4/5/12

Rainbows, clouds and the Word of God

 
OK, by now you get it; I like rainbows and I like clouds.  So, if you put the two together, you might come up with something like this.  Funny thing about clouds, you can make them be just about what you want them to be.  In this case it looks like a person lying on its side, clothed in a rainbow.  Hummm, reminds of a passage from the book of Revelation...

WEB: Revelation of John 10:1. I saw a mighty angel coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.

Is the angel (messenger) Jesus?  Good question; I don't know for certain, but, could be???  So, why did I post this?  Well, look around; without much effort you will see the work of God all around you.  Keep looking and looking and the more you do, the more the word of God will come alive to you and capture your imagination.  Every day will have something new, something exciting and all you have to do is look; God will speak to you, I promise!!!

Apr. 5 Numbers 1, 2


Apr. 5
Numbers 1, 2

Num 1:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Num 1:2 "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, every male, one by one;
Num 1:3 from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go out to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their divisions.
Num 1:4 With you there shall be a man of every tribe; everyone head of his fathers' house.
Num 1:5 These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: Of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Num 1:6 Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Num 1:7 Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Num 1:8 Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar.
Num 1:9 Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon.
Num 1:10 Of the children of Joseph: Of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud. Of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Num 1:11 Of Benjamin: Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Num 1:12 Of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Num 1:13 Of Asher: Pagiel the son of Ochran.
Num 1:14 Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Num 1:15 Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan."
Num 1:16 These are those who were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel.
Num 1:17 Moses and Aaron took these men who are mentioned by name.
Num 1:18 They assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their ancestry by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, one by one.
Num 1:19 As Yahweh commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
Num 1:20 The children of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
Num 1:21 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty-six thousand five hundred.
Num 1:22 Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, those who were numbered of it, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
Num 1:23 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
Num 1:24 Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
Num 1:25 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.
Num 1:26 Of the children of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
Num 1:27 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Judah, were sixty-four thousand six hundred.
Num 1:28 Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
Num 1:29 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.
Num 1:30 Of the children of Zebulun, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
Num 1:31 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
Num 1:32 Of the children of Joseph, of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
Num 1:33 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand five hundred.
Num 1:34 Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
Num 1:35 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.
Num 1:36 Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
Num 1:37 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty-five thousand four hundred.
Num 1:38 Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war;
Num 1:39 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.
Num 1:40 Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war;
Num 1:41 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty-one thousand five hundred.
Num 1:42 Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war;
Num 1:43 those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.
Num 1:44 These are those who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: they were each one for his fathers' house.
Num 1:45 So all those who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war in Israel;
Num 1:46 even all those who were numbered were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.
Num 1:47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
Num 1:48 For Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 1:49 "Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, neither shall you take a census of them among the children of Israel;
Num 1:50 but appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle, and all its furnishings; and they shall take care of it, and shall encamp around it.
Num 1:51 When the tabernacle is to move, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
Num 1:52 The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their divisions.
Num 1:53 But the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be responsible for the Tabernacle of the Testimony."
Num 1:54 Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they did.
Num 2:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
Num 2:2 "The children of Israel shall encamp every man by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses: at a distance from the Tent of Meeting shall they encamp around it."
Num 2:3 Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Judah shall be Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Num 2:4 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were seventy-four thousand six hundred.
Num 2:5 Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and the prince of the children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar.
Num 2:6 His division, and those who were numbered of it, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.
Num 2:7 The tribe of Zebulun: and the prince of the children of Zebulun shall be Eliab the son of Helon.
Num 2:8 His division, and those who were numbered of it, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
Num 2:9 All who were numbered of the camp of Judah were one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out first.
Num 2:10 "On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Num 2:11 His division, and those who were numbered of it, were forty-six thousand five hundred.
Num 2:12 "Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Num 2:13 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
Num 2:14 "The tribe of Gad: and the prince of the children of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
Num 2:15 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.
Num 2:16 "All who were numbered of the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty, according to their armies. They shall set out second.
Num 2:17 "Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps. As they encamp, so shall they set out, every man in his place, by their standards.
Num 2:18 "On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.
Num 2:19 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were forty thousand five hundred.
Num 2:20 "Next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the prince of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Num 2:21 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.
Num 2:22 "The tribe of Benjamin: and the prince of the children of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Num 2:23 His army, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-five thousand four hundred.
Num 2:24 "All who were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred eight thousand one hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out third.
Num 2:25 "On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Num 2:26 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.
Num 2:27 "Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the prince of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ochran.
Num 2:28 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-one thousand and five hundred.
Num 2:29 "The tribe of Naphtali: and the prince of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.
Num 2:30 His division, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.
Num 2:31 "All who were numbered of the camp of Dan were one hundred fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall set out last by their standards."
Num 2:32 These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers' houses. All who were numbered of the camps according to their armies were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.
Num 2:33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Num 2:34 Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they encamped by their standards, and so they set out, everyone by their families, according to their fathers' houses.

"THE BOOK OF DANIEL" Introduction by Mark Copeland

"THE BOOK OF DANIEL"

                             Introduction

One of the more fascinating books of the Bible is the book of Daniel...

   *  The first six chapters contain accounts of faith that inspire both
      young and old

   *  The last six chapters are filled with apocalyptic visions that
      challenge even the most advanced Bible students and scholars

It is a book that has often been attacked and abused...

   *  Attacked by liberals and skeptics who deny its inspiration

   *  Abused by many who have taken its visions out of context to support
      all kinds of wild theories concerning the second coming of Christ

But when properly read and understood, the book of Daniel can...

   *  Inspire us to greater faithfulness in our service to God

   *  Strengthen our faith in the inspiration of the Bible

DANIEL AND HIS TIMES

The name "Daniel" means "God is my judge" which provides a hint of one of
the key themes in this book:  God will judge the nations of men.  Daniel
was a person of deep and abiding faith...

   *  As a youth, he purposed not to defile himself - Dan 1:8

   *  When old, he persisted in serving God despite threats against his
      life - Dan 6:10

God blessed Daniel because of his faith...

   *  He rose to great heights in the kingdoms of Babylon and Persia 
      - Dan 2:48; 6:1-3

   *  He served as a statesman, a counselor to kings, and a prophet of 
      God 

Daniel was contemporary with two other great prophets:  Jeremiah and 
Ezekiel...

   *  Jeremiah prophesied in Jerusalem before and during the Babylonian
      exile (626-528 B.C.)

   *  Ezekiel prophesied in Babylon among the exiles (592-570 B.C.)

   *  Daniel prophesied in the capital of Babylon (605-586 B.C.)

Nothing is known of his personal life outside of the book.  He descended
from one of Judah's prominent families, if not from royal blood (Dan
1:3).  At an early age (likely in his teens) Daniel along with others was
taken from his family to be trained in the courts of Babylon (Dan 1:3-4).
Whether he ever married is uncertain.

Some key dates and events will help appreciate the times in which Daniel
lived...

*  612 B.C. - Fall of Nineveh, capital of Assyria  Assyria had ruled the
world since the days of Tiglath-Pileser (845 B.C.).  Nabopolassar came to
the throne in Babylon and rebelled against the Assyrians in 625 B.C. 
Nebuchadnezzar, son of Nabopolassar, was the general who led the
Babylonian army against Nineveh, defeating it in 612 B.C.

*  605 B.C. - Battle of Carchemish, establishing Babylonian domination 
Pharaoh-Necho of Egypt came to fight the Babylonians at Carchemish. 
Nebuchadnezzar defeated the Egyptians, chasing them south through Judah. 
At Jerusalem, Nebuchadnezzar heard of his father's death; he returned to
assume the throne in Babylon.  The first group of Jewish captives were
taken, along with Daniel and his friends (Dan 1:1-4).

*  597 B.C. - A second remnant taken to Babylon  Jehoiachin (Jeconiah,
Coniah) followed the reign of his father, Jehoiakim.  He lasted just
three months, when Nebuchadnezzar took him and 10,000 Jews to Babylon
(2Ki 24:8-16).  This second group of captives included Ezekiel (Eze
1:1-3).

*  586 B.C. - Fall of Jerusalem and the temple destroyed  Zedekiah was
installed as king in Jerusalem, but was weak and vacillating.  Eleven
years later, Jerusalem was totally devastated by Babylonian forces (2Ki
25:1-10).  A third group was taken into Babylonian captivity, but
Jeremiah was among those who stayed behind (2Ki 25:11-12,22; Jer
39:11-14; 40:1-6).

*  536 B.C. - Babylon falls, and the first remnant returns to Jerusalem 
Cyrus, king of Persia, sends the first remnant back under the leadership
of Zerubbabel (Ezr 1:1-5; 2:1-2).  The foundation of the temple was soon
started, but the temple was not completed until 516 B.C. (Ezr 3:8-13;
6:14-16).

*  457 B.C. - A second remnant returns to Jerusalem  Ezra the priest
returns with this group (Ezr 7:1-8:36).  He leads a much-needed revival
(Ezr 9:1-10:44).

*  444 B.C. - A third remnant returns to Jerusalem  This group is led by
Nehemiah (Neh 1:1-2:20).  Under his leadership, the walls of Jerusalem
are rebuilt (Neh 3:1-7:73).  Together with Ezra, they restore much of the
religion (Neh 8:1-13:31).

Daniel lived through much of these times (605-534 B.C.).  He was among
the first group of captives taken to Babylon (Dan 1:1-4).  He continued
there over the entire 70 years of captivity (Dan 1:21; 10:1; cf. Dan
9:1-2; Jer 25:11; 29:10).  Daniel was certainly a remarkable man.  His
greatness was recognized by his contemporary, Ezekiel (Eze 14:14,20;
28:3). 

THEME

From a number of passages (Dan 2:21; 4:17,25,32,34-35; 5:21) we can
deduce the main theme of the book of Daniel:

                   God Rules In The Kingdoms Of Men

In this book, we see the rule of God is...

   *  Manifested in the days of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Darius, and
      Cyrus, kings of the Babylonians, Medes, and Persians

   *  Foretold to occur in the days of the Persians, Greeks, and Romans

In this book, we learn that the rule of God would be especially
manifested...

   *  With the establishment of God's kingdom - Dan 2:44

   *  With the vindication of the cause of His saints - Dan 7:27

OUTLINE

Here is a brief outline of the book of Daniel...

1. God's Providence In History - Dan 1:1-6:28
   a. Daniel and his determination to be pure - 1:1-21
   b. Nebuchadnezzar's dream and Daniel's promotion - 2:1-49
   c. Faith in the face of fire by Daniel's friends - 3:1-30
   d. Nebuchadnezzar's second dream and temporary insanity - 4:1-37
   e. The writing on the wall and fall of Belshazzar - 5:1-31
   f. Darius and his den of lions - 6:1-28

2. God's Purpose In History - Dan 7:1-12:13
   a. Daniel's dream of the four beasts - 7:1-28
   b. Daniel's dream of the ram and the goat - 8:1-27
   c. Daniel's prayer, and the vision of the seventy weeks - 9:1-27
   d. Daniel's vision of the time of the end - 10:1-12:13

CONCLUSION

As with all Scripture, the book of Daniel is profitable for our study
(2Ti 3:16-17).  From Daniel and his friends, we will learn the power of
faith and commitment.  By studying this book, we can better understand
our Lord's references to it (cf. Mk 1:14-15; Mt 24:15-16).

Despite some of its more difficult and challenging passages, we can
benefit from them as well, as long as we interpret them...

   *  In the context of the book itself

   *  Consistent with all else the Bible may say on the subject

   *  With the humility and openness that is incumbent upon all who would
      study and teach God's word (cf. 2Ti 2:24-25)

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) During what periods of Israel's history did Daniel live and
   prophesy?
   - The Babylonian captivity, and at the beginning of its restoration
     (605-534 B.C.)

2) What two prophets were contemporary with Daniel?
   - Jeremiah and Ezekiel

3) What is suggested as the theme of Daniel? (Dan 2:21; 4:17,25,32,
   34-35; 5:21)
   - God rules in the kingdoms of men

4) What are the two main sections of the book?
   - God's providence in history (Dan 1:1-6:28)
   - God's purpose in history (Dan 7:1-12:13)