2 CORINTHIANS 1: 1- 11

 2 CORINTHIANS 1l: 1 - 11

COMFORT THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

image courtesy of PresenterMedia

 

1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achai:

2) Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

3) Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

4) Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

5) For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds by Christ.

6) And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer:  or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

7) And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

8) For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

9) But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:

10) Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver:  in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us;

11) Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

COMMENTARY

   Before I try to clarify what Paul is saying in these passages, I would like to explain the reason for him writing to the church in Corinth:  He had been there and established the church but had traveled on to establish other churches.  While Paul was gone, heretics accused Paul of not being an apostle as he claimed to be.  They also challenged his doctrine, as Satan is known to do.

1-2) The Apostle Paul sends his greetings to the church at Corinth and to all the saints in Achaia on behalf of himself and his protégé, Timothy.  Then he blesses them.

3) Then he glorifies God the Father, of Jesus Christ, our Savior.  (Jesus took on human form and was obedient to God the Father, even though He is also God.) Our God is a God of compassion and comfort.

4- 6) I like the way John MacArthur stated this in his commentary:  The MacArthur New Testament Commentary of 2 Corinthians:  " Believers are in a partnership with each other and must never view their suffering in isolation."  Jesus told us that if we are truly Believers, we WILL face trials.  The trials and tribulations we endure prepares us to comfort other saints as God comforts us.  As His children, we are never alone in our suffering.  Our eternal hope is in The LORD.  And as we have learned, our trials and tribulations grow us in our faith and trust in our LORD.  So, let us not complain as the Jews did when rescued from Pharaoh so that we might not have to wander in the wilderness for 40 years, rather, let us keep our eyes on Jesus and give Him praise through our suffering.

7) In these days in which we are living, it is more and more frequent that we hear of those who are suffering for Christ.  When we boldly confess our bondage to Christ, we can lose our friends, our businesses, our very lives.  But we are promised, when we suffer for Christ, we will be comforted by Christ.  He can certainly relate to whatever we suffer, because He suffered so we could be comforted.

8- 10) The Apostle Paul came close to dying at one point but his suffering was to strengthen his dependence and trust on The LORD.

11) Here is what is expected of all of the saints:  pray for us.  The Apostle Paul asked for it and we do, too.  We are also to pray for our church family, beginning with our pastors and their families.  They are not effective in sharing The Gospel if they are embroiled in scandals.  We are to pray for our government.  Have you not read that God establishes governments? (Romans 13: 1,2)  And when saints cry out to Jehovah Nissi, He will reclaim our government to honor Him.  Our part in this, though, is to clean up around our own back door:  2 Chronicles 7:14 states it this way, "If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My Face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  Here is a link with further explanation of what 2 Chronicles 7:14 means:https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/search/label/If%20My%20People%20Who%20Are%20Called%20by%20My%20Name

   What about you? Are you a Believer in Jesus Christ?  Are you seeking His face?  Are you reading/studying His Word regularly?  Are you joining other Believers in corporate worship of Him?  If you really want Him to hear you, you must invest your time and effort in Him.  Here is the first step:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

If this post has been a blessing to you, please pray that God uses our efforts to reach those who are seeking to know Him better, to grow their relationship with Him.  You are encouraged to leave us a comment to let us know how we are doing.  We love to hear from you.

Also, if this post is a blessing to you, you are invited to share it with your friends on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE PART 5 of 8

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

PART 5 of 8

TO TEACH US OBEDIENCE 

photo courtesy of Wikipedia

   Let us hear from the Apostle Paul from the twelfth chapter of Hebrews:

5)  And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him:

6)  For whom the Lord loves He chastens and scourges every son whom He receives.

7)  If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?

8)  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

9)  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:  shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

10)  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.

11)  Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous:  nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.  King James Version (KJV), Public Domain

COMMENTARY

   These days, parents are severely discouraged from correcting their children with corporal punishment but God says that is exactly what you are to do!  Do you realize that God chastens and scourges His own sons? 

   God's kingdom is paradoxal.  Take the case of King David in the Old Testament:  Kings in his day had the power and freedom to do as they wanted without accountability.  However, when King David was called out for covetousness, adultery, murder, and lying, he was chastened by God.  Not as an unbeliever, but as God's child, to make him think twice before he found himself in that sort of situation again.  The best part of that was that was that the Prophet Nathan TOLD King David what his punishment would be for his sins.  For an unbeliever, it would have been death.  God did not dis-own David, but also did not want him to repeat his mistakes.  Being a representative of God's kingdom bears responsibility.  We are to live a life set apart from the world, that we might be identified with The Kingdom.

   We learn respect for our Heavenly Father Who is holy.  He cannot look upon sin.  One day soon, we will live with Him in paradise, so we need to be trained on how to conduct ourselves now.

   Then, take note of what we receive because of the chastening:  the peaceable fruit of righteousness!  This results in a closer walk with Jesus and who doesn't want that?  The Holy Spirit moves us better.  We grow closer to our Heavenly Father.

   Psalms  119 :71 states, 67) Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept Thy Word.  71) It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  KJV

What about you?  Do you know that you learn more in the valley than on the mountain?  Adversity, even in this world, can strengthen you.  How much more can chastisement prepare us as children of The Most High God?   If you have not accepted Jesus as your personal Savior and been born into His family, click here to learn how to take care of that:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray that God uses our efforts for His Kingdom.  You are encouraged to leave us a message to tell us how we are making a difference in your life.  Please also share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you so much for allowing us into your life.

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE PART 4 OF 8

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

PART 4 OF 8

TO REVEAL TO US WHAT WE REALLY LOVE

GENESIS 22: 1,2

By Otto Adolph Stemler (1872–1953) 

 

   1) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham:  and he said, Behold, here I am.

   2) And He said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

COMMENTARY

   When your best friend calls you on the phone, you are quick to answer.  When they are a trusted and true friend with your best interest at heart, but this call asks you to sacrifice for them, do you hesitate?  An example is that they ask you to go into debt for them, or take their children to raise as your own but don't give a time limit.  How do you answer?  God had proven a trusted and true friend to Abraham, so he was quick to answer.  He had asked Abraham to do things that were uncomfortable, but had always proven to be a blessing to Abraham.

   Following the story of Abraham, have you not read that God told him for nine years that he would have a son?  When he was 99 years old, God told him that his seed would be as many as the dust of the earth.  Read all about His promise to Abraham about his seed beginning in Genesis 12.)

  Then, in chapter 21, Abraham's first born son that he had with his wife's Egyptian bondwoman was sent away from him: 

9) And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.

10) Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.

11) And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.

12) And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.

   God had repeated so many times to Abraham that Isaac would be the seed of promise.    Now, God was asking Abraham to kill his own son, who he loved with every fiber of his being.  Since God had proven to Abraham that he could trust Him, Abraham did not hesitate to comply with His latest request.  Abraham had no other history about what God would do except his own personal experiences.  Beginning with Abraham, we learn about God and how to trust Him.

   We go through trials and temptations with things or people we love with every fiber of our beings.  Have you buried your family member?  Have you lost all of your priceless possessions that can never be replaced?  How did you respond?  Here, God is showing Abraham that he loved God more than anything/anyone He has created.  He is also showing Abraham how much he trusts God's Word.  Let us also believe that God is able, no matter what He allows into our lives.   Keep your eyes on Jesus and you will not stumble.

   When asked to give up the one/one thing you love, how will you respond?  My Mama always said that if you love something or someone too much, you will lose them.  Wise words, for sure.   You don't want to place anyone or anything above your love for God.

   What about you?  Are you one of Abraham's seed (a child of faith)?  Have you accepted the life-saving gift of salvation?  Click here to learn more:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html

If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray that God uses us to reach those who are earnestly seeking Him and to give a deeper understanding of who He is.  If you were blessed by this post, please share it on your favorite social media and drop us a comment.  We enjoy hearing from you.  Thank you and God bless you.

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE PART 3 of 8

 WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

PART 3 OF 8

3) to call us to our heavenly hope

romans 5: 3-5 2 corinthians 4: 17, 18

   Let us begin this segment with some heavenly hall of famers:  How many people do you know with chronic diseases which are fatal? When my sister received a diagnosis of cancer, she went totally in with Jesus. She praised Him constantly, she witnessed, she attended regular church gatherings, etc. I had a friend who I had known since she was in elementary school. She had a chronic, debilitating disease that had no cure. She was chair bound when I first met her, then she became bedbound. She was forever witnessing about her faith in Jesus. She was leading others to faith. I have also known people who were swallowed up with depression when they received their diagnosis and focused on their circumstance rather than our LORD.

   Bad things happen to good people to grow our heavenly hope. If things were good and uneventful in our lives, how would we be able to exercise our faith in our destination....heaven? We would be enjoying this life and, I dare say, never give a second thought to where we are going. But, when we face trials and tribulations, when we struggle with unfavorable circumstances, we focus our hearts on our citizenship in heaven and praise God no matter what we face. We have this explained by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5: 

 "1)Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2) By Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulations works patience; 4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost Which is given unto us."

 Tribulations work patience. We don't live in an instant gratification world when our citizenship is in heaven. We trust God to work things out in His good time, and for His glory.  We keep our eyes on Jesus, not our circumstance.  We pray and wait upon Him, trusting His wisdom and looking for our assignment during our trial. We witness, we don't faint, we sing His praises, we hold His banner high. Patience is uncomfortable. I compare it to when we are raising children, we patiently wait for them to accomplish their goals rather than just blowing through and performing their tasks for them. We wait patiently on God to accomplish His goals in our lives.  We don't always know what God's plan is for our tribulations, but we pray and praise Him until we see His glory in it.

 At the end of our tribulation, we take a deep sigh of relief and praise Him even more. We gain experience the more times He brings us through. It is always a bonus when we see the results of the work He has done during that time. The experience helps to lessen our anxiety and our fear the next time we are faced with trials. My facebook post from June 2017: "the miserable night turned into a miserable day. 'ever been there? consider what Jesus went through the days before His crucifixion. suddenly the miserable day is beautiful. praising Jesus for His sacrifice. He got the cross, I got paradise! woohoo for me!" 

  Consider this as you enter into your trials and tribulations:  The battle belongs to The LORD.  Our home is in heaven, so what ever happens in this world does not affect us as it affects those without Him.  There is nothing here for us, even people!  When our names are written in The Lamb's Book of Life, we will be reunited with our loved ones.  We must learn to show God's love to others while we wait to be called home.  Furthermore, since the battle belongs to The LORD, He is able to take the victory!  Amen?  So, the battle is already won, no matter how we see it through earthly eyes.  Consider what the Apostles endured with Jesus on the cross.  They had to adjust their vision, also, to heavenly eyes, rather than earthly eyes.

   The day is coming quickly when events on earth are going to turn badly:  disease, pestilence, starvation, civil unrest, etc.  Rejoice now in your trials and tribulations and gain this heavenly hope, that you may be able to bear anything until we are called home.

Is your name written in The Lamb's Book of Life?  There is peace and assurance in knowing God is in control of your life and that NOTHING can touch you unless He allows it.   Click here for information on how to receive this peace:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

If this post has been a blessing to you, please pray that God uses our efforts to reach those who are seeking to know Him better, to grow their relationship with Him.  You are encouraged to leave us a comment to let us know how we are doing.  We love to hear from you.

Also, if this post is a blessing to you, you are invited to share it with your friends on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD

   I know Christians in a tiny town in Northeast Texas.  I have known them all of my life.  One of them, let's call her Sally, has a husband, who we will call Chris.  Chris had health issues:  his leg needed long term medical attention, the kind of skilled care that he would be able to receive in a nursing home.  Sally was not trained to give that level of care to him, so he was admitted to the local nursing home.

   Sally and Chris had been married to each other all of their adult life.  Unable to see any benefits for her to stay in her home, she admitted herself to the nursing home so she could oversee his care.  "A woman's place is where her husband is."  This lady gave up her freedom to be by her husband's side.  How many sermons could you make out of this one statement?

   I received a note from her recently where she stated, " We had a good lunch.  That's unusual.  We eat a lot of peanut butter crackers."  So my question to you is:  What would you do if you received a card from a Christian with that statement in it?

   Today, I contacted the nursing home to ask permission to send them a "care package".  We will be sending soups, stews, chicken and dumplings, etc. This is what your gifts to this ministry does.  We do not use your donations for our own personal gain, but rather as a benevolence fund for encouragement and short term financial subsidy for Christians.  We also use it to gain attention of non-Christians to facilitate our witness to them of The Gospel.

   It was really weird that when I facebook messaged the nursing home, the response I got back was from a former activity director who still had control of their facebook page!  She advised me to direct my question to the dietary supervisor by phoning the nursing home.  Here is a copy of her response:

Good afternoon, my name is _____ _____ and I am no longer employed with _______ since December. I was the activity director when I was there and had created this page for the facility. With that being said I can’t give you a honest answer to your question about sending food to your cousin. I know in past that family’s did purchase snacks and sodas for love ones. I apologize for not being more of a help to you. I would recommend calling the facility and ask for ________ ______ she is the dietary supervisor and will be glad to answer your questions. Best wishes and if I can help in any more way please let me know.

   Is that weird, or what?  How could they allow her full control over their facebook page when she is no longer employed there?

   I am awaiting the response now.  Updates to follow.

update: I had to place another call to the nursing home but was able to talk with the director of nursing, who consulted the nutrition supervisor, and obtained permission to send the meals.  These are canned meals like you would buy in preparation of power outages:  they are fully cooked.  What's crazy is that I thought I could order them online and have them sent to the nursing home.  Well, I was wrong!  I will have to purchase them myself and box them up and send them.  No worries.  

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE PART 2 of 8

WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

PART 2 of 8

TO WEAN US FROM THIS WORLD

photo courtesy of Digital Catholic Missioners

   Why do bad things happen to good people?  Being aware that nothing can touch the Children of God, when bad things happen to us, we should examine our lives and see if we are doing things that are against God.  We should ask Him to search us and show us where we are failing.  If our behavior is upsetting Him, of course, we should work on changing.  But if we can find nothing that displeases Him, it could be that He is growing us in faith.  

   The second reason that bad things happen to good people is to wean us from this world.  It is one thing to say we are not of this world, that we are just passing through.  It is up on another level to live it.  When we lose all the worldly goods we have worked for, the mementos that can never be replaced, even going through the shock, we have to understand that God has allowed this.  He has unbelievable power to rescue us, to protect us, to prevent disasters.  We are to sing His praises.  Satan gets very angry when we do that.

   Are you familiar with the Book of Job?  Satan knew that God had built a hedge around Job to protect him and for him to flourish in all of his endeavors.  Satan challenged God to allow him to attack Job; that Job would turn against God.  He began with his worldly possessions.  Poof!  Everything was gone in one day.  He was destitute.  The message is, "don't worship money".  God will send mana, even if He does not restore all you lost.  Sing His praises!

   The verse used to illustrate God weaning us from this world is John 6: 6,7:  There was a great crowd that had followed Jesus even after He had crossed over to the far shore.  The Disciples were anxious because it would take "more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread just for everyone to have a bite."  When you look at your situation from worldly eyes, this is what you see.  When you see your situation from the viewpoint from your home (heavenly viewpoint), you relax, pray, and let God take care of things.  YOU ARE HIS CHILD.  YOU ARE NOT HOPELESS.  HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH THAT HE SENT HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO DIE IN YOUR PLACE FOR YOUR SINS SO THAT YOU MIGHT SPEND ETERNITY WITH HIM!  Do you really believe He would turn His back on you?  Not in a million years!  So, believe on Him.  You have the best Friend anyone could possibly have!  Amen?

   Anyway, Jesus prayed and blessed the tiny bit of food (five loaves of bread and two tiny fish) and the Disciples distributed the food to five thousand people.....and had leftovers!  God performs miracles EVERYDAY!  Have you seen any?  I have, often.

  If you don't know my Jesus, click here for more information:    https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

   If this post has been a blessing to you, please pray that others who view it will benefit from it.  You are encouraged to leave a comment on this post to let us know how else we can serve you: if you have questions, want to know about another topic, or if you want to share your thoughts.  If you DON'T want your comments published, please indicate that and we will not share it.

   Also, if you are blessed by this ministry, please share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.

WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE PART 1 of 8

 WHY BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE

PART 1 of 8

TEST THE VALIDITY OF OUR FAITH

photo found on social media/public domain

1)  The first reason why bad things happen to good people is for us to know if we trust the LORD.    Do you know that not everyone believes that God even exists?  I know, crazy, right?  That is where we have to start and stop listening to "experts" who are blind.  Even Satan believes in God; he knows that God exists.  

   Our mission is to believe on God; to trust Him, to obey Him, to ask Him to guide us, to consult with Him when we are faced with a decision.  God already knows our hearts.  We are tested to assure  ourselves of the validity of our faith.  When we pray and expect our LORD to hear us and help us and we see His hand in our lives as we go through trials, we experience assurance, confidence, and hope.

   Proverbs 17:3:  The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold:  but the LORD tries the hearts.

   When we are planted firmly in our faith in the LORD, we are fearless and confidence.  Even if He doesn't save us from the trials and tribulations, we will praise Him; for to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If not Him, then who will/can save us?

   Back in Deuteronomy 8, as Moses gave the laws for His people before they were to cross over to the promised land, pay attention to verse 2:

   1) All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD swore unto your fathers.

   2) And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou would keep His commandments, or no.

(and here are some of the trials they experienced:)

   3) And He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knew not, neither did thy fathers know; that He might make thee know that man does not live by bread only, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD doth  man live.  (When they left Egypt, they had only the clothes they were wearing....no water, no food (or seeds or livestock), nothing.)

    4) Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.  (The word for swell is "batsak", which means soggy or doughy.  When used in the context regarding the feet, the meaning is that the pace of the feet did not slow due to fatigue for those forty years. I don't know about you, but when 40 years are added to my age, I slow down quite a bit!  Also, their clothes did not wear out.  The bottom line here is that the LORD took care of ALL of their needs, large and small.  None of this happened "by chance".  The LORD had stripped them down of all of their self-sufficiency to demonstrate that He is able to supply all of their needs AND He is faithful to do so.

   4) Let's finish this part of our lesson with 1 Peter 6,7:  6) In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  7) These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

   Genuine faith is priceless.  We realize that we are no longer "of" this world when we get saved, but we are sojourning through it on our way home.  If we can demonstrate the love and the saving power of our God on our journey, maybe we can take someone with us.  Understand that there is nothing in this world worth your anxiety, anger, energy, etc. except to profess Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  Can I get an amen?  Let us be a reflection of The Light and be about our Father's business rather than trying to hold on to anything in this world.

   If you don't know my Jesus, click here for more information:    https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

   As we have finished part one of Why Bad Things Happen To Good People, let me encourage you to invest a couple of dollars into John MacArthur's New Testament Commentary on 1 Peter.  It seems that entire Book of the Holy Bible discusses our trials.

   If this post has been a blessing to you, please pray that others who view it will benefit from it.  You are encouraged to leave a comment on this post to let us know how else we can serve you: if you have questions, want to know about another topic, or if you want to share your thoughts.  If you DON'T want your comments published, please indicate that and we will not share it.

   Also, if you are blessed by this ministry, please share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BORROWER

 RESPONSIBILITY OF THE BORROWER

   Have you ever loaned someone money?  How did that work out for you?  Let me tell you a story about some people to whom I have loaned money:

   One of them, we can call him Edgar, does not live on a budget.  I have tried to encourage him to make a budget to see where he is, financially, and to see what he can do to live on his income.  Well, he keeps having "emergencies" and borrowing money.  One time it was his utilities that he didn't have the money for.  We covered that for him and he was going to return our money with his next paycheck.....or two.  Months went by.  His wife texted me at one point to ask if they had ever settled that debt.  I said, "no", and she said they would get it back to me with their next check.  

   Then their truck broke down.  Edgar phoned to ask for more money.  I consulted my partner and reminded her that he hadn't paid back the first loan.  We had the money (we live on a budget), so we bailed him out.  I ended up having to call him up and remind him that he owed us money.

   The emotions that I experienced run the gamut:  expectancy, disappointment, anger, disgust, rejection.  Even when he received a windfall (money he received that he did not earn), he only paid back a small portion of the money that he asked for.  When he asked for it, it was critical.  When he had to pay it back, it was not important at all.

   There is another person, we will call him Ralph.  He was in the county jail.  O.K., that should have told me all I needed to know.  But he was having to walk around in raw sewage and was fed moldy food with bugs in it.  He pleaded with me to post bond.  His immediate family wouldn't.  I don't know if that was due to of lack of funds or if it was that they were smarter than I.  Anyway, when I went to pay his bond, I didn't have the amount they required.  I ended up making payments on this money so he could enjoy a bit of freedom.  The money was important to him when he was incarcerated, but not when he was released from prison and employed.  I have to keep reminding him that he needs to return my money.

   Then there is George, a friend of my family member.  I had been gifting him a little money over the past year.  He was down on his luck.  Then, one day, he was telling me another sad story and I listened and would ask him what he was doing to come up with the funds to better himself.  He wouldn't answer my question, but would repeat that he needed a little money.  Finally, he asked if he could borrow the money from me.  I'm a sucker.  I sent him the money, with the understanding that he would pay it back with his next pay check.   I am still waiting on the first dime.

   Thank you for allowing me to verbalize my feelings.  You see, I got my own self in this situation.  I know better than loaning money.  But wait! I want to tell you about Someone Who has given you and me something that is priceless.  It is way better than cash; it is eternal life!  Now, how does being saved tie into borrowing money that I don't pay back?  

   We (Believers) are expected to give back to God ten percent of our income.  He has given us a mind and healthy bodies that we use to work.  All He expects is 10% of our "substance and our increase" (wages and income from other sources).  Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:  So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.  Proverbs 3: 9,10  (KJV)   He could have asked for so much more (like the government does), but He is not greedy.  He wants to be appreciated.  He wants us to tithe with a cheerful heart.  He wants His first and He will bless our obedience.  But what do we do?

   Much like the examples I gave of those who owe me, we steal from God!  Yes, the money that they are slow in returning to me is money they are stealing from me because they have each had the extra cash to pay it back.  

  We do the same thing to God:

   "...Return to Me, and I will return to you," says the Lord Almighty.
"But you ask, 'How are we to return?'
"Will a man rob God?  Yet you rob Me."
"But you ask, 'How do we rob You?'
"In tithes and offerings.  YOU ARE UNDER A CURSE--THE WHOLE NATION OF YOU--because you are robbing Me.  Bring the whole tithe into the store-house, that there may be food in my house.  TEST ME IN THIS," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.  I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast (throw off or lose) their fruit," says the Lord Almighty."  Malachi 3: 7b-12  (NIV)

   God has a way of taking that which is His.  Consider that Israel was captured simply because they disobeyed God related to resting the land (when growing their crops).  They were in bondage for 70 years, or for as long as they were to rest the land.  You can read the account of this story here:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/2012/02/god-balances-books-daniel-11-5.html  I don't know about you, but I would rather take a blessing any day instead of God's anger.  I have found His blessings are abundant when I obey Him.

   What about you?  Are you robbing God?  Were you aware that when you don't tithe, that is exactly what you are doing?  So, what is the answer?  1) Ask His forgiveness.  He is faithful and just to forgive you.  2) Start tithing.  We have written several posts and a "page" about tithing.  Use the search bar to research further.

   What if you aren't a Christian?  We have the answer for that, too!  haha.  Click here to discover the freedom and security of giving your heart to Jesus:  https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html

   If this post has been a blessing to you, please pray that others who view it will benefit from it.  You are encouraged to leave a comment on this post to let us know how else we can serve you: if you have questions, want to know about another topic, or if you want to share your thoughts.  If you DON'T want your comments published, please indicate that and we will not share it.

   Also, if you are blessed by this ministry, please share this post on your favorite social media.  Thank you and God bless you.

  

PUT ON THE NEW MAN---------COLOSSIANS 3: 1 - 14

PUT ON THE NEW MAN

COLOSSIANS 3: 1 - 14

1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.

2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory

5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: 

7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him: 

image found on internet by friend

11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

 

13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:  even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

COMMENTARY

1) When we give our lives to Christ and He takes our sin upon Himself (salvation), it is no longer our lives that we live, but Christ's. He was crucified for our sins and He rose on the third day.  So, He is risen.  He is now at the right hand of God the Father.

2) Since He is risen, we, also, are risen.  This is no longer our home, but Heaven is our home.  We are but passing through this world to our home.  Therefore, the things of this world are of no value to us.

5) We are to mortify:  put to death, restrain, subdue, subjugate, our mortal bodies concerning these unclean activities and grow our spiritual selves in Christ. 

6,7) For disobedient people will face the wrath of God for these things, which we, too, were guilty of before our salvation.

8, 9) These behaviors have no place in the Kingdom of God, to which we belong.

10,11) And this is key to being transformed:  "renewed in knowledge" which comes from studying The Word of God, the Holy Bible.  When we study His Word, we grow in His likeness, no matter your background.

12-14) These are the "fruit of the spirit", which reveals your citizenship in the Kingdom of God.

Wouldn't you love to have your citizenship in Heaven?  It comes with a relationship with Jesus and a cancellation of your debt.  Click here for more information:     https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray for us that God will use us for His glory.  Thank you.

We would love to hear from you, so you are encouraged to leave your thoughts in a comment on this site.  We also encourage you to share this post on your favorite social media if you were blessed by it.  Thank you.

PSALM 20----VICTORY OVER OUR ENEMIES

 PSALM 20

VICTORY OVER OUR ENEMIES

1) The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee;

2) Sent thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion;

3) Remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt sacrifice; Selah.

4) Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.

5) We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the Name of our God we will set up our banners:  the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.

6) Now know I that the LORD saves His anointed; He will hear him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

7) Some trust in chariots, and some in horses:  but we will remember the Name of the LORD our God.

8) They are brought down and fallen:  but we are risen, and stand upright.

9) Save, LORD:  let The King hear us when we call.     King James Version (KJV) Public Domain modified by me

COMMENTARY

   I am working with commentary from Matthew Henry, David Guzik, and Charles H. Spurgeon to study this Psalm.  I don't normally focus my prayers on myself but I see that Matthew Henry encourages us to, and to tell others what to ask God for when we ask others to pray for us.  I did do this recently.  I had an entire battalion of prayer warriors say they would pray for me.

1) King David was about to engage Israel into battle.  The citizens came to pray for his success.  This is actually putting it mildly, because the language in this Psalm is intense.  The people were earnestly praying for him, as we see God's Name repeated but in different forms:  the LORD, God With Us; the Name of the God of Jacob (which is Israel).

2) The people asked for help to be sent A) from the sanctuary (where the Ark of the Covenant is and where God sits and the center of Israel's worship); and B) strength out of Zion, referring to the hills of Jerusalem, which speaks of spiritual strength/to strengthen his soul.

3) The offering here is a "gratitude offering".  I am always saying thank you to my LORD but this is the first time I have seen mention of a "gratitude offering".  The burnt sacrifice is what King David would have offered before battle.   "Selah" is believed to be a "reflective pause" so we can reflect on the words just spoken.

4) When Christians are living in God's will, this is an easy prayer for them.  As we grow in faith, God's  will becomes our will.  He is to be on the throne of our lives and we are to serve His purpose.

5) We fly His banner in defiance of our enemies and in faith of His victory.  In God we trust; we have confidence in His victory.  

6) God will hear from on high the prayers of the people; and with His mighty right hand, will save him.

7) We live by faith and not by sight.  We don't put our trust in chariots and horses, but in the God Who created all things.  We are His children; and He takes care of us.  If we have not, it is because we ask not.

8) Our enemies fall but we are victorious in the LORD.

9) This is a declaration of victory, even before the battle has begun.

How do you feel about this Psalm?  Do you have a saving relationship with the God of Creation?  Click here for more information:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html.

If this post has been a blessing to you, please pray that God uses our efforts to reach those who are seeking to know Him better, to grow their relationship with Him.  You are encouraged to leave us a comment to let us know how we are doing.  We love to hear from you.

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NAMES OF GOD-----JEHOVAH NISSI

 NAMES OF GOD-----JEHOVAH NISSI

THE LORD IS MY BANNER

photo courtesy of Church Partner

   Our Scripture comes from Exodus 17: 1-16, the story of how Israel complained about God not giving them what they wanted when they wanted it rather than being grateful for His care of them and giving Him the glory of bringing them out of Egypt and now taking them to the blessing He has in store for them.  As we read and study, let us find ourselves in these passages that we might grow in our relationship with Him.

1) And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim:  and there was no water for the people to drink.    

2) Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink.  And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me?  wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?

  Moses had been tested and found true to God, so when the Israelites complained about him, they were complaining against God, Himself.

3) And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?   (to kill us, our posterity, and our wealth)

4) And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people?  they be almost ready to stone me.

5) And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go.

6) Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink.  And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.

7) And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

   This has got to be the question of the ages:  Is the LORD among us or not?  Is He with us?  Is He for us?  

8) Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9) And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek:  to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand.

10) So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek:  and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11) And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed:  and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12) But Moses hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 

photo courtesy of commons.wikimedia.org   public domain

13) And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14) And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua:  for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

15) And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:  

16) For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

COMMENTARY

1-3) This is a recurring human condition:  we face insurmountable odds and feel that surely we shall die; there is no hope.  They blamed Moses and God for their predicament.  I have found that when I am facing situations that are out of my control, I ask God what would He have me do.  He is just to direct my path and has never let me down.

4-7) Moses did what the congregation should have done:  he took the matter to the LORD.  He had Moses lead the lead everybody out to a rock in Horeb.  The LORD said He would stand before him on the rock and Moses was to strike it with the staff he used to part the waters when coming out of Egypt.  He would produce water to come out of the rock.

8, 9) In Deuteronomy 25: 17, 18, we read about the unprovoked attack on this Israelites by Amalek:  

17) Remember what Amalek did to y'all when you came out of Egypt; 

18) How he came upon you and killed those who were straggling behind, those that were feeble, when you were faint and weary; and he didn't fear God.

19) Therefore it shall be, when the LORD thy God gives you rest from all or your enemies round about, in the land which the LORD thy God gives you for an inheritance to possess it,  you are to blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.  You shall not forget it.   

                  my translation of the King James Version   (KJV)   Public Domain

So, Amalek was the first to go to war with Israel.  He was unprovoked.  He was after the spoils, which were probably carried in the back of the caravan.  He attacked the weak, women, children, and the sick.  The thing here, is, that Israel had never fought a war.  God had fought for them, so they didn't know how.

10-12) Moses sent Joshua with men to fight Amalek, while Moses, his brother Aaron, and his brother-in-law, Hur went to the mountain to pray for deliverance.  He prayed with his arms uplifted to the heavens, holding the staff, which was God's "banner", as it was His battle.  While his arms were uplifted, the army in the valley prevailed; when they drooped, the Amalekites prevailed.  So, when his arms grew heavy, Aaron and Hur sat him down and they kept his arms up, one on each side of him, until the sun went down.

13-17) Joshua won the battle in the valley; and Moses et. al. won the battle on the mountain.....the LORD won the battle and was given the glory with an altar unto THE LORD IS MY BANNER  (Jehovah Nissi).  The LORD has promised to battle the Amalekites until they are wiped out.  Some say the Amalekites are symbolic of  "the flesh", our human nature, which makes war against the spirit.

How about you?  Do you have a relationship with Jehovah Nissi?  Do you live your life under His banner?  Click here to begin your journey, which is through His Son, Jesus Christ:   https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html

If this post is a blessing to you, please pray for us that God uses us for His glory.  We would love to hear from you, so you are welcome to drop us a line in the comments.  Also, if you were blessed by this post, please share it on your favorite social media for your friends to be blessed, also.  Thank you.

   

THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION JUDGES 21

 THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION

PART 5 OF 5

JUDGES 21

1) Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

2) And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;

3) And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?

4) And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5) And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD?  For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death.

6) And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.

7) How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?

8) And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from Jabeshgilead to the assembly.

9) For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead there.

10) And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smith the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.

11) And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

12) And they found among the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead four hundred young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male:  and they brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

13) And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.

14) And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabeshgilead:  and yet so they sufficed them not.

15) And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

16) Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

17) And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

18) Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters:  for the children of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

19) Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonan.

20) Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vineyards;

21) And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

22) And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes:  because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war:  for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.

23) And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught:  and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.

24) And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance.

25) In those days there was no king in Israel:  every man did that which was right in his own eyes.

King James Version    (KJV)   Public Domain

DEFINITION

burnt offering:  signifies propitiation for sin and complete surrender, devotion, and commitment to God.  Peace offering was a way to worship Him.

    COMMENTARY

1-3) Here we learn about vows made in the heat of the moment, when emotions ran high regarding the sin committed that resulted in the entire country taking up arms.  Remember that it was not until the second battle was finished and Israel again was defeated that the congregation humbled themselves before the LORD.  When they made such a foolish oath, they were still very much in the flesh, doing what was right in their own eyes.  Now, they realize that oath has dire consequences for their brother, Benjamin.  The good news is that they were not greedy, realizing the property could be shared by the remaining eleven tribes;  nor were power hungry, but they were sorrowful for the almost complete annihilation of the tribe of Benjamin.

"Justice not only brings punishment to evildoers, but it also guards against punishment that is too harsh."  (enduringword.com)

4-9) The assembly once again prostrated themselves before the LORD. This would have been a great time to admit their sin of being a bit zealous regarding the matter, instead, they projected all guilt upon the tribe of Benjamin (and also on God, Himself).  They did not mourn about their 40,000 men who lost their lives in the battles, but of losing an entire tribe of Israel, the much beloved son of Jacob.  It is not recorded that they waited upon God's direction, but went out and destroyed another city and it's inhabitants.  This was their fleshly solution of the sin they committed with their hot-headed oath.  (Had they consulted God before any battle began, maybe they would have spared all but those who picked up weapons against them.)  Furthermore, they did not consult God regarding the re-establishment of the tribe of Benjamin, but rather, came up with their own solution.

   Aren't we even guilty of not consulting God when we are facing major decisions in our own lives?  His solutions are always better than ours, since we still live in this world and are, more often than not, influenced by this world.  Dear Friend, let us pause and seek His counsel.

10-22) The congregation got together and realized the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead had not joined against Benjamin, so they sent some of the army off to continue their slaughter of their brothers (this time in Jabeshgilead) as though they were Canaanites, without once again asking Phinehas to ask of God if they should continue on their course.  The result was that only 400 virgins were left alive, but there were 600 Benjamites without wives.  We often fall short when we try to do things on our own.  We are to pray constantly, recognizing from where our strength comes.

   Meanwhile, the elders decided on a course to re-establish the tribe of Benjamin.  Still, they were not asking Phineas to inquire of God, but were adding more chaos to what had already transpired, by deciding on a course of action on their own.  How quickly we resume our place on the throne of our lives which we gave to God.  After all, we can do it ourselves.  We only need God when we get in a bind, right?

   The others went to Rimmon to speak peace with the remaining men of Benjamin. The Benjamites came back to camp with the Israelites and were given the 400 virgins from Jabeshgilead.  For the remaining 200 men, they were instructed to come back to their brothers during a feast when the daughters of Israel danced and each without a wife were to steal one of the daughters to wife. They assured them that the tribe would not hold them accountable for this.  Neither would the oath that they made in haste be broken.

image courtesy of publicdomainvectors.org

23) The Benjamites did as they were directed to do, each obtaining a wife----only one wife.  Then they returned to their territory (inheritance) and repaired the damage done during the war and lived there. The other tribes went back to their own inheritances.

24) They all went back to doing what was right in their own eyes, even before they departed for their own inheritances.  Dear Friends, our strength comes from The LORD.  When we consult Him first, we don't have to spend our time and energy in cleaning up our messes afterward.  Furthermore, our elected officials would do well to seek God before making decisions for the entire nation.  This is how it should be.

How is your relationship with our LORD?  For information on where to begin an amazing relationship with Him, click here:    https://omaswisdom.blogspot.com/p/path-to-salvation.html

If this ministry is a blessing to you, please pray that God uses us to reach those who are earnestly seeking Him and to give a deeper understanding of who He is.  If you were blessed by this post, please share it on your favorite social media and drop us a comment.  We enjoy hearing from you.  Thank you and God bless you.

THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION JUDGES 20

 THE DESTRUCTION OF A NATION--PART 4

JUDGES 20

1) Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

2) And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred thousand footmen that drew sword.

3) (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh.)  Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?

4) And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to lodge. 

5) And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me:  and my concubine have they forced, that she is dead.

6) And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel:  for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.

7) Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and counsel.

8) And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house. 

9) But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go up by lot against it;

10) And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

11) So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together as one man.

12) And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?

13) Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.  But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel.

14) But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

15) And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

16) Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded; every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

17) And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword:  all these were men of war.

18) And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up first.

19) And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah.

20) And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.

21) And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

22) And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day.

23) (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother?  And the LORD said, Go up against him.)

24) And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day.

25) And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men; all these drew the sword.

26) Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted that day until eve, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

27) And the children of Israel enquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

28) And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease?  And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

29) And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

30) And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times.

31) And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill, as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

32) And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first.  But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways.

33) And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baaltamar:  and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.

34) And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore:  but they knew not that evil was near them.

35) And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel:  and the children of Israel destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred men:  all these drew the sword. 

36) So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten:  for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

37) And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the sword.

38) Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the city.

39) And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons:  for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.

40) But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city ascended up to heaven.

41) And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed:  for they saw that evil was come upon them.

42) Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

43) Thus they enclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

44) And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of valour.

45) And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon:  and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

46) So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.

47) But six hundred man turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon, four months.

48) And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand:  also they set on fire all the cities that they came to.     King James Version  (KJV)     Public Domain

COMMENTARY

photo courtesy of thebiblejourney.org

1) This was a wake up call for all of Israel.  They had moved away from God's laws but this brought the laws back to their conscious.  They gathered as one man, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.   It was a sort of mental revival for them and they all agreed and met together to decide a course of action; all but the tribe of Benjamin.  Benjamin was Jacob's youngest son and much loved but his descendants have moved far from God.  

   Deuteronomy 13: 12 - 18 gives instruction on the plan of action:  when troublemakers have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, "Let us go and worship other gods" (gods you have not known), then you must inquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly.  And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town.  You must destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock.  You are to gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God.  

2) There were four hundred thousand (400,000) foot soldiers

3-5) Israel questions the Levite regarding the event and receives his account of what transpired without admitting any personal guilt.  The Benjamites knew representatives from all of the tribes were there but sent no one from their tribe.

6, 7) He expected to be protected from evil by his fellow Israelites but evil was perpetrated by the Tribe of Benjamin.  We are all the sons of Israel, so what are you going to do about it?  (Levites, the priesthood, were not to go to war.)

8-11) The Tribes of Israel responded in unity saying they will not go home but they will address this evil done in Gibeah of Benjamin.

12, 13) The Tribes of Israel went about all the towns in Benjamin asking for the perpetrators of such evil but the Benjamites refused to give them up.

14) The Sons of Benjamin decided to fight the other 11 tribes to protect the evil doers.  Their army numbered 26,000 outside of Gibeah and another 700 in the city of Gibeah.  Seven hundred of the fighting men were crack shots with a sling shot, which did not require hand to hand combat.

15 -20))  Israel's army numbered 400,000 seasoned warriors.  They sought counsel from God and even asked which Tribe should take the lead.  Judah was the one to take first strike at Benjamin.  Remember in Genesis 44, when Judah offered himself to protect his brother, Benjamin from the Egyptian (who was actually their brother Joseph)?   Then, they set up their army around Benjamin.  

21) The first day of battle, the Benjamites had victory and killed 22,000 warriors.

22 - 24) The children of Israel went again to inquire of God if they should keep fighting their brother, Benjamin, weeping until evening.  God said yes, keep fighting. So, the army of Israel went back for day two.

25) The children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah again and this time, they killed a resounding 18,000 warriors of Israel! 

26 - 28) After another whipping from evil, everybody went to the house of God.  They finally realized that even though they were fighting evil, they were just as sinful as the Tribe of Benjamin.  So, they humbled themselves and prayed and fasted and offered sacrifices to God for their sins.  Then they asked again if they should continue the fight.  This time, God said, Yes and I will give you victory. 

  That is so how our own lives are.  We see the sin of others and we give lip service to our God, but when we humble ourselves and seek His face.  When we turn from our wicked ways and repent, He is just to forgive us.  Then, and not until then, He will give us victory.  We are not engaged with flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities.  America did not humble ourselves even though we have been calling for it for at least two years!  He will bring us to our knees one way or the other.

29 - 35) This time, Israel set liers in hiding around Gibeah.  Then when the Israelites came to fight the Benjamites, the Benjamites killed a couple of men and then decided it was day 3 for victory, so they chased them.  The Israelites had taken a page out of the Book of Joshua chapter 8.  This time, Israel killed 25,100 Benjamites.  You recall, their entire army consisted of 26,000 soldiers outside Gibeah and another 700 inside the city.

36 - 48) Six hundred Benjamite warriors fled after the onslaught by The LORD, because, truth be told, it was He who won the war.  The Israelites chased them and killed the men of every city and their beasts and set fire to their cities.

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