Joshua 21
Levites asks Joshua for towns verse 1- 3
Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto
Eleazar the priest – Joshua the son of Nun
the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel
And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan
saying
The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities
to dwell in – with the suburbs thereof for our cattle
And the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance
at the commandment of the LORD – these cities and their suburbs
Kohathites towns verse 4- 5
And the LOT came out for the families of the Kohathites
and the children of Aaron the priest
which were of the Levites – had by LOT out of the tribe of
Judah – Simeon – Benjamin – thirteen cities
And the rest of the children of Kohath had by LOT out of the families the
tribe of Ephraim – tribe of Dan – half tribe of Manasseh – ten cities
Gershon towns verse 6
And the children of Gershon had by LOT out the families of the tribe of
Asher – Naphtali – half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan
thirteen cites
Merari towns verse 7
The children of Merari by their families of the tribe of
Reuben – Gad – Zebulun – twelve cities
Children of Israel obeyed the LORD verse 8
And the children of Israel gave by LOT to the Levites these cities
with their suburbs as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses
Cities given to the children of Aaron verse 9- 19
And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah – Simeon
these cities which are her mentioned by name
Which the children of Aaron being of the families of the Kohathites
who were the children of Levi
had for their was the FIRST LOT
And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak
which city is Hebron in the hill country of Judah
with the suburbs thereof round about it
BUT the fields of the city and the villages thereof
gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession
Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron
with her suburbs to be a city of refuge for the slayer
Libnah with her suburbs – Jattir with her suburbs
– Eshtemoa with her suburbs Holon with her suburbs
Debir with her suburbs – Ain with her suburbs
Juttah with her suburbs – Beth-shemesh with her suburbs
nine cities out of those two tribes
And out of the tribe of Benjamin – Gibeon with there suburbs
Gebar with her suburbs – Anathoth with her suburbs
Almon with her suburbs – four cities
All the cities of the children of Aaron – the priests
were thirteen cities with their suburbs
Cities given to Kohathites verse 20- 26
And the families of the children of Kohath
the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath
even they had the cities of their LOT
out of the tribe of Ephraim
FOR they gave them – Shechem with here suburbs in mount Ephraim
to be a city of refuge for the slayer – Gezer with her suburbs
Kibzaim with her suburbs – Beth-horon with her suburbs
four cities
Out of the tribe of Dan
Eltekeh with her suburbs
Gibbethon with her suburbs
Aijalon with her suburbs
Gath-rimmon with her suburbs – four cities
Out of the half tribe of Manasseh – Tanach with her suburbs
Gath-rimmon with her suburbs – two cities
All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the
children of Kohath that remained
Cities given to Gershon clan verse 27- 33
And to the children of Gershon – of the families of the Levites
out of the other half tribe of Manasseh – they gave
Golan in Bashan with her suburbs
to be a city of refuge for the slayer
Beesh-terah with her suburbs – two cities
Out of the tribe of Issachar – Kishon with her suburbs
Dabareh with her suburbs – Jarmuth with her suburbs
En-gannim with her suburbs – four cities
Out of the tribe of Asher – Mishal with her suburbs
Abdon with her suburbs – Helkath with her suburbs
Rehob with her suburbs – four cities
Out of the tribe of Naphtali – Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs
to be a city of refuge for the slayer
Hammoth-dor with her suburbs
Kartan with her suburbs three cities
All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families
were thirteen cities with their suburbs
Cities given to Merari clan verse 34- 40
And unto the families of the children of Merari – the rest of the Levites
out of the tribe of Zebulun – Jokneam with her suburbs
Kartah with her suburbs – Dimnah with her suburbs
Nahalal with her suburbs – four cities
Out of the tribe of Reuben – Bezer with her suburbs
Jahazah with her suburbs – Kedemoth with her suburbs
Mephaath with her suburbs – four cities
Out of the tribe of Gad – Ramoth of Gilead with her suburbs
to be a city of refuge for the slayer
Mahanaim with her suburbs – Heshbon with her suburbs
Jazer with her suburbs – four cities in all
So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families
which were remaining of the families of the Levites
were by their lot twelve cities
Forty eight cities given to the Levites verse 41- 42
All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the
children of Israel were forty and eight cities
with their suburbs
These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them
thus were all these cities
LORD fulfilled HIS promises verse 43- 45
And the LORD gave to Israel all the land which HE swore
to give to their fathers – and they possessed it
and dwelt therein
And the LORD gave them rest round about
according to all that he swore unto their fathers
and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them
the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand
THERE FAILED NOT aught of any good thing which the LORD had spoken
to the house of Israel – ALL CAME TO PASS
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs. (6310 “commandment” [peh] means mouth, word, appointment, communication, opening, statement, or decision)
DEVOTION: One of the characteristics all believers must encourage in their life is obedience. The children of Israel knew what the LORD wanted regarding the Promised Land. They knew what HE had promised to the Levites.
They were not to receive a portion of land because the LORD was their inheritance. However, they were to be given cities and their suburbs for their families and cattle. Part of the cities they were to receive had to be used as cities of refuge for those who had killed someone accidently. These cities were located throughout the land, so that, the slayer wouldn’t have to far to run to get away from the avenger of blood. There were six cities of refuge scattered across the Promised Land.
Now once all the tribes received their land the Levites came to Joshua and Eleazer the high priest and asked them for the cities the LORD had promised them.
It is never wrong to ask for something for them LORD that HE has promised. It is never wrong to go to those in leadership and ask them to help them receive a promise from the LORD.
How can this happen today? Prayer!!! The leaders and the people need to go to the LORD and ask HIM at times for something HE has promised believers when they are needed for individuals or for the church as a whole.
If the LORD has promised something, HE will give it to those who ask in faith believing. This is not the health and wealth gospel. It is asking for blessings that are promised that many times don’t deal with health or wealth.
Our prayer life should be such that we can feel comfortable going to the LORD and asking HIM for those needs that we have to keep us faithful to HIM. HE is not to give us too much or we might drift from HIM. Nor is HE to give too little that we might complain about HIM. HE will give us just want we need when we need it, so that, we PRAISE HIM.
CHALLENGE: Are you being obedient to the LORD by going to HIM on a regular basis expecting HIM to give you what you need?
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 8 And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. (6680 “commanded” [tsavah] means to give an order, instruct, to charge someone do something, to lay a charge upon, appoint, commission, or ordain (of divine act))
DEVOTION: Obedience to the LORD brings blessing to those who are willing to trust the LORD with their possession. Here we have the tribes giving cities and their suburbs to the Levites.
Remember the Levites were not promised a plot of land but they were promised cites in the Promised Land for them to live in and raise their families. They received the suburbs, so that, they could have room for their cattle. They were allowed some land and property from the LORD.
Service to the LORD doesn’t mean that you can’t own anything. It means that you are to make sure that you don’t expect more than the LORD wants to give you. Too often men want to be pastors to see how much they can receive from the LORD instead of doing it to give all they can to the LORD. Attitude toward possessions is something that those in leadership have to watch. The children of Levi came to the two leaders and just asked for what the LORD had promised them.
Are we asking for more than the LORD has promised us as individuals? Are our leaders asking for more than the LORD has promised? God wants us to be content with what we have. It is not a sin to claim the promises of God, as long as, you are not demanding more and more from HIM because you think you deserve more.
So the people of Israel had to be obedient to the LORD and the Levites had to be obedient to the LORD. If both were obedient than the LORD’S name is glorified both then and now.
CHALLENGE: If both pastor and people are obedient to the LORD HIS work will flourish in our world.
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: 26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained. (3498 “remained” [yathar] means to leave over, to give prosperity, to have priority, remain over, residue, be left behind, or surviving)
DEVOTION: The LORD took care of those who were part of the priesthood whether they were priests or not. Here we have the list of cities given to the tribe of Levi to help the people of Israel spiritually.
These cities of refuse were not just for those who had killed someone accidently. They were for the spiritual growth of the nation as their leaders, such as Moses and Joshua, died and the people were left to grow spiritually.
If there was only one place that was a spiritual teaching place in the nation it would soon die off spiritually. But with all the cities of refuse scattered around the nation there were supposed to be places where people could turn for spiritual advice and guidance.
God knew that if Jerusalem was the only place there would be trouble. Each of these refuge cites had priests in them that had places of worship. The sacrifices could be brought and the people could be prayed for and given guidance.
Today we have churches throughout the world. Not all places that are called churches are spiritually leading the people around them in the correct teachings of the Word of God but many are fulfilling their responsibility of guiding people who come in the Word of God correctly.
There have always been false teachers that say they represent the LORD but only a few are genuine. Discernment is necessary to make sure a believer is not led in the wrong direction.
Prayer is necessary for the Holy Spirit to guide those who are genuinely looking to serve the LORD.
All churches should be lighthouses for the LORD. Make sure you pick one that is truly a lighthouse for the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Study the Word of God to make sure that you are following the right leaders.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 41 And the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs. (272 “possession” [achuzzah] means landed property, any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone, site, or owned by inheritance.)
DEVOTION: The religious leaders of Israel were given forty-eight cities of which six were cities of refuge. The descendants of Aaron lived in a city of refuge. They were the priests to the Tabernacle in that day. Remember that an individual who slew someone innocently had to run to a city of refuge to be safe from the avenger of blood. He had to live in one of these refuge cities until the High Priest died.
So we have the children of Levi receiving not an inheritance but land was given to them by each tribe. The land was used to raise their families. The land was used to support their families. The land was used to protect those who were innocent.
Throughout the land of Israel there were families that served the LORD. They had a special place in the heart of God and should have a special place in the hearts of the children of Israel.
Today we need to make sure that we support those who are working in the ministry. They are to be there as servants of the LORD. They need a place to live and raise their families to honor the LORD. They need to make sure that they can support their families either through the salary of the church or through working outside the church.
The philosophy that states “LORD you keep them humble and we will keep them poor” should never be in the minds of the people of God. God made sure that the Levites were given enough land and property to support their families. We should do the same today.
Remember any pastor who takes more than he needs has to answer to the LORD. Also, any congregation that doesn’t give the pastor enough has to answer to the LORD as well.
CHALLENGE: We all have our responsibilities to each other. The children of Israel knew they had to support the children of Levi.
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: 45 There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel; all came to pass. (1697 “ought” [dabar] means matter, word, work, business or speech)
DEVOTION: The final matter that had to be done was done in this chapter. Joshua gave cities to the children of Levi for an inheritance for them. The cities of refuge were given for the slayer. Each of the tribes gave cities for the children of Levi. This was all done by lot.
The LORD had promised Abraham the land and now his descendants had it. HE had promised the land to Isaac. HE had promised the land to Jacob. These are the “fathers” HE had promised would inherit the land. The LORD keeps HIS promises.
All through the Bible we have promises of God. HE always does what HE says HE will do. HIS word is truth. Every good thing that the LORD had spoken to the children of Israel CAME TO PASS.
When Christ came into the world, HE told HIS disciples that HE was the way, the truth and the life. Every single word that is spoken by the LORD will happen when HE says they will happen. HE knew HE was going to return again.
The angels told the disciples that Christ would return the same way HE ascended up to heaven. How did they know? We have false teachers in our churches that say that God does not know what is going to happen in the future. They say that God is surprised.
This chapter tells us that what HE spoke to Abraham five hundred years before the children of Israel walked into the land was going to happen. Now this promise was kept. God NEVER fails!!!
We need to believe the promises given in the Word of God. First, we have to find the ones that apply to us and then accept that the LORD will keep them.
CHALLENGE: Share the promises of the Word of God with others.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Levites ask for cities verse 2- 8
Kohathites
Gershon
Merari
Aaron’s sons receive cities of refuge verse 4, 9- 19
Moses verse 8
Rest of Kohath verse 20- 26
Gershon verse 27- 33
Merari verse 34- 42
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Commandment of the LORD verse 3
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant- keeping, Personal) verse 2, 3, 8, 43-45
LORD delivered all their enemies into their verse 44
LORD failed not verse 45
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Enemies verse 44
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Slayer verse 13, 21, 27, 32, 38
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Inheritance verse 3
Rest verse 44
Good thing verse 45
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Eleazar verse 1
Joshua – the son of Nun verse 1
Children of Israel verse 1
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
44 The “rest” that “the Lord gave them” was a cessation of hostilities with the result that the people dwelt securely and serenely in the land (cf. Deut 12:9–10). This theme is taken up by the writer to the Hebrews (4:1–11), who indicates that a deeper rest that can only be fulfilled in Jesus Christ is typified. “Not one of their enemies withstood them” is a generalized statement that must not be pressed in detail. Chapters 6–11 are an account of sweeping victories. The Gibeonite deception and the pockets of resistance still holding out do not contradict the fact that Israel was victorious over every enemy that they faced in battle. As Keil and Delitzsch (p. 216) point out, “God had not promised the immediate and total destruction of the Canaanites, but only their gradual extermination (Exod 23:30; Deut 7:22).” (Madvig, D. H. (1992). Joshua. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel (Vol. 3, pp. 353–354). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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21:43–45. Here the long section describing the allocation of territories and towns ends. The historian looked back to the beginning and summarized the Conquest and division of the land with emphasis on the faithfulness of God. God had kept His promise to give Israel the land.… rest on every side, and victory over their enemies. In fact the Lord faithfully performed every part of His obligation; not one of His promises … failed. This did not mean that every corner of the land was in Israel’s possession, for God Himself had told Israel they would conquer the land gradually (Deut. 7:22). Neither do these concluding statements ignore the tragedies that would develop during the period of the Judges, but those would be Israel’s fault, not God’s. Yet the unfaithfulness of Israel in no way impugned the faithfulness of God. Paul affirmed this fact in his words to Timothy, “If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).
Some theologians have insisted that the statement in Joshua 21:43 means that the land promise of the Abrahamic Covenant was fulfilled then. But this cannot be true because later the Bible gives additional predictions about Israel possessing the land after the time of Joshua (e.g., Amos 9:14–15). Joshua 21:43, therefore, refers to the extent of the land as outlined in Numbers 34 and not to the ultimate extent as it will be in the messianic kingdom (Gen. 15:18–21). Also though Israel possessed the land at this time it was later dispossessed, whereas the Abrahamic Covenant promised Israel that she would possess the land forever (Gen. 17:8). (Campbell, D. K. (1985). Joshua. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, pp. 364–365). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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21:43–45 So the Lord gave Israel all the land. This sums up God’s fulfillment of His covenant promise to give Abraham’s people the Land (Ge 12:7; Jos 1:2, 5–9). God also kept His Word in giving the people rest (Dt 12:9, 10). In a valid sense, the Canaanites were in check, under military conquest as God had pledged (Jos 1:5), not posing an immediate threat. Not every enemy had been driven out, however, leaving some to stir up trouble later. But God’s people failed to exercise their responsibility and possess their land to the full degree in various areas. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Jos 21:43–45). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Joshua 21:43–45 is of utmost importance for the theology of Joshua. God has kept his covenant; he has given the land to his people. The implicit condition for keeping the land, covenant obedience, is clearly understood though not stated. God has given the land, and the people have come to a position where complete possession is a matter of faithfulness and obedience. In the absence of faithfulness and obedience, complete possession will not become a reality until the unification of Palestine under David. The people have rest as long as they are faithful to the covenant. Their enemies cannot oppose them—as long as they are faithful to the covenant. God has kept and will continue to keep his promises, but Israel’s full realization of what is promised is conditional upon the people’s obedience. (Bowling, A. C. (1995). Joshua. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, pp. 154–155). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House)
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Ver. 44. And the Lord gave them rest round about, &c.] Not only from their travels, with which they had been fatigued forty years in the wilderness, but from wars with the Canaanites they had been engaged in for some years past: according to all that he sware unto their fathers; not only to give them the land, but peace, rest, and safety in it: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; for whenever any rose up to oppose them, they were immediately cut off: this is to be understood whilst Joshua was living; for afterwards, sinning against God, they were again and again delivered up into the hands of their enemies: the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands; that is, that made war with them.
Ver. 45. There failed not ought of any good thing, &c.] Not only every good thing in general, but every part and particular of that good thing; that, with all that was included in it, or were appendages to it, or circumstances of it: which the Lord had spoken to the house of Israel; as of their deliverance out of Egypt, and passage through the Red sea and wilderness, with all conveniences for them therein; so of their passage through Jordan, success of their arms, the conquest of their enemies, possession of their land, a land flowing with milk and honey: all came to pass; exactly, precisely, and punctually, even everything relative to their temporal and spiritual good: so all that God promises to his spiritual Israel, with respect to their present comfort or everlasting happiness, all is exactly fulfilled, all his promises in Christ are yea and amen. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 2, p. 263). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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In the introduction to his book The Content Trap, author Bharat Anand asks readers to consider what caused The Yellowstone Fires of 1988, which lasted for months and destroyed over 1.3 million acres of the world’s oldest, and one of our nation’s most treasured, national parks. The traditional story places the blame on a worker who dropped a single, still-lit cigarette. Anand disagrees.
The cigarette certainly triggered this fire, but a million cigarettes are dropped every single day. That year (likely even that day), other cigarettes and, for that matter, lightning strikes, fell in Yellowstone. Why did this one spark so much damage? Anand’s point has to do with the pre-existing conditions, which made something that is benign in most other circumstances, a trigger for incredible destruction.
Yesterday, as protestors stormed the Capitol, Illinois Representative Kinzinger, a Republican, said, “We (Americans) are not what we are seeing today…” Others remarked how shocking it was to see the sort of political unrest common to other countries, here in America. And, of course, it was shocking.
But we’d better be clear on why. It’s not because somehow Americans, even those who love freedom and wish to protect the remarkable gift that is our nation, are somehow exempt from the Fall. It’s not because America has some sort of Divine pass to last forever. It’s not because the rules that govern nations and civilizations, which have been proven over and over again throughout history, somehow do not apply to us.
In what now seems like an ominous prediction, my friend Trevin Wax tweeted out a quote from Chuck Colson Wednesday morning: “People who cannot restrain their own baser instincts, who cannot treat one another with civility, are not capable of self-government … without virtue, a society can be ruled only by fear, a truth that tyrants understand all too well.”
Colson was right. Another way of saying what he did is, “Character is destiny.” It’s tempting to apply this undeniable truism rather selectively, but it is as true for individuals on “our side” as it is for those on “their side.” It is true for presidents and for peasants. It’s as true about a President “not as bad as she would have been,” who delivers strong policy wins for our side as it is about anyone else. It is true for the narcissist and for the abortionist, for the one who rejects religious faith and the one who uses it for his own ends.
But, and this is the much more important point that many miss, character is destiny for a people as well as for a person. Yesterday, when President-elect Biden said that the actions of the mob did not reflect America, I wish he were correct. But he wasn’t. We are not a moral nation. We are lawless. We are not a nation that cultivates the kinds of families able to produce good citizens. Our institutions cannot be trusted to tell us the truth or advance the good. Our leaders think and live as if wrong means are justified by preferred ends. Our churches tickle ears and indulge narcissism. Our schools build frameworks of thinking that are not only wrong, but foster confusion and division.
Yesterday’s riot was not the first in our nation’s recent history, nor will it be the last. There are certainly immediate causes for what we witnessed, including the words of a President who appeared to care more about the attention the riots gave him than the rule of law that they violated. Still, there are ultimate causes, ones that predate his administration and that have created what is clearly a spark-ready environment.
Yesterday’s events cannot be understood, much less addressed outside this larger context. And the moment we excuse ourselves from being part of the problem, we have lost our saltiness.
Often throughout history, moments like this have been embraced by the Church as an opportunity by God’s people. When a people reach this level of vulnerability, either as individuals, as families, or as nations, it is clear that they are out of ideas. There is no sustainable way forward when the ideological divide reaches this level, not only about how best to reach commonly held aims but when there is no consensus on the aims themselves.
To be clear, civilizations usually die with a whimper, not a bang. America will go on, but we aren’t ok. Even more, the resources once found in various places within our culture to build new things or fix what’s broken are largely depleted. The only way out of the long decline of decadence, punctuated as it is by noisy, scary moments like yesterday, is either, as Ross Douthat wrote, revolution or religious revival.
The story of Yellowstone Park is that now, decades later, it has been largely revived and reborn. Let’s pray that’s also the story of the Church, and even our count
(BreakPoint)
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Genesis 9
God covenants with Noah never to flood the earth again.
INSIGHT
A person is only as good as his word. If he is true to his word, he can be trusted; if he is not, he cannot. It is as simple as that. God promised that He would never destroy the earth with a flood again. He went even further by saying, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease” (based on Genesis 8:22). Then God set a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His promise.
For thousands of years, God has been true to His Word. We sometimes get discouraged during the tough times in life, because we tend to focus on our particular circumstances rather than the promises of God.
We must remember the rainbow. God is true to His Word. He can be trusted.
(Quiet Walk)
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Sound the Trumpets
At your times of rejoicing—your appointed festivals and New Moon feasts—you are to sound the trumpets.
Numbers 10:10
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THE HOLY SPIRIT’S DEITY
Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all. 1 Corinthians 12:4,6
We must demonstrate the Holy Spirit’s deity. This is a vital part of the doctrine of the Trinity. It is only Christians who believe this doctrine; all other religions fail to do so, as do all errors and heresies. The Trinity is the key that unlocks all truth. So we must look at the evidence.
The Scripture itself specifically asserts the deity of the Spirit. I take you back to that terrible incident with Ananias and Sapphira. After asking, “Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?” Peter continued, “Thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God” (Acts5:3-4). “The terrible thing that you have done,” said Peter in effect, “is that you have not only been lying to men; you thought that you were just lying to us, the apostles, and to the other Christians, but no, you have been lying to God.” And just previously he had said that Ananias had lied to the Holy Spirit. So clearly that is a specific statement that the Holy Spirit is God.
But we also find that the Spirit’s name is coupled with the name of God, and this not only establishes His personality but His Deity. This is seen in the baptismal formula, in the apostolic benediction, and also in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul writes, “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit…. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which works all in all” (verses 4,6). At one point we are told it is the Spirit who does this, and the next moment we are told that it is God—the same God who works all and in all, and He is the Spirit. Therefore, the Spirit is God—His deity is proved.
A Thought to Ponder: Scripture specifically asserts the deity of the Spirit.
(From God the Holy Spirit, p. 15, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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A Help in Sorrow
“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)
Christians have received great joy and hope for the future, but make no mistake, there are troubles in this life. Christ promised that even if we “weep and lament…your sorrow shall be turned into joy” (John 16:20). The third verse of “Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners” expresses this well.
Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows o’er me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.
Our text shows that even when Israel was about to be captured and exiled, Isaiah still anticipated their return and ultimate victory. “Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away” (Isaiah 51:11).
In this life He has not left us without comfort, for Christ promised His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Even when death and separation are imminent, “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
And in the next life, the “forever” life, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
(JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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