Podcasts about when israel

Welcome to Day 2887 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2887 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 136:10-16 Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2887 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2887 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: Shattering the Shackles of the Rebel Gods In our previous episode on this grand, historical journey, we scaled the opening heights of the Great Hallel: Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Six, verses one through nine. We immersed our minds in the grand, cosmic architecture of creation. We stood in the celestial courtroom, and we shouted our praise to the God of gods, and the Lord of lords—the absolute, supreme Sovereign who rules over the entire heavenly host. We saw how His Hesed—His fierce, unyielding, and covenant-keeping faithful love—was the precise engine that skillfully forged the heavens, pinned down the chaotic primordial waters beneath the dry land, and masterfully organized the sun, moon, and stars to govern our days and nights. We learned that the very fabric of physical reality is held together, every single microsecond, by this enduring, loyal affection. Today, the grand temple liturgy takes a dramatic, breathtaking turn. The congregation is still standing in the sunlit courts of Jerusalem, and the antiphonal chant continues to echo off the stone walls. But the focus of the song shifts away from the creation of the cosmos, and steps directly onto the blood-soaked soil of human history. We are exploring Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Six, verses ten through sixteen, in the New Living Translation. The psalmist demonstrates that Yahweh's faithful love is not just an abstract, distant force that manages the stars; it is an active, aggressive, and liberating power that breaks into our physical reality to rescue His people, crush abusive empires, and violently dismantle the rebel spiritual principalities who hold humanity in bondage. Let let us step onto this historic section of the trail, listen to the thunderous roar of the refrain, and watch the Divine Warrior march to war. The first segment is: The Decapitation of the Egyptian Pantheon Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Six: verses ten, eleven, and twelve. Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever. He brought Israel out from among them. His faithful love endures forever. He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm. His faithful love endures forever. The historical narrative explodes into the liturgy with a shocking, deeply unsettling declaration of judgment: “Give thanks to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt. His faithful love endures forever.” To the modern, Western mind, linking the death of the Egyptian firstborn with the phrase “His faithful love endures forever” sounds like a massive, moral contradiction. How can an act of mass fatality be described as an expression of love? To resolve this tension, we must view the Exodus through the profound lens of the Ancient Israelite divine council worldview, as masterfully taught by Doctor Michael S. Heiser. We must look back to the cosmic geography of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-two, where the nations were disinherited by Yahweh, and handed over to the jurisdiction of lesser spiritual beings—the sons of God. Egypt was the premier, terrifying superpower of the ancient world, operating under the direct, dark inspiration of these corrupt, territorial elohim. Pharaoh was not viewed merely as a human politician; he was worshiped as an incarnate god—the living proxy, and the physical avatar, of the rebel principalities. For four hundred years, under the direction of these dark forces, Egypt systematically crushed, enslaved, and attempted to completely erase Yahweh's personal allotment—the family of Israel. The book of Exodus explicitly states that the plagues were not just a leverage play against human economics; they were an open, aggressive execution of judgment against all the gods of Egypt. When the Lord struck down the firstborn, He was striking the ultimate, legal root of the empire's legacy, and divine claims. The firstborn son represented the strength, the inheritance, and the future succession of the household, and the throne. By taking the firstborn, Yahweh broke the spiritual backbone of the rebel principalities. He proved that the Egyptian gods were entirely impotent, completely unable to protect their own biological, and spiritual, lineages from the superior authority of the Creator. For the oppressed slaves, this act of terrifying justice was the ultimate manifestation of Hesed. Love for the victim requires the decisive execution of justice against the abusive tyrant. The text records the immediate, glorious consequence in verses eleven and twelve: “He brought Israel out from among them... He acted with a strong hand and powerful arm.” The language of the “strong hand and powerful arm” is a direct, deliberate polemic against the royal propaganda of Egypt. Pharaoh's monuments always depicted him with an outstretched arm, crushing his enemies. But the psalmist clears the field, declaring that Pharaoh's arm was easily snapped by the true Divine Warrior. Yahweh reached into the dark, heavily fortified territory of the rebel council, grabbed His treasured possession, and physically wrenched them free from the grip of the superpower. He broke the chains of the empire, proving that no spiritual principality can legally hold a prisoner when the Supreme Commander issues a warrant for their release. The second segment is: Slicing the Abyss and Shaking Off the Tyrant Psalm One Hundred Thirty-Six: verses thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen. Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. He led Israel safely through. His faithful love endures forever. But he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. The historical procession moves from the borders of Egypt, directly to the edge of the impossible. “Give thanks to him who parted the Red Sea... He led Israel safely through... But he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.” Once again, the congregation responds to each movement of the narrative with the unyielding, rhythmic drumbeat of faith: “His faithful love endures forever.” To fully appreciate the cosmic drama of this moment, we must understand how the ancient world viewed the geography of the sea. In the biblical and ancient Near Eastern mindset, the deep, wild, and untamed waters of the ocean—known as Yamm—represented the terrifying forces of primordial chaos. The sea was considered a chaotic deity, a dark, churning abyss that swallowed human lives, and actively fought against the ordered creation of the Almighty. When Israel stood trapped between the advancing chariots of Pharaoh, and the roaring waves of the Red Sea, they were caught between the twin jaws of death: the physical might of the empire, and the spiritual chaos of the abyss. But Yahweh executed a masterclass of cosmic subversion. He didn't just build a bridge over the sea; He violently parted the waters. The literal Hebrew text says He sliced the sea into distinct pieces. He drove back the chaotic deep, carved a highway right through the middle of the abyss, and transformed the very realm of death into a dry, safe corridor of life for His covenant family. He led them safely through, insulating them from the walls of water on either side. Then, in verse fifteen, the trap slams shut: “But he hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea.” The Hebrew word for “hurled” is na'ar, which carries the visceral graphic meaning of shaking off a bug, or flipping dirt off your clothes. This is a brilliant, mocking piece of historical sarcasm. Pharaoh had mobilized the entire military industrial complex of the ancient world—hundreds of iron chariots, elite horsemen, and weapons of terror. It was an intimidating display of imperial pride. But to the Creator of the cosmos, this terrifying army was nothing more than an annoying insect crawling on His sleeve. With one effortless flick of His wrist, Yahweh simply shook Pharaoh off into the water. The tyrant who had arrogantly commanded that every Hebrew baby boy be drowned in the Nile river, was himself drowned, along with his entire army, in the very chaos waters that his rebel gods claimed to control. The empire was swallowed by the abyss, completely neutralized, and buried beneath the waves, providing an eternal, undeniable proof that the loyal Hesed

Is Trump's latest Iran ceasefire a brilliant strategy or a dangerous mistake?Before panicking, let's remember one basic reality:Iran is never going to agree to a final deal that permanently gives up its nuclear ambitions.Yes, the reported 60-day ceasefire framework looks terrible. Iran's leaders are celebrating and portraying it as a victory. They want the Muslim world to believe they forced America to back down.Maybe they did.Maybe Trump is playing a deeper game.The truth is that none of us know.But I believe the more important question is not what Trump is doing.The more important question is what God is teaching the Jewish people.For decades, too many Israelis convinced themselves that our security ultimately depends on Washington, foreign aid, and international support.Then came October 7th.And that illusion shattered.Over the past months, Israel rediscovered something essential: sovereignty.When Israel struck Iran's military infrastructure, we acted as a sovereign nation. We did not wait for permission. We took responsibility for our own survival.Now comes the real test.Can we continue acting independently when pressure arrives?Can Israel make decisions based on Israeli security needs rather than foreign expectations?The discoveries in southern Lebanon make that question even more urgent. Hezbollah built an enormous invasion infrastructure designed to carry out an October 7th-style massacre across northern Israel.The old assumptions failed.The old deterrence failed.The old border failed.Israel cannot return to that reality.Friends can advise. Allies can assist.But only Israel bears responsibility for protecting Israeli lives.This is why I believe God is testing us.Not whether Trump succeeds or fails.Not whether Iran signs a final agreement.But whether the Jewish people have finally learned what sovereignty means.Our future does not depend on Washington.It does not depend on Tehran.It does not depend on the United Nations.It depends on our willingness to act responsibly as a sovereign nation and place our trust in Hashem.That is the real story.Am Yisrael Chai.Join Our Whatsapp Channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GkavRznXy731nxxRyptCMvFollow us on Twitter: https://x.com/AviAbelowJoin our Telegram Channel: https://t.me/aviabelowpulseFollow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pulse_of_israel/?hl=enPulse of Israel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsraelVideoNetworkVisit Our Website - https://pulseofisrael.com/Donate to Pulse of Israel: https://pulseofisrael.com/boost-this-video/

When Israel needed a king, God sent Samuel, the Priest, to the house of Jesse to anoint a young shepherd boy. What happened after David was anointed is a recipe for all of us.  Pastor JD starts our summer series with a message about the importance of development and growth.  We hope this message blesses you and helps you live better.  For more about ConnectCommuity, visit: https://www.connectcommunity.org

Welcome to Day 2881 of Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom – The Bible as a Polemic: Confronting the Powers that Rebelled Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2881 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps!   I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2881 of our Trek.   The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Our current series of Theology Thursday lessons is written by theologian and teacher John Daniels. I have found that his lessons are short, easy to understand, doctrinally sound, and applicable to all who desire to learn more of God's Word. John's lessons can be found on his website   theologyinfive.com.   Today's lesson is titled:  The Bible as a Polemic: Confronting the Powers that Rebelled To modern readers shaped by pluralism and academic detachment, the confrontational tone of the Bible may seem abrasive. But this response overlooks what the Bible truly is. It is not a disinterested theological reflection. It is a weapon. It is a series of books forged in the heart of a spiritual and historical rebellion. Its message was not formed in a vacuum but in the aftermath of Babel and the divine treason of the bene elohim who had been placed over the nations. Understanding the polemical nature of the Bible begins by understanding the world it was written to confront. The first segment is: What Is a Polemic? And Why the ANE Was Full of Them A polemic is a targeted argument or critique meant to expose, undermine, or discredit a rival idea, practice, or system. Unlike a simple disagreement or neutral description, a polemic is written to confront. It deliberately challenges an existing claim and seeks to replace it. In the ancient world, polemics were often theological, political, and cultural all at once. The gods, kings, and cities of rival nations were not treated as irrelevant. They were treated as threats that had to be addressed. In the context of the Ancient Near East, polemics were deeply embedded in the stories nations told about themselves. Every origin story, temple hymn, or divine genealogy was not just a description of how things came to be. It was a claim of legitimacy. To say your god created the world or defeated the sea monster or chose your king was to declare supremacy over other peoples and their gods. It was to say, “Our story is the true one. Yours is a counterfeit.” For example, when Babylon claimed that Marduk created the world by killing the goddess Tiamat, it was not just promoting cosmology. It was justifying Babylon's imperial authority as the city of the supreme god. When Egypt said that Ma'at held the universe together through the Pharaoh's divine rulership, it was declaring that Egyptian order was the divine ideal, and everyone else lived in chaos. In such a world, writing something like Genesis 1 was not a quiet religious reflection. It was a direct challenge to every claim made by Egypt, Babylon, and Canaan. It was a polemic. And in the Bible, this polemical instinct is not occasional. It is foundational. Israel's Scriptures were not meant to fit within the theological frameworks of other nations. They were meant to shatter them. The second segment is: Babel and the Reordering of the World Genesis 11 describes a human rebellion that goes far deeper than building a tower. At Babel, humanity attempted to unify under its own authority and defy Yahweh's mandate to fill the earth. But the judgment that followed did more than scatter languages. According to Deuteronomy 32, verses eight and nine, when Yahweh divided the nations, He appointed the bene elohim, divine sons of God, to oversee them. Only Israel would remain His direct possession. The nations were not abandoned without guidance. But over time, the spiritual beings given authority over them failed in their stewardship. They began to crave worship and corrupted the justice they were meant to uphold. Psalm 82 records Yahweh standing in judgment over these divine rulers, declaring that they would fall like mortals. This cosmic judgment sets the stage for the mission of Israel and the tone of Scripture itself. The third segment is: Israel: The Counter-Nation Unlike the nations that inherited rebellious rulers, Israel was created from scratch. Yahweh did not reform an existing people. He called Abram from among the disinherited nations and made a new people who would be His portion. Israel was not simply chosen for privilege but created for purpose. As stated in Exodus 19 verse six, they were to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This priestly identity means Israel's role was inherently polemical. Their laws, festivals, temples, and scriptures were not private religious expressions. They were public declarations that the gods of the nations were false, the powers behind them were corrupt, and that Yahweh alone was Most High over all the earth. The Bible, as the written witness of Israel's calling, reflects this purpose. The Fourth Segment is: Polemics in the Biblical Texts The polemical nature of the Bible is woven deeply into its stories, laws, songs, and prophecies. These are not culturally isolated documents. They are intentional confrontations with the dominant worldviews shaped by the fallen gods of the nations. The Fifth segment is: Creation and the Flood Genesis one is not merely an account of beginnings. It is a direct response to Mesopotamian creation myths such as Enuma Elish, which portray creation as the result of divine violence and chaos. In contrast, the biblical God creates through speech, with order and intention. There is no struggle, no divine bloodshed, no pantheon. It is a declaration that the gods of Babylon are not creators but pretenders. Likewise, the flood account in Genesis six through nine subverts the flood stories of the surrounding cultures. In the Epic of Gilgamesh, the gods send the flood in terror and regret it. In the Bible, the flood is just, purposeful, and moral. It is a surgical judgment on a world corrupted by human violence and divine rebellion, not the panicked act of unstable deities. The sixth segment is: Conquest and the Defeat of the Gods When Israel enters the land of Canaan, the conquest is not simply a political campaign. It is a cosmic battle against the corrupted spiritual rulers of the land. The defeat of Pharaoh in Egypt is explicitly described as Yahweh executing judgment on the gods of Egypt. The plagues are not random punishments but targeted humiliations of Egypt's divine protectors. Jericho's fall, the silencing of Baal on Mount Carmel, the defeat of Dagon before the Ark in 1 Samuel 5, and the crushing of Leviathan imagery in the Psalms all follow the same pattern. The text is not just reporting history. It is declaring war on the false gods and the unseen rulers who manipulated the nations into darkness. The seventh Segment is: Psalms and Prophets as Weapons The Psalms, often viewed only as worship poetry, are filled with divine council imagery and subversion of Canaanite theology. Psalm 29, for instance, uses storm language that sounds like a Baal hymn but places Yahweh as the one who rides the storm and subdues the waters. In Ugaritic myth, Baal defeats Yam to earn his throne. In the Bible, Yahweh sits enthroned above the flood before it ever lifts its head. The prophets likewise deliver blistering critiques of the nations and their gods. Isaiah 19 declares judgment not just on Egypt but on its idols, priests, and necromancers. Ezekiel 28 mocks the divine claims of the Prince of Tyre, unmasking him as a fallen being in Eden. These are not veiled jabs. They are open condemnations of spiritual rebellion embedded in political empires. The Eighth segment is: The New Testament: The War Reaches Its Climax By the time of Christ, the powers of the nations had not been dethroned. The world remained under their sway. Jesus refers to Satan as the ruler of this world and frames His ministry as a battle to bind the strong man and plunder his house. Every healing, exorcism, and storm-calming miracle is a polemic in action. Jesus is not just showing compassion. He is confronting the gods. The cross itself is the ultimate polemic. It appears to be a defeat but is actually a triumph. As Paul writes in Colossians 2:15, Christ disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame. This is courtroom and battlefield language. The spiritual powers that once ruled unchallenged were publicly exposed as weak, condemned, and temporary. The apostles carry this mission forward. Paul sees the preaching of the gospel as a cosmic declaration to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. The church is not merely a new religious community. It is the living proof that

When Israel crossed Jordan they erected stones that were to remind them of what God had done. We too have signs that remind ourselves and others what Jesus has done for us.

Judges 3:1–31 with Pastor David Maestas In Judges 3, we begin to see the cycle that will define much of Israel's history throughout the book of Judges: compromise, sin, oppression, crying out to God, deliverance, and then repeating the cycle all over again. This chapter introduces us to three judges—Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar—and reminds us of both the seriousness of spiritual drift and the incredible patience of God. Despite Israel's repeated failures, God continues to hear their cries and provide a way back. One of the surprising truths in this chapter is that God allowed certain nations to remain in the land. These nations became a test for Israel, revealing whether they would walk in obedience or compromise with the culture around them. Rather than remaining faithful, Israel quickly forgot the Lord and began adopting the practices of the surrounding nations. What began as compromise in Judges 1 and spiritual decline in Judges 2 now becomes outright rebellion. Yet even in their disobedience, God's mercy remains on display. When Israel cries out, God raises up Othniel, the first judge, to rescue them. After years of peace, the cycle begins again. Israel drifts, suffers oppression, cries out once more, and God raises up Ehud. Through an unlikely deliverer and an unexpected plan, God demonstrates that He is not limited by human strength, position, or appearance. Throughout Judges 3, one truth becomes increasingly clear: Israel's greatest problem was not the nations around them. It was their tendency to forget God when life became comfortable. And if we're honest, that struggle still exists today. Many of us seek God desperately in difficult seasons but slowly drift when life becomes easier. We assume that our biggest battles are external when often the greatest battle is remaining faithful to God when no crisis is forcing us to depend on Him. This chapter challenges us to examine our own hearts: Have I become comfortable in areas where I once depended on God? Am I allowing culture to influence me more than Scripture? Do I only seek God when I'm in trouble? What patterns keep repeating in my life because I haven't fully surrendered them to the Lord?

7 takeaways from this study Guard your heart more than your rituals. Regularly ask: “Am I trembling at God's word, or just going through motions?” (Isaiah 1:11–17; 66:2). Let your practices flow from repentance, justice, and mercy. Treat approach to God as a privilege, not a right. The Levitical pattern of טָהוֹר (tahor, clean) vs. טָמֵא (tame, unclean) reminds you to examine what in your life is “fit” or “unfit” to bring into God's presence — habits, media, speech, relationships. Live as light, not as a mirror of the culture. Israel was called to be a “light to the nations,” not a copy of them (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6). In daily decisions — ethics at work, how you handle conflict, how you speak online — ask, “Am I leading or just blending in?” Hold religious symbols and traditions loosely, but God's character tightly. Isaiah and the idol passages (e.g., Isaiah 44) warn against turning aids into objects of trust. Use traditions, liturgy, and symbols as tools to focus on God, not as things with power in themselves. Expect God to work suddenly after long seasons. Zion's “birth before labor” (Isaiah 66:7–9) teaches that God can move in a moment after years of apparent delay. Stay faithful in “ordinary time” — prayer, Scripture, obedience — so you are ready when He acts quickly. See yourself as part of a priestly calling. If God can take some from the nations as “priests and Levites” (Isaiah 66:21), then every believer has a bridge‑building role. Practically, that means: carry others' burdens, pray for them, and help them “draw near” to God through your words and presence. Read judgment passages as invitations, not just threats. The flood, destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and Isaiah's warnings all include advance mercy. When you encounter hard texts or hard providences, respond with, “What is God inviting me to change or trust right now?” rather than only fear or speculation. The central claim of Isaiah is simple. God seeks a people whose worship arises from a humble and obedient heart. He restores such a people through His chosen Servant. He then gathers peoples from all nations into one worshiping family in Zion. The language of holiness Leviticus 12 addresses childbirth and resulting ritual impurity. Leviticus 13 addresses the condition often translated as “leprosy,” but much broader in scope. The text uses a cluster of holiness terms. From the root ק־ד־שׁ q-d-sh (to set apart) comes the word קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh (“holy”; set apart). It stands opposite the concept חֹל khol (common; profane). Between these poles stand two further categories. טָהוֹר ṭāhôr (clean; fit to approach God). And טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ (unclean; unfit to approach God). Leviticus teaches a movement from “far” to “near.” The noun קָרְבָּן qorbān (offering; literally “that which draws near”) comes from the root ק־ר־ב q-r-v (to approach). Offerings teach how an unclean or distant person may draw near to the presence of God. This Heaven-directed ritual framework (Exodus 25:9, 40; 26:30; Numbers 8:4; Acts 7:44; Hebrews 8:5) becomes a living parable. It shows how God takes a people from טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ and חֹל ḥol and moves them toward טָהוֹר ṭāhôr and קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh. Isaiah will later apply this pattern to Israel's spiritual condition. The book of Isaiah presents a consistent call for God’s people to embrace genuine worship that flows from humble, obedient hearts rather than empty religious observance. From beginning to end, Isaiah contrasts true devotion with outward ritual that lacks faithfulness. Israel’s failure to fulfill her calling is ultimately answered through the Servant of the LORD, whom Messianic believers recognize as Yeshua the Messiah. Through His work, God brings restoration, redemption, and covenant renewal to His people. A central theme throughout Isaiah is the restoration of Zion. Though nations rise and fall and mighty empires appear powerful for a season, they are temporary in comparison to God’s eternal purposes. Isaiah foresees a time when God will redeem Zion with astonishing power and timing. In Isaiah 66, the imagery of a child being born before labor pains symbolizes a sudden and unexpected act of divine redemption. Yet Scripture also teaches that birth pangs often accompany God’s redemptive work, establishing a pattern in which suffering and restoration are closely linked. The remarkable image of “birth before labor” emphasizes the surprising nature of God’s intervention. His promises are fulfilled according to His timetable, often in ways that surpass human expectations. This theme echoes Yeshua’s teaching that His coming will be like a thief in the night, catching many by surprise. Ultimately, Isaiah’s vision extends beyond Israel alone. God’s purpose is to gather people from every nation, tribe, and language into a worldwide community of worshipers who honor the God of Israel through His Messiah. In the end, Zion’s restoration becomes a blessing to all nations as God’s kingdom is established and His glory fills the earth. Isaiah as an arc Some interpreters describe Isaiah as a χίασμα chíasma (chiasm). This common biblical literary structure mirrors themes between the beginning and end of a passage. Isaiah 1 and Isaiah 66 reflect each other. Isaiah 1 opens with a rebuke of corrupt worship. God rejects sacrifices offered by a people whose hearts remain far from Him: “What are your multiplied sacrifices to Me?” says the LORD. “I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams…” Isaiah 1:11 NASB95 He continues: “Bring your worthless offerings no longer, incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.” Isaiah 1:13 NASB95 Yet the text does not condemn sacrifices as such. It condemns the moral condition behind them. Thus, we see right afterward the beginning of Heaven’s prescription: “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:16–17 NASB95 The problem lies not in קָרְבָּנוֹת qorbanot (offerings), but in the לֵבָב lēvāv (heart: mind and emotions) of the people. The sacrifices prescribed in Torah were holy. The problem is that worshipers were simultaneously practicing injustice. Isaiah 66 returns to this issue. It contrasts corrupt religion with humble, trembling reverence. God declares: “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:2 NASB95 The book thus starts and ends with the same concern. God weighs the inner posture of worshipers. Ritual without repentance remains unclean. The Servant of the LORD and Israel's failure Between Isaiah 1 and 66 stands the figure עֶבֶד יְהוָה ʿeved YHWH (servant of the LORD). The servant songs (especially Isaiah 42, 49, 50, and 52:13–53:12) show how God will restore true worship, purify His people, and ultimately gather the nations to Himself through the work of the Servant of the Lord. At times, the servant appears to be Israel itself (Isaiah 41:8–9; 49:3). Yet Israel is also the problem. She has not fulfilled her calling as a holy nation and a light to the nations. “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.” Isaiah 42:1 NASB95 Here the Servant brings מִשְׁפָּט mishpāṭ (justice) to the nations. This language exceeds what Israel, in its disobedience, has done. The Servant realizes Israel's ideal calling. Isaiah 49:6 deepens this role: “I will also make You a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” NASB95 The phrase אוֹר גּוֹיִם ʾōr goyim (light of the nations) recalls Israel's vocation in Exodus 19:6 and is later echoed in Matthew 5:14–16 and Acts 13:47. The servant becomes the concentrated expression of Israel's mission. Isaiah 53 then marks a turning point. The Eved Adonai is connected to Israel but it no Israel, as the Prophet Isaiah's entire ministry rebukes how the people of Israel are failing to serve God properly. The servant bears Israel's iniquities. He takes on the very sicknesses and uncleanness that have filled the preceding chapters. The Eved Adonai is not and was not synonymous with the Jewish people. “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities….” Isaiah 53:5 NASB95 “…the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6 NASB95 Here the Servant functions as an ultimate קָרְבָּן qorbān (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 7:27; 9:12; 10:10; 1Peter 3:18). He embodies the movement from far to near. He carries the uncleanness of the people and opens the way for restoration. Seeing, hearing and the ‘fear of the LORD’ Isaiah links uncleanness with spiritual blindness and deafness (Isaiah 6:10; 11:3; 32:3; 37:17; 64:4). The prophet sees the LORD and cries: “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips.” Isaiah 6:5 NASB95 He lives among a people with טְמֵא שְׂפָתַיִם ṭemēʾ sefatayim (unclean lips). God then cleanses Isaiah's lips with a coal from the altar. This scene parallels Leviticus. What is טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ becomes טָהוֹר ṭāhôr by God's initiative. The prophet may then speak. Isaiah frequently plays with the verb רָאָה rāʾāh (to see). In Leviticus 13, the priest “looks” again and again at the suspect skin condition. The text uses rāʾāh to mark careful discernment. The priest must distinguish between tahor and ṭāmēʾ. Isaiah extends this idea to the heart. Does Israel live as if God “sees” all (Isaiah 29:15; Psalm 14:1; Ezekiel 8:12; 9:9)? Later rabbinic tradition notices a verbal pun between יִרְאָה yirʾāh (fear; reverence) and יִרְאֶה yirʾeh (he sees). The יִרְאַת יְהוָה yirʾat YHWH (fear of the LORD) arises when one knows that God truly sees everything we’re doing. Yeshua alludes repeatedly to Isaiah's diagnosis. In Matthew 13:13–15, He cites Isaiah 6 to explain why He speaks in parables. The people think they see and hear, yet they neither perceive nor repent. In John 9:39–41, He challenges leaders who claim to see but remain blind. The same spiritual uncleanness persists. Corrupt worship and empty religion Isaiah condemns worship that has divorced ritual from righteousness. In Isaiah 1:13–14, God says He hates the people's festivals and new moons. Many have taken this as a repudiation of Torah itself. Yet at the end of the book, the same prophet writes: “‘And it shall be from new moon to new moon and from sabbath to sabbath, all mankind will come to bow down before Me,' says the LORD.” Isaiah 66:23 NASB95 The same festivals now mark universal, purified worship. The problem, then, never lay in Shabbat (Sabbath) or the festivals, nor in sacrifices. The problem lay in those who practiced them without justice, mercy and humility. Earlier in the chapter, the prophet sharpens the rebuke. Proper sacrifices become abominable acts when offered from a corrupt heart: “But he who kills an ox is like one who slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb is like the one who breaks a dog's neck; He who offers a grain offering is like one who offers swine's blood; He who burns incense is like the one who blesses an idol. As they have chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations, So I will choose their punishments And will bring on them what they dread. Because I called, but no one answered; I spoke, but they did not listen. And they did evil in My sight And chose that in which I did not delight.”” Isaiah 66:3-4 NASB95 The qobanot remain the same. Yet their spiritual value reverses. Worshipers treat God like a vending machine. They treat offerings like tokens to manipulate blessing. In Levitical terms, they bring a קָרְבָּן qorbān while their לֵבָב lēvāv remains far away. Their approach becomes טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ. Israel's call as light to the nations Isaiah repeatedly returns to Israel's mission among the nations. God did not set Israel apart merely to be different. He appointed Israel as a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6 NASB95). The priestly role stands at the center. Priests draw near to God and help others draw near as well. Israel, then, should serve as a corporate priesthood for the nations: “I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations.” Isaiah 42:6 NASB95 In Isaiah 49:6, this light extends “to the end of the earth.” The servant manifests the ideal vocation of Israel: He embodies what a faithful Israel would look like. He restores justice. He brings revelation. He draws people from the nations into the worship of the true God. Yeshua (Jesus) adopts this Servant of the LORD language: “I am the Light of the world.” John 8:12 NASB95 He then says to His disciples: “You are the light of the world.” Matthew 5:14 NASB95 The pattern flows from master to disciples. The Servant as ultimate Israel enables a remnant to share His role. They become אוֹר עוֹלָם ʾōr ʿolam in Him, a light to the world. The nations, vanity and the rise and fall of Empires Isaiah places Israel's story against the backdrop of world empires. Assyria, Babylon, and others rise and fall under God's hand. The nations and their glory are transient. Isaiah 40:6–8 compares humanity to grass that withers, and later in the same chapter makes a similar analogy to empires: “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket…” Isaiah 40:15 NASB95 The word הֶבֶל hevel (vanity; vapor) captures this theme, as in Ecclesiastes. By contrast, God's word stands forever (Isaiah 40:8). Therefore, it is folly for Israel to trade covenant identity for the approval of passing empires. When Israel follows the nations instead of leading them, it loses its priestly calling. Israel was called to be a light to the nations and a leader among the peoples of the earth, demonstrating God’s wisdom and righteousness. Yet too often, the nation followed the ways of the surrounding cultures instead of leading them toward the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. As a result, the Lord raised up foreign powers as instruments of discipline, using them to correct His people and call them back to covenant faithfulness. Idolatry expresses this exchange at its most obvious. Isaiah 44 mocks craftsmen who shape idols and then bow to their own work. He mocks idols fashioned by human hands from the very same wood used to build fires and bake bread. The second commandment forbids such images (Exodus 20:4–5). Israel must not reduce God to the likeness of created things. To do so reverses the proper order and empties worship of truth. These false gods cannot save, speak, or act; they are burdens rather than deliverers. The false gods are made in the image of their creators, while we are made in the image of God Almighty. To worship our own creation is a desecration of God's image in us.  Zion: Birth, restoration and surprise Isaiah 66 introduces a striking image of Zion's rebirth. The prophet asks: “Can a land be born in one day? Can a nation be brought forth all at once?” Isaiah 66:8 NASB95 The text amazingly describes a birth that precedes labor pains: “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she gave birth to a boy.” Isaiah 66:7 NASB95 This reversal of normal sequence has drawn commentary across centuries. Many Jewish interpreters see here the sudden redemption of Jerusalem and the rapid return of exiles. Others see a future, climactic restoration. Still others recognize multiple layers — a near-term fulfillment after the Babylonian exile and a further, eschatological horizon. The unifying theme remains clear. Zion is ultimately a work of God. צִיּוֹן Tziyyon does not arise merely from human strategy or political will. God brings it to birth. He asks: “‘Shall I bring to the point of birth and not give delivery?' says the LORD.” Isaiah 66:9 NASB95 Zion's restoration thus follows the same pattern as individual cleansing. God moves what is טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ (unfit to approach the Presence) toward טָהוֹר ṭāhôr (fit to approach). He takes a profaned city and reconstitutes it as קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh. Zion and the nations: From judgment to pilgrimage Earlier in Isaiah, Zion stands under judgment. The city has become corrupt. The temple has turned into a place of empty ceremony. Yet the end of Isaiah presents a transformed picture. Nations now stream to Zion, not to conquer, but to worship. Isaiah 66:19–21 describes a mission outward and a gathering inward. Survivors go “to the distant coastlands” to “declare My glory among the nations” (NASB95). These nations then bring Israel's exiles back “as a grain offering to the LORD” (NASB95). Then comes the shocker of the restoration: “I will also take some of them for priests and for Levites,” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:21 NASB95 Here, cleansed Gentiles are made fit for priestly service. Those once טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ and חֹל khol become טָהוֹר ṭāhôr and קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh. God Himself reassigns their status. This anticipates later language where non‑Israelites become “fellow citizens” and members of God's household (Ephesians 2:11–22 NASB95). Isaiah thus anticipates a priesthood enlarged beyond ethnic Levi. Yet it preserves the priestly pattern. God draws people from afar and gives them access to His presence. Birth pangs, judgment and the Day of the LORD The imagery of birth and labor pains widens into the theme of the “day of the LORD.” Prophets like Joel and Zechariah describe cosmic signs. The sun darkens. The moon turns to blood. Nations gather for judgment. Yeshua engages this imagery in Matthew 24. He lists wars, famines, and earthquakes, then says: “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” Matthew 24:8 NASB95 The Greek phrase ὠδίνων ōdinōn (birth pains) parallels the Hebrew חֲבָלִים ḥăvālim. These events signal a coming climax, but they do not yet constitute its fullness. Yeshua also stresses suddenness. He compares the coming of the Son of Man to the days of Noah and Lot (Luke 17:26–30). People ate, drank, married, and conducted business. Judgment then arrived swiftly. Those outside God's refuge “did not understand until the flood came and took them all away” (Matthew 24:39 NASB95). The pattern remains consistent. God often gives extended warnings. Yet when the decisive moment arrives, it still surprises the unprepared. The image of “a thief in the night” (1Thessalonians 5:2 NASB95) fits here. The redemption arrives with both long buildup and sudden impact. In this frame, the birth of Zion before labor pains underscores divine initiative and surprise. New creation, New Jerusalem and lasting transformation From a Messianic Jewish perspective, the relationship between Isaiah 66:7–9, Yeshua's teaching on the “birth pains” (ὠδίν, ōdin) in Matthew 24:8 and Mark 13:8 preceding the coming of the Son of Man, and the rabbinic concept of the “birth pangs of the Messiah” (חבלי משיח, ḥevlei Mashiaḥ) reflects complementary dimensions of the same redemptive process. In the flood narrative, Noah and his family are the minority who remain after divine judgment is executed on a corrupt world. Noah preached to the people for 120 years until God shut the doors of the ark and even after the doors were shut, God waited an additional 7 days before the waters started coming down. While the “taking away” occurs through the floodwaters that remove the majority of humanity, Noah is preserved through the ark and emerges onto a renewed earth. In that sense, the decisive removal is experienced by those who are judged, while Noah's family is “left” to inherit a cleansed world and participate in a new beginning of human history under God's covenant. A similar pattern appears in the account of Lot. Lot and his immediate family are removed from Sodom prior to its destruction, while the cities themselves are “taken away” through fire and brimstone as an act of judgment. Lot tried to warn his in-laws to come with him to safety and they laughed him off. Although Lot and his family are physically led out by the angels, the narrative emphasizes that what remains after judgment is not the old order but a radically transformed landscape. In both accounts, the contrast is between those preserved through judgment and those removed by it, highlighting a consistent biblical theme of separation between the righteous and the judged as God brings about renewal. These are both harbingers of the new heavens and the new earth. Isaiah 65–66 extends this pattern to a cosmic level. God promises “new heavens and a new earth” (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22 NASB95). The old order passes. The new emerges. Revelation 21–22 echoes this vision with the image of the New Jerusalem descending from heaven. In both Isaiah and Revelation, Jerusalem is both a place and a people. It has geographic coordinates, yet it also symbolizes the gathered people of God. The city's restored holiness corresponds to the purified hearts of its inhabitants. The Servant's work and the Spirit's presence make this possible. The Greek term παλιγγενεσία palingenesía (regeneration; Matthew 19:28; Titus 3:5) captures the idea. God does not merely repair. He recreates. He brings about a new beginning that includes both individuals and creation. The role of the Spirit and the ongoing mission The Spirit is Heaven’s continuing presence on Earth. In John 14–16, Yeshua calls the Spirit ὁ παράκλητος ho paráklētos (the Helper; Comforter; Advocate). This term parallels Hebrew נָחַם nāḥam (to comfort), from which מְנַחֵם Menachem (comforter) derives — a name that came to be associated with the Messiah. The Spirit applies the Servant's work to individuals and communities. Romans 8 presents the Spirit as the power who leads believers, intercedes for them, and conforms them to the image of the Son. The same Spirit who inspired Isaiah's vision now drives the mission that Isaiah foretold. He sends emissaries to the nations. He gathers a people who tremble at God's word. Heaven’s search for the humble and contrite In our journey through Scripture we see a coherent message. Leviticus introduces the language of holiness, cleanness, uncleanness, and approach. Isaiah applies that language to the spiritual condition of Israel and the nations. The prophet exposes corrupt worship and empty religion. He then presents the Servant of the LORD as God's answer to Israel's failure. Through the Servant's suffering and vindication, God restores Zion and opens priestly access to the nations. He transforms people from טָמֵא ṭāmēʾ (unfit to approah) to טָהוֹר ṭāhôr (fit), from חֹל khol (profane) to קֹדֶשׁ qōdesh (set apart). He brings forth in a day this new nation of priests for the world. He surprises the world with a redemption that arrives like a birth before labor and like a thief in the night. At the heart of it all lies God's search for a humble and contrite people who tremble at His word (Isaiah 66:2). Their worship, purified by the Servant's work and empowered by the Spirit, fulfills the ancient vision. Zion becomes a light to the nations. And from new moon to new moon and from Sabbath to Sabbath, “all mankind will come to bow down” before the LORD (Isaiah 66:23 NASB95). The post Can a nation be born in a day? Exploring Zion's sudden birth in Scripture (Isaiah 66; Leviticus 12) appeared first on Hallel Fellowship.

Daily Dose of Hope May 27, 2026   Name of God:  Jehovah Sabaoth – The Lord of Hosts Scripture:  1 Samuel 1:11, 17:45, Psalm 24:9-10, 80:4, 19, Isaiah 6:5   Prayer:  Jehovah Sabaoth, Mighty Lord of Hosts, Please place a hedge of protection around me, my family, and my home. Dismantle the schemes of the enemy and let no weapon formed against me prosper. Grant me the courage to stand firm in my faith, knowing that Your heavenly forces are greater than any challenge I face.  In Jesus' Name, Amen.   Welcome to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the New Hope Church daily Bible reading plan.  Today is the last day in our reading plan covering the names of God in the Old Testament.  I have found this to be a fascinating study.  There are so many different aspects to God's character and we've gotten a glimpse into that by going deeper into the divine names.  I would love to hear your feedback.   Just an order of business:  You will have the rest of this week to study on your own and then on June 1, we will start our next reading plan, 1 & 2 Kings.    Today, we are focusing on the name Jehovah Sabaoth, which means the Lord of Hosts.  We are familiar with the word Jehovah, or Lord.  The word Sabaoth has several different meanings, all with a military connotation: ·       A group of fighting men or an army (1 Samuel 17:45; Isaiah 13:4). ·       Sometimes sabaoth refers to the hosts of heaven (Psalm 148:2; 1 Kings 22:19), picturing God as Lord of the multitudes of angels, which are numbered as "a thousand thousands" and "ten thousand times ten thousand" (Daniel 7:10). ·       Sabaoth also is used to describe the innumerable stars in the night sky (Psalm 33:6; 103:20, 21). The important thing about this name is that whether it refers to armies, angels, or stars, Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, rules over all things both on earth and in heaven.  Jehovah Sabaoth is the commander of the armies of heaven. The Lord is in charge and He and His angel armies are fighting on our behalf.   The first mention of Jehovah Sabaoth is in 1 Samuel 1:3, when Elkanah, the father of Samuel, goes to worship "the Lord of Hosts" in Shiloh. Later, in 1 Samuel 17:45, David boldly declares to Goliath, You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts. David wasn't trusting in his strength—he knew Jehovah Sabaoth was with him.   This name appears over 270 times in the Bible, often during times of war and struggle. When Israel faced powerful enemies, prophets like Isaiah and Jeremiah reminded them that the Lord of Hosts was their protector. Jehovah Sabaoth is the God who fights for His people.  Jehovah Sabaoth goes to battle for us, YOU and ME, when our backs are against the wall – when we are overwhelmed, when we are outnumbered, or when we are oppressed.  Keep in mind this does not just refer to physical battles but spiritual battles.    I will close today with Ephesians 6:12, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.   Blessings, Pastor Vicki    

In Judges, we see gifted, but flawed leaders living through cycles of compromise, rescue, and rebellion. When Israel drifts away from God, we witness the consequences of only using strength and influence without tempering it with surrender and integrity. Even though it seems like chaos, God continues to work through imperfect people. As we look at Judges, we will see why character matters more than giftedness.

The books of 1st and 2nd Samuel chronicle Israel's transition from judges to kings, featuring Samuel, Saul, and David. Samuel served as prophet, priest, and judge, pointing forward to Jesus who perfectly fulfills all three roles. When Israel demanded a human king like other nations, they rejected God as their true King. Even David, Israel's greatest king, was flawed and sinful. The famous David and Goliath story isn't about self-confidence but about our Champion Jesus defeating our greatest enemies - Satan, sin, and death. Just as the Israelites gained victory through David's triumph, we share in Christ's victory through faith, not our own efforts.

The faithfulness of God is one of the great golden threads that runs unbroken from Genesis to Revelation. Man changes, nations rise and fall, kings make promises they cannot keep, and generations pass away like grass in the field, but God remains exactly who He said He is. When Adam fell, God was faithful. When Noah stood alone in a wicked world, God was faithful. When Abraham looked for a city whose builder and maker is God, God was faithful. When Israel wandered, rebelled, murmured, sinned, and went into captivity, God was still faithful. His compassions failed not then, and they do not fail now. My message for this Memorial Day Sunday Service is "The Faithfulness Of God In Every Dispensation". “It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22,23 (KJB)That is why Jeremiah could look out over the ruins of Jerusalem and still say, “great is thy faithfulness.” He was not speaking from a place of ease, comfort, or outward victory; he was standing in the ashes of judgment and declaring that God had not changed. The faithfulness of God is not proven only when the sun is shining, the bills are paid, and the blessings are obvious. It is proven in the furnace, in the wilderness, in the storm, and at the graveside. From the garden to the cross, from the empty tomb to the coming kingdom, God has never failed His word, never forgotten His people, and never once been late in keeping His promises.

Tuesday, 19 May 2026   A summary of Matthew Chapter 19.   Chapter 17 revealed that there is a future for Israel in God's redemptive plans. Chapter 18, above all, showed that childlike faith is required to enter into the kingdom. The final parable, that of the wicked servant, was a clear indicator that the law is set aside but that Israel rejected Christ's fulfillment of it and, instead, went to reimpose the law that Christ had fulfilled.   The parable ended with the thought that Israel would be delivered to the torturers (symbolized by the wicked servant being delivered up) until he should pay all that was due. Until Israel enters the New Covenant, they fulfill the typology of that wicked servant.   Chapter 19 takes the reader through various topics to reveal what God prioritizes. One can see the contrasts between law and faith as the verses progress.   Verse 1, using the word after-lifted, indicated a transition in Jesus' ministry was taking place. The same is true with the narrative that is to be revealed. Jesus departed from the Galilee and “He came unto the borders of Judea beyond the Jordan.”   The east side of the Jordan typologically indicates a time prior to Israel's acceptance of Jesus, the Descender, symbolized by the Jordan. The Pharisees came to Him, asking about divorce. Could a man dismiss his wife for every cause? Jesus' answer took them back to the creation.   At the creation, God made the two one. Therefore, man was not to separate what God had conjoined. As this was the only instruction on the matter until the time of Moses, it was the ideal from the dispensation of innocence, even until the time of the law. Being the ideal, however, does not mean this is what man practiced. As such, Jesus explained that the accommodation, which came during the dispensation of the law, was because of the hardness of their hearts. This is why Moses gave the allowance for divorce, but it was not that way from the beginning.   The covenant of marriage was to be considered binding. So much was this the case that Jesus noted that divorcing and marrying another was to be considered an act of adultery.   The intent of conveying this is to show that the law could not change the heart of man. Rather, it only highlights sin in man, something explained by Paul in Romans 7. Having heard Jesus' words, the disciples exclaimed that if this was the case of a man with a wife, it would be better not to marry.   Jesus' response showed that, despite the baggage of marriage, it is God's intent. Only those who have been eunuchized in one of various ways were to be considered the exception to God's original mandate to be married and to remain faithfully married. God's original ideal, despite the law, was to be upheld.   With that thought complete, it was noted that children were brought to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them and to pray. The disciples admonished them concerning this, but Jesus told them not to do so, but rather to allow them to come in this manner because, as He said, “for such, it is, the kingdom of the heavens.”   The intent of His words is that those of childlike faith, not those who are obedient to law, are granted entrance into the kingdom. Immediately after that, the thought of law observance was again brought to the forefront with the introduction of the young ruler, relying on an unstated precept of the law (Leviticus 18:5), to gain him perpetual life.   He wanted to know what good he should do to obtain that state. Jesus cited commandments and precepts specifically relating to one's relationship with his neighbor, assuring him that if he did such things, he would enter “the life.”   After claiming he had done those things, Jesus reset his thinking by telling him that one thing was lacking. He was to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and then he would have treasure in heaven. With that, he went away sorrowful.   He had failed to see that he could not meet the law's standard, a law that pointed to Christ. Jesus was essentially telling him exactly that. “The law points to Me. If you want to be perfect under the law, sell what you have and come, follow Me.” That is how you will merit favor under the law.   With his departure, Jesus told His disciples about how difficult it is for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of the heavens. With the disciples' incredulity at Jesus' words, He told them that with men, it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.   It again points to trust and salvation by grace. The wealthy ruler wanted to merit his eternal life. Jesus showed him it could not be done. Only God can provide it, and it must come through faith. Something revealed in the dispensation of grace.   The final paragraph began with the thought introduced by Peter's question concerning what would be there for him and the other disciples. They had given up all to follow Jesus. Jesus assured them that they would sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.   That will occur during the dispensation of the millennium. As such, the words of Chapter 19 span all the dispensations of time. With that having been assured to the disciples, Jesus then assured all who sacrifice of themselves for His name will receive their just reward. The chapter finished up with His words that the many who are first will be last and who are last will be first.   That sets the tone for Chapter 20, where Jesus will give a parable and summarize it with that same thought.   Life application: The flow of Chapter 19 is one that repeatedly returns to the thought of the insufficiency of the law to bring about a right state before God. Rather, the law highlights sin in man, but it can do nothing to correct man's fallen state. The supremacy of Jesus is thus on prominent display in this chapter.   Coming on the heels of Chapter 18, it stands as an admonition for Israel to give up on trying to earn God's favor through personal merit and to come to Christ for renewal. In that, they will receive all of the promised blessings given to them throughout the prophets.   As Jesus promised the disciples that they would sit and judge Israel, it is a clear indication that these millennial blessings can only come to the nation when they acknowledge Jesus, the recognized Messiah by these disciples and the One they will serve. They have entered the New Covenant. When Israel does, it is these men who will judge them under that New Covenant.   Lord God, thank You that salvation comes through what Jesus has done. We don't need to fret over what we must do. He has done it all! Thank You for the hope of eternal life because of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.  

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. Our shout-out today goes to Joel Allman from Pella, IA. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. What does God do when the people he loves begin drifting away from him? He confronts them. Listen to our text today, Hosea 2:1-3. Say to your brothers, "You are my people," and to your sisters, "You have received mercy." "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; 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. — Hosea 2:1-3 Hosea 2 opens with a powerful image. God speaks to the faithful within Israel—the "children"—and tells them to plead with their mother, a symbol of the nation itself. Israel has broken the covenant with God. The marriage relationship has been violated. God's words are direct: "She is not my wife, and I am not her husband." This language may sound shocking, but it reveals something deeply important about the way God relates to his people. Throughout the Bible, God describes his relationship with his people using the language of marriage. Israel was not simply a nation that God ruled. She was a bride God loved. That's why idolatry is not just disobedience—it is spiritual adultery. When Israel worshiped Baal and other false gods, they were not just breaking a rule. They were abandoning their covenant love. And the consequences were serious. God warns that if Israel continues in her unfaithfulness, the blessings that once covered the nation will be stripped away. The land will become like a wilderness—dry, barren, and lifeless. But notice something important here. Even in confrontation, God's goal is not destruction. It is restoration. The command to "plead" shows that God is still calling his people to repentance. The door is not closed. The covenant is not forgotten. God is confronting the sin because he still desires the relationship. This is how love works. Real love does not ignore betrayal. Real love calls it out so it can be healed. And the same principle applies to us today. When God confronts our idols, exposes our misplaced loves, or disciplines our hearts, it is not because he has rejected us. It is because he refuses to share our hearts with things that will ultimately destroy us. Today, take a moment to examine your own heart. Ask God to reveal any place where your love for him has grown cold—or where something else has taken his place. Then return to him. DO THIS: Take five quiet minutes today and honestly ask God to reveal anything that may be competing with your devotion to him. ASK THIS: Why do you think the Bible uses marriage to describe God's relationship with his people? What are some modern "idols" people turn to instead of trusting God? Is there anything in your life right now competing for the place God should hold in your heart? PRAY THIS: Father, search my heart and reveal anything that has taken your place in my life. Help me return to you with a renewed love and devotion. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Come Thou Fount"

When Israel repented of their sin, there was a path forward for them. The Lord would provide all that they needed for life and godliness. How often do we need to be reminded that we need to wait on the Lord?

When Israel was created on this exact day 78 years ago, she didn't come with an instruction manual called “How to Build a Jewish State.” If she had, Jewish educators wouldn't be grappling today with the tensions between Israel's Jewish and democratic values, or needing conversations like this week's episode.This relevant conversation between David Bryfman and Rabbi Josh Weinberg confronts one of the most pressing questions facing Jewish educators today: How do we teach Israel at a moment when love, values, politics, and identity often feel out of sync? As students wrestle with headlines, moral complexity, and their own sense of belonging, the two discuss what it means to cultivate an informed, morally serious relationship with Israel. At a time when many educators feel uncertain about how to lead these conversations, this discussion offers a vision for what meaningful Israel education can look like now. Learn more about The Jewish Education Project at jewishedproject.orgThis episode was produced by Miranda Lapides and Dina Nusnbaum. The show's executive producers are David Bryfman, Karen Cummins, and Nessa Liben. This episode was engineered and edited by Nathan J. Vaughan of NJV Media. If you enjoyed the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review, or even better, share it with a friend. Be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and be the first to know when new episodes are released. To learn more about The Jewish Education Project visit jewishedproject.org where you can find links to our Jewish Educator Portal and learn more about our mission, history, and staff. We are a proud partner of UJA-Federation of New York. Send us Fan Mail

When Israel's contestant in the Eurovision appeared on stage in Vienna on Tuesday night, a lone voice shouted ‘stop, stop the genocide.' The Israeli contestant kept singing and nothing stopped.On Free State today we look at why the Eurovision became a key part of Israel's propaganda war.We examine the money that was spent ensuring Israel's entries got votes and we ask why. We also look at some of the less notable Irish entries over the years and Joe tries out his own power ballad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Israel went to battle against the Philistines they assumed that they could bring out the ark of the covenant to the battlefield, and that it's presence would either oblige God to win the battle for them or that the object itself had some kind of mystical power. They were sorely mistaken, and the Philistines promptly defeated them captured the ark. Assuming that their victory is a victory over Israel's God, the Philistines place the ark in Dagon's temple. Time and again, however, the Lord silently causes destruction, catastrophe and misery for the Philistines wherever the ark is taken, until finally, they become so desperate they put it on a cart and send it back where it came from. 1 Samuel 5 - 1:10 .  1 Samuel 6 - 3:44 .  1 Samuel 7 - 8:39  .  1 Samuel 8 - 13:05 .  Proverbs 27 - 16:43 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

What if the rubble of your life isn't the end of God's story but the beginning of something greater? When Israel returned from 70 years of exile to find Jerusalem in ruins, they experienced mixed emotions—some wept remembering former glory while others rejoiced at their freedom. Pastor Brandon reveals how humble beginnings teach us to remember God's faithfulness and never forget the God who rescued us. Whether you're mourning what was or excited for what's ahead, God meets you exactly where you are and builds something beautiful from the broken pieces. Don't miss this powerful reminder that your current struggles might be the foundation for unprecedented glory! Brandon Bachtel www.stonepointchurch.com

What if the rubble of your life isn't the end of God's story but the beginning of something greater? When Israel returned from 70 years of exile to find Jerusalem in ruins, they experienced mixed emotions—some wept remembering former glory while others rejoiced at their freedom. Cody reveals how humble beginnings teach us to remember God's faithfulness and never forget the God who rescued us. Whether you're mourning what was or excited for what's ahead, God meets you exactly where you are and builds something beautiful from the broken pieces. Don't miss this powerful reminder that your current struggles might be the foundation for unprecedented glory! Cody King www.stonepointchurch.com

When God wanted to bring His people out of Egypt, Pharaoh said, ‘No!' God used Moses until Pharaoh said, ‘Yes!' God uses men. But only men and women willing to yield to His authority. I am not a big man with a little God – I am a little man with a big God! I may be a little David with a Goliath of a problem, but with my God I can kill him! Take the land! Possess the promises of God. So many believers are without power because they don't understand the promises and power of God to those who believe. Don't just take ‘spiritual' blessings – take the land, possess what you need in the material realm as well. When Israel went in, it meant war, a spiritual fight, but it also meant that they could have the milk and the honey, all their material needs supplied. The greatest command is to evangelise! God pours out His Spirit for a reason – so that we can evangelise. Every revival has died out when they stopped evangelising. Possess the land! Preach the Gospel, heal the sick!

Two judges of Israel follow the death of Abimelech, and we know little about them, except that they each judged Israel for over 20 years with no ruckus to speak of. When Israel turns to idols yet again, they suffer under the Philistines & the Ammonites. They cry out to the Lord, but he rejects their pleas. When they confess sin and burn their idols, God begins to become weary of their misery. Later, God appoints a ne'er-do-well named Jephthah to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. Sadly, Jephthah doesn't truly know the Lord or His commands, and he makes a vow to the Lord that is abominable in the Lord's sight, standing in direct conflict with the statutes handed down through Moses. Thinking that he is being faithful to the Lord, he makes a heartbreaking decision. Judges 10 - 1:02 .  Judges 11 - 5:00 .  Judges 12 - 13:19 .  Psalm 80 - 16:18 .  :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by the Christian Standard Bible.facebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

May 2, 2026Today's Reading: Introit for Easter 5 - Psalm 98:1b, 3-4; antiphon: Psalm 98:1a, 2bDaily Lectionary: Leviticus 19:9-18, 26-37; Luke 11:14-36“Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.” (Psalm 98:1-2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.The book of Psalms is sometimes known as the hymnal of the Scriptures. And for good reason. There are one hundred and fifty psalms, or songs, given by our Lord, the Maestro of mercy, for us to pray, sing, study, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest. Psalm 98, which will be sung tomorrow in the Lord's house, is a beautiful example of how the Holy Scriptures sing the story of salvation. But it's not just in the Psalms. You'll find the story of salvation sung throughout the Scriptures. God's word rings out in harmony and blends its many voices to the tune of his steadfast love. From Genesis to Revelation, God's word echoes with the joyous songs of Yahweh's salvation. Everywhere you find God saving his people, you'll find them singing the songs of salvation.When Israel walked through the Red Sea, and Pharaoh's armies were buried in a liquid grave, they sang. “I will sing unto the Lord for he has triumphed gloriously, his horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.”When Isaiah foretold the coming Servant of Yahweh who would suffer in our place, he sang the Servant Songs that fill his prophetic book with a foretaste of the cross to come. “For by his wounds we are healed.”When Elizabeth and Mary met, and John leapt in the womb for joy that Jesus had come at last in the flesh, Mary sang the Magnificat. “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior.”When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the donkey brayed, and the crowds sang, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”And when John lets us peek into the angelic choir loft of heaven, guess what the saints, angels, and archangels are doing? That's right. Singing a new song, which is also an ancient song. “Worthy are you…for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God.”So when you go to Divine Service tomorrow morning and sing the psalms, hymns, and liturgy, there might be ten people in church, or two hundred. But no matter how many people are gathered, you never sing alone. Whether it's a new song or an old song, join the throng and sing along to the God of our salvation, for he has done marvelous things!In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Creator, humbly I implore You To listen to my earthly song Until that day when I adore You, Together with the angel throng And learn with choirs of heav'n to sing Eternal anthems to my King. (LSB 811:5)Rev. Samuel Schuldheisz

Bro. Matthew Robbins , president Basileia Ministries Living water Worship Centre https://www.basileiaministries.com/livingwater   In this powerful teaching from 1 Samuel 8–10, we uncover one of the most important warnings in Scripture: be careful what you ask for. When Israel rejected God as their king and demanded to be like the world, it set off a chain of consequences that still apply today. This message explores the dangers of cultural compromise, the reality of spiritual rebellion, and how God still works through imperfect people. You'll also discover how God sets up divine moments in your life, confirms His calling, and transforms you through His Spirit. If you've ever wrestled with decisions, influence, or staying faithful in a world pulling you away from God—this message is for you.

Two judges of Israel follow the death of Abimelech, and we know little about them, except that they each judged Israel for over 20 years with no ruckus to speak of. When Israel turns to idols yet again, they suffer under the Philistines & Ammonites. They cry out to the Lord, but he rejects their pleas. When they confess sin and burn their idols, God begins to become weary of their misery. Later, God appoints a ne'er-do-well named Jephthah to deliver Israel from the Ammonites. Sadly, Jephthah doesn't truly know the Lord or His commands, and he makes a vow to the Lord that is abominable in the Lord's sight, standing in direct conflict with the statutes handed down through Moses. Thinking that he is being faithful to the Lord, he makes a heartbreaking decision. Judges 10 – 1:15 .  Judges 11 – 4:56 .  Judges 12 – 13:24 .  Psalm 74 – 16:27 :::Christian Standard Bible translation.All music written and produced by John Burgess Ross.Co-produced by Bobby Brown, Katelyn Pridgen, Eric Williamson & the Christian Standard Biblefacebook.com/commuterbibleinstagram.com/commuter_bibletwitter.com/CommuterPodpatreon.com/commuterbibleadmin@commuterbible.org

Why do people turn to God in crisis—but walk away when life gets better? In this powerful message from 1 Samuel 6–7, we see the Ark of the Covenant returned after bringing judgment on the Philistines. Even the enemies of God recognized His power—but they still refused to fully surrender. Meanwhile, Israel learns a critical lesson: God's presence must be honored, not treated casually. This sermon challenges us to move beyond temporary, crisis-driven faith and into a fully surrendered life. When Israel repented, removed idols, and turned back to God with their whole heart, everything changed—victory, restoration, and peace followed. If you've ever felt stuck spiritually, this message will show you exactly why—and how to realign your life with God.

Deborah's victory song in Judges 5 reveals a powerful truth: battles belong to God, not us. When Israel faced impossible odds against Jabin's iron chariots, God intervened with supernatural storms that turned the enemy's greatest strength into their downfall. Six tribes trusted God and joined the fight willingly, while four stayed home out of fear or economic concerns. The victory came not through human effort but through divine intervention - God sent torrential rains that turned the battlefield into mud, trapping the iron chariots. This story reminds us that when we face impossible situations, our role is to trust God completely and watch Him work, rather than relying on our own strength.

Psalm 114 New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition 1 When Israel went out from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language, 2 Judah became God's sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea looked and fled; Jordan turned back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hills like lambs. 5 Why is […]

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up." When Israel once again grumbles against God, fiery serpents bring death into the camp. God then reveals a shocking, unexpected remedy: a bronze serpent lifted on a pole, and all who look upon it live. Jesus Himself points to this event as a picture of His crucifixion. In this chapter, we also see Israel begin to win victories as they approach the Promised Land, turning from complaint to conquest.  The Rev. Robert Smith, pastor emeritus in Ft. Wayne, IN, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Numbers 21. The Book of Numbers is far more than an ancient census report. It is the story of a people learning to trust God in the wilderness, and failing, and finding grace anyway.  In this series, host Pastor Phil Booe and guest pastors walk through the Old Testament book of Numbers chapter by chapter. We follow Israel from Sinai toward the Promised Land, through grumbling and rebellion, fiery serpents and a talking donkey, faithless spies and faithful priests. The journey is hard, the failures are many, and God remains faithful to a faithless people.  These ancient accounts point us to Christ. The bronze serpent lifted on a pole points to the cross. The rock struck for water points to the one struck for us. The high priest whose death frees the manslayer points to the Great High Priest whose death sets us free forever. Join us as we discover that the wilderness has more to teach us than we ever expected.  Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God's Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.

Reports of U.S. anger with Israel for targeting Iran’s oil fields in the intensifying conflict have been “massively exaggerated,” said Haaretz senior defense analyst Amos Harel on the Haaretz Podcast. While the American president “probably felt that Israel took this a step too far,” Harel said, “the truth of the matter is that the Israelis and the U.S. military are deeply coordinated.” Regarding the entrance of Hezbollah into the expanding war, Harel said that the Lebanese group is “still quite capable of creating damage” to Israel, which is why the IDF has deployed large-scale force against them with airstrikes across Lebanon. Still, he said, “most of the effort and most of the focus remains on Iran.” Despite the disruption to life in Israel, he pointed out that in the first 12 days of this war, there has been far less actual damage and loss of life in Israel during the two weeks of war last June. Also on the podcast, Haaretz Jewish World Editor Judy Maltz visits an underground parking lot tent city populated by Tel Aviv residents without adequate overnight protection from missiles - many of whom were second-time refugees. “Most of the people I met had been there in June” she said. “When Israel and the U.S. attacked Iran, they just packed their bags and came back. They knew the drill already.” Read more: Israel Focuses on Hitting Iran's Regime After Exceeding Military Target Expectations Trump Signals Iran War Nearing End Amid Oil Fears as Hezbollah Surprises Israel 'Priciest Real Estate in Town': Tel Avivians Ride Out the War Deep UndergroundSleepless in Tel Aviv: Iranian Missile Barrages Trigger All-night Sirens in Central IsraelSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When God provided Abraham with a substitute offering, he called the place “Yahweh Yireh,” which means “Yahweh will provide.” When Israel could not drink the water, they cried out and God told Moses how to make the water drinkable. Then God called himself by the name Yahweh Rophecha, which means “Yahweh your healer.” Yahweh is our provider and healer, especially by what he has accomplished through Christ. Genesis 22:1-14 God had told Abraham to offer his son on a mountain. He loved Isaac and he loved God. But whom did he love more? Once he proved himself, God provided a substitute offering via a ram. Thereafter Abraham called that place Yahweh Yireh, “Yahweh will provide.” Genesis 22:15-18 Afterwards, God spoke to Abraham and promised to bless him, multiply his descendants, and give them victory over their enemies. How can you step out in faith to trust God in your life? Exodus 15:22-25 Moses brought Israel out from Egypt through the Red Sea to the wilderness of Shur where they found no water. Next, they came upon Marah where the water was bitter. In a panic the people complained to Moses who went to God. God tole Moses to put a kind of wood into the water to make it drinkable. Exodus 15:26 This was all a lesson for the people, a lesson of trust. If they will carefully listen to Yahweh's voice and do what he says, he will take care of them. He will not only provide water and food, but he will be their healer. He says, “For I am Yahweh Rofecha” — “Yahweh your healer.” Psalm 30:1-3 The psalmist said, “I cried to you for help, and you have healed me.” Do you need healing? Have you cried to him for help? God is still healing people today! John 1:29 Jesus is God's ultimate provision, the one he provided as the final sacrifice to cover sin for all time. Jesus is how God heals us from sin, physically, spiritually, and permanently in resurrection.The post Names of God: Yahweh Yireh, Yahweh Rapha first appeared on Living Hope.

“For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” That's Jeremiah thirty-one, thirty-four, and this is Something Good. When Israel broke their covenant with God, the Lord kept His end of the bargain. He forgave them, He remembered their sin no more, and then He promised to one day launch a whole new covenant with them. Today, Ron explores God's forgiveness, His new covenant, and what it means for you and me.  

The story of Purim is well known: in ancient Persia, a wicked royal vizier plots to wipe out the Jewish people — but he didn't count on Queen Esther, a courageous Jewish woman who revealed the plot to the king. The tables were turned for the Jews as the powerful are victimized by their intended victims; those who were once low are brought high, those who were once high are brought low. When Israel and the U.S. launched a joint military campaign on Iran on Shabbat Zachor, just days before the festival of Purim, it was almost inevitable that politicians, rabbis, and Jews around the world would see themselves in the Book of Esther. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the connection explicit in his first statement announcing the strikes: “Twenty-five hundred years ago, in ancient Persia, a tyrant rose against us with the very same goal, to utterly destroy our people,” Netanyahu said. “Today as well, on Purim, the lot has fallen, and in the end this evil regime will fall too.” Each week, rabbis stand before their congregations and find connections and explanations about how the Torah portion speaks to their modern lives. They try to give structure and meaning to a world that often feels chaotic. On this week's episode of Not in Heaven, our rabbi podcasters ask: what do we risk when we draw these connections too tightly? Avi Finegold and Matthew Leibl discuss what may be lost in understanding the modern day when we look through the lens of Purim and what is lost in understanding Purim when we look through the lens of the modern day. Credits Hosts: Avi Finegold, Yedida Eisenstat, Matthew Leibl Production team: Zachary Judah Kauffman (editor), Michael Fraiman (executive producer) Music: Socalled Support The CJN Subscribe to The CJN newsletter Donate to The CJN (+ get a charitable tax receipt) Subscribe to Not in Heaven (Not sure how? Click here )

In this message, Eric takes us to the edge of the Red Sea to show how God intentionally leads His people into impossible situations—so that His salvation and glory are unmistakable. When Israel was trapped between the sea and Pharaoh's army, the Lord said, “Be still,” and then made a way where there was no way. That dramatic rescue points forward to an even greater one through Jesus, who turns the ultimate impossibility—death itself—into victory. If you're facing something that feels overwhelming or beyond your strength, this sermon will remind you that salvation comes by grace, not effort. Listen and be encouraged to stand firm, trust deeply, and receive the gift of a Savior who still makes a way.

No Excuses | Following God Without Compromise In this Sunday morning message, we are challenged to live with total allegiance to Jesus Christ, refusing to drift, compromise, or make excuses in a culture that increasingly resists biblical truth. The sermon opens with Jesus' words from the Beatitudes and John 15, where He clearly teaches that those who follow Him will face persecution, rejection, and misunderstanding. Rather than being surprised by opposition, believers are called to rejoice, knowing that faithfulness brings divine favor and eternal reward. Christianity, the message emphasizes, is not about comfort or popularity — it is about obedience, surrender, and standing for Christ regardless of cost. The message then turns to the powerful Old Testament example of Jephthah. Born into rejection and driven away by his own family, Jephthah had every reason to become bitter, quit on God, or live defeated. Instead, he remained faithful, sought the Lord, and grew in wisdom and knowledge of God's Word. When Israel later faced defeat, the very man they had rejected became the one God raised up as their deliverer. Jephthah's life reveals a central truth: background does not determine destiny — faithfulness does. Though rejected by people, he trusted God completely, gave God credit for every victory, and depended on the Lord rather than his own strength or position. The sermon highlights how Jephthah boldly confronted Israel's enemies with God's truth, demonstrating deep understanding of Scripture and unwavering confidence in God's authority. When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, God brought overwhelming victory through his obedience. A deeply moving moment follows with Jephthah's vow and his daughter's remarkable devotion to honoring God above personal loss. Their story powerfully mirrors the greater sacrifice of Christ and underscores the cost of true obedience — placing God first no matter the outcome. Throughout the message, believers are repeatedly called to reject self-pity, spiritual drifting, and half-hearted faith. Whether facing persecution, hardship, or temptation, God's people are reminded that excuses weaken faith — but surrender releases God's power. The sermon closes with a stirring reminder of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and a call to “see Him who is invisible” — living by faith rather than by circumstances. Just as God used an outcast like Jephthah to bring deliverance, He can use anyone who chooses faithful obedience. Key Takeaway There are no excuses for half-hearted faith. God honors those who remain faithful through hardship, persecution, and rejection — and He uses surrendered lives to accomplish His purposes.  

Welcome to Day 2802 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2802 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 115:1-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2802 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day 2802 of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. The Title for Today's Wisdom-Trek is: Our God is Supreme Today, we are continuing our journey through the "Egyptian Hallel," the magnificent collection of praise songs sung by the Jewish people during the Passover festival. We are stepping into the first half of Psalm One Hundred Fifteen, covering verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. To set the stage, let us remember where we stood in our previous trek. In Psalm One Hundred Fourteen, we witnessed the sheer, terrifying power of the Theophany. We saw the earth tremble, the Red Sea flee, and the Jordan River turn back at the very presence of the God of Jacob. It was a psalm of action, movement, and cosmic disruption. Yahweh stepped into history, and the chaotic forces of nature panicked. But as we turn the page to Psalm One Hundred Fifteen, the tone shifts from the dramatic trembling of the earth to a profound, theological reflection. According to Jewish tradition, while Psalms One Hundred Thirteen and One Hundred Fourteen were sung before the Passover meal, Psalm One Hundred Fifteen was the first hymn sung after the meal was finished. Imagine the scene. Jesus and His disciples have just finished the Last Supper. The bread has been broken; the cup of the new covenant has been poured. And before they walk out into the dark night toward the Garden of Gethsemane, they lift their voices to sing these exact words. They sing about the glory of God, the foolishness of the world's idols, and the absolute sovereignty of the King of Heaven. This psalm is a brilliant polemic—a theological argument—against the gods of the surrounding nations. It contrasts the living, unrestrained God of Israel with the dead, handcrafted statues of the pagan world. It challenges us to ask: Where does the glory belong, and what are we truly placing our trust in? Let us dive into the text. Psalm One Hundred Fifteen: verse one. Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. The psalm opens with one of the most profound statements of humility in the entire Bible. The psalmist repeats the phrase for emphasis: "Not to us, O Lord, not to us." This is the ultimate deflection of human pride. When Israel looked back at the Exodus—when they remembered the sea parting and the enemies drowning—it was incredibly tempting to pat themselves on the back. It is human nature to assume that if God blesses us, saves us, or uses us, it must be because we are somehow special, worthy, or superior. But the psalmist violently rejects that idea. He says, "Lord, do not give us the credit. We did not part the sea. We did not defeat the Egyptian empire. The glory belongs entirely, exclusively, and completely to Your Name." And why does the glory go to His Name? Because of two foundational attributes: His "unfailing love" and His

Welcome to Day 2800 of Wisdom-Trek. Thank you for joining me. This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom. Day 2800 – Wisdom Nuggets – Psalm 114:1-8 – Daily Wisdom Wisdom-Trek Podcast Script - Day 2800 Welcome to Wisdom-Trek with Gramps! I am Guthrie Chamberlain, and we are on Day two thousand eight hundred of our Trek. The Purpose of Wisdom-Trek is to create a legacy of wisdom, to seek out discernment and insights, and to boldly grow where few have chosen to grow before. Wisdom-Trek: The Earth Trembles – When the Presence Moves In. Today is a milestone day! We have reached day two thousand eight hundred. That is a lot of trekking, and I am so grateful you are walking this path with me. We are celebrating this milestone by stepping into one of the most compact, high-energy psalms in the entire Bible. We are exploring Psalm One Hundred Fourteen, covering the entire hymn, verses one through eight, in the New Living Translation. In our previous trek through Psalm One Hundred Thirteen, we began the "Egyptian Hallel"—the series of psalms sung at the Passover. We saw the "Stooping God" who sits high above the nations but bends down low to lift the poor from the dust and the barren woman from her grief. That psalm set the theological stage: God is great because He is humble. Psalm One Hundred Fourteen moves from theology to Theophany. A "Theophany" is a visible manifestation of God. This psalm describes what happened when that "Stooping God" actually touched down on planet Earth to lead His people out of Egypt. It is a psalm of movement. In just eight verses, we see a nation moving out, a sea fleeing, a river turning back, mountains skipping like scared sheep, and the solid rock turning into a fountain. It describes the sheer, terrifying, joyful disruption that occurs when the Holy One invades the realm of chaos. In Jewish tradition, this psalm is sung right before the Passover meal. It recounts the moment Israel became God's peculiar treasure. So, let us imagine ourselves in the Upper Room, or perhaps standing on the shores of the Red Sea, as we witness the earth tremble at the presence of the Lord. The First Segment is: The Great Migration: Establishing the Sanctuary. Psalm One Hundred Fourteen: verses one through two. When Israel went out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of strange language,  Judah became God's sanctuary, Israel his dominion. The psalm begins with a historical flashback to the defining moment of the Old Testament: The Exodus. "When Israel went out of Egypt, Jacob from a people of strange language..." The mention of a "strange language" (or foreign tongue) emphasizes the alienation of Israel. They were strangers in a strange land. In the Ancient Israelite worldview, Egypt was not just a political oppressor; it was a spiritual "Iron Furnace." It was the domain of foreign gods—Ra, Osiris, Horus. Israel was living in a culture where the very words spoken were dedicated to idols. To leave Egypt was to leave the jurisdiction of these foreign elohim. But look at what happens the moment they step out: "Judah became God's sanctuary, Israel his dominion." This is a profound statement of Cosmic...

So often we try to make changes in our lives, you know, the difficult things, those entrenched behaviours that keep ruining things for us – but try as we might, somehow we always seem to fail. But worship, well, that's something that changes us – from the inside out.   Worship Sets us Free Well, welcome to this programme; it's the last programme in our four part series called, "Worship as a Way of Life". I guess the guts of it has been getting our hearts and our minds around the fact that worship is more than just going to church and singing songs on Sunday morning – so much more. And over the last three weeks we have seen that there are really two aspects to worship. Two different words used for worship in the New Testament. Worship on the inside – bowing down our lives to God, the thing that happens in our hearts, and then what we go on and do with that – living out that worship through our service, on the outside. It makes sense – look at a marriage. I love my wife, Jacqui, with all my heart – I adore her but if that's all I did it wouldn't be a very great marriage. Once a week, if I just said, "Darling, I love you", come on, what sort of a marriage would it be? I have to live out that marriage; I have to live out that love. I don't always do that perfectly, but she has to know that I love her through how I treat her and what I say to her and what I do for her and as I live out that love, it changes me on the inside and I love her even more. So this "inside", "outside" thing, well they feed off each other. The question is, is it like that in our relationship with God? Today we are going to conclude this series by asking that question. Ok, so if I worship God, what happens to me? I mean, does it change me, does it transform me, does it change the way I am on the inside and the outside? We are going to start off today back in the Book of Exodus, so if you have a Bible, go and grab it. We will go to the Book of Exodus and we are looking where Moses went up to Mount Sinai and got the Ten Commandments. Something happened to him up there. Have a look at Exodus, chapter 34, beginning at verse 29. When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he wasn't aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken to the Lord. When his brother Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses his face was radiant and they were afraid to come near him but Moses called to them. So Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him and he spoke with them. Afterwards all the Israelites came near to him and he gave them all the Commandments that the Lord had given him up on the mountain. When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face but whenever he entered the Lord's presence to speak with Him he removed the veil until he came out again. And when he came out and told the Israelites what had been commanded they saw that his face was radiant again. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord again. See, when you go into God's presence, you can't help it, something happens to you. And with Moses, he went into God's presence up on Mount Sinai and then in the tabernacle (the tent), which was the tent of the meeting place. When Israel were out there in the desert for forty years in the exodus, they built a tent and in the centre of that tent; in a place called the Holy of Holies, is where the presence of God rested with them. And only Moses would go in and speak with God. And when he did that there was this radiance; something different about him, when he came out from having been in God's presence. He was transformed in a way that the people, well, they really noticed this. A few thousand years later the Apostle Paul looks back on all of that and comes up with the conclusion that when we turn to the Lord our God and worship Him, something like that happens, only much better. Let's again go to God's Word and have a look at Second Corinthians, chapter 3, beginning at verse 13. This is what Paul writes: We aren't like Moses who had to put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. Their minds were made dull for to this day, that same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day, when Moses' laws are read, a veil covers their hearts but whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. What's this thing that Paul is talking about here? I mean the Israelites in the first century, were bound up in God's law and in legalism. You know, it was all about rules – there were six hundred and thirteen commandments and prohibitions in the Torah; in the Hebrew Law that was given through Moses and they got so rule-bound and legalistic and that's the thing that Jesus came to set us free from. I mean, Moses, in the Old Testament, was able to go into the presence of God, and when he came out he used to have to hide his transformation – the glory of God shinning out from his face, because people didn't understand it; they couldn't take it – the whole bunch of people around in his day who just didn't get it. A bit like today really. Whenever we turn to the Lord, to Jesus, the veil is taken away. And then Paul goes on to say in verse 17: Now, the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. The picture here is of our faces shinning with the glory of God – not a sense of a bunch of rules that we have to keep – not that at all – a sense of freedom. See, here's what so often happens – someone accepts Jesus Christ into their lives as Lord and Saviour – right? Fantastic! All great intentions but then little by little we get bound up in rules and regulations and "you have to do this and you can't do that" – it's called legalism. And Paul is saying, "No, you get up on the mountain top and you worship God – you don't have to be like that. He changes you on the inside and you end up shinning on the outside." The veil is removed – you don't have to hide it anymore. Have you ever met someone who is just glowing with the glory of God; with the goodness of God? You know, they walk into the room and there's a kind of a light and when they leave something lingers – this sense that somehow, God is in this place. When we like Moses, go to that mountain top and worship God, it changes us; it transforms us on the inside and you end up glowing that on the outside. There's a sense that this person has been up there worshipping in the presence of God. You know what we try to do? We try to do this in our own strength. We look at God and go, "WOW, God is so amazing", and the more we look at Him the more we realise our own weaknesses, so then we set about trying to change them. We think, "you know something, I have to stop doing this or I have to start doing that, or I have to do this and don't do that", and before you know it we are peddling so hard, we're exhausted. And ultimately, we end up failing; it's too hard, we can't do it. Paul is saying here that when we worship God on that mountain top, God does something amazing. He fills us on the inside and we can't help it – it ends up shinning out on the outside. We'll take a look at that next.   Worship Transforms Us When we worship God, that bears fruit in our lives – it changes us on the inside and on the outside in ways that we simply couldn't do on our own. In fact, as we worship Him, we end up looking more and more like Jesus. Have a read here in Second Corinthians, chapter 3, verse 18, what Paul goes on to say. And we, who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness from glory to glory, which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. See, that veil that Paul was talking about before and here in this passage, is the veil of misunderstanding; it's the veil of separation; it's the veil that says, "I can't come before God because I'm not worthy." In the first century the Jews had the temple, in fact, they had had it for quite a long time before then. And in the centre of the temple, on the inside, was the Holy of Holies, the place where the presence of God was. And only the High Priest was allowed to go into the Holy of Holies and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement – to make atonement with God through sacrifice for the sins of Israel. Anyone else went in there they would die because they couldn't stand the presence of the Lord – He's holy and He's perfect and we're not! – and we would surely die in His presence. That's why, when Moses came down from the mountain and his face was glowing with the glory of God, people were afraid. The Holy of Holies was closed off from the rest of us in the temple, by a thick curtain or a veil. So what's changed? How come we can go into God's presence and worship Him? How is it that we can come before a holy God just as we are with our faces uncovered and our hearts uncovered open to Him? Luke explains it in his Gospel as he records the crucifixion of Jesus. You can read this in Luke, chapter 23, verse 44. It was now about the sixth hour and the darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour for the sun had stopped shining and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit." When He said this, He breathed His last. See, the death of Jesus Christ paid for all my sins – He paid for all your sins And that one thing that stopped us from coming into the very presence of God, our sin, was dealt with and so God tore the veil in two – the veil that closed off the Holy of Holies. He opened that up to you and me, the instant that Christ died. That means if we put our faith in Jesus we can go and stand in His presence unveiled; just as we are and just gaze on His beauty with wonder and awe and worship Him. And when we do that then we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness from glory to glory, which comes from God who is the Spirit. Just as we stand in His presence and know that He is God, He transforms us into His likeness, from glory to glory to glory and it works its way out from the inside to our outside and we're transformed into His likeness. We end up looking more and more like Jesus. Let me ask you a question: Why is it that so many Christians are just plain hypocrites? They go to church on Sunday and yet you look at their lives for the rest of the week and they look nothing like Jesus. I'll tell you why – because they haven't adopted worship as their way of life. I struggle so much in my life when I don't spend time with Jesus. If I've been sick or I've been travelling or I'm really busy or really tired, in those times I just know that I haven't got what it takes to do it on my own. And time and time again that's what brings me back to the foot of the cross. Time and time again I discover and I rediscover I can't do this on my own. Only when I worship God on the inside and then I live that out on the outside, that's when I can look like Him. When we get off that mountain top and wander round in the marshes of day to day life, like Moses, the glory fades. But when we spend time worshipping Jesus on the mountain top, on the inside; we don't have to go out there in life and wander round on our own any more, in our own strength. Instead the joy of the Lord is our strength. When we worship God, He fills us with His joy, just as having been in His presence. The joy of just having seen Him and heard Him and experienced Him changes us – He fills us with the joy of the Lord; the fullness of His Spirit. We need to experience Jesus for ourselves – that's what real worship is – making music unto Him in our hearts – singing, delighting, resting, praying and when we do that, we who with unveiled faces, all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness, with ever increasing glory which comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. I love this because we can't do it in our own strength. God has this amazing plan to transform you and me into His image from glory to glory. Just as we turn to worship Him and bow down before Him – to set us free, to fill us with the calm delight of His presence. This is where the rubber hits the road – this is so much better than keeping the veil over our hearts and trying to go out there and do it in our own strength. This is ... well, it's so God, isn't it? It's so.. Him! Do you get it? He wants to change you and me from glory to glory. He wants to transform us to, in effect, be Christ to a lost and hurting world; to look like and to walk like and to talk like Jesus – to ache like Jesus for those around us – in His image – that was always the plan.   A Treasure in Jars of Clay I was accosted recently by a man in a coffee shop in Chicago. It turns out, sad to say, that he was an Australian who heard me talking with my colleague in the coffee shop, and so he picked up my accent. Anyhow, this guy accosts me quite aggressively and starts telling me that if we believe in God, it's possible for us to be perfect here on earth. Unfortunately, I didn't think quickly enough – what I should have done is ask him, "So, do you know anyone who's like that, perfect, I mean?" Because the only perfect person I know is Jesus Christ. Now I want to deal with this because it's important. From what we've seen so far on the programme you could easily get the impression that I agree with that guy in the coffee shop. Just keep worshipping Jesus and you'll be exactly like Him – perfecto! My experience is that there are sometimes gaps between the glory – you know when it talks about us being transformed from glory to glory – I make mistakes every day, I fall short every day and my hunch is so do you. And if we think that we can end up being "perfecto", well, we are going to become very discouraged very quickly. Paul addresses this in the next few verses – go to Second Corinthians, chapter 4 and verse 6 – let's have a listen to what he says. For the God who said, "Let a light shine out of darkness," made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. That kind of reinforces what we've been talking about. God does something, "He shines His light" as we get to know Jesus; He shines His light into our hearts. The same God who created light out of darkness – it's the first thing He did – "Let there be light" – that God speaks light into our hearts through Jesus Christ. But look at what He says in the next verse, verse 7. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our bodies. See, the treasure that Paul is talking about here is the wonder and the glory of God – that light that shines out from our faces and from all that we do when we are people of worship. The jars of clay, well, that's you and me – that's who we are! What a great contrast – the light shinning out the glory of God – bright and pure and perfect – but God takes it and He puts it in this rough and imperfect earthenware jar. Maybe it has some chips and cracks and that brilliant light of God's glory shines out from that imperfect and rough jar. See, sometimes we go and worship God and we come down from the mountain top and we are full of His glory and we think "everything is going to go well", but look what Paul says: We are hard pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not abandoned, struck down but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus Christ so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. He was going through some difficult times in ministry – people were trying to kill him, they were locking him up, they were beating him, they were abandoning him. Just because we worship God doesn't mean that those things aren't going to happen to us – they do! We are in an earthenware jar. And what a sharp contrast between this beautiful, perfect, glorious light of God and this rough and imperfect and sometimes cracked and broken earthenware jar – they are so different you can tell the difference, you can't help it. And there's a reason for that. So that people will know that this light that they see on our faces – this glory of God, this all surpassing power comes from God and not from us. God is so realistic, isn't He? He doesn't expect perfection – He just wants us to come as we are – a bit rough around the edges, a bit perfect, with pressures and tensions in our lives and when we worship Him He pours His glory into us to shine out into the world. It's so easy for us to get discouraged! The more we worship God the more we see our own imperfections in His light but that's the plan – just for us to let Him take our lives as we are and for God to use them for His glory. That's worship – worship as a way of life. You go up to the mountain top and you worship Jesus – you do it with all your heart – you bow down and you worship Him in song and in prayer and in just resting in His presence and His glory with thanksgiving and with praise. And then we come down from that mountain top and we are walking around doing all the stuff we do in life and His glory just shines out into the world through the cracks in our earthenware jars. We go up to that mountain top again and He fills us again and again and we come down again and again and we live out that worship – it's just the way He made us. My earthenware jar was made for a different purpose to yours – yours is different to the next persons. We are all imperfect – that's the way it's meant to be so that nobody can be in any doubt that the glory comes from God. I love getting together with God's people and singing songs of worship and praise but you know the greatest times of worship for me are in my study with the door closed, with the Bible open, just praying and delighting and worshipping God and being filled with the sense of His presence; being filled with His Spirit. And then when I open that door and I go and do all the things I do in life, I'm a better husband; I'm a better father; I'm a better teacher; I'm a better manager; I'm a better everything because I spent that time worshipping God. Worship on the inside becomes worship on the outside – the things that we do in life. Worship – worship is a way of life.

Old Testament Sermons / Speaker:Berry Kercheville The Call and Message of Jeremiah Chapters 1-2  Introduction: Jeremiah is a unique prophet in many ways. God called him when he is young, at least in his early twenties. He is called to live a hard and difficult life. He is hated by his own people, and kings desired to kill him in spite of the fact that his message was intended to save them.  The heart of Jeremiah is what is most moving. In reading the book, it is not long before your heart becomes wedded to his and that every emotion he feels and every hurt he endures, becomes your emotion and your hurt. Soon you realize that what you are experiencing is not just Jeremiah's heart, but the heart of God himself reflected in his prophet.  Please participate in the readings this year. You will travel through great valleys, but in the end you will ascend to the mountain top with God. Overview of the last kings of Judah during Jeremiah's ministry Reigns of the final kings of Judah  Manasseh: 696–642 Amon: 642–640 Josiah: 640–609 (Jeremiah's ministry begins in the 13th year of Josiah: 627–586) Jehoahaz: 609 (3 months). Deported to Egypt by Pharaoh Necho Jehoiakim:  609–597  Put on the throne by Necho 605: Babylon defeated Egypt at the battle of Carchemish Jehoiakim served Nebuchadnezzar until 597 when he rebelled and is killed Jehoiachin 597 (3 months): taken and imprisoned in Babylon for 35 years until Evil-merodach mercifully freed him (2 Kings 25:27) Zedekiah 597–586: Puppet king to Nebuchadnezzar. Rebels in 588 and after an 18 month siege, Jerusalem and the temple are overthrown. Though the first half of Jeremiah's ministry is during Josiah's reforms, it is evident by Jeremiah's message that the heart of the people is unchanged. The message: External reforms did not achieve the change of heart God demands.  The last half of Jeremiah's ministry (chapters 21ff) are the worst for him since he is now dealing with the wicked sons of Josiah as kings. Jeremiah is treated as a traitor and accused of treason for urging Zedekiah to submit to Nebuchadnezzar according to the word of the Lord. But Zedekiah's advisors believe that Jerusalem cannot be conquered, and therefore their rebellion becomes the demise of the nation. Key Messages & Lessons: Chapter One 1:4 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you…I consecrated you…” Do you believe that could be said of you? Has God formed you, knew you, and consecrated you before you were born?  “…even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-6) Go home and look in the mirror. Look deeply and carefully. You have a purpose. You were created for a purpose. Consider the amazing blessing God desired for you and planned for you. He specially appointed and chose you to be a part of an eternal plan and to exalt you above the angels.  You may look in the mirror and see someone you do not like, someone who you know has failed the purpose for which God created you. We've all been there. Now is the time to step up and meet that purpose. One day at a time, rebuild your life to please God.  The above is so easily said, but the effort needed is very difficult, especially in the beginning as you change old habits. Here is a “simple” daily schedule that must be followed if you are to succeed: Prayer! “Ask and you will receive…”  Read one chapter a day with a pencil, with notes of discoveries in a journal. Uncomfortable at first? Yes, if you've never done it. But this is absolutely necessary if God is going to renew your mind! 1:6-8 “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth…do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.” God accepts no excuses! Jeremiah was young, very young—barely in his twenties. He had a lot of reasons why he shouldn't be the one who challenged kings. But that is the point! God never has looked for the “mighty” and the “talented.” God uses those who know that the power resides in God alone. We are nothing. But with God and the faith of the grain of mustard seed, mountains are moved. Do not look to yourself. That will only demoralize you and cause you to lose hope. Look to God. There is no failure with God. Never has been!  1:16 “And I will declare my judgments against them; for all their evil in forsaking me.” It is important that we always ask ourselves this question: Am I forsaking the Lord? There is a simple rule of thumb here—when our hearts are turned to other things, and the Lord is not our priority, we are forsaking him. The only outcome is our own failed idolatry. Key Messages & Lessons: Chapter Two 2:1-3 The violation of love and the marriage covenant This is a picture of love and the initial covenantal marriage of God with Israel. It is important to feel the Lord's heart and love as he looks back on the time in which he called the to follow him and be wedded to him. It is a heart-breaking scene. “Israel was holy…” This statement indicates the special purpose God had for Israel. They are set apart beyond all other nations. They are intended to display the holiness of God so that the nations would also turn to him. “…the firstfruits” changes the metaphor to picture why Israel was chosen. “Firstfruits” were a special offering to God of thanksgiving. “All who ate of it incurred guilt…”— thus Israel is God's and enemy nations would not be allowed to devour them. To be “Israel” was truly an unparalleled blessing.  “Firstfruits” also indicated a greater harvest to come. What could this greater harvest be? It is the nations—a picture of God's promise to Abraham that through his offspring all nations would be blessed. The failure of Israel should be a strong reminder to us of our calling and purpose. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9) The failure of Israel should also remind us of the deep love God has for us and the extreme hurt we cause the Lord when our love for him wanes in favor of following earthly and worldly desires. To emphasize this God even required Hosea to endure the adulteries of his wife so that he could relate to Israel the deep hurt and anger God felt by Israel's adulteries. Summary of God's Message God remembers these early days in which he delivered them from bondage and made them is own at Sinai. Their hearts had trembled when he spoke to them and they made a promise to him that all he commanded they would do. But the contrast is seen in the rest of the chapter. They completely turned away, from kings, to priests, to prophets (2:8), “on every high hill and under every green tree you bowed down like a whore” (2:20). 2:11-13 It is unheard of that a nation would change gods. But Israel was unique among the nations, not only changing gods but rejecting the true God who done so much for them in favor of gods that cannot give them anything. They gave up the fountain of living waters and instead dug out cisterns that cannot hold water. Will we learn from this? How foolish to turn to the worldly, idolatrous desires that are based on the weakness and do not last and reject the God who has never failed us and brings us through every trial.  Question: Are you drinking from the fountain of living waters? Did you drink from that fountain each day last week? Or are you digging your own cistern and expecting your thirst to be quenched?  2:26-27 is a vivid illustration of this foolishness. God is our Creator. Should not that which is created turn to the One who formed him? 2:27-28 illustrates the day of need and calling to God for help. Ha! Turn to the idols you have served and see if they can save you! 2:34-35 The callousness of sin is illustrated by their claim of innocence in spite of their utter wickedness and murder. 2:23-25 A good illustration of the addictiveness of sin. Israel is like a restless camel, never content. She is like a wild donkey in heat sniffing the wind and eager to mate with any males that are willing—it will not be difficult to find her. Look at her! A holy nation turned to animal instincts!  When Israel is told to repent, her answer is that it is hopeless, she loves strangers and after them she will go. This is exactly what Satan does to us when we persist in sin! It doesn't have to be “a lot of sins.” Just one sin will do. Just one sin that eats at our minds and corrupts our hearts. Soon we look at ourselves and say, “It is hopeless. I am what I am and I cannot turn away!” Conclusion: Just as in Jeremiah's day, it is time to make a choice. Judgment is coming. In spite of Israel's many denials that the Babylonians would enter the city and massacre them, God's word held true. Will we ready ourselves for our coming Judgment? Or will we keep living in denial?  Berry Kercheville The post Jeremiah 1-2: The Call and Message of Jeremiah appeared first on Woodland Hills Church of Christ.

Listen to the article with analysis from the author:  Israel has banned Doctors Without Borders (MSF) from conducting humanitarian missions in Gaza. MSF has helped to keep the battered healthcare system at a minimal functioning level.  On Sunday, Tel Aviv announced that MSF would no longer be allowed to operate in Gaza. Israeli agencies claimed the humanitarian aid organization failed to provide Tel Aviv with sufficient documentation on its staff in the Strip.  MSF said it attempted to negotiate with Israel to share information about its staff, with safeguards to protect them, but those talks were unsuccessful. “Following many months of unsuccessful engagement with Israeli authorities, and in the absence of securing assurances to ensure the safety of our staff or the independent management of our operations,” the group's statement explained. “MSF has concluded that it will not share a list of its Palestinian and international staff with Israeli authorities in the current circumstances.” MSF supports about a fifth of all hospital beds in Gaza and a third of births. When Israel announced the ban last year, the UN's human rights chief, Volker Türk, condemned the ban as “outrageous” and explained it was part of an Israeli policy to prevent aid from entering Gaza.   During Israel's onslaught in Gaza, nearly all of the Strip's hospitals were damaged or destroyed. Tel Aviv has also barred medical supplies from entering Gaza and injured Palestinians from leaving. The shortage of medical supplies has led to preventable deaths. 

The book of Exodus reveals God's faithfulness to His promises. When Israel faced brutal oppression in Egypt, God's plan prevailed. This message in Exodus 1 encourages us to stand firm in truth, trust His justice, and stay on mission proclaiming the Gospel.Modern Issues in an Ancient Text • The beginning of our weekly Sunday morning study through Exodus.

The book of Exodus reveals God's faithfulness to His promises. When Israel faced brutal oppression in Egypt, God's plan prevailed. This message in Exodus 1 encourages us to stand firm in truth, trust His justice, and stay on mission proclaiming the Gospel.Modern Issues in an Ancient Text • The beginning of our weekly Sunday morning study through Exodus.

Podcast host, Alan Skorski, interviewed Dr. Tim Orr, an Evangelical leader, who earned six Masters Degrees, including a Masters in Islam, while studying at the London School of Islam under the tutelage of a Shia Muslim leader. During the interview Dr. Orr spoke of his visit to London on October 7, 2023, and without knowing all the news that was happening in Israel following the Hamas invasion, witnessed horrific antisemitic demonstrations taking place in the streets of London. At the same time, he was watching news from America from his hotel room, and saw almost identical types of rallies and demonstrations that were amongst the most antisemitic he had ever witnessed. These events led him to speak out in support of Israel, while he was still in London, and scheduled to speak to Muslim audiences as an interfaith leader. He said that his speaking engagements were immediately cancelled, and the Shia leaders who had once engaged him began to curse him and tell him they regret ever befriending him. Following October 7th, Dr. Orr wrote; “What I felt most was that the Church there was very weak. And that weakness carried a cost. That disorientation deepened when I watched American and European universities erupt days later with the same slogans and emotional choreography. It was then I realized I was witnessing the expression of a coherent transnational worldview, not a series of isolated events.” On antisemitism and how support for Israel is weaponized against Jews, Dr. Orr has written; Antisemitism persists not only because it is protected, but because institutions and cultures continue to choose it for its usefulness. It offers a ready explanation for failure, resentment, and moral unease. It allows societies under strain to direct judgment outward while preserving a sense of righteousness. And it does this by rendering Jews abstract enough to blame and unreal enough to disregard.When Israel is a symbol, every Israeli action is interpreted negatively, because symbols are judged by their natures, not by circumstances. When Israel uses force, it is not responding to a threat, but revealing its nature. When it exhibits restraint, it is merely biding time, and accused of cruelty by inaction: there is no space for tragedy, since tragedy exists only when two legitimate claims are in conflict, and Israel is denied legitimacy from the outset. Intent is always presumed, and never examined. Condemnation is not a conclusion, but a premise. “Dr. Orr looks at how antisemitism operates in today's political, media, and activist spaces—not just as hatred, but as a system that adapts and hides in plain sight—and how Islamist movements and narratives play a role in spreading it in the West. He brings a clear, evidence-based perspective to topics that are often misunderstood or deliberately blurred. Tim is the author of six books, including his forthcoming Antisemitism Is More Than Hatred—It's a System: How It Works, Why It Persists, and How It Adapts to Every Age.” He is currently offering an online course titled: Architecture of Antisemitism: Structure. not Just Hatred -VIN News Watch the video interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f6bE6bTKiE Alan Skorski Reports 29JAN2026 - PODCAST

In week four of our No Retreat series, we look at God's plan for Joshua at the battle of Ai and the lesson it reveals about victory. When Israel relied on their own strength, they were quickly defeated — but when they followed God's strategy, they found success.In this message, Pastor Jon reminds us that lasting victory comes from trusting God's design, not our abilities. Whether it's marriage, finances, parenting, or your career, God's strategy leads to health, growth, and breakthrough when we're willing to follow His plan instead of our own.

Judges – Session 3 | God Uses Imperfect People Who Trust Him In this session from Judges chapters 6–7, we examine God's call of Gideon and discover how the Lord delivers His people through faith, obedience, and dependence—not human strength or numbers The message opens with the familiar cycle found throughout Judges: Israel turns away from God, oppression follows, and God raises up a deliverer. This time, Israel is crushed by the Midianites, who repeatedly destroy their crops and resources, leaving the people impoverished and fearful. When Israel finally cries out, God responds—not immediately with victory, but with correction and calling. Gideon is introduced hiding in fear, yet God addresses him as a “mighty man of valor.” This moment highlights a powerful truth: God speaks identity and purpose into people before they see it themselves. Gideon's doubts, questions, and insecurity do not disqualify him—his willingness to listen and obey is what matters. As God prepares Gideon for battle, He intentionally reduces the army from thousands to just 300 men, ensuring that the victory will clearly belong to the Lord. The lesson is unmistakable: God does not need our strength to accomplish His will—He desires our trust. Fear is removed, faith is refined, and reliance on God becomes the only option. Throughout the account, God repeatedly confirms His word to Gideon—through signs, the fleece, and even overheard enemy conversations. These moments reveal God's patience and compassion toward human weakness, and His desire to strengthen His servants with confidence and courage. The miraculous victory over Midian demonstrates that God fights for His people when they obey Him. Worship, obedience, and unity precede the triumph, and confusion falls on the enemy rather than Israel. Yet even after victory, the story reminds us that pride, offense, and division can still threaten God's work if hearts are not guarded. The session closes with a sobering reminder of God's mercy and justice. While His patience is immense, persistent rebellion has consequences. Still, God continually places “roadblocks of grace” in humanity's path, calling people to repentance and life. His desire is not destruction, but restoration. Key Takeaway God delights in using ordinary, imperfect people who trust Him completely. Victory does not come through strength, numbers, or confidence—but through obedience, faith, and dependence on the Lord.

Our Election in Christ (3) (audio) David Eells, 1/14/26 I'm going to continue to speak on our election in Christ and how God has chosen Israel, and who Israel is in the New Testament. In (1Co.15:22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Everybody who abides in Christ is going to be made alive, so it's important for us to know what it means to be “in Christ.” Does it mean, “I accepted Jesus as my Savior”? It could be, but it might not be. Some people truly want Jesus to be their Savior. They are truly repenting and believing, while other people are merely parroting words. Did you know that the Bible says salvation and eternal life were not given to you? (Gal.3:16) Now to Abraham were the promises spoken, and to his seed. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. The promise that God gave to Abraham was only to Abraham and Christ. And the promise of eternal life was given to Christ; it was not given to us. The gift of eternal life is in Christ. God didn't give the gift of eternal life into your hand outside of Christ. He gave that gift in Christ and only if you are abiding in Christ do you have that gift. The “once saved, always saved” believers think that they have been given a gift of eternal life which is outside of Christ, but that's not Biblical. (1Jn.5:11) And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The eternal life that God gave us is in Jesus. The only way you can have it is to be in Jesus because the promise wasn't to you, it was to the seed of Abraham, “as of one.” That seed is Christ. (12) He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life. Let's face it, some only have religion. Jesus said, (Joh.15:1) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. No man is going to pluck you out of Jesus' hand; the Father is the Husbandman and He is the One Who is going to pluck up the plant. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away.... There are people whom we have considered to be Christians who are not Christians. They may have started out with Christ, but they have not come to Him. (2) Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away: and every [branch] that beareth fruit, he cleanseth it, that it may bear more fruit. (3) Already ye are clean because of the word which I have spoken unto you. (4) Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. (5) I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing. (6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch.... He is “cast forth” from where? He is “cast forth” from being in Christ. He said, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh it away.” If you are bearing fruit (Galatians 5:22,23; Ephesians 5:8-10), you are in Christ and have nothing to worry about. If you are not bearing fruit, it's because you are not abiding in Him. “To abide” means “to endure,” “to persist,” “to continue,” “to remain,” “to be steadfast.” To abide in Christ is to abide in His Word. It is to have ears to hear His Word (Matthew 11:15; Mark 4:9; Romans 11:8; etc.) (Joh.15:6) If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatsoever ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (8) Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; and [so] shall ye be my disciples. It's in bearing fruit that you are proven to be a disciple. You can come into Christ, but you won't stay there if you don't bear fruit. (2Jn.9) Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God: he that abideth in the teaching, the same hath both the Father and the Son. The “once saved, always saved” crowd believes that after you step over the line, that's it, but Jesus said that if you don't bear fruit, you are not My disciple and you are going to be cast forth as a branch. The word translated “elect” and the word translated “chosen” are the exact same word. The Greek word eklektos is translated sometimes as “chosen” and sometimes as “elect.” It's many who are called but few who are chosen. Jesus speaks about the man who made it into the marriage feast, but didn't have on the wedding garment. (Mat.22:11) But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: (In Rev 19:8 the wedding garment was “the righteous acts of the saints”, which also represents our fruit.) (12) and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. (13) Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (14) For many are called, but few chosen. Those who are abiding in the Kingdom are the ones who are bearing fruit and are chosen, or eklektos, or “elect.” The elect are all called and once they are saved, they are always going to be saved, but “many are called.” Among the called, there are those who don't bear fruit and there are those who bear fruit. Those who bear fruit are chosen. God said in (Hos.11:1) When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt. You say, “He was talking about Jesus.” No, He was primarily talking about the children of Israel and then it was used of Jesus. He called them out of Egypt and into the wilderness, and then He tried or tested them. Some bore fruit and went into the Promised Land, and those were the elect. Those who died in the wilderness, in type, had been called, but they were not the elect; they were not chosen. (Num.32:11) Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me: (12) save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have wholly followed the Lord. Joshua and Caleb bore fruit and were chosen. Here's a good example of this: (Rom.11:26) And so all Israel shall be saved.... Is that all of natural Israel? No, because (Rom.9:27) … If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved. So, who is “all Israel” who is going to be saved? (Rom.11:19) Thou wilt say then, Branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. The “branches” that were broken off are the natural Jews who would not believe. (20) Well; by their unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by thy faith. Paul is talking about the Gentiles who are standing in the vine by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: (21) for if God spared not the natural branches, neither will he spare thee. So, where is unconditional eternal security?? (22) Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (23) And they also, if they continue not in their unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. In the New Testament, “all Israel” is those natural Jews who believe and those Gentiles who are grafted into the vine by their faith. All the people who were broken off for unbelief were not Israel, but all of true spiritual Israel is going to be saved. Look what Paul said about the end of the Jewish Covenant: (Rom.11:5) Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant (This is speaking of a remnant of Jews.) according to the election of grace. (6) But if it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. (7) What then? that which Israel seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened. He said a remnant of natural Israel was elect, but Israel as a whole did not obtain grace. The called who were not the elect were hardened and the elect obtained grace because they believed. This was at the end of the Jewish Covenant. Now we are coming to the end of the mostly Gentile Covenant, and today “Israel” is the Gentile church and the few Jews; I.e., all who are “circumcised in heart.” (Rom.11:7) What then? that which the “Israel of God”(As a type of this Church) seeketh for, that he obtained not; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened. Is that Scriptural? Yes, because the Bible plainly says that the lukewarm are going to be spewed out of the body (Revelation 3:16) and there will be a great falling away (Revelation 12:4). Pagans can't fall away. Those people who fall away have to have been believers first, or they could not have fallen away, and the Lord is not coming until the falling away comes to purify the Church. (2Th.2:2) To the end that ye be not quickly shaken from your mind, nor yet be troubled, either by spirit, or by word, or by epistle as from us, as that the day of the Lord is just at hand; (3) let no man beguile you in any wise: for [it will not be,] except the falling away come first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition who was reprobated. The same statement can be made of the Gentile era because the elect are going to obtain grace to bear fruit and the rest are going to be hardened. The rest are going to fall away, exactly as Jesus showed in the Parable of the Sower. This should really give you the fear of the Lord. By the faith that God has given us, we are responsible to take God's grace and put it to work in our lives. We are responsible for obeying what we see in the New Testament, not in “Church.” Everybody who abides in the vine, which is Jesus, whether it's the remnant of natural Israel or whether it's the remnant of the Gentiles, is true Israel. And “all Israel” shall be saved because all true Israel is the elect, regardless of race. At the end of the Jewish Covenant, Jesus came to prove who the elect remnant was among the Jews. Jesus said, (Joh.16:21) A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world. (22) And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you. Our personal man-child is born to us as the fruit of Christ being manifest through us to the world. All who exercise faith in the promises will bear His fruit, which looks like Him. In these days, the corporate Man-child body, in whom is the full manifestation of Jesus, is coming to prove who the first fruits elect remnant is in the Church, and the Man-child is going to use the same method that Jesus used to bring this nature to the Church. What was Jesus' method? (Mat.13:10) And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? In other words, “Why are you saying things to them that are so hard to understand?” (11) And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. (12) For whosoever hath, to him shall be given.... “Whosoever hath” what? Well, if we go back three verses, we'll find the answer: (9) He that hath ears, let him hear. It's like when something makes perfect sense to you, but when you try to explain it to other people, somehow they just can't understand what you're saying unless they have the gift of faith. You see, Jesus' method for separating the elect from the non-elect was to preach the Word and when He preached the Word, the elect understood because they had ears. (Mat.13:12) For whosoever hath, to him shall be given (If you have ears, it's going to be given to you. Sometimes we do not hear the word of the Lord with the respect that we should have. God is speaking.), and he shall have abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he hath. People who don't have ears to hear are going to lose what understanding they do have. Remember what happened to the servant who was given the one talent? (Mat.25:14) For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants (The Greek word there is doulous and it actually means “bondslaves.”), and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey… (24) And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow, and gathering where thou didst not scatter; (25) and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, thou hast thine own. (26) But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; (This servant had no ears; his knowledge was false. His Lord did scatter it, to him. He didn't realize that all was given to him by grace. It did not come by their works. Many think they own what they have.) (27) thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest (or fruit). The servant with the one talent didn't bring forth any fruit from what was given to him. The Lord took away the one talent from him and gave it to the servant who had the 10 talents. (Mat.25:28) Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. (29) For unto every one that hath (ears) shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. Again, a person who doesn't bear fruit is not “harkening,” which means “to hear and obey,” unto the voice of the Lord, and even what they do have is going to be taken away from them. Jesus told us, (Mat.10:34) Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. That “sword” separated the righteous from the wicked, and the wicked from their demons. That was a good thing because a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21; 1 Corinthians 5:6; Galatians 5:9). (Jer.48:10) Cursed be he that doeth the work of the Lord negligently; and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood. Now, there are a lot of preachers who are not going to cut anyone with the Word; it's too easy to lose tithes that way and so they aren't going to step on anyone's feet. Your sword is supposed to separate. The Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword and it divides. (Heb.4:12) For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart. The Word divides the carnal from the spiritual. Jesus wasn't trying to explain things to people who didn't have ears to hear. Even if He had given it to them, as we've seen, they could not have kept it. (Luk.13:23) And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them, (24) Strive to enter in by the narrow door (Many pass up the narrow door of grace until it is too late.): for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able. (25) When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are; (26) then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets; (27) and he shall say, I tell you, I know not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. Well, they were walking with Jesus, but they had not come to Him, just as Judas walked with Him and did miracles and signs but was an unrepentant thief until he couldn't turn back. Jesus warned us (Mat.7:21) Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven. (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name, and by thy name cast out demons, and by thy name do many mighty works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. How could they do these miracles if He didn't “know” them? It's because Jesus gave them authority to do those works (Matthew 28:18-19; Luke 9:1). You see, “knowing about” someone is not the same as “knowing” someone. “Knowing you” is like the relationship Adam had with Eve. He knew Eve. This is a personal relationship with the Lord, like a husband knows his wife. “I never knew you” is what Jesus will say about a person who was doing the work of God, but was not giving good ground to the seed. Some people think they surely must be acceptable to God because they are doing the work of God. No, you can do the work of God and yet totally fail in your personal relationship with God. Personally, someone can be a total failure in their life of obedience to God, but they can still go cast out demons and do many mighty works. It's not gifts that open the door to the Kingdom, folks, it's fruit. He said that many are going to seek to enter in, but they will not be able. When the five foolish virgins came to the marriage feast after the door was shut, they called out, (Mat.25:11) … Lord, Lord, open to us. (12) But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Were they Christians? Yes, they were Christians and they did start out and seek to enter in, but they did not bear fruit. In a way, at the end of the Jewish Dispensation, the Lord was getting up to close the door, and Jesus was a part of God closing that door. Though all of those Jews, according to the Old Testament, were Covenant people, all but a remnant were rejected at that time, and God closed the door. Here we are at the end of the Gentile Covenant and the exact same thing is getting ready to happen again, which lets us know that we have to bear fruit. What's the difference between the called who don't bear fruit and the called who do bear fruit? The called who do bear fruit are the elect among the called because they abide in Christ by their faith, and therefore they receive more grace. Those who don't abide in Christ eventually lose even what grace they have. Hopefully, they will return when they receive the greater knowledge that is coming. Grace comes by faith. The only difference between those who bear fruit and those who don't bear fruit is that some walk by faith in the truth and some do not. There's no use in worrying, “Am I the elect or am I not the elect?” The only way you are going to prove that you are the elect is to walk by faith. You have that choice; everyone who is among the called has the choice to walk by faith or not to walk by faith. Why did Jesus rebuke His disciples for their unbelief? Did Jesus rebuke them because they couldn't walk by faith? Did He rebuke them because they weren't the elect? No, He rebuked them because they could walk by faith, but they were not walking by faith at that moment. He does the same with us sometimes when we are not walking by faith. But notice that they repented and He didn't remember their sins against them. (Joh.17:6) I manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them to me; and they have kept thy word. He said that they were obedient disciples. Jesus doesn't remember our sins against us, either, but He wants us to repent and walk by faith. So don't get caught up in, “Am I just called and not elect?” All you have to do is walk by faith because, if you walk by faith, you will bear fruit and you will be the elect. We are here in this wilderness to walk by faith and to prove that we are ‘Joshua and Caleb'. The Jews who convert to Christianity have no problem with predestination, calling and election because that's what they have been taught all of their lives. It's the Gentiles who have a problem with it because it's so foreign to their thinking. (Deu.7:6) For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a people for his own possession, above all peoples that are upon the face of the earth. (7) The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all peoples: (8) but because the Lord loveth you, and because he would keep the oath which he sware unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. There are answers here to some theological problems if you believe that history repeats. As Jesus said, (Mat.5:18) … Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. And Paul told us, (1Co.10:11) Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. One theological problem is all the prophecies we've heard about the coming great revivals because people feel that God has failed unless He converts a large number of humanity. We can see here, if God has failed in the New Testament, He certainly did fail the Old Testament, but God wasn't going after large numbers. In fact, He picked the fewest of all peoples to be His people. He was after quality and not quantity. Some people think that God is out to convert the people of the world, yet Jesus prophesied, (Mat.7:13) Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. (14) For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it. Even though Jesus will “compel” many to come in, He didn't prophesy that great masses of humanity would be running into the Kingdom of Heaven over the course of time. Another theological problem for people is the classic question, “What about the heathens in deepest, darkest Africa? What is God going to do about them?” Well, we just saw that back in the days when God chose Israel and even all through the Old Testament, they were a small group of people compared to the rest of the world. If you had asked one of them that question, they would have replied, “What are you talking about? Don't you understand that God has chosen Israel?” And if you repeated your question, “Yes, but what about the heathens in the deepest, darkest Africa who have never heard about God?” They would have replied again, “Don't you understand? God has chosen Israel.” The Jews understood this. If you give people this answer today, they don't understand, but the Jews did understand because they were raised with the predestination doctrine. Now, I do have a couple of answers for this problem: one is election and the other is conscience. Let me point out that God said He was going to judge people according to their conscience, but first, I'd like to clarify something here. He's talking in this Scripture about Christians coming to God, as opposed to the Jews who were with God under the Law. And so He says, (Rom.2:15) In that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing [them]; (16) in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ. A person's conscience is either going to accuse or excuse them. We know this text is talking about Christians because they are the only ones “who show the work of the Law written in their hearts.” But the rest of the world is going to be judged according to conscience, too, and conscience won't put any of us in Heaven. Jesus said, (Mat.24:37) And as [were] the days of Noah, so shall be the coming of the Son of man. If God did the same thing He did in the days of Noah, some would find grace and the rest would find justice. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord (Genesis 6:8). He was elect; he found grace and the rest found justice. God did no wrong for the rest had defiled their conscience they were born with. Remember what Jesus spoke in the Parable of the Husbandman, who went out at different hours and hired people to work in his vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). The people who were hired last worked for only one hour, while the rest of them worked through the heat of the day. When it came time to pay the people, the husbandman called the last first and paid them a shilling and then He paid everyone else a shilling. But those who were hired first were unhappy. (Mat.20:11) And when they received it, they murmured against the householder, (12) saying, These last have spent [but] one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat. (13) But he answered and said to one of them, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a shilling? (14) Take up that which is thine, and go thy way; it is my will to give unto this last, even as unto thee. (15) Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good? That's the Lord's reasoning. God is never going to do less than justice, and in fact, God is almost always merciful. He doesn't have to be merciful, but at the least, He's always going to do justice. We've received God's grace, but we don't deserve it; it's a gift of God. When God judges, the world will receive righteous judgment (Acts 17:31), but true Christians will receive grace. Praise the Lord! So the answer to “What about the heathen in deepest, darkest Africa?” is that the heathen in Africa are going to be judged according to their conscience. Their conscience will either condemn them or excuse them. Everyone in the world has a conscience, but for some, their conscience has condemned them until it became quiet and just gave up condemning them. Their conscience finally became hardened, you see, because they rebelled against it. God has chosen the few and He's always chosen the weak among men in the next two verses. (1Co.1:25) Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (26) For behold your calling, brethren, that not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: So we see that God is clearly speaking of calling weak men. Then the translators, who probably didn't consider themselves weak and foolish, added things in the text over and over in the next three verses, which they italicized, showing it was not in the original text. Clearly, God is not speaking of things but MEN. So when we read them without things but with minor corrections from the Numeric Pattern, the text fits together and makes sense. (27) But God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put to shame them that are wise; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things strong; (28) and the base things of the world, and the things despised, did God choose, [yea] and them things that are not, that he might bring to nought those things that are: (29) that no flesh should glory before God. Clearly, He chose weak and the base men so no one can brag. He wants to prove His power to save. He has always chosen small and weak Israel. Even in the New Testament, spiritual Israel, those who are after the same faith as Abraham, is still the only one who is chosen. (Psa.147:19) He showeth his word unto Jacob, His statutes and his ordinances unto Israel. (20) He hath not dealt so with any nation; And as for his ordinances, they have not known them. Praise ye the Lord. Not showing the nations His ordinances and statutes in the Old Testament is the equivalent of not giving someone “ears to hear” the Gospel in the New Testament. Jesus told the Jews in (Joh.6:44) No man can come to me, except the Father that sent me draw him... And (37) All that which the Father giveth me shall come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. God is not wrong by giving mercy to some and reaching out with the good news to bring them into the ark, no more than He was wrong when He brought those few into the ark in Noah's day. God is not wrong. And in many cases, God does not open the ears of people and He hardens hearts, and He hides things from “the wise and capable.” (Isa.45:15) Verily thou art a God that hidest thyself, O God of Israel, the Saviour. You may ask, “What's His method of hiding things?” Well, the devil is one. (2Co.4:3) And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled in them that perish: (4) in whom the god of this world (The devil is the god of this world because the world copies and thus worships him.) hath blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn [upon them]. The devil has permission to do this. Also, (Mat.11:25) At that season Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding (This is speaking of the Pharisees, Sadducees and their students.), and didst reveal them unto babes: (26) yea, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight. (27) All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knoweth the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son willeth to reveal [him]. So it pleased the Father to hide some things, and in this text, He talks about hiding them even from religious people. There truly is a supernatural blindness on people. You've probably seen it when you try very simply to share the Gospel or a revelation from God with people, but somehow they just can't see it. And you look upon them almost in awe, wondering, “Why can't they see it? It's so simple.” Of course, it's simple to you because you have a gift they don't have. You have the gift of hearing.

WWIII Begins End of 2025 (1) (audio) David Eells, 12/28/25 Allison Pound 7/31/25 (Davids notes in red) The Lord began to speak to me about what He is doing and what is to come: Be not afraid of what I Am doing in the earth dear one. Draw near to Me. Though none go with you, run to Me. Come right up under My Wings. Just as I tell you in My Word. Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High Psalm 91 is in play. I have begun to speak to My prophets about this year of 2025. I have only just begun to say what I want to say. If you will sit with Me, I will tell you much, much more. And you will tell the people. This is how I want it. Remain in My Presence. Write all that I tell you. 2030 is a year I have not spoken to you about. But I have to some. I will tell you about 2030. This is just 5 years away from where you are now. I assure you that you will still be here, on earth, in that year. (That time is pointed out because it brings us to the mark of the beast that most think they will rapture before.) Remember, you are still in the labour pains, pre-tribulation. You shall still be here. And beyond a little while. (Past 2030 to the end of the tribulation.) Yes, I know many are expecting to be raptured this year in September. Or any day before or soon after. They are foolish. I have not told them the day or the hour of My return. And I will not. But as time goes on, the wise who have prepared themselves to endure the tribulation will come to know when to expect Me. They will have this knowing in their spirit. It will build to a climactic point. The wise also know at what time of year to expect Me. This is why My feast days are so important. They teach My beloved to watch, to set a watchman. It will be important to know the time and date in the coming days because the moon and the sun will be dimmed at some point. (Because of war, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.)  It will not be easy to tell by simply looking up. Darkness and thick clouds on the Day of the Lord. Remember My word says this. (There is a Day of the Lord at the end of the Brides tribulation just as there is at the end of the Churches tribulation. If you do not know the difference read Song of Soloman and Esther, which are parables.) I will not set aside My Word and come on a day that is not an appointed feast. Why would I do that? I Am the Lord. My Word and I are one. The World War will begin to get into full swing at the end of this year of 2025. (At the end of the brides tribulation and beginning of the Man-childs reign and Churches tribulation.) Christmas in Europe will not be a happy time. I will have the middle to the northeast of Europe out in the streets this Christmas. (Their paranoia is pushed by the left and NATO that Russia is prepared to attack while their DS Kazarians are the ones trying to make this war happen because they think the U.S. will be forced in on their side. Ukraine and Russia are still bombing each other and taking down ships and oil tankers that belong to other nations. Are we not becoming ripe for a WW? It will not be stopped but pray for good to happen, which I will explain.) (This is Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland, Ukraine, Belarus, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, and Czechia) (Will it spread? It appears we are at the time of the Man-child ministries anointing. What happens just after that? Rev 6:2  And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat thereon had a bow; and there was given unto him a crown: and he came forth conquering, and to conquer. (This is Jesus in the Man-child reformers, whose prophetic words and actions will conquer the  World.) 3  And when he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, Come. 4  And another horse came forth, a red horse: and to him that sat thereon it was given to take peace from the earth, and that they should slay one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. This is a World War. Pray!) Bombs will fall in countries that do not expect war. (Because their DS Kazarian leadership must die; they are a part of Babylon.) No bombs will fall in America. (Because America will not effectually join with NATO to defend their DS Kazarians who will be bundled by the angels as tares to be burned. It is understood that the Europeans and Scandinavians are not our or the Russians enemies; their leadership is.) That (bombing of America) will happen after the WW. (To take down our own bundled tares.) I want you to see the order of things. Something many dont know is that the main forces of the Alliance of Nations headed by Cyrus/Trump are the U.S., Russia, and China. These are held together by NESARA/GESARA dividing up the money taken from the DS Kazarian leadership who rules NATO and its nations. Our old alliance with NATO to defend Europe from the Russians is flimsy at best. Although we dont flaunt it, we have more in common with the Russians, which have also been at war with the DS Kazarians for many years. So, these satanists want a war between U.S. and Russia to take out their strongest enemies. Initially, I dont believe this will happen but later it will.) There has, historically, been an agreement of no bombs (ceasefire), no war on Christmas day, yet this will no longer be the case anymore. (It appeared Russia and Ukraine continued without ceasefire. The Ukrainian Nazis will be conquered by Russia because the people are theirs.) Peace is being taken from the earth. I do not like Christmas. I abhor the practice. I Am making an example of Christmas. This is a purely pagan practice in some of the countries of Europe. I Am targeting these places. I want you to know that there are goat nations and there are sheep nations. I Am causing a separation. Those who want to be sheep will have to leave the goat nations because they will not be safe places for My people to reside. There is going to be a great migration of peoples. The turmoil of this WW will irrevocably affect the whole earth. It will change all the nations. Some nations will not be able to cope or accommodate the people arriving there looking for a safe place to reside. There will be much finger-pointing. (Islaam, as usual, will turn against the nations who are taking them in.) Australia, which has been criticized much for the boat people fiasco, will open its arms and welcome war refugees. But there will be a cut-off point, where leaders will say they can accommodate no more. This will be an overwhelming time for many and it begins at the end of this year of 2025. Safety will be found personally in those who abide in Christs Word. Psa 91:1-16 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust. 3 For he will deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, And from the deadly pestilence. 4 He will cover thee with his pinions, And under his wings shalt thou take refuge: His truth is a shield and a buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night, Nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 For the pestilence that walketh in darkness, Nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, And ten thousand at thy right hand; But it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold, And see the reward of the wicked. 9 For thou, O Jehovah, art my refuge! Thou hast made the Most High thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, Neither shall any plague come nigh thy tent. 11 For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, Lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: The young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under foot. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble: I will deliver him, and honor him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, And show him my salvation. Joel 2:1 Blow the rams horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near 2 a day of darkness and gloom, a day of cloud and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. Joel 2:31 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Zephaniah 1:14 The great Day of the LORD is nearnear and coming quickly. Listen, the Day of the LORD! Then the cry of the mighty will be bitter. 15 That day will be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness.   We are Now in that Season Where Everything Will Change  Alison Pound- 6/11/25 (Davids notes in red) Tuesday 3rd June 2025 This is to be a year like no other. Many things shall come to pass. Most of them judgment events. The World War will begin in earnest. Europe, all of Europe, will be drawn into this war. As I told you, the French President will draw France into the war. Putin will continue his conquest of lands unabated. (In effect he will liberate nations from the satanic DS Kazarian leadership.) This is why all of Europe will be drawn into the war. Then other nations on other continents will come into the war, sending troops etc. By the end of this year, the world will be a very different place. Much will happen in this second half of 2025. (And even more in 2026.) I want you to understand one thing clearly. When war breaks out later this year, this is not the beginning of the great tribulation. I have told you what kicks off the tribulation. I Am not pleased with what some are saying, leading My flock astray on this matter. Especially those saying the tribulation is behind us. The foolishness I Am seeing in My people is to be stopped. It will be stopped when they are dropped right into the middle of tribulation events. Monday 9th June 2025 Remember what I told you those things you have been awaiting to come to pass, time is speeding up. You will not be waiting long, as you waited 10 years ago. I will speak to you now and say it is time. And it will come to pass. Perhaps in the very day I tell you that it is time. Or it will be weeks, of 7 days rather than months and years. There is no time for months and years now , I will no longer allow matters to resolve over lengthy time spans. I Am bringing all things quickly to pass, quickly to a head. My judgments are in the earth now. This is the time of the end. All things come to pass. In a short span of time, they come to pass. This is why I say to you, do not be afraid. Because you are going to see some things come to pass very shortly. We are there. It is time. Tuesday 10th June 2025 Today is the day. I have spoken and it shall come to pass. This is how it shall be in these days at the end of all things. I will speak to My prophets, My true obedient prophets and say today is the day, and when they speak My words out, they shall come to pass instantly, on that very day when I say today is the day. I have told My prophets that everything is about to change. I have been telling them this, I have been telling you this, dear one, for many months, even many years. We are now in that season, at the end of all time, when everything will change. The landscape, the people, everything. We go from peace to war, from quiet streets to riots in the streets. In America, this will not be in LA only, but riots will be started, they will be organized in many of the cities across America. (This is being fomented by the DS Kazarians.)  This is just the beginning of the riots. Remember, civil war will break out. This is just the beginning. All of the above is taken directly from my journal. These are Gods words, written down as He spoke them to me. They are not my thoughts. If anyone has difficulty digesting them, I recommend going to your prayer closet and waiting there for Him. Humble yourself. Leave your own desires and personal beliefs outside. They will block you from hearing His voice. Confess your sins. Repent. You will not hear from the Lord if you do not. There is a right way and a wrong way to approach the Throne of Grace. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.   War Has Begun Alison Pound - Australia -6/25/25 (Davids notes in red) While I was preparing to publish this, the Lord reminded me of that time when I began hearing military march tunes in my head. It went on for days until Anzac Day, 25th April 2019, when I finally asked the Lord about it: He said: Get ready, America, for war! Get ready to hear military marches, to see military parades, for shows of strength and power from your nation. Prepare to see posturing of such a magnitude you will almost laugh if it were not so very terrifying. For America goes to war. But I Am not with her. I am not with this nation. I have shut the book on this place. For Babylon is fallen. (She is both secular and religious and both are fallen.) She has become the place of crying wolves. Desolation, desolation is upon her. Weep and wail and mourn, you who know what is coming. Anzac Day specifically commemorates the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli in 1915 during World War I.    WAR HAS BEGUN Monday 23rd June 2025 I woke to news headlines this morning: Donald Trump says Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire. (It happened) Apparently, the bombing Mr. Trump ordered his air force to carry out has brought about peace! He promotes himself as a peacemaker. He says!, God bless Iran, Israel, America, and the whole world. Which is NOT AT ALL WHAT THE LORD SAID to me when He woke me in the night! While you have slept, in that short time, much has happened. The Straight of Hormuz has been closed. More bombs have been dropped. War has begun. The war that will take the whole earth to war has begun. These are the final days before I return. Nothing will ever be the same again. But do not think that this is The Tribulation! We are not quite there yet. First, this war between Israel and Iran. (It happened) And now America. Then more nations will come in. Egypt will come out in support of Iran. Britain will come out in support of Israel. And so it will grow. The nations will pick sides. Things will heat up in the Ukraine also. Remember I told you that France will be pulled into the war by their President. And then there is America. America, the brave. With their oh so brave and bold leader. He has put his nation to war and painted a target on himself and the nation. You will not have long to wait, to see My Words fulfilled. Because time is so very short now. Much, much will happen this second half of the year. And there will be cities that are not recognizable, bombed into oblivion. Yes, I speak of Tel Aviv and Tehran. (This happened) And then will come the shot to the head. (This happened) Keep watching dear one. Australia will send troops to war at the end of this year. Britain, the US and France also. There will be patrolling of your coastlines and you will hear more from your air base here. Not test flights anymore but surveillance. Tuesday 24th June 2025 I Am the Lord your God. There is none beside Me. My Son shed His blood for all mankind. He paid the debt of sin. That heavy weight which was upon the whole earth. And still, mankind rejects My offer of Salvation. War! The drums of war are sounding. Mankind wants to wage war. There is hatred and distrust. There is pride and arrogance. There is fear. And all manner of wickedness at work. The hour is late. I Am coming to make recompense. Before I come, the world will go to war. The cup of iniquity must be filled before I can come and make recompense. Because it is written. And all of My Word shall/must be fulfilled. And so, the season you are entering is the season of war. The red horse has ridden across the earth. Peace has been taken from the earth. Whatever nations that have been at peace will no longer feel at peace. All nations will be on alert. People who never had to watch their back before will be watching their back. The news reports and all media will be full of war talk, speculations, fear mongering, false reports. War will dominate the headlines. And very shortly, all eyes will be on America. The eyes of the Arab world, the muslim world, the eyes of Russia, of China. Canada will be watching. Germany will be watching. The Governments of the nations will be paying special attention to America, to their claims, and to their actions. In the end, no one will come to her aid. And she will desperately need aid. In the time to come, America will be under attack from within and from without. And none will come to her aid. Revelation 18:9 And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, 10 Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. NOTE: When God speaks, He will say a thing is done. Whilst we may see nothing happening, when God speaks, it IS done, it has happened. Because God lives outside of time, He sees the end from the beginning. We must wait for His Words to manifest here on the earth. Some of you may say the Straight of Hormuz is not closed, that there is an agreement to a ceasefire. But wait, watch. If God says that War has begun, it surely has. Watch, wait and pray. Put all fear of man out! Pray for your families and loved ones that their eyes be opened to see Gods purposes and get in line with Him. His ways are higher than man's. Draw nearer to the Throne of Grace.   The Drums of War and the Decline of Nations  Alison Pound 12/14/25 (Davids notes in red) Babylon will fall. I Am the Lord. This is the time of the end. It is time for Babylon to fall. The earth will wage war. War will erupt, like a volcano erupting. What is happening now is nothing compared to what will shortly happen upon this earth. I have told you that Mr. Putin will not stop his incursion. He will advance. He will cross into other countries. And I will allow him. I Am giving him favour to conquer. For a short while. I understand that this is distressing. But these are My Ways. My purposes. The enemy is under My control. I can snuff him out in a moment, in a milli second. But My purposes, My ways are not your ways. Everything written in My Word shall come to pass. There is a time for everything, every season under heaven. And there is a reason for everything to exist, to be born, to die. All of this is not for nothing. Britain will decline. She will continue to decline until she is no more. Prince Charles, who became King Charles, he will be gone. His son William will not reign, but rather he will decline along with Britain. This is the nation that gave birth to America. Her wickedness is known. She will fizzle out. Like a candle, the wick has burned down and is ready to snuff out. Time is up for Britain. She who birthed America will watch her die and be snuffed out herself. The House of Windsor is finished. The Royal line is finished. I Am finishing it. (They were a root of the DS Kazarian empire.) The succession of wickedness , the flow of wealth, I Am finishing it all. I Am exposing all that they are. These people are the filthy scum of the earth. Andrew (former Prince) is only the beginning. Bosnia Herzegovina will not survive as a nation. War, war is coming. The earth will be overtaken by war. Christmas this year of 2025 will be a very uncertain time across the whole earth. Putin will cross into Poland. (It happened by air) I have told you. He will not stop. Poland is next. Peace will not reign in Israel. Gaza will not be at peace. Trump, the peacemaker, will be exposed. He is a liar. (Lies will be told concerning the true nature and allies of this war. His plan to make peace for Gaza will not come to pass.) He is like his father. (So, are we all until we are born of God? Cyrus, like Trump, wasnt a Jew or Christian. But God used both of these men to deliver the people from the Babylonian beast.) Before the year is out, the drums of war will be heard. They will be louder. And who will come to the aid of those countries being threatened by Putin and Russia, the mighty bear? Certainly not Britain. She is in decline. It will not be like WWII. The United Nations is not really united. The NWO is coming down. (through this war) The plan was laid out long ago. The system of the beast. (And believe it or not; each beast is succeeded by the next beast. Babylon was conquered by Cyrus of Medo-Persia.)   Unstoppable LaTonya Canada Christ- 12/24/25 (Davids notes in red) youtu.be/CAQAMoGGp8k I will begin todays prophetic message with Isaiah 26:20-21: Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity. The earth will also disclose her blood and will no more cover her slain. (From the same text we see: Isa 26:10  Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal wrongfully, and will not behold the majesty of Jehovah.)  Over the past two months, the Lord has instructed our group to get tucked away and to brace ourselves in the Word and in the presence of the Holy Spirit, increasing our time praying in the Holy Ghost. As Jude 20 says: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost. The Lord gave me a night vision that connected with a dream I had years earlier. I will first share the recent vision. I was in an earthquake that would not stop shaking. This was in Los Angeles, California. The people I saw anxiously waited with anticipation for the shaking to stop, but it did not. It continued for an extended period of time. The people were terrifiedshaken to their core. (I believe the plate/craton in the U.S. is sliding towards the west coast, and faster with the breaking of the New Madrid, which we were shown would be the time of the Man-child bodies anointing. A confirmation.) It was as though I could see different individuals in various parts of the city. Each person appeared to be wondering what was happening, what to do, and when it would stop. Their faces seemed to be silently asking, What is going on? After some time, everyone came to the same conclusion: evacuate as quickly as possible. At that point, the vision transitioned into a portion of an earlier dream, which I will now share. My family and I were having a reunion. We were sitting in lawn chairs on a golf course. It was lush, green, and beautifulvery vibranton a sunny day. We were talking, and the children were playing. Suddenly, we heard a loud noise. A vehicle crashed about 25 feet away from us. We all noticed it, then returned to our conversations and relaxed again. A short time later, it happened againthis time, a truck. It landed closer, about 15 feet away. We looked at it, wondering what was going on, but again we sat back down and continued talking. Then it happened a third time. This time it was a race car, red in color. It flew in the same way but came extremely closewithin a foot or two of where we were sitting. Everyone scrambled in alarm. The next scene I saw, which the Lord connected in this vision, was a U-Haul truck. All of us were throwing clothes, belongings, and whatever we could into it as fast as possible in order to move out. That was how the vision ended, and then I woke up. This prophetic dream is a follow-up to the Lords judgments against California for its continued, flagrant, and abominable sins that have reached to the heavens. Prophets around the world were given numerous messages concerning earthquakes in California. In recent weeks, even secular media have begun warning residents of the West Coastbut not with urgency or a call to evacuate. Rather, it has been presented in a casual, nonchalant, and inconsequential manner. I have personally experienced several earthquakes in my life, and this vision was especially heart-stopping because the shaking never stopped. Anyone who has been in an earthquake knows that it usually lasts seconds to a minute or so, and you wait for the ground to stop shaking so life can return to normal. During those moments, people often feel frozenlike a deer in headlightsmotionless and dumbfounded. That is exactly how the people appeared in this vision. At another time, the Lord gave me a message for a resident of California. I will read portions of what was given: Thus says the Lord: The hour is latevery late indeed. I want your yes without hesitation, regardless of who goes with you. I am judging the nation of California, a Sodom nation. There are no two ways about it. One cannot serve two masters. He will either love the one and hate the other, or love the other and hate the first. Time is very short. I have given this vessel a set period of time for her family to extract themselves from California. It is only a short distance away, but I know I am asking for everythingyour entire life. I mean what I say. Move away from California. She is doomed, and I want you to win. Hurry. It is God alone. As I was concluding this correspondence, the Lord instructed me further: there must be repentance. Those who wish to come must leave sinful lifestyles behind and depart from California. God is a good Father. Many earthly fathers have gone missing, but people often do not want God the way He truly isprotective, corrective, and authoritatively loving. God receives much criticism, yet many people desire Santa Claus rather than Jesus Christ as Savior. God will be vindicated in His judgments when all the books are opened. Psalm 19:9 says: The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. It is the Lords mercy to warn, to wait, and to hold back correction, giving opportunity to repent. Ezekiel 33:11 tells us that the Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. However, to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. This prophetic dream is titled Unstoppable. Once again: Come, my people, enter your chambers and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment until the indignation is passed. Get into the ark of safetyJesus Christand away from the West Coast. The Lord has a controversy with the nation of California. May the Lord bless you.   Great Quake & Tsunami Shirley Hinkle - 9/1/2006 (David's notes in red) Word given on 9/1/2006 - Do You Trust Me? It's with a heavy heart that I write this. God has spoken into my heart again that the day is coming very quickly of a massive earthquake that will cause a great, massive tsunami. There is going to be massive destruction; no place to bury the dead. He said to me again, It's Time! Out of death will come resurrection life! (Resurrection life as a revival comes, more or less, after every catastrophe like this.) We will be surrounded by death and destruction, but it will not come nigh unto us if we dwell in the secret place. Great fear will come, overwhelming even the strongest, but with this God will pour out His peace and His perfect love will come and cast out all fear. He has set us apart to be His voice in the last days. Those who have been obedient to come out from among them and be ye separate. When the flood of destruction comes, remember the words I have spoken in Isaiah 54. (This chapter emphasizes endurance in trial, protection and perfection.) A massive flood will sweep over the land and as in the natural so shall it be in the spiritual, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh! (This also came at the beginning and end of the Gospels. An outpouring of the Former Rain came to the Man-child, Jesus, at the beginning and to the saints at the end, symbolizing the Latter Rain coming before on the first-fruits and after the first 3 1/2 years of the tribulation.) The judgment on this state, this nation, is to redeem fallen man, the backslidden church. It is to awake, stir, shake, and change His people! It is the end of all things as you know it; all shall be new. Even though you are reading the last chapters and the end of the book, it is really just the beginning. For I am the Beginning and the End... (Notice once again the Beginning and End are emphasized. He will come as the Latter Rain in the beginning to anoint the man-child ministry and at the end of 3 1/2 years to anoint those raised up by them. He will come after two days or 2000 years, on the morning of the third day or third thousand years. Hos 6:2 After two days will he revive us: on the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live before him. 3 And let us know, let us follow on to know Jehovah: his going forth is sure as the morning; and he will come unto us as the rain, as the latter rain that watereth the earth. He will begin the last 3 1/2 years with the mark of the Beast to separate the righteous from the wicked, the Latter Rain outpouring and judgment.) There is no time to eternity... Wow, what a thought. His Name will be glorified again. His Word will become flesh again through His Repentant Church! God will be Glorified! He is a Father to the fatherless, so when you can't reach out to man in this time, remember to call upon your Heavenly Father, and He will be an ever-present help in the time of trouble. As with Jesus when he was raised from the dead, the angel rolled the stone away and there was a great earthquake... again God is going to roll away the stone of death in the church, with an earthquake and resurrection life will come forth. Mat 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat upon it. Jesus will reveal Himself again. Truth will be spoken from the pulpits and in the streets again. The church will repent and cry out for righteousness. She will hunger for His presence. He will be manna from heaven again to His people. Great darkness is here, but God in all of His Glory is going to shine upon His children. The Church, the True, Repentant, will Stand in these final days. We are to remain in the city... (of God) We are going to be endowed with power from on high. We are not going to run away in fear but STAND and be a witness to this final generation, in this final hour. It's Time, and the question He is asking all of us in this hour is... DO YOU TRUST ME?   Earthquakes and Gods Mercy David Eells We have shared warnings of Gods judgments we received from the Lord about earthquakes and other disasters. Because God is merciful and has heard the prayers and intercession for mankind, He is going to lessen the severity of the earthquakes and tsunamis that we know are still coming.   Huge Quakes Bring Man-child I believe there will begin a domino effect of earthquakes that travels across the U.S. and the world. Now we will look at the U.S. portion. I believe the DS has prepared the groundwork for this domino effect of quakes by fracking, tunneling and explosions, HARP, Military Tectonic Weapons, etc., under the U.S.. I believe we have learned that the Lord will use what they have done to make them guilty but He controls how and when and he will lessen the effects of the revelations given below. This threat is likely coming from the DS to cause the Alliance to back down but they are constantly arresting the DS, Kazazians and sooner or later they will take them all down. Either way the Lord said this judgment will happen for the sins of the people.   DS Scientists Conspire to Set Off Huge Earthquakes Sandy Shaw - 10/18/11 (Davids notes in red) I dreamed I was sitting and listening to a group of scientists argue, and they were talking over my head with their scientific words. Half of the scientists were arguing, We should not do that because we don't know what the ramifications of that are, nor do we know what chain reactions will take place. In the dream, I didn't know what that was referring to. The other half of the scientists begin arguing that they do know the outcome of that, as they have calculations and results from the previous times they have done it. One man from the group speaking against it interjected loudly with, Not of this magnitude. (Magnitude, of course, speaks of earthquakes. They set off a chain reaction of faults that all affect one another. Sandy Shaw and Rick Sergent had almost the same revelation that quakes would cross the US in a chain reaction. Eve Brast had a revelation that 7 big quakes would go around the world. I believe they would use a combination of HAARP, fracking, and their underground tunneling and explosions down those tunnels to connect faults, as they have already done. DS will use High Grade Military Tectonic Weapons; they would use their Tesla earthquake machines that we have heard they have underground.) Many scriptures, dreams, and visions speak of Jesus coming in the Man-child body of reformers at the time of large earthquakes crossing the US. From scripture, we see that history always repeats. Ecc 1:9 That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Jesus was the first New Testament Man-child Reformer, Who was a type for the coming Man-child body of reformers. Scripture shows that Jesus died with an earthquake and was risen to the throne with a great earthquake in three days. Jesus resurrection was also accompanied by the out resurrection of saints who appeared to the people. Php 3:11 if by any means I may attain unto the out-resurrection from the dead. (The Numeric pattern is in the original Greek words out-resurrection.) Isa 64:1-3 Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might quake at thy presence,(Gods presence is coming with quakes. He is coming in His Man-child body by Word and Spirit, as it was with Jesus, as time will surely tell. This will be a great judgment on the wicked of the U.S. and the world.), 2 that the nations may tremble at thy presence! (A great revival will spring from this. Many lost or apostate will turn to the Lord of the Bible.) 3 When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains quaked at thy presence. Psa 97:5 The mountains melted like wax (Volcanic activity follows earthquakes.) at the presence of Jehovah, At the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. I received this text that points out that when the Lord comes in spiritual Judah as the Man-child, the waters recede. Psa 114:1-8 When Israel went forth out of Egypt, The house of Jacob from a people of strange language; 2 Judah became his sanctuary, Israel his dominion. 3 The sea saw it, and fled; The Jordan was driven back. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, The little hills like lambs. (The presence of the Lord will cause earthquakes and the sea to flee away.) 5 What aileth thee, O thou (Red) sea, that thou fleest? (Looks like an earthquake and tsunami at the beginning of the wilderness tribulation.) Thou Jordan, that thou turnest back? 6 Ye mountains, that ye skip like rams; Ye little hills, like lambs? 7 Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, At the presence of the God of Jacob, 8 Who turned the rock into a pool of water, The flint into a fountain of waters. I received this about a witness with a video showing the Gulf waters receding as far out as you could see out of Tampa Bay and Coral Bay and other areas for over 12 hours. (This is proof that God can do this. This was seen in areas of the world where there wasnt a hurricane, too, like it was at the Red Sea.) - HURRICANE IAN UPDATE - NO WATER AT THE COAST IN THE GULF OF MEXICO We will notice that the great shaking is accompanied by the coming of Jesus in the Man-child and the change of fortunes from the Egyptians for God's people as they go into the wilderness tribulation. It is all coming soon and we need to be ready. Hag2:7 and I will shake all nations; and the precious things (or desired) of all nations shall come (This is Jesus in the Man-child who is typed by Zerubbabel in this chapter, and He comes with the shaking.); and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts (As we have seen Cyrus conquered Babylon and freed Gods people giving a gift of Babylons gold and silver to rebuild the temple) 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place (The true house of God) will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts. This shaking of all nations happens at the birth of the Man-child ministry. It is only to happen once more since the time Paul wrote of it in Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven: 26 whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more will I make to tremble not the earth only, but also the heaven.) 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that have been made (I.e., by man), that those things which are not shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore, receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken (The Kingdom of heaven is where God rules and we submit.), let us have grace, whereby we may offer service well-pleasing to God with reverence and awe: Back to Hag 2:3 Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes as nothing? (i.e. The Church, the house of God, is a fake mess because it has departed from His Word.) 4 Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel (meaning: born from Babylon which represents the first fruits Man-child leadership to come out of apostasy to rebuild the Kingdom), saith Jehovah; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith Jehovah, and work: for I am with you, saith Jehovah of hosts, 5 according to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt (through the Red Sea where the wicked were judged), and my Spirit abode among you: fear ye not. 6 For thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations (As we saw this was also spoken of by Paul in Heb 12:25-29 as the great shaking that separated those manmade kingdoms who could be shaken from those who could not for they are in the Kingdom of God.); and the precious [things] (desired) of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with glory, saith Jehovah of hosts. (This is the glory of the Lord's presence in the rebuilt temple of Gods people) 8 The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith Jehovah of hosts. (Cyrus/ Trumps gift, which is happening now.) 9 The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, (Because the Latter Rain is greater than the Former Rain) saith Jehovah of hosts; and in this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts... 21 Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I will shake the heavens and the earth; 22 and I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms (The Deep State Kazarian throne in all the nations is falling now); and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them; (The beast army is destroyed as at the Red Sea), every one by the sword of his brother (As when the nations came against Jerusalem, the Bride, and were divided against each other.). 23 In that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith Jehovah, and will make thee as a signet; for I have chosen thee, saith Jehovah of hosts. (A signet is a sign of Authority such as Mordecai and Joseph received as types of the Man-child body.) (I am convinced that we must be entitled to the Passover of this judgment, which was paid for by Jesus, when it does come. Make sure your heart is right with God and your brethren by abiding in Jesus Christ. But as we have heard, God is going to have mercy because it was asked of Him.)

The Magi weren't reading Daniel. They weren't studying the prophets. They were reading the sky.In our Members-Only Part 2 of our Christmas deep dive into the Star of Bethlehem, Caleb Jones returns to answer the question everyone's been asking: Why did the Magi know to come? What did they actually see in that chart that made them pack up and travel for months?Using ancient sources—Ptolemy, Manilius, Vettius Valens—Caleb reconstructs what an astrological reading of August 12, 3 BC would have looked like. The verdict? A heaven-blessed birth in Palestine. Incredible fortune. Warfare and a sword in his future. Someone who would overcome great danger through Jupiter and Venus.But this episode goes deeper than astronomy. Caleb traces how the Bible itself addresses astrology—not as fake, but as a rival way of knowing that God told Israel not to pursue because He would speak to them directly. When Israel rebelled and looked to the stars anyway, God wove their disobedience into His plan: He would use pagan astrologers to announce His Son and shame His people who should have known better.From Deuteronomy to Isaiah to Romans, the threads converge. The Magi weren't reading Daniel. They were reading the sky. And God met them there.The Christmas story is stranger than you thought. Not a member yet? Right now, we are running our biggest sale of the year with 20% OFF all memberships until the end of the year. Head over to https://blurrycreatures.com/pages/members to check it out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. “Christmas, Part 2” Matthew 2 Micah 5:2-6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; 6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.   Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”   Numbers 24:17 …a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…   Matthew 2:3-4 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.   Matthew 2:5-6 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'”   Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.   2 Samuel 5:2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'”   Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”   Matthew 2:9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.   Matthew 2:10-12 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.   Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”   Exodus 4:21-23 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'” Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.   Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.    Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.   Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.   Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”   Jeremiah 31:15-17 Thus says the LORD: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” 16 Thus says the LORD: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD,   and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country.   Jeremiah 33:14-16 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.'   Mathew 2:19-21 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.   Matthew 2:22-23 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”   Jesus is our true deliverer.   Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.   Jesus is our true comforter.   Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.   Jesus is our true King.   Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 53:2-3 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post Christmas 2 appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.