The Chief Corner-stone, Elect and Precious

Isaiah chapters 8 and 28, and likewise Psalm 118, contain prophecies about a corner-stone chosen by God at which some will take offense and over which some will stumble. However, those who put their trust in this corner-stone will not be put to shame.

This corner stone is chosen and precious, yet rejected by the builders:

1 Peter 2:6 – 8  KJV  King James Version

6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Esaias 28:16  LXX  Septuagint Brenton

therefore thus saith the Lord, even the Lord,
Behold, I lay for the foundations of Sion a costly stone, a choice, a corner-stone, a precious stone, for its foundations; and he that believes on him shall by no means be ashamed

Psalm 117 (118):22 – 23  LXX  Septuagint Brenton

22 The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner.
23 This has been done of the Lord; and it is wonderful in our eyes.

Matthew 21:42  WEB  World English Bible

Jesus said to them, 'Did you never read in the scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner. This was from the Lord. It is marvelous in our eyes?'

Mark 12:10 – 11  WEB  World English Bible

10 Haven't you even read this scripture: 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner.
11 This was from the Lord, It is marvelous in our eyes'?'

Luke 20:17  WEB  World English Bible

But he looked at them, and said, 'Then what is this that is written, 'The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the chief cornerstone?'

Acts 4:11  WEB  World English Bible

He is 'the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which was made the head of the corner.'

Our Lord Iesus the Anointed is this Chief Cornerstone on whom the household of God is built.

Ephesians 2:19 – 20  WEB  World English Bible

19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God,
20 being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone;

Many will take offense at this stone, will stumble over and even be crushed by it.

Esaias 8:14 – 15  LXX  Septuagint Brenton

14 And if thou shalt trust in him, he shall be to thee for a sanctuary; and ye shall not come against him as against a stumbling-stone, neither as against the falling of a rock: but the houses of Jacob are in a snare, and the dwellers in Jerusalem in a pit.
15 Therefore many among them shall be weak, and fall, and be crushed; and they shall draw nigh, and men shall be taken securely.

Luke 20:18  NIV  New International Version

Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.

Romans 9:33  WEB  World English Bible

even as it is written, 'Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. And no one who believes in him will be put to shame.'

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us not be ashamed to put our trust in Iesou the Chief Cornerstone, Elect and Precious.

May our Lord Iesus help us

Today I read from First and Second Thessalonians, passages that tell us about the work of our Lord Iesus in our lives.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 verses 11 to 13, the Apostle asked the Lord Iesus, together with our God and Father, to guide him, and Silas and Timothy, on their way to visit the Thessalonian assembly.

In the same passage, the Apostle asked that the Lord Iesus would teach them to love one another, and also that the Lord would build up their characters to be blameless and holy before the presence of God our Father.

11 But may our God and Father Himself--and our Lord Jesus --guide us on our way to you;
12 and as for you, may the Lord teach you to love one another and all men, with a growing and a glowing love, resembling our love for you.
13 Thus He will build up your characters, so that you will be faultlessly holy in the presence of our God and Father at the Coming of our Lord Jesus with all His holy ones.
1 Thessalonians 3:11 - 13  Weymouth New Testament

Later, in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verses 16 to 17, the Apostle asked the Lord Iesus, and God our Father, to comfort the hearts of the Thessalonian brethren, and to make them steadfast in good work and speech.

16 And may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself--and God our Father who has loved us and has given us in His grace eternal consolation and a bright hope--
17 comfort your hearts and make you stedfast in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 17  Weymouth New Testament

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us acknowledge the grace of God our Father working through our Lord Iesus the Anointed One. Let us ask our Lord Iesus, together with God our Father, to guide us on our way, to teach us to love one another, to build up our characters, to comfort our hearts and to make us steadfast in every good work.

Everlasting joy shall be upon their heads

Today I am reminded of the promise of God to His people in Isaiah 35:10 (cf Isaiah 51:11) that the "redeemed of the LORD" will one day come to the City of God with singing and with everlasting joy.

For context, Isaiah 35:3 - 4 and 35:10 are quoted below:

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:3, 4, 10  King James Version

This prophecy is also similarly repeated in Isaiah 51:11, a verse which is used for a well-known song of praise sung in many Churches.

11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Isaiah 51:11  King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus the Anointed One, let us rejoice in the Lord with gladness and joy always.

---

I would like to share with you a post that I wrote twelve years ago entitled, "Thanksgiving, Prayer and Praise in the Epistles". In this blog post, I present a list of verses from the Pauline Epistles showing how the Apostle Paul gave thanks and praise to the "God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christos".

• Thanksgiving, Prayer and Praise (12Mar2010)

Gentiles called by God

Today, I am reminded of several passages in Scripture that tell of Gentiles being called to enter the Kingdom of God.

Gentiles shall seek God.

“And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,
Who shall stand as a banner to the people;
For the Gentiles shall seek Him,
And His resting place shall be glorious.”
Isaiah 11:10  New King James Version

Gentiles called by the Name of God.

16 ‘After this I will return
And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down;
I will rebuild its ruins,
And I will set it up;
17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord,
Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name,
Says the Lord who does all these things.’
Acts 15:16 - 17  New King James Version

11 In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen,
and will rebuild the ruins of it,
and will set up the parts thereof that have been broken down,
and will build it up as in the ancient days:
12 that the remnant of men,
and all the Gentiles upon whom my name is called,
may earnestly seek me,
saith the Lord who does all these things.
Amos 9:11 - 12  LXX Brenton

God sends His Messenger to be a light to the Gentiles.

47 For so the Lord has commanded us:
‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles,
That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 13:47  New King James Version

6 And he said to me, It is a great thing for thee to be called my servant,
to establish the tribes of Jacob,
and to recover the dispersion of Israel:
behold, I have given thee for the *covenant of a race,
for a light of the Gentiles,
that thou shouldest be for salvation to the end of the earth.
Isaiah 49:6  LXX Brenton

---

I have written several posts about the calling of the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God, links as follows:

• Gentiles who bear the Name of God (24Nov13)
• The Day of Outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles (10Feb22)
• Until the fulness of the Gentiles come in (18Feb22)

The Son of Man at the right hand of God

In my reading of Acts chapter 7 today, my attention is drawn to the scene when, at the end of Stephen's preaching and rebuke, the high priest and the council, along with all the accusers were "cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth" (verse 54), but Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit at that time.

Verses 55 and 56 tells us that Stephen looked up to heaven and saw a wonderful scene: Iesus standing at the right hand of God.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Acts 7:55 - 56  New King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, when we encounter people who slander us, who falsely accuse us of heresy, even some who are angry with us and hate us because of our faith in the Lord, let us remember to do what the martyr Stephen did. Let us look up to God our Father in Heaven, and remember that our Lord Iesus, the Son of Man, is at the right hand of our God.

---

Twelve years ago, I wrote my thoughts on the teachings of the Apostles regarding Iesus the Mediator between Man and God.

• Jesus Our Mediator (26Apr2010)

If I am lifted up . . .

In New Testament times, the expression to be "lifted up" is an euphemism to refer to being crucified, i.e. to be nailed to a cross and be lifted high up to die.

Our Lord Iesus used this term when talking to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 and again to the Pharisees in John chapter 8, as shown in the verses below:

14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:14  World English Bible

28 Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.
John 8:28  World English Bible

In John chapter 31, we read an account where our Lord told the multitudes after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem that if he was "lifted up" from the earth, he would draw all people to himself (John 12:32). Verse 33 explains that our Lord said this to signify the kind of death he would die, i.e. by crucifixion.

31 Now is the judgement of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
34 The multitude answered him, “We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever.✡ How do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?”
John 12:31 - 34  World English Bible

Today many Christians think that the expression "lifted up" means to praise the Lord Iesus, to lift up his name and to glorify him, particularly during congregational worship in Church on Sunday morning. Eight years ago, I wrote my thoughts and observations on this misconception, link below:

• Lift Jesus higher (16Mar2014)

Not with me, against me - Not against us, with us

In response to some people who, after seeing the Lord Iesus cast out an evil spirit from a dumb man, accused the Lord of using the power of Beelzebul (Luke 11:15), the Lord rebuked them with a discourse on the kingdom of Satan being overcome by "one who is stronger" (Luke 11:22), ending with these words:

He who is not with me is against me . . .

Full text of the passage in Luke 11;17ff

17 Every kingdom in which there is division is made waste; and a house in which there is division comes to destruction.
18 If, then, Satan is at war with himself, how will he keep his kingdom? because you say that I send evil spirits out of men by the help of Beelzebul.
19 And if I, by Beelzebul, send out evil spirits, by whose help do your sons send them out? so let them be your judges.
20 But if I, by the finger of God, send out evil spirits, then the kingdom of God has overtaken you.
21 When the strong man armed keeps watch over his house, then his goods are safe:
22 But when one who is stronger makes an attack on him and overcomes him, he takes away his instruments of war, in which he had put his faith, and makes division of his goods.
23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who will not give me help in getting people together is driving them away.
Luke 11:17 - 23  Bible in Basic English

A parallel passage is found in Matthew chapter 12:

25 Every kingdom having division in itself is made waste, and every town or house having division in itself will come to destruction.
26 And if Satan sends out Satan, he makes war against himself; how then will he keep his kingdom?
27 And if I by Beelzebub send evil spirits out of men, by whom do your sons send them out? So let them be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God send out evil spirits, then is the kingdom of God come on you.
29 Or how may one go into a strong man's house and take his goods, if he does not first put cords round the strong man? and then he may take his goods.
30 Whoever is not with me is against me; and he who does not take part with me in getting people together, is driving them away.
Matthew 12:25 - 30  Bible in Basic English

When we compare the above passages to earlier accounts of the Lord Iesus' reply to his disciples in Luke 9 and Mark 9, we see that the converse is also true - that he who is not against the Lord is for the Lord:

49 And John, answering, said, Master, we saw a man driving out evil spirits in your name, and we did not let him do it, because he was not one of us.
50 But Jesus said to him, Let him do it, for he who is not against you is for you.
Luke 9:49 - 50  Bible in Basic English

38 John said to him, Master, we saw one driving out evil spirits in your name: and we said that he might not, because he is not one of us.
39 But Jesus said, Say not so: for there is no man who will do a great work in my name, and be able at the same time to say evil of me.
40 He who is not against us is for us.
Mark 9:38 - 40  Bible in Basic English

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus Anointed, are we with the Lord? Let us never be found to be against him.

King David's prophecy: the LORD said to "his Lord"

Today I read Psalm 110 from the King James Version and compared this prophetic psalm of King David with its counterpart, Psalm 109 from the Septuagint (LXX Brenton):

1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalm 110:1 - 7  King James Version

1 A Psalm of David.
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The Lord shall send out a rod of power for thee out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints (or holiness): I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning.
4 The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.
5 The Lord at thy right hand has dashed in pieces kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the nations, he shall fill up the number of corpses, he shall crush the heads of many on the earth.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalm 109:1 - 7  LXX Brenton

While the two versions appear mostly similar in general, verse 3 in the LXX differs significantly from verse 3 in KJV, particularly in the second half of the verse.

The KJV renders v3b rather vaguely as,

"in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth."

In contrast, the LXX puts David's prophecy more clearly as

"in the splendours of thy saints (or holiness): I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning . . ."

Eight years ago in February 2014, I wrote my observations in two consecutive posts on this prophecy about the everlasting reign of the Seed of David, links below:

• Questions for Critics of Yeshua the Messiah (03Feb14)
• Peter explains how David understood his prophecy (06Feb14)

If by the Spirit of God I cast out demons . . .

This afternoon, I am reminded from my reading of Matthew chapter 12 that our Lord Iesus performed miracles, including casting out demons, by the power of the Spirit of God.

But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Matthew 12:28  New International Version

Similarly, when Peter spoke to the crowd gathered around him and the disciples on the Day of Pentecost, he told them that the miracles, signs and wonders that Iesus performed among them were done by God working through the Lord Iesus,

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know
Acts 2:22  New International Version

Later, in Acts chapter 10, Peter told the Gentile household of Cornelius the Centurion in Caesarea that God anointed Iesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.

37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—
38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.
Acts 10:37 - 38  New International Version

Nine years ago, I wrote my observations on this fact - that God worked miracles through Iesus by His Spirit - in my devotional blog, link below:

• The Unpardonable Sin Revisited (May2013)

Nine days of waiting

Monday 19Sep22 was a happy day.

TM Unifi Optical fibre broadband was installed in my house. I looked forward to using this high speed broadband internet facility with unlimited data.

Over the next couple of days, a TV Box was installed, and I was able to watch online streaming videos and news broadcasts on my old TV.

Then suddenly on Thursday, the Optical fibre cable to the BTU/ONU* was damaged by my shifting the router and ONU nearer to the doorway of the room. Internet was disconnected.

*BTU : Broadband Termination Unit, *ONU: Optical Network Unit

From Thursday to Saturday, I contacted TM Unifi and also the installation contractor several times for repairs.

After repeated delays, finally, five days after initial installation, on *Sat 24Sep22* the installation contractor came to repair broken section of optical cable

Barely a week later, on *Fri 30Sep22*, partly because of my rearranging the coil of optical cable behind the table, and unbeknownst to me at that time, there was also a fault at the external distribution point (a black box fixed on a pole behind my house), internet was disconnected again.

My heart sank.

I couldn't make myself go through the pain of calling the contractor repeatedly all over again, to explain the circumstances leading to this failure so soon after the last repair.

Three days later, it seemed to me that the Lord answered my prayers through an unexpected event.

My car began to overheat while I was driving back from Tg Tualang to Kampar via Malim Nawar. I had to stop at the Petronas Station in Malim Nawar to cool down the engine and to top up the radiator water level. A TM Unifi contractor happened to stop by to use the public toilet. His name was Ah Shen, and seeing me having trouble with my car, he cautioned me about the high steam pressure from the radiator.

I was delighted to meet Ah Shen and immediately asked him if he could come to my house to look into the optical fibre cable fault.

That afternoon, Monday 03Oct22 Ah Shen came to my house, repaired the faulty section of the optical cable leading to the ONU (again), BUT there was still no internet connection! After checking the distribution box behind my house, he told me that there was 'no rating" in the box, and that I must get in touch with the first contractor who installed my broadband set up.

My heart sank again.

It was already 14 days since TM Unifi fibre broadband was installed in my home, and I still did not have internet connection. My prayers to the Lord became increasingly desperate and I asked God for deliverance from this lingering setback.

It would turn out to be nine long days of waiting upon the LORD.

Every morning I would get up to look at the ONU and router in the room where they were set up. Each time I would be disappointed that there was no incoming internet signal.

In the meantime, I had to fly to Singapore to visit my daughter's family and see my grandchildren. Throughout my trip, I continued to pray to God Almighty for his intervention.

Then, one day after my return from Singapore, the first Unifi Fibre Broadband bill arrived in my email inbox. Despite having no internet connection yet, I paid the bill. Little did I know that receiving that first bill was the Lord's answer to my desperate prayers.

Having the first bill with its new account number meant I could create my new online TM Unifi account. After doing so, I found out that I could reach a "Self Troubleshooting" page through my online account.

So on the afternoon of Wednesday 12Oct22, nine days after Ah Shens visit to my house, the hand of the LORD stretched out to deliver me from my despair. I managed to report the internet fauilt to TM Unifi through a few simple steps in the online "Self Troubleshooting" page of my account. Barely half an hour later, a TM Service staff called and told me that their "Care Crew" were on their way to my house.

The Care Crew team came over shortly after, did some tests and concluded that they had to call a "Cable Team" over to repair the distribution box. The Cable Team did their job in less than an hour.

At last, after nine long days of waiting, the optical fibre internet connection to my house was restored.

That evening, I read Psalm 32. My attention was drawn to verse 7 in the World English Bible (British Edition). The Psalmist told the LORD:

"You are my hiding place.
You will preserve me from trouble.
You will surround me with songs of deliverance."
Psalm 32:7  World English Bible

Indeed, the LORD God Almighty, our Father in Heaven, has been my hiding place throughout the nine days of waiting in prayer. God has preserved me from my troubles. He has surrounded me with songs of deliverance.

Praise the LORD, in the Name of Iesus His Anointed One,

Worthless physicians, miserable comforters

In the course of being badly criticised, falsely accused, and recklessly judged by Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite, Job described his three friends as "worthless physicians" and "miserable comforters":

As for you, you whitewash with lies;
all of you are worthless physicians.
Job 13:4  New Revised Standard Version

I have heard many such things;
miserable comforters are you all.
Job 16:2  New Revised Standard Version

Also in chapter 19 verse 20, Job described himself as one who had escaped by the skin of his teeth.

My bones cling to my skin and to my flesh,
and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
Job 19:20  New Revised Standard Version

Four giants killed by David's warriors

1 Chronicles chapter 20 tells of how the warriors of King David killed three Philistines giants, Sippai, Lahmi brother of Goliath, and an unnamed giant who had twelve fingers and twelve toes, all of whom were descendants of giants at Gath.

4Later on, war broke out again with the Philistines at Gezer. This was when Sibbecai from Hushah killed a giant named Sippai, and the Philistines were defeated.
5There was another battle with the Philistines, and Elhanan son of Jair killed Lahmi, the brother of Goliath from Gath, whose spear had a shaft as thick as the bar on a weaver's loom.
6Another battle took place at Gath, where there was a giant with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He was a descendant of the ancient giants. 7He defied the Israelites, and Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shammah, killed him.
8These three, who were killed by David and his men, were descendants of the giants at Gath.
1 Chronicles 20:4 - 8  Good News Bible

A longer account of the defeat of these giants is found in 2 Samuel chapter 21 verses 15 to 22. In this account, a total of four giants instead of three is mentioned, namely, Ishbibenob, Saph, Goliath (most probably referring to his brother Lahmi, because Goliath had already been killed by David earlier), and the unnamed giant with twelve fingers and twelve toes.

15There was another war between the Philistines and Israel, and David and his men went and fought the Philistines. During one of the battles David grew tired.
16A giant named Ishbibenob, who was carrying a bronze spear that weighed about 3.5 kilogrammes and who was wearing a new sword, thought he could kill David. 17But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David's help, attacked the giant, and killed him. . . .
18After this there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, during which Sibbecai from Hushah killed a giant named Saph.
19There was another battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair from Bethlehem killed Goliath from Gath, whose spear had a shaft as thick as the bar on a weaver's loom.
20Then there was another battle at Gath, where there was a giant who loved to fight. He had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. 21He defied the Israelites, and Jonathan, the son of David's brother Shammah, killed him.
22These four were descendants of the giants of Gath, and they were killed by David and his men.
2 Samuel 21:15 - 22  Good News Bible

A comparison of the account in 1 Chronicles 20 with that in 2 Samuel 21 is given in the table below:

1 Chronicles 20:4-8	2 Samuel 21:15-22
(Not mentioned)	Giant: Ishbibenob Killed by: Abishai ben Zeruiah Place: unnamed
Giant: Sippai Killed by: Sibbecai of Hushah Place: Gezer	Giant: Saph Killed by: Sibbecai of Hushah Place: Gob
Giant: Lahmi, brother of Goliath Killed by: Elhanan ben Jair Place: unnamed	Giant: Goliath Killed by: Elhanan ben Jair Place: Gob
Giant: unnamed, had 12 fingers, 12 toes Killed by: Jonathan ben Shamah brother of David Place: Gath	Giant: unnamed, had 12 fingers, 12 toes Killed by: Jonathan ben Shamah brother of David Place: Gath

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, are you facing any giant in your life? Are there seemingly insurmountable problems and immeasurable adversities that beset you? Let us be brave like the warriors of King David. Let us fight and overcome the giants with the help of God our Father in Heaven. In the Name of Iesus, His Anointed One, Amen.

The Great Reset

King Josiah ben Amon, the 16th king of Judah, ascended to the throne when he was only eight years old. His mother was Jedidah bat Adaiah of Bozkath. Josiah was a god-fearing king. He reigned 31 years from the city of Jerusalem.

King Josiah brought about a great reset of the Kingdom of Judah. He removed deep-rooted idolatry and pagan worship throughout the kingdom, idolatry and wicked practices that had become entrenched among the people under 55 years of the reign of the evil King Manasseh ben Hezekiah followed by another 2 years under his son King Amon ben Manasseh.

The following passage from 2 Kings chapter 23 tells of the Great Reset that King Josiah brought about in the Kingdom of Judah:

4Then Josiah ordered the High Priest Hilkiah, his assistant priests, and the guards on duty at the entrance to the Temple to bring out of the Temple all the objects used in the worship of Baal, of the goddess Asherah, and of the stars.
The king burnt all these objects outside the city near the valley of the Kidron, and then had the ashes taken to Bethel.
5He removed from office the priests that the kings of Judah had ordained to offer sacrifices on the pagan altars in the cities of Judah and in places near Jerusalem — all the priests who offered sacrifices to Baal, to the sun, the moon, the planets, and the stars.
6He removed from the Temple the symbol of the goddess Asherah, took it out of the city to the valley of the Kidron, burnt it, pounded its ashes to dust, and scattered it over the public burial ground.
7He destroyed the living quarters in the Temple occupied by the temple prostitutes. (It was there that women wove robes used in the worship of Asherah.)
8He brought to Jerusalem the priests who were in the cities of Judah, and throughout the whole country he desecrated the altars where they had offered sacrifices. He also tore down the altars dedicated to the goat-demons near the gate built by Joshua, the city governor, which was to the left of the main gate as one enters the city. 9Those priests were not allowed to serve in the Temple, but they could eat the unleavened bread provided for their fellow-priests.
10King Josiah also desecrated Topheth, the pagan place of worship in the Valley of Hinnom, so that no one could sacrifice his son or daughter as a burnt offering to the god Molech.
11He also removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the worship of the sun, and he burnt the chariots used in this worship. (These were kept in the temple courtyard, near the gate and not far from the living quarters of Nathan Melech, a high official.)
12The altars which the kings of Judah had built on the palace roof above King Ahaz' quarters, King Josiah tore down, along with the altars put up by King Manasseh in the two courtyards of the Temple; he smashed the altars to bits and threw them into the valley of the Kidron.
13Josiah desecrated the altars that King Solomon had built east of Jerusalem, south of the Mount of Olives, for the worship of disgusting idols — Astarte the goddess of Sidon, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Molech the god of Ammon.
14King Josiah broke the stone pillars to pieces, cut down the symbols of the goddess Asherah, and the ground where they had stood he covered with human bones.
15Josiah also tore down the place of worship in Bethel which had been built by King Jeroboam son of Nebat, who led Israel into sin. Josiah pulled down the altar, broke its stones into pieces, and pounded them to dust; he also burnt the image of Asherah.
2 Kings 23:4 - 15  Good News Bible

The sins of Israel - the Northern Kingdom

6 In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria. He placed them in Halah, on the Habor, the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.
7This occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

• They had worshipped other gods
• 8 and walked in the customs of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel, and in the customs that the kings of Israel had introduced.
• 9 The people of Israel secretly did things that were not right against the LORD their God.
• They built for themselves high places at all their towns, from watch-tower to fortified city;
• 10 they set up for themselves pillars and sacred poles on every high hill and under every green tree;
• 11 there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the LORD carried away before them.
• They did wicked things, provoking the LORD to anger;
• 12 they served idols, of which the LORD had said to them, ‘You shall not do this.’

13 Yet the LORD warned Israel and Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, ‘Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, in accordance with all the law that I commanded your ancestors and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets.’

• 14 They would not listen but were stubborn, as their ancestors had been, who did not believe in the LORD their God.
• 15 They despised his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their ancestors, and the warnings that he gave them.
• They went after false idols and became false;
• they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the LORD had commanded them that they should not do as they did.
• 16 They rejected all the commandments of the LORD their God and made for themselves cast images of two calves;
• they made a sacred pole, worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal.
• 17 They made their sons and their daughters pass through fire;
• they used divination and augury;

and they sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger. 18 Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight; none was left but the tribe of Judah alone.
2 Kings 17:6 - 18  New Revised Standard Version

The city on a hill named after Shemer

There is a brief acccount in chapter 16 of First Kings about the origin of the name of Samaria.

In verses 23 and 24, we read that Captain Omri, the sixth king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, who after reigning six years from the city of Tirzah, went on to buy over a hill from an owner called Shemer and built a city on this hill.

Omri named this hill city Samaria, after Shemer, the name of the previous owner. Omri reigned another six years from the city of Samaria before he died and was buried in Samaria. His son Ahab succeeded him. (1 Kings 16:28)

23 In the thirty and first year of Asa king of Judah began Omri to reign over Israel, [and reigned] twelve years: six years reigned he in Tirzah.
24 And he bought the hill Samaria of Shemer for two talents of silver; and he built on the hill, and called the name of the city which he built, after the name of Shemer, the owner of the hill, Samaria.
1 Kings 16:23 - 24  American Standard Version

Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

The first chapter of First Timothy contains a short Doxology giving honour and glory to our God as the Eternal King, the immortal God, the invisible God, and the Only Wise God.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17  King James Version

This verse is used in the opening line of the 19th Century Hymn entitled, "Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise", lyrics below:

---

Hymn, written by Walter C Smith, 1867

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish, but nought changeth Thee.

Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render, O help us to see:
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

Blessings from our Lord Iesus himself . . .

Today is the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week. It is Preparation Day. Let us finish all our tasks for the week and prepare to enter into a time of Sabbath Rest beginning at sunset this evening.

Most of the benedictions found in the Epistles are pronouncements of blessings from God our Father in heaven. For example, towards the end of 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle pronounced a blessing of sanctification from the "God of Peace", to keep the Thessalonian brethren sound and blameless at the coming of the Lord Iesus the Anointed One.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:23  New Revised Standard Version

In Second Thessalonians, however, the Apostle wrote a benediction for blessings from our Lord Iesus himself, together with God our Father, to comfort and strengthen the hearts of the Thessalonian brethren "in every good work and word".

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and through grace gave us eternal comfort and good hope, 17comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - 17  New Revised Standard Version

Likewise, Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us bless one another with blessings from our Lord Iesus himself, that our hearts may be comforted and strengthened in good works and good words.

Always wrestling in prayer

In Colossians chapter 4, we read about Epaphras, a servant of the Lord Iesus who continually wrestled in prayers on behalf of the Colossian brethren. He prayed for them that they would stand mature, that they would be fully assured in everything according to the will of God.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you. He is always wrestling in his prayers on your behalf, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in everything that God wills.
Colossians 4:12  New Revised Standard Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us pray like Epaphras. Let us always intercede for one another, that we may also stand mature and be fully assured in all things that God wills.

Man looks at outward appearances, God looks at the heart

Verse 6 in 1 Samuel chapter 16 tells us that Samuel, having been sent to the house of Jesse the Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah to anoint one of his sons to be King, looked at Eliab son of Jesse and said, "Surely the LORD's anointed is before Him".

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7  World English Bible, British Edition

Then Jesse called Abinadab, followed by Shammah, and one by one altogether seven of his eight sons passed before Samuel the prophet.

None of them were chosen by the LORD.

It turned out that the chosen son was the youngest, who was herding sheep outside in the pastures. Verse 12 tells us that this young man had a youthful looking handsome appearance and did not look anything like a king, but the LORD told Samuel,

"Arise! Anoint him, for this is he."

He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. The LORD said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.”
1 Samuel 16:12  World English Bible

Nobody knew that David was well trained for war. David went through combat training while herding his father's flocks of sheep. I wrote a commentary on this about thirteen years ago, link below:

• Combat training

More recently, about six months ago, I wrote about the trust that David had in the LORD, that just as the LORD had saved him from bears and lions which he fought off with his bare hands, the LORD would also save him from the giant Goliath whom he fought without sword nor shield:

• David fought without sword and without shield

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, people around us may look at us and judge us only by our outward appearance. God, however, looks at our hearts.

Today, let us ask ourselves, "What does God see in my heart?"

A Name of Wonder: it is Incomprehensible

In chapter 13 of the book of Judges we read about Manoah from the tribe of Dan whose wife was barren. One day, Manoah asked the Angel of the LORD who had appeared to him and his wife to assure them that they will have a child (Samson),

"What is your name?"

The Angel told Manoah that his name was "incomprehensible" (verse 18, WEB).

The KJV renders "incomprehensible" as "wonderful", while the GNB says, "It is a name of wonder".

17 Manoah said to the LORD’s angel, “What is your name, that when your words happen, we may honour you?”
18 The LORD’s angel said to him, “Why do you ask about my name, since it is incomprehensible*?”
Judges 13:17 - 18  World English Bible (British Edition)

If the name of the Angel of the LORD is too wonderful to be mentioned and too diificult for us to comprehend, how much more wonderful and incomprehensible is the Name of the LORD Himself. This could be the reason why nobody knows with certainty the exact pronunciation of the Name of God written in the Tetragrammaton consonants "yod-hey-vav-hey" or YHWH.

Until today, the people of Israel will say "Adonai" (LORD) or "HaShem" (the Name) whenever they come across the Tetragrammaton in the TaNaKh (Torah, Neviim, Khetuvim: Law, Prophets, Writings).

In the New Testament, our Lord Iesus the Anointed One taught His disciples to call God, "the Father".

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One. The name of the Angel who appeared to Samson's parents was incomprehensible. It was too wonderful to be mentioned. Likewise, the Name of our God is a Name of Wonder, too wonderful for us to say, and too profound for us to comprehend.

Like our Lord Iesus, let us call God our Father in Heaven.

What kind of house will you build for God?

In my reading of Acts chapter 7 today, I am reminded of the words of the martyr Stephen who told the Sanhedrin that although David obtained favour from the LORD to build a temple to replace the Tabernacle, a task which was subsequently carried out by his son Solomon, the Most High does not dwell in buildings made by the hands of men.

Quoting from Isaiah chapter 66, Stephen point out that heaven is the throne of God, and the earth is a footstool for His feet, that in fact the entire universe is formed by the Hand of God.

"What kind of house will you build for me?" Stephen asked, quoting Isaiah 66:1

44 'Our forefathers had the Tent of the Testimony in the Desert, built as He who spoke to Moses had instructed him to make it in imitation of the model which he had seen.
45 That Tent was bequeathed to the next generation of our forefathers. Under Joshua they brought it with them when they were taking possession of the land of the Gentile nations, whom God drove out before them. So it continued till David's time.
46 David obtained favour with God, and asked leave to provide a dwelling-place for the God of Jacob.
47 But it was Solomon who built a house for Him.
48 Yet the Most High does not dwell in buildings erected by men's hands. But, as the Prophet declares,
49 'The sky is My throne, and earth is the footstool for My feet. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the Lord, or what resting place shall I have?
50 Did not My hand form this universe.'
Acts 7:44 - 50  Weymouth New Testament

1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isaiah 66:1 - 2  King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus the Anointed One, let us pause and ponder over the greatness of God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. Let us remember that Heaven is the Throne of God, and Earth is a footstool for His Feet.

The disciples continued steadfastly in prayer

After witnessing the Ascension of our Lord Iesus at Mount Olivet, the disciples returned to Jerusalem, a Sabbath Day's journey away, where they continued steadfastly in prayer "with one accord" together with the women, with Mary the mother of Iesus, and with His brothers.

12 Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is nigh unto Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey off.
13 And when they were come in, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were abiding; both Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James [the son] of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas [the son] of James.
14 These all with one accord continued stedfastly in prayer, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
Acts 1:12 - 14  American Standard Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us continue steadfastly in prayer together.

When the Holy Spirit comes . . .

(These observations were first made on Sun 01May22 1448 hrs. They were written in my note-book and at last, after two months, I have found the time to post them here.)

In John chapter 16, we read the words of our Lord Iesus telling His disciples that when the Holy Spirit comes, the Spirit will convict the world of three things:

1. Of sin,
2. Of righteousness, and
3. Of judgment

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
John 16:8 - 11  New King James Version

I pondered over what these three things meant and arrived at the following interpretation:

Sin

the sin of the people in Israel who rejected the Anonted One

Righteousness

the righteousness of the Anointed One who would be raised from the dead on the third day, and be seated at the right hand of the Father.

Judgment

the judgment of the "ruler of this world", Satan. Earlier in John 12:31, the Lord Iesus told the crowd around him, "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out."

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus, let us ponder over these words of our Lord. Let us be likewise convicted by the Holy Spirit.

The New Commandment: a final commandment.

Shabbat Shalom.

Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week. Let us rest from all our work and keep the Fourth Commandment.

The new commandment given by the Lord Iesus in John 13:34, 35 was the Lord's final commandment to the disciples.

34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
John 13:34 - 35  King James Version

This commandment was given after Judas Iscariot had left the supper, when Satan had entered him, upon being told by the Lord Iesus, "That thou doest, do quickly".

26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
John 13:26 - 27  King James Version

The new commandment was given after the Lord had told His disciples that the time had come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
John 13:31  King James Version

Our Lord knew that his hour had come, that Judas would betray him into the hands of his enemies. The Lord gave His new commandment to the disciples immediately after telling them that he would be with them only a little while more, that where he was going they couldn't go.

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
John 13:33  King James Version

Finally, this commandment was given before the Lord delivered his long and final discourse to His disciples, recorded in John chapters 14 to 16, culminating in His High Priestly Intercessory Prayer in John chapter 17 and His arrest in John chapter 18.

At the end of His final discourse, the Lord told His disciples, "Behold, the hour cometh . . . "

Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
John 16:32  King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us keep the new commandment, to love one another as the Lord has loved us. It was His final commandment before He left.

The First Passover and First Fruits in Gilgal

When did Israel celebrate the Feast of First Fruits (commanded in Leviticus 23:9 - 14)?

Today, in my reading of Joshua chapter 5, I found an indication of the day when the people of Israel ate the "first-fruits" of the land at Gilgal, after 40 years of eating manna, just after they crossed the River Jordan into the Promised Land. That was the day after the Passover, the 15th day of the First Month, the first day of Unleavened Bread. On that day, the supply of manna ceased.

11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.
Joshua 5:11 - 12  New International Version

I made a similar observation about one and a half years ago, in my devotional blog post:

• The First Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread (Feb2021)

Moses reminded Israel of their rebellious ways

In my readings from Deuteronomy today, I came across passages where Moses reminded the children of Israel about the places where they rebelled against God in their forty years of wandering in the wilderness.

(1) At Horeb:

Also in Horeb you provoked the LORD to wrath, and the LORD was angry with you to destroy you.
Deuteronomy 9:8  World English Bible

At Horeb (Mount Sinai), while Moses was up on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments from the LORD, the people of Israel told Aaron to make them a golden calf for them to worship. The people celebrated a feast to the calf. They sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play. In fact, they were stark naked (Exodus 32:25, Noah Webster Bible)!

Moses was so angry when he saw them that he threw the two tablets of Commandments on the ground and broke them. He destroyed the golden calf, and ordered the Levites who stood by him to kill three thousand rebellious Israelite men. See the detailed account in Exodus 32:1 - 35.

(2) At Taberah, Massah, Kibroth Hattaavah, and at Kadesh Barnea:

22 At Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth Hattaavah you provoked the LORD to wrath. 23 When the LORD sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, “Go up and possess the land which I have given you,” you rebelled against the commandment of the LORD your God, and you didn’t believe him or listen to his voice.
Deuteronomy 9:22 - 23  World English Bible

At Taberah, the LORD was angry when the children of Israel complained about their sojourn in the wilderness. The LORD sent fire to destroy some of the Israelites in the outskirts of their camp. A detailed account is found in Numbers 11:1 - 3

At Massah (Testing), also called Meribah (Strife), the Israelites quarrelled with Moses when they were thirsty and didn't have enough water. See detailed account in Exodus 17:1 - 17

At Kibroth Haattavah (Graves of Greed), the children of Israelite were not content with eating manna and demanded meat from Moses. The LORD sent a wind to bring in quails from the sea. While the meat was "yet between their teeth", the LORD struck the Israelites with a great plague. Read detailed account in Numbers 11:10 - 35.

At Kadesh Barnea, ten of the twelve spies who were sent into the land of Canaan came back with a fearsome report of the power of the Canaanites, causing the children of Israel to rebel against the LORD's command for them to occupy the Promised Land. Only two spies, Caleb ben Jephunneh and Joshua ben Nun, had faith in the promise of the LORD.

It was a great and "final" rebellion, and the LORD told Moses that the rebellious Israelites would have to wander in the wilderness for forty years, corresponding to the forty days the 12 spies spent spying out the land of Canaan. During those forty years, all Israelites who were twenty years and above would perish in the wilderness. Only their children would get to enter the Promised Land. See the account written in Numbers 10:11 - 14:45

(3) Dathan and Abiram rebelled against the LORD:

and what he did to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben—how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, with their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the middle of all Israel;
Deuteronomy 11:6  World English Bible

The location of rebellion by Dathan and Abiram (together with Korah and 250 men) is not mentioned in the Old Testament. A detailed account of this rebellion is found in Numbers 6:1 - 50

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us also remind ourselves of how we have, from time to time, rebelled against the will of God in our lives. Let us repent.

The will of the Father

Today, I observe from chapters 5 and 6 of the Gospel of John, accounts of our Lord Iesus telling the people around him that he has come to obey and carry out the will of His Father in Heaven.

As the Father has been working:

“My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
John 5:17  New King James Version

Whatever the Father does:

Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.
John 5:19  New King James Version

As the Father raises the dead:

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.
John 5:21 - 23  New King James Version

As the Father has life in Himself:

26 For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, 27 and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
John 5:26 - 29  New King James Version

As the Anointed One hears the Father:

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me
John 5:30  New King James Version

As the Father gives to the Anointed One:

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
John 6:37 - 38  New King James Version

As the Father has sent the Anointed One:

57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
John 6:57 - 58  New King James Version

As the Father draws a person near the Anointed One:

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:44  New King James Version

Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father
John 6:65  New King James Version

The above descriptions of the ministry of Iesus the Anointed One can be summarised in one verse, as follows:

I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
John 5:30  New King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us do the will of our Father in Heaven.

When the people were not there

How can the High Priests and the Jewish leaders of Jerusalem arrest Iesus without causing an uproar among the masses of people who have witnessed the miracles and healings that Iesus has performed, and who believe that He comes from God?

Luke chapter 22 tells us that the answer came from one of Iesus' disciples: Iudas Iscariot.

The only way to capture Iesus and hand him over to the Roman Governor is to find him when he is privately meeting his disciples, "when the people were not there" (verse 6). That's the very thing Iudas Iscariot proposed to do in his discussion with the High Priests and Commanders (verse 4).

4 He went and conferred with the High Priests and Leaders as to how he should deliver Him up to them.
5 This gave them great pleasure, and they agreed to pay him.
6 He accepted their offer, and then looked out for an opportunity to betray Him when the people were not there.
Luke 22:4 - 6  Weymouth New Testament

In the end, Iesus was captured because his disciple Iudas led a crowd comprising the High Priests, the Temple Leaders, and Elders, armed with swords and clubs, to the garden of Gethsemane at the foothill of the Mount of Olives, where Iesus was praying in private with His disciples, to arrest him (verse 52).

Iudas betrayed Iesus the Anointed One "when the people were not there".

The Name of the God of Israel

The first five verses of Leviticus chapter 18 tells us that God commanded Moses to warn the children of Israel not to practise any of the doings of the Land of Egypt nor any of the doings of the Land of Canaan.

In giving this warning, Moses was commanded by the LORD to say to the children of Israel,

I am the LORD your God.

1 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘I am the LORD your God.
3 According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do; and according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances.
4 You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the LORD your God.
5 You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 18:1 – 5  New King James Version 

Some older versions of the English Bible renders the Tetragrammaton YHWH as "Jehovah" instead of translating it as "the LORD". Two of the versions are the American Standard Version and Young's Literal Translation, as shown below, where the words, "I am Jehovah your God" is mentioned three times, in verse 2, verses 4, and verse 5:

1 And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am Jehovah your God.
3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do; neither shall ye walk in their statutes.
4 Mine ordinances shall ye do, and my statutes shall ye keep, to walk therein: I am Jehovah your God.
5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and mine ordinances; which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am Jehovah.
Leviticus 18:1 – 5  American Standard Version 

1 And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying,
2 "Speak unto the sons of Israel, and thou hast said unto them, I [am] Jehovah your God;
3 according to the work of the land of Egypt in which ye have dwelt ye do not, and according to the work of the land of Canaan whither I am bringing you in, ye do not, and in their statutes ye walk not.
4 'My judgments ye do, and My statutes ye keep, to walk in them; I [am] Jehovah your God;
5 and ye have kept My statutes and My judgments which man doth and liveth in them; I [am] Jehovah.
Leviticus 18:1 – 5  Young's Literal Translation 

In verse 3, Moses was commanded to tell the children of Israel, "According to the doings of the land of Egypt, where you dwelt, you shall not do". The following is a list of some of the gods worshipped by the ancient Egyptians:

• Anubis
• Bast
• Geb
• Hathor
• Isis
• Maat
• Osiris
• Ra

Likewise in the second half of verse 3, "according to the doings of the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you, you shall not do; nor shall you walk in their ordinances". The following is a list of Caananite gods and their references in the Bible:

• Adramelech 2 Kings 17:31
• Asherah 1 Kings 18:19, 2 Kings 23:4 - 7
• Ashtoreth 1 Samuel 12:10
• Baal 1 Kings 18:28, 2 Kings 10:18 - 28, Jeremiah 19:5
• Chemosh 1 Kings 11:7, 2 Kings 3:27
• Dagon 1 Samuel chapter 5
• Marduk Jeremiah 50:2
• Molech Leviticus 18:21; 20:2 - 5
• Nisroch 2 Kings 19:36 - 37
• Tammuz Ezekiel 8:14 - 15

When we look at the lists of Egyptian and Caananite gods shown above, we realise they all have one thing in common: every of those pagan gods have a name.

This shows us how significant it was in those ancient days that the LORD commanded Moses to declare to the children of Israel His own NAME, the name of their one and only true God: the name Jehovah (pronounced Yehovah in Hebrew). This was done three times in this short passage of Leviticus 18:1 - 5 alone.

Among the numerous gods of the Egyptians and of the Caananites, there is no god called Jehovah.

Jehovah alone is the God of Israel.

And the children of Israel shall not call upon the name of any of the Egyptian or Caananite gods. They shall call only upon the Name Jehovah. And they shall keep His ordinances, statutes, and judgments, to walk in them and to do them, and to live by them.

I am Jehovah your God

He who has two coats, let him give to those who have none

In Luke chapter 3, we read an account of John the Baptist telling those who came to him for baptism to repent from their sins.

"Bring forth fruits worthy of repentance," he told them.

8 Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
9 And now also the ax is laid to the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?
11 He answereth and saith to them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath provisions, let him do likewise.
12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said to him, Master, what shall we do?
13 And he said to them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
14 And the soldiers likewise asked him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said to them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages.
Luke 3:8 – 14  Noah Webster Bible 

What must one do to bear fruits worthy of repentance? What fruits are these?

Verse 12 tells us that the publicans (tax-collectors) asked John,

"Master, what shall we do?"

Similarly, in verse 13, the soldiers who came to be baptised asked him,

"And what shall we do?"

It seems that many of them did not know how to go about bearing fruits that are worthy of repentance.

We can see from the passage above that John the Baptist did not leave them groping in the dark. He told the tax-collectors that they must no longer demand more money than that which has been officially stated in their appointment. And to the soldiers, John told them to stop doing violence to people, nor to accuse anyone falsely, but instead to be contented with their wages.

There is one group of people, however, who were not sinners. They were not among those who were notorious for unjust or corrupt practices. They were neither tax-collectors nor soldiers.

They were ordinary people, like you and me. People who lived ordinary lives, who worked everyday to earn an ordinary living. People who were not hated by others, neither treated with disdain like the tax-collectors, nor viewed with fear like the soldiers.

These people asked John the Baptist in verse 10, "What shall we do then?"

How do ordinary people like you and me repent? What sins do we repent from? How do we "bring forth fruits worthy of repentance?"

The answer from John the Baptist is found in verse 11,

He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath provisions, let him do likewise.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us learn to give to those in need. Let us give to the poor: our spare coat, our extra pair of shoes, some of our provisions, and some of our reserves of money.

Let us learn to bear fruits that are worthy of repentance.

Salt represents covenant

A verse in Leviticus chapter 2 is particularly noteworthy in today's OT reading.

In verse 13, it is recorded that the LORD commanded Moses to ensure that salt is put on all offerings, including grain offerings, because "salt represents the covenant between you and God".

Put salt on every grain offering, because salt represents the covenant between you and God. (You must put salt on all your offerings.)
Leviticus 2:13  Good News Bible 

This requirement of putting salt on all offerings to God is mentioned by the Lord Iesus in Mark chapter 9 where it is applied to his teaching that we should "have salt" (i.e. faithfulness to the covenant of God) in ourselves.

Salt is faithful. It never loses its flavour. If salt loses its flavour, it becomes useless. Likewise our Lord taught his disciples to have the faithfulness of salt in themselves.

. . . every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavour, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.
Mark 9:49 - 50  New King James Version 

Thirteen years ago, I wrote briefly on the meaning of salt in the context of faithfulness to God:

• Salt: flavour or fidelity? (09Apr2009)

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One. Let us have the unchanging faithfulness of salt in ourselves. Let us never lose our flavour.

Bezalel and Oholiab : filled with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, in all kinds of workmanship

Chapter 35 of Exodus tells us of two men chosen by the LORD to be his craftsmen in building the Tabernacle and its coverings and furnishings, and the priestly vestments.

They are Bezalel ben Uri ben Hur of tribe Judah, assisted by Oboliab ben Ahisamach of tribe Dan.

Verse 31 tells us that the LORD has called Bezalel and has filled him "filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship".

Similarly, verse 35 tells us that God has filled both Bezalel and Oholiab "with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skilful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver,".

30 Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
31 He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship;
32 and to make skilful works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze,
33 in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skilful workmanship.
34 He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skilful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skilful works.
Exodus 35:30 - 35  World English Bible 

A similar description of the calling of Bezalel ben Uri ben Hur and Oboliab ben Ahisamach is given earlier in Exodus chapter 31, as shown below:

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,
4 to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,
5 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.
6 Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
8 the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
9 the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
10 the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— 11 the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
Exodus 31:1 - 10  World English Bible 

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus Anointed, let us seek to be filled with the Spirit of God, that, like Bezalel and Oholiab, we may have wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, to be skilfull workers in the Kingdom of God.

This kind cannot come out, except by prayer and fasting

Today's passage: Mark 9:14 - 29 World English Bible

Coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration with the disciples Peter, James, and John, our Lord Iesus saw a crowd gathered around the other disciples and questioning them.

Our Lord asked the scribes who were among them,

"What are you asking them?" (Mark 9:16)

One of the people in the crowd answered the Lord,

"Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren't able.' (Mark 9:17 – 18)

The big question in today's passage is, "Why weren't the disciples able to cast out the spirit from the boy?"

The answer is given by our Lord in verse 29, " . . . except by prayer and fasting".

Mark 9:25 – 29  WEB  World English Bible

25 When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter no more into him!'

26 Having cried out, and convulsed him greatly, it came out. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, 'He is dead.'

27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.

28 When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why couldn't we cast it out?'

29 He said to them, 'This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting.'

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, there are times in our life when nothing seems to work. Those are the times we need to turn to God in prayer and fasting. Without much prayer and devoted fasting, "this kind" cannot come out.

Go to your house, to your friends, tell them

In the account of the demoniac in the country of the Gerasenes, from whom our Lord Iesus cast out a legion of demons, the Lord did not allow the healed man to follow him, but instead told to return to his household and to his friends, to tell them of the great things that God had done for him.

Mark 5:18 – 20  BBE  Bible in Basic English

18 And when he was getting into the boat, the man in whom had been the evil spirits had a great desire to come with him.

19 And he would not let him, but said to him, Go to your house, to your friends, and give them news of the great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.

20 And he went on his way, and made public in the country of Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him: and all men were full of wonder.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, as many as desire to follow our Lord Iesus, let us also go and tell our family and friends of great things that God has done for us.

Do you love life and wish to see good days?

Today is the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week. It is Preparation Day. Let us finish all our work for the week, tie up all loose ends and prepare to enter into a time of Sabbath Rest starting at sunset this evening.

On this Preparation Day, I am reminded by 1 Peter chapter 3 to guard my words, to refrain from speaking evil, to turn away from evil and do good, and to seek, nay, even pursue peace.

The Apostle calls upon the disciples to do this if they "would love life and see good days".

1 Peter 3:10 - 12  WEB  World English Bible

10 For, 'He who would love life, And see good days, Let him keep his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.

11 Let him turn away from evil, and do good. Let him seek peace, and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And his ears open to their prayer; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.'

Verses 10 to 12 in the above passage is a quotation from Psalm 34:12 - 16a in the Masoretic texts (Psalm 33:13 - 17a in the Septuagint), as shown below:

Psalm 34:12 - 16a  KJV  King James Version

12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

15 The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, . . .

Psalm 33:13 - 17a  LXX  Septuagint Brenton

13 What man is there that desires life, loving to see good days?

14 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.

15 Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

16 The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer:

17 but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil, . . .

I wrote about this passage briefly in my devotional blog last October, link below:

• Do you desire life and love to see many good days? (03Oct21)

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us, as many as would love life and would see good days, keep ourselves from speaking evil and from deceit. Then the eyes of the LORD will be upon us, and his ears will be open to our cry.