If anyone knows Melissa…

Judges 7:1–8:17; Luke 23:13-43; Psalm 97:1–98:9; Proverbs 14:7-8

Go from the Presence of the Foolish
Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge. – Proverbs 14:7

The Sword of the Lord
And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon. And they stood every man in his place round about the camp: and all the host ran, and cried, and fled. And the three hundred blew the trumpets, and the LORD set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host: and the host fled to Beth-shittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath. And the men of Israel gathered themselves together out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. – Judges 7:20-23

Weep for Yourselves
And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? – Luke 23:27-31

The Lord Reigns
The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled. The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth. – Psalm 97:1-5

Sing a New Song
O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. -Psalm 98:1-2

Judges 6:1-40; Luke 22:54–23:12; Psalm 95:1–96:13; Proverbs 14:5-6

The Fields are Joyful, and the Trees Rejoice
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice. Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth. – Psalms 96:11-13

If the Lord be With Us, Why Then Is All this Befallen Us?
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour. And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us, why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house. And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man. – Judges 6:12-16

Doesn’t that sound just like us? God assures us He is with us and we say, IF He is with us….why???

Knowledge is Easy
A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. – Proverbs 14:6

Scorn – to treat or regard with contempt; to reject, refuse, or ingore with contempt; to mock; jeer
Scorner – One who scorns; ridicules, derides

Speaking of Scorners
And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. – Luke 23:11-12

Speaking of scorners, though I have read the Bible through each year for about 16 years now, I have never really seen these verses in the scripture. How many times are friendships made over the plans for evil against someone else? Quite a few names come to mind when I think of these verses regarding our world today. But I think I should take this verse and look at my own heart. Have I made alliances and friendships and the thing we had in common wasn’t positive interaction but anger or jealousy or contempt of someone else? Something to think about and if you don’t see that you have ever been there, then take this as a warning. What a sad thing to have in common! What a sad thing to have written of yourself and your life by God Himself. Help us all, Lord. Help me!

We are His People of His Pasture
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: – Psalm 95:6-8

Judges 4:1–5:31; Luke 22:35-53; Psalm 94:1-23; Proverbs 14:3-4

The Lord Will Not Cast Off His People
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance. But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it. – Psalm 94:14-15

I’ll Go If You Go
And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet: and Deborah went up with him. – Judges 4:8-10

Awake
Awake, awake, Deborah: awake, awake, utter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive, thou son of Abinoam. – Judges 5:12

Rise and Pray
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, and said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. – Luke 22:41-46

Lips of the Wise
In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them. – Proverbs 14:3

Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. – Luke 22:28

Luke 22: 28 has grabbed my heart this week. Jesus is speaking to and of His disciples here. I so want to be one that Jesus describes as continuing with Him no matter the road He leads me down. Some days the steps on the road seem very easy and other days they are a little rocky and I feel almost lost. I don’t understand where the path leads but I know it is His path. It is then I have to do as He describes here and “continue with Him.” Just continue with Him.

I shared this verse in Sunday School and then part of our Pastor’s message was along these same lines. I am so thankful for the Word of God. Here is the passage in context.

24 And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. 28 Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. 29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30 that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. – Luke 22:24-30

Judges 2:10–3:31; Luke 22:14-34; Psalm 92:1–93:5; Proverbs 14:1-2

It Is a Good Thing to Give Thanks
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: – Psalm 92:1

They Forsook the Lord
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: and they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. – Judges 2:11-12

Nevertheless the Lord Raised Up Judges
Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. – Judges 2:16-17

He That is Greatest Among You – Doth Serve
And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth. – Luke 22:24-27

Wise Women Build Their Houses
Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.– Proverbs 14:1

 

Judges 1:1–2:9; Luke 21:29–22:13; Psalm 90:1–91:16; Proverbs 13:24-25

Teach Me to Number My Days
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. – Psalm 90:12

The People Lifted Up Their Voice, and Wept
And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you. And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land; ye shall throw down their altars: but ye have not obeyed my voice: why have ye done this? Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you. And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. And they called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there unto the LORD. And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land. And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel. – Judges 2:1-7

All Will Be Fulfilled
And he [Jesus] spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. – Luke 21:29-33

Watch Ye Therefore
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. – Luke 21:36

He That Spareth His Rod
He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes. – Proverbs 13:24

Joshua 24:1-33; Luke 21:1-28; Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 13:20-23

Land For Which Ye Did Not Labour
And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and olive yards which ye planted not do ye eat. Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. – Joshua 24:13-15

Look Up
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. – Luke 21:28

We Live and We Die
Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah. – Psalm 89:47-48

If You Want Wisdom
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. – Proverbs 13:20

If you want wisdom, walk with wise men!

Joshua 22:21–23:16; Luke 20:27-47; Psalm 89:14-37; Proverbs 13:17-19

The Blessings of the People that Know the Joyful Sound
Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. – Psalm 89:15-18

The Risk of Making Assumptions
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: but that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you. God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle. – Joshua 22:26-29

And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD. – Joshua 22:31

And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God. – Joshua 22:34

A Little Glimpse of Heaven
Then came to him [Jesus] certain of the Sadducees, which deny that there is any resurrection; and they asked him, saying, Master, Moses wrote unto us, If any man’s brother die, having a wife, and he die without children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. There were therefore seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and died without children. And the second took her to wife, and he died childless. And the third took her; and in like manner the seven also: and they left no children, and died. Last of all the woman died also. Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is she? for seven had her to wife. And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto him. – Luke 20:27-28

The Costs of Refusing Instruction
Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured. – Proverbs 13:18

Joshua 21:1–22:20; Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16

I Will Sing of His Mercies Forever
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. – Psalm 89:1

Our Sin Affects the Entire Congregation
Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD’s tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God. Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity. – Joshua 22:19-20

The congregation of Israel stood against (what they believed was) sin among their people and reminded them of how Achan sinned against the Lord, and God’s wrath came against them all. Truly, if they sinned or when we sin, it does not just affect us and us alone, but it hurts the entire congregation (Body of Christ).

They Marveled at His Words
And they could not take hold of his words before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace. – Luke 20:26

One who displays hatred toward you doesn’t necessarily disagree with you. These marveled at the Words of Jesus and held their peace in front of the people. No, they marveled, but they didn’t like what Jesus’ Words meant about their own lives.

Aren’t we like that sometimes? We know the conviction of God, and we marvel at knowing His truth exposes our hearts and is for our good. But we hate how we might have to change our lives and our standing to follow Jesus and His perfect Truth.

Seek God’s Knowledge
Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly. – Proverbs 13:16

God gives you guidance and wisdom. Act on it by seeking Him and heeding to His Word. Listen to His wisdom and accumulate His knowledge, and your attitudes and your actions will show it. Act foolishly, and your folly will be shown as well.

Joshua 19:1–20:9; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88:1-18; Proverbs 13:12-14

Help Me Fear and Obey Your Word
Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. – Proverbs 13:13

Let My Prayer Come Before Thee
O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. – Psalm 88:1-3

His House is The House of Prayer
And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. – Luke 19:45-46

Heavenly Father, Let my prayer come before You today. Incline Thine ear unto my cry. Take me into deeper places in You and Your Word, even as our pastor spoke yesterday. Father, if I have not because I ask not, then I humbly stand before You and ask. Will You take me deeper, God? Will You help me line my life up to look like Your Son? Will You help me walk this earthly journey in fear and obedience to Your Word? Please help me to remember my greatest reward is received when I do Your perfect will, as You have commanded, for Your pleasure? Will You make my heart Your House of Prayer? Thank You that You have made this possible through my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, and that You have empowered me with a wonderful helper and counselor in Your Holy Ghost. I praise You and glorify Your Name and I love you JESUS! Amen! Amen!

Be Careful with Whom You Unite and Assemble
Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them. – Joshua 19:9

As their father, Jacob, spoke and we read in the book of Genesis, Simeon would not get an independent inheritance but rather would inherit scattered lands. Those scattered lands were within Judah’s allotment.

Simeon and Levi are brethren; Instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; Unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: For in their anger they slew a man, And in their self will. They digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; And their wrath, for it was cruel; I will divide them in Jacob, And scatter them in Israel. – Genesis 49:5-7

These words come to me as a warning. Be careful with whom you unite and assemble. Be careful not to come into the secrets others that are cruel, filled with anger and selfwill. If you do come into their secrets, you will also come into their curse. 

Please help me to heed Your warning, Father.