The one in authority has only to give the command for the task to be accomplished.

Jesus, referring to himself as the prophetic Son of Man, claimed to have authority over spiritual sickness and human sickness. He demonstrated this authority when the paralytic’s sins were not only forgiven but when the man was given the ability to walk again. (Luke 5:24-26)

In this passage, the centurion trusted Jesus’ word and position of divine authority to command his servant’s healing. As believed, the servant was healed.

How often do I “hope” that God will meet the need? How often do I “know” that through the struggle, He will see me through? How often is my faith in the ONE who holds all authority?

The centurion’s great faith is what Jesus marveled at. It wasn’t that a Roman would choose to embrace the Messiah (a Jewish concept), but that this man knew what authority meant and humbled himself under Jesus, the king of the Jews.

I’ve struggled over the past two weeks with the loss of something I valued. In a sense, I’ve struggled with the thought of whether or not my “usefulness” has passed me by. The danger is in societal meanings where being “useful” means being “worthwhile”.

God is helping me see it differently. It is not my “usefulness” that makes me valuable or worth spending time with (like society’s value system). It is my relationship with Him. When I understand my part in His family, I am able to relax in His affection.*

Certainly, I want to keep growing as an individual and doing the things that my family needs. On the other hand, I can also accept the fact that without any “service”, I am still worthwhile. Just as the unborn child is worthwhile along with the elderly patient who may sit alone in a long term care home. In essence, being human makes us all part of the image of God. His creation is all worthwhile.

Praying in faith means understanding who holds the spiritual authority over tangible objects/relationships. It is not society’s wealth or our own cleverness. Authority is held by Jesus Christ, the Lord.

He can heal us spiritually and physically. We don’t understand how the spiritual dimension intersects our limited place in time and space, but we do see the effects of this unknown dimension at work in God’s creation.

Lord, will you say the Word? “Come and Heal” seems too presumptuous as you have all authority. Who am I to even speak my request with the Lord, the One who gives life and life eternal. -Teresa #yetHeinvitesme #Cometome

*Dr. David Eckman, Becoming What God Intended Ministries.

Luke 7:1-10 (ESV)

7 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.² Now a centurion had a servant^[b] who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. ³ When the centurion^[c] heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, ⁵ for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” ⁶ And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. ⁷ Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. ⁸ For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” ⁹ When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”¹⁰ And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Footnotes

1. Luke 6:48 Some manuscripts founded upon the rock
2. Luke 7:2 Or bondservant; also verses 3, 8, 10
3. Luke 7:3 Greek he

Although John the Baptist was imprisoned and ultimately beheaded for “truth-telling”, he lived and died for his calling- that of clearly pointing the way to the Savior.

Jesus, when baptized by John, was affirmed by God himself. The father spoke from heaven identifying Jesus as His son. Not just “a” son but his beloved son.

The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove. The trinity was fully present in this moment. One being or God, with three persons (the father, son and Holy Spirit) is a mystery called the Holy Trinity. Watch Nabeel Qureshi explain this so well. God’s character of power (omnipotence) and presence (omnipresence), truly knowing everything (omniscience) is why we have a Savior.

John the Baptist never confused his role (to call the people unto repentance) with what some thought of him (is he the Christ?). The Savior’s role was prophesied as the anointed one, Christ or Messiah and was at a much higher level. (John 1:23 ESV) John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

When our kids were young, I would oftentimes start bedtime prayers with, “Dear Father” and end, saying “in the name of Jesus, your son and our Savior.” I felt the conversational tone with the Father expressed how grateful we were for the tremendous gift He gave. (John 3:16)

The beloved son has became Lord of all by conquering sin’s curse. Death no longer has the same sting (eternal separation) because believerswill live in eternity with the affectionate trinitarian family.*

This is truth-telling at its best. – Teresa #fireburnsupthechaff #winnowingforkgathersin

*Dr. David Eckman, Becoming What God Intended Ministries

Luke 3:15-22(ESV)

¹⁵ As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, ¹⁶ John answered them all, saying, “I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

¹⁸ So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people. ¹⁹ But Herod the tetrarch, who had been reproved by him for Herodias, his brother’s wife, and for all the evil things that Herod had done, ²⁰ added this to them all, that he locked up John in prison.

²¹ Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heavens were opened, ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form, like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son;^[c] with you I am well pleased.”^[d]Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Luke 3:4 Or crying, Prepare in the wilderness the way of the Lord
2. Luke 3:11 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
3. Luke 3:22 Or my Son, my (or the) Beloved
4. Luke 3:22 Some manuscripts beloved Son; today I have begotten you

Pilate was instrumental in Christ’s death and burial. As the Roman leader overseeing the rule of the people, Pilate understood the deception (caused by envy) and yet played along with the political process. #arroganceofman #fauxpower

The beatings and scornful remarks that Christ endured were from 600 men, trained in brutality. At the crucifixion site, the centurion who watched Jesus die, testified that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. Who else would have had the ability to endure this treatment, forgive their enemies and still accomplish what he set out to do-to literally pay sin’s penalty for the whole world.

God the Father was instrumental in Christ’s resurrection. He raised him up in power.

(Ephesians 1:1-15 NET, emphasis added) For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you when I remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you spiritual wisdom and revelation in your growing knowledge of him, 18 – since the eyes of your heart have been enlightened – so that you may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the incomparable greatness of his power toward us who believe, as displayed in the exercise of his immense strength. 20 This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms 21 far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and he gave him to the church as head over all things.23 Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

I listened to an “older” recorded clip by Billy Graham Where did God come from? this week asking if we understood how God came into existence. He emphasized that we don’t know but we still place our faith in Him. The Bible urges us to take a step of faith in order to be transferred from death to life. (Romans 6:23)

Changed lives are the biggest witness to the power of Christ (watch Jesus Revolution). It will change your life today! -Teresa #sinsforgiven #relationshipwithGod #authenticpower

Mark 15:1-47 (ESV) emphasis added

Jesus Delivered to Pilate

15 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. ² And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” ³ And the chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” ^{5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed}.

Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified

⁶ Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. ⁷ And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas.⁸ And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. ⁹ And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ¹⁰ For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.¹² And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”¹³ And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” ¹⁴ And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” ¹⁵ So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged^[a] Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

Jesus Is Mocked

¹⁶ And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters),^[b] and they called together the whole battalion.^{[c] 17} And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. ¹⁸ And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”¹⁹ And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. ²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

The Crucifixion

²¹ And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.²² And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). ²³ And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. ²⁴ And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. ²⁵ And it was the third hour^[d] when they crucified him. ²⁶ And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” ²⁷ And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left.^[e]29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,³⁰ save yourself, and come down from the cross!”³¹ So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

The Death of Jesus

³³ And when the sixth hour^[f] had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.^[g]34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”³⁵ And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” ³⁶ And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” ³⁷ And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last.³⁸ And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. ³⁹ And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he^[h]breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son^[i] of God!”

⁴⁰ There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹ When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

Jesus Is Buried

⁴² And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died.^[j] And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. ⁴⁵ And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. ⁴⁶ And Joseph^[k] bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Mark 15:15 A Roman judicial penalty, consisting of a severe beating with a multi-lashed whip containing embedded pieces of bone and metal
2. Mark 15:16 Greek the praetorium
3. Mark 15:16 Greek cohort; a tenth of a Roman legion, usually about 600 men
4. Mark 15:25 That is, 9 a.m.
5. Mark 15:27 Some manuscripts insert verse 28: And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “He was numbered with the transgressors”
6. Mark 15:33 That is, noon
7. Mark 15:33 That is, 3 p.m.
8. Mark 15:39 Some manuscripts insert cried out and
9. Mark 15:39 Or a son
10. Mark 15:44 Or Pilate wondered whether he had already died
11. Mark 15:46 Greek he

God’s analogy of choosing the nation of Israel is as beautiful and nurturing as a sommelier developing their vineyard.

Unfortunately, the word picture ends up with the heartbreaking reality of those running the operation having no respect for the owner’s son (aka God’s Son, Jesus Christ the Lord).

God’s purpose, however, was not thwarted as the good news of the gospel came through the facts of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. More precisely, this good news will restore the nation of Israel to God’s kingdom as well, in His perfect time.

In the meantime, we can rejoice in the opportunity to marvel at God’s tremendous gift to the Gentile world, bringing peace with God to all peoples, tribes, tongues and nations.

Finally, don’t stress over those who try to use hypocrisy to “catch you”. In the end, God’s truth will reign supreme.

When I give my life to Him, He can “redeem” or make good come out of every negative experience.- Teresa #Godunderstands #acquaintedwithgrief #Is53:3

Mark 12:1-17 (ESV)

The Parable of the Tenants

12 And he began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a pit for the winepress and built a tower, and leased it to tenants and went into another country. ² When the season came, he sent a servant^[a] to the tenants to get from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. ³ And they took him and beat him and sent him away empty-handed. ⁴ Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. ⁵ And he sent another, and him they killed. And so with many others: some they beat, and some they killed.⁶ He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’⁷ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ ⁸ And they took him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. ⁹ What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. ¹⁰ Have you not read this Scripture:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;^[b]
11 this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?”

¹² And they were seeking to arrest him but feared the people, for they perceived that he had told the parable against them. So they left him and went away.

Paying Taxes to Caesar

¹³ And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk.¹⁴ And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances,^[c] but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” ¹⁵ But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius^[d] and let me look at it.”¹⁶ And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar’s.” ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And they marveled at him.

Footnotes

1. Mark 12:2 Or bondservant; also verse 4
2. Mark 12:10 Greek the head of the corner
3. Mark 12:14 Greek you do not look at people’s faces
4. Mark 12:15 A denarius was a day’s wage for a laborer

This week, I finally clicked on some of the You Tube videos from Asbury’s revival. It was such a shot of “good news” to see a University working in keeping with God’s hope for the world.

God wants my worship to be like a song of ascent drawing me nearer to His heart. It defies the trap of being lulled to sleep in “safety”. It may consist of a moment when the music crescendos with unforeseen boldness (fortissimo). This energy in turn helps me question and then break out of a comfortable mold that was incongruous with His kingdom come. #Lordisthisfromu #discernment

In Matthew Henry’s Commentary, for Psalm 121, the word for harm aka “evil”, is described here (emphasis added): “This psalm teaches us to comfort ourselves in the Lord, when difficulties and dangers are greatest. It is almighty wisdom that contrives, and almighty power that works the safety of those that put themselves under God’s protection. He is a wakeful, watchful Keeper; he is never weary; he not only does not sleep, but he does not so much as slumber. Under this shade they may sit with delight and assurance. He is always near his people for their protection and refreshment. The right hand is the working hand; let them but turn to their duty, and they shall find God ready to give them success. He will take care that his people shall not fall. Thou shalt not be hurt, neither by the open assaults, nor by the secret attempts of thine enemies. The Lord shall prevent the evil thou fearest, and sanctify, remove, or lighten the evil thou feelest. He will preserve the soul, that it be not defiled by sin, and disturbed by affliction; he will preserve it from perishing eternally.*

Psalm 121:1-7 (ESV)

My Help Comes from the LORD

A Song of Ascents.[1] I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? [2] My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. [3] He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. [4] Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. [5] The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. [6] The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. [7] The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.

At the urging of a former seminary professor (during last weekend’s webinar), I dusted off my “Brown Driver Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon” for a more accurate Bible study. This was useful since after memorizing Psalm 121 years ago (in the NIV), I realized-following a short study of the Hebrew words for ‘keep’ and ‘harm’-that the ESV version (see above) is a more accurate translation of the Hebrew text.

My overall takeaway was… when God “keeps” me, (also preserves/protects me), it is from the direction of all evil (whether distress, injury, prosperity or the day of calamity/disaster as in Amos 6:3- see below).

Pursuing deeds that appear spiritually prosperous may not amount to more than idle songs or superficial leisure that pass away.

I was shocked to read that it is better to see the day of calamity come from God’s hand than to usher in the seat of violence in the name of man’s attempt to “keep us from all harm”.

Only God can truly keep us from the day of disaster, the result of evil’s consequence that ends in eternal punishment. That day is like no other day and starts with a capital D.

There will be no going back to relinquish our refusal of God’s way once the Day of the LORD dawns. How much better to surrender my spiritual “keeping” to the maker of heaven and earth today, while there is time.

Being kept from evil means submitting to the keeper of my soul. – Teresa #eternalife

*http://www.biblescopeapp.com/ (NET/MHCC)

Amos 6:1-7 (ESV)

Woe to Those at Ease in Zion[1] “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! [2] Pass over to Calneh, and see, and from there go to Hamath the great; then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are you better than these kingdoms? Or is their territory greater than your territory, [3] O you who put far away the day of disaster and bring near the seat of violence? [4] “Woe to those who lie on beds of ivory and stretch themselves out on their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall, [5] who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp and like David invent for themselves instruments of music, [6] who drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! [7] Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.”

What is the desire of your heart? Check what delights you and then it is apparent!

Psalm 37:4 (ESV)

⁴ Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

By faithfully entering into God’s work, we can feed on food that sustains our souls. (Similar to what Jesus spoke of to the disciples when they went to buy bread in the town near Jacob’s well but Jesus was meeting instead with a woman who needed him), see John 4:32 below.

When we move away from faithfully serving Him, we can be miserable. But remember all that glitters is not necessarily gold. I may think that selling all to serve others is serving God, in the truest sense. This was true for the man Jesus spoke to with great wealth.

However, what if God is developing faithfulness to Him by learning a profession and having a family. Those seemingly ordinary tasks take extraordinary faith when God leads us there.

His delight in us is showered around when we offer up our ordinary lives for His glory. I am delightedly communing with God by desiring His Word and living in accordance with His Holy Spirit.

Soak in His righteousness, His timing and remember when He moves it can be very quick.

Sure, the flesh gets in the way throughout the day. But forgiving others is the first step to being fret-free, releasing anger. A great book by Tim Keller, “Forgive”, helps take that practice to a new level.

David wrote this Psalm and I sense that he learned what it meant to wait on God’s timing. He did not rush the process as he wanted to be sure it was “right”.

Wait for God as you take delight in Him. He will make your desire show up in full force! – Teresa

Psalm 37:1-11 (ESV)

He Will Not Forsake His Saints

^[a] Of David.

37 Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
² For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.

³ Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.^[b]
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
⁶ He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.

⁷ Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!

⁸ Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
⁹ For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.

¹⁰ In just a little while, the wicked will be no more;
though you look carefully at his place, he will not be there.
¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the land
and delight themselves in abundant peace.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Psalm 37:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each stanza beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet
2. Psalm 37:3 Or and feed on faithfulness, or and find safe pasture

John 4:31-33 (NET)

31Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” 32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.” 33 So the disciples began to say to one another, “No one brought him anything to eat, did they?”

Who am I listening to?

https://myreconnection.org/2022/11/18/who-am-i-listening-to/
— Read on myreconnection.org/2022/11/18/who-am-i-listening-to/

When Moses asked God to show him his glory, God hid him in the cleft of the rock before he passed by.

God assured Moses that he would have him stand near on the rock but Moses would not see the full glory of God’s face (for no mortal man who sees God’s face shall live). Talk about a heart stopper attraction. #gloryofGod v.20

Maybe a safer way for Moses to ask would have been, “cover me with your hand”. For how great and terrible is God’s holy presence in all His glory.

But Moses wasn’t playing it safe, he put all on the line for God. He desired to see this display of power as he needed a dose of courage to lead millions of escapees from slavery into the land promised them by God. It was not the Israelite’s goodness that caused the Canaanites to be belched out of the land. It was the wickedness of the other nations that made this happen.

Moses trusted God and insisted that God go with them, knowing that without divine intervention it was futile. #soldout #allhiseggsinonebasket

God knows our name and He wants us to desire His ways.

To Moses, He promised that His presence would go with him. Only in this reality, would Moses find rest. #knowingpeace

Grant us your rest and presence, Lord, in this daunting task called life. Help us to know when to wait for your presence and when to plunge forward, somehow still resting in Your presence. -Teresa #God’swork #God’sglory

Exodus 32:12-32 (ESV)

¹² Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ ¹³ Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” ¹⁴ And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” ¹⁵ And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. ¹⁶ For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”

¹⁷ And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” ¹⁸ Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” ¹⁹ And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. ²⁰ But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” ²¹ And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,²² and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

I pray often for “guardian angel” protection over our children. Maybe it’s because my dad used to enjoy watching the show, “Touched by an Angel” with Roma Downey. There’s something familiar and comforting to me when I think of divine intervention in our human existence.

My dad was a great protector of his family and not afraid to show it. On the other hand, he was humble enough to say to one of his cousin’s on his deathbed. “It’s only through my savior, Jesus Christ, that I am assured a place in heaven.” That person said to him, “well if anyone will make it into heaven, Lennie, it will be you”. I overheard their conversation and was in awe of my dad’s conviction.

According to Dictionary.com. “Buckler” is defined as:

“noun

1. a round shield held by a grip and sometimes having straps through which the arm is passed.”

The King James Version describes the shield of the Hebrews as a buckler (see Psalm 18:2,30)

When God is our shield, how much safer are we in the presence of opposition. He provides a refuge that can help us advance a long way. Even in the face of evil, He secures our outcome and helps us stand in the day of battle. Enemy fire should not deter our progress when we trust in His help. Granted, this implies that we humble ourselves and ask Him for help.

Just as King David started as a shepherd and demonstrated great leadership when he was king, he writes as the Psalmist in this passage of how much he trusts God’s shepherd heart (the King of his heart).

Similarly, when God’s word is the source of our wisdom, our heart’s protection is secure. It not only protects from physical harm or adversity but will protect us relationally. The author of Proverbs describes insight as being like an intimate friend. #heartstruetoGod

The children of Israel were given God’s code of ethics through the Ten Commandments. These commandments were familiar to them. When they broke their covenant of faithfulness to God, God remained faithful to them by establishing a new covenant for all people (Jeremiah 31).

Staying close to all that is familiar is not bad when it involves knowing God’s truth for us. Remain in His love, that is a command that brings ultimate peace even in the midst of the storm.-Teresa

Psalm 28:6-8 (ESV)

⁶ Blessed be the Lord!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
⁷ The Lord is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

⁸ The Lord is the strength of his people;^[b]
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
⁹ Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

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Footnotes

1. Psalm 28:2 Hebrew your innermost sanctuary
2. Psalm 28:8 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Syriac; most Hebrew manuscripts is their strength

Proverbs 7:1-5English Standard Version

Warning Against the Adulteress

7 My son, keep my words
and treasure up my commandments with you;
² keep my commandments and live;
keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;
³ bind them on your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
and call insight your intimate friend,
⁵ to keep you from the forbidden^[a] woman,
from the adulteress^[b] with her smooth words.

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Footnotes

1. Proverbs 7:5 Hebrew strange
2. Proverbs 7:5 Hebrew the foreign woman

When pain is at its worse, I may not comprehend good words that are spoken but if they are put to music, I’m all ears so to speak (listening more importantly with my heart and soul).

El Shaddai can mean God of the mountains, of the wilderness or simply the God who provides, His grace being sufficient. (See Wiki link below)

When the people of Israel (aka Jacob) were promised through Moses that they would be brought into a land of their own, they did not listen.

The “promised land” had gone beyond their ability to hope. Their taskmasters demanded things of them that they could no longer perform. (Make bricks from straw and now find the straw first but keep making the same quota of bricks).

God appeared to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and established His covenant with them. He, however, did not make himself known to them as He did with Moses.

The children of Israel had become so numerous yet so enslaved, they no longer had the capacity to hope in God’s promises for them.

Moses was unique in that he was qualified to lead millions of people in a giant exodus out of slavery (brought up in Pharaohs house as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter).

Moses was also unique in that his biological parents were part of the priestly Levites with extreme faith in YHWH (the covenant God of the Hebrews).

What a tremendous undertaking that Moses agreed to (albeit not without resistance), acting as God’s deliverer for the children of Israel.

This unique deliverer was recognized as special by his mother even at birth when she kept him hidden, believing against all odds that he would not be slain with the other newborn boys.

As God made himself known to Moses and the people of Israel, they escaped servitude, witnessed miracles, endured wilderness wanderings and were provided God’s law (code of conduct) at Mount Sinai.

I watched the old, yet first of “The Fast and The Furious” movies last night. We were amused at the insertion of “saying grace” between murders and violence. Even the priest appeared to be bought by the criminal, but in the end allowed for his removal.

The best line of the movie, however, was when the FBI agent admits his respect for Dom because he had a “code” to live by.

In essence, the Ten Commandments that were given through Moses to the people coming out of slavery provided a code of ethics that not only saved their lives but helped them to re-establish in the Promised Land successfully. (Now comes the music and dancing that brings God’s promises home).

Listen to this fabulous song, “Promised Land” by Toby Mac and Sheryl Crow. I heard it this week and was captivated by how much God wants us to hear His hope for us and provision that He alone can bring to our souls. Promised Land -Teresa

Exodus 6:2-28 (ESV)

² God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the Lord. ³ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty,^[a] but by my name the Lord I did not make myself known to them. ⁴ I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they lived as sojourners. ⁵ Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians hold as slaves, and I have remembered my covenant. ⁶ Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. ⁷ I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. ⁸ I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.’”⁹ Moses spoke thus to the people of Israel, but they did not listen to Moses, because of their broken spirit and harsh slavery.

¹⁰ So the Lord said to Moses, ¹¹ “Go in, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the people of Israel go out of his land.” ¹² But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, the people of Israel have not listened to me. How then shall Pharaoh listen to me, for I am of uncircumcised lips?” ¹³ But the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron and gave them a charge about the people of Israel and about Pharaoh king of Egypt: to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

The Genealogy of Moses and Aaron

¹⁴ These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; these are the clans of Reuben. ¹⁵ The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman; these are the clans of Simeon.¹⁶ These are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, the years of the life of Levi being 137 years. ¹⁷ The sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei, by their clans. ¹⁸ The sons of Kohath: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, the years of the life of Kohath being 133 years. ¹⁹ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites according to their generations. ²⁰ Amram took as his wife Jochebed his father’s sister, and she bore him Aaron and Moses, the years of the life of Amram being 137 years. ²¹ The sons of Izhar: Korah, Nepheg, and Zichri. ²² The sons of Uzziel: Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri. ²³ Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ²⁴ The sons of Korah: Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph; these are the clans of the Korahites. ²⁵ Eleazar, Aaron’s son, took as his wife one of the daughters of Putiel, and she bore him Phinehas. These are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites by their clans.

²⁶ These are the Aaron and Moses to whom the Lord said: “Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt by their hosts.” ²⁷ It was they who spoke to Pharaoh king of Egypt about bringing out the people of Israel from Egypt, this Moses and this Aaron.

²⁸ On the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, ²⁹ the Lord said to Moses, “I am the Lord; tell Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say to you.” ³⁰ But Moses said to the Lord, “Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips. How will Pharaoh listen to me?”

Footnotes

1. Exodus 6:3 Hebrew El Shaddai (a)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Shaddai