4/1/12

Should I love or should I hate?


It is become trendy in this country to promote the religion of Islam.  It seems very obvious to me that even our president is doing this.  In fact, it appears that he is favoring the Muslim middle east more than our own country.  Whether or not he is a Muslim in secret or not is a matter of debate, but actions speak louder than words. Additionally, he appears to be an advocate of class warfare and race warfare as well.  All of the above thinking will eventually destroy this country and must cease immediately.  America must pursue a course of peace, not confrontation, both at home and abroad.  We should be exiting foreign countries as soon as possible and initiate programs at home which engender peace between all our citizens.  Beyond peace, we, as a nation should promote loving our neighbor, and as we all know, this is the core teaching of Jesus Christ and we should once again consider it...

WEB: John Chapter 13

[34] A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. [35] By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”"


WEB: Matthew Chapter 5

[43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. [46] For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? [47] If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? [48] Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
 
Jesus taught that those who follow him must love; not only their fellow Christians, but even those who hate them.  Contrast this against the person holding the sign.  Question:  Is it better to love or to hate; to eradicate those who disagree with you or to care for (or love) them?  I think the way of Jesus is far superior and whether or not he realizes it, so does the person holding the sign.  How can I say that?  Well, if he was so proud of Islam, then why is his face hidden by a mask?  Currently, The United States of America is still a "free" country and no one can tell you what to believe, so I say to you.... choose, is not love better than hate?  You decide!!!!


Apr. 1 Leviticus 19, 20


Apr. 1
Leviticus 19, 20

Lev 19:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Lev 19:2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, 'You shall be holy; for I Yahweh your God am holy.
Lev 19:3 " 'Each one of you shall respect his mother and his father. You shall keep my Sabbaths. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev 19:4 " 'Don't turn to idols, nor make molten gods for yourselves. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev 19:5 " 'When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to Yahweh, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted.
Lev 19:6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it, and on the next day: and if anything remains until the third day, it shall be burned with fire.
Lev 19:7 If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is an abomination. It will not be accepted;
Lev 19:8 but everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned the holy thing of Yahweh, and that soul shall be cut off from his people.
Lev 19:9 " 'When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest.
Lev 19:10 You shall not glean your vineyard, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev 19:11 " 'You shall not steal; neither shall you deal falsely, nor lie to one another.
Lev 19:12 " 'You shall not swear by my name falsely, and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.
Lev 19:13 " '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.
Lev 19:14 " 'You shall not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling block before the blind; but you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.
Lev 19:15 " 'You shall do no injustice in judgment: you shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.
Lev 19:16 " 'You shall not go up and down as a slanderer among your people; neither shall you stand against the life of your neighbor. I am Yahweh.
Lev 19:17 " 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
Lev 19:18 " '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.
Lev 19:19 " 'You shall keep my statutes. " 'You shall not crossbreed different kinds of animals. " 'you shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed; " 'neither shall there come upon on you a garment made of two kinds of material.
Lev 19:20 " 'If a man lies carnally with a woman who is a slave girl, pledged to be married to another man, and not ransomed, or given her freedom; they shall be punished. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free.
Lev 19:21 He shall bring his trespass offering to Yahweh, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, even a ram for a trespass offering.
Lev 19:22 The priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering before Yahweh for his sin which he has committed: and the sin which he has committed shall be forgiven him.
Lev 19:23 " 'When you come into the land, and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you shall count their fruit as forbidden. Three years shall they be forbidden to you. It shall not be eaten.
Lev 19:24 But in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, for giving praise to Yahweh.
Lev 19:25 In the fifth year you shall eat its fruit, that it may yield its increase to you. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev 19:26 " 'You shall not eat any meat with the blood still in it; neither shall you use enchantments, nor practice sorcery.
Lev 19:27 " 'You shall not cut the hair on the sides of your heads, neither shall you clip off the edge of your beard.
Lev 19:28 " 'You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you. I am Yahweh.
Lev 19:29 " 'Don't profane your daughter, to make her a prostitute; lest the land fall to prostitution, and the land become full of wickedness.
Lev 19:30 " 'You shall keep my Sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary; I am Yahweh.
Lev 19:31 " 'Don't turn to those who are mediums, nor to the wizards. Don't seek them out, to be defiled by them. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev 19:32 " 'You shall rise up before the gray head, and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God. I am Yahweh.
Lev 19:33 " 'If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong.
Lev 19:34 The stranger who lives as a foreigner with you shall be to you as the native-born among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you lived as foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.
Lev 19:35 " 'You shall do no unrighteousness in judgment, in measures of length, of weight, or of quantity.
Lev 19:36 You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt.
Lev 19:37 You shall observe all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and do them. I am Yahweh.' "
Lev 20:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Lev 20:2 "Moreover, you shall tell the children of Israel, 'Anyone of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who live as foreigners in Israel, who gives any of his seed to Molech; he shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones.
Lev 20:3 I also will set my face against that person, 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.
Lev 20:4 If the people of the land all hide their eyes from that person, when he gives of his seed to Molech, and don't put him to death;
Lev 20:5 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.
Lev 20:6 " 'The person that turns to those who are mediums, and to the wizards, to play the prostitute after them, I will even set my face against that person, and will cut him off from among his people.
Lev 20:7 " 'Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be holy; for I am Yahweh your God.
Lev 20:8 You shall keep my statutes, and do them. I am Yahweh who sanctifies you.
Lev 20:9 " '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 upon him.
Lev 20:10 " 'The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, even he who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.
Lev 20:11 The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Lev 20:12 " 'If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have committed a perversion; their blood shall be upon them.
Lev 20:13 " 'If a man lies with a male, as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Lev 20:14 " 'If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness: they shall be burned with fire, both he and they; that there may be no wickedness among you.
Lev 20:15 " 'If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death; and you shall kill the animal.
Lev 20:16 " 'If a woman approaches any animal, and lies down with it, you shall kill the woman, and the animal: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Lev 20:17 " 'If a man takes his sister, his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness; it is a shameful thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of the children of their people: he has uncovered his sister's nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Lev 20:18 " 'If a man lies with a woman having her monthly period, and uncovers her nakedness; he has made naked her fountain, and she has uncovered the fountain of her blood: and both of them shall be cut off from among their people.
Lev 20:19 " 'You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, nor of your father's sister; for he has made naked his close relative: they shall bear their iniquity.
Lev 20:20 If a man lies with his uncle's wife, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless.
Lev 20:21 " 'If a man takes his brother's wife, it is an impurity: he has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they shall be childless.
Lev 20:22 " 'You shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my ordinances, and do them; that the land, where I am bringing you to dwell, may not vomit you out.
Lev 20:23 You shall not walk in the customs of the nation, which I am casting out before you: for they did all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.
Lev 20:24 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.
Lev 20:25 " '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 yourselves abominable by animal, or by bird, or by anything with which the ground teems, which I have separated from you as unclean for you.
Lev 20:26 You shall be holy to me: for I, Yahweh, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine.
Lev 20:27 " 'A man or a woman that is a medium, or is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them.' "

"THE BOOK OF ISAIAH" Historical Interlude (36-39) by Mark Copeland 

"THE BOOK OF ISAIAH"

                      Historical Interlude (36-39)

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS SECTION

1) To note the pivotal role played by the historical interlude contained
   in chapters 36-39

2) To see the fulfillment of prophecies found previously in the book
   regarding the defeat of Assyria

3) To consider Hezekiah's fervent prayers, both for deliverance from
   Assyria and from his illness

4) To note how the visit from Babylonian emissaries provided Isaiah the
   opportunity to foretell the Babylonian captivity

SUMMARY

We now come to a historical interlude in which two events are described.
They both involve Isaiah the prophet and Hezekiah, king of Judah.  The
first event reveals a climax to the first section of the entire book
(The Assyrian Period), while the second event includes a prophecy
pertaining to the setting of the second section (The Babylonian Period).

In chapters 36-37, the prophecies foretold in the first section
regarding the Lord's deliverance of Jerusalem from the Assyrian menace
are fulfilled (cf. 10:12,24-26; 14:24-27; 30:30-31; 31:4-5,8-9).  In the
fourteenth year of King Hezekiah (ca. 701 B.C.), Sennacherib king of
Assyria was capturing the fortified cities of Judah.  He sends the
Rabshakeh to Jerusalem to persuade Hezekiah to surrender and in doing so
blasphemes against the Lord.  Hezekiah is encouraged by Isaiah to trust
in the Lord.  When word of war with Ethiopia comes to the ears of
Sennacherib, he sends more emissaries to threaten the king of Judah.
Hezekiah looks to the Lord for deliverance, and the Lord responds with a
message via Isaiah concerning the fall of Sennacherib.  Then in one
night, the angel of the Lord kills 185,000 Assyrians in their own camp,
forcing the king of Assyria to return home where he is later killed by
his sons while worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god.

In chapter 38-39, we read of Hezekiah's illness and the subsequent
extension of his life.  Told by Isaiah to set his house in order for his
death was imminent, Hezekiah prayed and wept fervently to the Lord.  The
Lord then had Isaiah tell Hezekiah he would live fifteen more years, and
offered the turning back of the shadow ten degrees on the sundial of
Ahaz as a sign he would be healed.  When he recovered, Hezekiah then
wrote a psalm describing his illness and deliverance by the Lord.
Unfortunately, when the king of Babylon heard Hezekiah had recovered
from his sickness and sent him letters and gifts, Hezekiah showed the
emissaries from Babylon all the treasures of his house.  Isaiah then
told the king the time would come when all his treasures and his sons
would be carried away to Babylon.

This ends the first section of the prophecy of Isaiah.  The second
section contains prophecies designed to comfort the people of God when
they found themselves in Babylonian captivity as foretold by Isaiah.

OUTLINE

I. TOTAL VICTORY OVER ASSYRIA (36:1-37:38)

   A. THE THREAT TO JERUSALEM...
      1. The arrival of the Assyrian army and the Rabshakeh - 36:1-3
         a. Sent by Sennacherib in the 14th year of Hezekiah (701 B.C.)
            - 36:1-2
         b. Received by Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah at the aqueduct - 36:
            2-3; cf. 7:3
      2. The demand of the Rabshakeh to pledge allegiance to Assyria
         - 36:4-10
         a. Not to place confidence in Egypt or in the Lord - 36:4-7
         b. An offer of 2000 horses if allegiance is sworn to
            Sennacherib - 36:8
         c. Resistance is futile; claims to have been sent by the Lord
            - 36:9-10
      3. Response by Hezekiah's officials, rebuttal by the Rabshakeh
         - 36:11-20
         a. Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah plead for transactions to be in
            Aramaic - 36:11-12
         b. The Rabshakeh refuses, and speaks to the people in Hebrew
            - 36:13-20
            1) Ignore Hezekiah - 36:13-15
            2) Make peace with the king of Assyria and be led away
               - 36:16-17
            3) Do not put their trust in the Lord, who cannot deliver
               them - 36:18-20
      4. Eliakim, Shebna, and Joah return to Hezekiah - 36:21-22
         a. With orders not to answer the Rabshakeh - 36:21
         b. With clothes torn, reporting the words of the Rabshakeh to
            the king - 36:22

   B. THE VICTORY BY THE LORD...
      1. Isaiah assures deliverance - 37:1-7
         a. Hezekiah's grief, and plea sent to Isaiah - 37:1-5
         b. Assurance from the Lord that Sennacherib will depart and
            perish - 37:6-7
      2. Sennacherib's threat repeated - 37:8-13
         a. Sennacherib informed of war with Tirhakah of Ethiopia
            - 37:8-9a
         b. Blasphemous letter sent warning Hezekiah not to trust in the
            Lord - 37:9b-13
      3. Hezekiah's prayer for deliverance - 37:14-20
         a. Hezekiah receives the letter, spreads it out before the Lord
            in the temple - 37:14
         b. He prays for God to note Sennacherib's words and save them
            - 37:15-20
      4. Isaiah's answer:  The Word of the Lord - 37:21-35
         a. Because of Hezekiah's prayer, the Lord will turn Sennacherib
            back - 37:21-29
         b. A sign to Hezekiah:  by the third year they will be planting
            vineyards and a remnant will go forth from Jerusalem - 37:
            30-32
         c. Jerusalem will not be attacked; the Lord Himself will defend
            the city - 37:33-35
      5. The disastrous defeat of the Assyrians and Sennacherib - 37:
         36-38
         a. The angel of the Lord kills 186,000 Assyrians in one night
            - 37:36
         b. Sennacherib returns to Nineveh where he is assassinated
            - 37:37-38

II. FUTURE CAPTIVITY IN BABYLON (38:1-39:8)

   A. THE EXTENSION OF HEZEKIAH'S LIFE...
      1. Hezekiah's sickness, promise of recovery, and confirming sign
         - 38:1-8
         a. Informed by Isaiah of impending death, Hezekiah prays to the
            Lord - 38:1-3
         b. The Lord promises Hezekiah 15 more years, and deliverance
            from the king of Assyria - 38:4-6
         c. The shadow returns ten degrees on the sundial as a sign to
            Hezekiah - 38:7-8
      2. Hezekiah's psalm - 38:9-20
         a. His feelings and fears while ill - 38:9-14
         b. His praise for God's goodness to him - 38:15-20
      3. Isaiah's cure - 38:21-22

   B. THE ENVOYS FROM BABYLON...
      1. Envoys from Babylon and the treasures of Hezekiah's house
         - 39:1-2
         a. The king of Babylon sends letters and a gift to Hezekiah,
            having heard he had been sick and recovered - 39:1
         b. Hezekiah shows the envoys the treasures of his house - 39:2
      2. The prophecy of Isaiah regarding future exile to Babylon
         - 39:3-8
         a. Isaiah cross-examines Hezekiah concerning envoys' visit
            - 39:3-4
         b. Isaiah foretells the Babylonian captivity and exile - 39:5-7
         c. Hezekiah grateful that at least there will be peace in his
            days - 39:8

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THIS SECTION

1) What is suggested as the theme of Isaiah chapters 36-39?
   - Historical Interlude

2) What are the two main divisions of this section?
   - Total Victory Over Assyria (36-37)
   - Future Captivity In Babylon (38-39)

3) What king came to the fortified cities of Judah and took them? (36:1)
   - Sennacherib king of Assyria

4) Who did this king send to Jerusalem with a great army? (36:2)
   - The Rabshakeh

5) What two entities did this emissary of Assyria warn Jerusalem not to
   trust? (36:6-7)
   - Egypt or the Lord

6) What did he call upon Jerusalem to do? (36:8)
   - Pledge allegiance to the king of Assyria

7) Who did he claim had sent him to destroy the land? (36:10)
   - The Lord

8) What did he warn them not to heed? (36:14-15)
   - Hezekiah's call for them to trust in the Lord

9) What did the king of Assyria promise if they made peace? (36:16-17)
   - Provisions until he took them away to another land

10) What blasphemy did the emissary utter as he concluded his message?
    (36:20)
   - That the Lord was just like the other gods who were unable to
     deliver their countries

11) To whom did Hezekiah send his representatives to ask for his
    prayers? (37:1-4)
   - The prophet Isaiah

12) What were the representatives told about the threats of the king of
    Assyria? (37:6-7)
   - Not to be afraid, for the Lord would cause him to return and fall
     in his own land

13) What prompted the king of Assyria to resend his messengers to
    threaten Hezekiah? (37:9)
   - The report that Tirhakah king of Ethiopia was coming to make war
     with him

14) How did the king of Assyria try to convince Hezekiah not to trust in
    the Lord? (37:10-13)
   - By noting the failure of kings he had already defeated, and the
     gods who could not deliver them

15) When Hezekiah heard this, what did he do? (37:14-20)
   - He went to the house of the Lord, and prayed to the Lord for
     deliverance

16) What did the Lord tell Hezekiah regarding the king of Assyria? (37:
    21-35)
   - The Lord would turn him back, he would not enter the city
   - The Lord Himself would defend the city

17) What then happened? (37:36-37)
   - An angel of the Lord killed 185,000 men of the Assyrian army in one
     night, prompting the king of Assyria to return home to Nineveh

18) What later happened to the king of Assyria? (37:38)
   - His sons killed him as he worshipped in the house of Nisroch his
     god

18) What also happened about that time? (38:1)
   - Hezekiah became sick and was told to prepare for his death

19) What did the king do, and what was the result? (38:2-6)
   - He prayed fervently, and the Lord sent Isaiah to tell him he was
     given 15 more years to live

20) What sign was given to the king that he would be healed? (38:7-8)
   - The shadow on the sundial of Ahaz went backward ten degrees

21) What did Hezekiah do when he recovered from his sickness? (38:9-20)
   - Wrote a psalm praising God for healing him

22) What medicinal remedy did Isaiah prescribe for the king in his
    sickness? (38:21)
   - A lump of figs as a poultice on the boil

23) Who came to visit Hezekiah after he recovered from his sickness?
    (39:1)
   - Envoys with a letter and gifts from Merodach-Baladan the son of
     Baladan, king of Babylon

24) What did Hezekiah show them? (39:2)
   - The house of his treasures and the items in it

25) What did Isaiah tell Hezekiah would happen as a result? (39:5-7)
   - The days would come when all his treasures and his sons would be
     carried away to Babylon

26) What good did Hezekiah see in Isaiah's prophecy? (39:8)
   - At least there would be peace and truth in his days
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