Podcasts about Shittim

With family: 1 Chronicles 29; 2 Peter 3 1 Chronicles 29 (Listen) Offerings for the Temple 29 And David the king said to all the assembly, “Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the work is great, for the palace will not be for man but for the LORD God. 2 So I have provided for the house of my God, so far as I was able, the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things of silver, and the bronze for the things of bronze, the iron for the things of iron, and wood for the things of wood, besides great quantities of onyx and stones for setting, antimony, colored stones, all sorts of precious stones and marble. 3 Moreover, in addition to all that I have provided for the holy house, I have a treasure of my own of gold and silver, and because of my devotion to the house of my God I give it to the house of my God: 4 3,000 talents1 of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and 7,000 talents of refined silver, for overlaying the walls of the house,2 5 and for all the work to be done by craftsmen, gold for the things of gold and silver for the things of silver. Who then will offer willingly, consecrating himself3 today to the LORD?” 6 Then the leaders of fathers' houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king's work. 7 They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics4 of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. 8 And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the LORD, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. 9 Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the LORD. David the king also rejoiced greatly. David Prays in the Assembly 10 Therefore David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly. And David said: “Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. 12 Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. 13 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. 14 “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. 15 For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding.5 16 O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. 17 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. 18 O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. 19 Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.” 20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Bless the LORD your God.” And all the assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and paid homage to the LORD and to the king. 21 And they offered sacrifices to the LORD, and on the next day offered burnt offerings to the LORD, 1,000 bulls, 1,000 rams, and 1,000 lambs, with their drink offerings, and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel. 22 And they ate and drank before the LORD on that day with great gladness. Solomon Anointed King And they made Solomon the son of David king the second time, and they anointed him as prince for the LORD, and Zadok as priest. 23 Then Solomon sat on the throne of the LORD as king in place of David his father. And he prospered, and all Israel obeyed him. 24 All the leaders and the mighty men, and also all the sons of King David, pledged their allegiance to King Solomon. 25 And the LORD made Solomon very great in the sight of all Israel and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel. The Death of David 26 Thus David the son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. 27 The time that he reigned over Israel was forty years. He reigned seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 28 Then he died at a good age, full of days, riches, and honor. And Solomon his son reigned in his place. 29 Now the acts of King David, from first to last, are written in the Chronicles of Samuel the seer, and in the Chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the Chronicles of Gad the seer, 30 with accounts of all his rule and his might and of the circumstances that came upon him and upon Israel and upon all the kingdoms of the countries. Footnotes [1] 29:4 A talent was about 75 pounds or 34 kilograms [2] 29:4 Septuagint; Hebrew houses [3] 29:5 Or ordaining himself; Hebrew filling his hand [4] 29:7 A daric was a coin weighing about 1/4 ounce or 8.5 grams [5] 29:15 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew hope, or prospect (ESV) 2 Peter 3 (Listen) The Day of the Lord Will Come 3 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,1 not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies2 will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.3 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Final Words 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. 15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. Footnotes [1] 3:9 Some manuscripts on your account [2] 3:10 Or elements; also verse 12 [3] 3:10 Greek found; some manuscripts will be burned up (ESV) In private: Micah 6; Luke 15 Micah 6 (Listen) The Indictment of the Lord 6   Hear what the LORD says:  Arise, plead your case before the mountains,    and let the hills hear your voice.2   Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD,    and you enduring foundations of the earth,  for the LORD has an indictment against his people,    and he will contend with Israel. 3   “O my people, what have I done to you?    How have I wearied you? Answer me!4   For I brought you up from the land of Egypt    and redeemed you from the house of slavery,  and I sent before you Moses,    Aaron, and Miriam.5   O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,    and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,  and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,    that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.” What Does the Lord Require? 6   “With what shall I come before the LORD,    and bow myself before God on high?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,    with calves a year old?7   Will the LORD be pleased with1 thousands of rams,    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?  Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”8   He has told you, O man, what is good;    and what does the LORD require of you  but to do justice, and to love kindness,2    and to walk humbly with your God? Destruction of the Wicked 9   The voice of the LORD cries to the city—    and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:  “Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!310     Can I forget any longer the treasures4 of wickedness in the house of the wicked,    and the scant measure that is accursed?11   Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales    and with a bag of deceitful weights?12   Your5 rich men are full of violence;    your inhabitants speak lies,    and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.13   Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,    making you desolate because of your sins.14   You shall eat, but not be satisfied,    and there shall be hunger within you;  you shall put away, but not preserve,    and what you preserve I will give to the sword.15   You shall sow, but not reap;    you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;    you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.16   For you have kept the statutes of Omri,6    and all the works of the house of Ahab;    and you have walked in their counsels,  that I may make you a desolation, and your7 inhabitants a hissing;    so you shall bear the scorn of my people.” Footnotes [1] 6:7 Or Will the Lord accept [2] 6:8 Or steadfast love [3] 6:9 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 6:10 Or Are there still treasures [5] 6:12 Hebrew whose [6] 6:16 Hebrew For the statutes of Omri are kept [7] 6:16 Hebrew its (ESV) Luke 15 (Listen) The Parable of the Lost Sheep 15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. The Parable of the Lost Coin 8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins,1 if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.' 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” The Parable of the Prodigal Son 11 And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them. 13 Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. 14 And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to2 one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. 16 And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. 17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”' 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'3 22 But the father said to his servants,4 ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. 23 And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate. 25 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.' 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, 29 but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!' 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'” Footnotes [1] 15:8 Greek ten drachmas; a drachma was a Greek coin approximately equal in value to a Roman denarius, worth about a day's wage for a laborer [2] 15:15 Greek joined himself to [3] 15:21 Some manuscripts add treat me as one of your hired servants [4] 15:22 Or bondservants (ESV)

With family: 2 Kings 24; Hebrews 6 2 Kings 24 (Listen) 24 In his days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then he turned and rebelled against him. 2 And the LORD sent against him bands of the Chaldeans and bands of the Syrians and bands of the Moabites and bands of the Ammonites, and sent them against Judah to destroy it, according to the word of the LORD that he spoke by his servants the prophets. 3 Surely this came upon Judah at the command of the LORD, to remove them out of his sight, for the sins of Manasseh, according to all that he had done, 4 and also for the innocent blood that he had shed. For he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood, and the LORD would not pardon. 5 Now the rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 6 So Jehoiakim slept with his fathers, and Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place. 7 And the king of Egypt did not come again out of his land, for the king of Babylon had taken all that belonged to the king of Egypt from the Brook of Egypt to the river Euphrates. Jehoiachin Reigns in Judah 8 Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he became king, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Nehushta the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. 9 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done. Jerusalem Captured 10 At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up to Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. 11 And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it, 12 and Jehoiachin the king of Judah gave himself up to the king of Babylon, himself and his mother and his servants and his officials and his palace officials. The king of Babylon took him prisoner in the eighth year of his reign 13 and carried off all the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house, and cut in pieces all the vessels of gold in the temple of the LORD, which Solomon king of Israel had made, as the LORD had foretold. 14 He carried away all Jerusalem and all the officials and all the mighty men of valor, 10,000 captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. None remained, except the poorest people of the land. 15 And he carried away Jehoiachin to Babylon. The king's mother, the king's wives, his officials, and the chief men of the land he took into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon. 16 And the king of Babylon brought captive to Babylon all the men of valor, 7,000, and the craftsmen and the metal workers, 1,000, all of them strong and fit for war. 17 And the king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's uncle, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah. Zedekiah Reigns in Judah 18 Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. 19 And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done. 20 For because of the anger of the LORD it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence. And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon. (ESV) Hebrews 6 (Listen) 6 Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 and of instruction about washings,1 the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do if God permits. 4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned. 9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. The Certainty of God's Promise 13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” 15 And thus Abraham,2 having patiently waited, obtained the promise. 16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation. 17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Footnotes [1] 6:2 Or baptisms (that is, cleansing rites) [2] 6:15 Greek he (ESV) In private: Psalm 143; Joel 3 Psalm 143 (Listen) My Soul Thirsts for You A Psalm of David. 143   Hear my prayer, O LORD;    give ear to my pleas for mercy!    In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!2   Enter not into judgment with your servant,    for no one living is righteous before you. 3   For the enemy has pursued my soul;    he has crushed my life to the ground;    he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.4   Therefore my spirit faints within me;    my heart within me is appalled. 5   I remember the days of old;    I meditate on all that you have done;    I ponder the work of your hands.6   I stretch out my hands to you;    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah 7   Answer me quickly, O LORD!    My spirit fails!  Hide not your face from me,    lest I be like those who go down to the pit.8   Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,    for in you I trust.  Make me know the way I should go,    for to you I lift up my soul. 9   Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!    I have fled to you for refuge.110   Teach me to do your will,    for you are my God!  Let your good Spirit lead me    on level ground! 11   For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life!    In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!12   And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,    and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,    for I am your servant. Footnotes [1] 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered (ESV) Joel 3 (Listen) The Lord Judges the Nations 3 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. 4 “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.1 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken.” 9   Proclaim this among the nations:  Consecrate for war;2    stir up the mighty men.  Let all the men of war draw near;    let them come up.10   Beat your plowshares into swords,    and your pruning hooks into spears;    let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” 11   Hasten and come,    all you surrounding nations,    and gather yourselves there.  Bring down your warriors, O LORD.12   Let the nations stir themselves up    and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;  for there I will sit to judge    all the surrounding nations. 13   Put in the sickle,    for the harvest is ripe.  Go in, tread,    for the winepress is full.  The vats overflow,    for their evil is great. 14   Multitudes, multitudes,    in the valley of decision!  For the day of the LORD is near    in the valley of decision.15   The sun and the moon are darkened,    and the stars withdraw their shining. 16   The LORD roars from Zion,    and utters his voice from Jerusalem,    and the heavens and the earth quake.  But the LORD is a refuge to his people,    a stronghold to the people of Israel. The Glorious Future of Judah 17   “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,    who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.  And Jerusalem shall be holy,    and strangers shall never again pass through it. 18   “And in that day  the mountains shall drip sweet wine,    and the hills shall flow with milk,  and all the streambeds of Judah    shall flow with water;  and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD    and water the Valley of Shittim. 19   “Egypt shall become a desolation    and Edom a desolate wilderness,  for the violence done to the people of Judah,    because they have shed innocent blood in their land.20   But Judah shall be inhabited forever,    and Jerusalem to all generations.21   I will avenge their blood,    blood I have not avenged,3    for the LORD dwells in Zion.” Footnotes [1] 3:5 Or palaces [2] 3:9 Or Consecrate a war [3] 3:21 Or I will acquit their bloodguilt that I have not acquitted (ESV)

Micah 6:3-53  ‘My people, what have I done to you?    How have I burdened you? Answer me.4 I brought you up out of Egypt    and redeemed you from the land of slavery.I sent Moses to lead you,    also Aaron and Miriam.5 My people, remember    what Balak king of Moab plotted    and what Balaam son of Beor answered.Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,    that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.'As we saw yesterday, the people are in the dock accused of unfaithfulness to their God. Yet it seems as if they feel that God is the one who should be on trial. They consider knowing and serving him to be a burden. Perhaps they feel that being followers of Yahweh is more trouble than it's worth. He's such a demanding master that he's only got himself to blame if they turn their backs on him.So God shows them just how ridiculous that is. He gives them a quick history lesson, pointing to examples of his faithful care of his people in the past. And it quickly becomes obvious that God is not the one at fault. Far from being demanding, he is the most merciful and generous of Lords. He rescued them from slavery to Pharaoh in Egypt. He gave them Moses and Aaron to lead them throughout that unsettled time, journeying through the wilderness. He rescued them from many hostile kings, including Balak king of Moab, and he provided Joshua to lead them to victory over their enemies, when they were camped in Gilgal.  Through these events, and many, many more, God has shown his commitment to his people. Yet his people have been quick to forget his goodness towards them.We can be the same. We have so much more than the people of Micah's day that we can look at to see God's commitment to us. Not only the whole Old Testament, but also the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Not to mention the way in which God has established, grown and preserved his church since then. So let's pray today that God would keep reminding us of his faithfulness, whenever we might be tempted to think that he isn't worth following. 

A sermon by Rev. Barbara Lemmel and Rev. Mitchell Hay. Hebrew Scripture Joshua 3:1-4a; 3:14-4:7 NRSV Early in the morning Joshua rose and set out from Shittim with all the Israelites, and they came to the Jordan. They camped there before crossing over. At the end of three days, the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place. Follow it, so that you may know the way you should go, for you have not passed this way before.” When the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests bearing the ark of the covenant were in front of the people. Now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest. So when those who bore the ark had come to the Jordan and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the edge of the water, the waters flowing from above stood still, rising up in a single heap far off at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, while those flowing toward the sea of the Arabah, the Dead Sea, were wholly cut off. Then the people crossed over opposite Jericho. While all Israel were crossing over on dry ground, the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, until the entire nation finished crossing over the Jordan. When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Select twelve people, one from each tribe of Israel, and command them, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests' feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight.'” Then Joshua summoned the twelve whom he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe. Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on their shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, so that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?' then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.”

What I found inspiring were two Scripture readings, one from the prophet Micah, where the reader faced the line, “O my people, remember what happened from Shittim to Gilgal that you may know the saving acts of the Lord,” and she slowed down when she saw “Shittim” and got traction and very carefully pronounced it “shi-team.” I was the only one in the sanctuary immature enough to enjoy this moment. There were no 13-year-old boys there, just me. I could tell from her voice that the reader had been dreading this for an hour, trying to decide between “shy-tim” and “shi-team” and fearing that she'd slip and pronounce it phonetically and a marble angel would fall and crash and red lights would flash and people would require treatment for post-traumatic stress. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit garrisonkeillor.substack.com/subscribeThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5893629/advertisement

Protection And Provision For Man-Child And Bride (2)  (audio)  David Eells - 10/11/23  UBM Going To Solomon's Temple  Vanessa Weeks 2/6/23 (David's notes in red)    In a dream, we of UBM were sitting together in a circle in a home. We were talking about us all going to Solomon's Temple. This was very exciting to us and then David stood up and we were about to follow him there. I remember one asking David questions about this trip. (David got all the materials for the building of the temple but Solomon built it.) 1Ki 7:51 Thus all the work that king Solomon wrought in the house of Jehovah was finished. And Solomon brought in the things which David his father had dedicated, even the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, and put them in the treasuries of the house of Jehovah.  (In a parable David conquered the enemies as a warrior as is happening now. Then in the second phase Solomon, meaning peaceful, reigned in peace and built the temple. We are meaning the temple made without hands, the Church.) After this, we were having a meeting and we all received a very strong anointing, and several of us were prophesying and moving in the Spirit. We were flowing in the gifts of the Spirit, and it was amazing. I can't explain how wonderful this was as the presence of the Lord was like I had not known.  I remember a lady who was visiting with us in this meeting and she had friends with her and said to us, "We don't know what country you will be in." I think this was in reference to us going to Solomon's Temple. I know she was amazed at what she and her friends saw but I don't think she received the anointing. (This anointing will come upon those who have gone through the fiery trials of purification and death to the old man, and ready to receive it. They are walking in sanctification and overcoming the persecutions from factions, etc. The disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit the first time when they were altogether in one accord waiting for the promise of the Father, Jesus told them they would receive.)  I received for this dream by faith at random Eze 44:9;  in context Eze 44:4-9. 4 Then he brought me by the way of the north gate before the house; and I looked, and, behold, the glory of Jehovah filled the house of Jehovah: and I fell upon my face. 5 And Jehovah said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of Jehovah, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entrance of the house, with every egress of the sanctuary.  (This is pointing out what it means to be a part of God's Temple and what it means to depart from His Temple as the factions do.) 6 And thou shalt say to the rebellious, even to the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: O ye house of Israel, let it suffice you of all your abominations, 7 in that ye have brought in foreigners, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, to be in my sanctuary, (The faction is removing these from the house of God.) to profane it, even my house, when ye offer my bread, the fat and the blood, and they have broken my covenant, to add unto all your abominations. 8 And ye have not kept the charge of my holy things; but ye have set keepers of my charge in my sanctuary for yourselves. 9 Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, no foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, of any foreigners that are among the children of Israel.  (This is not a physical temple. Only those circumcised in heart may enter this temple and that means born from above. Their flesh is circumcised at Baptism by faith as Paul taught.)       Shopping Center  Anonymous 6/10/23 (David's notes in red)  I dreamt that I was visiting a town called Sunshine Coast and I had to go into the large shopping center there to get some items for my son that I couldn't get anywhere else. (Sunshine Coast represents “Babylonish Christianity” where the sun/Son is shining the Light of the Gospel. Everyone is first born with Babylonish ideas about God and His desires. We come out as we search the scriptures and repent of our fleshly ways. Mat 5:45 that ye may become sons of your Father who is in the heavens; because he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and good, and sendeth rain on just and unjust.)  I didn't want to draw attention to myself, and I especially didn't want to see anyone that would know or recognize me; I wanted to be hidden and to quickly go in grab the items and leave. (We should remain hidden in Christ when among the apostates.)  I walked through the shopping center to a specific shop. As I was walking, I looked to my side, and saw my birth mum and stepdad walking toward my way. (These people represent the religions and preachers we started out with.) I really didn't want them to see me, and I didn't want to speak with them. But praise God He either made me invisible to them or to look like a different person, because they walked straight past me as if I wasn't there. I was so very happy and grateful to the Lord. (As much as lieth in you be at peace with all men. Many apostate love and respect their ways far more than truth. Occasionally God opens a door in a heart.)  If they had seen me, they would have rushed to me wanting my attention, to talk about worldly things I wouldn't want to discuss with them because they don't want Jesus yet. (We cannot have fellowship with those who are not drawn to the deeper life with Christ. However, we can witness Christ to them.) (Ecc 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity.)  I knew then that God would not only keep me spiritually hidden but physically hidden especially people that I didn't want to see me. When going through the shopping center, I saw so many people from my past that should have recognized me when they looked at me, but they did not see me as the person I used to be. I believe the Lord made me look like someone they didn't recognize and I was so very grateful. (We are a new creature in Christ and the “old man” is dead. There were many times after His resurrection that Jesus was not recognized by people until He revealed Himself to them.)  I was then able to quickly go to the specific shop I had intended and purchase the items I wanted for my son, and they were on sale at 80% off, praise God! There was also no waiting line so I was able to pay for it and leave quickly. The next store I wanted to go into was right next door so I quickly ran in and the cashier gave me all the items I wanted for free. (Mat 6:33  But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. . Everything we need was provided in Christ.) (Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not also with him freely give us all things?)   (Psa 84:11 For Jehovah God is a sun and a shield: Jehovah will give grace and glory; No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.)  On my way out of the shopping center, I was given free food, although I didn't want to be at the shopping center, God blessed me with the items I needed for free or at a very cheap price, praise God! Php 4:19 And my God shall supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.      Diving For Treasure    Samuel Fire 7/16/23 (David's notes in red)  I saw a scuba diver. He would regularly go to a certain area where there was an old shipwreck. (The old shipwreck is a representation of those who have left UBM and the teachings, because they fell into witchcraft and faction. 1Ti 1:19 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust from them made shipwreck concerning the faith: 1Ti 1:20 of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I delivered unto Satan, that they might be taught not to blaspheme.) (Many of these people are held in torment for years never able to break out of their demonic prison. One day some will have opportunity again to be free and they will appreciate it far more.)  He liked searching this vessel for treasures and brought many items home to share and sold some of value. (God's people are the gold and silver vessels, the real treasures in the Lord's house. Many of them have been deceived and the value of the Word they once had has been stolen from them. Some of these people will return to the Truth and be restored. This could also be a timing thing regarding Cyrus/Trump and the Man-Child. Ezr 5:13-15 But in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, (America is a type of Babylon and the World.) Cyrus the king made a decree to build this house of God. 14 And the gold and silver vessels also of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon,…15 and he said unto him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in its place.)  His family were delighted with the findings, but also always concerned about his safety. He went out again and he got separated from his boat due to a change in tides and winds from a large storm past the horizon he was not aware of. (There are changes happening and a spiritual shifting taking place and a large storm is on the horizon. We need to be watchful in prayer and discerning of the times and seasons. We need to stay with Jesus in the same boat! Mar 4:37-39 And there ariseth a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the boat, insomuch that the boat was now filling. 38 And he himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion: and they awake him, and say unto him, Teacher, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.)  He surfaced and was a bit worried and didn't know what to do. He then prayed for help because he was sorry about doing his own thing. Just as he finished, a shadow cast on him. It was his boat passing his right side! He swam to it and drove back. (Tribulations make us serious about pleasing the Lord when we find we are doing our own thing. When we repent He delivers and protects us.) The next time he wanted to go, he took his family and some extended family and their boat and had a family time. This man and his brother from childhood were the only ones with experience in diving so the two of them swam for treasure. The brother pointed underwater at a strange item several yards from the wreck on the floor. (Moses turned to his right to investigate a burning bush.)  They both swam over to it and found it was an old treasure box stuck in coral, which had grown tight around it. They kicked and used a crowbar to pry it free. They were taking quite a while and were supposed to surface soon to prevent decompression sickness, but they kept at it. Then, success! They broke the box free and both men tied an item with a GPS tracker to it and quickly returned to the surface. They told the others what they had found and took a break to eat food. Then the two men took a rope and tied it to the box and the family pulled this box up to the surface. (Many who repent of their lukewarm life will repent and find God's abundant provision.) It was very heavy and took the second boat and a few more ropes and innovative thinking to bring it into the boat. When they opened it, they found it full of old golden coins. (In the natural, the Man-child and Bride have been promised abundant provision for the coming days of tribulation provided for those who have repented like this dream. Trump as a type of Cyrus will provide for the rebuilding of the real temple of God, His people coming out of the Babylonish world. God spoke to Cyrus in Isa 45:3 and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that it is I, Jehovah, who call thee by thy name, even the God of Israel.)  Each person grabbed a full hand full and the rest they said they would sell and divide the money evenly. The coins they held they would choose, even each child had a big double handful to match an adult's hand size. He and the brother said they would not ever dive again and focus on family and prayer, because it was God who saved him and blessed them all! (This is also a warning not to get caught up in seeking the riches of this world. Jesus said we must renounce all that we have to be His disciple and so we truly own nothing, but are stewards of all to be shared to benefit the Kingdom and provision for God's children. 1Ti 6:9-10 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.   Also, we cannot serve God and money. The Man-Child and Bride have been tested with this too. Luk 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it shall fail, they may receive you into the eternal tabernacles. (Seek to bring eternal life to all who will listen.) 10 He that is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much: and he that is unrighteous in a very little is unrighteous also in much. 13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.)  (The Man-child and Bride will be blessed spiritually and physically and used by the Holy Spirit and Jesus to bring His Kingdom on earth.)      Good Things Coming To The House Of David    Vanessa Weeks 7/11/23 (David's notes in red)  In a dream, I was out on David's patio. I was riding a small vehicle clockwise around his patio set. (Going to the right and it may have to do with going forward in time, as in clockwise.) As I did this I was saying, "Her walls are salvation and her gates praise." (This is from Isa 60:18 and is about the good things the Lord will do for Zion, the house of David.)  Isa 60:14-22 And the sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man passed through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations. 16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the nations, and shalt suck the breast of kings; and thou shalt know that I, Jehovah, am thy Savior, and thy Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. 17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron. (This is a great economy for Kingdom people.)  I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.   18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, desolation nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise. (Notice that Inside Zion is the fullness of salvation.) 19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but Jehovah will be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. 20 Thy sun shall no more go down, (Zion will not lose Son glory.)  neither shall thy moon withdraw itself (They will always reflect the light of the Son.); for Jehovah will be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended. 21 Thy people also shall be all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. 22 The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation; I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time. (Speaking of a huge revival.)  I was also speaking that since Jesus is in me and His name means Salvation, that His salvation is in me to help others. 2Co 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.   Then I went on the grass and sat down against the wooden fence. (There is no fence there in real life but it is like a wall. Her walls are salvation.) A seal appeared on the patio and then where I was, and sat down right by me. (I think seal is a play on words about the Lord sealing the Bride and Man-Child.) (End of dream.)  While praying about what the seal represented the Lord reminded me of John 6:27 NENT Work not for the food which perisheth, but for the food which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give you: for him the Father, God, hath sealed. (The spiritual man is Christ in us, who is sealed.)  John 3:33 NENT Who hath received his witness hath set his seal to this, that God is true. Rev. 7:4 NENT And I heard the number of the sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of Israel's sons:       Lion Of Judah Sets The Captives Free    Eve Brast 9/9/20 (David's notes in red)  I had this dream on my grandmother's birthday. Her name was Sally. (Sally means ‘princess' and is a nickname for Sarah.) (Grandmother represents the ancient true Church. Sarah was the mother of the seed of Abraham who we are by faith. But the modern Church must be delivered to come into this.) 1Pe 3:3-6, Whose adorning let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; 4 but let it be the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands: 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.  I dreamed that I was standing off on the right side in the sanctuary of an old Catholic church cathedral like the historic ones that you see over in Europe. (Catholicism is A "mother of harlots” meaning many apostate churches came out of her. All of them are included in this mother's body.) Catholic means, "Universal” representing the worldwide, apostate, Babylonish church system.)   I was nearer to the back of the church where the front doors were located. The doors were double doors made of polished wood with ornate carvings in them and I could see that all the pews were also very ornate and made of the same polished wood. The cushions on the pews were a faded evergreen color and there were many colorful statues all around inside the sanctuary. (The faded evergreen cushions represent the fading or loss of the true gospel that brings eternal life to those that hear. The apostate church is full of leaven and idolatry.)  I was observing the many people who crowded this church. They were all sitting quietly and they seemed to be waiting for something. (Maybe for a priest or preacher to teach them.) They seemed to have been there for a long time waiting but no one showed up. (Representing those who have been in captivity to the apostate religious system for many years but they need to hear the gospel.)   Suddenly, a very large male lion (Representing Jesus, the Lion of Judah, coming in the Man-child body of reformers.) came through the front doors of the cathedral and leaped up onto the top of the pews right in front of me. His front paws on the back of one pew and his back paws on the back of the other pew. In the dream I knew that this lion was ready for mating. (The Lion of Judah wants only His seed, which brings forth His life in the people. They are full of the seed of man and not God, which doesn't bring new birth.)  I watched as the lion lifted his head and let out a fierce and angry roar of jealousy like he was staking a claim and dominion over all the people in this church. (This roar represents the threat of the Lord's judgment against the apostate Church which we have been warning of. The DS leftists will loose their anarchist troops against the apostates in burnings and killings and destruction.) Amo1:2 And he said, Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the pastures of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither. Verses 9-12 Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Tyre, yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole people to Edom (Those who hated and persecuted their chosen brother Israel, a type of the Church in our day.), and remembered not the brotherly covenant: 10 but I will send a fire on the wall of Tyre (DS Babylonish US), and it shall devour the palaces thereof. 11 Thus saith Jehovah: For three transgressions of Edom (Those who hate and kill their brother.), yea, for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever: 12 but I will send a fire upon Teman, and it shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.(The Edomite sheepfold)  The morning before I began to put notes in this dream we received by faith at random these confirmations of the Lions Roar of threatened judgment. Amber got: Joe 3:16-18 And Jehovah will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem (The Bride); and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but Jehovah will be a refuge unto his people, and a stronghold to the children of Israel (as a type of the Church, many of whom will turn from idolatry with the apostates and run to the shelter of abiding in Jesus, the Word). 17 So shall ye know that I am Jehovah your God, dwelling in Zion my holy mountain: (The revelation that the people in apostasy got when the Lion roared below.) then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. (Then the fruit of Jesus, the Word, will be borne in His people and they shall be blessed.) 18 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the brooks of Judah shall flow with waters; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of Jehovah, and shall water the valley of Shittim.  Sue Gilbert got: Jer 25:27-31 And thou shalt say unto them (The text describes the cup of wrath against all nations.), Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Drink ye, and be drunken, and spew, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you. 28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thy hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Ye shall surely drink. 29 For, lo, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith Jehovah of hosts. 30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, Jehovah will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he will mightily roar against his fold (of apostates as in this dream); he will give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth. 31 A noise shall come even to the end of the earth; for Jehovah hath a controversy with the nations; he will enter into judgment with all flesh: as for the wicked, he will give them to the sword, saith Jehovah.  Back to the dream: It seemed like I was the only one who witnessed any of this and heard his roar. But as soon as the roar went out over the congregation, they all suddenly sat up straight and got a revelation. They all quietly arose from their pews and began filing out of the sanctuary. (The revelation is this, apostasy is not truth and will not save. They feel a need to shelter from this storm in God. They will seek knowledge of the Lord instead of depending on religious leaders who have no answers or salvation.)   They began to go into the back part of the church where all the Sunday school rooms were and the large cafeteria where the food was to be served. (We see below that the church changed hands to a new Pastor at this time.) Hos 11:8-12 How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how'shall I cast thee off, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how'shall I set thee as Zeboiim? my heart is turned within me, my compassions are kindled together. 9 I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee (The New Pastor); and I will not come in wrath. 10 They shall walk after Jehovah, who will roar like a lion; for he will roar, and the children shall come trembling from the west. 11 They shall come trembling as a bird out of Egypt, and as a dove out of the land of Assyria (The beast); and I will make them to dwell in their houses, saith Jehovah. 12 Ephraim compasseth me about with falsehood, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the Holy One. (The New Bride leadership, the Man-child reformers.)  Isa 42:13-17 Jehovah will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yea, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies. 14 I have long time holden my peace; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry out like a travailing woman; I will gasp and pant together. 15 I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools. 16 And I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; in paths that they know not will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them. 17 They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly put to shame, that trust in graven images, that say unto molten images, Ye are our gods.  (When the apostate people knew they needed salvation and answers, because of judgment, the Man-child showed up. Hos 5:14-15 For I will be unto Ephraim (Called literally the “fullness of nations” in Gen, 48:19. Like its New Testament equivalent, the Universal Church, both fell into apostasy.) as a lion, and as a young lion to the house of Judah: I, even I, will tear and go away; I will carry off, and there shall be none to deliver. 15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me earnestly. 6:1 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 (thousand year) days will he revive us: on the third (thousand year) 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.(Jesus in the Man-child body of reformers comes in the anointing of the Latter Rain.)   Then the scene changed and I found myself in the Sunday school nursery. I had an infant boy, 3 weeks old, that looked like he was of middle eastern decent laying on a changing table in front of me. (Representing the birth of Jesus in the Man-child ministry.) (3 weeks is 21 days or 3x7. In the Bible the number 21 is a symbol of perfection and maturity. It symbolizes the divine wisdom: “mirror of eternal light, which pierces and penetrates all grace in its purity.” There are 21 chapters in the Gospel of John and 21 attributes of Wisdom.) I was putting a yellow diaper on him. (He was clothed with the sun/Son) I realized that I was his mother and that he belonged to me. But I wasn't familiar with the father and wondered at the fact that he was so genetically different from me. I thought in the dream, "How can this be that I gave birth to this baby when I didn't know his father?” (This is repeat of history in our day) to the story of Jesus' birth. I believe this baby represents the manifestation of the Man-child out of the Bride body.) (Also, this is a virgin birth of the Man-child as the son of David. It was the "seed of the woman" that bruised the serpent's head. The Son of David came through Mary who didn't know the father. The Son of God came in the Son of Man. The Spirit man came in the flesh of man. Rom 1:3-4 concerning his Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, 4 who was declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead; even Jesus Christ our Lord.)  Many of my friends and family were coming to see the baby (Representing the promise of household salvation) along with many of the people from the sanctuary of the Catholic Church. (Many apostates will turn to the Lord. Many revelations of great evil in their churches will become known now that will open their eyes.). It was very crowded and people were lined up outside of the room waiting until some left in order that they could come in and see the baby. (Many people will come from all over to see and hear the Man-child ministers.)  My best friend from high school, Renee' (meaning rebirth), managed to bypass all the people (representing those born out of the apostasy) and she came up to me and looked at the baby and smiled at me and was telling me how special and important this baby was. She said, “Look at all these people who have come to see him!” (Renee' reminds me, in this dream, of the prophetess Anna who prophesied over Jesus when His parents took Him to the Temple for circumcision. Luk 2:36-38 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher (she was of a great age, having lived with a husband seven years from her virginity, 37 and she had been a widow even unto fourscore and four years), who departed not from the temple, worshipping with fastings and supplications night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks unto God, and spake of him to all them that were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.)  After this, I left the Sunday school area with many other sisters and we went to cafeteria that was connected to the Sunday school classrooms and we stood in line to get our food. (The Sunday school represents the humble beginnings of the Gospel, the Word which we heard in the beginning. We must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus said.) We got up to where the cafeteria workers were handing us the plates of food. (The food is spiritual food, the manna from heaven, the word of God that gives life, protection, deliverance, healing, etc.) They told us that all the food was free from now on, per the orders of the new Pastor (Shepherd) of the church. (The apostate pastors have plundered the people. The new pastor, Jesus, commanded “freely you have received, freely give” and “get you no gold or silver in your purses”.)  This morning in our morning meeting I received, by faith at random, Isa 55:2 (in context 1-11) 1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me; hear, and your soul shall live: and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. 4 Behold, I have given him (Jesus in the Man-child body) for a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander to the peoples.   5 Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not; and a nation that knew not thee shall run unto thee, because of Jehovah thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he hath glorified thee. 6 Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.   9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, and giveth seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.)  We were so happy that we didn't have to worry about having money to eat anymore. Pro 23:23 Buy the truth (with a life of seeking truth), and sell it not; Yea , wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. (God is calling for a Jubilee for His people. (We are free in Christ, no longer in bondage to men or religion. The Man-child body will declare this Jubilee/Liberty as the Man-child Jesus did: Isa 61:1 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; )  Judy received in our morning meeting on 9/10/20, Jer 34:13-17 Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel: I made a covenant with your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, saying, 14 At the end of seven years (After entering the sabbath of ceasing from our own works and religion) ye shall let go every man his brother that is a Hebrew, that hath been sold unto thee, and hath served thee six years, thou shalt let him go free from thee: but your fathers hearkened not unto me, neither inclined their ear. 15 And ye were now turned, and had done that which is right in mine eyes, in proclaiming liberty every man to his neighbor; and ye had made a covenant before me in the house which is called by my name: 16 but ye turned and profaned my name, and caused every man his servant, and every man his handmaid, whom ye had let go free at their pleasure, to return; and ye brought them into subjection (After the freedom Jesus brought us into, men fell into factious religious bondage of denominationalism), to be unto you for servants and for handmaids.   17 Therefore thus saith Jehovah: ye have not hearkened unto me, to proclaim liberty, every man to his brother, and every man to his neighbor: behold, I proclaim unto you a liberty, saith Jehovah, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine; and I will make you to be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth.) (Isn't it amazing that at this time almost all countries have agreed to a Jubilee in which debt is being dissolved between nations and peoples. This will also set them free from the elite' economic system of debt which has plundered the world for them. In like manor God will scatter those who hold God's people in bondage bring about His promise to make one flock with one shepherd.)  I went over to a table and set my plate down and decided to go and invite others to the cafeteria to eat with us. So, me and another sister from UBM went out into the streets around the church to find others and bring them in to eat. We saw a brother standing near a stone wall with his arms crossed and looking around like he was waiting for something or someone. (That someone is the Lion of Judah who will set the captives free. The Messiah/Man-child has come to feed His people but many like the Jews don't recognize this yet.)  We went up to him and told him to come with us into the cafeteria to eat with us. But he refused to leave that spot. I was really worried because he wouldn't come with us and I was expressing my concern about him to the sister that was with me all the way back to the cafeteria. I was so concerned that I couldn't eat until I found a way to bring him in. He was our brother and I was grieved because he was unbelieving about our invitation. He insisted on waiting for something that he thought was still coming but it had already come. Then I woke up. (The gospel is that salvation, spirit, soul, body and circumstances has already come by way of the sacrifice of Jesus. Many are waiting when all they have to do is believe and confess the Word.)  I asked Father for a word by faith at random for the brother that wouldn't come with us and my finger was on ‘hunted sheep' in Jer 50:17 Israel (Like the Church) is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first, the king of Assyria devoured him; and now at last Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath broken his bones. (The beast has driven them away from the revelation of the gospel.)  I asked Father for a word by faith at random for this dream and my finger was on, 'take away the wicked from before the king' in Pro 25:5 (in context 4-5) 4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner: 5 Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness. 

I failed to mention the forest… Shittim, forest of  Acacia trees… wood used to build the Arch and most of the furniture for the tent of meeting.  

Micah 1–7 Micah 1–7 (Listen) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. The Coming Destruction 2   Hear, you peoples, all of you;1    pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it,  and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you,    the Lord from his holy temple.3   For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place,    and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.4   And the mountains will melt under him,    and the valleys will split open,  like wax before the fire,    like waters poured down a steep place.5   All this is for the transgression of Jacob    and for the sins of the house of Israel.  What is the transgression of Jacob?    Is it not Samaria?  And what is the high place of Judah?    Is it not Jerusalem?6   Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country,    a place for planting vineyards,  and I will pour down her stones into the valley    and uncover her foundations.7   All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces,    all her wages shall be burned with fire,    and all her idols I will lay waste,  for from the fee of a prostitute she gathered them,    and to the fee of a prostitute they shall return. 8   For this I will lament and wail;    I will go stripped and naked;  I will make lamentation like the jackals,    and mourning like the ostriches.9   For her wound is incurable,    and it has come to Judah;  it has reached to the gate of my people,    to Jerusalem. 10   Tell it not in Gath;    weep not at all;  in Beth-le-aphrah    roll yourselves in the dust.11   Pass on your way,    inhabitants of Shaphir,    in nakedness and shame;  the inhabitants of Zaanan    do not come out;  the lamentation of Beth-ezel    shall take away from you its standing place.12   For the inhabitants of Maroth    wait anxiously for good,  because disaster has come down from the LORD    to the gate of Jerusalem.13   Harness the steeds to the chariots,    inhabitants of Lachish;  it was the beginning of sin    to the daughter of Zion,  for in you were found    the transgressions of Israel.14   Therefore you shall give parting gifts2    to Moresheth-gath;  the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing    to the kings of Israel.15   I will again bring a conqueror to you,    inhabitants of Mareshah;  the glory of Israel    shall come to Adullam.16   Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair,    for the children of your delight;  make yourselves as bald as the eagle,    for they shall go from you into exile. Woe to the Oppressors 2   Woe to those who devise wickedness    and work evil on their beds!  When the morning dawns, they perform it,    because it is in the power of their hand.2   They covet fields and seize them,    and houses, and take them away;  they oppress a man and his house,    a man and his inheritance.3   Therefore thus says the LORD:  behold, against this family I am devising disaster,3    from which you cannot remove your necks,  and you shall not walk haughtily,    for it will be a time of disaster.4   In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you    and moan bitterly,  and say, “We are utterly ruined;    he changes the portion of my people;  how he removes it from me!    To an apostate he allots our fields.”5   Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot    in the assembly of the LORD. 6   “Do not preach”—thus they preach—    “one should not preach of such things;    disgrace will not overtake us.”7   Should this be said, O house of Jacob?    Has the LORD grown impatient?4    Are these his deeds?  Do not my words do good    to him who walks uprightly?8   But lately my people have risen up as an enemy;  you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly    with no thought of war.59   The women of my people you drive out    from their delightful houses;  from their young children you take away    my splendor forever.10   Arise and go,    for this is no place to rest,  because of uncleanness that destroys    with a grievous destruction.11   If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,    saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”    he would be the preacher for this people!12   I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob;    I will gather the remnant of Israel;  I will set them together    like sheep in a fold,  like a flock in its pasture,    a noisy multitude of men.13   He who opens the breach goes up before them;    they break through and pass the gate,    going out by it.  Their king passes on before them,    the LORD at their head. Rulers and Prophets Denounced 3   And I said:  Hear, you heads of Jacob    and rulers of the house of Israel!  Is it not for you to know justice?—2     you who hate the good and love the evil,  who tear the skin from off my people6    and their flesh from off their bones,3   who eat the flesh of my people,    and flay their skin from off them,  and break their bones in pieces    and chop them up like meat in a pot,    like flesh in a cauldron. 4   Then they will cry to the LORD,    but he will not answer them;  he will hide his face from them at that time,    because they have made their deeds evil. 5   Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets    who lead my people astray,  who cry “Peace”    when they have something to eat,  but declare war against him    who puts nothing into their mouths.6   Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,    and darkness to you, without divination.  The sun shall go down on the prophets,    and the day shall be black over them;7   the seers shall be disgraced,    and the diviners put to shame;  they shall all cover their lips,    for there is no answer from God.8   But as for me, I am filled with power,    with the Spirit of the LORD,    and with justice and might,  to declare to Jacob his transgression    and to Israel his sin. 9   Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob    and rulers of the house of Israel,  who detest justice    and make crooked all that is straight,10   who build Zion with blood    and Jerusalem with iniquity.11   Its heads give judgment for a bribe;    its priests teach for a price;    its prophets practice divination for money;  yet they lean on the LORD and say,    “Is not the LORD in the midst of us?    No disaster shall come upon us.”12   Therefore because of you    Zion shall be plowed as a field;  Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,    and the mountain of the house a wooded height. The Mountain of the Lord 4   It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the LORD  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;  and peoples shall flow to it,2     and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,    to the house of the God of Jacob,  that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,7    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3   He shall judge between many peoples,    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,    and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,    neither shall they learn war anymore;4   but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,    and no one shall make them afraid,    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.5   For all the peoples walk    each in the name of its god,  but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God    forever and ever. The Lord Shall Rescue Zion 6   In that day, declares the LORD,    I will assemble the lame  and gather those who have been driven away    and those whom I have afflicted;7   and the lame I will make the remnant,    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;  and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion    from this time forth and forevermore. 8   And you, O tower of the flock,    hill of the daughter of Zion,  to you shall it come,    the former dominion shall come,    kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. 9   Now why do you cry aloud?    Is there no king in you?  Has your counselor perished,    that pain seized you like a woman in labor?10   Writhe and groan,8 O daughter of Zion,    like a woman in labor,  for now you shall go out from the city    and dwell in the open country;    you shall go to Babylon.  There you shall be rescued;    there the LORD will redeem you    from the hand of your enemies. 11   Now many nations    are assembled against you,  saying, “Let her be defiled,    and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”12   But they do not know    the thoughts of the LORD;  they do not understand his plan,    that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.13   Arise and thresh,    O daughter of Zion,  for I will make your horn iron,    and I will make your hoofs bronze;  you shall beat in pieces many peoples;    and shall devote9 their gain to the LORD,    their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5   10 Now muster your troops, O daughter11 of troops;    siege is laid against us;  with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2   12 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,  from you shall come forth for me    one who is to be ruler in Israel,  whose coming forth is from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5   And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,  then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6   they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;  and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border. A Remnant Shall Be Delivered 7   Then the remnant of Jacob shall be    in the midst of many peoples  like dew from the LORD,    like showers on the grass,  which delay not for a man    nor wait for the children of man.8   And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,    in the midst of many peoples,

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ...   Balaam put himself with the enemies of God and when the children of Israel were sent by God to destroy those enemies, Balaam was killed with them.   Joshua 13:22  Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.   Numbers 31   1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.   7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the LORD commanded Moses; and they slew all the males.   8 And they slew the kings of Midian, beside the rest of them that were slain; namely, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian: Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword.  (What was Balaam doing with the Midianites who were the enemies of God?)   Why do you delight in being with enemies of God?   I Corinthians 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.  

Joel 1–3 Joel 1–3 (Listen) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel: An Invasion of Locusts 2   Hear this, you elders;    give ear, all inhabitants of the land!  Has such a thing happened in your days,    or in the days of your fathers?3   Tell your children of it,    and let your children tell their children,    and their children to another generation. 4   What the cutting locust left,    the swarming locust has eaten.  What the swarming locust left,    the hopping locust has eaten,  and what the hopping locust left,    the destroying locust has eaten. 5   Awake, you drunkards, and weep,    and wail, all you drinkers of wine,  because of the sweet wine,    for it is cut off from your mouth.6   For a nation has come up against my land,    powerful and beyond number;  its teeth are lions' teeth,    and it has the fangs of a lioness.7   It has laid waste my vine    and splintered my fig tree;  it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down;    their branches are made white. 8   Lament like a virgin1 wearing sackcloth    for the bridegroom of her youth.9   The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off    from the house of the LORD.  The priests mourn,    the ministers of the LORD.10   The fields are destroyed,    the ground mourns,  because the grain is destroyed,    the wine dries up,    the oil languishes. 11   Be ashamed,2 O tillers of the soil;    wail, O vinedressers,  for the wheat and the barley,    because the harvest of the field has perished.12   The vine dries up;    the fig tree languishes.  Pomegranate, palm, and apple,    all the trees of the field are dried up,  and gladness dries up    from the children of man. A Call to Repentance 13   Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;    wail, O ministers of the altar.  Go in, pass the night in sackcloth,    O ministers of my God!  Because grain offering and drink offering    are withheld from the house of your God. 14   Consecrate a fast;    call a solemn assembly.  Gather the elders    and all the inhabitants of the land  to the house of the LORD your God,    and cry out to the LORD. 15   Alas for the day!  For the day of the LORD is near,    and as destruction from the Almighty3 it comes.16   Is not the food cut off    before our eyes,  joy and gladness    from the house of our God? 17   The seed shrivels under the clods;4    the storehouses are desolate;  the granaries are torn down    because the grain has dried up.18   How the beasts groan!    The herds of cattle are perplexed  because there is no pasture for them;    even the flocks of sheep suffer.5 19   To you, O LORD, I call.  For fire has devoured    the pastures of the wilderness,  and flame has burned    all the trees of the field.20   Even the beasts of the field pant for you    because the water brooks are dried up,  and fire has devoured    the pastures of the wilderness. The Day of the Lord 2   Blow a trumpet in Zion;    sound an alarm on my holy mountain!  Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,    for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near,2   a day of darkness and gloom,    a day of clouds and thick darkness!  Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains    a great and powerful people;  their like has never been before,    nor will be again after them    through the years of all generations. 3   Fire devours before them,    and behind them a flame burns.  The land is like the garden of Eden before them,    but behind them a desolate wilderness,    and nothing escapes them. 4   Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,    and like war horses they run.5   As with the rumbling of chariots,    they leap on the tops of the mountains,  like the crackling of a flame of fire    devouring the stubble,  like a powerful army    drawn up for battle. 6   Before them peoples are in anguish;    all faces grow pale.7   Like warriors they charge;    like soldiers they scale the wall.  They march each on his way;    they do not swerve from their paths.8   They do not jostle one another;    each marches in his path;  they burst through the weapons    and are not halted.9   They leap upon the city,    they run upon the walls,  they climb up into the houses,    they enter through the windows like a thief. 10   The earth quakes before them;    the heavens tremble.  The sun and the moon are darkened,    and the stars withdraw their shining.11   The LORD utters his voice    before his army,  for his camp is exceedingly great;    he who executes his word is powerful.  For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome;    who can endure it? Return to the Lord 12   “Yet even now,” declares the LORD,    “return to me with all your heart,  with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;13     and rend your hearts and not your garments.”  Return to the LORD your God,    for he is gracious and merciful,  slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;    and he relents over disaster.14   Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,    and leave a blessing behind him,  a grain offering and a drink offering    for the LORD your God? 15   Blow the trumpet in Zion;    consecrate a fast;  call a solemn assembly;16     gather the people.  Consecrate the congregation;    assemble the elders;  gather the children,    even nursing infants.  Let the bridegroom leave his room,    and the bride her chamber. 17   Between the vestibule and the altar    let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep  and say, “Spare your people, O LORD,    and make not your heritage a reproach,    a byword among the nations.6  Why should they say among the peoples,    ‘Where is their God?'” The Lord Had Pity 18   Then the LORD became jealous for his land    and had pity on his people.19   The LORD answered and said to his people,  “Behold, I am sending to you    grain, wine, and oil,    and you will be satisfied;  and I will no more make you    a reproach among the nations. 20   “I will remove the northerner far from you,    and drive him into a parched and desolate land,  his vanguard7 into the eastern sea,    and his rear guard8 into the western sea;  the stench and foul smell of him will rise,    for he has done great things. 21   “Fear not, O land;    be glad and rejoice,    for the LORD has done great things!22   Fear not, you beasts of the field,    for the pastures of the wilderness are green;  the tree bears its fruit;    the fig tree and vine give their full yield. 23   “Be glad, O children of Zion,    and rejoice in the LORD your God,  for he has given the early rain for your vindication;    he has poured down for you abundant rain,    the early and the latter rain, as before. 24   “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;    the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.25   I will restore9 to you the years    that the swarming locust has eaten,  the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,    my great army, which I sent among you. 26   “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,    and praise the name of the LORD your God,    who has dealt wondrously with you.  And my people shall never again be put to shame.27   You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,    and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else.  And my people shall never again be put to shame. The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit 28   10 “And it shall come to pass afterward,    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;  your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,    your old men shall dream dreams,    and your young men shall see visions.29   Even on the male and female servants    in those days I will pour out my Spirit. 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls. 11 The Lord Judges the Nations 3 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. 4 “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.12 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken.” 9   Proclaim this among the nations:  Consecrate for war;13    stir up the mighty men.  Let all the men of war draw near;    let them come up.10   Beat your plowshares into swords,    and your pruning hooks into spears;    let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” 11   Hasten and come,    all you surrounding nations,    and gather yourselves there.  Bring down your warriors, O LORD.12   Let the nations stir themselves up    and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;  for there I will sit to judge    all the surrounding nations. 13   Put in the sickle,    for the harvest is ripe.  Go in, tread,    for the winepress is full.  The vats overflow,    for their evil is great. 14   Multitudes, multitudes,    in the valley of decision!  For the day of the LORD is near    in the valley of decision.15   The sun and the moon are darkened,    and the stars withdraw their shining. 16   The LORD roars from Zion,    and utters his voice from Jerusalem,    and the heavens and the earth quake.  But the LORD is a refuge to his people,    a stronghold to the people of Israel. The Glorious Future of Judah 17   “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,    who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.  And Jerusalem shall be holy,    and strangers shall never again pass through it. 18   “And in that day  the mountains shall drip sweet wine,    and the hills shall flow with milk, 

(Joshua 3:1-3) 1Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. (Exodus 23:29-30) 29I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. 30Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land. (Exodus 23:31-33) 31bI will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. 32You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. 33They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.” (Judges 3:1-2) 1Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. (James 1:2-4) 2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (Acts 4) Peter and John entering the temple – lame beggar – “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” (Acts 4:19-20) 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:13) Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.

Joshua 2-1-3 - And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.-2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.-3 - And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house- for they be come to search out all the country.---Joshua 6-22-25 - But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.-23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had- and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.-24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein- only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.-25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had- and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day- because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.-

Joshua 2 1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. 3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. 4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. 6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. 7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate. 8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; 9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: 13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. 14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the Lord hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. 15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. 16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. 17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. 19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. 20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear. 21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. 22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not. 23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: 24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods. So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. And the Lord said to Moses, “Take all the chiefs of the people and hang them in the sun before the Lord, that the fierce anger of the Lord may turn away from Israel.” And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor."And behold, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and in the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. Thus the plague on the people of Israel was stopped. Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.And the Lord said to Moses, “Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them, so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy. Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace, and it shall be to him and to his descendants after him the covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.'”The name of the slain man of Israel, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri the son of Salu, chief of a father's house belonging to the Simeonites. And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi the daughter of Zur, who was the tribal head of a father's house in Midian.Sermon Questions1.     Do you ever feel like your own worst enemy? When/how so?2.     What are the lies of our culture that you seem susceptible to?3.     Do you agree that evil's best strategy against us is to distort the truth? What are the implications of that?4.     The passage suggests that idolatry is equivalent to adultery. Is that how you think about it when you find you are serving idols?5.     Do you ever struggle with falling for the same lie repeatedly? Discuss.6.     Do you walk around believing you are a part of the problem? If not, how do you think about it?7.     The sermon suggests that the main truth of Jesus is that he was crucified for our lie-believing sin. Is that how you relate to him? What are others ways you might relate to him?

The following message Pinchas (Phineas): and the Sin of Baal-Peor Numbers 25:1-18 & Psalm 106:28-31 is given free of charge if you gained a deeper appreciation of the scriptures, Please consider supporting Paul via Celebrate Messiah https://www.celebratemessiah.com.au/donate/  Please select missionary - Paul Cohen ..... The background is found in Numbers 22-24 When Israel come out of the 40 years in the wilderness, they arrived on the borders of Moab, and the king of Moab called for Balaam from Mesopotamia. Now Balaam was called a seer, one who sees the future, people with this gift are called a prophet later. And Balaam is called to curse Israel. Balaam enquires of God and is told not to go with the men to curse Israel. When he is offered more money, he keeps enquiring of the Lord, and his desire for money is exposed. And so he arrives on the mountain peak to curse Israel and God takes over his tongue and is unable to do. It is likely that he then looked at Israel's history and realised every time they sinned God brought corrective punishment. And so Balaam is able to get his money by getting Israel to worship false gods.  The Sin: Numbers 25:12 1&2 “While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to play the harlot with the daughters of Moab. For they invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.

The children of Israel camped in the acacia grove which was a transitional place between the wilderness and the promise land. In the grove, they no longer dealt with many of the issues associated with the wilderness.  Sometimes on your journey you may have a resting place. However, you will have to face challenges that will try to stop you from entering into the promise land.

Sunday Morning

Psalms and Wisdom: Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 (Listen) A Time for Everything 3 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 2   a time to be born, and a time to die;  a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;3   a time to kill, and a time to heal;  a time to break down, and a time to build up;4   a time to weep, and a time to laugh;  a time to mourn, and a time to dance;5   a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;  a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;6   a time to seek, and a time to lose;  a time to keep, and a time to cast away;7   a time to tear, and a time to sew;  a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;8   a time to love, and a time to hate;  a time for war, and a time for peace. (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Joshua 3 Joshua 3 (Listen) Israel Crosses the Jordan 3 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits1 in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. 7 The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth2 is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” 14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. Footnotes [1] 3:4 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [2] 3:11 Hebrew the ark of the covenant, the Lord of all the earth (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Zephaniah 3:1–8 Zephaniah 3:1–8 (Listen) Judgment on Jerusalem and the Nations 3   Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,    the oppressing city!2   She listens to no voice;    she accepts no correction.  She does not trust in the LORD;    she does not draw near to her God. 3   Her officials within her    are roaring lions;  her judges are evening wolves    that leave nothing till the morning.4   Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;  her priests profane what is holy;    they do violence to the law.5   The LORD within her is righteous;    he does no injustice;  every morning he shows forth his justice;    each dawn he does not fail;    but the unjust knows no shame. 6   “I have cut off nations;    their battlements are in ruins;  I have laid waste their streets    so that no one walks in them;  their cities have been made desolate,    without a man, without an inhabitant.7   I said, ‘Surely you will fear me;    you will accept correction.  Then your1 dwelling would not be cut off    according to all that I have appointed against you.'2  But all the more they were eager    to make all their deeds corrupt. 8   “Therefore wait for me,” declares the LORD,    “for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.  For my decision is to gather nations,    to assemble kingdoms,  to pour out upon them my indignation,    all my burning anger;  for in the fire of my jealousy    all the earth shall be consumed. Footnotes [1] 3:7 Hebrew her [2] 3:7 Hebrew her (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Matthew 14 Matthew 14 (Listen) The Death of John the Baptist 14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,1 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Jesus Walks on the Water 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way2 from the land,3 beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night4 he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,5 he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret 34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Footnotes [1] 14:3 Some manuscripts his brother's wife [2] 14:24 Greek many stadia, a stadion was about 607 feet or 185 meters [3] 14:24 Some manuscripts was out on the sea [4] 14:25 That is, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. [5] 14:30 Some manuscripts strong wind (ESV)

Psalms and Wisdom: Ecclesiastes 2:24–26 Ecclesiastes 2:24–26 (Listen) 24 There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment1 in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25 for apart from him2 who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26 For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind. Footnotes [1] 2:24 Or and make his soul see good [2] 2:25 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts apart from me (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Joshua 2 Joshua 2 (Listen) Rahab Hides the Spies 2 And Joshua the son of Nun sent1 two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. 8 Before the men2 lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.3 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said4 to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. 23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.” Footnotes [1] 2:1 Or had sent [2] 2:8 Hebrew they [3] 2:10 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction) [4] 2:16 Or had said (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Zephaniah 2:4–15 Zephaniah 2:4–15 (Listen) 4   For Gaza shall be deserted,    and Ashkelon shall become a desolation;  Ashdod's people shall be driven out at noon,    and Ekron shall be uprooted. 5   Woe to you inhabitants of the seacoast,    you nation of the Cherethites!  The word of the LORD is against you,    O Canaan, land of the Philistines;    and I will destroy you until no inhabitant is left.6   And you, O seacoast, shall be pastures,    with meadows1 for shepherds    and folds for flocks.7   The seacoast shall become the possession    of the remnant of the house of Judah,    on which they shall graze,  and in the houses of Ashkelon    they shall lie down at evening.  For the LORD their God will be mindful of them    and restore their fortunes. 8   “I have heard the taunts of Moab    and the revilings of the Ammonites,  how they have taunted my people    and made boasts against their territory.9   Therefore, as I live,” declares the LORD of hosts,    the God of Israel,  “Moab shall become like Sodom,    and the Ammonites like Gomorrah,  a land possessed by nettles and salt pits,    and a waste forever.  The remnant of my people shall plunder them,    and the survivors of my nation shall possess them.”10   This shall be their lot in return for their pride,    because they taunted and boasted    against the people of the LORD of hosts.11   The LORD will be awesome against them;    for he will famish all the gods of the earth,  and to him shall bow down,    each in its place,    all the lands of the nations. 12   You also, O Cushites,    shall be slain by my sword. 13   And he will stretch out his hand against the north    and destroy Assyria,  and he will make Nineveh a desolation,    a dry waste like the desert.14   Herds shall lie down in her midst,    all kinds of beasts;2  even the owl and the hedgehog3    shall lodge in her capitals;  a voice shall hoot in the window;    devastation will be on the threshold;    for her cedar work will be laid bare.15   This is the exultant city    that lived securely,  that said in her heart,    “I am, and there is no one else.”  What a desolation she has become,    a lair for wild beasts!  Everyone who passes by her    hisses and shakes his fist. Footnotes [1] 2:6 Or caves [2] 2:14 Hebrew beasts of every nation [3] 2:14 The identity of the animals rendered owl and hedgehog is uncertain (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Matthew 13 Matthew 13 (Listen) The Parable of the Sower 13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears,1 let him hear.” The Purpose of the Parables 10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:   “‘“You will indeed hear but never understand,    and you will indeed see but never perceive.”15   For this people's heart has grown dull,    and with their ears they can barely hear,    and their eyes they have closed,  lest they should see with their eyes    and hear with their ears  and understand with their heart    and turn, and I would heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. The Parable of the Sower Explained 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.2 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” The Parable of the Weeds 24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds3 among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also. 27 And the servants4 of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?' 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.' So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?' 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”'” The Mustard Seed and the Leaven 31 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32 It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” 33 He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.” Prophecy and Parables 34 All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. 35 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet:5   “I will open my mouth in parables;    I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.” The Parable of the Weeds Explained 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples came to him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed is the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, 42 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear. The Parable of the Hidden Treasure 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. The Parable of the Pearl of Great Value 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. The Parable of the Net 47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. New and Old Treasures 51 “Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52 And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” Jesus Rejected at Nazareth 53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” 58 And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Footnotes [1] 13:9 Some manuscripts add here and in verse 43 to hear [2] 13:21 Or stumbles [3] 13:25 Probably darnel, a wheat-like weed [4] 13:27 Or bondservants; also verse 28 [5] 13:35 Some manuscripts Isaiah the prophet (ESV)

With family: Joshua 3; Psalms 126–128 Joshua 3 (Listen) Israel Crosses the Jordan 3 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the camp 3 and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. 4 Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits1 in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” 5 Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” 6 And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. 7 The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'” 9 And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth2 is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. 13 And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” 14 So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), 16 the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. 17 Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. Footnotes [1] 3:4 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters [2] 3:11 Hebrew the ark of the covenant, the Lord of all the earth (ESV) Psalms 126–128 (Listen) Restore Our Fortunes, O Lord A Song of Ascents. 126   When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,    we were like those who dream.2   Then our mouth was filled with laughter,    and our tongue with shouts of joy;  then they said among the nations,    “The LORD has done great things for them.”3   The LORD has done great things for us;    we are glad. 4   Restore our fortunes, O LORD,    like streams in the Negeb!5   Those who sow in tears    shall reap with shouts of joy!6   He who goes out weeping,    bearing the seed for sowing,  shall come home with shouts of joy,    bringing his sheaves with him. Unless the Lord Builds the House A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon. 127   Unless the LORD builds the house,    those who build it labor in vain.  Unless the LORD watches over the city,    the watchman stays awake in vain.2   It is in vain that you rise up early    and go late to rest,  eating the bread of anxious toil;    for he gives to his beloved sleep. 3   Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,    the fruit of the womb a reward.4   Like arrows in the hand of a warrior    are the children1 of one's youth.5   Blessed is the man    who fills his quiver with them!  He shall not be put to shame    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.2 Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the Lord A Song of Ascents. 128   Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,    who walks in his ways!2   You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;    you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. 3   Your wife will be like a fruitful vine    within your house;  your children will be like olive shoots    around your table.4   Behold, thus shall the man be blessed    who fears the LORD. 5   The LORD bless you from Zion!    May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem    all the days of your life!6   May you see your children's children!    Peace be upon Israel! Footnotes [1] 127:4 Or sons [2] 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate (ESV) In private: Isaiah 63; Matthew 11 Isaiah 63 (Listen) The Lord's Day of Vengeance 63   Who is this who comes from Edom,    in crimsoned garments from Bozrah,  he who is splendid in his apparel,    marching in the greatness of his strength?  “It is I, speaking in righteousness,    mighty to save.” 2   Why is your apparel red,    and your garments like his who treads in the winepress? 3   “I have trodden the winepress alone,    and from the peoples no one was with me;  I trod them in my anger    and trampled them in my wrath;  their lifeblood1 spattered on my garments,    and stained all my apparel.4   For the day of vengeance was in my heart,    and my year of redemption2 had come.5   I looked, but there was no one to help;    I was appalled, but there was no one to uphold;  so my own arm brought me salvation,    and my wrath upheld me.6   I trampled down the peoples in my anger;    I made them drunk in my wrath,    and I poured out their lifeblood on the earth.” The Lord's Mercy Remembered 7   I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD,    the praises of the LORD,  according to all that the LORD has granted us,    and the great goodness to the house of Israel  that he has granted them according to his compassion,    according to the abundance of his steadfast love.8   For he said, “Surely they are my people,    children who will not deal falsely.”    And he became their Savior.9   In all their affliction he was afflicted,3    and the angel of his presence saved them;  in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;    he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. 10   But they rebelled    and grieved his Holy Spirit;  therefore he turned to be their enemy,    and himself fought against them.11   Then he remembered the days of old,    of Moses and his people.4  Where is he who brought them up out of the sea    with the shepherds of his flock?  Where is he who put in the midst of them    his Holy Spirit,12   who caused his glorious arm    to go at the right hand of Moses,  who divided the waters before them    to make for himself an everlasting name,13     who led them through the depths?  Like a horse in the desert,    they did not stumble.14   Like livestock that go down into the valley,    the Spirit of the LORD gave them rest.  So you led your people,    to make for yourself a glorious name. Prayer for Mercy 15   Look down from heaven and see,    from your holy and beautiful5 habitation.  Where are your zeal and your might?    The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion    are held back from me.16   For you are our Father,    though Abraham does not know us,    and Israel does not acknowledge us;  you, O LORD, are our Father,    our Redeemer from of old is your name.17   O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways    and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?  Return for the sake of your servants,    the tribes of your heritage.18   Your holy people held possession for a little while;6    our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.19   We have become like those over whom you have never ruled,    like those who are not called by your name. Footnotes [1] 63:3 Or their juice; also verse 6 [2] 63:4 Or the year of my redeemed [3] 63:9 Or he did not afflict [4] 63:11 Or Then his people remembered the days of old, of Moses [5] 63:15 Or holy and glorious [6] 63:18 Or They have dispossessed your holy people for a little while (ESV) Matthew 11 (Listen) Messengers from John the Baptist 11 When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers1 are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man2 dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet?3 Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,   “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,    who will prepare your way before you.' 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence,4 and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear,5 let him hear. 16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17   “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;    we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.' 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”6 Woe to Unrepentant Cities 20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.7 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Footnotes [1] 11:5 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [2] 11:8 Or Why then did you go out? To see a man . . . [3] 11:9 Some manuscripts Why then did you go out? To see a prophet? [4] 11:12 Or has been coming violently [5] 11:15 Some manuscripts omit to hear [6] 11:19 Some manuscripts children (compare Luke 7:35) [7] 11:26 Or for so it pleased you well (ESV)

With family: Joshua 2; Psalms 123–125 Joshua 2 (Listen) Rahab Hides the Spies 2 And Joshua the son of Nun sent1 two men secretly from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go, view the land, especially Jericho.” And they went and came into the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab and lodged there. 2 And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying, “Bring out the men who have come to you, who entered your house, for they have come to search out all the land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, “True, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. 5 And when the gate was about to be closed at dark, the men went out. I do not know where the men went. Pursue them quickly, for you will overtake them.” 6 But she had brought them up to the roof and hid them with the stalks of flax that she had laid in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued after them on the way to the Jordan as far as the fords. And the gate was shut as soon as the pursuers had gone out. 8 Before the men2 lay down, she came up to them on the roof 9 and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you devoted to destruction.3 11 And as soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and there was no spirit left in any man because of you, for the LORD your God, he is God in the heavens above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a sure sign 13 that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” 14 And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the LORD gives us the land we will deal kindly and faithfully with you.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall, so that she lived in the wall. 16 And she said4 to them, “Go into the hills, or the pursuers will encounter you, and hide there three days until the pursuers have returned. Then afterward you may go your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be guiltless with respect to this oath of yours that you have made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and you shall gather into your house your father and mother, your brothers, and all your father's household. 19 Then if anyone goes out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his own head, and we shall be guiltless. But if a hand is laid on anyone who is with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head. 20 But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be guiltless with respect to your oath that you have made us swear.” 21 And she said, “According to your words, so be it.” Then she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 They departed and went into the hills and remained there three days until the pursuers returned, and the pursuers searched all along the way and found nothing. 23 Then the two men returned. They came down from the hills and passed over and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and they told him all that had happened to them. 24 And they said to Joshua, “Truly the LORD has given all the land into our hands. And also, all the inhabitants of the land melt away because of us.” Footnotes [1] 2:1 Or had sent [2] 2:8 Hebrew they [3] 2:10 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction) [4] 2:16 Or had said (ESV) Psalms 123–125 (Listen) Our Eyes Look to the Lord Our God A Song of Ascents. 123   To you I lift up my eyes,    O you who are enthroned in the heavens!2   Behold, as the eyes of servants    look to the hand of their master,  as the eyes of a maidservant    to the hand of her mistress,  so our eyes look to the LORD our God,    till he has mercy upon us. 3   Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,    for we have had more than enough of contempt.4   Our soul has had more than enough    of the scorn of those who are at ease,    of the contempt of the proud. Our Help Is in the Name of the Lord A Song of Ascents. Of David. 124   If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—    let Israel now say—2   if it had not been the LORD who was on our side    when people rose up against us,3   then they would have swallowed us up alive,    when their anger was kindled against us;4   then the flood would have swept us away,    the torrent would have gone over us;5   then over us would have gone    the raging waters. 6   Blessed be the LORD,    who has not given us    as prey to their teeth!7   We have escaped like a bird    from the snare of the fowlers;  the snare is broken,    and we have escaped! 8   Our help is in the name of the LORD,    who made heaven and earth. The Lord Surrounds His People A Song of Ascents. 125   Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,    which cannot be moved, but abides forever.2   As the mountains surround Jerusalem,    so the LORD surrounds his people,    from this time forth and forevermore.3   For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest    on the land allotted to the righteous,  lest the righteous stretch out    their hands to do wrong.4   Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,    and to those who are upright in their hearts!5   But those who turn aside to their crooked ways    the LORD will lead away with evildoers!    Peace be upon Israel! (ESV) In private: Isaiah 62; Matthew 10 Isaiah 62 (Listen) Zion's Coming Salvation 62   For Zion's sake I will not keep silent,    and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,  until her righteousness goes forth as brightness,    and her salvation as a burning torch.2   The nations shall see your righteousness,    and all the kings your glory,  and you shall be called by a new name    that the mouth of the LORD will give.3   You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD,    and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.4   You shall no more be termed Forsaken,1    and your land shall no more be termed Desolate,2  but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,3    and your land Married;4  for the LORD delights in you,    and your land shall be married.5   For as a young man marries a young woman,    so shall your sons marry you,  and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,    so shall your God rejoice over you. 6   On your walls, O Jerusalem,    I have set watchmen;  all the day and all the night    they shall never be silent.  You who put the LORD in remembrance,    take no rest,7   and give him no rest    until he establishes Jerusalem    and makes it a praise in the earth.8   The LORD has sworn by his right hand    and by his mighty arm:  “I will not again give your grain    to be food for your enemies,  and foreigners shall not drink your wine    for which you have labored;9   but those who garner it shall eat it    and praise the LORD,  and those who gather it shall drink it    in the courts of my sanctuary.”5 10   Go through, go through the gates;    prepare the way for the people;  build up, build up the highway;    clear it of stones;    lift up a signal over the peoples.11   Behold, the LORD has proclaimed    to the end of the earth:  Say to the daughter of Zion,    “Behold, your salvation comes;  behold, his reward is with him,    and his recompense before him.”12   And they shall be called The Holy People,    The Redeemed of the LORD;  and you shall be called Sought Out,    A City Not Forsaken. Footnotes [1] 62:4 Hebrew Azubah [2] 62:4 Hebrew Shemamah [3] 62:4 Hebrew Hephzibah [4] 62:4 Hebrew Beulah [5] 62:9 Or in my holy courts (ESV) Matthew 10 (Listen) The Twelve Apostles 10 And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. 2 The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;1 4 Simon the Zealot,2 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles 5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'3 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers,4 cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics5 or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town. Persecution Will Come 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 23 When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes. 24 “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant6 above his master. 25 It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign7 those of his household. Have No Fear 26 “So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.8 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?9 And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. 32 So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, 33 but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven. Not Peace, but a Sword 34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Rewards 40 “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. 41 The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward. 42 And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” Footnotes [1] 10:3 Some manuscripts Lebbaeus, or Lebbaeus called Thaddaeus [2] 10:4 Greek kananaios, meaning zealot [3] 10:7 Or The kingdom of heaven has come near [4] 10:8 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13 [5] 10:10 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin [6] 10:24 Or bondservant; also verse 25 [7] 10:25 Greek lacks will they malign [8] 10:28 Greek Gehenna [9] 10:29 Greek assarion, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/16 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer) (ESV)

Bulletin for Wednesday, June 28, 2023Service Time: 2:00 p.m.Bible Study: 2:30 p.m.There is no evening service during the summerAll are welcome, bring a friend, neighbor or relativeVisit our YouTube channel — Click the red “subscribe” box, and then click on the “bell” next to that box to receive Live Streaming notifications. You must be logged into YouTube to activate these features.Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”Archive of BULLETINSJoshua 3:1-17 Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over. At the end of three days the officers went through the camp and commanded the people, “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” And Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on before the people.” So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people. The LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. And as for you, command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, ‘When you come to the brink of the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan.'” And Joshua said to the people of Israel, “Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God.” And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. Acts 9:1-22 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ. The Sacrament of the Altar What is the Sacrament of the Altar?It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. Where is this written?The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Psalms and Wisdom: Proverbs 31:10–31 Proverbs 31:10–31 (Listen) The Woman Who Fears the Lord 10   1 An excellent wife who can find?    She is far more precious than jewels.11   The heart of her husband trusts in her,    and he will have no lack of gain.12   She does him good, and not harm,    all the days of her life.13   She seeks wool and flax,    and works with willing hands.14   She is like the ships of the merchant;    she brings her food from afar.15   She rises while it is yet night    and provides food for her household    and portions for her maidens.16   She considers a field and buys it;    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.17   She dresses herself2 with strength    and makes her arms strong.18   She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.    Her lamp does not go out at night.19   She puts her hands to the distaff,    and her hands hold the spindle.20   She opens her hand to the poor    and reaches out her hands to the needy.21   She is not afraid of snow for her household,    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.322   She makes bed coverings for herself;    her clothing is fine linen and purple.23   Her husband is known in the gates    when he sits among the elders of the land.24   She makes linen garments and sells them;    she delivers sashes to the merchant.25   Strength and dignity are her clothing,    and she laughs at the time to come.26   She opens her mouth with wisdom,    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.27   She looks well to the ways of her household    and does not eat the bread of idleness.28   Her children rise up and call her blessed;    her husband also, and he praises her:29   “Many women have done excellently,    but you surpass them all.”30   Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,    but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.31   Give her of the fruit of her hands,    and let her works praise her in the gates. Footnotes [1] 31:10 Verses 10–31 are an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet [2] 31:17 Hebrew She girds her loins [3] 31:21 Or in double thickness (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Deuteronomy 29–30:10 Deuteronomy 29–30:10 (Listen) The Covenant Renewed in Moab 29 1 These are the words of the covenant that the LORD commanded Moses to make with the people of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb. 2 2 And Moses summoned all Israel and said to them: “You have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, 3 the great trials that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. 4 But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand or eyes to see or ears to hear. 5 I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn off your feet. 6 You have not eaten bread, and you have not drunk wine or strong drink, that you may know that I am the LORD your God. 7 And when you came to this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon and Og the king of Bashan came out against us to battle, but we defeated them. 8 We took their land and gave it for an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites. 9 Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper3 in all that you do. 10 “You are standing today, all of you, before the LORD your God: the heads of your tribes,4 your elders, and your officers, all the men of Israel, 11 your little ones, your wives, and the sojourner who is in your camp, from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water, 12 so that you may enter into the sworn covenant of the LORD your God, which the LORD your God is making with you today, 13 that he may establish you today as his people, and that he may be your God, as he promised you, and as he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 14 It is not with you alone that I am making this sworn covenant, 15 but with whoever is standing here with us today before the LORD our God, and with whoever is not here with us today. 16 “You know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed. 17 And you have seen their detestable things, their idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold, which were among them. 18 Beware lest there be among you a man or woman or clan or tribe whose heart is turning away today from the LORD our God to go and serve the gods of those nations. Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, 19 one who, when he hears the words of this sworn covenant, blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.' This will lead to the sweeping away of moist and dry alike. 20 The LORD will not be willing to forgive him, but rather the anger of the LORD and his jealousy will smoke against that man, and the curses written in this book will settle upon him, and the LORD will blot out his name from under heaven. 21 And the LORD will single him out from all the tribes of Israel for calamity, in accordance with all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law. 22 And the next generation, your children who rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a far land, will say, when they see the afflictions of that land and the sicknesses with which the LORD has made it sick—23 the whole land burned out with brimstone and salt, nothing sown and nothing growing, where no plant can sprout, an overthrow like that of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger and wrath—24 all the nations will say, ‘Why has the LORD done thus to this land? What caused the heat of this great anger?' 25 Then people will say, ‘It is because they abandoned the covenant of the LORD, the God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, 26 and went and served other gods and worshiped them, gods whom they had not known and whom he had not allotted to them. 27 Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, bringing upon it all the curses written in this book, 28 and the LORD uprooted them from their land in anger and fury and great wrath, and cast them into another land, as they are this day.' 29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. Repentance and Forgiveness 30 “And when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God has driven you, 2 and return to the LORD your God, you and your children, and obey his voice in all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your soul, 3 then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where the LORD your God has scattered you. 4 If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you, and from there he will take you. 5 And the LORD your God will bring you into the land that your fathers possessed, that you may possess it. And he will make you more prosperous and numerous than your fathers. 6 And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. 7 And the LORD your God will put all these curses on your foes and enemies who persecuted you. 8 And you shall again obey the voice of the LORD and keep all his commandments that I command you today. 9 The LORD your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your cattle and in the fruit of your ground. For the LORD will again take delight in prospering you, as he took delight in your fathers, 10 when you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that are written in this Book of the Law, when you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Footnotes [1] 29:1 Ch 28:69 in Hebrew [2] 29:2 Ch 29:1 in Hebrew [3] 29:9 Or deal wisely [4] 29:10 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew your heads, your tribes (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Micah 6 Micah 6 (Listen) The Indictment of the Lord 6   Hear what the LORD says:  Arise, plead your case before the mountains,    and let the hills hear your voice.2   Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD,    and you enduring foundations of the earth,  for the LORD has an indictment against his people,    and he will contend with Israel. 3   “O my people, what have I done to you?    How have I wearied you? Answer me!4   For I brought you up from the land of Egypt    and redeemed you from the house of slavery,  and I sent before you Moses,    Aaron, and Miriam.5   O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,    and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,  and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,    that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.” What Does the Lord Require? 6   “With what shall I come before the LORD,    and bow myself before God on high?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,    with calves a year old?7   Will the LORD be pleased with1 thousands of rams,    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?  Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”8   He has told you, O man, what is good;    and what does the LORD require of you  but to do justice, and to love kindness,2    and to walk humbly with your God? Destruction of the Wicked 9   The voice of the LORD cries to the city—    and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:  “Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!310     Can I forget any longer the treasures4 of wickedness in the house of the wicked,    and the scant measure that is accursed?11   Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales    and with a bag of deceitful weights?12   Your5 rich men are full of violence;    your inhabitants speak lies,    and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.13   Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,    making you desolate because of your sins.14   You shall eat, but not be satisfied,    and there shall be hunger within you;  you shall put away, but not preserve,    and what you preserve I will give to the sword.15   You shall sow, but not reap;    you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;    you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.16   For you have kept the statutes of Omri,6    and all the works of the house of Ahab;    and you have walked in their counsels,  that I may make you a desolation, and your7 inhabitants a hissing;    so you shall bear the scorn of my people.” Footnotes [1] 6:7 Or Will the Lord accept [2] 6:8 Or steadfast love [3] 6:9 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 6:10 Or Are there still treasures [5] 6:12 Hebrew whose [6] 6:16 Hebrew For the statutes of Omri are kept [7] 6:16 Hebrew its (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: Matthew 7:1–12 Matthew 7:1–12 (Listen) Judging Others 7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Ask, and It Will Be Given 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! The Golden Rule 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (ESV)

Lesson 2 Part 1 In this video Bible study we go back 1000's of years to investigate a prediction made by the Lord through Moses near the place called Shittim (pronounced SHH TEEM).  It was the camping place of the Hebrews just before Moses' death and then the crossing of the Jordan.  This prediction seems to connect to Jesus' prediction that He, Jesus, the Messiah (known as the “son of man” when He was here the first time) would gather His elect or His “chosen” in Matt. 24:29-31.  Could it be that the “rapture,” that is discussed and debated today, has been named incorrectly?  Is it possible that the rapture is really the ingathering of Israel as predicted in Deut. 30:1-5, Isa. 11:12, 27:13, 56:8 (Gentiles gathered?), 66:20 and Ezek. 20:34, 20:41, 37:12, 37:21 ?  When we study the Bible in tis historical context, when we focus on the words in the ancient Greek and Hebrew, when we consider the ancient Jewish culture of Jesus' day and Paul's day, it seems probable that the ingathering of Israel as predicted by the Lord, יהוה Yahvay, is what is mistakenly called the “rapture” in the 21st century.  This begins to make sense in that God over and over again says He will gather His chosen people, Israel, in the end times into the land He promised Abraham.  It is the land Israel has never ever controlled.  Solomon was close in his rule and reign.  Once Israel is “gathered in” they will live securely in peace forever as the chosen of יהוה Yahvay, Adonai, the Lord.  Paul teaches that in the end times all Israel will be saved.  ALL.  Paul does not separate non Christian religious Jews from Jewish or Gentile Christians.  Paul even teaches we Gentile believers are “grafted in” to Israel and become joint inheritors of the promises of God.  Paul does not separate the non Christian Jews from Christians.  He says under the Lord's inspiration, we are one family.  So does the Lord.  Jesus says in John 10 that He is the Good Shepherd and His Jewish disciples know this means Jesus is claiming to be the Shepherd of Israel as found in Ezekiel 34.  The Hebrew Scriptures was all they had.  But Jesus said there is another flock He will bring as well implying us Gentiles.  And Jesus will make them one flock with one Shepherd.  But, “rapturists” especially pre-tribbers, condemn all Israel to the horrors of the Tribulation but Christian Jews and Gentiles will be spared.  These views  go against the very words of God.  This is man's view and not God's.  So, come join us.  Come and consider the real viable alternative view of the “rapture” as we restore it to its Jewish roots.  We restore the “rapture” to the INGATHERING OF THE LORD'S ELECT.  Rev. Ferret - who is this guy?  What's his background?  Why should I listen to him?  Check his background at this link - https://www.dropbox.com/s/ortnret3oxcicu4/BackgrndTeacher%20mar%2025%202020.pdf?dl=0

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab. Numbers 25:1 These women here, on Balaam's advice, made the Israelites act treacherously against the Lord in the affair of Peor, so that the plague came among the congregation of Yahweh. Numbers 31:16 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 1 Timothy 2:11-12 As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church. 1 Corinthians 33b-35   This Episode's Links: (All timestamps offset by 24-seconds) 00:00 –Numbers 25 03:36 – Thoughts on the Passage 24:14 - Viewers express shock that 'Jeopardy!' contestants couldn't solve elementary Bible-knowledge clue about the Lord's Prayer – Alex Nitzberg, The Blaze 28:56 - Justin Trudeau: "I will never apologize for standing up for LGDP, eh, LGT, LB-chi ... LGBTQ2+ kids" – Edward Teach, NTB 32:47 - ‘They're Liars': Ben Shapiro's Not Buying WH Shock Over Topless Trans Person At Pride Event – Katie Jerkovich, DW 39:11 - Fellas, listen to this man, and make sure your kids are protected – Daniel Plainview, NTB 50:28 - ‘Sesame Street' Dragged On Twitter For Sharing Progress Pride Flag – Amanda Harding, DW 55:14 - Middle schoolers staged a revolt on the day they were told to wear rainbow colors to celebrate pride. They wore red, white, and blue, and said their pronouns were "U.S.A." Woke faculty is freaking out. – Edward Teach, NTB 1:00:57 - Death toll of doomsday starvation cult in Kenya reaches 300, and over 600 more are missing – Carlos Garcia, The Blaze 1:12:01 - It's official: Southern Baptist Convention votes to disfellowship Saddleback Church for ordaining women pastors. Come watch Rick Warren and Al Mohler's epic debate on the issue. – John Knox, NTB --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/garrett-ashley-mullet/message

Joel 1–3 Joel 1–3 (Listen) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel: An Invasion of Locusts 2   Hear this, you elders;    give ear, all inhabitants of the land!  Has such a thing happened in your days,    or in the days of your fathers?3   Tell your children of it,    and let your children tell their children,    and their children to another generation. 4   What the cutting locust left,    the swarming locust has eaten.  What the swarming locust left,    the hopping locust has eaten,  and what the hopping locust left,    the destroying locust has eaten. 5   Awake, you drunkards, and weep,    and wail, all you drinkers of wine,  because of the sweet wine,    for it is cut off from your mouth.6   For a nation has come up against my land,    powerful and beyond number;  its teeth are lions' teeth,    and it has the fangs of a lioness.7   It has laid waste my vine    and splintered my fig tree;  it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down;    their branches are made white. 8   Lament like a virgin1 wearing sackcloth    for the bridegroom of her youth.9   The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off    from the house of the LORD.  The priests mourn,    the ministers of the LORD.10   The fields are destroyed,    the ground mourns,  because the grain is destroyed,    the wine dries up,    the oil languishes. 11   Be ashamed,2 O tillers of the soil;    wail, O vinedressers,  for the wheat and the barley,    because the harvest of the field has perished.12   The vine dries up;    the fig tree languishes.  Pomegranate, palm, and apple,    all the trees of the field are dried up,  and gladness dries up    from the children of man. A Call to Repentance 13   Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;    wail, O ministers of the altar.  Go in, pass the night in sackcloth,    O ministers of my God!  Because grain offering and drink offering    are withheld from the house of your God. 14   Consecrate a fast;    call a solemn assembly.  Gather the elders    and all the inhabitants of the land  to the house of the LORD your God,    and cry out to the LORD. 15   Alas for the day!  For the day of the LORD is near,    and as destruction from the Almighty3 it comes.16   Is not the food cut off    before our eyes,  joy and gladness    from the house of our God? 17   The seed shrivels under the clods;4    the storehouses are desolate;  the granaries are torn down    because the grain has dried up.18   How the beasts groan!    The herds of cattle are perplexed  because there is no pasture for them;    even the flocks of sheep suffer.5 19   To you, O LORD, I call.  For fire has devoured    the pastures of the wilderness,  and flame has burned    all the trees of the field.20   Even the beasts of the field pant for you    because the water brooks are dried up,  and fire has devoured    the pastures of the wilderness. The Day of the Lord 2   Blow a trumpet in Zion;    sound an alarm on my holy mountain!  Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,    for the day of the LORD is coming; it is near,2   a day of darkness and gloom,    a day of clouds and thick darkness!  Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains    a great and powerful people;  their like has never been before,    nor will be again after them    through the years of all generations. 3   Fire devours before them,    and behind them a flame burns.  The land is like the garden of Eden before them,    but behind them a desolate wilderness,    and nothing escapes them. 4   Their appearance is like the appearance of horses,    and like war horses they run.5   As with the rumbling of chariots,    they leap on the tops of the mountains,  like the crackling of a flame of fire    devouring the stubble,  like a powerful army    drawn up for battle. 6   Before them peoples are in anguish;    all faces grow pale.7   Like warriors they charge;    like soldiers they scale the wall.  They march each on his way;    they do not swerve from their paths.8   They do not jostle one another;    each marches in his path;  they burst through the weapons    and are not halted.9   They leap upon the city,    they run upon the walls,  they climb up into the houses,    they enter through the windows like a thief. 10   The earth quakes before them;    the heavens tremble.  The sun and the moon are darkened,    and the stars withdraw their shining.11   The LORD utters his voice    before his army,  for his camp is exceedingly great;    he who executes his word is powerful.  For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome;    who can endure it? Return to the Lord 12   “Yet even now,” declares the LORD,    “return to me with all your heart,  with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;13     and rend your hearts and not your garments.”  Return to the LORD your God,    for he is gracious and merciful,  slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love;    and he relents over disaster.14   Who knows whether he will not turn and relent,    and leave a blessing behind him,  a grain offering and a drink offering    for the LORD your God? 15   Blow the trumpet in Zion;    consecrate a fast;  call a solemn assembly;16     gather the people.  Consecrate the congregation;    assemble the elders;  gather the children,    even nursing infants.  Let the bridegroom leave his room,    and the bride her chamber. 17   Between the vestibule and the altar    let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep  and say, “Spare your people, O LORD,    and make not your heritage a reproach,    a byword among the nations.6  Why should they say among the peoples,    ‘Where is their God?'” The Lord Had Pity 18   Then the LORD became jealous for his land    and had pity on his people.19   The LORD answered and said to his people,  “Behold, I am sending to you    grain, wine, and oil,    and you will be satisfied;  and I will no more make you    a reproach among the nations. 20   “I will remove the northerner far from you,    and drive him into a parched and desolate land,  his vanguard7 into the eastern sea,    and his rear guard8 into the western sea;  the stench and foul smell of him will rise,    for he has done great things. 21   “Fear not, O land;    be glad and rejoice,    for the LORD has done great things!22   Fear not, you beasts of the field,    for the pastures of the wilderness are green;  the tree bears its fruit;    the fig tree and vine give their full yield. 23   “Be glad, O children of Zion,    and rejoice in the LORD your God,  for he has given the early rain for your vindication;    he has poured down for you abundant rain,    the early and the latter rain, as before. 24   “The threshing floors shall be full of grain;    the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.25   I will restore9 to you the years    that the swarming locust has eaten,  the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,    my great army, which I sent among you. 26   “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,    and praise the name of the LORD your God,    who has dealt wondrously with you.  And my people shall never again be put to shame.27   You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,    and that I am the LORD your God and there is none else.  And my people shall never again be put to shame. The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit 28   10 “And it shall come to pass afterward,    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;  your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,    your old men shall dream dreams,    and your young men shall see visions.29   Even on the male and female servants    in those days I will pour out my Spirit. 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls. 11 The Lord Judges the Nations 3 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. 4 “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.12 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken.” 9   Proclaim this among the nations:  Consecrate for war;13    stir up the mighty men.  Let all the men of war draw near;    let them come up.10   Beat your plowshares into swords,    and your pruning hooks into spears;    let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” 11   Hasten and come,    all you surrounding nations,    and gather yourselves there.  Bring down your warriors, O LORD.12   Let the nations stir themselves up    and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;  for there I will sit to judge    all the surrounding nations. 13   Put in the sickle,    for the harvest is ripe.  Go in, tread,    for the winepress is full.  The vats overflow,    for their evil is great. 14   Multitudes, multitudes,    in the valley of decision!  For the day of the LORD is near    in the valley of decision.15   The sun and the moon are darkened,    and the stars withdraw their shining. 16   The LORD roars from Zion,    and utters his voice from Jerusalem,    and the heavens and the earth quake.  But the LORD is a refuge to his people,    a stronghold to the people of Israel. The Glorious Future of Judah 17   “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,    who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.  And Jerusalem shall be holy,    and strangers shall never again pass through it. 18   “And in that day  the mountains shall drip sweet wine,    and the hills shall flow with milk, 

Psalms and Wisdom: Psalm 149 Psalm 149 (Listen) Sing to the Lord a New Song 149   Praise the LORD!  Sing to the LORD a new song,    his praise in the assembly of the godly!2   Let Israel be glad in his Maker;    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!3   Let them praise his name with dancing,    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!4   For the LORD takes pleasure in his people;    he adorns the humble with salvation.5   Let the godly exult in glory;    let them sing for joy on their beds.6   Let the high praises of God be in their throats    and two-edged swords in their hands,7   to execute vengeance on the nations    and punishments on the peoples,8   to bind their kings with chains    and their nobles with fetters of iron,9   to execute on them the judgment written!    This is honor for all his godly ones.  Praise the LORD! (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Numbers 35–36 Numbers 35–36 (Listen) Cities for the Levites 35 The LORD spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 2 “Command the people of Israel to give to the Levites some of the inheritance of their possession as cities for them to dwell in. And you shall give to the Levites pasturelands around the cities. 3 The cities shall be theirs to dwell in, and their pasturelands shall be for their cattle and for their livestock and for all their beasts. 4 The pasturelands of the cities, which you shall give to the Levites, shall reach from the wall of the city outward a thousand cubits1 all around. 5 And you shall measure, outside the city, on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west side two thousand cubits, and on the north side two thousand cubits, the city being in the middle. This shall belong to them as pastureland for their cities. 6 “The cities that you give to the Levites shall be the six cities of refuge, where you shall permit the manslayer to flee, and in addition to them you shall give forty-two cities. 7 All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with their pasturelands. 8 And as for the cities that you shall give from the possession of the people of Israel, from the larger tribes you shall take many, and from the smaller tribes you shall take few; each, in proportion to the inheritance that it inherits, shall give of its cities to the Levites.” Cities of Refuge 9 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 11 then you shall select cities to be cities of refuge for you, that the manslayer who kills any person without intent may flee there. 12 The cities shall be for you a refuge from the avenger, that the manslayer may not die until he stands before the congregation for judgment. 13 And the cities that you give shall be your six cities of refuge. 14 You shall give three cities beyond the Jordan, and three cities in the land of Canaan, to be cities of refuge. 15 These six cities shall be for refuge for the people of Israel, and for the stranger and for the sojourner among them, that anyone who kills any person without intent may flee there. 16 “But if he struck him down with an iron object, so that he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 17 And if he struck him down with a stone tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 18 Or if he struck him down with a wooden tool that could cause death, and he died, he is a murderer. The murderer shall be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood shall himself put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death. 20 And if he pushed him out of hatred or hurled something at him, lying in wait, so that he died, 21 or in enmity struck him down with his hand, so that he died, then he who struck the blow shall be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him. 22 “But if he pushed him suddenly without enmity, or hurled anything on him without lying in wait 23 or used a stone that could cause death, and without seeing him dropped it on him, so that he died, though he was not his enemy and did not seek his harm, 24 then the congregation shall judge between the manslayer and the avenger of blood, in accordance with these rules. 25 And the congregation shall rescue the manslayer from the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge to which he had fled, and he shall live in it until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. 26 But if the manslayer shall at any time go beyond the boundaries of his city of refuge to which he fled, 27 and the avenger of blood finds him outside the boundaries of his city of refuge, and the avenger of blood kills the manslayer, he shall not be guilty of blood. 28 For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. 29 And these things shall be for a statute and rule for you throughout your generations in all your dwelling places. 30 “If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. 31 Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death. 32 And you shall accept no ransom for him who has fled to his city of refuge, that he may return to dwell in the land before the death of the high priest. 33 You shall not pollute the land in which you live, for blood pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land for the blood that is shed in it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 You shall not defile the land in which you live, in the midst of which I dwell, for I the LORD dwell in the midst of the people of Israel.” Marriage of Female Heirs 36 The heads of the fathers' houses of the clan of the people of Gilead the son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of the people of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the chiefs, the heads of the fathers' houses of the people of Israel. 2 They said, “The LORD commanded my lord to give the land for inheritance by lot to the people of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters. 3 But if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the people of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers and added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry. So it will be taken away from the lot of our inheritance. 4 And when the jubilee of the people of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry, and their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers.” 5 And Moses commanded the people of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying, “The tribe of the people of Joseph is right. 6 This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad: ‘Let them marry whom they think best, only they shall marry within the clan of the tribe of their father. 7 The inheritance of the people of Israel shall not be transferred from one tribe to another, for every one of the people of Israel shall hold on to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. 8 And every daughter who possesses an inheritance in any tribe of the people of Israel shall be wife to one of the clan of the tribe of her father, so that every one of the people of Israel may possess the inheritance of his fathers. 9 So no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another, for each of the tribes of the people of Israel shall hold on to its own inheritance.'” 10 The daughters of Zelophehad did as the LORD commanded Moses, 11 for Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, were married to sons of their father's brothers. 12 They were married into the clans of the people of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of their father's clan. 13 These are the commandments and the rules that the LORD commanded through Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. Footnotes [1] 35:4 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Joel 2:28–3:21 Joel 2:28–3:21 (Listen) The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit 28   1 “And it shall come to pass afterward,    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;  your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,    your old men shall dream dreams,    and your young men shall see visions.29   Even on the male and female servants    in those days I will pour out my Spirit. 30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls. 2 The Lord Judges the Nations 3 “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, 2 I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. 4 “What are you to me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? Are you paying me back for something? If you are paying me back, I will return your payment on your own head swiftly and speedily. 5 For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples.3 6 You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. 7 Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. 8 I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken.” 9   Proclaim this among the nations:  Consecrate for war;4    stir up the mighty men.  Let all the men of war draw near;    let them come up.10   Beat your plowshares into swords,    and your pruning hooks into spears;    let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” 11   Hasten and come,    all you surrounding nations,    and gather yourselves there.  Bring down your warriors, O LORD.12   Let the nations stir themselves up    and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat;  for there I will sit to judge    all the surrounding nations. 13   Put in the sickle,    for the harvest is ripe.  Go in, tread,    for the winepress is full.  The vats overflow,    for their evil is great. 14   Multitudes, multitudes,    in the valley of decision!  For the day of the LORD is near    in the valley of decision.15   The sun and the moon are darkened,    and the stars withdraw their shining. 16   The LORD roars from Zion,    and utters his voice from Jerusalem,    and the heavens and the earth quake.  But the LORD is a refuge to his people,    a stronghold to the people of Israel. The Glorious Future of Judah 17   “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,    who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.  And Jerusalem shall be holy,    and strangers shall never again pass through it. 18   “And in that day  the mountains shall drip sweet wine,    and the hills shall flow with milk,  and all the streambeds of Judah    shall flow with water;  and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD    and water the Valley of Shittim. 19   “Egypt shall become a desolation    and Edom a desolate wilderness,  for the violence done to the people of Judah,    because they have shed innocent blood in their land.20   But Judah shall be inhabited forever,    and Jerusalem to all generations.21   I will avenge their blood,    blood I have not avenged,5    for the LORD dwells in Zion.” Footnotes [1] 2:28 Ch 3:1 in Hebrew [2] 2:32 Ch 4:1 in Hebrew [3] 3:5 Or palaces [4] 3:9 Or Consecrate a war [5] 3:21 Or I will acquit their bloodguilt that I have not acquitted (ESV) Gospels and Epistles: 1 Timothy 6:3–21 1 Timothy 6:3–21 (Listen) 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound1 words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and2 we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. Fight the Good Fight of Faith 11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before3 Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 20 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” 21 for by professing it some have swerved from the faith. Grace be with you.4 Footnotes [1] 6:3 Or healthy [2] 6:7 Greek for; some manuscripts insert [it is] certain [that] [3] 6:13 Or in the time of [4] 6:21 The Greek for you is plural (ESV)