Daily Truthbase: commandments

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Isaiah 34-39 Prophecy Fulfilled

Isaiah 34-39 Prophecy Fulfilled

Psalm 77:1-20 Don't Doubt in the Dark What You Learned in the Light

Ps 77:1 “My cry goes to God! Indeed, I cry to God for help, and for him to listen to me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord. My hand was stretched out in the night, and didn’t get tired. My soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah. 4 You hold my eyelids open. I am so troubled that I can’t speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6 I remember my song in the night. I consider in my own heart; my spirit diligently inquires: 7 "Will the Lord reject us forever? Will he be favorable no more? 8 Has his hesed/loyal love vanished forever? Does his promise fail for generations? 9 Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has he, in anger, withheld his compassion?" Selah.

10 Then I thought, "I will appeal to this: the years of the right hand of the Most High." 11 I will remember Yah’s deeds; for I will remember your wonders of old. 12 I will also meditate on all your work, and consider your doings. 13 Your way, God, is in the sanctuary. What god is great like God? 14 You are the God who does wonders. You have made your strength known among the peoples. 15 You have redeemed your people with your arm, the sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah. 16 The waters saw you, God. The waters saw you, and they writhed. The depths also convulsed. 17 The clouds poured out water. The skies resounded with thunder. Your arrows also flashed around. 18 The voice of your thunder was in the whirlwind. The lightnings lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook. 19 Your way was through the sea; your paths through the great waters. Your footsteps were not known. 20 You led your people like a flock, by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Observations: 77:1-9 Doubting and sleepless in the dark, Asaph wonders if God, in anger (over their sin), has rejected His people and forgotten His hesed, His promises, and how to be gracious.

77:10-20 Recalling and meditating on God's past blessings to the nation, in delivering and leading them, Asaph grows confident in God's help.

Application: When tempted to doubt God's future goodness to you, recall how He's worked in the past in redeeming and guiding you; repent where necessary; then follow the Good Shepherd.

Prayer: Lord, You are my Shepherd; You have redeemed and guided me for a purpose thus far. Help me learn my lessons and follow Your voice to green pastures. Thanks. Amen.

Proverbs 19:18-24 Parenting Pointers

Pr 19:18 “Discipline your son, while there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.

19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.

20 Listen to advise/counsel and accept instruction, that in the end you may be wise.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.

22 What is to be desired in a man is his hesed/loyal covenantal love. A poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.

24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.“

Observations: 19:18-23 You could view all of Proverbs as skills and values to be inculcated (look it up for a major parenting lesson) into your children. This section has some particularly good lessons for the Proverbial Parent (see Truthbase.net) to communicate. Since most of us weren't perfectly parented, we have some remedial work to do on ourselves (see how to re-parent yourself on Truthbase.net). Failure to train and discipline your children is to be a willing participant in their death. If you raise children that don't avoid danger, they will be ensnared. If you raise children who aren't committed to walking on the right path (because you haven't sold them on the dangers of the wrong ways and the blessings of the right ways [and modeled it]) then they will run to ruin on the highway to heartbreak (yours and theirs). There is a window of opportunity that starts when they rebel against your will while changing their diaper, and ends in the teen years (when the messes are much worse). If you don't shoulder the responsibility to train consistently in those days, you will be bearing their spiritual coffin the rest of your days.

19:19 Anger arises out of not getting things your way, which you deem essential to your happiness. Reaping moderate discipline for such stupid self-centered behavior early in life, avoids more painful consequences later (see “mixed mercy” in Amos). Not modeling anger helps prevent it from being imprinted into your children's repertoire of responses.

19:20 If accepting advice/counsel and instruction result in wisdom, than failure to do so means the person is a first class fool. This is an easy verse to make a rap out of and embed it into one's memory. Being a wise parent (brainwashed by Proverbs) helps make your kids receptive to counsel while under your wing, and flying on their own.

19:21 We have many plans, dreams, and aspirations in our hearts. What are the wise ones to pursue? The word “counsel” here is the same as verse 20, which is where you can find God's counsel, if you have godly counselors. “Prevail” primarily means to “rise”, and then by extension: to stand, become powerful, and be established. Of all the options we could chase after, it is the Lord's counsel/plan that will be the powerful and enduring one. Seeking out the path/plan of Yahweh, is the way to determine the wisest plans for your life. The Spirit of God helps those submitted to Him desire and do His will (Phil 2:13), through both the word and wise advice. To believe that a person can do whatever they want and trust that God's purpose will prevail in your life, and everything will be OK, is beyond stupid; it's idiotic and demonic. God's sovereign plan is to punish such folly. Children of all ages need to learn to seek and do God's will if they want to experience God's best.

19:22 Hesed, being loyal to one's word and covenant obligations is a desirable trait in a man, woman, child, spouse, and God. It's desirable in business too, even if it costs. Something of such great value doesn't happen automatically (it certainly didn't for Israel). God models it for us; we must model it for our children, but it must be instilled and inculcated as well.

19:23 Fearing God starts with fearing our human parent. If we don't respect them, and care about what they think, we won't care about what God thinks (until we experience disastrous consequences). Contentment, peace and prosperity, as well as wisdom and blessing come as a result of fearing God. Only the most dense or deceived can miss that truth repeated throughout the Scriptures. If you've read this far in DailyTruthbase, and haven't grasped that foundational truth, you might be able to use the Google translator to read the blog in a language you understand.

19:24 The sluggard starts a project/goal, sometimes with great enthusiasm, but then doesn't bring it to completion. It's like reaching into the bowl of potato chips, and leaving your hand there, failing to bring the chip back to the mouth. See Saga of the Sorry Sluggard, and the TOYL Goal Autopsy for help in developing the skill and mindset necessary to reap the fruit of our dreams. If you are parenting you need to be diligent to keep them diligent, day in and day out. Think about how God parents us to get us to follow through on our commitments. Even He has a tough time, and He has infinite patience and power (good things to tap into).

Application: Wise and godly people don't arrive on the planet via alien spaceships; they're home grown.

Prayer: God thanks for Your perfect parenting of me; may I bring delight to You with my responsiveness, and model Your parenting style in training the children You've entrusted to me, so they will bring delight to me. (Thanks for our kids.) Amen.

Isaiah 34-39 The first 39 chapters of Isaiah (emphasizing judgment) are considered by some to match the 39 books of the OT, and the next 27 (emphasizing blessing), those of the NT. Those who actually read both Isaiah and both the OT and NT will notice that the distinction is largely artificial, since God manifests great judgment and gracious blessing in both testaments, and throughout Isaiah. However, as a matter of emphasis, the first “half” of Isaiah is more about warning, and chapter 40 begins with “Comfort my people.” The chapters in this post finish off the first section of Isaiah, with fulfilled prophecies of judgment and deliverance, prophecies of future judgment and deliverance and warnings to dependently trust God, for deliverance. It ends with introducing Babylon as the next ruling power after Assyria.

Isaiah 34 Day of Vengeance and Vanishing Stars

34:1 Come near, you nations, to hear! Listen, you peoples. Let the earth and all it contains hear; the world, and everything that comes from it. 2 For Yahweh is enraged against all the nations, and angry with all their armies/hosts. He has utterly destroyed them. He has given them over for slaughter. 4 All of the armies/hosts of the sky will be dissolved. The sky will be rolled up like a scroll, and all its Hosts will fade away, as a leaf fades from off a vine or a fig tree. 5 For my sword has drunk its fill in the sky. Behold, it will come down on Edom, and on the people of my curse, for judgment. 6 Yahweh’s sword is filled with blood. It is covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for Yahweh has a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom. 8 For Yahweh has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

9 Its streams will be turned into pitch, its dust into sulfur, and its land will become burning pitch. 12 They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be nothing. 13 Thorns will come up in its palaces...15...Yes, the kites will be gathered there, every one with her mate. 16 Search in the book of Yahweh, and read: not one of these will be missing. none will lack her mate. For my mouth has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them. 17 He has cast the lot for them, and his hand has divided it to them with a measuring line. They shall possess it forever. From generation to generation they will dwell in it.

Observations: 34:1-8 From describing the judgment on Assyria in previous chapters, Isaiah broadens the theme to the judgment of the day of the Lord describing His vengeance on all the nations opposed to Zion (so much for man-made efforts at world peace). The Lord returns first, destroys the nations, and the powers behind them. Many ancient cultures worshiped the stars, which symbolized the spiritual powers behind earthly rulers (pagan gods, fallen angels). By wiping out the heavens and its stars, the Messiah will sweep the old order away to establish the new. In the next chapter the Messiah brings in world peace, after the judgment, and will replant His people in Zion (so much for post-tribulational and amillennial viewpoints; they'll fade like the stars as well). It's world wide judgment, then world wide peace. Edom (descendents of Esau) is mentioned as a representative nation hostile to the descendents of Jacob.

34:9-17 Each of the wild animals will have its mate. Each of God's prophecies will have its corresponding fulfillment.

Application: Since God is the one who brings in world peace, we should focus our efforts on demonstrating personal righteousness and justice, and obeying His commands.

Prayer: God, knowing that You will fulfill all Your promises, help me focus on doing the things You've promised to bless. Amen.

Isaiah 35 Joyful Return to Zion

35:1 The wilderness and the dry land will be glad. The desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. 2 It will blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing. Lebanon’s glory Lebanon will be given to it, the excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They will see Yahweh’s glory, the excellence of our God. 3 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. 4 Tell those who have a fearful heart, "Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Behold, your God will come with vengeance, God’s retribution. He will come and save you.

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped. 6 Then the lame man will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing; for waters will break out in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water. Grass with reeds and rushes will be in the habitation of jackals, where they lay. 8 A highway will be there, a road, and it will be called The Holy Way. The unclean shall not pass over it, but it will be for those who walk in the Way. Wicked fools will not go there. 9 No lion will be there, nor will any ravenous animal go up on it. They will not be found there; but the redeemed will walk there. 10 The Yahweh’s ransomed ones will return, and come with singing to Zion; and everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

Observations: 35:1-4 In contrast to the doom and gloom of the last chapter, this one is almost pure joy (except for Lebanon, the unnamed recipients of vengeance and retribution, and the exclusion of the wicked fools; the lions won't be that happy either). This chapter points to the future day when God redeems and regathers His people to the land, which will be a verdant garden, basking in God's glory. The expectation of God's return should strengthen the fearful and weak, because it indicates His power isn't limited, nor are His promises forgotten.

35:5-10 The highlight of the reversal of physical/spiritual/political fortunes is the highway called the Holy Way, reserved for the redeemed who walk in the way. The nation has not yet experienced this everlasting joy in Zion.

Application: The redeemed who walk in God's way today, will rejoice both now and then. Where are you walking; what are you trusting?

Prayer: God, You bless those who walk in Your way with access to You, both now and in the future; may I experience the joy of Your way, today, and every day, from now to eternity and beyond. Amen.

Isaiah 36 Trust and Testing

36:1 Now it happened in the fourteenth year of king Hezekiah, that Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all of the fortified cities of Judah, and captured them. 2 The king of Assyria sent Rabshakeh from Lachish to Jerusalem to king Hezekiah with a large army. He stood by the aqueduct from the upper pool in the fuller’s field highway. 3 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder came out to him. 4 Rabshakeh said to them, "Now tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the great king, the king of Assyria, "What confidence is this in which you trust? 5 I say that your counsel and strength for the war are only vain words. Now in whom do you trust, that you have rebelled against me? 6 Behold, you trust in the staff of this bruised reed, even in Egypt, which if a man leans on it, it will go into his hand and pierce it. So is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 7 But if you tell me, ‘We trust in Yahweh our God,’ isn’t that he whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, ‘You shall worship before this altar?’" 8 Now therefore, please make a pledge to my master the king of Assyria, and I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able on your part to set riders on them. 9 How then can you turn away the face of one captain of the least of my master’s servants, and put your trust on Egypt for chariots and for horsemen? 10 Have I come up now without Yahweh against this land to destroy it? Yahweh said to me, "Go up against this land, and destroy it."’"

13 "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king, ‘Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely deliver us. This city won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."’ 16 Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and each of you eat from his vine, and each one from his fig tree, and each one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, "Yahweh will deliver us." Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20 Who are they among all the gods of these countries that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’" 21 But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, "Don’t answer him."

Observations: 36:1-21 Assyria has captured all the cities of Judah except Jerusalem. The envoy of the king of Assyria comes to get Hezekiah to be a vassal and pay tribute. He correctly challenges Judah's trust in Egypt as harming themselves. Then he seeks to undermine their trust in Yahweh by incorrectly saying Hezekiah has taken down Yahweh's altars and therefore Yahweh wouldn't help them (when in reality, he had taken down the idolatrous pagan altars so Yahweh would help them). The envoy asserts that Yahweh was with him, not them because he had told them to attack Judah, and given them the victory (which was true -Isaiah 10:5-6). Things look glum. The envoy considers Yahweh, as just another powerless local deity, and mocks their trust in Him, with a barrage of demonic lies and distortions.

Application: Your trust in the true God will be tried and assailed by the lying agents of Satan; don't listen to them.

Prayer: Eternally faithful God, I know my trust in You and Your truth will be tested; please give me grace to hold on to the truth, regardless of how bad things look. Amen.

Isaiah 37 The Power of Faithful Prayer

37:1 It happened, when king Hezekiah heard it, that he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into Yahweh’s house. 2 He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz. 3 They said to him, "Thus says Hezekiah, ‘This day is a day of trouble, and of rebuke, and of rejection; for the children have come to the birth, and there is no strength to bring forth. 4 It may be Yahweh your God will hear the words of Rabshakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’" 5 So the servants of king Hezekiah came to Isaiah. 6 Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, ‘Thus says Yahweh, "Don’t be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. 7 Behold, I will put a spirit in him and he will hear news, and will return to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."’"

8 So Rabshakeh...9...sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 "Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria." 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed...14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to Yahweh’s house, and spread it before Yahweh. 15 Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying, 16 "Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned among the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Turn your ear, Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and behold. Hear all of the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to defy the living God. 18 Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the countries and their land, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, Yahweh our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are Yahweh, even you only."

30 This shall be the sign to you. You will eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from the same; and in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 31 The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 32 For out of Jerusalem a remnant will go forth, and survivors will escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of Yahweh of Hosts will perform this.’ 33 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither will he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it. 35 ‘For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.’" 36 The angel of Yahweh went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went away, returned to Nineveh, and stayed there. 38 It happened, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Esar Haddon his son reigned in his place.

Observations: 37:1-7 Hezekiah responds to the scary threat of Assyria with prayer and reaffirms his trust in God's promises. He sends to Isaiah for counsel and Yahweh responds that this is His battle not Hezekiah's. Yahweh says He will cause Sennacherib to leave them alone.

37:8-20 Hezekiah then gets a written threat, and again prays, seeking God's protection and His reputation as well. He prays in the house of Yahweh and experiences deliverance, while Sennacherib will pray in the house of Nisroch, his god, and experience death.

37:21-29 God responds via Isaiah that He will destroy the one who pridefully defies the living God. God had raised up Sennacherib to judge, which is why he was successful, not because of his own strength; now he will be judged like he judged others.

37:30-37 God offers another sign that what He said will happen. The land which was depleted by the battles and sieges would produce enough to sustain Jerusalem for the next two years, and in the third year they would plant and reap. Vineyards usually took years to become productive. God springboards off His sign to signify that a remnant of the house of Judah would take root and bear fruit in the future. He then defends Jerusalem, sending an angel to kill 185,000 Assyrians who were knocking on their door.

37:38 Sennacherib got what God promised as well (but it took a number of years). Thus the previous prophecies about God destroying Assyria are fulfilled. We can look with confidence to Him fulfilling all His other promises to us, Israel, and the world as well.

Application: Faithful prayer is frequently the best solution to impossible problems.

Prayer: God, may my first response to scary threats be prayer and trust in You, with a concern for Your reputation. For I know that You will fight my battles when I've aligned myself with You. Thanks. Amen.

Isaiah 38 The Power Cord of Prayer

38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’" 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh, 3 and said, "Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight." Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying, 5 "Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city. 7 This shall be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do this thing that he has spoken. 8 Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten degrees/steps. So the sun returned the ten degrees/steps on the sundial on which it had gone down."’"

9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness. 10 I said, "In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years." 11 I said, "I won’t see Yah, Yah in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world. 12 My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent..14...My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security." 15 What will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul. 16 Lord, men live by these things; and my spirit finds life in all of them: you restore me, and cause me to live. 17 Behold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back. 18 For Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth. 19 The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do this day. The father shall make known your truth to the children. 20 Yahweh will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of Yahweh. 21 Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover." 22 Hezekiah also had said, "What is the sign that I will go up to the house of Yahweh?"

Observations: 38:1-8 This and the next chapter precede the previous two chapters chronologically. Isaiah arranged them here to set up the second “half” of the book, which deal with the threat of Babylon, and sound the theme of moving from death to life.

Hezekiah is sick (cf 2Kings 20; 2Chron 32:25) and Isaiah tells him to put his house in order and get ready to die. Hezekiah prays that God would remember how he walked before Him in truth and with a perfect heart, and had done that which is right in His sight. Hezekiah's purposeful life and perfect heart plug into God's power. God agrees with him and gives him fifteen more years and a sign. Apparently there was a series of steps that were used as a sundial.

38:9-32 Hezekiah responds to his deliverance with a testimony of praise, starting with shortened days at the gates of Sheol, and ending with lengthened days in the house of Yahweh. Verses 14-15 mark the chiastic center. There is an interesting argument (in Bullinger's Companion Bible's Appendix 67) that Hezekiah also wrote the fifteen Psalms/Songs of The Degrees (120-134) to commemorate the fifteen extra years God gave him. In this song he praises God and vows to walk in His ways.

Application: A purposeful life (seeking God's praise) and perfect heart (walking in His ways) plug our prayers into God's power, with electrifying results.

Prayer: God, like Your servant Hezekiah, may my life's purpose and paths make me pleasing in Your sight, and incline Your heart to my prayers. Thanks. Amen.

Isaiah 39 Babylonian Blunder

39:1 At that time, Merodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and had recovered. 2 Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and asked him, "What did these men say? Where did they come from to you?" Hezekiah said, "They have come from a country far from me, even from Babylon." 4 Then he asked, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them."

5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of Yahweh of Hosts: 6 ‘Behold, the days are coming when all that is in your house, and that which your fathers have stored up until this day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left,’ says Yahweh. 7 ‘They will take away your sons who will issue from you, whom you shall father, and they will be eunuchs in the king of Babylon’s palace.’" 8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "Yahweh’s word which you have spoken is good." He said moreover, "For there will be peace and truth/faithfulness in my days."

Observations: 39:1-4 The king of Babylon sends Hezekiah get well wishes, and Hezekiah shows the ambassadors all his treasures. It looks like prideful boasting, but isn't condemned as such. It could also be viewed as laying the groundwork for a potential alliance with Babylon, but again, the text is silent.

39:5-8 Isaiah delivers God's word to Hezekiah, that all his stuff will be taken to Babylon and his sons will be eunuchs in the Babylonian court. Thus Isaiah predicts Babylon's ascendency and the Babylonian captivity (which will be for Judah's sin, not Hezekiah's indiscretion). Hezekiah's response is surprising, but at this point he might not have had any sons, so that would be good news, as would the promise of peace and faithfulness of the nation in his days.

Application: Humble trust is a good skill to cultivate, since it can keep us from getting into trouble, and get us out of trouble as well.

Prayer: Lord, may I be more concerned about Your glory than mine. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God has all power, so it's nothing for Him to wipe out enemies, nations, or even the host of heaven. He will eventually do all of that at His coming to earth to restore the nation of Israel and set up a rule of righteousness and justice, yielding worldwide peace. First He returns and pours out judgment/tribulation on the whole word, then restores the house of Judah, and then there is the peace. He raises up people to judge wickedness, and judges his agents when they become proud. He answers prayers for both national and personal deliverance, and forgives the sin of His people. He requires holiness to be in His presence.

Us in a nutshell: Even while demonstrating the best faith, we will be tried and tempted to not trust God for our protection and prosperity. We can indeed walk in obedience with a perfect heart and do what is right in the sight of God, incurring His blessing. Prayerful dependence upon God is good for both personal and national needs. A holy life is good for getting prayers answered.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Isaiah complete text

Isaiah 34

34:1 Come near, you nations, to hear! Listen, you peoples. Let the earth and all it contains hear; the world, and everything that comes from it. 2 For Yahweh is enraged against all the nations, and angry with all their armies. He has utterly destroyed them. He has given them over for slaughter. 3 Their slain will also be cast out, and the stench of their dead bodies will come up; and the mountains will melt in their blood. 4 All of the army of the sky will be dissolved. The sky will be rolled up like a scroll, and all its armies will fade away, as a leaf fades from off a vine or a fig tree. 5 For my sword has drunk its fill in the sky. Behold, it will come down on Edom, and on the people of my curse, for judgment. 6 Yahweh’s sword is filled with blood. It is covered with fat, with the blood of lambs and goats, with the fat of the kidneys of rams; for Yahweh has a sacrifice in Bozrah, And a great slaughter in the land of Edom. 7 The wild oxen will come down with them, and the young bulls with the mighty bulls; and their land will be drunken with blood, and their dust made greasy with fat. 8 For Yahweh has a day of vengeance, a year of recompense for the cause of Zion.

9 Its streams will be turned into pitch, its dust into sulphur, And its land will become burning pitch. 10 It won’t be quenched night nor day. Its smoke will go up forever. From generation to generation, it will lie waste. No one will pass through it forever and ever. 11 But the pelican and the porcupine will possess it. The owl and the raven will dwell in it. He will stretch the line of confusion over it, and the plumb line of emptiness. 12 They shall call its nobles to the kingdom, but none shall be there; and all its princes shall be nothing. 13 Thorns will come up in its palaces, nettles and thistles in its fortresses; and it will be a habitation of jackals, a court for ostriches. 14 The wild animals of the desert will meet with the wolves, and the wild goat will cry to his fellow. Yes, the night creature shall settle there, and shall find herself a place of rest. 15 The arrow snake will make her nest there, and lay, hatch, and gather under her shade. Yes, the kites will be gathered there, every one with her mate. 16 Search in the book of Yahweh, and read: not one of these will be missing. none will lack her mate. For my mouth has commanded, and his Spirit has gathered them. 17 He has cast the lot for them, and his hand has divided it to them with a measuring line. They shall possess it forever. From generation to generation they will dwell in it.

Isaiah 35

Isaiah 36

11 Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah said to Rabshakeh, "Please speak to your servants in Aramaic, for we understand it; and don’t speak to us in the Jews’ language in the hearing of the people who are on the wall." 12 But Rabshakeh said, "Has my master sent me only to your master and to you, to speak these words, and not to the men who sit on the wall, who will eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?" 13 Then Rabshakeh stood, and called out with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and said, "Hear the words of the great king, the king of Assyria! 14 Thus says the king, ‘Don’t let Hezekiah deceive you; for he will not be able to deliver you. 15 Don’t let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely deliver us. This city won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."’ 16 Don’t listen to Hezekiah, for thus says the king of Assyria, ‘Make your peace with me, and come out to me; and each of you eat from his vine, and each one from his fig tree, and each one of you drink the waters of his own cistern; 17 until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards. 18 Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, "Yahweh will deliver us." Have any of the gods of the nations delivered their lands from the hand of the king of Assyria? 19 Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they delivered Samaria from my hand? 20 Who are they among all the gods of these countries that have delivered their country out of my hand, that Yahweh should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?’" 21 But they remained silent, and said nothing in reply, for the king’s commandment was, "Don’t answer him." 22 Then Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah, the son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

Isaiah 37

8 So Rabshakeh returned, and found the king of Assyria warring against Libnah, for he had heard that he was departed from Lachish. 9 He heard news concerning Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, "He has come out to fight against you." When he heard it, he sent messengers to Hezekiah, saying, 10 "Thus you shall speak to Hezekiah king of Judah, saying, ‘Don’t let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem won’t be given into the hand of the king of Assyria." 11 Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly. Shall you be delivered? 12 Have the gods of the nations delivered them, which my fathers have destroyed, Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the children of Eden who were in Telassar? 13 Where is the king of Hamath, and the king of Arpad, and the king of the city of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?’" 14 Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then Hezekiah went up to Yahweh’s house, and spread it before Yahweh. 15 Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh, saying, 16 "Yahweh of Hosts, the God of Israel, who is enthroned among the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Turn your ear, Yahweh, and hear. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and behold. Hear all of the words of Sennacherib, who has sent to defy the living God. 18 Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the countries and their land, 19 and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were no gods, but the work of men’s hands, wood and stone; therefore they have destroyed them. 20 Now therefore, Yahweh our God, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are Yahweh, even you only."

21 Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Because you have prayed to me against Sennacherib king of Assyria, 22 this is the word which Yahweh has spoken concerning him. The virgin daughter of Zion has despised you and ridiculed you. The daughter of Jerusalem has shaken her head at you. 23 Whom have you defied and blasphemed? Against whom have you exalted your voice and lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy one of Israel. 24 By your servants, have you defied the Lord, and have said, "With the multitude of my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, to the innermost parts of Lebanon. I will cut down its tall cedars and its choice fir trees. I will enter into its farthest height, the forest of its fruitful field. 25 I have dug and drunk water, and with the sole of my feet I will dry up all the rivers of Egypt." 26 Have you not heard how I have done it long ago, and formed it in ancient times? Now I have brought it to pass, that it should be yours to destroy fortified cities, turning them into ruinous heaps. 27 Therefore their inhabitants had little power. They were dismayed and confounded. They were like the grass of the field, and like the green herb, like the grass on the housetops, and like a field before its crop has grown. 28 But I know your sitting down, your going out, your coming in, and your raging against me. 29 Because of your raging against me, and because your arrogance has come up into my ears, therefore will I put my hook in your nose and my bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way by which you came. 30 This shall be the sign to you. You will eat this year that which grows of itself, and in the second year that which springs from the same; and in the third year sow and reap and plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. 31 The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 32 For out of Jerusalem a remnant will go forth, and survivors will escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of Yahweh of Hosts will perform this.’ 33 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither will he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it. 34 By the way that he came, by the same he shall return, and he shall not come to this city,’ says Yahweh. 35 ‘For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.’" 36 The angel of Yahweh went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went away, returned to Nineveh, and stayed there. 38 It happened, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons struck him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Esar Haddon his son reigned in his place.

Isaiah 38

38:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, "Thus says Yahweh, ‘Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.’" 2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh, 3 and said, "Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight." Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying, 5 "Go, and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city. 7 This shall be the sign to you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do this thing that he has spoken. 8 Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. So the sun returned ten steps on the sundial on which it had gone down."’"

9 The writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick, and had recovered of his sickness. 10 I said, "In the middle of my life I go into the gates of Sheol. I am deprived of the residue of my years." 11 I said, "I won’t see Yah, Yah in the land of the living. I will see man no more with the inhabitants of the world. 12 My dwelling is removed, and is carried away from me like a shepherd’s tent. I have rolled up, like a weaver, my life. He will cut me off from the loom. From day even to night you will make an end of me. 13 I waited patiently until morning. He breaks all my bones like a lion. From day even to night you will make an end of me. 14 I chattered like a swallow or a crane. I moaned like a dove. My eyes weaken looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed. Be my security." 15 What will I say? He has both spoken to me, and himself has done it. I will walk carefully all my years because of the anguish of my soul. 16 Lord, men live by these things; and my spirit finds life in all of them: you restore me, and cause me to live. 17 Behold, for peace I had great anguish, but you have in love for my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for you have cast all my sins behind your back. 18 For Sheol can’t praise you. Death can’t celebrate you. Those who go down into the pit can’t hope for your truth. 19 The living, the living, he shall praise you, as I do this day. The father shall make known your truth to the children. 20 Yahweh will save me. Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of Yahweh. 21 Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a cake of figs, and lay it for a poultice on the boil, and he shall recover." 22 Hezekiah also had said, "What is the sign that I will go up to the house of Yahweh?"

Isaiah 39

39:1 At that time, Merodach Baladan the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah; for he heard that he had been sick, and had recovered. 2 Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, the spices, and the precious oil, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah didn’t show them. 3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to king Hezekiah, and asked him, "What did these men say? Where did they come from to you?" Hezekiah said, "They have come from a country far from me, even from Babylon." 4 Then he asked, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen all that is in my house. There is nothing among my treasures that I have not shown them."

Leviticus 18-20 Soul, Spiritual, and Sexual Holiness

Psalm 18:28-50 Shielded and Saved

18:28 (24 Therefore Yahweh has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight.) “For you will light my lamp, Yahweh. My God will light up my darkness. 29 For by you, I advance through a troop. By my God, I leap over a wall. 30 As for God, his way is perfect. The word of Yahweh is tried. He is a shield to all those who take refuge in him. 31 For who is God, except Yahweh? Who is a rock, besides our God, 32 the God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect? 33 He makes my feet like deer’s feet, and sets me on my high places. 34 He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms bend a bow of bronze. 35 You have also given me the shield of your salvation. Your right hand sustains me. Your gentleness/willingness to help (NET) has made me great. 36 You have enlarged my steps under me, my feet have not slipped. 46 Yahweh lives; and blessed be my rock. Exalted be the God of my salvation, 47 even the God who executes vengeance for me, and subdues peoples under me. 48 He rescues me from my enemies. Yes, you lift me up above those who rise up against me. You deliver me from the violent man. 49 Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations, and will sing praises to your name. 50 He gives great deliverance to his king, and shows hesed/loyal covenantal love to his anointed, to David and to his seed, forevermore.

Observations: 18:1-8 See post on Genesis 49 for vv 1-27

18:28-50 David depends upon God who not only provided defensive protection, but teaches and empowers David to triumph over his enemies. David knows God as the rock, but also the recompenser who executes vengeance in treading down his enemies. I edited out all the verses about beating up his enemies, because most of us don't need that kind of encouragement. David praises God for His salvation/deliverance, recognizing that is a function of His hesed as promised in the Davidic covenant (2 Samuel 7) to not just him, but his descendants as well.

Application: We should trust God for both His defensive and offensive help, and praise Him for loyally executing justice for us.

Prayer: Thanks God, that I can trust You to protect me, and teach me what You want me to do, so that Your name might be exalted in my life. Amen.

Proverbs 5:18-21 Antidote to Adultery

Pr 5:18 “(15 Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well.) 18 Let your spring be blessed. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. 19 A loving doe and a graceful deer—let her breasts satisfy you at all times. Be captivated/intoxicated always with her love. 20 For why should you, my son, be captivated with an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another? 21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of Yahweh. He examines all his paths.“

Observations: 5:18-21 One of the four sins frequently listed in the prophets, to which God attributes judgment and captivity, is adultery (unrighteousness, injustice, and idolatry/pagan worship are the others). The family unit was the building block of religious, economic, and political society. Adultery and immorality undermine the marriage relationship and family. Children who have only one parent are less wealthy, less healthy, and less wise, than their two parent counterparts. They are also a very high risk for criminal activity. The solution is to have a family and marriage as God intended, and it doesn't happen by accident. The underlying motivation is fearing and pleasing God (5:21) knowing He sees and judges all actions. The environment of the relationship needs to be such that each person's needs are mutually met, and delights mutually indulged, resulting in joy. Obviously marriage is not just for procreation. “Rejoice” in 5:18 is a command, which requires heart-mind-soul-strength obedience. The object of and companion in rejoicing is one's wife (not someone else's). The doe and deer imagery is that of sensual fertility in the Song of Solomon. “Satisfy” in 5:19 a Piel Imperfect (intentional and ongoing) verb meaning to “be drunk/saturated”. To be “ravished-captivated-intoxicated” describes the ongoing (Qal Imperfect) effect of the wife's love upon her husband. Such a relationship would render a man impervious to another woman's charms, but will only happen if he charms his wife. If tempted to stray (on a bad day) the author reminds the reader that God's watching and remembering all we do. See Marriage Resources on Truthbase.net for help in cultivating such a relationship. Like all things that are worthy, it's work, but worth it.

1 Corinthians 7:2 Nevertheless, because of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband. 3 Let the husband render to his wife the affection due her, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. And likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

Application: We will reap what we sow. If we want a bed of strawberries, we can't plant radishes, and allow thistles and thorns to grow.

Prayer: Lord, thanks that You are sufficient for all my needs; may I draw upon Your grace to live as You intended, and reap the blessings of obedience. Amen.

Leviticus 18-20 These three chapters detail the daily holiness we need to receive the blessings God has planned for His people.

Leviticus 18 From Ritual to Sexual Purity

What about "No" do
you not understand?

18:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, I am Yahweh your God. 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, in which you lived, you shall not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, where I bring you, you shall not do; neither shall you walk in their statutes. 4 My ordinances shall you do, and my statutes shall you keep, to walk therein: I am Yahweh your God. 5 You shall therefore keep my statutes, and my ordinances; which if a man obeys, he shall live by them (NIV): I am Yahweh. 6 None of you shall approach to any who are close relatives to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am Yahweh. 20 You shall not lie carnally with your neighbor`s wife, to defile yourself with her. 21 You shall not give any of your seed to make them pass through [~~fire~~] to Molech; neither shall you profane the name of your God: I am Yahweh. 22 You shall not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination...25 The land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity of it on it...26 You therefore shall keep my statutes and my ordinances, and shall not do any of these abominations; neither the home-born, nor the stranger who sojourns among you; 27 (for all these abominations have the men of the land done, that were before you, and defile it, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. 29 For whoever shall do any of these abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore shall you keep my charge, that you not practice any of these abominable customs, which were practiced before you, and that you not defile yourselves therein: I am Yahweh your God.

Observations: 18:5 Obedience results in life in the Promised Land. Disobedience, in expulsion, and being cut off from blessings.

18:6 God is concerned about our sexuality and prohibits all manner of incest, and a few other things. An essential part of spirituality is not having our life governed by our natural passions, instincts, or desires, but sublimating them for a higher objective, living within holy/separate boundaries in obedience to God.

18:21 Molech was a Canaanite fertility deity. See under Digging Deeper.

18:22 This is a pretty clear prohibition against homosexuality. It is not about sex with male temple prostitutes, for that would not impregnate a pagan and pollute the name of Yahweh. See Digging Deeper.

18:26 With apologies to my libertarian friends, God regulates the sexuality of all people in the land.

18:25-30 As God promised Abe in Gen 15, He is punishing the inhabitants of the Promised Land for their iniquity. If Israel engages in the same practices, the Just God will be forced to punish them as well.

Application: Sexual purity or impurity starts in our soul (mind, will, emotions/values) before it manifests itself in our bodies.

1Thess 4:1 Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.3 For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4 that each one of you know how to possess himself of his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don't know God; 6 that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. 7 For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8 Therefore he who rejects this doesn't reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.

Prayer: My Creator and Maker, You are infinitely wise and loving; You know what's best; thank You for creating me with desires and giving me grace to use or not use them as You desire. Amen.

Leviticus 19 Other-centered Holiness

19:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, You shall be holy; for I Yahweh your God am holy. 3 You shall fear every man his mother, and his father; and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am Yahweh your God. 4 Don`t turn to idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am Yahweh your God. 5 When you offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings to Yahweh, you shall offer it that you may be accepted...8... and that soul shall be cut off from his people. 9 When you reap the harvest of your land...10 leave the corners for the poor and for the sojourner: I am Yahweh your God. 11 You shall not steal; neither shall you deal falsely, nor lie one to another. 12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God: I am Yahweh. 13 You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him: the wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God: I am Yahweh. 15 You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: you shall not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty; but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go up and down as a talebearer among your people: neither shall you stand against the blood of your neighbor: I am Yahweh. 17 You shall not hate your brother in your heart: you shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people; but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am Yahweh. 19 You shall keep my statutes.

23 When you shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then you shall count the fruit of it as their uncircumcision: three years shall they be as uncircumcised to you; it shall not be eaten. 24 But in the fourth year all the fruit of it shall be holy, for giving praise to Yahweh. 25 In the fifth year shall you eat of the fruit of it, that it may yield to you the increase of it: I am Yahweh your God. 26 You shall not eat anything with the blood: neither shall you use enchantments, nor practice sorcery/soothsaying. 31 Don`t turn to those who have familiar spirits/mediums, nor to the wizards; don`t seek them out, to be defiled by them: I am Yahweh your God. 37 You shall observe all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and do them: I am Yahweh.

Observations: Most of the commands in the first half of the chapter are foundational to any stable society and economy. The latter half has some more Israel-entering-the-Promised-Land specific commands, but some applicable to us today (and repeated in other places). Understanding the principles or purpose behind the commands helps us determine how they apply to us today.

19:5 Even offering a sacrifice to God must be done as He specified or it would not be accepted and you would be cut off from blessing. If that bothers you, remember that He is God and you're not. If that thought bothers you, you haven't quite grasped the whole Creator-creature thing. Satan didn't either.

19:9 God is concerned about both the greed, and the poor of His people. By leaving some of the harvest in the field one guarded against greed and gave the poor (and sojourners) an opportunity to work to gather it for themselves.

19:16-18 Loving your neighbor as yourself sums up the law according to Jesus and Paul, for it does the neighbor no harm (cx. 19:16 talebearer). Note that rebuking your neighbor is tied into loving him/her.

Mt 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother”

19:23-25 Is one of the Israel specific in practice, but in principle God owns it all and we show that by giving Him the first-fruits, trusting Him to give us what we need. A little self-control and delayed gratification would enable greater blessings.

19:26&31 Enchantments, sorcery, saying “sooth” and consulting the dead spirits or wizards (knowers of esoteric knowledge) cause defilement. All are demonically energized attempts to predict and control our reality apart from God's revelation. Don't go there; it's dark, because it's away from the Light.

Application: What would happen if you treated others the way you would want them to treat you?

Prayer: All Sufficient Meeter of All My Needs, thank You that all my needs can be met in my relationship with You, so I'm free to love rather than use others (to meet my needs). Amen.

Leviticus 20 Walk This Way or Get Whooped

20:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, Whoever he be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel, who gives of his seed to Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 I also will set my face against that man, and will cut him off from among his people; because he has given of his seed to Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. 4 If the people at the land do at all hide their eyes from that man, when he gives of his seed to Molech, and don`t put him to death; 5 then I will set my face against that man, and against his family, and will cut him off, and all who play the prostitute after him, to play the prostitute with Molech, from among their people.

6 The soul that turns to those who have familiar spirits, and to the wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people. 7 Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be you holy; for I am Yahweh your God. 8 You shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am Yahweh who sanctifies you. 9 For everyone who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death: he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be on him. 10 The man who commits adultery...13 If a man lie with mankind, as with womankind, both of them have committed abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be on them. 23 You shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. 24 But I have said to you, You shall inherit their land, and I will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey: I am Yahweh your God, who has separated you from the peoples. 25 You shall therefore make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean fowl and the clean: and you shall not make your souls abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean. 26 You shall be holy to me: for I, Yahweh, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine. 27 A man also or a woman that has a familiar spirit, or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be on them.

Observations: This chapter repeats FOR EMPHASIS a number of items from the previous chapter. The role of the community in maintaining holiness is highlighted.

20:1-5 The people had the responsibility to not turn a blind eye to defiling practices, because defilement affected the entire community. Either they did what was right or they would suffer the same fate of the wrong-doer. Stoning was communal justice. See Digging Deeper for more on Molech.

20:6-7 Failure to look to God for guidance by seeking mediums and wizards (see last chapter) resulted in God declaring Himself to be your enemy. Not good. Holiness on the other hand is good, because it keeps one from being cut off or disqualified from God's blessings.

10-27 Bans on adultery and homosexuality, and the Dark Arts are repeated as are the commands to be holy so you don't share the destiny of the defiled (v23).

1Pt 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be sober and set your hope fully on the grace (praise, glory and honor v7) that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ 14 as children of obedience, not conforming yourselves according to your former lusts as in your ignorance, 15 but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; 16 because it is written, "You shall be holy; for I am holy." 17 If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man's work, pass the time of your living as sojourners here in fear.

Application: Do you use the Scriptures to guide your walk on this planet, or do you just follow the crowd or your desires?

Prayer: Holy God, guide me in the paths that lead to godliness, so that I may be holy as You are Holy. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

Deeper Understanding Through Bible Study
(or being a mole about Molech)

I'm including this blurb to give those of you who want an more accurate understanding of the Scriptures a little insight into how to attain that. In most, if not all, cases where the translators had a difficulty interpreting a verse, it doesn't really matter. You would not follow God any differently.

Lev 18:21 Molech was a Canaanite fertility deity. In other passages and archeological evidence, children were sacrificed to him by fire. However, most translations of Lev 18:21 indicating sacrificing children by fire are incorrect. The original text is inspired; translations are not.

First, the passage is clearly in the context of sex (most of the chapter, and the verses above and below). So why the reference to Molech? It seems out of place. Inquiring minds want to know.

Second, we notice that “fire” is not in the original text. Where did that come from? Cross-references. The translators added “fire” to the text to try to reflect their understanding of Molech from other references. Interpreting Scripture with Scripture can lead to error, if you don't first understand the Scriptures in their original context. Only then you can compare your understanding of one verse with other verses. Otherwise you're building a theology on the basis of hundreds of half understood verses, or half-truths. Shaky ground to stand upon.

Genesis 12-15 Abram the Father of Faith

Psalm 4:3-5 Do You Give God Anything Besides Your Laundry List?

4:3 "But know that Yahweh has set apart for Himself him who is godly: Yahweh will hear when I call to Him. 4 Stand in awe/tremble, and don't sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah. 5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in Yahweh."

Observation: 4:3 Prayer is communication in a relationship. God hears the prayers of those rightly related to Him (cx Proverbs 28:9), who take pains to be pleasing to Him.

4:5 offer a) the right/specified sacrifices; or b) sacrifices that come from a searched, still, non-sinning heart (better option), or c) ones that consist of righteous behavior (possible, but not as righteous as the 2nd option).

Application: Give God what He wants, if you expect Him to do the same. What are you giving Him?

Prayer: Lover of my soul, I want to please You. Please help me be pleasing in all I think, feel, value, and do. Amen.

Proverbs 1:20-33 Hearing Wisdom

1:20 “Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. 21 She calls at the chief place of concourse. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: 22 "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you.

24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; 25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; 26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. 28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; 29 because they hated knowledge, and didn’t choose the fear of Yahweh. 30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes.

32 For the turning away of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm."

Observations: 1:20-33 These are some of the scariest verses in the wisdom literature.

1:20-23 Wisdom calls out in the various spheres of life, where decisions need to be made. If the simple/naive, mockers/scorners, and fools, listen to wisdom, and repent/turn at her reproof (bringing incorrect behavior to light by showing actions and consequences), then wisdom would pour out her spirit on them, and make known her wise ways, and all would be good.

1:24-31 But because the naïve fools thought they knew better, they refused to listen, didn't pay attention, ignored wise counsel, and didn't want any reproof, or anyone telling them what do to (like a rebellious toddler), then wisdom would justly refuse to listen to them. When the folly of their stupid schemes overtakes them, and they start experiencing the earned consequences of their dumb decisions, like disaster, distress, calamity and anguish, they will desperately seek deliverance and help, but it will be too late. Since they didn't choose wisdom and to fear God, they will reap their folly and fear all kinds of harm. That is not only just, but necessary; the time to seek wisdom is before, not after the fact. They didn't want God's perspective and guidance when He wanted to give it to them, and when they most needed it. They foolishly chose to jump off the cliff; halfway down to getting dashed on the rocks is too late to ask if they should have jumped. Free-will isn't freedom from responsibility, because it has very significant and expensive consequences attached to each decision. Only God can guide to what's good, which is why fearing and seeking Him is wise.

1:32-33 The first chapter of this book of wisdom ends with a classic choice of two paths. One, that of turning away from the instruction of wisdom, or carelessly doing what comes naturally, will result in death and destruction (not a wise choice for any but the insane). The other path, listening to instruction, and fearing the God of wisdom (first step of wisdom is to fear God, caring about what is right in His sight), will result in safety, security, and pleasures forevermore (the sane choice).

Application: If we don't listen to God, He doesn't listen to us.

Prayer: Lord, may I humbly and receptively seek Your will in all I do, before it is too late; may I be sensitive to Your guidance, and the daily recipient of Your help. Thanks. Amen.

Genesis 12-15

If you are short on time, the excerpts from chapter 12 and chapter 15 are really foundational.

Genesis 12 Abrahamic Covenant

12:1 "Now Yahweh had said to Abram, “Get out of your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you.” 4 So Abram went, as Yahweh had spoken to him...7 Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your seed.” 8...There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on the name of Yahweh."

Observations: God wants His people separate (root idea of holy) from those around them, so when He blesses (remember He does that) it can be seen that folks are being blessed because they are His people. Note the three elements of the promise.

Land which gets elaborated upon in the next chapters and the Palestinian Covenant (Deuteronomy),
Nation, which implies people which implies offspring (seed) [more in next post]. Elaborated in the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7; Psalm 89),
Blessing, personal, interpersonal, and global. Elaborated upon in the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31).

Questions: What did Abram have to do to get these blessings?

Hebrews 11:8 "By faith, Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went."(typical guy)

Application: How do you demonstrate faith in God's promises?

Prayer: Giver of All That Is Good, I praise You, that You have revealed Yourself to be the God Who Blesses. Thank you. Amen.

Genesis 12-13 Abraham Tells a Half Truth
12:10 "There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there...13 Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.” 13:11 Abram went up out of Egypt: he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South. 12 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold...14 Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land which you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then your seed may also be numbered."

Observations: The promised land wasn't looking too promising, so Abram went down to Egypt, encountered difficulties, had a little trouble completely trusting God, but came back loaded with some of the blessings God promised. He does a little better with the challenges to his faith in God's blessing in the next section.

Hebrews 11:9 "By faith, he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents, with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked for the city which has the foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

13:14 Frequently God has to rearrange our lives to get us to a place of blessing. In some cases separation from old acquaintances who don't want to follow God is necessary. The bigger issue is usually separating us from our temporal desires and comfort zone.

Genesis 14 Melchizedek and God Most High

14:14 "When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued... 18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Abram gave him a tenth of all. 21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods to yourself.” 22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’"

Observations: Abram again faces difficulties, and again comes out blessed even more!
14:18 Melchizedek comes out with bread and wine, and blesses him some more (maybe foreshadowing future universal blessing). Who was this guy whose name means “King of Righteousness”? He's a king (of a place that means peace) and a priest of the Most High/Supreme God. Messianic Psalm 110, and Hebrews 5-7 have more tantalizing tidbits of information about him. Could there be some revelation outside of what's preserved in the supernaturally authenticated pages of Scripture? See Digging Deeper below.

14:22 If you're looking to God to bless you and meet your needs, it would be disloyal to seek those things apart from Him.

Genesis 15 You Better Believe It

15:1 "After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.” 2 Abram said, “Lord* Yahweh, what will You give me, since I go childless...3 Abram said, “Behold, to me You have given no seed: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” 5 Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So shall your seed be.” 6 He believed in Yahweh; and He reckoned it to him for righteousness. 7 He said to him, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

Observations: 15:2 Abram embraces Yahweh as his Lord and Leader, using the term for Master.

15:3 God listens to and responds to the concerns and desires of His people (Psalm 145:16).

15:6 is quoted in the NT as the definitive statement of righteousness by faith (Romans 4:3; Galatians 3:6). While Abram is busy counting stars, God is accounting righteousness to him, on the basis of his belief. “Salvation” is always by faith, what one has to believe can vary. Adam had to believe that if he ate, he'd die; Noah, that a flood was coming; Abram, that God would bless him; Exodus audience, that God would accept the sacrifices (see Leviticus); the initial NT audience, that the promised OT kingdom was coming; Post-cross audience, that the Father accepts Jesus' death as full payment for our sins. Grace is the basis, faith is the channel of blessing.

Lexical Light: The word for believe is used of the pillars supporting a door, or a nursemaid entrusted with the care of a baby. The root idea is trust. When we believe God we trust that what He says is the real nature of things. See Hebrews 11:6 in the Genesis 6-9 post.

Questions: What is it that Abram believed? What do you believe?

Prayer: Lord God, thanks for graciously blessing folks. Help me believe all You've revealed, and look only to You as the Source of my good. Amen.

Genesis 15 Let's Cut a Deal

15:8 He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?”...12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. 13 He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your seed will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. 14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth, 15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried in a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.” 17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the Kenites, the Kenizzites...20 the Hittites, the Parasites* and Termites*...21 the Amorites, the Canaanites....” *just kidding

Observations: 5:13-15 Israel's enslavement in Egypt was no accident; it was part of God's plan to bless them, just as Abram had been blessed by his time in Egypt.

5:16 Note God is again patiently waiting to judge the rebellious Amorites; waiting until their sin becomes obvious. How did they sin? The word “iniquity” usually connotes guilt from violating a right or duty (similar to the English), and comes from a root that means to bend or twist what was correct. God had given them revelation, either directly, or through nature, or through conscience, but they apparently ignored it, for over 400 years. God raised up a nation from one chosen, obedient, childless, former idolater (Joshua 24:2) to judge the evil ones.

Lexical Light: 5:18 The Hebrew for “make a covenant” comes from two roots that have the meaning of “cut.” You'd agree on terms; cut an animal in two; lay the pieces on the ground; join hands and walk between the pieces saying something like: “May what happened to this animal happen to us if we don't keep our word on this deal.” Then you'd seal the deal with a meal or sacrifice. Note that Abram was snoozing and only God passed between the halves. That means that the grant of the land is unconditional. The possession of it is another story, see Deuteronomy, dependent upon obedience. Abram did what God revealed; God did the rest.

Questions: By what right does anyone “own” land? Both historically (war or community consent), and in modern times (taxes) one's right to land is dependent upon one's ability to protect and defend it.

Digging Deeper:
The earliest account of religious worship in China is found in the Shu Jing (Book of History or Book of Documents), the oldest Chinese historical source. This book records that in the year 2230 B.C., the Emperor Shun “sacrificed to Shangdi.” That is, he sacrificed to the supreme God of the ancient Chinese, Shangdi meaning Supreme Ruler. This ceremony came to be known as the “Border Sacrifice,” because at the summer solstice the Emperor took part in ceremonies on the northern border (earth) of the country, and at the winter solstice he offered a sacrifice on the southern border (heaven). A bull was sacrificed, rather than worshiped (as in the pagan religions around Israel). The monotheistic prayers offered reflect a Creator speaking the world into existence, and sound just like the OT Psalms. Hmmmm.

God in a nutshell: He loves to bless, and rewards faith. He makes and keeps covenants with His people. He is concerned about our desires and has a plan to meet them that tie into purposes beyond ourselves. The timing of the fulfillment of His promises requires patient faith.

Us in a nutshell: We tend to look for immediate gratification, and need to be sustained by God's grace to hang onto our hope for the fulfillment of His promises. Like Abram, we waver a little, now and then, but as we mature, we are stable. We have a part to play in the fulfillment of His promises, usually centered around obedience to what He's revealed.

Where to Go for More:

Border Sacrifice Prayers

More on parallels between the OT and the original Chinese religion

Genesis 12-15 (complete text)

Genesis 12

12:1 "Now Yahweh said to Abram, “Get out of your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. All of the families of the earth will be blessed in you.”

4 So Abram went, as Yahweh had spoken to him. Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5 Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his brother’s son, all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls whom they had gotten in Haran, and they went to go into the land of Canaan. Into the land of Canaan they came. 6 Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. The Canaanite was then in the land.

7 Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your seed .”

He built an altar there to Yahweh, who appeared to him. 8 He left from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on the name of Yahweh. 9 Abram traveled, going on still toward the South.

10 There was a famine in the land. Abram went down into Egypt to live as a foreigner there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 It happened, when he had come near to enter Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman to look at. 12 It will happen, when the Egyptians will see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ They will kill me, but they will save you alive. 13 Please say that you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that my soul may live because of you.”

14 It happened that when Abram had come into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that the woman was very beautiful. 15 The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh; and the woman was taken into Pharaoh’s house. 16 He dealt well with Abram for her sake. He had sheep, cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels. 17 Yahweh plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram’s wife. 18 Pharaoh called Abram and said, “What is this that you have done to me? Why didn’t you tell me that she was your wife? 19 Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, see your wife, take her, and go your way.”

20 Pharaoh commanded men concerning him, and they brought him on the way with his wife and all that he had.

Genesis 13

13:1 "Abram went up out of Egypt: he, his wife, all that he had, and Lot with him, into the South. 2 Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. 3 He went on his journeys from the South even to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, 4 to the place of the altar, which he had made there at the first. There Abram called on the name of Yahweh. 5 Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 The land was not able to bear them, that they might live together: for their substance was great, so that they could not live together. 7 There was a strife between the herdsmen of Abram’s livestock and the herdsmen of Lot’s livestock: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite lived in the land at that time. 8 Abram said to Lot, “Please, let there be no strife between me and you, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are relatives. 9 Isn’t the whole land before you? Please separate yourself from me. If you go to the left hand, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right hand, then I will go to the left.”

10 Lot lifted up his eyes, and saw all the plain of the Jordan, that it was well-watered everywhere, before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt, as you go to Zoar. 11 So Lot chose the Plain of the Jordan for himself. Lot traveled east, and they separated themselves the one from the other. 12 Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived in the cities of the plain, and moved his tent as far as Sodom. 13 Now the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinners against Yahweh.

14 Yahweh said to Abram, after Lot was separated from him, “Now, lift up your eyes, and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, 15 for all the land which you see, I will give to you, and to your offspring forever. 16 I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then your seed may also be numbered.17 Arise, walk through the land in its length and in its breadth; for I will give it to you.”

18 Abram moved his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to Yahweh."

Genesis 14

14:1 "It happened in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goiim, 2 that they made war with Bera, king of Sodom, and with Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Admah, and Shemeber, king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar). 3 All these joined together in the valley of Siddim (the same is the Salt Sea). 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year, they rebelled. 5 In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer came, and the kings who were with him, and struck the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, and the Zuzim in Ham, and the Emim in Shaveh Kiriathaim, 6 and the Horites in their Mount Seir, to Elparan, which is by the wilderness. 7 They returned, and came to En Mishpat (the same is Kadesh), and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that lived in Hazazon Tamar. 8 The king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (the same is Zoar) went out; and they set the battle in array against them in the valley of Siddim; 9 against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against the five. 10 Now the valley of Siddim was full of tar pits; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and they fell there, and those who remained fled to the hills. 11 They took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their food, and went their way. 12 They took Lot, Abram’s brother’s son, who lived in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.

13 One who had escaped came and told Abram, the Hebrew. Now he lived by the oaks of Mamre, the Amorite, brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner; and these were allies of Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative was taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and pursued as far as Dan. 15 He divided himself against them by night, he and his servants, and struck them, and pursued them to Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 He brought back all the goods, and also brought back his relative, Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people.

17 The king of Sodom went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, at the valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). 18 Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine: and he was priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him, and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”

Abram gave him a tenth of all.

21 The king of Sodom said to Abram, “Give me the people, and take the goods to yourself.”

22 Abram said to the king of Sodom, “I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth, 23 that I will not take a thread nor a sandal strap nor anything that is yours, lest you should say, ‘I have made Abram rich.’ 24 I will accept nothing from you except that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre. Let them take their portion.”

Genesis 15

15:1 "After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”

2 Abram said, “Lord* Yahweh, what will You give me, since I go childless, and he who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 Abram said, “Behold, to me You have given no seed: and, behold, one born in my house is my heir.”

4 Behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This man will not be your heir, but he who will come out of your own body will be your heir.” 5 Yahweh brought him outside, and said, “Look now toward the sky, and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He said to Abram, “So shall your seed be.” 6 He believed in Yahweh; and He reckoned it to him for righteousness. 7 He said to him, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give you this land to inherit it.”

8 He said, “Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?”

9 He said to him, “Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon.” 10 He brought him all of these, and divided them in the middle, and laid each half opposite the other; but he didn’t divide the birds. 11 The birds of prey came down on the carcasses, and Abram drove them away.

12 When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell on Abram. Now terror and great darkness fell on him. 13 He said to Abram, “Know for sure that your seed will live as foreigners in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them. They will afflict them four hundred years. 14 I will also judge that nation, whom they will serve. Afterward they will come out with great wealth, 15 but you will go to your fathers in peace. You will be buried in a good old age. 16 In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorite is not yet full.” 17 It came to pass that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold, a smoking furnace, and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18 In that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your seed I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates: 19 the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, 20 the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, 21 the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites.”

Isaiah 34-39 Prophecy Fulfilled

Leviticus 18-20 Soul, Spiritual, and Sexual Holiness

Genesis 12-15 Abram the Father of Faith

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