This Psalm has 18 verses, and the first 11 paint a very dim vision of how the wicked treat their helpless victims:
The wicked catch the poor in their traps.
They're greedy and reject the Lord.
They succeed in everything and says conceitedly, "I will never be stopped. The Lord has abandoned you forever."
They curse and lie and threaten.
They hide and murder helpless victims.
Then, starting in verse 12, it gets turned around and we see how the Lord really treats those who do evil, wicked deeds. He has always helped the needy and diminishes the power of evil men.
God is forever, ruling the land until there are no other "gods" anywhere.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Sunday, December 23, 2012
What is in your heart?
Proverbs 3 starts by saying how much God's teachings will give you a prosperous and long life. Added on top of that in verse 5 is this: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart." The word heart is also mentioned in verse 3: "write [loyalty and faithfulness] on your heart." These are powerful statements.
Verse 7 is "Never think you are wiser than what you are."
Much of the advice given in Proverbs 3 are simple statements that resonate with such power. It goes on to say that if you listen to the Lord, he'll bless you with such abundance that you won't have room for it all.
Starting in verse 27, it talks about how to treat your neighbors. If you are able to help someone right now, do it. Don't wait until tomorrow. Help today.
And help often.
Verse 7 is "Never think you are wiser than what you are."
Much of the advice given in Proverbs 3 are simple statements that resonate with such power. It goes on to say that if you listen to the Lord, he'll bless you with such abundance that you won't have room for it all.
Starting in verse 27, it talks about how to treat your neighbors. If you are able to help someone right now, do it. Don't wait until tomorrow. Help today.
And help often.
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
More victories for the Israelites
In Numbers, chapter 21 from verses 10 through 35, the Israelites move on from the victory at Canaan and settle in the wilderness east of the Moabite territory.
When they soon came to the territory of the Amorite king Sihon, Moses sent messengers to ask for passage through their country if they promised to stay only on the road.
Once again, they were denied access.
Once again, the Israelites were forced to attack and captured all of the cities in the territory.
God told Moses not to be afraid when they took the road to the city of Bashan, and when the Bashan king and his armies attacked the Israelites, they were also killed, leaving no survivors.
When they soon came to the territory of the Amorite king Sihon, Moses sent messengers to ask for passage through their country if they promised to stay only on the road.
Once again, they were denied access.
Once again, the Israelites were forced to attack and captured all of the cities in the territory.
God told Moses not to be afraid when they took the road to the city of Bashan, and when the Bashan king and his armies attacked the Israelites, they were also killed, leaving no survivors.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Victory! Then more complaints . . .
The Israelites seem to never be happy.
At the beginning of chapter 21 of Numbers, the Israelites vowed to God that if He helped them win a victory over the Canaanites, that they'd unconditionally dedicate the cities to Him. God helped to destroy the cities.
Then, starting in verse 4, they start complaining again about having no food or water. God became furious at them and sent poisonous snakes. Moses said to the people that if they prayed for forgiveness, God would take care of the snakes and heal those who were biten.
Once it was all said and done, Moses made a bronze snake and wound it onto a pole. In much the same manner as this as it went on to become an international symbol for medicine.
At the beginning of chapter 21 of Numbers, the Israelites vowed to God that if He helped them win a victory over the Canaanites, that they'd unconditionally dedicate the cities to Him. God helped to destroy the cities.
Then, starting in verse 4, they start complaining again about having no food or water. God became furious at them and sent poisonous snakes. Moses said to the people that if they prayed for forgiveness, God would take care of the snakes and heal those who were biten.
Once it was all said and done, Moses made a bronze snake and wound it onto a pole. In much the same manner as this as it went on to become an international symbol for medicine.
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
The Death of Aaron
In the second half of chapter 20, in the book of Numbers, the Israelites come to the kingdom of Edom.
Moses sent messengers on to Edom, requesting passage through their country with the promise that they will neither stray from the path nor drink from their wells. For if they do, they will pay for it in full.
The request was denied.
Needless to say, the Israelites took another route, and when they reached the borders of Edom at Mount Hor, God told them that Aaron was to die and go no further. This punishment was due to their misbehavior when they struck the rock to give water to their people, and falsely said that they were the ones who did it, not God.
After Aaron's death, Eleazar (Aaron's son) was promoted to Aaron's place and the Israelites mourned his death for 30 days.
Moses sent messengers on to Edom, requesting passage through their country with the promise that they will neither stray from the path nor drink from their wells. For if they do, they will pay for it in full.
The request was denied.
Needless to say, the Israelites took another route, and when they reached the borders of Edom at Mount Hor, God told them that Aaron was to die and go no further. This punishment was due to their misbehavior when they struck the rock to give water to their people, and falsely said that they were the ones who did it, not God.
After Aaron's death, Eleazar (Aaron's son) was promoted to Aaron's place and the Israelites mourned his death for 30 days.
Sunday, December 9, 2012
The lesson of water
In the first half of chapter 20, in the book of Numbers, the people once again complained to Aaron and Moses about their lack of water.
Mosea and Aaron prayed, the God told them to take a stick and strike a rock, and water would gush out from it.
They did as God commanded, however with a slight twist: they scolded the people of Israel and said, "Do we have to get the water out of this rock for you?"
Water gushed out of the rock.
But God was not happy, for they did not acknowledge that it was God's power that allowed them to perform such a feat, not their own power.
Mosea and Aaron prayed, the God told them to take a stick and strike a rock, and water would gush out from it.
They did as God commanded, however with a slight twist: they scolded the people of Israel and said, "Do we have to get the water out of this rock for you?"
Water gushed out of the rock.
But God was not happy, for they did not acknowledge that it was God's power that allowed them to perform such a feat, not their own power.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Aaron is chosen . . . and the concept of a tithe is introduced
In chapter 17 of Numbers, each of the twelve tribes gathers a walking stick and the leader's name is written on it. For the tribe of Levi, the Lord tells Moses to have Aaron's name written on theirs. Then, the walking sticks are to be placed in God's Tent to see who is chosen. He did this in an attempt to stop the constant complaining His people were doing.
The next day, the stick from Levi's tribe--Aaron's--is chosen, as it has budded and blossomed.
Chapter 18 describes the duties of the priests and the Levites--the latter have a responsibility to God's Tent and serving those with the sacrifices.
In this chapter we also see the word tithe. Tithe means a tenth. All of the other tribes must tithe to God, and those tithes are to be presented to the Levites to use. The Levites, in turn, tithe their portion of the goods they've received as a special contribution to the Lord.
The tithe given to the Levites are for their service to the Lord.
The next day, the stick from Levi's tribe--Aaron's--is chosen, as it has budded and blossomed.
Chapter 18 describes the duties of the priests and the Levites--the latter have a responsibility to God's Tent and serving those with the sacrifices.
In this chapter we also see the word tithe. Tithe means a tenth. All of the other tribes must tithe to God, and those tithes are to be presented to the Levites to use. The Levites, in turn, tithe their portion of the goods they've received as a special contribution to the Lord.
The tithe given to the Levites are for their service to the Lord.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Laws and Rebellion
Chapter 15 of Numbers deals largely with more rules for sacrifice and then delves into those who unintentionally fail to keep the regulations set forth by God. There is a brief excerpt of someone who broke the Sabbath by working on that Holy Day and is then killed.
Chapter 16 starts with three of the clans banding together to confront Moses. They told him that he is setting himself up above everyone else. Moses then prayed on this. Afterwards, he invited them to come to the Tent to see whom God chooses. In the end, God causes the ground to swallow up these clans, for since they reject Moses they also reject the Lord.
The rest of the Israelites see this and plead for mercy from Aaron and Moses. They tried to keep the people from being near those who have perished, and Aaron quickly performs a ritual of purification to save the people from meeting with the same fate.
In the end, a great plague was averted.
Chapter 16 starts with three of the clans banding together to confront Moses. They told him that he is setting himself up above everyone else. Moses then prayed on this. Afterwards, he invited them to come to the Tent to see whom God chooses. In the end, God causes the ground to swallow up these clans, for since they reject Moses they also reject the Lord.
The rest of the Israelites see this and plead for mercy from Aaron and Moses. They tried to keep the people from being near those who have perished, and Aaron quickly performs a ritual of purification to save the people from meeting with the same fate.
In the end, a great plague was averted.
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