5/9/12

Unexpected!


I never would have imagined Giraffes jumping!!!  I doubt that its photo-shopped because of the gradient shading in the middle.  But, I suppose anything is possible!!!  Sometimes things happen in this world that you would never guess would occur.  Here is a passage from the book of Acts to illustrate what I am talking about...

Acts Chapter 9
1 But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest,  2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  3 As he traveled, it happened that he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him.  4 He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, "“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”"

  5 He said, “Who are you, Lord?”

The Lord said, "“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  6 But rise up, and enter into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”"

  7 The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one.  8 Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.  9 He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

  10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "“Ananias!”"

He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”

  11 The Lord said to him, "“Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying,  12 and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”"

  13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem.  14 Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

  15 But the Lord said to him, "“Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel.  16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”"

We have several unusual events in this passage: Jesus appears to Saul, Saul is blinded and Ananias is told to receive him.  Who would ever think that a person so committed to a course of action (persecuting Christians) would change?  Yet, he did a complete turn-about and later became probably the greatest protagonist for the Christian faith that ever existed.  I would have never guessed it would be possible.  But, I suppose seeing Jesus and being blinded for three days is something that would have a profound effect on anyone.  Just goes to show you that anything can happen; not just what you think may happen.  So, if you think that your life is set in stone and you can never change... remember Saul.  God can do marvelous things with anyone... just look in the mirror and imagine what could be possible!!!!



May 9 Deuteronomy 33, 34


May 9
Deuteronomy 33, 34

Deu 33:1 This is the blessing, with which Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.
Deu 33:2 He said, Yahweh came from Sinai, And rose from Seir to them. He shone forth from Mount Paran. He came from the ten thousands of holy ones. At his right hand was a fiery law for them.
Deu 33:3 Yes, he loves the people. All his saints are in your hand. They sat down at your feet; Everyone shall receive of your words.
Deu 33:4 Moses commanded us a law, An inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.
Deu 33:5 He was king in Jeshurun, When the heads of the people were gathered, All the tribes of Israel together.
Deu 33:6 Let Reuben live, and not die; Nor let his men be few.
Deu 33:7 This is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, Yahweh, the voice of Judah. Bring him in to his people. With his hands he contended for himself. You shall be a help against his adversaries.
Deu 33:8 Of Levi he said, Your Thummim and your Urim are with your godly one, whom you proved at Massah, with whom you strove at the waters of Meribah;
Deu 33:9 who said of his father, and of his mother, I have not seen him; Neither did he acknowledge his brothers, Nor did he know his own children: For they have observed your word, and keep your covenant.
Deu 33:10 They shall teach Jacob your ordinances, and Israel your law. They shall put incense before you, and whole burnt offering on your altar.
Deu 33:11 Yahweh, bless his substance. Accept the work of his hands. Strike through the hips of those who rise up against him, of those who hate him, that they not rise again.
Deu 33:12 Of Benjamin he said, The beloved of Yahweh shall dwell in safety by him. He covers him all the day long. He dwells between his shoulders.
Deu 33:13 Of Joseph he said, His land is blessed by Yahweh, for the precious things of the heavens, for the dew, for the deep that couches beneath,
Deu 33:14 for the precious things of the fruits of the sun, for the precious things of the growth of the moons,
Deu 33:15 for the chief things of the ancient mountains, for the precious things of the everlasting hills,
Deu 33:16 for the precious things of the earth and its fullness, the good will of him who lived in the bush. Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph, On the crown of the head of him who was separate from his brothers.
Deu 33:17 The firstborn of his herd, majesty is his. His horns are the horns of the wild ox. With them he shall push the peoples all of them, even the ends of the earth: They are the ten thousands of Ephraim. They are the thousands of Manasseh.
Deu 33:18 Of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out; and Issachar, in your tents.
Deu 33:19 They shall call the peoples to the mountain. There they will offer sacrifices of righteousness, for they shall draw out the abundance of the seas, the hidden treasures of the sand.
Deu 33:20 Of Gad he said, He who enlarges Gad is blessed. He dwells as a lioness, and tears the arm, yes, the crown of the head.
Deu 33:21 He provided the first part for himself, for there was the lawgiver's portion reserved. He came with the heads of the people. He executed the righteousness of Yahweh, His ordinances with Israel.
Deu 33:22 Of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's cub that leaps out of Bashan.
Deu 33:23 Of Naphtali he said, Naphtali, satisfied with favor, full of the blessing of Yahweh, Possess the west and the south.
Deu 33:24 Of Asher he said, Asher is blessed with children. Let him be acceptable to his brothers. Let him dip his foot in oil.
Deu 33:25 Your bars shall be iron and brass. As your days, so your strength will be.
Deu 33:26 There is none like God, Jeshurun, who rides on the heavens for your help, In his excellency on the skies.
Deu 33:27 The eternal God is your dwelling place. Underneath are the everlasting arms. He thrust out the enemy from before you, and said, Destroy.
Deu 33:28 Israel dwells in safety; the fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine. Yes, his heavens drop down dew.
Deu 33:29 You are happy, Israel. Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency! Your enemies shall submit themselves to you. You shall tread on their high places.
Deu 34:1 Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. Yahweh showed him all the land of Gilead, to Dan,
Deu 34:2 and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the hinder sea,
Deu 34:3 and the South, and the Plain of the valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, to Zoar.
Deu 34:4 Yahweh said to him, This is the land which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, I will give it to your seed: I have caused you to see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.
Deu 34:5 So Moses the servant of Yahweh died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of Yahweh.
Deu 34:6 He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab over against Beth Peor: but no man knows of his tomb to this day.
Deu 34:7 Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.
Deu 34:8 The children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping in the mourning for Moses were ended.
Deu 34:9 Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands on him: and the children of Israel listened to him, and did as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Deu 34:10 There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face,
Deu 34:11 in all the signs and the wonders, which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,
Deu 34:12 and in all the mighty hand, and in all the great terror, which Moses worked in the sight of all Israel.

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Twenty-One by Mark Copeland

                        "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                           Chapter Twenty-One

Jesus began His Last Week before His crucifixion with a triumphant entry
into Jerusalem (1-11), followed with dramatic acts like driving the
moneychangers from the temple (12-17) and cursing the barren fig tree
(18-22).  His authority was soon challenged (23-27), and in response
Jesus told the parables of the two sons (28-32) and the wicked
vinedressers (33-46), understood by the religious leaders to be directed
toward them.

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The significance of the triumphal entry, cleansing the temple,
      cursing the fig tree

   *  The conflict between Jesus and the religious leaders

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The triumphal entry - Mt 21:1-11
   - Jesus cleanses the temple - Mt 21:12-17
   - Jesus curses the fig tree - Mt 21:18-22
   - Jesus’ authority questioned - Mt 21:23-27
   - The parable of the two sons - Mt 21:28-32
   - The parable of the wicked vinedressers - Mt 21:33-46

2) What prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus’ triumphant entry into
   Jerusalem? (4-5)
   - The prophecy by Zechariah, Zec 9:9

3) Why was Jesus angry at the merchandising going on in the temple? (13)
   - God’s house of prayer had been turned into a den of thieves

4) Why were the religious leaders angry with Jesus? (15)
   - For what they saw Jesus doing, and what they heard people saying

5) What might the cursing of the barren fig tree signify?  (19)
   - The Lord’s displeasure and coming judgment upon Israel’s leaders

6) Where does authority in religion come from? (25)
   - Either from heaven (the Word of God) or from men (teachings of men)

7) Who did the two sons in the parable represent? (28-32)
   - The first son:  tax collectors and harlots who repented at the
     preaching of John
   - The second son:  religious leaders who did not believe John

8) What prophecy foretold that religious leaders would reject Jesus?
   (42)
   - The one found in Ps 118:22-23