in his 90s! I knew in my spirit that he was in his 90s. He sounded so old and feeble, like he could die at any time! He made an attempt three times to announce that he was retiring, but every time he got to the word “retiring,” he would choke up and couldn't complete the sentence! (The old man David is retiring to pass the kingdom on to Soloman.) Then, after the third attempt, Bob helped him to finish his announcement with a little chuckle. He was very joyful and happy for David. (Bob could be a type of the out-resurrection) I thought it was strange that David waited to retire until he was almost 100 years old! I was sad and couldn't figure out why Bob was happy, other than the fact that David had passed the mantle of the ministry over to him. (Bob/Robert means bright fame.) But then I realized that this was David's OLD MAN! He was finally almost dead! Then I was very excited and happy for him too. Then I woke up. (The David ministry was followed by the Soloman man-child ministry, meaning peaceful, which we are about to see. PTL! More of the cause for joy and passing on of the mantle is below.) As David was the spiritual father of God's people, so was Abraham. Just as above, Abraham was “almost 100 years old” too when he was promised that the fruit of the Man-child would be born unto him in Gen.17:17: “Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old?” Abraham's flesh was cut off at 99, and he no longer sowed the flesh because he was circumcised in 17:24: “And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin”. Then at 100 years old he had the promised man-child in 21:5: “And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him”. Isaac, the promised seed, was the man-child through whom all the true seed of God's people would be born, just like Jesus the Man-child was and the end-time Man-child will be. As Eve said, this “100” could represent the old man being 100% dead, which would mean the new man would take over. “As the outer man is decaying, the inner man is being renewed” (2Co.4:16). The new man was Soloman. This is a work that only the anointing of God can do. Abram, meaning “high father”, had to die and have a name change, meaning a nature change, to become Abraham, meaning the “father of a multitude” through his Man-child born unto him. Gen.17:5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for the father of a multitude of nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee and to thy seed after thee. 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land of thy sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. Notice the Man-child and all of his spiritual seed, to whom is “passed the mantle of the ministry” of David, will possess all of the Promised Land of this life, meaning they will stand on and receive all of the promises that Joel said would be restored in the latter rain. In Hosea 6:3 Jesus comes as the latter rain to empower His people. Notice also that the covenant will finally be fulfilled in and through them, meaning that they will have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ will live in them as Paul taught us to confess in Galatians 2:20. This is a cause for great joy in all “wise men”, for Jesus is going to be birthed through the woman of Revelation 12 in a corporate Man-child body of the spiritual seed of David, to minister to His people. Mat.2:10 And when they saw the star, they (the Wise Men) rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother; and they fell down and worshipped him; and opening their treasures they offered unto him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. No doubt the gifts enabled Jesus and his mother to flee the beast, Herod, and dwell in the wilderness of Egypt, just as gifts were given to Moses and the mother church when going into the wilderness. Also, worship will only go to the one who gives the anointing, who is Jesus. True shepherds like Bob above will have great joy first because the mantle of Jesus through the Man-child will be passed on to them in a repetition of His-story, just as Jesus passed it on through the disciples. Luk.2:7 And she brought forth her firstborn son; and she wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. 9 And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: 11 for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this [is] the sign unto you: Ye shall find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased. Abraham and Sarah, the bride, laughed at hearing of the birth of the Man-child and they called him Isaac, meaning laughter. The first-fruits Man-child company will have no claim to fame, for this will come to pass through grace. Pray for the Coming of Jesus in the Man-child V. W. - 4/3/23 (David's notes in red) In a dream, I was in the UBM house with some others. The house was beautiful and clear of clutter. The floors were all polished and shining. There was a lot of room because everything we needed was against the walls. (This means all we need will be within our walls, which represent sanctification.) This was also a multi-story house, and I knew we were working on doing something with the teachings, but it was different from what it is now. (Getting the Word out by many methods, including supernaturally, as the angels have told us and done.) Matthew (meaning Gift of God) and I were standing in a small room with white walls (meaning sanctification), when David came in through the door. (I believe David represents the Man-Child reformers.) The three of us were standing together, with David in the middle. David said he felt weak. 2Co.12:10 Wherefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.) (Weakness precedes death to self, and this precedes the resurrection life of Jesus.) And then David started to fall, so Matthew and I helped lay him down on the rug. Matthew lowered David's feet, and I lowered his head onto the rug. Matthew went to get help, and I thought David was dying or was already dead, and I thought to myself, “This can't be happening.” (Death to self must come before resurrection power.) I knelt by David, took his hand, and prayed something like, “Lord, let David live.” (The Lord wants us to pray this now. Lord, bring your resurrection life in the Man-child Davids.) I remember praying fervently, “Lord, there is much You promised David. (I asked the Lord for a word about a promise to David and received by faith at random “feet” in Rom 10:15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!) (The Gospel will go out in a much stronger way like it came out of Jesus.) I also prayed, “Lord, there is much You said You would do through him, and You are not a liar.” When I said, “Lord, You are not a liar,” David became conscious, leaned on his left side, and put his right hand around me and agreed with my prayer and said, “Yes, Amen.” Then he jumped up and was gone, and I thought he went to the next room to show the nurses who were dressed in white that he was alive and well. (Resurrection life is in Solomon, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, in the Man-child. He will be shown to be superior to those who seek to heal in the natural.) Then, at least a day went by, and I did not know where David was. I was sitting on a metal bench outside, in a courtyard of a college campus. (The Man-child went to the school of higher education, as in Gabe's dream, where he saw the Man-child go to college. The Lord is giving us Bible colleges for the Man-childs to teach in beside their evangelistic tours.) Everything seemed new as I looked to my left and saw a lady with long blond hair, who knew David and was a believer. She was standing against a gray building and holding some books. (I think the lady represents believers who are submitted to the light of Christ and dying to self, but lack understanding. Gray represents not white and not black. It is time to go on to white. She represents those who come to get our books to grow in the Lord. Many immature or new believers in the Middle East and Africa and elsewhere are reading our books.) I wanted to tell her what happened to David and how God raised him up. I knew she would be happy as I was. Just then, a man dressed in a black robe (Judges of others) with yellow religious symbols (Feigning to be Christian) and wearing a black hat (Representing being submitted to darkness), walked past and in between us very quickly. (The faction has tried to separate us from those who need our teachings, but the Man-child David's will scatter them as the Edomites.) So, then I went to her and joyfully told her about God raising up David. (The wicked will not be able to stop those who want truth from finding their reformation through the Man-child Davids empowered by Jesus as the latter rain.) Then some of us from UBM were standing in a small room, and I saw David. He looked like a different man, and about Matthew's age, but I recognized him. (He is about the age of Jesus when He started His ministry.) I told him he looked better now, and he laughed. (This will be the beginning of the restoration from the curse in Joe 2:23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in Jehovah your God; for he giveth you the former rain in just measure, and he causeth to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmer-worm, my great army which I sent among you. (These represent the curse on God's crop.) Act 3:21 (Jesus) whom the heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all (Things is not numeric), whereof God spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that have been from of old. After I woke up, I asked the Lord for a word in line with this dream and received by faith at random Acts 2:36 on “him both Lord and Christ”. (In context vs. 29-36). Act 2:29 Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day. (The spiritual death of the Man-child Davids will bring many more like him. Joh.12:24-25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the earth and die, it abideth by itself alone; but if it dies, it beareth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.) Act.2:30 Being therefore a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins he would set one upon his throne; (David sowed a seed that brought forth many like him to dominion over the enemy. This represents the Man-child caught up to the throne in Rev.12:4 And his tail draweth the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon standeth before the woman that is about to be delivered, that when she is delivered, he may devour her child. 5 And she was delivered of a son, a man child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and unto his throne. This throne represents dominion over the powers of darkness, the curse, and the people of God. The reason this text looks like Jesus is because it is, walking in the spiritual sons of David as He did.) 31 he foreseeing this spake of the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he left unto Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. (The resurrection of Christ in us will be seen in the Man-child Davids and then in many disciples.) 32 This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Jesus came in the body of a son of David. This will be repeated in our day on a corporate body scale.) 33 Being therefore by the right hand of God exalted and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he hath poured forth this, which ye see and hear. (This was the former rain, but represents the far greater latter rain in a much larger body. Hosea 6:1-3 shows that Jesus “will come to us as the latter rain” and on the morning of the third thousand-year day from him, where we are now. Hos.6:1-3 Come and let us return unto Jehovah; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. 3 And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth.) Back to: 34 For David ascended not into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, (Jesus said in Rev.3:21 He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. This is the throne of dominion authority.) Back to: 35 Till I make thine enemies the footstool of thy feet. (Jesus, in the Man-child and in all of us will bring dominion over our enemies. Rev.2:26 And he that overcometh, and he that keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give authority over the nations.) Back to: 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly, that God hath made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified. (This foreshadows Jesus manifested in the Man-child reformer body through death and resurrection. Php.3:10-15: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming conformed unto his death; 11 if by any means I may attain unto the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. (Notice that we are to lay hold of the resurrection life of Jesus, which is being called, perfect.) 13 Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before. (This is why you must see Jesus in the mirror now by faith.) 14 I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you: (He will show you how to walk this life of faith.) The most vivid part of this dream was when I prayed for David, and I think it is what the Lord is emphasizing. (Amen! We have been content to wait for God's perfect timing, but He's saying NOW we are to pray in the Man-child ministry. So, we say, “Come Lord Jesus!!”) This dream below speaks of the resurrection of the Man-child Reformers after the completion of death to self. Christ Triumphs in Resurrection I. P. - 3/26/23 (David's notes in red) In this dream, I was in the spirit, witnessing a field that did not have a lot of grass. It was a mixture of dirt and grass. As I stood gazing at the field, I noticed a casket sitting in the center. The casket was the focal point, and there was no grass growing around the casket. (No grass means no flesh left.) (The grass represents the flesh according to 1Pe.1:24 For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth. The dirt is what man's flesh is made from.) As I continued to stare at the casket, I realized it was Jesus Who was in this casket. Instantly, it dawned on me that I was witnessing the resurrection of Jesus after His death and burial in a modern-day burial procedure. As I was watching intently, suddenly, a brilliant light began to form and illuminate from inside the casket. Then the casket could not contain the brilliant illumination of light, and it was overtaken by this orb of pure white light. (Joh.1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.) This light was outstanding and began to reverberate as if it were a heartbeat, pulsating. I knew this brilliant orb was Jesus. (Jesus is the heart of God manifested in flesh.) (I don't feel my vocabulary can describe the brilliant white light. However, if you compared the color white to His brilliant white, the color white would look dingy and tinted. Also, imagine the size and color of the sun reduced to a brilliant white, but having the same power as the sun, and you tried to contain it all in a box. It would be an unstoppable and uncontainable force, obliterating all darkness. It was as if it bleached out all colors in the spectrum, disposing of any darkness that forms within any individual color to create the aspects of that color, thus producing the absence of color into a brilliant white. This is what I saw.) While witnessing Jesus as the reverberating brilliant white orb, suddenly, as a fireball, He shot downward into the earth. As I looked at the aftermath of this powerful phenomenon, I saw there was a hole in the shape of a perfect circle, going from the surface of the earth all the way to the center of the earth. The hole was formed almost instantaneously, and all the layers of the earth completely disintegrated with a fervent heat, going down to His destination, which was in the center. Still witnessing the aftermath, the edges of the circular hole were like molten lava due to the intensity of the heat. (Eph.4:8-10 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive, And gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now this, He ascended, what is it but that he also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things. What happened here in the natural represents something that has happened and is going to happen again. Because of sin, demons have been given authority on earth as they have in hell. Many have experienced a living hell, but Jesus came, and is coming, to set the captives free. Isa.61:1-4 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified. 4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.) It then dawned on me that the Stronger has gone to spoil the goods of the strong man and set the captives free. Then I woke up. (Mat.12:28-30 But if I by the Spirit of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. Or how can one enter into the house of the strong [man], and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong [man]? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. Christ conquered, so we can conquer All of our promised land! Heb.2:14-16 Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver all of them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily not to angels doth he give help, but he giveth help to the seed of Abraham. Psa.16:9-10 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth; My flesh also shall dwell in safety. For thou wilt not leave my soul to Sheol; Neither wilt thou suffer thy holy one to see corruption. And Joh.8:36 If therefore the Son shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (I was reading “Delivered from Dark Powers” by David Eells and came across these pages, and it really spoke to me about this dream. Here is an excerpt from Delivered from Dark Powers, pages 10-12:) “Jesus made us able to be partakers in whatever we need. He made us able to plunder the devil's kingdom, and the devil's kingdom is wherever the devil rules or his curse reigns. Wherever the devil has ability, we have the ability to take it away from him. The devil has no power. Do you remember Joshua and Caleb were seeking to bring the children of Israel into the Promise Land? After spying out the land, these two said that their enemies defense was removed from over them. (Num 14:9) Only rebel not against the lord, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is removed from over them, and the Lord is with us: fear them not. All that the other ten spies could see were the giants, but Joshua and Caleb saw that the enemy had no armor. That's the way we must see the enemies of God's Kingdom. It makes no difference whether those enemies are lusts of the flesh, works of darkness, demons, the devil, or whatever. Their defense is removed from over them. They have no power against the Word of God. Jesus was the “Stronger” Who came and took away their whole armor. (Luke 11:22) Those “spoils” of the devil's kingdom are all the places where he has taken advantage of your life or taken authority over the things or circumstances that God has put in your hands. All these add up to “spoils.” When Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil (Acts 10:38), He was spoiling the devil's kingdom. If you are being oppressed of the devil, Jesus destroyed this oppression. He broke this power everywhere He went. Whether it was hunger, sickness, demonic possession, or mental need, it didn't make any difference; Jesus broke the oppression, and He told us to do the same thing because in (Mat. 12:30) He that is not with me is against me, and he that gathereth not with me scattereth. The devil's power over God's people rests in the fact that God's people don't know that his power has already been broken, and they don't know the authority that has been given to them. Although the Word speaks it plainly, it still has to be a revelation that you pick up and do something with. The Bible says of Jesus that (Col. 2:15) Having despoiled the principalities and the powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it. “Triumphing” is celebrating the victory that has already been won. Jesus triumphed over the devil, and He rubbed the devil's nose in what He had accomplished on the Cross. The victory was at the cross; what came after the Cross was the triumph. (2 Co. 2:14) But thanks be unto God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest through us the savor of his knowledge in every place. We need to simply celebrate His victory. What we need to do is repeat what the Word says about our circumstances or situation, and we do that by stating what the Word says about our authority and righteousness. All we must do is believe that. The devil wants us to look at ourselves and our failures and the curse around us, but we just need to remember that we have authority over the curse. We've been crucified with Christ, and we're not alive anymore; now it's Christ Who lives in us. (Gal. 2:20) I have been crucified with Christ; and it no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. When we remember what the Word of God says about us and about our circumstances, we can celebrate. A prayer from an Editor: [Father, this seems too easy, but help me to start right now to believe that the devil is crippled. As I read Your Word, I see the devil has been defeated. Help me to believe when my eyes have seen different results. Forgive my unbelief. As I read on, please put in my heart the victory You are bringing to my life and the lives of my loved ones. Thank You for helping me to believe that I've received victory over every demon.]” Let me share more revelations with you. The Trumpet Bill Burns - 12/26/2005 You shall be astonished as you walk forward from this day. I tell you that I am going to build My house. It is a house that no man can build, and I will build on the mountain tops, and I will build in the places that people will flow into. I will build a house of power, for indeed this is the season of the horse (of power) when the sons of My right hand shall arise to their positions. I shall dispel the lies that I no longer move in power. I shall break through the darkness, for I am the Light of this Day. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Truth is going to be revealed in an unprecedented way as I come forth in power and build My house. It will be a house that I can dwell in, a place of healing and resurrection life, a place of revelation knowledge. You, My people, will see that house. Arise and rejoice, for I come, says the Lord! Small Straws in a Soft Wind Marsha Burns - 12/26/2005 There is a rumbling; it is My power in the earth. It is resurrection power. I have been touched with the feeling of your infirmities. I have been touched by your grief and sorrow. Come forth. Rise up and come forth. You have been bound in grave clothes, but I call to you to come forth! I will bring you up and loose you from your bondages. I will cause you to overcome and to be victorious even over the death in the things you have experienced, says the Lord. Resurrection of UBM M.Y. - 07/16/2012 (David's notes in red) In a dream I was walking into a restaurant (UBM was serving spiritual food of the Word and he came here.) and as I walked up to a table, I had a sense that my sister was sitting there with another woman (sister fellowships joining in the feast). I think I was trying to get some electronics working and mentioned as much to my sister. (He needed a rewiring, a spiritual repair to be able to see and hear the Word, the spiritual food in this restaurant.) Finally, I got what appeared to be a phone working, so I walked a few steps from the table with the phone to my ear and asked, “Can I speak to the boss?” (I had the impression the boss was the Lord.) (He needed to talk to the Lord and found encouragement here.) I do not remember a conversation on the phone, but I started walking through the restaurant (UBM). I walked through an archway where a couple was sitting at a table and staring at something broken on the floor. (I had the feeling it was some type of container or pitcher.) (Representing the breaking of the vessel of his fleshly man. He got the understanding of these things at UBM. Ecc.12:5 yea, they shall be afraid of [that which is] high, and terrors [shall be] in the way; and the almond-tree shall blossom (first-fruits), and the grasshopper shall be a burden (devouring judgments to crucify the old man, as in Joel), and desire (lusts) shall fail; because man goeth to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6 before the silver cord is loosed (the soul is separated from the flesh), or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken (the old man of the flesh dies) at the fountain (of the waters of life - the living Word), or the wheel broken at the cistern (breaking the downward cycle of sowing and reaping death. 7 and the dust returneth to the earth as it was, and the spirit returneth unto God who gave it. (The results are totally born from above sons of God. This crucifixion is certainly happening with UBM and the larger true church. God is separating the carnal from the spiritual.) I walked around the broken item (this represents being separate or sanctified from the fleshly; in the Law, whoever touched the dead man was defiled) and left the room through another archway on the other side. (All will not leave UBM as they came. The Word brings responsibilities. The priest entering the temple in Ezekiel 46 could not leave through the gate that he entered.) I was wondering why I walked around the broken thing and did not attempt to pick anything up. (Because the flesh man must be broken irreparably for the spiritual man who is created by the Word to live -- and everybody needs to see this.) After leaving the UBM room he said: I walked into a bigger room (This is like the broad road where most are.) and up to a man whom I thought was the owner standing by a big floor freezer with several solid doors on top (similar to what you would see in an ice cream shop, except the little door hatches were solid stainless steel.) (The flesh choses the flesh pleasing sweets that are not healthy.) There was something big and broken on the floor at his feet. I just reached down and started putting the broken pieces, which appeared to be thick, broken white glass or porcelain, into a large bag. (The broken or crucified life must be a part of our learning, or the teaching will be leavened.) I then raised the bag up, and we tilted the lower freezer so the contents would go into the bag (Flesh pleasing spiritual food will lead to the broken vessel. We must chose the crucified life with the teachings of the Word), and I told him I should have done that first and then picked the things off the floor (The teaching of the Word must be first so the crucified life can be possible.) I never noticed the bag after filling it up. It was trashed. “When that which is perfect is come” everything that is disconnected pieces, “shall be done away”, as Paul said: 1Co.13:9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; 10 but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part (pieces) shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. This is the vessel that the perfect Word can flow through, as it did through Jesus. When the Man-child Jesus came, everything before Him was old order, and so it will be today. PTL! The New Order is about to begin for many. The latter rain on the Man-child will bring it.) There were two different levels for the freezers, and one was right above the one we were emptying. (A sanctified vessel full of food from above will never be broken.) I think we replaced the lower freezer with a new one or repaired the old one. (The broken vessel receives resurrection life in UBM.) I was thinking that the new one would keep the Bibles in good shape. (Preserving the spiritual man of the Word in a new wineskin. The Word is incorruptible in this new vessel, for the old vessel of flesh has been broken or withered: 1Pe.1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently: 23 having been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which liveth and abideth. 24 For, All flesh is as grass, And all the glory thereof as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower falleth: 25 But the word of the Lord abideth for ever. And this is the word of good tidings which was preached unto you. There were now a lot of people inside doing a lot of work. (After spiritual resurrection, many of like nature will join us in getting the Gospel out.) I noticed that the second-level freezer was gone, and just a ledge high up remained. I was leery of climbing up on the ledge because I am scared of heights. (The Word will be from the throne of God, from Heaven above.) I think I was wondering how well the music or sound system would sound in the building once it was done. (This building represents an even larger born-again UBM, and the music and sound system will be going out over different forms of media and through multitudes of witnesses by word of mouth.) I looked up, and there were large, white PVC-type pipes coming through the top-left side of the wall and attached to the ceiling. The pipes were dripping water at first, and then the volume of water just started increasing until all the drips were streaming. (I later had the feeling that the water was the Word growing louder and stronger as time went on.) (A great outpouring of the Word of the Spirit to the world.) That is all I remember. My impression after waking and pondering on it was: There was an earthquake. (The spiritual resurrection of the Man-child body as it was with Jesus, with a great earthquake. Also, a separating of the land, the carnal from the spiritual.) And / or something that caused change in the building. (A restructuring of UBM with much more help with gifts.) We were made into a fellowship/warehouse, and the Word went out slowly at first and increased over time. (As it was with Jesus) It was the Word of God because it came from up high. (After Father has separated the carnal, the Word will go out in abundance. The tribulations that UBM has gone through are bringing it into the eternal kingdom under our King David, Jesus.) Let me now share: A portion of M. C.'s Dream of Resurrection Life Given to UBM David was directing my attention to the sky in anticipation of a lunar eclipse. Gradually, the moon became obscured briefly by the Earth passing between the Sun and the Moon. (As with a lunar eclipse, there is a death and resurrection of the glory, symbolizing UBM, and its reflection of the Sun/Son to the world. Eventually, it became entirely hidden under the Earth's shadow and remained that way for about what seemed like five minutes or so. Then a slight sliver of the Moon became visible and began very rapidly to be increasingly unveiled as the Earth continued on its path. (The Moon, as a type of UBM, is being born again as it reflects more and more light of the Son. The evil will have been purged by this baptism of death and resurrection.) I was commenting to David how the Moon seemed to be instantly illuminated entirely, even though technically the shadow had not yet fully passed. The moon continued to grow brighter. (The glory manifested after this baptism unto death will be greatly multiplied so that even the first-fruits of UBM will be as bright as the whole was before.) The Lord led me to: (Eze.36:11) And I will multiply on you man and beast, and they shall multiply and be fruitful. And I will cause you to be inhabited as in your former times, and will do more good to you than ever before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. (This is an awesome promise of the resurrection life that will be given to UBM.) Friends, Satan has had permission from God to test every one of us to see who individually needs to be a part of UBM for it to be unleavened. Therefore, cast down every thought and reject words from others that are unscriptural to receive, so that you may overcome to escape the coming judgment. And do not judge or criticize others unscripturally or while you are in sin, or you will be judged. 2Co.10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh 4 (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds), 5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ; 6 and being in readiness to avenge all disobedience, when your obedience shall be made full.
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools gush out folly. 3 Yahweh's eyes are everywhere, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit. 5 A fool despises his father's correction, but he who heeds reproof shows prudence. 6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. 7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so with the heart of fools. 8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. 9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness. 10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way. Whoever hates reproof shall die. 11 Sheol and Abaddon are before Yahweh— how much more then the hearts of the children of men! 12 A scoffer doesn't love to be reproved; he will not go to the wise. 13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face, but an aching heart breaks the spirit. 14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly. 15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched, but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast. 16 Better is little, with the fear of Yahweh, than great treasure with trouble. 17 Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred. 18 A wrathful man stirs up contention, but one who is slow to anger appeases strife. 19 The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway. 20 A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother. 21 Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight. 22 Where there is no counsel, plans fail; but in a multitude of counselors they are established. 23 Joy comes to a man with the reply of his mouth. How good is a word at the right time! 24 The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol. 25 Yahweh will uproot the house of the proud, but he will keep the widow's borders intact. 26 Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing. 27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. 28 The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil. 29 Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. 30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart. Good news gives health to the bones. 31 The ear that listens to reproof lives, and will be at home among the wise. 32 He who refuses correction despises his own soul, but he who listens to reproof gets understanding. 33 The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility. Listen Donate Subscribe: Proverbs Daily Podcast Psalms Daily Podcast
The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish. Then I called on the Name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” (Psalm 116:3-4)
The Emmaus Road courtesy of The Missional Network (April 15, 2020)Welcome, friends, as we continue the Easter season. I have meticulously checked my sources for this week, but if I'm off again — you'll let me know!RCL ReadingsActs 2:14a, 36-41The First Lesson — Peter's Pentecost ProclamationSummaryPicking up from Peter's Pentecost address — which has already happened at this point in the text, but not yet in our observance of the season — this passage reaches its climax: Peter declares that God has made the crucified Jesus both Lord and Messiah. The crowd, cut to the heart, asks what they should do. Peter calls them to repent and be baptized in Jesus' name for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit, promising that the gift is for them, their children, and all who are far away. About three thousand respond and are baptized that day.Key Ideas for Preaching 11. The scandal of the cross transformed: Peter boldly declares that the one whom ‘you crucified' God has made Lord. The resurrection is not a recovery from defeat but the vindication of Jesus. Preach the audacity of Easter proclamation in the face of complicity and failure.2. Conversion begins with being ‘cut to the heart.' The question ‘What should we do?' is the right response to genuine conviction. Preachers can explore what it means to be moved before being moved to act.3. Baptism as both boundary-crossing and gift-receiving: the promise extends to those ‘far away.' This phrase resonates with Gentile inclusion (including us!) and has ongoing implications for who belongs in the community of faith.4. The communal shape of salvation: three thousand are added. Repentance in Acts is never merely private; it is the beginning of participation in a new community.Significant Cautions⚠ The phrase ‘you crucified him' has been historically weaponized as anti-Jewish polemic. Preachers must be careful to contextualize this as Peter speaking to a Jewish crowd about a shared moment of failure — not as a timeless indictment of Jewish people. Scapegoating must be actively resisted.⚠ Avoid presenting ‘repent and be baptized' as a simple transactional formula. The broader narrative of Acts shows that response to the gospel is a lifelong reorientation, not a one-time transaction.⚠ The ‘three thousand' figure can tempt triumphalism. Balance the celebration of growth with the call to depth of discipleship that follows in Acts 2:42-47.Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19The Psalm — A Song of Deliverance and VowsSummaryThis psalm of thanksgiving opens with a declaration of love for God rooted in personal experience: the psalmist called out in distress and God heard. Death, Sheol, and anguish had surrounded the speaker, but God delivered. The appointed portion then jumps to verses 12-19, where the psalmist asks what can be offered in return, and answers: lifting the cup of salvation, calling on the Lord's name, and fulfilling vows before the assembly. The Lord is praised for holding precious the death of his faithful ones.Key Ideas for Preaching1. The psalm models an honest spirituality that begins not in abstract doctrine but in lived distress. Preachers can invite congregations to name their own ‘cords of death' as the starting point for genuine praise.2. The rhetorical question — ‘What shall I return to the Lord?' — is a profound invitation to examine gratitude. Rather than a transactional mindset, the psalmist's answer centers on public, communal acknowledgment.3. ‘The cup of salvation' offers natural connections to Eucharistic theology and to the Easter season. This is a rich image to develop in preaching or liturgy.4. Verse 15 — that the death of God's faithful ones is ‘precious' — is surprising and worth exploring. It resists cheap comfort and affirms that God takes suffering and mortality with the utmost seriousness.Significant Cautions⚠ The phrase ‘precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones' can be misread as glorifying martyrdom or suffering for its own sake. Careful exegesis shows it means the opposite: God does not take the loss of beloved ones lightly.⚠ The psalm's confident, first-person voice can feel alienating to worshippers in the middle of suffering who cannot yet say ‘the Lord has dealt bountifully with me.' Acknowledge that some are still in the distress described in verse 3.⚠ Avoid truncating the psalm's communal dimension. The vows are made ‘in the presence of all his people' — the act of testimony is public, not merely private.1 Peter 1:17-23The Epistle — Ransomed to LoveSummaryThe epistle calls its audience — communities living in exile and social marginalization — to live in reverent fear during their time of exile, grounded in the knowledge of what has ransomed them. They were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, the unblemished lamb, foreknown before the foundation of the world and revealed in the last times for their sake. This knowledge should lead to sincere, unhypocritical love for one another, because they have been born anew through the living and enduring word of God.Key Ideas for Preaching1. The language of exile and sojourning is powerful for contemporary congregations who feel like cultural minorities or displaced persons. ‘Exile' is both a literal reality for some and a metaphor for the church's relationship to the surrounding culture.2. The contrast between ‘perishable' and ‘imperishable' runs through this passage and the wider letter. Preachers can explore what it means to be founded on something that neither corrodes nor fades.3. The image of Christ as the unblemished lamb connects Passover, Isaiah 53, and Easter. This Paschal resonance is especially powerful in the Easter season.4. The passage ends with a call to genuine (literally ‘non-hypocritical') love. The indicative — you have been ransomed — grounds the imperative — now love one another. This is a clean example of grace preceding ethical demand.Significant Cautions⚠ The language of ‘reverent fear' needs careful handling. It should not be used to cultivate anxiety or an image of God as threatening. The context makes clear it is the fear that reorients priorities, not the fear that paralyzes.⚠ The sacrificial language of ‘precious blood' can be heard through frameworks of penal substitution in ways that distort the text. The emphasis here is on the costliness and preciousness of redemption, not on appeasing an angry God.⚠ The phrase ‘futile ways inherited from your ancestors' could be used to disparage Jewish tradition or the religious heritage of non-Western communities. Preachers should contextualize this as a reference to specific pagan practices of the letter's Gentile audience, not a broad dismissal of religious inheritance.Luke 24:13-35The Gospel — The Road to EmmausSummaryOn the afternoon of the resurrection, two disciples walk from Jerusalem to Emmaus, discussing the catastrophic events of the past days. A stranger joins them, and they are unable to recognize him. They explain their shattered hopes: they had trusted Jesus would redeem Israel, but he was crucified, and reports of an empty tomb have only confused them further. The stranger — Jesus — calls them foolish and slow of heart, then interprets for them all that Moses and the prophets said concerning himself. When they arrive, they urge the stranger to stay; at the table, he takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to them. At that moment, their eyes are opened, and he vanishes. They return to Jerusalem to report that their hearts were burning as he opened the scriptures, and that they recognized him in the breaking of the bread.Key Ideas for Preaching1. This story is a paradigm of Christian formation: scripture interpreted, community gathered, bread broken, and witness sent. It traces the basic shape of Sunday worship itself.2. The disciples' grief and confusion at the outset is a realistic portrait of faith struggling with loss. Preachers can honor the congregation's own ‘we had hoped' moments as legitimate stages in the life of faith, not failures.3. Recognition in the breaking of the bread: Jesus becomes known not through argument or vision but through a domestic, eucharistic gesture. This is a rich opportunity to explore how Christ is encountered in ordinary acts.4. The burning heart: the disciples report that something was happening in them during the Scripture interpretation, even before they recognized Jesus. Preachers can reflect on the ways God is already present and at work that remain unrealized.5. The movement from dejection to witness is rapid. They immediately return to Jerusalem. The encounter with the risen Christ is not an end in itself but sends people back into community.Significant Cautions⚠ Jesus' rebuke — ‘foolish and slow of heart' — can be preached dismissively toward people who struggle with faith. Preach it with tenderness; these are grieving disciples, not obstinate opponents.⚠ The eucharistic interpretation of the bread-breaking, while theologically rich, should be handled with ecumenical sensitivity. In contexts where the Lord's Supper is not celebrated weekly, avoid implying that the only valid meeting place with Christ is formal Communion.⚠ This text has been used in supersessionist ways, suggesting that Jewish reading of the scriptures is incomplete or ‘blind.' Resist this. Jesus opens the scriptures from within Jewish tradition, not against it. The text is about revelatory interpretation, not invalidation.⚠ The disappearance of Jesus can prompt speculative preaching about the nature of resurrection bodies. Stay close to Luke's focus: the point is not how he vanished but that his presence was real and is now internalized by the disciples.Thematic ConnectionsThe four readings share a deep coherence. Acts and the Psalms both describe a movement from distress or confusion toward praise and testimony — paralleling the Emmaus disciples who return to Jerusalem to proclaim what they have seen. First Peter grounds ethical life in the costliness of redemption, just as the Emmaus story grounds recognition in the physical, eucharistic act of bread-breaking. All four texts resist easy triumphalism: faith is depicted as tested, hearts are slow and confused before they burn, and the call to love is placed within the context of exile and sojourning.Preachers may choose to anchor the week's message (“drive the train” in Delmer's parlance) in the Emmaus narrative while drawing on Acts for the pattern of proclamation, the Psalm for the vocabulary of deliverance and gratitude, and First Peter for the ethical implications of Easter faith.Narrative Lectionary TextsThe ReadingActs 9:1–19aThe Primary Text — Paul's ConversionSummarySaul is on his way to Damascus, armed with official letters and a mission: find followers of Jesus, arrest them, and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. He is not a passive bystander to the persecution of the early church — he is running it. Then, on the road, a blinding light stops him cold, and a voice asks, ‘Saul, why are you persecuting me?' Saul asks who is speaking. The answer: Jesus, the one Saul has been hunting. Saul is left blind, led by the hand into the city, and does not eat or drink for three days.Meanwhile, God speaks to a disciple in Damascus named Ananias and tells him to find Saul and restore his sight. Ananias pushes back — he knows exactly who Saul is and what he has been doing. God tells him to go anyway: Saul has been chosen to carry the name of Jesus to nations, kings, and the people of Israel, and he will suffer for it. Ananias goes. He calls Saul ‘brother,' lays hands on him, and Saul's sight is restored. He gets up, is baptized, and eats. The man who came to Damascus to destroy the church is now inside it.Key Ideas for Preaching1. Saul is stopped in the middle of doing something he was fully convinced was right. This is worth sitting with. He was not lazy or indifferent — he was zealous, organized, and certain. The road to Damascus is a story about what happens when certainty meets the living God. Preachers can ask: What would it look like for us to be stopped on our own road?2. The risen Jesus identifies himself with those Saul has been persecuting: ‘Why are you persecuting me?' This is one of the most striking lines in Acts. What is done to Christ's people is done to Christ. This has implications for how the church talks about suffering, solidarity, and who Jesus stands with.3. Ananias is the quiet hero of this story. He receives a frightening assignment and says so honestly — then goes anyway. He is asked to trust that God is already at work in the most dangerous person he knows. This is a powerful text for preaching on obedience, fear, and what it means to be sent to someone you would rather avoid.4. The first word Ananias speaks to Saul is ‘brother.' Before Saul had done anything to earn it, before any proof of change, Ananias named his family. That word is doing a lot of work. Preachers might linger here when talking about welcome, reconciliation, or what it costs to extend trust.5. Saul's conversion involves three days of blindness — a clear echo of the three days of the tomb. He enters Damascus unable to see or eat, and comes out restored and fed. The baptismal pattern here is not subtle. This text can open up rich reflection on what dying and rising actually look like in a human life.Significant Cautions⚠ It is easy to preach this story as a dramatic turnaround and leave it at that — the bad guy became the good guy. But the text is more unsettling than that. God chose Saul before Saul chose God, and the community that was supposed to benefit had every reason not to trust him. Do not smooth over the strangeness of how this conversion unfolds.⚠ Saul's pre-conversion zeal came from deep religious conviction. Be careful not to use this text to suggest that sincere religious belief is inherently dangerous, or to paint Judaism as the villain. Saul was acting in accordance with what he understood faithfulness to require. The story is about transformation, not about condemning the tradition he came from.⚠ This passage mentions that Saul will suffer greatly for the name of Jesus. Resist the temptation to rush past this. Suffering is named as part of Saul's calling from the beginning, not as a surprise or setback. A sermon that only celebrates the dramatic conversion without accounting for what it cost him will miss something important.⚠ Dramatic conversion stories can leave people in the congregation feeling like their own quieter, slower journey of faith does not measure up. It is worth explicitly noting that most people do not get knocked off a horse—and that is fine. The point of the story is not the method but the mercy.Matthew 6:24The Supplemental Text — Serving Two MastersSummaryThis single verse from the Sermon on the Mount states a simple but demanding truth: no one can serve two masters. You will end up devoted to one and dismissive of the other. Jesus applies this directly to the choice between God and money, but the logic extends further — the verse is about the impossibility of divided ultimate loyalty.Key Ideas for Preaching1. Paired with Acts 9, this verse sharpens what Saul's conversion actually meant. He had been a man of single-minded devotion — but devoted to the wrong thing. After Damascus, that same intensity is redirected. The supplemental text invites reflection on what we are actually devoted to, and whether it is possible to hold two ultimate allegiances at once.2. The word translated ‘devoted' or ‘loyal' in this verse carries the sense of deep attachment — not just preference. This is not a text about disliking something slightly. It is about what holds the center of a person's life. That is worth naming plainly for a congregation.Significant Cautions⚠ Matthew 6:24 specifically names money, and preachers sometimes skip over that in favor of a more general application. Do not avoid the economic edge of the verse. Jesus said what he said. That does not mean a sermon has to be only about money, but the specific example should be acknowledged.⚠ This verse can come across as all-or-nothing in a way that discourages honest struggle. Most people in the congregation are not certain what they serve — they are trying to figure it out. Preach the verse as an invitation to clarity, not a verdict on those who are still sorting through competing loyalties.Thematic ConnectionsBoth texts this week circle around the same question: what does it look like when something — or someone — has the full weight of your loyalty? Saul had given everything to a cause, only to be stopped. Ananias had every reason to protect himself, and was sent anyway. The supplemental verse from Matthew names the underlying issue plainly: you cannot split your ultimate devotion. These texts together make a strong case for examining what is actually at the center of a life, and what it looks like when that center shifts.Preachers will likely want to build the sermon around the Acts passage, using the Matthew verse either as an opening lens or a closing challenge. The story of Ananias offers a second angle that is easy to overlook — a sermon focused entirely on his call and courage could be just as powerful as one centered on Saul's dramatic turnaround. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionarypro.substack.com/subscribe
Baruch Korman00:41We saw last week that again, Sheol wanted to kill David. In fact, he has an obsession against David, to put him to death. And this week we're going to see that same shoul continues in that same objective, to see David, the man of God, the God who is faithful always to see David put to death. So with that said, take out your Bible and look with me, if you would, to First Samuel and chapter 19. To donate please visit us at:https://loveisrael.org/donate/Checks may be sent to:LoveIsrael.org
Every Easter Sunday, pastors around the world deliver the same message: Jesus rose from the grave. And that is absolutely true. But today we are not talking about Sunday morning. We are talking about Saturday. What was happening in the realm of the dead during those three days while the disciples hid, the soldiers stood guard, and the world assumed evil had won? The answer is something you have almost certainly never heard from any pulpit, any pastor, or any religious speaker — ever. This is the Harrowing of Hell.SERMON TRANSCRIPT: https://weirddarkness.com/cotu-harrowingofhell“What The Heck Is a Nephilim” episode: https://weirddarkness.com/cotu-whattheheckisanephilim/“The Jerusalem Zombie Incident” episode: https://weirddarkness.com/cotu-zombies/Weird Darkness® and Church Of The Undead™ are trademarked. Copyright © 2026.
John 11:1-44, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 Easter is not religious, because religion is what grows in the gap of MYSTERY. If Jesus didn't rise from the dead, life's greatest MYSTERY would remain UNEXPLAINED. Theories about what happens when people die: The soul is IMMORTAL. They join HADES. GOOD souls become stars. Everyone goes to SHEOL. JESUS […]
Have you ever said the words from the Creed at Mass, “he descended into hell” and wondered, “Really? Jesus did? Why?” The Catechism shares the secrets of this line from the Creed and shows us how Jesus' descent into hell “brings the Gospel message of salvation to complete fulfillment.” Fr. Mike makes it clear to us that Jesus did not come to save only the righteous who happened to be alive during his time here on earth, but he came to save all those righteous men and women who came before him and would come after him. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 631-637. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.
Have the macro uncertainties of global economics, wars, crime, and cultural change detrimentally impacted you? How about seasons of life encompassing aging parents, career threats, and technological change? What does the Bible say about God's assurance and our responses to these issues that can seem so overwhelming? Join Kevin as we take a look at both “heaven and earth” perspectives. // Download this episode's Application & Action questions and PDF transcript at whitestone.org.
No matter who you are, there has probably been some time in your life that loneliness closed you in like dark curtains in a cold house.Being alone can be healing, and it can be depressing. If you are experiencing the latter right now, we have good news for you. Your ‘alone' feeling is an illusion.Psalm 139:7–8 says, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.”God's Word tells us that there is no place in the universe that is without His presence. That includes the terrible news you just got today. It also includes the severed relationships and any other depressing thing that can dog us.He is with you, everywhere, and at all times. Best of all, you can call on Jesus to take away your feelings of being alone.All day, and all night.Let's pray.Lord, without you, we are literally nothing. There is never a time you don't hear us as individuals, and step in with your healing. Thank you for loving us! In Jesus' name, amen. Change your shirt, and you can change the world! Save 15% Off your entire purchase of faith-based apparel + gifts at Kerusso.com with code KDD15.
12:13-25 God reverses people's fortunes (I Sam.2:1-10; Ps. 113:5-8) and does so in the life and death of Jesus (Luke 1:46-56). Job has stressed the sovereignty of God in bringing disaster upon the greatest of men. But the sovereign one stepped into history in the person of Jesus and man have insulted, rejected, and murdered the King and the LORD. 12:13 All these terms for wisdom, strength, counsel, and power are used of the ideal Messianic ruler from the stem of Jesse in Isa. 11:2. Isaiah 11:1-5 paints a beautiful picture of the ruler from David's line who was to come. 12:14 The word for rebuilt in the LXX is also used in John 2:20. The context is that Jesus prophesied of His resurrection (John 2:19-22). There what Jesus rebuilds cannot be destroyed. 12:14 Jesus opens a door that cannot be shut and shuts a door that cannot be open (Rev. 3:7). The same terms in the LXX of Job 12:14 are used in Rev. 3:7. 12:17-21 Mary's prayer in Luke 1 shows that in the very act of God sending Jesus into the world He “brought down rulers from their thrones, and He has exalted those who were humble” (Luke 1:52). 12:19 The word used for captives in the LXX, priests are led away captive, is used of those that Jesus set free in Luke 4:18. By enduring the pain and anguish of the cross Jesus set free the captives. 12:20 Jesus was silent before Pilate (Matt. 27:12-14; Mk. 15:4-5; Jn. 19:9-10) and Herod (Lk. 23:9). The most eloquent of men was speechless. 12:22 As God brings darkness out of light so at the cross, darkness engulfed the land in the brightest moments of the day (Matt. 27:45; Mk. 15:33; Lk.23:44-45). 12:22 These two terms used for the darkness and deep darkness here were used in 10:21-22 to describe the darkness of Sheol. It is Jesus through His resurrection who gives the ultimate victory over Sheol (Acts 2:27-31). 12:25 While He is made to grope in the darkness, through these events of His death and resurrection, the light of the world (John 1:4; 8:12) transfers us from the kingdom of darkness to light (Col. 1:12-14). Think of how Christ, the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords (Rev. 19:16), experienced Job 12, especially vs. 17-21, in the events surrounding the cross. Job complained that God humbles the great, wise, and noble and robs them of all their dignity. In Jesus God became a man and humbles Himself (Phil. 2:7-8) to become a subject of mockery and reproach upon the cross (Matt. 27:38-44; Mk. 15:27-32; Lk. 23:35-39). They truly poured contempt on Him He was stripped and goes barefooted (I assume) to the cross. By experiencing the cross, Jesus gives a whole new meaning to suffering and shame (II Cor. 8:9; Heb. 12:1-2). He makes it possible for the captives to be set free from their prisons (Luke 4:18).In the cross God utterly confounds human wisdom- (I Cor. 1:18-2:5).
Welcome to Day 2820 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2820 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 119:25-32 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2820 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2820 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: Rising from the Dust – The Choice of the Enlarged Heart In our previous episode on this grand expedition, we climbed through the third stanza of the towering mountain that is Psalm One Hundred Nineteen. We explored the "Gimel" section, where the psalmist prayed for his eyes to be opened to the wondrous, supernatural realities hidden within God's instructions. We recognized a profound truth: to be a citizen of God's Kingdom is to be a foreigner, an exile, on this earth. We learned how to seek the counsel of the Creator's decrees, even when the arrogant princes and the rebel spiritual forces of this world conspire against us. Today, we take our next determined step forward, moving into the fourth stanza of this magnificent, alphabetical masterpiece. We are stepping into the "Dalet" section, covering Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses twenty-five through thirty-two, in the New Living Translation. If the previous stanza was about looking around at a hostile, foreign landscape, this new stanza is about looking down at the dirt. The external pressure of living in a contested, fallen world has taken a severe internal and physical toll on the psalmist. He is emotionally exhausted, spiritually depleted, and feeling the heavy, suffocating weight of his own mortality. He has hit rock bottom. But from that place of utter desperation, he makes a powerful, deliberate choice to reject the lies of the enemy, and to cling fiercely to the truth of Yahweh. Let us walk into the valley of the dust, and learn how to run again. The first segment is: The Dust of Mortality and the Breath of Life Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses twenty-five through twenty-seven. I lie in the dust; revive me by your word. I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your decrees. Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds. The stanza opens with a stark, devastating confession: "I lie in the dust." Other translations render this as, "My soul clings to the dust." To fully grasp the gravity of this statement, we must view it through the lens of the Ancient Israelite worldview. In biblical cosmology, the "dust" is not just dirt on the ground. It is the ultimate symbol of mortality, the curse, and the grave. In Genesis Chapter Three, after the cosmic rebellion in Eden, humanity was told, "For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return." Furthermore, the dust is the domain of the Serpent—the dark, rebel entity of the Divine Council—who was cursed to eat dust all the days of his life. When the psalmist says his soul is clinging to the dust, he is saying that he feels the gravitational pull of the underworld. He is depressed, broken, and knocking on the doors of Sheol. The chaotic forces of death are actively trying to pull him down into the dirt. But look at his immediate response. He does not surrender to the dust. He cries out, "Revive me by your word." The Hebrew word for "revive" is chayah, which means to give life, to quicken, or to restore. The psalmist is asking for a reversal of the curse of Eden. Just as God initially breathed the breath of life into the dust to create the first human, the psalmist is asking God to breathe His living Word into this current state of deadness, to re-create him, and to pull him back into the land of the living. He continues, "I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your decrees." This reveals a deeply intimate, transparent relationship with the Creator. The psalmist has not hidden his ambitions, his failures, or his dead-end strategies from God. He laid all his human plans on the table. And what was the result? He realized his own plans were insufficient to get him out of the dust. Therefore, he pivots, begging for divine instruction. He trades his fragile, flawed human plans for the eternal decrees of the Most High. He pleads, "Help me understand the meaning of your commandments, and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds." When you are lying in the dust, you do not need superficial platitudes; you need deep, structural understanding. He wants to comprehend the architecture of God's cosmic order. If he can just understand how Yahweh has ordered the universe, he can fix his mind on those wonderful deeds, rather than the despair of his current situation. The second segment is: Melting in Sorrow and Rejecting the Lie Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses twenty-eight and twenty-nine. I weep with sorrow; encourage me by your word. Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions. The intense emotional agony continues into verse twenty-eight. "I weep with sorrow." The literal Hebrew translation is incredibly poetic and painful: "My soul melts from heaviness," or "My soul drops away from grief." Have you ever experienced a sorrow so profound, a grief so heavy, that you felt like your very identity was dissolving? That your strength was literally melting away like wax before a fire? That is the Dalet experience. The psalmist is physically and spiritually liquefying under the pressure of his exile. His remedy remains consistent: "Encourage me by your word." Literally, "Raise me up according to your word." If his soul is melting and dropping down to the dust, he needs the supernatural leverage of God's promises to lift him back up to a standing position. And then, he makes a fascinating, crucial pivot in verse twenty-nine. He prays, "Keep me from lying to myself; give me the privilege of knowing your instructions." Older translations render this as, "Remove from me the way of deceit." In the context of the Divine Council worldview, the "way of deceit" is the operating system of the rebel gods. The cosmic rebellion is fundamentally built upon a lie—the lie that humanity can flourish independently from the Creator, that we can be our own gods, and that we can define good and evil for ourselves. When we are melting in sorrow, the enemy will always offer us a deceptive, shortcut solution. The way of falsehood whispers, "Just compromise. Just take matters into your own hands. Just numb the pain with the idols of this culture." The psalmist recognizes how vulnerable he is to these lies when he is in the dust. He begs Yahweh to graciously remove the path of falsehood from his vision. The ultimate antidote to cosmic deception is the gracious gift of God's instructions. The Torah is the anchor of reality. It prevents us from lying to ourselves when the darkness tries to distort our vision. The third segment is: The Stubborn Choice of Truth Psalm One Hundred Nineteen: verses thirty and thirty-one. I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations. I cling to your laws. Lord, don't let me be put to shame! Having asked God to remove the way of deceit, the psalmist now exercises his human agency. He makes a fierce, stubborn, definitive choice. "I have chosen to be faithful; I have determined to live by your regulations." Literally, the Hebrew reads, "I have chosen the way of truth; I have set your judgments before me." This is a profound moment of spiritual maturity. Faith is not just a passive feeling; it is an active, deliberate choice, especially when your soul is melting. In the middle of the dust, surrounded by the lies of the rebel principalities, the psalmist stakes his claim. He places the judgments of God right in front of his face, so that they become the only lens through which he views the world. Because he has made this choice, he takes action: "I cling to your laws." Notice the beautiful contrast here. Back in verse twenty-five, his soul was clinging to the dust. The gravity of death had a hold on him. But now, through an act of the will, he redirects his grip. He lets go of the dust, and he violently cleaves to the testimonies of Yahweh. He holds onto the Word of God like a drowning man holding onto a life raft in a hurricane. And because he is clinging to the True King, he makes a bold appeal: "Lord, don't let me be put to shame!" In the ancient Near East, honor and shame were the ultimate social currencies. To be put to shame meant that your trust was misplaced, that your God had failed you, and that the mocking, hostile nations were right all along. The psalmist is essentially saying, "Yahweh, I have bet my entire existence on Your way of truth. I am clinging exclusively to Your laws. If I go down, Your reputation...
In this Bible Story, Korah plots to overthrow Moses and openly challenges Moses in front of all the people, claiming he's a dictator and thief of glory. Korah, and all those who follow him, are swallowed up by the earth and cast into the fiery depths of Sheol. This story is inspired by Numbers 16-17. Go to BibleinaYear.com and learn the Bible in a Year.Today's Bible verse is Numbers 16:4 from the King James Version.Episode 46: Jealousy has once again entered the camp. This time Korah and 250 chiefs of the people rise against Moses and his claim to leadership. Moses does not fight with them but tells them to wait until tomorrow, forGod will show the people who the rightful leader is. When the next day came, so did God, and with Him a powerful display of His righteousness and judgment. The ground opened up and swallowed those inciting rebellion.Hear the Bible come to life as Pastor Jack Graham leads you through the official BibleinaYear.com podcast. This Biblical Audio Experience will help you master wisdom from the world’s greatest book. In each episode, you will learn to apply Biblical principles to everyday life. Now understanding the Bible is easier than ever before; enjoy a cinematic audio experience full of inspirational storytelling, orchestral music, and profound commentary from world-renowned Pastor Jack Graham.Also, you can download the Pray.com app for more Christian content, including, Daily Prayers, Inspirational Testimonies, and Bedtime Bible Stories.Visit JackGraham.org for more resources on how to tap into God's power for successful Christian living.Pray.com is the digital destination of faith. With over 5,000 daily prayers, meditations, bedtime stories, and cinematic stories inspired by the Bible, the Pray.com app has everything you need to keep your focus on the Lord. Make Prayer a priority and download the #1 App for Prayer and Sleep today in the Apple app store or Google Play store.Executive Producers: Steve Gatena & Max BardProducer: Ben GammonHosted by: Pastor Jack GrahamMusic by: Andrew Morgan SmithBible Story narration by: Todd HaberkornSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.