Podcasts about Sihon

Psalm 135 (NKJV)Andrew and Edwin see God working in the conquest of the Promised Land showing His rule over the world and over the kings of the earth.Read the written devo that goes along with this episode by clicking here.    Let us know what you are learning or any questions you have. Email us at TextTalk@ChristiansMeetHere.org.    Join the Facebook community and join the conversation by clicking here. We'd love to meet you. Be a guest among the Christians who meet on Livingston Avenue. Click here to find out more. Michael Eldridge sang all four parts of our theme song. Find more from him by clicking here.   Thanks for talking about the text with us today.________________________________________________If the hyperlinks do not work, copy the following addresses and paste them into the URL bar of your web browser: Daily Written Devo: https://readthebiblemakedisciples.wordpress.com/?p=21539The Christians Who Meet on Livingston Avenue: http://www.christiansmeethere.org/Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TalkAboutTheTextFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/texttalkMichael Eldridge: https://acapeldridge.com/ 

Deuteronomy 2 speaks of the last days of the wilderness wanderings. Israel had reached the territory of Edom – the name assigned to the land of Esau, the elder of twins, the younger brother being Israel (or Jacob). There was hatred between the brothers throughout their lives and their descendants continued the hostility as the prophecies of Obadiah and Malachi reveal. Edom massed their army and came out to fight against their brothers. This happened even though Israel only requested safe passage and stated that they would pay for all food and water as they journeyed. So verse 8 records that Israel turns north to the land of Moab. Once again the nation of Israel was told not to pick a fight with the Moabites as their land had been given them by God. The Moabites had gained their territory by dispossessing the giants that had previously occupied that land. So 38 years after first arriving at that location Israeli crossed the brook Zered. A journey that should have taken 17 days, had the nation been faithful, had now occupied 38 years. The remainder of Deuteronomy 2 speaks of the LORD being with His people and giving them the victory over Sihon the king of the Amorites, who was himself a giant have descended from the Rephaim – those people in the Promised Land that had instilled fear into the 10 faithless spies; and as a result of that the entire nation became terrified and would not enter the land. Israel had requested the right to traverse through Sihon's territory under the same terms that Israel had offered to Edom and Moab. Sihon mustered his army against Israel and was humiliated by the defeat that God brought upon those people. So Israel took possession of the land of Gilead. Proverbs 29 deals with faithful work, as opposed to those who are careless and shoddy in what they do. The chapter begins with the need for humility and the results that this brings. It contrasts with those who scoff at the ways of the LORD and the problems that arise from such folly. The fool rushes heedlessly into foolish and destructive ways. The wise ruler heeds divine instruction and ensures its application within his realm. Discipline is essential for success in life; and when we grow older parental discipline needs to be replaced by self control and heeding the wisdom of our Father's Word. Verse 18 informs us that without the guidance of the Almighty a nation becomes unrestrained in its behaviour. The literal Hebrew words for this is identical to the lascivious behaviour of Israel in the incident of the golden calf – literally “a people is made naked”. Our Sovereign has revealed to His children, through His Word, what is now happening in our world and the future He will bring. Surely this understanding will moderate the behaviour of His children as they live in an unheeding world. Let us learn to live justly in this present evil age – see Titus 2 verses 11-14. In John 12 Mary anoints Jesus' feet with precious ointment and because of that the odour fills the house. This waste of precious ointment becomes the catalyst for Judas going to the high priest and seeking opportunity to betray the Lord. Judas was the treasurer and a thief. There follows a plot to kill Lazarus and the chapter describes Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem. Philip brings some Greeks to see Jesus – this greatly encourages our Lord. Christ speaks of his being lifted up to glorify God in his crucifixion. Isaiah prophesied that in chapter 6 and this was to be the great stumbling block for the Jews to believe that Messiah could be crucified: 1 Corinthians 1:23. Our Lord had come into the world to save believers, whom he would raise up at the Last Day.  https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-april-19th-deuteronomy-2-proverbs-29-john-12/

Joshua 9The Gibeonite Deception1As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, 2they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, 5with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. 6And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” 7But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” 8They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” 9They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 11So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.”' 12Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. 13These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” 14So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. 15And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.16At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them. 17And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18But the people of Israel did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. 19But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. 20This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.” 21And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had said of them.22Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,' when you dwell among us? 23Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 24They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you—so we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing. 25And now, behold, we are in your hand. Whatever seems good and right in your sight to do to us, do it.” 26So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them. 27But Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation

Deuteronomy 3 continues Moses' recounting of Israel's journey and battles as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. This chapter focuses primarily on two major events: the defeat of King Og of Bashan and the allocation of the conquered territories to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh. 1. Victory Over King Og (Verses 1–11) Moses recalls how the Israelites, under God's command, advanced toward Bashan, where they faced King Og and his forces. Despite Og's formidable reputation and fortified cities, God assured Moses of victory, just as He had granted triumph over Sihon, King of Heshbon, earlier. The Israelites defeated Og, took control of sixty fortified cities, and utterly destroyed the region. The chapter even highlights Og's enormous iron bed, a detail underscoring the magnitude of God's victory over seemingly unbeatable foes. Reflection: This victory reminds us that no enemy is too great when God fights for His people. Obstacles that appear insurmountable in human terms are overcome by divine power and assurance. 2. Division of the Land (Verses 12–17) After the conquest, Moses describes how the newly acquired territories east of the Jordan River were distributed. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh received these lands as their inheritance. Moses emphasizes that this decision was not arbitrary but aligned with God's plan. He also ensures military support from these tribes for the upcoming battles west of the Jordan. Reflection: This section demonstrates God's provision and careful planning. The allocation of land ensured that the tribes were settled according to divine wisdom, and it shows a balance between enjoying God's blessings and continuing to support the community's mission. 3. Encouragement to Joshua (Verses 18–22) Moses charges Joshua with the task of leading Israel into the Promised Land. He encourages him by recalling the victories God has already provided, reinforcing that future battles will be won in the same way. The message is clear: just as God was faithful in past victories, He will remain faithful in what lies ahead. Reflection: This is a powerful leadership moment. Moses is passing the baton to Joshua with words of faith and courage. It teaches us about mentoring, preparing future leaders, and trusting in God's continued guidance. 4. Moses' Plea and God's Firm Response (Verses 23–29) In the closing section, Moses shares a personal moment: his heartfelt plea to God to allow him to enter the Promised Land. God, however, firmly denies his request, reminding Moses of the consequences of earlier disobedience. Yet, in His grace, God allows Moses to see the land from a distance. He then instructs Moses to strengthen and encourage Joshua, who will complete the mission. Reflection: This portion of the chapter is deeply human and touching. It shows Moses' humility and God's firm justice, but also His kindness. Moses' acceptance of God's will and his focus on empowering Joshua highlights the importance of submission to God's plan and supporting the next generation of leaders. ⸻ Themes in Deuteronomy 3: •God's Sovereignty in Victory: God leads His people to triumph over powerful enemies. •Provision and Preparation: God provides not just victory, but a home and structure for His people. •Leadership Transition: Moses prepares Joshua to lead with courage, underscoring mentorship and legacy. •Obedience and Consequences: Moses' story is a sober reminder of the weight of obedience. ⸻ Final Reflection: Deuteronomy 3 is a chapter full of transition — from conquest to settlement, from one leader to the next, from human limitations to divine promise. It teaches us to remember God's faithfulness, to trust His plans, and to courageously move forward, even when the path includes personal sacrifice.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

Deuteronomy 2 continues Moses' recounting of Israel's long journey through the wilderness as they approach the Promised Land. This chapter is rich with themes of divine timing, obedience, respect for boundaries, and God's sovereign control over nations and territories. Overview of the Chapter Verses 1–3: Wandering Ends Moses recalls how God instructed the Israelites to turn northward after years of aimless wandering around Mount Seir. This signals a divine shift—God is now ready for them to make progress toward their inheritance. “You have circled this mountain long enough; now turn north.” (Deut. 2:3) This verse reflects a spiritual pivot point. Often, people dwell too long in seasons of delay, fear, or disobedience. God's word here is a clear command: stop circling and start advancing. Verses 4–23: Boundaries and Respect God gives specific instructions not to provoke or engage in battle with certain nations- Edom (descendants of Esau): Israel is told to pass through peacefully and even purchase food and water. Moab (descendants of Lot): Again, they must not fight or take their land. Ammon (also Lot's descendants): God emphasizes that He has given land to other nations as well, and Israel must respect that. This teaches respect for God's allotment—not every place or position is meant for us. God has ordered and distributed nations and territories according to His purposes. Spiritual Reflection: There's a time to advance, but also a time to respect boundaries God sets. Not every battle is yours to fight. Verses 24–37: Victory over Sihon Finally, the Lord instructs them to engage in battle: “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his land over to you. Begin to take possession, that you may occupy his land.” (v. 31) Unlike earlier nations, Sihon king of Heshbon opposes Israel. Here, God hardens his heart so that judgment may come through Israel's conquest (v. 30). This echoes God's actions with Pharaoh in Exodus. Israel defeats Sihon's army, takes the cities, and fully conquers the region. However, God again commands restraint—they are not to go near the Ammonites, maintaining the earlier instructions. Key Themes 1.Obedience and Timing: God determines when we move forward. Israel's success begins when they act at God's word, not before. 2.Divine Justice: God gives and takes land according to His righteousness and purposes. Sometimes judgment comes through conquest, but always under God's control. 3.Respect for Others: Even in victory, Israel must respect other nations that God has protected. Obedience includes honoring God's justice for others. 4.Spiritual Progress: The end of wandering begins with heeding God's direction. Wandering seasons end when we are ready to listen and obey fully. Life Application Are you circling a mountain too long? Are you ready to obey God's direction even when it seems delayed or unclear? Are you respecting the boundaries God has placed in your life and the lives of others? Sometimes the breakthrough isn't about fighting—it's about listening, trusting, and waiting for the divine “Now, move.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

Joshua 2:1-241 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof.) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.12 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days, until the pursuers had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

Who destroyed Sihon and Og? Deuteronomy 2:26–3:11 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord's Day. In these twenty-three verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the One Who destroyed Sihon and Og was Israel's very own covenant God.

Leviticus 25 tells of the year of the Jubilee (Hebrew, “Yobal”). This was the year of release for all manner of servitude; land reverted to the original family owner with the cancellation of all debts. It occurred every 50th year and began 49 years and 6 months after the completion of the previous Jubilee; and lasted for 1 year. Its commencement was marked by the sounding of the silver trumpet, which spoke of redemption. There are many incredible patterns associated with the Yobal, both in ancient times and also in the modern era. 1847 the series of lectures delivered by John Thomas, which produced the remarkable book “Elpis Israel” (at the same time Karl Marx released the Communist Manifesto in his book “Das Kapital”). 1897 was the first Zionist Congress in Basle, Switzerland, where Theodore Hertzl declared “today I founded the Jewish State”; which in fact occurred 50 years later on when in 1947 the United Nations Select Committee on Palestine, UNSCOP, decided to partition the Promised Land leading on to the declaration of the State of Israel on 14th May, 1948 (the flag of Israel was raised at midnight following that day – making it actually the 15th of May Jewish time; but the Declaration of the State of Israel had occurred on May 14th). Now for the chapter breakdown: Verses 1 to 7 Sabbath for the Land; Verses 8 to 13 The Year of Jubilee; Verses 14 to17 Regulations for sale and purchase; Verses 18 to 22 Exhortations against fear of shortages; Verses 23 to 24 Land rights ultimately belong unto Yahweh; Verses 25 to 28 Assistance to the poor to help with re-purchase; Verses 29to 34 Laws of house sales: Verses 29to 30 Metropolitan Verse 31 Country Verses 32 to 34 Houses and fields of the Levites Verses 35 to 38 Usury not to be taken from a brother; Verses 39 to 46 No Israelite to be made a bond slave, only of the Gentiles; Verses 47to 55 Redemption of a poor Israelite from servitude to a stranger. Psalms 135 and 136 speak of identical themes, but with slightly different words. The recurring phrase in Psalm 135 is the need to praise the name of Yahweh because of His mighty deeds on behalf of His people, Israel. The Psalm could be entitled, “Your Name, O Yahweh, endures forever”. The Psalmist traces God's awesome deeds performed on behalf of Israel from the time the patriarch Jacob, that is Israel, took possession of the Promised Land. The nation was our Sovereign's peculiar treasure, as verse 4 tells. The song traces the providence of the Almighty for His people as He delivered them from Egypt. It outlines their Maker's care for them in giving them victories over the giants of Sihon the king of the Amorites and Og, king of Bashan. Their Omnipotent Creator gave them the Land promised to their faithful forefathers. What power in heaven, or in earth, is comparable to our LORD's. The gods of the heathen are impotent idols. And as verse 18 declares, “They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusts in them.” Who is it that you have placed your trust in? Hopefully not in yourself. For what folly that would be! Hopefully you are not striving for material success. Again, how futile is that! But slowly read aloud the final three verses of the song and make the affirmation with the Psalmist, “Blessed be Yahweh out of Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem. Praise to Yahweh (Hallelujah)”. Psalm 136, as Psalm 135, commences by praising the creative might of our Omnipotent Creator. It once more outlines the Almighty's providential care for His people, Israel. The choir would sing of the victorious LORD and His triumphing over every foe of His people. Then the entire nation would acclaim that truth by uttering the refrain, “O give thanks to the Lord of lords…”, or “to the God of gods”; and similar phrases dotted throughout the Psalm. However the most pronounced; and greatly emphasised refrain is, “for His mercy endures for ever”. Repetition is a great tool for learning and understanding the core message of the Psalm. Never let us forget that, “OUR SOVEREIGN'S MERCY ENDURES FOR EVER”. And let us praise and thank Him constantly for that wonderful and dependable character of our God. Luke chapter 8 begins by naming some of the women who accompany our Lord and his Apostles. Among them was Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's nobleman (consider some of the difficulties this may have occasioned – perhaps very similar to Obadiah, the steward of Ahab; who had fed 100 of Yahweh's prophets during the great drought). The Parable of the Sower is taught, as the basis of understanding all of our Lord's parables. As we have seen it can be called the parable of the soils; as the seed sown is the same – it was the response that differed. The chapter then records an explanation from Jesus as to why our Lord spoke in parables. It was to reveal the message to the seekers and to confound the self righteous. The teaching by parables is a fulfilment of Christ's mission and is explained in Psalm 78:1-4 and Isaiah 6:1-13. Then follows the parable of the lamp on the table which outlines the disciple's responsibility to spread the Gospel. Jesus' mother and brothers, being concerned for him, seek to curtail his preaching. They are told to join the supporters rather than those who are slowing down God's work. Next Jesus calms a storm demonstrating that he is indeed the Son of God (see Psalm 107 verses 23 to 32). The chapter then says that he heals the man called Legion. Whose curing is proved by the destruction of the pigs. The Jews should not have been breeding these as the Law of Moses forbad it. The record follows with the curing of the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years (note Luke's ironic comments about his fellow doctors). Then Jesus raises the twelve year old daughter of Jairus (whose name means ‘enlightenment') and presents her alive to her parents. Christ shows that he is indeed the Good Shepherd of John 10 when he said to the child “little lamb arise”.

Special Guest Speaker Claudia Cardona brings this week's message, “Strong and Courageous." Key Verse: Deuteronomy 31.1–8 NLT: When Moses had finished giving these instructions to all the people of Israel, he said, "I am now 120 years old, and I am no longer able to lead you. The LORD has told me, ‘You will not cross the Jordan River.' But the LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy the nations living there, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua will lead you across the river, just as the LORD promised. “The LORD will destroy the nations living in the land, just as he destroyed Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites. The LORD will hand over to you the people who live there, and you must deal with them as I have commanded you. So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Then Moses called for Joshua, and as all Israel watched, he said to him, “Be strong and courageous! For you will lead these people into the land that the LORD swore to their ancestors he would give them. You are the one who will divide it among them as their grants of land. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Sermon Topics: Prayer, Faithfulness, Legacy If you enjoyed the podcast, please subscribe and share it with your friends on social media. For more information about PNEUMA Church, visit our website at mypneumachurch.org.  Connect with Us: Instagram: https://instagram.com/mypneumachurch YouTube: https://youtube.com/mypneumachurch Facebook: https://facebook.com/mypneumachurch Time Stamps: 00:00 - Introduction 00:30 - Welcome 03:54 - Deuteronomy 31.1–8 NLT 05:28 - Strong and Courageous

Hebrews 11:31 By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish along with those who were disobedient, after she had welcomed the spies in peace. God magnified His name through Rahab. For a Canaanite prostitute to believe that God exists and is a rewarder of those who seek Him is remarkable. We are encouraged in this verse that Rahab was spared in the destruction of Jericho by faith. So we may conclude that God granted her mercy and grace through Jesus Christ. In Joshua 2:8-13, we see how God magnified His name through Rahab. Now before they lay down, she came up to them on the roof, and said to the men, “I know that the LORD has given you the land, and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have melted away before you. 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 utterly destroyed. When we heard it, our hearts melted and no courage remained in any man any longer because of you; for the LORD your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, please swear to me by the LORD, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father's household, and give me a pledge of truth, and spare my father and my mother and my brothers and my sisters, with all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.”  How did Rahab know that the God of Israel was the God in heaven and on earth? She knew by the grace of God. When she heard the news of Israel's conquests and what was done for them, God opened her heart to believe that He existed and that He was a rewarder of those who seek Him. Apparently all who lived in Jericho were considered disobedient to God, but God had favor on Rahab and her family, much like He did with Noah and his family. We know God wished to glorify His name through Rahab because He gave her faith to believe in Him.  The faith birthed in Rahab didn't just deliver her from destruction when God destroyed Jericho; it also placed her in the lineage of the Messiah. She became the wife of Salmon, who gave birth to Boaz, father of Obed, grandfather of Jesse, and great-grandpa of David. So, she was the great-grandmother of David, and Jesus was her descendent. Amazing grace. Amazing faith. Amazing God. Are we not all among those who are disobedient? Have we not all had idols, other gods, people, things, and ideas that we have found more satisfaction in than Jesus Christ? That makes us all spiritual harlots. Yet, has it been revealed to you that God is the God of both heaven and earth? Do you believe He exists as a person apart from and separate from His creation? Do you believe you will find His blessing if you seek Him diligently? If so, then you have been delivered from the destruction to come, and God has amazing unforeseen plans for you like He did for Rahab. In confidence, you can walk with Jesus in love. You may welcome all of God's people in peace.

GO FORWARD CONFERENCE || DAY 19 (part b) || CONTINUING IN DOCTRINE AND BROTHERLY LOVE |CHIMDI OHAHUNA Welcome to the final session of Go Forward Conference 2024, where we explore the depths of our faith and journey together in Christ. This episode is the zenith of our ongoing series themed "Possessing Our Possessions in Christ," inspired by the powerful directive found in Deuteronomy 2:24: "Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon. Behold, I have given into thine hand, Sihon, the Amorite, King of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it and contend with him in battle." In this episode, we deeply consider the significance of the phrase "rise ye up" and the Hebrew term "KUM," which means to "rise up." We examine this term's multifaceted meanings and implications and its call to action for believers. Hebrew Insights: Unpacking the meanings and contextual usage of "KUM." Spiritual Application: How we can apply this call to "rise up" in our daily lives and spiritual journeys. Prayer: The importance of persistent prayer and its role in maintaining our spiritual well-being. Watching: Staying vigilant and alert in our faith. Thanksgiving: Cultivating a heart of gratitude and its transformative effects. Doctrine: Understanding the importance of sound doctrine and continuous learning. Drawing from 2 Timothy 3:14, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned," we explore the necessity of adhering to sound teachings. Discover: The Role of Doctrine: How instruction and teachings form the backbone of our faith. Paul's Admonition: Why Paul urged Timothy to stay true to his teachings amidst false doctrines. Galatian Church Example: A historical look at the challenges faced by the early church in Galatia and the importance of doctrinal fidelity. The session also addresses the risks associated with deviating from sound teachings, including: Spiritual Poison: The metaphorical and literal dangers of false teachings. Unlearning and Relearning: The detrimental effects of abandoning learned truths for erroneous beliefs. Modern Challenges: The contemporary landscape of spiritual teachings and the prevalence of misleading information. Learning and Teaching: Emphasizing the importance of what we learn in church and from scripture. Note-Taking and Review: The value of taking notes during sermons and revisiting them for deeper understanding. Faith Comes by Hearing: The power of listening to faith-building teachings and materials (Romans 10:10). In Hebrews 13:1, we are reminded, "Let brotherly love continue." This segment focuses on: Definition and Importance: Understanding "Philadelphia" – brotherly love among believers. Unity in the Church: The critical need for unity to stand against common challenges. Practical Love: Real-life applications of brotherly love, including humility and selflessness. Continuous Learning: The ongoing journey of learning about Christ and sharing that knowledge with others. Reflection and Action: Encouraging listeners to reflect on their spiritual practices and take actionable steps to grow in faith. Join us for an enlightening and spiritually enriching teaching that encourages you to rise up, continue in the teachings of Christ, and let brotherly love flourish. This episode is a call to action to reconcile men to Christ and stand firm in our Savior's knowledge and love. Grace to you.   Jesus is Lord.

GO FORWARD CONFERENCE || DAY 19 (part a) || CONTINUING IN DOCTRINE AND BROTHERLY LOVE |CHIMDI OHAHUNA Welcome to the final session of Go Forward Conference 2024, where we explore the depths of our faith and journey together in Christ. This episode is the zenith of our ongoing series themed "Possessing Our Possessions in Christ," inspired by the powerful directive found in Deuteronomy 2:24: "Rise ye up, take your journey, and pass over the river Arnon. Behold, I have given into thine hand, Sihon, the Amorite, King of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it and contend with him in battle." In this episode, we deeply consider the significance of the phrase "rise ye up" and the Hebrew term "KUM," which means to "rise up." We examine this term's multifaceted meanings and implications and its call to action for believers. Hebrew Insights: Unpacking the meanings and contextual usage of "KUM." Spiritual Application: How we can apply this call to "rise up" in our daily lives and spiritual journeys. Prayer: The importance of persistent prayer and its role in maintaining our spiritual well-being. Watching: Staying vigilant and alert in our faith. Thanksgiving: Cultivating a heart of gratitude and its transformative effects. Doctrine: Understanding the importance of sound doctrine and continuous learning. Drawing from 2 Timothy 3:14, "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned," we explore the necessity of adhering to sound teachings. Discover: The Role of Doctrine: How instruction and teachings form the backbone of our faith. Paul's Admonition: Why Paul urged Timothy to stay true to his teachings amidst false doctrines. Galatian Church Example: A historical look at the challenges faced by the early church in Galatia and the importance of doctrinal fidelity. The session also addresses the risks associated with deviating from sound teachings, including: Spiritual Poison: The metaphorical and literal dangers of false teachings. Unlearning and Relearning: The detrimental effects of abandoning learned truths for erroneous beliefs. Modern Challenges: The contemporary landscape of spiritual teachings and the prevalence of misleading information. Learning and Teaching: Emphasizing the importance of what we learn in church and from scripture. Note-Taking and Review: The value of taking notes during sermons and revisiting them for deeper understanding. Faith Comes by Hearing: The power of listening to faith-building teachings and materials (Romans 10:10). In Hebrews 13:1, we are reminded, "Let brotherly love continue." This segment focuses on: Definition and Importance: Understanding "Philadelphia" – brotherly love among believers. Unity in the Church: The critical need for unity to stand against common challenges. Practical Love: Real-life applications of brotherly love, including humility and selflessness. Continuous Learning: The ongoing journey of learning about Christ and sharing that knowledge with others. Reflection and Action: Encouraging listeners to reflect on their spiritual practices and take actionable steps to grow in faith. Join us for an enlightening and spiritually enriching teaching that encourages you to rise up, continue in the teachings of Christ, and let brotherly love flourish. This episode is a call to action to reconcile men to Christ and stand firm in our Savior's knowledge and love. Grace to you.   Jesus is Lord.

December 29, 2024 - Sunday PM Sermon   Things to focus on as we make our transition - (Deuteronomy 31) Neal Pollard   Believe that the Lord is leading our transition Be strong and courageous Focus on our family   Deuteronomy 31 - New King James Version   Joshua the New Leader of Israel 31 Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. 2 And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.' 3 The Lord your God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said. 4 And the Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. 5 The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” 7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” The Law to Be Read Every Seven Years 9 So Moses wrote this law and delivered it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying: “At the end of every seven years, at the appointed time in the year of release, at the Feast of Tabernacles, 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God in the place which He chooses, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Gather the people together, men and women and little ones, and the stranger who is within your gates, that they may hear and that they may learn to fear the Lord your God and carefully observe all the words of this law, 13 and that their children, who have not known it, may hear and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land which you cross the Jordan to possess.” Prediction of Israel's Rebellion 14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die; call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of meeting, that I may [a]inaugurate him.” So Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tabernacle of meeting. 15 Now the Lord appeared at the tabernacle in a pillar of cloud, and the pillar of cloud stood above the door of the tabernacle. 16 And the Lord said to Moses: “Behold, you will [b]rest with your fathers; and this people will rise and play the harlot with the gods of the foreigners of the land, where they go to be among them, and they will forsake Me and break My covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then My anger shall be aroused against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide My face from them, and they shall be [c]devoured. And many evils and troubles shall befall them, so that they will say in that day, ‘Have not these evils come upon us because our God is not among us?' 18 And I will surely hide My face in that day because of all the evil which they have done, in that they have turned to other gods. 19 “Now therefore, write down this song for yourselves, and teach it to the children of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for Me against the children of Israel. 20 When I have brought them to the land flowing with milk and honey, of which I swore to their fathers, and they have eaten and filled themselves and grown fat, then they will turn to other gods and serve them; and they will provoke Me and break My covenant. 21 Then it shall be, when many evils and troubles have come upon them, that this song will testify against them as a witness; for it will not be forgotten in the mouths of their descendants, for I know the inclination of their behavior today, even before I have brought them to the land of which I swore to give them.” 22 Therefore Moses wrote this song the same day, and taught it to the children of Israel. 23 Then He inaugurated Joshua the son of Nun, and said, “Be strong and of good courage; for you shall bring the children of Israel into the land of which I swore to them, and I will be with you.” 24 So it was, when Moses had completed writing the words of this law in a book, when they were finished, 25 that Moses commanded the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying: 26 “Take this Book of the Law, and put it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there as a witness against you; 27 for I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death? 28 Gather to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their hearing and call heaven and earth to witness against them. 29 For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter days, because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.” The Song of Moses 30 Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended:     Duration 30:51

Many of us are probably familiar to some extent with Rahab, the Jericho prostitute who turns to God and is spared along with her family when the Israelites destroy the city. But there is much more to her story that should cause us to marvel at Gods mercy and grace, and warn us against hypocrisy. Lets go look at where we encounter her. Israel had sent out two spies to check out Jericho. They go to the home of Rahab, the prostitute, where presumably it would not be unusual to find strangers. But someone alerts the authorities and Rahab is told to turn over the men. She covers for them and hides them on her roof. A search party begins looking for them near the Jordan River. Joshua 2:8-21 8Now before[a]the spies lay down, she came up to them on the roof,9and said to the men, I know that theLordhas given you the land, and that theterror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land have despaired because of you.10For we have heard how theLorddried up the water of the[b]Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, andwhat you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon and Og, whom you[c]utterly destroyed.11When we heardthese reports,our hearts melted and no[d]courage remained in anyone any longer because of you; for theLordyour God, He is God in heaven above and on earth below.12Now then, please swear to me by theLord, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my fathers household, and give me apledge of[e]truth,13and[f]spare my father and my mother, and my brothers and my sisters, and all who belong to them, and save our[g]lives from death.14So the men said to her, Our[h]life[i]for yours if you do not tell this business of ours; and it shall come about when theLordgives us the land that we willdeal kindly and[j]faithfully with you. 15Then she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall, so that she was living on the wall.16And she said to them, Go to the hill country, so that the pursuers will not encounter you, and hide yourselves there for three days until the pursuers return. Then afterward you may go on your way.17And the men said to her, Weshall beexempt from this oath[k]to you which you have made us swear,18[l]unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window through which you let us down, andgather into your house your father, your mother, your brothers, and all your fathers household.19And it shall come about that anyone who goes out of the doors of your house outsidewill have[m]his blood on his own head, and wewill beinnocent; but anyone who is with you in the house,his bloodwill beon our head if a hand islaidon him.20But if you tell this business of ours, then we shall be exempt from the oath which you have made us swear.21She then said, According to your words, so be it. So she sent them away, and they departed; and she tied the scarlet cord in the window. Lets think about a couple of things. First: How did God communicate with Rahab? By dream?By vision? How did she learn that Yahweh was the one true God? However He did it, we must be humbled by the love and concern God showed to a woman who was part of an accursed tribe and who lived an immoral lifestyle. Second: Think about the scarlet cord hanging out her window. Where else do we see in Scripture that a red mark protects everyone inside a dwelling? The night of Passover, when the blood of the lamb on the lintel and doorposts protected those who were inside. Here is another picture of Passover, but this one is not protecting Israelites, but pagan Canaanites! Were these Hebrew spies thinking about how their relatives had been spared from wrath by a similar process? Here is an example of faith resulting in right standing with God apart from the Law, just like Abraham, proving that God is no respecter of persons. Now we pick up in Joshua Chapter 6. Most of us know how Israel marched around Jericho for seven days, so we will skip to the relevant portion for our study today: Joshua 6:20-25 So the people shouted, and[g]the priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout, and thewall fell down[h]flat, so that the people went up into the city, everyone straight[i]ahead, and they took the city.21They[j]utterly destroyed everything in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, sheep, and donkey, with the edge of the sword. 22And Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, Go into the prostitutes house and bring the woman and all she has out of there, just as you have sworn to her.23So the young men who were spies went in andbrought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all she had; they also brought out all her relatives, and placed them outside the camp of Israel.24Thenthey burned the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver and gold, and the articles of bronze and iron, they put into the treasury of the[k]house of theLord.25However,Rahab the prostitute and her fathers household and all she had, Joshua[l]spared; and she has lived in the midst of Israel to this day, becauseshe hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. Lets think about this first from Rahabs perspective. She and her family have been listening to utter chaos and terror outside her house. The screams of people and animals as they are brutally slaughtered. Then, there is, literally, a deathly quiet, and then there is a knock at the door. With great trepidation, they open the door and step out into a living nightmare. Everything destroyed. All people, all livestock, all structures. Everybody Rahab and her family knew was dead, their corpses lying mutilated on the ground. Spared, but unclean, she and her family are put outside the camp. So was Jesus. Hebrews 13:11-13 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood. So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. Jesus has a special affinity for those who are rejected, scorned, despised by the in crowd, just as Rahab was and many others. He personally experienced that same rejection, and invites us to journey with Him to where He resides with those whom He has rescued from rejection. Back to Jericho. Imagine the terror of what Rahabs family was feeling. You are now totally dependent on these people who just destroyed your city and killed all your friends and neighbors. You are feeling not just terror, but profound loneliness and sense of loss. Imagine if Russians invaded and killed everybody in your city except you, and now you were dependent on them. What about the other side? As Israelites, you were warned to kill all the Canaanites completely, to avoid being infected with their idols. Now, what do you do with this family? Im sure some advocated to let them starve. They only promised to spare their lives from the destruction of Jericho. There were no promises about feeding and caring for them. But Rahab knew that Yahweh was the God of heaven and earth. God had somehow revealed Himself to her, and He would not see her abandoned. But she is a profound sinner, from a foreign culture, filled with idolatrous practices, living in enforced isolation. How does she become discipled, and an important figure in Jewish history? Yes. That is exactly what happens to her, but we have to fill in the details with our imagination. As with the mystery of Melchizedek, sometimes the most profound biblical stories are about whats left out of the narrative. There had to have been interaction between Rahabs family and the Israelites. Probably, there was daily interaction as more merciful heads prevailed and food was delivered to keep them alive. But that doesnt solve the problem. Keeping her alive doesnt equate to discipleship. I can imagine a godly woman provoking her husband to think about these poor people and shouldnt someone try to teach Rahab and her family about the Lord? Im sure the idea was met with apprehension at first. What if we get infected with their idolatry? No, its too risky. Too bad they werent born Jews. Time passes, but somewhere along the line, at least Rahab is discipled, probably by one of those godly wives who kept persisting until her husband acquiesced! Rahab responds and learns well. In fact, she surpasses most of the young Israelite women in her devotion to the Lord, and becomes known for her character and the radical transformation of a changed life. How do we know that? Because of something revealed in the Book of Ruth and a one-sentence reference in Matthew Chapter 1. So, lets turn our attention first to Ruth. If you are not familiar with Ruth, it is a short book packed with depth and meaning. The story centers around a family from Bethlehem, a husband named Elimelech and his wife Naomi. They have two sons, Mahlon and Chilion. A severe drought causes them to move east across the Jordan river to the area of Moab, where Naomi stays for 10 years. While there, her husband dies. Her sons marry Moabite women. But then her sons die, and she is left in Moab with her two daughters-in-law, Orpah, and Ruth. Naomi hears that the drought is gone in Bethlehem and she decides to return, and tries to convince her daughters-in-law to stay in Moab. Orpah does, but Ruth insists on going to Bethlehem with Naomi and staying with her until her death, and will worship the God of Israel. So, they return. When they arrive in Bethlehem, it is the beginning of the barley harvest, probably mid-April. How to get food? Well, Ruth goes out to glean in the common area which the landowners use, and she just happens to get connected with a man named Boaz. We need to learn something about Boaz. He is described as gibbor, which is sometimes translated as mighty man. It implies he is a man of substance and character, and when we read Ruth, we are touched by his compassion and concern both for Naomi and for Ruth. He is impressed by Ruths devotion to Naomi, and her willingness to seek shelter under Yahwehs wings. Interestingly, he is also a kinsman redeemer (Leviticus 25:47-55) to Naomi, and is willing to redeem her land including the necessity of giving her offspring through Ruth, the Moabitess. He was willing to marry a foreign woman. Boaz and Ruth had a child, Obed, who was the grandfather of David. Ruth 4:21-22. So, Ruth the Moabite woman participates in establishing the earthly lineage of the Messiah. We are told in Ruth 4:21 that Salmon (or Salma) begot Boaz. We dont know from the account here who Boaz mother is, but Matthew clears that up for us. Matthew 1:5 tells us Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab, Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth, and Obed fathered Jesse. Salmon was the father of Boaz, and Boaz mother is Rahab. Interestingly, she is not referred to as Rahab the Harlot, just Rahab. She is a harlot no more. Remember, Boaz is a man of influence and character in Bethlehem. There is no doubt that Boaz character was formed in large part due to his mothers influence. She would have had to be a woman of great moral character to attract the attention of Salmon. Knowing people as we do, we can be sure that Salmon was scorned and rejected by some of his peers for marrying a former pagan harlot. That took a lot of courage on his part. And think about his parents! Lets say our son came home all excited about this woman he met at a Bible study, who had been a sexual abuse victim by her stepdad, ran away from home, wound up on Colfax Avenue in Denver, was befriended by a man who turned out to be a pimp, got her strung out on fentanyl, and trafficked her as a prostitute? Sound like something that happens every day. But she had been arrested, detoxed, came to Christ while in substance abuse treatment, and was now a very godly young woman in love with Jesus. We love to hear stories like that. But what if our son decided he wanted to marry her? Would we be accepting of her as a redeemed child of God, or would we be concerned about our familys reputation, and suggest he seek out a virgin from one of the good families from his Awanas group? What if your son said, But what about that verse in Second Corinthians Five? 2 Corinthians 5:17 If anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Is that true, or not? Do we feel the conviction of hypocrisy as we contemplate our reaction? Are we interested more in what serves Gods purposes, or being concerned about what our peer group will think? Remember, God chose Rahab and Ruth (and Tamar, for that matter) to be mothers of men in the lineage of Christ. He did that on purpose to teach us something about His mercy and grace. No doubt, Boaz own family history was a strong influence for him to so readily agree to marry Ruth the Moabitess. He knew his parents story, had heard from his mother Rahab about the pain of loneliness and rejection when they lived outside the camp, and had no hesitation to marry a foreign woman who so obviously loved God and honored Naomi. The character of Rahab may also be inferred from Hebrews. She and Sarah are the only two women named in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews Chapter 11). Rahab is also mentioned by James as an example of the works of faith. (Call up the worship team) So, who are the Rahabs in our life? The people who have a checkered past, but who are growing in the Lord? Can we see past who they were, and see what they can become as the Lord changes them? He wants us to see with His eyes, and be His hands and feet to disciple them so they can become the godly Rahabs of this generation. The main reason why I love working in the criminal justice system is that I get to participate in Gods mission of making modern-day Rahabs. To see a life in chaos become a godly man or woman is a privilege I have witnessed repeatedly over the past 35 years. Fact is, none of us come from good families. There is only one Good Family, and that consists of all of us, from whatever background, who have repented, been born again, and belong to the body of Christ. We all are new creations in Christ, and our sinsall of themare forgiven and forgotten by our Lord. May we celebrate our new beginnings every day!

[Joshua 2:1] Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, “Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho.” So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night. [Joshua 2:8-13] Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. [9] “I know the Lord has given you this land,” she told them. “We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. [10] For we have heard how the Lord made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. [11] No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. [12] “Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that [13] when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.” Rahab was a prostitute who was willing to take a ____________ for the people of God. Kind (Hebrew: Chesed): Covenant-love. An obligation to _______. An agreement God made with His people to love & ______________ them. [Joshua 2:15-18] Then, since Rahab's house was built into the town wall, she let them down by a rope through the window. [16] “Escape to the hill country,” she told them. “Hide there for three days from the men searching for you. Then, when they have returned, you can go on your way.” [17] Before they left, the men told her, “We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. [18] When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. And all your family members—your father, mother, brothers, and all your relatives—must be here inside the house. It takes faith to believe something when the probability is ____________ it. [James 2:14] What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Faith is demonstrated by your ________ not your ______________. [James 2:25-26] Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. [26] Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. When you __________, you demonstrate faith. And when you demonstrate faith, you see ___________ move. [Joshua 6:22-25] Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, “Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute's house and bring her out, along with all her family.” [23] The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel. [24] Then the Israelites burned the town and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the Lord's house. [25] So Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute and her relatives who were with her in the house, because she had hidden the spies Joshua sent to Jericho. And she lives among the Israelites to this day. No matter how bad your ______________ was it doesn't have to control __________________ if you make the right decision ___________. [Matthew 1:5-6] Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. [6] Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). In God's Kingdom the ____________ of sinners is just as welcome as the _________ of saints.

Sunday's Sermon: Aliso Creek Church Podcast (https://alisocreekchurchpodcast.fireside.fm) Passage: 1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies from the Acacia Grove, saying, “Go and scout the land, especially Jericho.” So they left, and they came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land.” 3 Then the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. So she said, “Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn't know where they were from. 5 At nightfall, when the city gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don't know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them! ” 6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. 7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the city gate was shut. 8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that the terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of 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 Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone's courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. 12 Now please swear to me by the Lord that you will also show kindness to my father's family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death.” 14 The men answered her, “We will give our lives for yours. If you don't report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the Lord gives us the land.” 15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was built into the wall of the city. 16 “Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won't find you,” she said to them. “Hide there for three days until they return; afterward, go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “We will be free from this oath you made us swear, 18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father's family into your house. 19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his death will be his own fault, and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, his death will be our fault. 20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear.” 21 “Let it be as you say,” she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window. 22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them. -- Joshua 2:1-22 (CSB) Song: O Come All You Unfaithful (https://open.spotify.com/track/5tN7qWtwG9i8LniUUGDiRh?si=1233357b1e434485) by Bob Kauflin, Lisa Clow Lyrics: O come all you unfaithful Come weak and unstable Come know you are not alone O come barren and waiting ones Weary of praying Come see what your God has done Chorus Christ is born Christ is born Christ is born for you O come bitter and broken Come with fears unspoken Come taste of His perfect love O come guilty and hiding ones There is no need to run See what your God has done He's the Lamb who was given slain for our pardon His promise is peace for those who believe He's the Lamb who was given slain for our pardon His promise is peace for those who believe So come though you have nothing Come He is the offering Come see what your God has done Prayer: This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.

Northwest Bible Church – Dec. 8, 2024 – Joshua – Alan Conner Josh. 13 The Division of the Transjordan Intro A. UNCONQUERED LAND IN CANAAN (Joshua 13:1-7). 1.  SW region: Philistines and Geshurites (Joshua 13:2-4a).     2. N region: Sidonians, Lebanon (4b-6a).    3. God's promise to drive out the Canaanites in the north (Joshua 13:6). 4. Command to apportion the land to the 9 ½ tribes (Joshua 13:7).    B.  THE DIVISION OF THE LAND EAST OF THE JORDAN (Joshua 13:8-33). 1. General description of the entire area (Joshua 13:8-14). a. The kingdoms of Sihon and Og described (Joshua 13:9-12).     b. The Geshurites and Maacathites were undefeated (Joshua 13:13).     c. No land for the tribe of Levi  (Joshua 13:14).    2. The land allotted to the tribe of REUBEN (Joshua 13:15-23). a. Boundaries specified (Joshua 13:16-23). b. Balaam is killed (Joshua 13:22).       3. The land allotted to the tribe of GAD (Joshua 13:24-28). 4. The land allotted to the half tribe of MANASSEH (Joshua 13:29-32). 5.  No land for the tribe of Levi (Joshua 13:33).     a. Grace triumphs over judgment.   b. The best inheritance.        Conclusion Discussion questions:  What can we learn about God from the dividing up of the land?   Why did the Levites not inherit any of the land (besides their cities)?  Was their inheritance better than the other tribes?    What lessons can we apply to the church from this?

Pastor Dave shared an inspiring message about the power of faith, highlighting underdog stories like that of Kurt Warner and Rahab. He emphasized that despite life's challenges and setbacks, faith can lead to unexpected victories and fulfillment of dreams. Using Rahab as an example, he illustrated how trusting in God can transform one's life, taking her from a life of shame to becoming an ancestor of Jesus. The sermon encouraged everyone to keep pursuing their dreams and not to give up, reminding them that faith empowers them to overcome obstacles and achieve their destinies.Joshua 2:1- 5 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyedJohn 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.Joshua 2:12-14 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”Matthew 1:5-65 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David.Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.Philippians 4:1313 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Pastor Dave shared an inspiring message about the power of faith, highlighting underdog stories like that of Kurt Warner and Rahab. He emphasized that despite life's challenges and setbacks, faith can lead to unexpected victories and fulfillment of dreams. Using Rahab as an example, he illustrated how trusting in God can transform one's life, taking her from a life of shame to becoming an ancestor of Jesus. The sermon encouraged everyone to keep pursuing their dreams and not to give up, reminding them that faith empowers them to overcome obstacles and achieve their destinies.Joshua 2:1- 5 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. 2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” 4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don't know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyedJohn 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”1 John 5:4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.Joshua 2:12-14 “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don't tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”Matthew 1:5-65 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab,Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,Obed the father of Jesse, 6 and Jesse the father of King David.Hebrews 11:31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.Philippians 4:1313 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Welcome to a quick update from Northern Israel. I'm praying that the Lord fills your life with hope today, no matter what challenges you're facing—whether it's the war in Israel or personal battles. Our God is one who goes before us. Hallelujah. 31 v1-6 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2 “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.' 3 The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said. 4 And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. 5 The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”List of Urgent Needs:- F350 Truck and accessories: $50,000- Iridium Certus Thales MissionLINK x 2 plus network connection: $10,000- Fuel for mission distribution: $80 per daily mission- Aid supplies family support kits: $150- Ministry emergency fund goal: $30,000To give, use this link http://member.bulldozerfaith.com/givePayPal.me/bulldozerfaith https://cash.app/$bulldozerfaith Daily Devotional and teaching with Kenny Russell - Get connected with our Podcast Channelshttps://feeds.captivate.fm/what-then-shall-we-sayEmail kenny@bulldozerfaith.com

Northwest Bible Church – Oct. 13, 2024 – Joshua – Alan Conner Josh. 9:1-21 The Gibeonite Deceivers Intro A. REVIEW OF THEIR INSTRUCTIONS.   Deut. 7:1-2 B. THE COALITION GATHERS TO FIGHT (Joshua 9:1-2). C. THE GIBEONITE DECEPTION (Joshua 9:3-15). 1.  The far away hoax (Joshua 9:3-6).     a. the compelling reason (Joshua 9:3, 24).    b. the convincing evidence (Joshua 9:4-5).    c. the lie and request (Joshua 9:6). 2. The evidence presented (Joshua 9:7-13). a. Israel rightfully suspicious (Joshua 9:7-8). b. Convincing story (Joshua 9:9-13). - we've heard of the fame of the LORD; EGYPT; SIHON, OG (Joshua 9:9-10) - national consensus to make covenant (Joshua 9:11) - physical evidence (Joshua 9:12-13): bread, wineskins, clothes, sandals 3. The covenant is made (Joshua 9:15). 4. The failure of Joshua and Israel (Joshua 9:14).    a. no prayer b. no Word    D. THE DECEPTION REVEALED, BUT THE COVENANT STANDS (Joshua 9:16-21). 1. The deception is exposed (Joshua 9:16-17).  2. The grumbling of the people (Joshua 9:18). 3. The covenant upheld (Joshua 9:19-21).   APPLICATION: 1. Gibeonites in the church.    2. Gibeonites in society.     3. Gibeonites in our flesh.    Things to ponder: Why is there so much deception in the world today?  In what areas is the church or believers deceived today?  Where does this deception come from?  How can the church or believers be on guard against deception?  

Preacher: Andy Bauer Date: 9/29/24 Series: More Than Conquerors Key Scriptures: Joshua 2:1–16 (ESV) 1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent 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 men 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. 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 said 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.”

View the Bulletin for Wednesday, October 2, 2024Worship Service: 2:00 p.m.Bible Study: 2:30 p.m. — The Book of HebrewsAll 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 BULLETINSDeuteronomy 3:1-29 “Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan. And Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. But the LORD said to me, ‘Do not fear him, for I have given him and all his people and his land into your hand. And you shall do to him as you did to Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.' So the LORD our God gave into our hand Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people, and we struck him down until he had no survivor left. And we took all his cities at that time—there was not a city that we did not take from them—sixty cities, the whole region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these were cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars, besides very many unwalled villages. And we devoted them to destruction, as we did to Sihon the king of Heshbon, devoting to destruction every city, men, women, and children. But all the livestock and the spoil of the cities we took as our plunder. So we took the land at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon (the Sidonians call Hermon Sirion, while the Amorites call it Senir), all the cities of the tableland and all Gilead and all Bashan, as far as Salecah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. (For only Og the king of Bashan was left of the remnant of the Rephaim. Behold, his bed was a bed of iron. Is it not in Rabbah of the Ammonites? Nine cubits was its length, and four cubits its breadth, according to the common cubit.) “When we took possession of this land at that time, I gave to the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory beginning at Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead with its cities. The rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, that is, all the region of Argob, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (All that portion of Bashan is called the land of Rephaim. Jair the Manassite took all the region of Argob, that is, Bashan, as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and called the villages after his own name, Havvoth-jair, as it is to this day.) To Machir I gave Gilead, and to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory from Gilead as far as the Valley of the Arnon, with the middle of the valley as a border, as far over as the river Jabbok, the border of the Ammonites; the Arabah also, with the Jordan as the border, from Chinnereth as far as the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, under the slopes of Pisgah on the east. “And I commanded you at that time, saying, ‘The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor shall cross over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel. Only your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in the cities that I have given you, until the LORD gives rest to your brothers, as to you, and they also occupy the land that the LORD your God gives them beyond the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession which I have given you.' And I commanded Joshua at that time, ‘Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. So will the LORD do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing. You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you.' “And I pleaded with the LORD at that time, saying, ‘O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours? Please let me go over and see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and Lebanon.' But the LORD was angry with me because of you and would not listen to me. And the LORD said to me, ‘Enough from you; do not speak to me of this matter again. Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.' So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor. Matthew 7:1-12 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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? 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? 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. “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 to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 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! “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. The Ten Commandments What is the ninth commandment?You shall not covet your neighbor's house. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not scheme to get our neighbor's inheritance or house, or get it in a way which only appears right, but help and be of service to him in keeping it.

église AB Lausanne ; KJV Joshua 13 Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri, From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baal-gad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath. All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee. Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh, With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them; From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon; And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon; ...

église AB Lausanne ; KJV Joshua 12 Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east: Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah: And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions; In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites: The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one; The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; ...

église AB Lausanne ; KJV Joshua 9 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. ...

Psalm 135 is a hymn of praise that celebrates God's greatness and His sovereign rule over creation. It calls on the people of Israel to give glory to the Lord for His mighty deeds, both in nature and in history. The psalm can be divided into several key sections that highlight different aspects of God's majesty and His unique role as the one true God. 1. A Call to Praise (Verses 1-3) The psalm begins with a clear call to worship. It invites the servants of the Lord, specifically those who minister in the house of the Lord, to praise His name. This opening emphasizes the joy and importance of worshiping God and sets the tone for the rest of the psalm. Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; give praise, O servants of the Lord, who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God! Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant! (Psalm 135:1-3, ESV) 2. God's Sovereignty Over Creation (Verses 5-7) The psalmist emphasizes that God is supreme over all the earth and heavens. His power extends over nature, from the formation of clouds to the lightning and the release of rain. These verses affirm that God is in control of the world He created and actively participates in it. For I know that the Lord is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. Whatever the Lord pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps. He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth, who makes lightnings for the rain and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. (Psalm 135:5-7, ESV) 3. God's Faithfulness in Deliverance (Verses 8-12) These verses recount God's intervention in history, specifically recalling the Exodus from Egypt. The psalmist praises God for striking down Egypt's firstborn and delivering His people from oppression. It then references the conquest of the Promised Land, where God gave His people victory over great kings, showing His faithfulness to Israel throughout generations. He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and of beast; he sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants. He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings— Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan—and gave their land as a heritage, a heritage to his people Israel. (Psalm 135:8-12, ESV) 4. God's Eternal Nature and Judgment (Verses 13-14) The psalmist declares that God's name and renown will endure forever. His care for His people is enduring, and He will vindicate them. These verses underscore God's timeless nature and His commitment to justice. Your name, O Lord, endures forever, your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages. For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants. (Psalm 135:13-14, ESV) 5. Condemnation of Idolatry (Verses 15-18) The psalm sharply contrasts God with the idols of the nations. It mocks the futility of idol worship, describing idols as lifeless creations of silver and gold, made by human hands. The psalmist points out that idols cannot see, hear, or speak, and those who trust in them become just as lifeless. The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands. They have mouths, but do not speak; they have eyes, but do not see; they have ears, but do not hear, nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them become like them, so do all who trust in them. (Psalm 135:15-18, ESV) 6. A Final Call to Praise (Verses 19-21) The psalm concludes with another call to praise, this time directed to the house of Israel, the house of Aaron, and the house of Levi—representing the entire people of God. It is an invitation for all who fear the Lord to bless His holy name. O house of Israel, bless the Lord! O house of Aaron, bless the Lord! O house of Levi, bless the Lord! You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord! Blessed be the Lord from Zion, he who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 135:19-21, ESV) Conclusion Psalm 135 is a rich and vibrant call to worship, centered on the incomparable greatness of God. It highlights His sovereignty over creation, His faithfulness in delivering Israel, His eternal nature, and the emptiness of idol worship. This psalm serves as a powerful reminder to trust in the living God and to give Him the praise and honor He alone deserves.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sendme-radio--732966/support.

église AB Lausanne ; KJV Joshua 2 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. 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. 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. 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: 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. 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. 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. And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; 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. 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. ...

église AB Lausanne ; KJV Deuteronomy 31 And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed. And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou must go with this people unto the land which the LORD hath sworn unto their fathers to give them; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and unto all the elders of Israel. And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, ...

église AB Lausanne ; KJV Deuteronomy 29 These are the words of the covenant, which the LORD commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the land of Moab, beside the covenant which he made with them in Horeb. And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the LORD did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pharaoh, and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles: Yet the LORD hath not given you an heart to perceive, and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. And I have led you forty years in the wilderness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot. Ye have not eaten bread, neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink: that ye might know that I am the LORD your God. And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, came out against us unto battle, and we smote them: And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh. Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do. Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, ...

Le peregrinazioni d'Israele nel deserto. La vittoria su Sihon, re di Heshbon.

arashat Va'et'hanan begins with Moshe's impassioned plea to G-d that he be allowed to enter the Land of Israel. Speaking to Beneh Yisrael before his passing, Moshe recalled how "I beseeched G-d at that time, saying" – how he begged for the privilege of entering the land together with Beneh Yisrael. The Or Ha'haim Ha'kadosh (Rav Haim Ben-Attar, 1696-1743) comments that in this verse, with which Moshe introduces his prayer, he alludes to us four principles regarding prayer, the ways to maximize its effectiveness and help ensure that our prayers are accepted. The first principle is expressed in the word "Va'et'hanan" – "I beseeched." This particular verb refers not simply to prayer, but to prayer with humility and submission, like a poor person begging for charity. The Or Ha'haim cites in this context the verse in the Book of Mishleh (18:23), "Tahanunim Yedaber Rash" – "A pauper speaks words of supplication." The word "Va'e'thanan," then, denotes prayer recited like a pauper who humbly begs for help, recognizing our complete dependence on G-d for our needs. Secondly, the Or Ha'haim continues, Moshe says that he prayed to "Hashem" – referring to G-d with the Name of "Havaya," which signifies G-d's attribute of compassion. While praying, we must intend to appeal to what the Or Ha'haim calls "Mekor Ha'rahamim" – "the source of compassion," G-d's attribute of mercy, trusting in His infinite compassion, that He is prepared to provide us with our needs and grant our requests even if we are undeserving. Moshe then emphasizes that he uttered this prayer "Ba'et Ha'hi" – "at that time." The Or Ha'haim explains that although prayer is, of course, valuable and beneficial at any time, certain occasions are considered an "Et Rason" (literally, "a time of goodwill"), an especially propitious time for having our prayers answered. Moshe Rabbenu, of course, knew precisely which times were an "Et Rason," and so he uttered his prayer then. The Or Ha'haim cites the Sages' interpretation that the phrase "Ba'et Hahi" refers to the time of Beneh Yisrael's successful battle against the kingdoms of Sihon and Og, which effectively began the process of conquering Eretz Yisrael. As Hashem had begun this process, Moshe perhaps felt that this was an auspicious time to pray for the privilege of seeing the completion of this process across the river, in the Land of Israel. The final word in this verse – "L'emor" ("saying") – implies that Moshe chose his words carefully when he prayed. When one prays to G-d, he must ensure to use the right words, to express himself clearly, to articulate very specifically what it is that he requests. Proper and precise formulation of one's words is critical for the efficacy of his prayer. May we follow Moshe's example of prayer, praying in the right way, with the right intentions, and at the right times, so that we will be worthy of having all our prayers answered in full, Amen.

église AB Lausanne ; KJV Deuteronomy 3 Then we turned, and went up the way to Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan came out against us, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. And the LORD said unto me, Fear him not: for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. So the LORD our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, threescore cities, all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan. All these cities were fenced with high walls, gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. And we utterly destroyed them, as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city. But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey to ourselves. And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon; (Which Hermon the Sidonians call Sirion; and the Amorites call it Shenir;) All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan, unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. ...

église AB Lausanne ; KJV Deuteronomy 1 These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain over against the Red sea, between Paran, and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab. (There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadesh-barnea.) And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them; After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei: On this side Jordan, in the land of Moab, began Moses to declare this law, saying, The LORD our God spake unto us in Horeb, saying, Ye have dwelt long enough in this mount: Turn you, and take your journey, and go to the mount of the Amorites, and unto all the places nigh thereunto, in the plain, in the hills, and in the vale, and in the south, and by the sea side, to the land of the Canaanites, and unto Lebanon, unto the great river, the river Euphrates. Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them. And I spake unto you at that time, saying, I am not able to bear you myself alone: The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude. ...

Moses and the Lord encourage Joshua and you Deu 31:1  And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. Deu 31:2  And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. Deu 31:3  The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. Deu 31:4  And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed. Deu 31:5  And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Deu 31:6  Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.  

Deu 31:1  And Moses went and spake these words unto all Israel. Deu 31:2  And he said unto them, I am an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan. Deu 31:3  The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said. Deu 31:4  And the LORD shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og, kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed. Deu 31:5  And the LORD shall give them up before your face, that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. Deu 31:6  Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

They've come all this way. He says in verse two. This is fascinating. It is 11 days journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. Now it came to pass in the 40th year and the 11th month, on the first day of the month that Moses spoke to the children of Israel, according to all that the Lord had given him his commandments to them, after he had killed Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and dwelt in Ashbourne, and then og, king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in dry.

Your past may be a _____________, but God can turn it into a ___________________. [Joshua 2:1] Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, "Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho." So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night. Your ___________ and actions _________ can define your future. [Joshua 2:8-15] Before the spies went to sleep that night, Rahab went up on the roof to talk with them. [9] "I know the LORD has given you this land," she told them. "We are all afraid of you. Everyone in the land is living in terror. [10] For we have heard how the LORD made a dry path for you through the Red Sea when you left Egypt. And we know what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River, whose people you completely destroyed. [11] No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such things. For the LORD your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below. Rahab chose to ___________________ with God's people rather than her own. [Joshua 6:22-24] Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, "Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute's house and bring her out, along with all her family." [23] The men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all the other relatives who were with her. They moved her whole family to a safe place near the camp of Israel. [24] Then the Israelites burned the town and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of the LORD's house. God loves to ________________ what was _________________. [Matthew 1:5-6] Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. [6] Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). Our ________ does not dictate our potential in God's __________. [James 2:25-26] Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions when she hid those messengers and sent them safely away by a different road. [26] Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works. Faith is demonstrated by your__________ not your ___________. [Hebrews 11:31-32] It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. [32] How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. God can ___________________ and use you for His purposes.

What if you could transform your spiritual life with just 60 seconds of contemplation a week? Discover how the teachings of the Ramchal provide the "Golden Key" to self-control and overcoming the Yetzirah, and learn how to ignite the dormant knowledge of God within you. Through reflection, we uncover the profound lessons from Parsha Chukas, recounting the pivotal losses of Miriam and Aaron HaKoen, Moshe's punishment for striking the rock, and the Israelites' dramatic encounter with Sihon, King of the Amorites. Witness the extraordinary power and support of Hakadosh Baruch Hu as these events unfold.Join us on an enriching journey as we explore the life-changing practice of cheshbon, or self-contemplation, inspired by the profound teachings of the Ramchal. We'll dive into the lives of exemplary figures like Moshe, Aaron HaKoen, Rashi, and David HaMelech to understand how honest reflection can lead to true success and fulfillment. By dedicating just 60 seconds weekly to pondering fundamental questions about our existence and role in God's world, you can foster genuine self-control and spiritual growth. Prepare to take a "vacation to the town of Hezbon" and achieve remarkable personal and spiritual development with us.Support the Show.Join The Motivation Congregation WhatsApp community for daily motivational Torah content!------------------Check out our other Torah Podcasts and content! SUBSCRIBE to The Motivation Congregation Podcast for daily motivational Mussar! Listen on Spotify or 24six! Find all Torah talks and listen to featured episodes on our website, themotivationcongregation.org Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com

Joshua 9:1-10 1 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon--the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite--heard about it, 2 that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord. 3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us." 7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?" 8 But they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?" 9 So they said to him: "From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, 10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan--to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.   In many ways the Book of Joshua not only teaches us that we as believers must live by faith to defeat our enemies, but it also teaches us that we must face the realities of our flesh and weaknesses. One day we by faith are crossing the Jordan River, conquering Jericho and Ai, big and small challenges, but the next day, also find we still have an old sin nature desiring the things of this world, and like Achan, we get ourselves and the people around us in a mess.   In Joshua 9, Joshua and the people of Israel no sooner enjoy a victory over Ai in chapter 8, they encounter a deceitful enemy but fail to recognize it. The devil might show up as a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), and we easily recognize him and his temptation and we resist him in the Lord and experience victory. But he never goes that far away and shortly returns to deceive us with a lie to trick us into believing something that is not true.   Joshua 8 ends with Joshua and the people building an altar, worshiping, making a new commitment to the Lord, reading God's Word, and determining to be more faithful and obedient to the Lord. Immediately after that we read in chapter 9, that while Israel was at Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim, reaffirming their commitment to the Lord, the kings in Canaan were getting ready to attack (vv. 1-2). They had heard about the defeat of Jericho and Ai and were not about to give up without a fight. It was time for them to go on the offensive and attack these Jewish invaders. The city-states in Canaan were not always friendly with one another, but local rivals can often come together when they have a common enemy (Ps. 2:1-2; Luke 23:12).   After an experience of great blessing, God's people must be especially prepared to confront the enemy; for like Canaan, the Christian life is "a land of hills and valleys" (Deut. 11:11). But Israel's greatest danger wasn't the confederation of the armies of Canaan. It was a group of men from Gibeon who were about to enter the camp and deceive Joshua and the princes of Israel. Satan sometimes comes as a devouring lion (1 Peter 5:8) and sometimes as a deceiving serpent (2 Cor. 11:3), and we must be alert and protected by the spiritual armor God has provided for us (Eph. 6:10-18).   Today, may the Lord help us to remember that especially after a victory and we make our strongest commitment to the Lord, that is when we are in the most danger of being deceived by the enemy.   God Bless!

My good friend, Ari Hoffman, is a successful talk show host in Seattle. He is more knowledgeable on Israel and his Jewish faith than anyone I've ever met. He broke the story that Hamas has a money flow coming out of Seattle to fund The Palestine Chronicle. The Palestine Chronicle has ties to those who held Israeli hostages in their homes. We also talk about the outright hatred of Jewish people that runs rampant in Seattle. Ari is fascinating to talk to and I believe you will learn much from our conversation. What does God's Word say? Deuteronomy 29 Renewal of the Covenant29 These are the terms of the covenant the Lord commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, in addition to the covenant he had made with them at Horeb.2 Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them:Your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. 3 With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those signs and great wonders. 4 But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear. 5 Yet the Lord says, “During the forty years that I led you through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. 6 You ate no bread and drank no wine or other fermented drink. I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.”7 When you reached this place, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan came out to fight against us, but we defeated them. 8 We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh.9 Carefully follow the terms of this covenant, so that you may prosper in everything you do. 10 All of you are standing today in the presence of the Lord your God—your leaders and chief men, your elders and officials, and all the other men of Israel, 11 together with your children and your wives, and the foreigners living in your camps who chop your wood and carry your water. 12 You are standing here in order to enter into a covenant with the Lord your God, a covenant the Lord is making with you this day and sealing with an oath, 13 to confirm you this day as his people, that he may be your God as he promised you and as he swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 14 I am making this covenant, with its oath, not only with you 15 who are standing here with us today in the presence of the Lord our God but also with those who are not here today.16 You yourselves know how we lived in Egypt and how we passed through the countries on the way here. 17 You saw among them their detestable images and idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold. 18 Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.19 When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry. 20 The Lord will never be willing to forgive them; his wrath and zeal will burn against them. All the curses written in this book will fall on them, and the Lord will blot out their names from under heaven. 21 The Lord will single them out from all the tribes of Israel for disaster, according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law.22 Your children who follow you in later generations and foreigners who come from distant lands will see the calamities that have fallen on the land and the diseases with which the Lord has afflicted it. 23 The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger. 24 All the nations will ask: “Why has the Lord done this to this land? Why this fierce, burning anger?”25 And the answer will be: “It is because this people abandoned the covenant of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, the covenant he made with them when he brought them out of Egypt. 26 They went off and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, gods they did not know, gods he had not given them. 27 Therefore the Lord's anger burned against this land, so that he brought on it all the curses written in this book. 28 In furious anger and in great wrath the Lord uprooted them from their land and thrust them into another land, as it is now.”29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.Episode 1,664 Links:The Ari Hoffman ShowAri Hoffman, associate editor and Seattle correspondent of The Post MillennialAlan's Soapshttps://alanssoaps.com/TODDUse coupon code ‘TODD' to save an additional 10% off the bundle price.Bioptimizershttps://bioptimizers.com/toddUse promo code TODD for 10% off your order. Sharpen your edge and reach your potential with Mushroom Breakthrough by Bioptimizers.Bonefroghttps://bonefrogcoffee.com/toddUse code TODD at checkout to receive 10% off your first purchase and 15% on subscriptions.Bulwark CapitalBulwark Capital Management (bulwarkcapitalmgmt.com)Sign up today for Zach's free webinar on June 27th at KnowYourRiskRadio.com.  EdenPUREhttps://edenpuredeals.comUse code TODD3 to save $200 on the Thunderstorm Air Purifier 3-pack.GreenHaven Interactivehttps://greenhaveninteractive.comA worldclass website that shows up on Google. Interested? Visit GreenHaven today.Native Pathhttps://nativehydrate.com/toddStay hydrated and save 44% when you visit NativeHydrate.com/todd today! Renue Healthcarehttps://renuewellcation.comYour journey to a better life starts at Renue Healthcare.  Visit renue.healthcare/Todd

The is nothing that breeds failure like success! That's the story line in Joshua 7! In Joshua 1, we meet God's man for the hour, Joshua. He is a prepared man to take the place of Moses to lead the people of Israel into the Promise Land! He is a servant, a soldier, and a man of faith. In these first chapters of the book, leads the people miraculously across the Jordan River and conquers a tremendous fortress, the City of Jericho. In Joshua 2, we met Rahab the harlot! She is a pagan Canaanite, who put her faith in the God of Israel, hides the spies, and saves herself and her family from the destruction of Jericho.   Now in Joshua 7, we meet another man by the name of Achan. No doubt he is one of the soldiers of the army of Israel. He grew up in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses and experienced God's provisions every day; manna from heaven, water miraculously come out of rocks, great victories over power kings like Sihon and Og, and more recently the transfer of leadership from Moses to Joshua. He must have heard and maybe even participated in proclaiming with the men of Israel in Joshua 1:16-18, “So they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you. Only the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your command and does not heed your words, in all that you command him, shall be put to death. Only be strong and of good courage."   Achan watched the Jordan River miraculously part and dry up as they entered the Promise land just a few weeks earlier. He marched around the walls of Jericho and saw them fall flat and the city destroyed. And he also must have heard the instructions that Joshua gave all the people in Joshua 6:18-19, “And you, by all means abstain from the accursed things, lest you become accursed when you take of the accursed things, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver and gold, and vessels of bronze and iron, are consecrated to the LORD; they shall come into the treasury of the LORD."    Achan was indeed a very blessed man! He was of the seed of Abraham, an Israelite, God's chosen people. He was from the tribe of Judah, which would produce the Messiah. He had a wife and precious children. He had a nice tent to live in. But! That is how chapter 7 of Joshua begins. Did you notice how Joshua 6 ended? After the great victory over Jericho we read, “So, the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country” (Joshua 6:27). Great success! Joshua is on the front page of all the newspapers in Canaan. He leads the evening news broadcast! And most of all, he has the testimony that the LORD was with him.   Great victory, but there was sin in the camp of Israel that changed everything. One translation of verse 1 reads, “But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites….”.  Remember the instructions in Joshua 6:18-19. Achan is known in Bible history as the man who troubled Israel (Josh. 7:25). Because of Achan's disobedience, Israel was defeated at Ai, and the enemy killed thirty-six Jewish soldiers. It was Israel's first and only military defeat in Canaan, a defeat that is forever associated with Achan's name.   We should never underestimate the amount of damage one person can do outside the will of God. Over the next few days, we might need to ask the Lord what are we hiding in our secret closets that is causing defeat in our families and church!   God bless!

31 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: 2 “I am now a hundred and twenty years old and I am no longer able to lead you. The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.' 3 The Lord your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the Lord said.4 And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. 5 The Lord will deliver them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. 6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” 7 Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. 8 The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” 9 So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. 10 Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Festival of Tabernacles,11 when all Israel comes to appear before the Lord your God at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing. 12 Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. 13 Their children, who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.” 14 The Lord said to Moses, “Now the day of your death is near. Call Joshua and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will commission him.” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting. 15 Then the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent. 16 And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors, and these people will soon prostitute themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake me and break the covenant I made with them. 17 And in that day I will become angry with them and forsake them; I will hide my face from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters and calamities will come on them, and in that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?' 18 And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods. 19 “Now write down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness for me against them. 20 When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors, and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods and worship them, rejecting me and breaking my covenant. 21 And when many disasters and calamities come on them, this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do, even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.”22 So Moses wrote down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites. 23 The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.” 24 After Moses finished writing in a book the words of this law from beginning to end, 25 he gave this command to the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord:26 “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you. 27 For I know how rebellious and stiff-necked you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! 28 Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them. 29 For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.” 30 And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

Whenever God is getting ready to do a great work in this world, He is already preparing a great leader. He is looking for someone who has the spirit of humility and a servant's heart that He can trust to be obedient to His Word. Before God sent the flood, He found a Noah. When God was ready to birth the nation of Israel, He found a Abraham. When God needed a someone to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt, He found a Moses. When God was ready to transform Israel into a great Kingdom nation, He found a David. When the Lord was laying the foundation for His Church, He found a Peter. When God wanted to turn the world upside down with the Gospel, He found a Paul. God spent years preparing each one of these men for the great work they were called to do for God!   God spent at least forty years preparing Joshus to be the great leader that would move the people of Israel into Promise Land and conquer all the giants and enemies there and give each tribe their inheritance. When I was in Bible College, I heard a great pastor, Dr. Lee Roberson, make a statement I never forgot. He said, “Everything rises and falls on leadership.” This is so true. All our failures in our homes, in our churches, in our communities, and in our nation can be blamed on poor leadership!   If there were ever a time that we needed a new generation of great leaders for our homes, churches, nation, and the world, it is now! When read in Scripture about Joshua becoming the successor to Moses, I couldn't help but notice that it was prayer that prepared him for his great success as a leader.   When we first met Joshua as a soldier fighting with Amalek, Moses was on the hillside praying for his success. When Israel defeated Og, king of Bashan, and Sihon, king of Hesbon, Moses used that victory to encourage Joshua not to be afraid of his enemies. (Deuteronomy 3:21-22).    When Moses was preparing to die, he asked God to allow him to cross the Jordan and see the Promise Land, but God told him he could not cross over but that he would be allowed to see it. As Moses was praying, God also told him that Joshua would be the one to lead the people across the Jordan. “But command Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him; for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which you will see” (Deuteronomy 3:28).   Moses also prayed for a successor that would successfully lead the people. “Then Moses spoke to the LORD, saying: "Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation, who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be like sheep which have no shepherd." And the LORD said to Moses: "Take Joshua the son of Nun with you, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him; set him before Eleazar the priest and before all the congregation, and inaugurate him in their sight. And you shall give some of your authority to him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient” (Numbers 27:15-20)   My friend, if there were ever a time that we need to pray for God to give us godly leaders for our homes, churches and nation, it is now. Like Moses, Joshua was human and made his share of mistakes; but he was still God's chosen and anointed leader, and the people knew this. This is why they said to Joshua, "Just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you" (Josh. 1:17).   The secret of Joshua's success was his faith in the Word of God (Josh. 1:7-9), its commandments and its promises. God's Word to Joshua was "Be strong, be courageous, do not be afraid…!" (vv. 6-7, 9,18; and see Deut. 31:6-7, 23); and this is His Word to His people today.   May the Lord help us to pray for this kind of leadership today!

Support Common Prayer Daily @ PatreonVisit our Website for more www.commonprayerdaily.com_______________EasterIf then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ConfessionOfficiant: Let us humbly confess our sins unto Almighty God.People: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws.We have left undone those things which we ought to have done, and we have done those things which we ought not to have done; and apart from your grace, there is no health in us. O Lord, have mercy upon us. Spare all those who confess their faults. Restore all those who are penitent, according to your promises declared to all people in Christ Jesus our Lord. And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may now live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of your holy Name. Amen.Officiant: Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen. Invitatory & PsalmsOfficiant: O God, make speed to save us. People: O Lord, make haste to help us. Officiant & People: Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Christ our PassoverPascha Nostrum - BCP p. 83Alleluia.Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; *therefore let us keep the feast,Not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, *but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia.Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; *death no longer has dominion over him.The death that he died, he died to sin, once for all; *but the life he lives, he lives to God.So also consider yourselves dead to sin, *and alive to God in Jesus Christ our Lord. Alleluia.Christ has been raised from the dead, *the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.For since by a man came death, *by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.For as in Adam all die, *so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Alleluia. Psalm 136Confitemini - BCP p. 789Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, *for his mercy endures for ever.Give thanks to the God of gods, *for his mercy endures for ever.Give thanks to the Lord of lords, *for his mercy endures for ever.Who only does great wonders, *for his mercy endures for ever;Who by wisdom made the heavens, *for his mercy endures for ever;Who spread out the earth upon the waters, *for his mercy endures for ever;Who created great lights, *for his mercy endures for ever;The sun to rule the day, *for his mercy endures for ever;The moon and the stars to govern the night, *for his mercy endures for ever.Who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, *for his mercy endures for ever;And brought out Israel from among them, *for his mercy endures for ever;With a mighty hand and a stretched-out arm, *for his mercy endures for ever;Who divided the Red Sea in two, *for his mercy endures for ever;And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, *for his mercy endures for ever;But swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea, *for his mercy endures for ever;Who led his people through the wilderness, *for his mercy endures for ever.Who struck down great kings, *for his mercy endures for ever;And slew mighty kings, *for his mercy endures for ever;Sihon, king of the Amorites, *for his mercy endures for ever;And Og, the king of Bashan, *for his mercy endures for ever;And gave away their lands for an inheritance, *for his mercy endures for ever;An inheritance for Israel his servant, *for his mercy endures for ever.Who remembered us in our low estate, *for his mercy endures for ever;And delivered us from our enemies, *for his mercy endures for ever;Who gives food to all creatures, *for his mercy endures for ever.Give thanks to the God of heaven, *for his mercy endures for ever. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The LessonsExod. 13:1-2,11-16The Lord said to Moses: Consecrate to me all the firstborn; whatever is the first to open the womb among the Israelites, of human beings and animals, is mine. “When the Lord has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and has given it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your livestock that are males shall be the Lord's. But every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. Every firstborn male among your children you shall redeem. When in the future your child asks you, 'What does this mean?' you shall answer, 'By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborn to the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord every male that first opens the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.' It shall serve as a sign on your hand and as an emblem on your forehead that by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt." Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. 21. You are GodTe Deum laudamusYou are God: we praise you;You are the Lord; we acclaim you;You are the eternal Father:All creation worships you.To you all angels, all the powers of heaven,Cherubim and Seraphim, sing in endless praise:Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might,heaven and earth are full of your glory.The glorious company of apostles praise you.The noble fellowship of prophets praise you.The white-robed army of martyrs praise you.Throughout the world the holy Church acclaims you;Father, of majesty unbounded,your true and only Son, worthy of all worship,and the Holy Spirit, advocate and guide.You, Christ, are the king of glory,the eternal Son of the Father.When you became man to set us freeyou did not shun the Virgin's womb.You overcame the sting of deathand opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.You are seated at God's right hand in glory.We believe that you will come and be our judge.Come then, Lord, and help your people,bought with the price of your own blood,and bring us with your saintsto glory everlasting. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. 1 Cor. 15:51-58Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.Officiant: The Word of the LordPeople: Thanks be to God. 16. The Song of ZechariahBenedictus Dominus Deus - Luke 1: 68-79Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; *he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *born of the house of his servant David.Through his holy prophets he promised of old,that he would save us from our enemies, *from the hands of all who hate us.He promised to show mercy to our fathers *and to remember his holy covenant.This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham, *to set us free from the hands of our enemies,Free to worship him without fear, *holy and righteous in his sightall the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High, *for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,To give his people knowledge of salvation *by the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our God *the dawn from on high shall break upon us,To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. The CreedI believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The PrayersOfficiant: The Lord be with you.People: And also with you.Officiant: Let us pray The Lord's PrayerOur Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. The SuffragesShow us your mercy, O Lord;And grant us your salvation.Clothe your ministers with righteousness;Let your people sing with joy.Give peace, O Lord, in all the world;For only in you can we live in safety. Lord, keep this nation under your care;And guide us in the way of justice and truth. Let your way be known upon earth; Your saving health among all nations. Let not the needy, O Lord, be forgotten; Nor the hope of the poor be taken away. Create in us clean hearts, O God; And sustain us with your Holy Spirit.Take a moment at this time to reflect and pray for the needs of others. Friday in Easter WeekAlmighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.A Collect for PeaceO God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.A Collect for GraceLord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.For MissionAlmighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ThanksgivingsThe General ThanksgivingAlmighty God, Father of all mercies, we your unworthy servants give you humble thanks for all your goodness and loving-kindness to us and to all whom you have made. We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all for your immeasurable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory throughout all ages. Amen.A Prayer of St. ChrysostomAlmighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen. ConclusionLet us bless the Lord. Alleluia, alleluia.Thanks be to God. Alleluia, alleluia. Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.Ephesians 3:20,21

Deuteronomy 3 continues Moses' retrospective on Israel's journey to the Promised Land, focusing on their encounters and victories over the Amorite kings Sihon and Og. It details the allocation of conquered lands to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, while also highlighting Moses' personal disappointment at being forbidden by God to enter the Promised Land. This chapter underscores the themes of divine providence, leadership, and the consequences of disobeying God. The Rev. Matthew Wurm, pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Deuteronomy 3. Come along as we dive into the timeless wisdom of Deuteronomy. This ancient book is more than history; it's a vibrant blueprint for living in harmony with God's will. Discover the profound teachings on law, justice, and morality, and hear how they resonate in our lives today. Deuteronomy calls us to obedience, love for our neighbor, and the crucial task of imparting faith to future generations. It's a narrative of love, responsibility, and the blessings of faithfulness, juxtaposed with warnings against forgetting our covenant with God. Join us as we explore the enduring messages of Deuteronomy and witness how they can transform our understanding of faith and daily living for Christ.

Joshua 2: 1-6, 8-14, 18, 21And Joshua the son of Nun sent 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. And it was told to the king of Jericho, “Behold, men of Israel have come here tonight to search out the land.” 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.” 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. 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.” 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.  Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof 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. 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.  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.  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 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.” 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…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.“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.Sermon Questions:1. What is one expectation you have about God, how He operates, or works?2. If you met Jesus in person today, how would you expect him to react to you?3. What are some things God has done in your life?4. What's one area of weakness you typically cover up? How could God use that to welcome you/others?5. Pray for one person, who you wouldn't naturally expect, to meet Jesus. And then pray that He would use you to help that person meet Him.

Old Testament: Hosea 2–5 Hosea 2–5 (Listen) Israel's Unfaithfulness Punished 2 1 Say to your brothers, “You are my people,”2 and to your sisters, “You have received mercy.”3 2   “Plead with your mother, plead—    for she is not my wife,    and I am not her husband—  that she put away her whoring from her face,    and her adultery from between her breasts;3   lest I strip her naked    and make her as in the day she was born,  and make her like a wilderness,    and make her like a parched land,    and kill her with thirst.4   Upon her children also I will have no mercy,    because they are children of whoredom.5   For their mother has played the whore;    she who conceived them has acted shamefully.  For she said, ‘I will go after my lovers,    who give me my bread and my water,    my wool and my flax, my oil and my drink.'6   Therefore I will hedge up her4 way with thorns,    and I will build a wall against her,    so that she cannot find her paths.7   She shall pursue her lovers    but not overtake them,  and she shall seek them    but shall not find them.  Then she shall say,    ‘I will go and return to my first husband,    for it was better for me then than now.'8   And she did not know    that it was I who gave her    the grain, the wine, and the oil,  and who lavished on her silver and gold,    which they used for Baal.9   Therefore I will take back    my grain in its time,    and my wine in its season,  and I will take away my wool and my flax,    which were to cover her nakedness.10   Now I will uncover her lewdness    in the sight of her lovers,    and no one shall rescue her out of my hand.11   And I will put an end to all her mirth,    her feasts, her new moons, her Sabbaths,    and all her appointed feasts.12   And I will lay waste her vines and her fig trees,    of which she said,  ‘These are my wages,    which my lovers have given me.'  I will make them a forest,    and the beasts of the field shall devour them.13   And I will punish her for the feast days of the Baals    when she burned offerings to them  and adorned herself with her ring and jewelry,    and went after her lovers    and forgot me, declares the LORD. The Lord's Mercy on Israel 14   “Therefore, behold, I will allure her,    and bring her into the wilderness,    and speak tenderly to her.15   And there I will give her her vineyards    and make the Valley of Achor5 a door of hope.  And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,    as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. 16 “And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me ‘My Husband,' and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.' 17 For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be remembered by name no more. 18 And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish6 the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. 19 And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. 20 I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the LORD. 21   “And in that day I will answer, declares the LORD,    I will answer the heavens,    and they shall answer the earth,22   and the earth shall answer the grain, the wine, and the oil,    and they shall answer Jezreel,723     and I will sow her for myself in the land.  And I will have mercy on No Mercy,8    and I will say to Not My People,9 ‘You are my people';    and he shall say, ‘You are my God.'” Hosea Redeems His Wife 3 And the LORD said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by another man and is an adulteress, even as the LORD loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love cakes of raisins.” 2 So I bought her for fifteen shekels of silver and a homer and a lethech10 of barley. 3 And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.” 4 For the children of Israel shall dwell many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or pillar, without ephod or household gods. 5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God, and David their king, and they shall come in fear to the LORD and to his goodness in the latter days. The Lord Accuses Israel 4   Hear the word of the LORD, O children of Israel,    for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land.  There is no faithfulness or steadfast love,    and no knowledge of God in the land;2   there is swearing, lying, murder, stealing, and committing adultery;    they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed.3   Therefore the land mourns,    and all who dwell in it languish,  and also the beasts of the field    and the birds of the heavens,    and even the fish of the sea are taken away. 4   Yet let no one contend,    and let none accuse,    for with you is my contention, O priest.115   You shall stumble by day;    the prophet also shall stumble with you by night;    and I will destroy your mother.6   My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge;    because you have rejected knowledge,    I reject you from being a priest to me.  And since you have forgotten the law of your God,    I also will forget your children. 7   The more they increased,    the more they sinned against me;    I will change their glory into shame.8   They feed on the sin12 of my people;    they are greedy for their iniquity.9   And it shall be like people, like priest;    I will punish them for their ways    and repay them for their deeds.10   They shall eat, but not be satisfied;    they shall play the whore, but not multiply,  because they have forsaken the LORD    to cherish 11 whoredom, wine, and new wine,    which take away the understanding.12   My people inquire of a piece of wood,    and their walking staff gives them oracles.  For a spirit of whoredom has led them astray,    and they have left their God to play the whore.13   They sacrifice on the tops of the mountains    and burn offerings on the hills,  under oak, poplar, and terebinth,    because their shade is good.  Therefore your daughters play the whore,    and your brides commit adultery.14   I will not punish your daughters when they play the whore,    nor your brides when they commit adultery;  for the men themselves go aside with prostitutes    and sacrifice with cult prostitutes,  and a people without understanding shall come to ruin. 15   Though you play the whore, O Israel,    let not Judah become guilty.  Enter not into Gilgal,    nor go up to Beth-aven,    and swear not, “As the LORD lives.”16   Like a stubborn heifer,    Israel is stubborn;  can the LORD now feed them    like a lamb in a broad pasture? 17   Ephraim is joined to idols;    leave him alone.18   When their drink is gone, they give themselves to whoring;    their rulers13 dearly love shame.19   A wind has wrapped them14 in its wings,    and they shall be ashamed because of their sacrifices. Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah 5   Hear this, O priests!    Pay attention, O house of Israel!  Give ear, O house of the king!    For the judgment is for you;  for you have been a snare at Mizpah    and a net spread upon Tabor.2   And the revolters have gone deep into slaughter,    but I will discipline all of them. 3   I know Ephraim,    and Israel is not hidden from me;  for now, O Ephraim, you have played the whore;    Israel is defiled.4   Their deeds do not permit them    to return to their God.  For the spirit of whoredom is within them,    and they know not the LORD. 5   The pride of Israel testifies to his face;15    Israel and Ephraim shall stumble in his guilt;    Judah also shall stumble with them.6   With their flocks and herds they shall go    to seek the LORD,  but they will not find him;    he has withdrawn from them.7   They have dealt faithlessly with the LORD;    for they have borne alien children.    Now the new moon shall devour them with their fields. 8   Blow the horn in Gibeah,    the trumpet in Ramah.  Sound the alarm at Beth-aven;    we follow you,16 O Benjamin!9   Ephraim shall become a desolation    in the day of punishment;  among the tribes of Israel    I make known what is sure.10   The princes of Judah have become    like those who move the landmark;  upon them I will pour out    my wrath like water.11   Ephraim is oppressed, crushed in judgment,    because he was determined to go after filth.1712   But I am like a moth to Ephraim,    and like dry rot to the house of Judah. 13   When Ephraim saw his sickness,    and Judah his wound,  then Ephraim went to Assyria,    and sent to the great king.18  But he is not able to cure you    or heal your wound.14   For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,    and like a young lion to the house of Judah.  I, even I, will tear and go away;    I will carry off, and no one shall rescue. 15   I will return again to my place,    until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face,    and in their distress earnestly seek me. Footnotes [1] 2:1 Ch 2:3 in Hebrew [2] 2:1 Hebrew ammi, which means my people [3] 2:1 Hebrew ruhama, which means she has received mercy [4] 2:6 Hebrew your [5] 2:15 Achor means trouble; compare Joshua 7:26 [6] 2:18 Hebrew break [7] 2:22 Jezreel means God will sow [8] 2:23 Hebrew Lo-ruhama [9] 2:23 Hebrew Lo-ammi [10] 3:2 A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams; a homer was about 6 bushels or 220 liters; a lethech was about 3 bushels or 110 liters [11] 4:4 Or for your people are like those who contend with the priest [12] 4:8 Or sin offering [13] 4:18 Hebrew shields [14] 4:19 Hebrew her [15] 5:5 Or in his presence [16] 5:8 Or after you [17] 5:11 Or to follow human precepts [18] 5:13 Or to King Jareb (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 136 Psalm 136 (Listen) His Steadfast Love Endures Forever 136   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,    for his steadfast love endures forever.2   Give thanks to the God of gods,    for his steadfast love endures forever.3   Give thanks to the Lord of lords,    for his steadfast love endures forever; 4   to him who alone does great wonders,    for his steadfast love endures forever;5   to him who by understanding made the heavens,    for his steadfast love endures forever;6   to him who spread out the earth above the waters,    for his steadfast love endures forever;7   to him who made the great lights,    for his steadfast love endures forever;8   the sun to rule over the day,    for his steadfast love endures forever;9   the moon and stars to rule over the night,    for his steadfast love endures forever; 10   to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,    for his steadfast love endures forever;11   and brought Israel out from among them,    for his steadfast love endures forever;12   with a strong hand and an outstretched arm,    for his steadfast love endures forever;13   to him who divided the Red Sea in two,

Old Testament: Hosea 1 Hosea 1 (Listen) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. Hosea's Wife and Children 2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.” 3 So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. 4 And the LORD said to him, “Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.” 6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the LORD said to him, “Call her name No Mercy,1 for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all. 7 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the LORD their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen.” 8 When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. 9 And the LORD said, “Call his name Not My People,2 for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”3 10 4 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children5 of the living God.” 11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel. Footnotes [1] 1:6 Hebrew Lo-ruhama, which means she has not received mercy [2] 1:9 Hebrew Lo-ammi, which means not my people [3] 1:9 Hebrew I am not yours [4] 1:10 Ch 2:1 in Hebrew [5] 1:10 Or Sons (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 135 Psalm 135 (Listen) Your Name, O Lord, Endures Forever 135   Praise the LORD!  Praise the name of the LORD,    give praise, O servants of the LORD,2   who stand in the house of the LORD,    in the courts of the house of our God!3   Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;    sing to his name, for it is pleasant!14   For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,    Israel as his own possession. 5   For I know that the LORD is great,    and that our Lord is above all gods.6   Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,    in heaven and on earth,    in the seas and all deeps.7   He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,    who makes lightnings for the rain    and brings forth the wind from his storehouses. 8   He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,    both of man and of beast;9   who in your midst, O Egypt,    sent signs and wonders    against Pharaoh and all his servants;10   who struck down many nations    and killed mighty kings,11   Sihon, king of the Amorites,    and Og, king of Bashan,    and all the kingdoms of Canaan,12   and gave their land as a heritage,    a heritage to his people Israel. 13   Your name, O LORD, endures forever,    your renown,2 O LORD, throughout all ages.14   For the LORD will vindicate his people    and have compassion on his servants. 15   The idols of the nations are silver and gold,    the work of human hands.16   They have mouths, but do not speak;    they have eyes, but do not see;17   they have ears, but do not hear,    nor is there any breath in their mouths.18   Those who make them become like them,    so do all who trust in them. 19   O house of Israel, bless the LORD!    O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!20   O house of Levi, bless the LORD!    You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!21   Blessed be the LORD from Zion,    he who dwells in Jerusalem!  Praise the LORD! Footnotes [1] 135:3 Or for he is beautiful [2] 135:13 Or remembrance (ESV) New Testament: James 3–5 James 3–5 (Listen) Taming the Tongue 3 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,1 and set on fire by hell.2 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,3 these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. Wisdom from Above 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Warning Against Worldliness 4 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions4 are at war within you?5 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people!6 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.7 The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? Boasting About Tomorrow 13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. Warning to the Rich 5 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. Patience in Suffering 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers,8 until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. 12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. The Prayer of Faith 13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.9 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. 19 My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. Footnotes [1] 3:6 Or wheel of birth [2] 3:6 Greek Gehenna [3] 3:10 Or brothers and sisters; also verse 12 [4] 4:1 Greek pleasures; also verse 3 [5] 4:1 Greek in your members [6] 4:4 Or You adulteresses! [7] 4:11 Or brothers and sisters [8] 5:7 Or brothers and sisters; also verses 9, 10, 12, 19 [9] 5:16 Or The effective prayer of a righteous person has great power (ESV)

Old Testament: Jeremiah 48 Jeremiah 48 (Listen) Judgment on Moab 48 Concerning Moab. Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel:   “Woe to Nebo, for it is laid waste!    Kiriathaim is put to shame, it is taken;  the fortress is put to shame and broken down;2     the renown of Moab is no more.  In Heshbon they planned disaster against her:    ‘Come, let us cut her off from being a nation!'  You also, O Madmen, shall be brought to silence;    the sword shall pursue you. 3   “A voice! A cry from Horonaim,    ‘Desolation and great destruction!'4   Moab is destroyed;    her little ones have made a cry.5   For at the ascent of Luhith    they go up weeping;1  for at the descent of Horonaim    they have heard the distressed cry2 of destruction.6   Flee! Save yourselves!    You will be like a juniper in the desert!7   For, because you trusted in your works and your treasures,    you also shall be taken;  and Chemosh shall go into exile    with his priests and his officials.8   The destroyer shall come upon every city,    and no city shall escape;  the valley shall perish,    and the plain shall be destroyed,    as the LORD has spoken. 9   “Give wings to Moab,    for she would fly away;  her cities shall become a desolation,    with no inhabitant in them. 10 “Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed. 11   “Moab has been at ease from his youth    and has settled on his dregs;  he has not been emptied from vessel to vessel,    nor has he gone into exile;  so his taste remains in him,    and his scent is not changed. 12 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I shall send to him pourers who will pour him, and empty his vessels and break his3 jars in pieces. 13 Then Moab shall be ashamed of Chemosh, as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel, their confidence. 14   “How do you say, ‘We are heroes    and mighty men of war'?15   The destroyer of Moab and his cities has come up,    and the choicest of his young men have gone down to slaughter,    declares the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts.16   The calamity of Moab is near at hand,    and his affliction hastens swiftly.17   Grieve for him, all you who are around him,    and all who know his name;  say, ‘How the mighty scepter is broken,    the glorious staff.' 18   “Come down from your glory,    and sit on the parched ground,    O inhabitant of Dibon!  For the destroyer of Moab has come up against you;    he has destroyed your strongholds.19   Stand by the way and watch,    O inhabitant of Aroer!  Ask him who flees and her who escapes;    say, ‘What has happened?'20   Moab is put to shame, for it is broken;    wail and cry!  Tell it beside the Arnon,    that Moab is laid waste. 21 “Judgment has come upon the tableland, upon Holon, and Jahzah, and Mephaath, 22 and Dibon, and Nebo, and Beth-diblathaim, 23 and Kiriathaim, and Beth-gamul, and Beth-meon, 24 and Kerioth, and Bozrah, and all the cities of the land of Moab, far and near. 25 The horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, declares the LORD. 26 “Make him drunk, because he magnified himself against the LORD, so that Moab shall wallow in his vomit, and he too shall be held in derision. 27 Was not Israel a derision to you? Was he found among thieves, that whenever you spoke of him you wagged your head? 28   “Leave the cities, and dwell in the rock,    O inhabitants of Moab!  Be like the dove that nests    in the sides of the mouth of a gorge.29   We have heard of the pride of Moab—    he is very proud—  of his loftiness, his pride, and his arrogance,    and the haughtiness of his heart.30   I know his insolence, declares the LORD;    his boasts are false,    his deeds are false.31   Therefore I wail for Moab;    I cry out for all Moab;    for the men of Kir-hareseth I mourn.32   More than for Jazer I weep for you,    O vine of Sibmah!  Your branches passed over the sea,    reached to the Sea of Jazer;  on your summer fruits and your grapes    the destroyer has fallen.33   Gladness and joy have been taken away    from the fruitful land of Moab;  I have made the wine cease from the winepresses;    no one treads them with shouts of joy;    the shouting is not the shout of joy. 34 “From the outcry at Heshbon even to Elealeh, as far as Jahaz they utter their voice, from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath-shelishiyah. For the waters of Nimrim also have become desolate. 35 And I will bring to an end in Moab, declares the LORD, him who offers sacrifice in the high place and makes offerings to his god. 36 Therefore my heart moans for Moab like a flute, and my heart moans like a flute for the men of Kir-hareseth. Therefore the riches they gained have perished. 37 “For every head is shaved and every beard cut off. On all the hands are gashes, and around the waist is sackcloth. 38 On all the housetops of Moab and in the squares there is nothing but lamentation, for I have broken Moab like a vessel for which no one cares, declares the LORD. 39 How it is broken! How they wail! How Moab has turned his back in shame! So Moab has become a derision and a horror to all that are around him.” 40   For thus says the LORD:  “Behold, one shall fly swiftly like an eagle    and spread his wings against Moab;41   the cities shall be taken    and the strongholds seized.  The heart of the warriors of Moab shall be in that day    like the heart of a woman in her birth pains;42   Moab shall be destroyed and be no longer a people,    because he magnified himself against the LORD.43   Terror, pit, and snare    are before you, O inhabitant of Moab!      declares the LORD.44   He who flees from the terror    shall fall into the pit,  and he who climbs out of the pit    shall be caught in the snare.  For I will bring these things upon Moab,    the year of their punishment,      declares the LORD. 45   “In the shadow of Heshbon    fugitives stop without strength,  for fire came out from Heshbon,    flame from the house of Sihon;  it has destroyed the forehead of Moab,    the crown of the sons of tumult.46   Woe to you, O Moab!    The people of Chemosh are undone,  for your sons have been taken captive,    and your daughters into captivity.47   Yet I will restore the fortunes of Moab    in the latter days, declares the LORD.”  Thus far is the judgment on Moab. Footnotes [1] 48:5 Hebrew weeping goes up with weeping [2] 48:5 Septuagint (compare Isaiah 15:5) heard the cry [3] 48:12 Septuagint, Aquila; Hebrew their (ESV) Psalm: Psalm 119:17–24 Psalm 119:17–24 (Listen) Gimel 17   Deal bountifully with your servant,    that I may live and keep your word.18   Open my eyes, that I may behold    wondrous things out of your law.19   I am a sojourner on the earth;    hide not your commandments from me!20   My soul is consumed with longing    for your rules1 at all times.21   You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,    who wander from your commandments.22   Take away from me scorn and contempt,    for I have kept your testimonies.23   Even though princes sit plotting against me,    your servant will meditate on your statutes.24   Your testimonies are my delight;    they are my counselors. Footnotes [1] 119:20 Or your just decrees; also verses 30, 39, 43, 52, 75, 102, 108, 137, 156, 175 (ESV) New Testament: 2 Corinthians 1–2 2 Corinthians 1–2 (Listen) Greeting 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God that is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in the whole of Achaia: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God of All Comfort 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.1 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers,2 of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. Paul's Change of Plans 12 For our boast is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we behaved in the world with simplicity3 and godly sincerity, not by earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, and supremely so toward you. 13 For we are not writing to you anything other than what you read and understand and I hope you will fully understand—14 just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you. 15 Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 16 I wanted to visit you on my way to Macedonia, and to come back to you from Macedonia and have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 Was I vacillating when I wanted to do this? Do I make my plans according to the flesh, ready to say “Yes, yes” and “No, no” at the same time? 18 As surely as God is faithful, our word to you has not been Yes and No. 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.4 23 But I call God to witness against me—it was to spare you that I refrained from coming again to Corinth. 24 Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith. 2 For I made up my mind not to make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I cause you pain, who is there to make me glad but the one whom I have pained? 3 And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. 4 For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you. Forgive the Sinner 5 Now if anyone has caused pain, he has caused it not to me, but in some measure—not to put it too severely—to all of you. 6 For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, 7 so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him. 9 For this is why I wrote, that I might test you and know whether you are obedient in everything. 10 Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, 11 so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs. Triumph in Christ 12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia. 14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. Footnotes [1] 1:5 Or For as the sufferings of Christ abound for us, so also our comfort abounds through Christ [2] 1:8 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters [3] 1:12 Some manuscripts holiness [4] 1:22 Or down payment (ESV)