3/7/12

Promises, cats and heaven


Usually, I scroll through pictures that I have collected over a period of time in order to pick one for the daily post.  It isn't long before I find something that interests me and says something to me about the Scriptures as well.  Today is different; today I am fulfilling a promise to two of my grandchildren; young Mike and Elizabeth.  Some time ago, I promised I would put a picture of an Ocelot on the blog because of the series The Big Bang Theory and the sleepy kitty song that Penny sings to Dr. Sheldon Cooper when he isn't feeling well.  More than that, during the past few months a good friend of mine (Bruce Arnold) introduced me to the Linux operating system and when the new Oneric Ocelot came out, my grand kids loved it as much as I do.  So you can see the motivation for this post.  Only thing is... I couldn't find an Oneric (which means sleepy [and , yes, I had to look the word up])Ocelot.  So, kids... forgive me; this will have to be close enough.  Nice picture though.  Beautiful cat; about twice the size of a normal housecat, this little beauty is native to South America and may be seen as far North as Central America.  When I think of the song in conjunction with the cat, one word comes to mind: COMFORT.  Naturally, the thought of the Gospel of John and the fourteenth chapter...

WEB: John Chapter 14

[1] "“Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. [3] If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. [4] Where I go, you know, and you know the way.”"

[5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

[6] Jesus said to him, "“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.

Whether you are sick, discouraged or upset, COMFORT is a wonderful thing. Jesus, reassures the apostles hope in the future by telling them of the future home he will be preparing for them.  As usual, they didn't get it, so Jesus explains that he (himself) is to be their guide.  A way that he will show (his own example, or road if you will) a truth that will last forever and a life that will endure for the same length of time.  Lastly, he tells them this is the only way to the Father (in heaven).  Better than any song that could be sung, these words ring out through the centuries as COMFORT AND ALSO HOPE!!!  Think about that before you go to sleep tonight; I will!!!

Mar. 7 Exodus 17


Mar. 7
Exodus 17

Exo 17:1 All the congregation of the children of Israel traveled from the wilderness of Sin, by their journeys, according to Yahweh's commandment, and encamped in Rephidim; but there was no water for the people to drink.
Exo 17:2 Therefore the people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?"
Exo 17:3 The people were thirsty for water there; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, our children, and our livestock with thirst?"
Exo 17:4 Moses cried to Yahweh, saying, "What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."
Exo 17:5 Yahweh said to Moses, "Walk on before the people, and take the elders of Israel with you, and take the rod in your hand with which you struck the Nile, and go.
Exo 17:6 Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb. You shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
Exo 17:7 He called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because the children of Israel quarreled, and because they tested Yahweh, saying, "Is Yahweh among us, or not?"
Exo 17:8 Then Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.
Exo 17:9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose men for us, and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with God's rod in my hand."
Exo 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had told him, and fought with Amalek; and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Exo 17:11 It happened, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.
Exo 17:12 But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side. His hands were steady until sunset.
Exo 17:13 Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
Exo 17:14 Yahweh said to Moses, "Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky."
Exo 17:15 Moses built an altar, and called its name Yahweh our Banner.
Exo 17:16 He said, "Yah has sworn: 'Yahweh will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.' "

Mar. 7, 8 Mark 6


Mar. 7, 8
Mark 6

Mar 6:1 He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him.
Mar 6:2 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things?" and, "What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands?
Mar 6:3 Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" They were offended at him.
Mar 6:4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house."
Mar 6:5 He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them.
Mar 6:6 He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.
Mar 6:7 He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Mar 6:8 He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse,
Mar 6:9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.
Mar 6:10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.
Mar 6:11 Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"
Mar 6:12 They went out and preached that people should repent.
Mar 6:13 They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.
Mar 6:14 King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, "John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."
Mar 6:15 But others said, "He is Elijah." Others said, "He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets."
Mar 6:16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, "This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead."
Mar 6:17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for he had married her.
Mar 6:18 For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
Mar 6:19 Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn't,
Mar 6:20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.
Mar 6:21 Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.
Mar 6:22 When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you."
Mar 6:23 He swore to her, "Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."
Mar 6:24 She went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" She said, "The head of John the Baptizer."
Mar 6:25 She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter."
Mar 6:26 The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn't wish to refuse her.
Mar 6:27 Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Mar 6:28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.
Mar 6:29 When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
Mar 6:30 The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught.
Mar 6:31 He said to them, "You come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile." For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.
Mar 6:32 They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.
Mar 6:33 They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him.
Mar 6:34 Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.
Mar 6:35 When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, "This place is deserted, and it is late in the day.
Mar 6:36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages, and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat."
Mar 6:37 But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." They asked him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give them something to eat?"
Mar 6:38 He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go see." When they knew, they said, "Five, and two fish."
Mar 6:39 He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass.
Mar 6:40 They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties.
Mar 6:41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all.
Mar 6:42 They all ate, and were filled.
Mar 6:43 They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish.
Mar 6:44 Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
Mar 6:45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away.
Mar 6:46 After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
Mar 6:47 When evening had come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
Mar 6:48 Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them,
Mar 6:49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
Mar 6:50 for they all saw him, and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, "Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid."
Mar 6:51 He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled;
Mar 6:52 for they hadn't understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
Mar 6:53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.
Mar 6:54 When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him,
Mar 6:55 and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick, on their mats, to where they heard he was.
Mar 6:56 Wherever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch just the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.

"THE BOOK OF PSALMS" Psalm 37 - The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth by Mark Copeland

                         "THE BOOK OF PSALMS"

              Psalm 37 - The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM

1) To learn why we should not fret, become angry, or be envious of the
   wicked when they prosper

2) To see the importance of trusting in the Lord and committing our ways
   to Him

3) To note the context from which came the beatitude "Blessed are the
   meek, for they shall inherit the earth."

SUMMARY

This psalm of David is didactic in nature, filled with instruction for
God's people.  It was evidently written late in life, in which David
shares his observations (25).  A recurring theme is who will inherit the
earth (9,11,22,29,34), and the answer of the psalmist is one of the
beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount (cf. Mt 5:5).  From the context of
the psalm, we might understand the beatitude to refer to blessings in
this life for those who trust in God (cf. Mt 6:33; Mk 10:29-30).  Not
that they may literally possess more of this earth's riches, but their
ability to enjoy it is blessed by God (16; cf. Ec 5:19-6:2).

Acrostic in the original Hebrew, the psalm is somewhat difficult to
outline.  It begins with a series of exhortations directed to the
righteous, to trust in the Lord and not fret or be angry when the wicked
prosper (1-8).  It continues with an exposition contrasting the wicked
and the righteous, illustrating the futility of the wicked and the
steadfastness of the righteous (9-26).  It ends with counsel for one to
do good and depart from evil, to wait on the Lord and keep His way, and
to take careful note of the future of the righteous as opposed to the
end of the wicked (27-40).

OUTLINE

I. EXHORTATION FOR THE RIGHTEOUS (37:1-8)

   A. DO NOT ENVY EVILDOERS (1-2)
      1. Do not fret nor be envious of the workers of iniquity
      2. They shall soon wither and be cut away

   B. PUT YOUR FAITH IN THE LORD (3-8)
      1. Trust in the Lord and do good
         a. Dwell in the land, feeding on His faithfulness
         b. Delight in the Lord, who will give you the desires of your
            heart
      2. Commit your way to the Lord, trusting in Him
         a. He shall bring your plans to pass
         b. He shall bring forth your righteousness and justice
      3. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him
         a. Do not fret because of the prosperous or wicked
         b. Cease from anger, wrath and worry, it only causes harm

II. EXPOSITION ON THE WICKED AND RIGHTEOUS (37:9-26)

   A. THE FUTILITY OF THE WICKED (9-17)
      1. The wicked shall be cut off and be no more
         a. While those who wait on the Lord shall inherit the earth
         b. While the meek shall inherit the earth and enjoy an
            abundance of peace
      2. The wicked shall be defeated
         a. Despite their plots against the just and gnashing of teeth
            1) The Lord laughs
            2) He sees their day coming
         b. Despite their weapons against the poor and righteous
            1) Which they have drawn to cast down and slay
            2) Which shall enter their own hearts and be broken
      3. Better than the riches of the wicked is the poverty of the
         righteous
         a. The arms of the wicked shall be broken
         b. The Lord will uphold the righteous

   B. THE STEADFASTNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS (18-26)
      1. The LORD knows the days of the righteous
         a. Their inheritance shall be forever
         b. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time
         c. They shall be satisfied in the days of famine
      2. The wicked and enemies of the LORD shall perish
         a. They shall vanish like the splendor of the meadows
         b. They shall vanish away like smoke
      3. The righteous shows mercy and gives, the wicked who borrows and
         does not repay
         a. For those blessed by the Lord shall inherit the earth
         b. While those cursed by Him shall be cut off
      4. The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD
         a. The Lord delights in his way
         b. Even though he falls, he is not utterly cast down
         c. For the Lord upholds him with His hand

III. COUNSEL FOR THE RIGHTEOUS (37:27-40)

   A. DEPART FROM EVIL, DO GOOD, AND DWELL IN THE LAND (27-33)
      1. For the LORD loves justice and does not forsake His saints
         a. They are preserved, while the wicked shall be cut off
         b. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell in it forever
      2. The virtues of the righteous
         a. His mouth speaks wisdom, his tongue talks of justice
         b. The law of his God is in his heart, none of his steps shall
            slide
      3. The protection of the LORD
         a. Despite the attempts of the wicked to slay the righteous
         b. The LORD will not leave him in his hand, nor condemn him
            when he is judged

   B. WAIT ON THE LORD AND KEEP HIS WAY (34-36)
      1. He shall exalt you to inherit the land
      2. You shall see it when the wicked are cut off
         a. Even as the wicked once grew like a tree in great power
         b. But later could not be found for he was no more

   C. NOTE THE BLAMELESS AND UPRIGHT (37-40)
      1. Mark the blameless, observe the upright, in contrast to the
         wicked
         a. The future of that man is peace
         b. The future of wicked shall be destroyed and cut off
      2. The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD
         a. He is their strength in times of trouble
         b. He shall help and deliver them from the wicked, because they
            trust in Him

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM

1) What are the main points of this psalm?
   - Exhortation for the righteous (1-8)
   - Exposition on the wicked and the righteous (9-26)
   - Counsel for the righteous (27-33)

2) What does David tell us not to do when others are wicked and
   prosperous?  Why? (1,7,8)
   - Do not fret, be envious, or angry; it only causes one harm

3) Why should we not be bothered about the prosperity of the wicked?
   (2,9,10)
   - They shall soon be cut off; they shall soon be no more

4) What are we encouraged to do? (3-7)
   - Trust in the Lord, do good
   - Dwell in the land and feed on His faithfulness
   - Delight in the Lord
   - Commit your way to the Lord
   - Trust in Him
   - Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him

5) Who is said to inherit the earth? (9,11,22,29,34)
   - Those who wait on the LORD
   - The meek
   - Those blessed by the LORD
   - The righteous
   - Those who wait on the LORD and keep His Way

6) What will happen to the efforts of the wicked against the just?
   (12-15)
   - Their efforts will turn on to themselves

7) What is better than the riches of many wicked?  Why? (16-17)
   - A little that a righteous man has; because the LORD upholds the
     righteous

8) What is said concerning the upright? (18-19)
   - The LORD knows their days
   - Their inheritance shall be forever
   - They shall not be ashamed in the evil time
   - They shall be satisfied in the days of famine

9) What will happen to the wicked and the enemies of the LORD? (20)
   - They shall perish and vanish away

10) What difference is noted between the wicked and righteous
    concerning money? (21)
   - The wicked borrows and does not repay; the righteous shows mercy
     and gives

11) What is said about the steps of a good man? (23-24)
   - They are ordered by the LORD, He delights in his way
   - If he falls, he will not be utterly cast down, for the LORD upholds
     him

12) What observation has the psalmist made in life? (25-26)
   - He has never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants
     begging bread
   - The righteous is ever merciful and lends, his descendants are
     blessed

13) Why should we depart from evil and do good? (27-29)
   - For the LORD loves justice and does not forsake His saints
   - They are preserved, and the righteous shall inherit the land

14) What is noted about the mouth and heart of the righteous? (30-31)
   - The mouth speaks wisdom and tongue talks of justice; the law of his
     God is in heart

15) Who protects the righteous from the wicked? (32-33)
   - The LORD

16) What is one exhorted to do in verse 34?  Why?
   - Wait on the LORD and keep his way; He shall exalt you to inherit
     the land

17) What has the psalmist seen? (35-36)
   - The wicked in great power, spreading like a tree; yet he passed
     away and could not be found

18) What are we told to notice about the blameless and upright man? The
    wicked? (37-38)
   - His future is peace; their future shall be cut off

19) What is said about the righteous in the last two verses? (39-40)
   - Their salvation is from the LORD
   - He is their strength in time of trouble
   - They LORD shall help them and deliver them from the wicked

20) Why will the LORD save the righteous? (40)
 - Because they trust in Him