Let us offer a sacrifice of praise through our Lord Iesus

Passage of the Day

12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek Jehovah, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
13 Ye have ploughed wickedness, reaped iniquity, eaten the fruit of lies; for thou didst confide in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Hosea 10:12 – 13  J.N.Darby's Translation

1 O Israel, return unto Jehovah thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.
2 Take with you words, and turn to Jehovah; say unto him, Forgive all iniquity, and receive [us] graciously; so will we render the calves of our lips.
Hosea 14:1 – 2  J.N.Darby's Translation

2 Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God; for the people have fallen through your iniquities.
3 Take with you words, and turn to the Lord your God: speak to him, that you may not receive the reward of unrighteousness, but that you may receive good things: and we will render in return the fruit of our lips.
Osee 14:2 – 3  Septuagint British English 2012

The prophet Hosea ben Beeri prophesied to the children of Israel, particularly to the tribes of Ephraim and Judah in Hosea chapter 10, telling them to break up their fallow ground, to sow in righteusness instead of ploughing in wickedness; and to reap according to mercy instead of reaping iniquity.

In verse 12, Hosea tells them, "it is time to seek Yehovah"

Towards the end of the book in chapter 14, the prophet Hosea calls the children of Israel to return to the Lord (Adonai) their God, taking words with them, to render to God the fruit of their lips (ref Osee 14:3 LXX)

This call to offer the fruit of our lips to God is again given by the Apostle in Hebrews chapter 13, quoted below:

Through him (Iesus) then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to his name. Hebrews 13:15  American Standard Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus Anointed, let us likewise remind ourselves to break up fallow ground in our lives, to sow seeds of righteousness, that we may reap according to the mercy of God our Father in Heaven.

It is time to seek God, to return to Him with our words, offering a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of our lips through Iesus our Lord.

The Son of Man was brought near to the Ancient of Days

Passages of the Day

13 I beheld in the night vision, and, lo, one coming with the clouds of heaven as the Son of man, and he came on to the Ancient of days, and was brought near to him.
14 And to him was given the dominion, and the honor, and the kingdom; and all nations, tribes, and languages, shall serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13 – 14  LXX Brenton Updated

The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority
John 3:35  New English Translation

And Jesus came to them and said, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
Matthew 28:18  Bible in Basic English

He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly,
Ephesians 1:22  World English Bible

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
1 Peter 3:22  King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, today let us remind ourselves that our Lord Iesus is given dominion and honour and the Kingdom by our God, the Ancient of Days. God has placed all things under the authority of our Lord Iesus, in heaven and on earth, and has made Iesus the head over all things in our Assembly.

Today, our Lord is seated at the right hand of God our Father in heaven. Angels and authorities and powers are being made subject to our Lord. Let us live under the authority and Lordship of Iesus the Son of God.

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The following are links to my observations about the Lord Iesus as the Son of God, posted on my devotional blog over a span of thirteen years:

• The Three Amens (May2009)
• Worship Him who sits on the Throne (Aug2014)
• Amen, Faithful, True Witness, Head of God's Creation (Nov2020)
• I will be their God, They shall be my people (May2022)

Our Lord iesus received the Holy Spirit from God

Passage of the Day

23 Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me.
John 14:23 – 24  World English Bible

23 This Jesus, God has raised to life -- a fact to which all of us testify.
33 'Being therefore lifted high by the mighty hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out this which you see and hear.
34 For David did not ascend into Heaven, but he says himself, ''The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand
35 until I make thy foes a footstool under thy feet.'
36 'Therefore let the whole House of Israel know beyond all doubt that God has made Him both LORD and CHRIST--this Jesus whom you crucified.'
Acts 2:32 – 36  Weymouth New Testament

We read from Acts chapter 2 the words of the Apostle Peter, speaking to the huge crowd of Jews from every part of the world (Acts 2:5, 9,10 WNT) telling them that God has raised "this Iesus" to life and that Iesus has received the promised Holy Spirit from God.

Particularly, in verse 33, Peter said that Iesus has poured out the Holy Spirit on all the 120 disciples together with him in the upper room on that Pentecost Day (Acts 1:15). As a result of that outpouring of the Spirit, the disciples spoke in various foreign languages — "which you see and hear" (Acts 2:33b) — a confirmation of the Holy Spirit.

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus, like the Peter and the 120 believers in the upper room, let us also be full of the Holy Spirit. Let us walk in the Spirit as we also live in the Spirit. And let us seek the confirmation "which you see and hear" from the Lord.

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I wrote two blog posts on my devotional blog in 2013 about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit — oon the Jews in Jerusalem and on the Gentiles in Caesarea. And again last year, I wrote related observations in another two blog posts, all links below :

• The Promise that is for you, for your children and for all afar (May2013)
• So I knew (Sep2013)
• The Day of Shavuot (Feb2022)
• The day of outpouring of the Spirit upon the Gentiles (Feb2022)

The Son of Man must be lifted up

Passage of the Day

13 There is no one who has gone up to Heaven, but there is One who has come down from Heaven, namely the Son of Man whose home is in Heaven.
14 And just as Moses lifted high the serpent in the Desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
15 in order that every one who trusts in Him may have the Life of the Ages.
John 3:13 – 15  Weymouth New Testament

5 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 23:5 – 6  King James Version

15 “In those days and at that time,
I will cause a Branch of righteousness to grow up to David.
He will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will dwell safely.
This is the name by which she will be called:
The LORD our righteousness.”
Jeremiah 33:15 – 16  World English Bible

Brothers and Sisters our Lord Iesus is the promised righteous Branch, the King who shall reign and execute judgment and justice on earth. He is called "YHWH our Righteousness".

The Lord told Nicodemus in John chapter 3 that He had come down from Heaven, that His home is in Heaven, and that just as Moses lifted up the brass serpent on a pole in the wilderness so that the children of Israel who looked up at the serpent could be saved from their snake bites, our Lord Iesus "the Son of Man" must also be lifted up (meaning to be crucified) so that all who put their trust in Him may be saved from sin and have everlasting life.

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Over the last nine years, I have written my thoughts and observations about the expression "to be lifted up", as used by our Lord Iesus in the Gospels, in several blog posts, links below:

• I am He (Feb2023)
• If I am lifted up (Nov2022)
• Lift Jesus higher? (Mar2014)

In His Name the Gentiles will hope

1The LORD says,
“Here is my servant, whom I strengthen —
the one I have chosen, with whom I am pleased.
I have filled him with my Spirit,
and he will bring justice to every nation.
2He will not shout or raise his voice
or make loud speeches in the streets.
3He will not break off a bent reed
or put out a flickering lamp.
He will bring lasting justice to all.
4He will not lose hope or courage;
he will establish justice on the earth.
Distant lands eagerly wait for his teaching.”

5God created the heavens and stretched them out;
he fashioned the earth and all that lives there;
he gave life and breath to all its people.
And now the LORD God says to his servant,
6“I, the LORD, have called you and given you power
to see that justice is done on earth.
Through you I will make a covenant with all peoples;
through you I will bring light to the nations.
7You will open the eyes of the blind
and set free those who sit in dark prisons.
Isaiah 42:1 – 4; 5 – 7  Good News Bible

1 Jacob is *my servant, I will help him: Israel is my chosen, my soul has accepted him; I have put my Spirit upon him; he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor shall his voice be heard without. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench; but he shall bring forth judgment to truth. 4 He shall shine out, and shall not be †discouraged, until he have set judgment on the earth: and in his name shall the Gentiles trust.
Esaias 42: 1 – 4  Septuagint Brenton

15 Jesus, perceiving that, withdrew from there. Great multitudes followed him; and he healed them all,
16 and charged them that they should not make him known:
17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,
18 'Behold, my servant whom I have chosen; My beloved in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my Spirit on him,
He will declare judgment to the Gentiles.
19 He will not strive, nor shout; Neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets.
20 He won't break a bruised reed, He won't quench a smoking flax, Until he sends forth judgment to victory.
21 In his name, the Gentiles will hope.'
Matthew 12:15 – 21  World English Bible

A long time ago, the prophet Isaiah had prophesied that the Anointed One, the Servant of God, will be filled with the Spirit of God and will come to bring justice to all Gentile nations.

In the LXX, Isaiah (Esaias) 42:4b records Isaiah's prophecy, " . . . in his name shall the Gentiles trust".

This is quoted in Matthew 12:21, "in his name, the Gentiles will hope".

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us always put our trust and hope in Iesus our Lord, the Anointed One of God.

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Back in 2013, I wrote my thoughts, based on the prophecy of Amos 9:11,12 quoted in Acts chapter 15, in a post entitled, "Gentiles who bear the Name of Yehovah" (link below).

In February last year, I wrote another two posts, one about how the Holy Spirit was first poured on the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius the Centurion in the city of Caesarea, and another about God waiting until the full number of Gentiles come into His Kingdom before the children of Israel is saved (all links below).

• Gentiles who bear the Name of God (Nov2013)
• Outpouring of the Spirit upon Gentiles (Feb2022)
• Until the fulness of Gentiles come (Feb2022)
• Gentiles called by God (Dec2022)

Understanding the fear of the LORD

This morning's passage brings to me a truth that I have missed through my 47 years of belief in the Lord Iesus the Anointed. This truth is found in the first five verses of Proverbs chapter 2, shown below:

1My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
2making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:1 – 5  Good News Bible

I have often heard people quote the verse that says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom . . ." (Proverbs 9:10). This verse makes me ask myself what the fear of the LORD means in my life.

This morning's passage answers my question by telling another side of this truth about the fear of the LORD — that if I seek wisdom from God, seeking it like silver, searching for it like for hidden treasures, virtually calling out and raising my voice for insight and for understanding, then I will understand the fear of the LORD.

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, do you want to understand the fear of the LORD? Do you wish to find the knowledge of God? I urge you to seek wisdom and understanding from God. Seek wisdom. Search for it as for hidden treasure. Then you will understand the fear of the LORD.

Why was Jacob loved, and Esau hated?

Why was Jacob loved and Esau hated?

I first wrote these notes four years ago, on 18 August 2019 14:45 hrs GMT+8.

Today, I have decided to post them here as part of my devotional blog collection.

The following are references that I have gleaned from the books of Genesis and Numbers, as well as from some of the books of the Prophets, that I have grouped under two headings:

1. Notes about Jacob's obedience to his father Isaac, in remembering YeHoVaH.
2. Notes about Esau's disobedience to his father Isaac, in turning away from YeHoVaH

Jacob obeyed his father and remembered YHWH

Genesis 27:46
Jacob obeyed his father Isaac by going to Laban's house in Mesopotamia to marry one of Laban's daughters.

Genesis 28:20-22 (First visit to Bethel)
Jacob set up and dedicated a memorial stone at Bethel to YHWH and promised to take YHWH as his God if he returns safely from Mesopotamia.

Genesis 32:10-12 (cf Genesis 28:14)
Jacob crossed the River Jordan with only a walking stick but eventually returned from Laban's household with two large families. He remembered the promises of YHWH.

Genesis 33: 10-11
Jacob reconciled with Esau and did his best to regain Esau's favour.

Genesis 33:16,17
After Esau had returned to Edom, Jacob went on to Sukkot (lit. booths), where he built a booth (sukkah) for himself and for his cattle. He arrived safely in Shechem, bought a field from the descendants of Hamor for 100 silver, set up an altar and named it after El - the God of Israel.

Genesis 35: 1-4, 7 (Second visit to Bethel)
At the command of Elohim (v.7), Jacob returned to Bethel, built an altar there and told his family to remove all foreign Gods and purify themselves before going)

Genesis 35:14 (Third visit to Bethel?)
Jacob set up another memorial stone again at Bethel.

Esau disobeyed his father and turned away from YHWH

Genesis 25: 27-34
Esau sold his birthright, with a vow, in return for a mere bowl of lentils. He despised what YHWH has ordained for him.

Genesis 26: 34-35, 27:46
Esau married Hittite wives and became a heartache to his mother.

Numbers 20:14-21
His descendants - EDOM - refused safe passage to Israel who were sojourning in the wilderness on their way to Kadesh.

Amos 1:11-12
The Edomites sinned repeatedly and hunted down their Israelite brothers, showing no mercy, unrelenting and unlimited anger. God will destroy city of Teman and the fortress of Bozrah.

Isaiah 34:5-17
YHWH will strike Edom and destroy them with his sword, likened to a great sacrifice at the city of Bozrah - to rescue Zion and to take vengeance on her enemies. V.11 tells us that its land will be barren wasteland again like before creation!

Isaiah 63:1-6
YHWH will come dressed in red, in power and strength, trampling the Nations like one who tramples grapes - from Bozrah - to save His people and to punish His enemies.

Jeremiah 49: 7-22
Again, Bozrah city will become a horrifying sight, a desert, a permanent ruin at which all will shake their heads, comparable to Sodom and Gomorrah. Likewise the city of Teman (v.20)

Ezekiel 25:12-14
Edom had been cruel to Israel. Their guilt endures. Israel will take revenge on Edom - from Teman to Dedan. Edom will feel the fury of YHWH

(Note: Edom is located in a high mountainous area.)

Ezekiel 35: 1-5
Adonai YHWH declares himself an enemy of Edom. He will make Edom (on the mountains of Seir) a desolate wasteland and because Edom was Israel's constant enemy, they will pay for their anger, jealosy and hatred towards Israel.

Obadiah 1 - 14
YHWH will pull Edom down from its high mountain fortress. Teman will be terrified. v.15 - Edom will receive retribution for what she has done, a bitter cup of punishment.

Malachi 1: 2-5
Edom's attempts at rebuilding their towns will be futile. She has become a nation with whom YHWH is angry forever.

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Brothers and Sisters, let us remember the example of Jacob and be warned not to follow the footsteps of Esau and his descendants Edom.

Malachi 2: 1,2
This command is for you: you must honour Me (My Name) by what you do.