Meditate on it

Today's questions: What are the 7 spirits of God? Comments: Bizarre image of lamb slain---makes clear the cost of Christ's purchase.  John "weeps and weeps" that no one can open the scroll.  Do I have that kind of godly sorrow? So much corruption in the churches--nothing new under the sun.  Our churches struggle and this should not be a surprise to me as it was here in Revelation so long ago.  It's obviously a continuing problem. Strong image of the poverty of wealth. Reoccurring images--lampstands, door---that there is a door in Heaven---intriguing.  Christ calls himself a door in the gospels, but there is an actual door. One who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, similar to the description in Rev_1:4. Here Christ said He holds them, speaking of the Holy Spirit in relation to Himself (Isa_11:2-5; cf. Rev_5:6). As in Rev_1:20 the seven stars, representing the pastors of the churches, were also in His hands (cf. Rev_2:1). "Ho

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith." 1 John 5:4 Next we learn the secret of victory over the world. The world system is a monstrous scheme of temptation, always trying to drag us away from God and from what is eternal, and seeking to occupy us with what is temporary and sensual. People of the world are completely taken up with the things of time and sense. They have become the victims of passing things. Only the man who is born of God really overcomes the world, because by faith he is able to rise above the perishing things of this world and to see things in their true, eternal perspective. Thus the one who really overcomes the world is not the great scientist or philosopher or psychologist, but the simple believer who realizes that the things which are seen are temporary and that the things which are not seen are eternal. A sight of the glory of God in the face of Jesus dims the glory o

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.  1 John 4:18-19 "The words fear has to do with punishment are literally, “fear has punishment.” Fear carries with it a kind of torment that is its own punishment.-BKC

Pro 29:17  Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart. "29:19  This verse seems to describe the obstinate, intractable attitude of many a servant. Oral orders are not always enough. They may understand the master's instructions but they don't always carry them out. They just remain silent and sullen. Jesus said, "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say?" (Luk_6:46).-BBC Pro 29:25  The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.  Pro 29:26  Many seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice. 

Proverbs 26:28 A lying tongue hates its victims, a flattering mouth works ruin.

"God delights in concealing things; scientists delight in discovering things." Proverbs 25:1 What I remember: A trustworthy friend is like a drink of cool water during a hot harvest. A person who cannot control their temper is like a broken down city without walls. The right words at the right time are like apples of gold in a setting of silver. If your enemy is hungry feed him, thirsty, give him something to drink---like heaping coals on his head (quoted in Romans by Paul) A soft answer breaketh the bones. Kings do not reveal all that they know. *********************************  The rest: As the heavens for height and the earth for depth, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.  Proverbs 25:3 Remove dross from silver, remove corruption from authority and kingship will be God honoring Do not put yourself forward or assume the best seat, but let someone else acknowledge you and put you in the honorable position. Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like som

“God’s love for poor sinners is very wonderful, but God’s patience with ill-natured saints is a deeper mystery.” - Henry Drumond “A human being’s strongest instinct is to self-preservation; grace’s highest call is to self-sacrifice.”  - Paul Frost

2nd shortest book in OT simple & direct 4 postexilic messages In this period the progress in rebuilding was slow, no doubt because of the laborious task of cleaning up 60 years of rubble and the cessation of work during the numerous festivals of the seventh month.-bkc “The truth is that few prophets have succeeded in packing into such brief compass so much spiritual common sense as Haggai did” (Frank E. Gaebelein, Four Minor Prophets: Obadiah, Jonah, Habakkuk, and Haggai, p. 199). Interesting link that comments on depression of the people with regard to the book of Haggai. The author suggests that we should keep our "servant status" in mind when ministering to depressed people. http://www.foundationsforfreedom.net/References/OT/Prophets/Haggai/Haggai00_Depression.html "These cycles demonstrate how our responses to God so strongly influence our inner lives. The strong message that has been circulating in the Western world for these last decades has convinced many th

My pitiful but real effort to get the dates and big picture right: 1400 BC Joshua conquers Canann, 12 tribes, tribal state, period of Judges 1000BC Jewish monarchy begins with Saul 960 BC Solomon completed the first temple Jewish Nation split into North (Israel) and South (Judah) 722 BC Israel conquered by Assyria--modern day Iranh (Tiglath-Pileser III) 8th century, 10 lost tribes 586 BC Babylon destroyed the first temple, Judah falls to Babylon (modern day Iraq) 539 BC Babylon falls to Persia, Cyrus II 538 BC Decree to rebuild the temple and allow Jews to return 70 year period. Babylonian Exile & Captivity. (586-516 BC) Ezra & Nehemiah reflect the in-between two temple periods, under Persian rule, they were allowed more independence. 515-516 BC Completion and dedication of the 2nd temple as a result of decree by Darius. (Ezra 6:15) 458 BC Ezra travels to Jerusalem with decree from Artaxerxes, Ezra 7:7-9 331 BC Alexander the Great conquers Persia 165 BC Antichus IV trie

Zechariah and Haggai were contemporaries. Zechariah is more symbolic and abstract (kind of like John of the New Testament). Haggai was concerned with practical matters---particularly the neglect of the temple. John Trapp wrote, “Haggai lays down the mind of God to the people more plainly in direct and downright terms; Zechariah flies a higher pitch, abounding with types and visions; and is therefore worthily reckoned among the abstrusest and profoundest penmen of Holy Scripture . . . We pass from dark prophecies to that which is much more dark.” Here's the Introductory commentary from the BKC: In an often-quoted statement, George L. Robinson has called the Book of Zechariah “the most messianic, the most truly apocalyptic and eschatological of all the writings of the Old Testament” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1956, 5:3136). The messianic emphasis of Zechariah accounts for its frequent citation by New Testament aut

Haggai---contemporary of Zechariah, post Babylon exile...started rebuilding homes and community but not temple. Haggai pleaded to rebuild? "Haggai’s precise date therefore is August 29, 520 B.C." (Bible.org) Contemporary of Persian king Darius Hystaspes (522-486 B.C.) "Thus all the ministry of Haggai and the first two oracles of Zechariah fall between the sixth and eleventh months of Darius’s second year." Bible.org "The strict attention to matters of chronology exhibited by Haggai and Zechariah is characteristic of the annalistic style of history writing employed in Neo-Babylonian and Persian times. The famous “Babylonian Chronicles” with its insistence on documenting every royal achievement to the month and day is a case in point." -Bible.org Meanwhile, Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562), who had conquered and destroyed Jerusalem and deported its leading citizens in July of 586 B.C., had passed from the scene to be followed by Amel-Marduk (562-560), Neri

So many images in here worth pondering-- I like the nod to vocational usefulness here---feel like intellectual abilities are vastly overrated and physical skills/craftsmanship vastly under-valued: "If we have strength we are not much the better unless we have skill also. Untrained force is often an injury to the man who possesses it, and it even becomes a danger to those who are round about him; and therefore the Psalmist blesses the Lord as much for teaching as for strength. Let us also bless Jehovah if he has in anything made us efficient. The tuition mentioned was very practical, it was not so much of the brain as of the hands and fingers; for these were the members most needful for conflict. Men with little scholastic education should be grateful for deftness and skill in their handicrafts. To a fighting man the education of the hands is of far more value than mere book-learning could ever be; he who has to use a sling or a bow needs suitable training, quite as much as a

"O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle." -Psalm 140:7 What a gorgeous and comforting image---that He covers our heads in the day of battle.  Our protection is from Him. Most of this psalm is a curse of sorts upon the wicked--that the psalmist would be delivered and preserved from them.

"When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John,  but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him." Luke 7:29-30 I read this with the children this week and have been thinking about it....it's not about what they did or didn't do...it points out that the attitude of their hearts was key.  The common people declared God just, the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves.   Powerful. What does it mean to reject God's purpose for our lives?  Worth pondering.

"Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the Council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus." -Mark 15:43 Interesting wording here...that Joseph "took courage."  I imagine it required a lot of courage and humility to be in a position of honor publicly, yet be willing to step out and honor Christ when he was most forsaken by men.

"For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar."  -Psalm 138:6 Humility of spirit brings us closer to Him.  Self-sufficiency separates us. "The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me. "  -Psalm 138:8 Such a comforting promise---His hand is in His purposes for my life. "The assurance we have that whatever good work God has begun in and for his people he will perform it (Psa_138:8): The Lord will perfect that which concerns me, 1. That which is most needful for me; and he knows best what is so. We are careful and cumbered about many things that do not concern us, but he knows what are the things that really are of consequence to us (Mat_6:32) and he will order them for the best." -Matthew Henry

This sketch is from an actual discovery in the ruins of ancient Assyria, and shows Jewish prisoners being led away through a thick forest in the mountains. Silver coin with lyre and Hebrew inscription issued by Simon Bar Kochba, leader of the second Jewish revolt (132-135 CE) against the Roman occupation of Palestine under Emperor Hadrian. Dated 134 CE, H:2,5 cm

Jewish Temple Reconstruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of Heroid, James Tissot (1836-1902) "The Jerusalem temple (not fully completed until ca. a.d. 64) was built by the Herodian dynasty to win Jewish favor and to create a lasting Herodian monument. It was considered an architectural wonder of the ancient world. It was built with large white stones, polished and generously decorated with gold (Josephus The Antiquities of the Jews 15. 11. 3-7). It covered about 1/6 of the land area of old Jerusalem. To the Jews nothing was as magnificent and formidable as their temple." -BKC "The temple was constructed of white marble, and the blocks were of a prodigious size. Josephus says that these stones were, some of them, 50 feet long, 24 feet broad, and 16 feet in thickness."  -Barnes "The spring-stones of the arches of the bridge which spanned the valley of Tyropoeon (the cheese-makers), and connected the ancient city of David with the royal porch of the

I am intrigued by the relationship between forgiveness of others and our own forgiveness by the Father. In the last few weeks of Bible Study, I have come across whisps of this in various forms: "And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses." -Mark 11:25 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." -Matthew 6:14-15 "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." -Matthew 7:1-2 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7 (NIV) Clearly, there is a connection between our judgment and compassion toward others and the Lord's judgement and compassion toward us. Honestly, that'

Wisdom, Understanding, & Knowledge  "By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established.  By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches."  Proverbs 24:3 What a lovely analogy.  I'm not sure that I fully grasp it entirely, even now, but in my mind, there is an image of a beautiful, comfortable, stimulating home furnished with treasures.  However, these are not worldly treasures but spiritual ones. I'm curious to tease out the difference between "wisdom"  "knowledge" and "understanding."  Is he trying to get at some deeper nuance here or just stating that when we take time to be discerning and thoughtful that our lives will be rich indeed? wisdom chokmâh khok-maw' From H2449; wisdom (in a good sense): - skillful, wisdom, wisely, wit. understanding tâbûn  tebûnâh  tôbûnâh taw-boon', teb-oo-naw', to-boo-naw' The second and third forms being feminine; from H9

Proverbs 23:1-3 Gluttony, interestingly, translates the Hebrew nep̱eš, which has a variety of meanings including physical life (Pro_13:3, Pro_13:8), oneself (Pro_19:8; Pro_21:23), one’s appetite (Pro_16:26) or craving (Pro_10:3), and the seat of those cravings (Pro_21:10 is lit., “the wicked soul craves”). From that stems the idea of gluttony in Pro_23:2.  BKC "My son, if your heart is wise, my heart too will be glad." Proverbs 23:13 I definitely feel this way about our children--if they choose wisely, it makes me happy and content.

From BKC---I find this list of sinful behavior food for thought--especially interesting to have the Greek words thrown in there too: "The catalog of evil Jesus gave has a strong Old Testament flavor and consists of 12 items. First, there are six plural nouns (in Gr.) depicting wicked acts viewed individually: sexual immorality (porneiai, “illicit sexual activities of various kinds”); theft (klopai); murder (phonoi); adultery (moicheiai, illicit sexual relations by a married person); greed (pleonexiai, “covetings”), insatiable cravings for what belongs to another; malice (ponēriai, “wickednesses”), the many ways evil thoughts express themselves. Second, there are six singular nouns depicting evil dispositions: deceit (dolos), cunning maneuvers designed to ensnare someone for one’s personal advantage; lewdness (aselgeia; cf. Rom_13:13; Gal_5:19; Eph_4:19; 2Pe_2:2, 2Pe_2:7), unrestrained and unconcealed immoral behavior; envy (opthalmos  ponēros, lit., “an evil eye,” a Heb. expre

"But in the next breath they were cutting him down: "He's just a carpenter--Mary's boy. We've known him since he was a kid. We know his brothers, James, Justus, Jude, and Simon, and his sisters. Who does he think he is?" They tripped over what little they knew about him and fell, sprawling. And they never got any further." Mark 6 The Message Ah, the fickle nature of people. This reminds me of so many folks I've peripherally touched base with about Jesus---there is an arrogance that they know all about him, yet they do not know him at all. [Herod Antipas is another half-hearted listener....intrigued enough to want to speak with him, even though it perplexed him, but not enough commitment to commit himself to Christ. The cost was clearly too high for Herod, and he eventually caved to the whims of a girl: "... for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, a

A thought from Barnes: "Something should be given her to eat - “He had raised her by extraordinary power, but he willed that she should be sustained by ordinary means.” He also in this gave full evidence that she was really restored to life and health. The changes were great, sudden, and certain. There could be no illusion. So, when the Saviour had risen, he gave evidence of his own resurrection by eating with his disciples, Joh_21:1-13." Jesus was such a mix of hard/soft, spiritual/practical, a fascinating blend of qualities.  I love the way he thinks to feed her, physically sustain her here.  It definitely speak to the thought that his concern was not wholly just her spirit but her body as well.

Worthwhile distinction made by JFB's commentary here: "Yes, the multitude “thronged and pressed Him” - they jostled against Him, but all involuntarily; they were merely carried along; but one, one only - “a certain person - TOUCHED HIM,” with the conscious, voluntary, dependent touch of faith, reaching forth its hand expressly to have contact with Him. This and this only Jesus acknowledges and seeks out. Even so, as Augustine long ago said, multitudes still come similarly close to Christ in the means of grace, but all to no purpose, being only sucked into the crowd. The voluntary, living contact of faith is that electric conductor which alone draws virtue out of Him."  -JFB This is one of the greatest mysteries of our faith---how some hear the Word, touch his hem, and yet come away unchanged, while others hearts are stirred.

Edward Knippers, Jesus & the Demonaic Very rough trail of thoughts about hashing through Mark 5, the account of the demon possessed man where Christ frees him from "legion," and the demons seek refuge in the herd of pigs. I've thought about the evil presence behind a mob--the group drive toward evil. It makes sense to me that there could be this type of multiple person evil within a person. Mobs strike me as harbors of evil. Courson also thinks there is a connection or lesson in the self-destructive choice of the demons to run the pigs over a cliff and connects this to the spirit of despair associated with suicide. "Such behavior shows that demon possession is not mere sickness or insanity but a desperate satanic attempt to distort and destroy God’s image in man" (cf. TDNT, s.v. “daimōn,” 2:18-19). -BKC on the demonic man in the caves All BKC: "The command to the demon (Mar_5:6-10) The brief statement of Jesus’ encounter with the demoniac (Mar_5

"Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors mean far more to GOD than religious performance." -Proverbs 21:3 "Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived, can get the better of GOD." -Proverbs 21:30

Briggs and I were discussing parables the other day.  Did God seek to veil the truth from some through these?  Did their own hardness of heart prevent them from seeing, believing, and being saved?  It's a complicated issue.   From Bible Knowledge Commentary on this: "They were like the Israelites in Isaiah’s day (Isa_6:9-10). Isaiah said that this spiritual blindness and deafness that comes to people is God’s judgment. He particularly referred to Israel as a nation (cf. Mar_6:9, “this people”) for rejecting God’s revelation, especially as expressed in Jesus. They would see or hear the imagery of a parable but they would not understand its spiritual meaning. Otherwise (mēpote, “lest perhaps”) they might turn to God (repent) and be forgiven by Him. Jesus’ audiences were not denied the opportunity to believe in Him. But after they persistently closed their minds to His message (cf. Mar_1:15), they were excluded from further understanding of it by His use of parables. Yet even

From BKC: The opening verse ( a verbless phrase ) stands as the book’s title and theme. The word gospel (euangeliou, “good news”) does not refer to Mark’s book, known as “the Gospel of Mark.” Instead it refers to the good news about Jesus Christ. Those acquainted with the Old Testament knew the importance of the word “gospel” (cf. Isa_40:9; Isa_41:27; Isa_52:7; Isa_61:1-3). “News” meant that something significant had happened. When Mark used the word, it had Using hyperbole (cf. also Mar_1:32-33, Mar_1:37), Mark showed the great impact John made on all areas of Judea and Jerusalem. The people went out and were baptized by John in the Jordan River (cf. Mar_1:9) as they confessed their sins to God. The imperfect tense of the Greek verbs portrays in motion-picture fashion the continual procession of people who kept going out to hear John’s preaching and to be baptized by him. John emphasized the importance of the Coming One and showed his own humility (cf. Joh_3:27-30) by dec

In the midst of the years make known, make thyself known, for now verily thou art a God that hidest thyself (Isa_45:15),

A very basic place to collect scriptures related to church leadership that I hope to get back to someday: Acts 13:1   A church had been formed in Antioch, as we learned in chapter 11. Instead of having one man designated as the minister or pastor, this assembly had a plurality of gifts. Specifically, there were at least five prophets and teachers.  -BBC

Historically, Habakkuk is a mysterious figure, little to nothing is known of him. Scholars are iffy about his home town, profession, parents, or tribe. To help flesh the background of Habakkuk out, here is an excerpt from Bible.org: "Because the book of Habbakuk consists of five oracles about the Chaldeans (Babylonians), and the Chaldean rise to power is dated circa 612 BCE, it is assumed he was active about that time, making him an early contemporary of Jeremiah and Zephaniah. Jewish sources, however, do not group him with those two prophets, who are often placed together, so it is possible that he was slightly earlier than they. Because the final chapter of his book is a song, it is sometimes assumed that he was a member of the tribe of Levi, which served as musicians in Solomon's Temple." "The name "Chaldeans" derives from the ruling class that lived in southern Mesopotamia and took leadership in the Neo-Babylonian Empire. The last and greatest dyna