8/25/12

Watch for the signs






Dangerous place to be!!!  It might be a good idea to be someplace else!!!  And if you live in Florida and its hurricane season, that idea crosses your mind quite often.  Sometimes you get a warning of danger and other times you don't, so when you see a problem; do something about it!!!  Here is the story of a man who didn't heed a warning and paid for it and another who died without warning.

2 Samuel, Chapter 2
17 The battle was very severe that day: and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.  18 The three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild gazelle. 19 Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he didn’t turn to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.  20 Then Abner looked behind him, and said, “Is it you, Asahel?”

He answered, “It is I.”

  21 Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and grab one of the young men, and take his armor.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him.  22 Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then should I hold up my face to Joab your brother?”  23 However he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner with the back end of the spear struck him in the body, so that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place. It happened, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still. 

2 Samuel, Chapter 3
 26 When Joab had come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David didn’t know it. 27 When Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside into the midst of the gate to speak with him quietly, and struck him there in the body, so that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.  28 Afterward, when David heard it, he said, “I and my kingdom are guiltless before Yahweh forever of the blood of Abner the son of Ner.  29 Let it fall on the head of Joab, and on all his father’s house. Let there not fail from the house of Joab one who has an issue, or who is a leper, or who leans on a staff, or who falls by the sword, or who lacks bread.”  30 So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.  31 David said to Joab, and to all the people who were with him, Tear your clothes, and clothe yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. King David followed the bier.  32 They buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept. 33 The king lamented for Abner, and said, “Should Abner die as a fool dies?  34 Your hands were not bound, nor your feet put into fetters. As a man falls before the children of iniquity, so you fell.”

Abner had revolted against David and made one of Saul's sons king over the northern ten tribes.  During Israel's battle with Judah, Abner is chased by Joab's brother Asahel and warns him to flee.  When Asahel continues, Abner kills him with the back end of his spear.  Later, after Abner meets with David to sue for peace and Asahel's brother, Joab, finds out about it and tricks Abner into returning so he can kill him.  David was appaled at such actions and mourns for Abner.

Sounds like a soap opera, doesn't it?  But all danger is not environmental, like the picture of lightning above or the hurricane called Isaac heading towards Florida right now.  Human beings can be far more dangerous because of a little trait called deceitfulness. Be careful out there; not everyone you meet will be a follower of Christ!

Aug. 25 Job 36-42


Aug. 25
Job 36-42

Job 36:1 Elihu also continued, and said,
Job 36:2 "Bear with me a little, and I will show you; for I still have something to say on God's behalf.
Job 36:3 I will get my knowledge from afar, and will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
Job 36:4 For truly my words are not false. One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.
Job 36:5 "Behold, God is mighty, and doesn't despise anyone. He is mighty in strength of understanding.
Job 36:6 He doesn't preserve the life of the wicked, but gives to the afflicted their right.
Job 36:7 He doesn't withdraw his eyes from the righteous, but with kings on the throne, he sets them forever, and they are exalted.
Job 36:8 If they are bound in fetters, and are taken in the cords of afflictions,
Job 36:9 then he shows them their work, and their transgressions, that they have behaved themselves proudly.
Job 36:10 He also opens their ears to instruction, and commands that they return from iniquity.
Job 36:11 If they listen and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
Job 36:12 But if they don't listen, they shall perish by the sword; they shall die without knowledge.
Job 36:13 "But those who are godless in heart lay up anger. They don't cry for help when he binds them.
Job 36:14 They die in youth. Their life perishes among the unclean.
Job 36:15 He delivers the afflicted by their affliction, and opens their ear in oppression.
Job 36:16 Yes, he would have allured you out of distress, into a broad place, where there is no restriction. That which is set on your table would be full of fatness.
Job 36:17 "But you are full of the judgment of the wicked. Judgment and justice take hold of you.
Job 36:18 Don't let riches entice you to wrath, neither let the great size of a bribe turn you aside.
Job 36:19 Would your wealth sustain you in distress, or all the might of your strength?
Job 36:20 Don't desire the night, when people are cut off in their place.
Job 36:21 Take heed, don't regard iniquity; for you have chosen this rather than affliction.
Job 36:22 Behold, God is exalted in his power. Who is a teacher like him?
Job 36:23 Who has prescribed his way for him? Or who can say, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'
Job 36:24 "Remember that you magnify his work, whereof men have sung.
Job 36:25 All men have looked thereon. Man sees it afar off.
Job 36:26 Behold, God is great, and we don't know him. The number of his years is unsearchable.
Job 36:27 For he draws up the drops of water, which distill in rain from his vapor,
Job 36:28 Which the skies pour down and which drop on man abundantly.
Job 36:29 Yes, can any understand the spreading of the clouds, and the thunderings of his pavilion?
Job 36:30 Behold, he spreads his light around him. He covers the bottom of the sea.
Job 36:31 For by these he judges the people. He gives food in abundance.
Job 36:32 He covers his hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark.
Job 36:33 Its noise tells about him, and the livestock also concerning the storm that comes up.
Job 37:1 "Yes, at this my heart trembles, and is moved out of its place.
Job 37:2 Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice, the sound that goes out of his mouth.
Job 37:3 He sends it forth under the whole sky, and his lightning to the ends of the earth.
Job 37:4 After it a voice roars. He thunders with the voice of his majesty. He doesn't hold back anything when his voice is heard.
Job 37:5 God thunders marvelously with his voice. He does great things, which we can't comprehend.
Job 37:6 For he says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth;' likewise to the shower of rain, and to the showers of his mighty rain.
Job 37:7 He seals up the hand of every man, that all men whom he has made may know it.
Job 37:8 Then the animals take cover, and remain in their dens.
Job 37:9 Out of its chamber comes the storm, and cold out of the north.
Job 37:10 By the breath of God, ice is given, and the breadth of the waters is frozen.
Job 37:11 Yes, he loads the thick cloud with moisture. He spreads abroad the cloud of his lightning.
Job 37:12 It is turned around by his guidance, that they may do whatever he commands them on the surface of the habitable world,
Job 37:13 Whether it is for correction, or for his land, or for loving kindness, that he causes it to come.
Job 37:14 "Listen to this, Job. Stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.
Job 37:15 Do you know how God controls them, and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?
Job 37:16 Do you know the workings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge?
Job 37:17 You whose clothing is warm, when the earth is still by reason of the south wind?
Job 37:18 Can you, with him, spread out the sky, which is strong as a cast metal mirror?
Job 37:19 Teach us what we shall tell him, for we can't make our case by reason of darkness.
Job 37:20 Shall it be told him that I would speak? Or should a man wish that he were swallowed up?
Job 37:21 Now men don't see the light which is bright in the skies, but the wind passes, and clears them.
Job 37:22 Out of the north comes golden splendor. With God is awesome majesty.
Job 37:23 We can't reach the Almighty. He is exalted in power. In justice and great righteousness, he will not oppress.
Job 37:24 Therefore men revere him. He doesn't regard any who are wise of heart."
Job 38:1 Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,
Job 38:2 "Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Job 38:3 Brace yourself like a man, for I will question you, then you answer me!
Job 38:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have understanding.
Job 38:5 Who determined its measures, if you know? Or who stretched the line on it?
Job 38:6 Whereupon were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
Job 38:7 when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:8 "Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it broke forth from the womb,
Job 38:9 when I made clouds its garment, and wrapped it in thick darkness,
Job 38:10 marked out for it my bound, set bars and doors,
Job 38:11 and said, 'Here you may come, but no further. Here your proud waves shall be stayed?'
Job 38:12 "Have you commanded the morning in your days, and caused the dawn to know its place;
Job 38:13 that it might take hold of the ends of the earth, and shake the wicked out of it?
Job 38:14 It is changed as clay under the seal, and stands forth as a garment.
Job 38:15 From the wicked, their light is withheld. The high arm is broken.
Job 38:16 "Have you entered into the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in the recesses of the deep?
Job 38:17 Have the gates of death been revealed to you? Or have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?
Job 38:18 Have you comprehended the earth in its breadth? Declare, if you know it all.
Job 38:19 "What is the way to the dwelling of light? As for darkness, where is its place,
Job 38:20 that you should take it to its bound, that you should discern the paths to its house?
Job 38:21 Surely you know, for you were born then, and the number of your days is great!
Job 38:22 Have you entered the treasuries of the snow, or have you seen the treasures of the hail,
Job 38:23 which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?
Job 38:24 By what way is the lightning distributed, or the east wind scattered on the earth?
Job 38:25 Who has cut a channel for the flood water, or the path for the thunderstorm;
Job 38:26 To cause it to rain on a land where no man is; on the wilderness, in which there is no man;
Job 38:27 to satisfy the waste and desolate ground, to cause the tender grass to spring forth?
Job 38:28 Does the rain have a father? Or who fathers the drops of dew?
Job 38:29 Out of whose womb came the ice? The gray frost of the sky, who has given birth to it?
Job 38:30 The waters become hard like stone, when the surface of the deep is frozen.
Job 38:31 "Can you bind the cluster of the Pleiades, or loosen the cords of Orion?
Job 38:32 Can you lead forth the constellations in their season? Or can you guide the Bear with her cubs?
Job 38:33 Do you know the laws of the heavens? Can you establish its dominion over the earth?
Job 38:34 "Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, That abundance of waters may cover you?
Job 38:35 Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go? Do they report to you, 'Here we are?'
Job 38:36 Who has put wisdom in the inward parts? Or who has given understanding to the mind?
Job 38:37 Who can number the clouds by wisdom? Or who can pour out the bottles of the sky,
Job 38:38 when the dust runs into a mass, and the clods of earth stick together?
Job 38:39 "Can you hunt the prey for the lioness, or satisfy the appetite of the young lions,
Job 38:40 when they crouch in their dens, and lie in wait in the thicket?
Job 38:41 Who provides for the raven his prey, when his young ones cry to God, and wander for lack of food?
Job 39:1 "Do you know the time when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the doe bears fawns?
Job 39:2 Can you number the months that they fulfill? Or do you know the time when they give birth?
Job 39:3 They bow themselves, they bring forth their young, they end their labor pains.
Job 39:4 Their young ones become strong. They grow up in the open field. They go forth, and don't return again.
Job 39:5 "Who has set the wild donkey free? Or who has loosened the bonds of the swift donkey,
Job 39:6 Whose home I have made the wilderness, and the salt land his dwelling place?
Job 39:7 He scorns the tumult of the city, neither does he hear the shouting of the driver.
Job 39:8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, He searches after every green thing.
Job 39:9 "Will the wild ox be content to serve you? Or will he stay by your feeding trough?
Job 39:10 Can you hold the wild ox in the furrow with his harness? Or will he till the valleys after you?
Job 39:11 Will you trust him, because his strength is great? Or will you leave to him your labor?
Job 39:12 Will you confide in him, that he will bring home your seed, and gather the grain of your threshing floor?
Job 39:13 "The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; but are they the feathers and plumage of love?
Job 39:14 For she leaves her eggs on the earth, warms them in the dust,
Job 39:15 and forgets that the foot may crush them, or that the wild animal may trample them.
Job 39:16 She deals harshly with her young ones, as if they were not hers. Though her labor is in vain, she is without fear,
Job 39:17 because God has deprived her of wisdom, neither has he imparted to her understanding.
Job 39:18 When she lifts up herself on high, she scorns the horse and his rider.
Job 39:19 "Have you given the horse might? Have you clothed his neck with a quivering mane?
Job 39:20 Have you made him to leap as a locust? The glory of his snorting is awesome.
Job 39:21 He paws in the valley, and rejoices in his strength. He goes out to meet the armed men.
Job 39:22 He mocks at fear, and is not dismayed, neither does he turn back from the sword.
Job 39:23 The quiver rattles against him, the flashing spear and the javelin.
Job 39:24 He eats up the ground with fierceness and rage, neither does he stand still at the sound of the trumpet.
Job 39:25 As often as the trumpet sounds he snorts, 'Aha!' He smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.
Job 39:26 "Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars, and stretches her wings toward the south?
Job 39:27 Is it at your command that the eagle mounts up, and makes his nest on high?
Job 39:28 On the cliff he dwells, and makes his home, on the point of the cliff, and the stronghold.
Job 39:29 From there he spies out the prey. His eyes see it afar off.
Job 39:30 His young ones also suck up blood. Where the slain are, there he is."
Job 40:1 Moreover Yahweh answered Job,
Job 40:2 "Shall he who argues contend with the Almighty? He who argues with God, let him answer it."
Job 40:3 Then Job answered Yahweh,
Job 40:4 "Behold, I am of small account. What shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth.
Job 40:5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further."
Job 40:6 Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind,
Job 40:7 "Now brace yourself like a man. I will question you, and you will answer me.
Job 40:8 Will you even annul my judgment? Will you condemn me, that you may be justified?
Job 40:9 Or do you have an arm like God? Can you thunder with a voice like him?
Job 40:10 "Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.
Job 40:11 Pour out the fury of your anger. Look at everyone who is proud, and bring him low.
Job 40:12 Look at everyone who is proud, and humble him. Crush the wicked in their place.
Job 40:13 Hide them in the dust together. Bind their faces in the hidden place.
Job 40:14 Then I will also admit to you that your own right hand can save you.
Job 40:15 "See now, behemoth, which I made as well as you. He eats grass as an ox.
Job 40:16 Look now, his strength is in his thighs. His force is in the muscles of his belly.
Job 40:17 He moves his tail like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together.
Job 40:18 His bones are like tubes of brass. His limbs are like bars of iron.
Job 40:19 He is the chief of the ways of God. He who made him gives him his sword.
Job 40:20 Surely the mountains produce food for him, where all the animals of the field play.
Job 40:21 He lies under the lotus trees, in the covert of the reed, and the marsh.
Job 40:22 The lotuses cover him with their shade. The willows of the brook surround him.
Job 40:23 Behold, if a river overflows, he doesn't tremble. He is confident, though the Jordan swells even to his mouth.
Job 40:24 Shall any take him when he is on the watch, or pierce through his nose with a snare?
Job 41:1 "Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with a cord?
Job 41:2 Can you put a rope into his nose, or pierce his jaw through with a hook?
Job 41:3 Will he make many petitions to you, or will he speak soft words to you?
Job 41:4 Will he make a covenant with you, that you should take him for a servant forever?
Job 41:5 Will you play with him as with a bird? Or will you bind him for your girls?
Job 41:6 Will traders barter for him? Will they part him among the merchants?
Job 41:7 Can you fill his skin with barbed irons, or his head with fish spears?
Job 41:8 Lay your hand on him. Remember the battle, and do so no more.
Job 41:9 Behold, the hope of him is in vain. Won't one be cast down even at the sight of him?
Job 41:10 None is so fierce that he dare stir him up. Who then is he who can stand before me?
Job 41:11 Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? Everything under the heavens is mine.
Job 41:12 "I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, nor his mighty strength, nor his goodly frame.
Job 41:13 Who can strip off his outer garment? Who shall come within his jaws?
Job 41:14 Who can open the doors of his face? Around his teeth is terror.
Job 41:15 Strong scales are his pride, shut up together with a close seal.
Job 41:16 One is so near to another, that no air can come between them.
Job 41:17 They are joined one to another. They stick together, so that they can't be pulled apart.
Job 41:18 His sneezing flashes out light. His eyes are like the eyelids of the morning.
Job 41:19 Out of his mouth go burning torches. Sparks of fire leap forth.
Job 41:20 Out of his nostrils a smoke goes, as of a boiling pot over a fire of reeds.
Job 41:21 His breath kindles coals. A flame goes forth from his mouth.
Job 41:22 There is strength in his neck. Terror dances before him.
Job 41:23 The flakes of his flesh are joined together. They are firm on him. They can't be moved.
Job 41:24 His heart is as firm as a stone, yes, firm as the lower millstone.
Job 41:25 When he raises himself up, the mighty are afraid. They retreat before his thrashing.
Job 41:26 If one attacks him with the sword, it can't prevail; nor the spear, the dart, nor the pointed shaft.
Job 41:27 He counts iron as straw; and brass as rotten wood.
Job 41:28 The arrow can't make him flee. Sling stones are like chaff to him.
Job 41:29 Clubs are counted as stubble. He laughs at the rushing of the javelin.
Job 41:30 His undersides are like sharp potsherds, leaving a trail in the mud like a threshing sledge.
Job 41:31 He makes the deep to boil like a pot. He makes the sea like a pot of ointment.
Job 41:32 He makes a path shine after him. One would think the deep had white hair.
Job 41:33 On earth there is not his equal, that is made without fear.
Job 41:34 He sees everything that is high. He is king over all the sons of pride."
Job 42:1 Then Job answered Yahweh,
Job 42:2 "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be restrained.
Job 42:3 You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I didn't know.
Job 42:4 You said, 'Listen, now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you will answer me.'
Job 42:5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.
Job 42:6 Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes."
Job 42:7 It was so, that after Yahweh had spoken these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you, and against your two friends; for you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has.
Job 42:8 Now therefore, take to yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept him, that I not deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job has."
Job 42:9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went, and did what Yahweh commanded them, and Yahweh accepted Job.
Job 42:10 Yahweh turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends. Yahweh gave Job twice as much as he had before.
Job 42:11 Then came there to him all his brothers, and all his sisters, and all those who had been of his acquaintance before, and ate bread with him in his house. They comforted him, and consoled him concerning all the evil that Yahweh had brought on him. Everyone also gave him a piece of money, and everyone a ring of gold.
Job 42:12 So Yahweh blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand female donkeys.
Job 42:13 He had also seven sons and three daughters.
Job 42:14 He called the name of the first, Jemimah; and the name of the second, Keziah; and the name of the third, Keren Happuch.
Job 42:15 In all the land were no women found so beautiful as the daughters of Job. Their father gave them an inheritance among their brothers.
Job 42:16 After this Job lived one hundred forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, to four generations.
Job 42:17 So Job died, being old and full of days.

Aug. 25 Romans 6


Aug. 25
Romans 6

Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
Rom 6:2 May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?
Rom 6:3 Or don't you know that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him through baptism to death, that just like Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
Rom 6:5 For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be part of his resurrection;
Rom 6:6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him, that the body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be in bondage to sin.
Rom 6:7 For he who has died has been freed from sin.
Rom 6:8 But if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him;
Rom 6:9 knowing that Christ, being raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no more has dominion over him!
Rom 6:10 For the death that he died, he died to sin one time; but the life that he lives, he lives to God.
Rom 6:11 Thus consider yourselves also to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rom 6:12 Therefore don't let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.
Rom 6:13 Neither present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
Rom 6:14 For sin will not have dominion over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.
Rom 6:15 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be!
Rom 6:16 Don't you know that to whom you present yourselves as servants to obedience, his servants you are whom you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?
Rom 6:17 But thanks be to God, that, whereas you were bondservants of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching whereunto you were delivered.
Rom 6:18 Being made free from sin, you became bondservants of righteousness.
Rom 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh, for as you presented your members as servants to uncleanness and to wickedness upon wickedness, even so now present your members as servants to righteousness for sanctification.
Rom 6:20 For when you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit then did you have at that time in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification, and the result of eternal life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.