A sign of the times...

I think I would like to meet Jerry Criss!!!  Who wouldn't want to know someone who entitles himself "MR. POSITIVE"?  There is so much negative in the world that it would be nice to be exposed to someone who is not!!!  This sign is a clue to who Jerry Criss is.  He is positive because of his thinking and his thoughts are programmed.  For those who love God, here is a program...
 

WEB: Proverbs 3:5. Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding.

WEB: Psalms Chapter 119
[9] How can a young man keep his way pure?
By living according to your word.

[10] With my whole heart, I have sought you.
Don’t let me wander from your commandments.

[11] I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.

WEB: Proverbs 16:9. A man’s heart plans his course,
but Yahweh directs his steps.

Trust, it is the essential of faith.  What you trust in IS YOUR FAITH!!!  Who better to trust than the God of the Bible?  Your own ideas may seem good to you and some of them may be good, but not all!!!  Why not trust in the perfect good... God.  Today, there is a lot of talk about "family values"; this is just code for humanistic reasoning and without God at its core... it will falter and ultimately fail!!!  We need to have God's word hidden in our hearts to keep us from sin; our own thoughts just won't cut it!!!   Yahweh is the ONLY true source of real wisdom; listen to his words and live.  Program your thoughts by remembering HIS WORD and as Proverbs 16:9 says "Yahweh directs his steps".  Is the sign therefore a bad thing; the answer is NO, but, instead, try putting together a collection of Bible verses and making a sign out of it.... it may not be as attractive as the above picture, but ultimately it will be better for you!!!!!

Mar. 3 Exodus 13

Mar. 3

Exodus 13

Exo 13:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Exo 13:2 "Sanctify to me all of the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of animal. It is mine."

Exo 13:3 Moses said to the people, "Remember this day, in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand Yahweh brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten.

Exo 13:4 This day you go forth in the month Abib.

Exo 13:5 It shall be, when Yahweh shall bring you into the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, that you shall keep this service in this month.

Exo 13:6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a feast to Yahweh.

Exo 13:7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten throughout the seven days; and no leavened bread shall be seen with you, neither shall there be yeast seen with you, in all your borders.

Exo 13:8 You shall tell your son in that day, saying, 'It is because of that which Yahweh did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.'

Exo 13:9 It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of Yahweh may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand Yahweh has brought you out of Egypt.

Exo 13:10 You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year.

Exo 13:11 "It shall be, when Yahweh shall bring you into the land of the Canaanite, as he swore to you and to your fathers, and shall give it you,

Exo 13:12 that you shall set apart to Yahweh all that opens the womb, and every firstborn which you have that comes from an animal. The males shall be Yahweh's.

Exo 13:13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; and if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and you shall redeem all the firstborn of man among your sons.

Exo 13:14 It shall be, when your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is this?' that you shall tell him, 'By strength of hand Yahweh brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage;

Exo 13:15 and it happened, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that Yahweh killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man, and the firstborn of animal. Therefore I sacrifice to Yahweh all that opens the womb, being males; but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.'

Exo 13:16 It shall be for a sign on your hand, and for symbols between your eyes: for by strength of hand Yahweh brought us forth out of Egypt."

Exo 13:17 It happened, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God didn't lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, "Lest perhaps the people change their minds when they see war, and they return to Egypt;"

Exo 13:18 but God led the people around by the way of the wilderness by the Red Sea; and the children of Israel went up armed out of the land of Egypt.

Exo 13:19 Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, "God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you."

Exo 13:20 They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.

Exo 13:21 Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night:

Exo 13:22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn't depart from before the people.

Mar. 3, 4 Mark 4

Mar. 3, 4

Mark 4

Mar 4:1 Again he began to teach by the seaside. A great multitude was gathered to him, so that he entered into a boat in the sea, and sat down. All the multitude were on the land by the sea.

Mar 4:2 He taught them many things in parables, and told them in his teaching,

Mar 4:3 "Listen! Behold, the farmer went out to sow,

Mar 4:4 and it happened, as he sowed, some seed fell by the road, and the birds came and devoured it.

Mar 4:5 Others fell on the rocky ground, where it had little soil, and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of soil.

Mar 4:6 When the sun had risen, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.

Mar 4:7 Others fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.

Mar 4:8 Others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing. Some brought forth thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times as much."

Mar 4:9 He said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."

Mar 4:10 When he was alone, those who were around him with the twelve asked him about the parables.

Mar 4:11 He said to them, "To you is given the mystery of the Kingdom of God, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,

Mar 4:12 that 'seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.' "

Mar 4:13 He said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How will you understand all of the parables?

Mar 4:14 The farmer sows the word.

Mar 4:15 The ones by the road are the ones where the word is sown; and when they have heard, immediately Satan comes, and takes away the word which has been sown in them.

Mar 4:16 These in like manner are those who are sown on the rocky places, who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with joy.

Mar 4:17 They have no root in themselves, but are short-lived. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they stumble.

Mar 4:18 Others are those who are sown among the thorns. These are those who have heard the word,

Mar 4:19 and the cares of this age, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

Mar 4:20 Those which were sown on the good ground are those who hear the word, and accept it, and bear fruit, some thirty times, some sixty times, and some one hundred times."

Mar 4:21 He said to them, "Is the lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it put on a stand?

Mar 4:22 For there is nothing hidden, except that it should be made known; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.

Mar 4:23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear."

Mar 4:24 He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you who hear.

Mar 4:25 For whoever has, to him will more be given, and he who doesn't have, even that which he has will be taken away from him."

Mar 4:26 He said, "The Kingdom of God is as if a man should cast seed on the earth,

Mar 4:27 and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he doesn't know how.

Mar 4:28 For the earth bears fruit: first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear.

Mar 4:29 But when the fruit is ripe, immediately he puts forth the sickle, because the harvest has come."

Mar 4:30 He said, "How will we liken the Kingdom of God? Or with what parable will we illustrate it?

Mar 4:31 It's like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, though it is less than all the seeds that are on the earth,

Mar 4:32 yet when it is sown, grows up, and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of the sky can lodge under its shadow."

Mar 4:33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.

Mar 4:34 Without a parable he didn't speak to them; but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

Mar 4:35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let's go over to the other side."

Mar 4:36 Leaving the multitude, they took him with them, even as he was, in the boat. Other small boats were also with him.

Mar 4:37 A big wind storm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so much that the boat was already filled.

Mar 4:38 He himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion, and they woke him up, and told him, "Teacher, don't you care that we are dying?"

Mar 4:39 He awoke, and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" The wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Mar 4:40 He said to them, "Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?"

Mar 4:41 They were greatly afraid, and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

"THE BOOK OF PSALMS" Psalm 22 - The Victorious Sufferer by Mark Copeland

 "THE BOOK OF PSALMS"

                   Psalm 22 - The Victorious Sufferer

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM

1) To note the messianic nature of this psalm fulfilled in the
   crucifixion of Jesus

2) To be impressed with its literal fulfillment, and the insight it 
   gives us into how Jesus must have felt as He hung on the cross

3) To see what gave the psalmist confidence that God would hear his cry
   for deliverance

SUMMARY

This psalm of David could be called "The Psalm Of The Cross", as much of
the suffering described in it was literally fulfilled in the crucifixion
of Jesus Christ (though it may also relate to sufferings experienced by
David).  Where the four gospel writers provide a description of Jesus'
sufferings from the viewpoint of witnesses, this messianic psalm reveals
His suffering from the viewpoint of Jesus Himself.

The heading indicates the psalm was set to "The Deer of the Dawn".  No
one really knows what this refers to, though it may be the name of a
tune known by the Chief Musician.

The psalm begins with a cry that was uttered by Jesus on the cross (Mt
27:46).  The first half of the psalm depicts a sufferer surrounded by
enemies who feels forsaken by God.  While much of the suffering is
described figuratively ("Many bulls have surrounded me"), some of it was
literally fulfilled.  Not only the words of Jesus in verse 1, but also
the very words of the chief priests and scribes who mocked while Jesus
hung on the cross (Mt 27:43).  There is also the piercing of the hands
and feet, the dividing of the garments (Mt 27:35).  As the psalmist
cries out for deliverance, he also expresses hope based upon God's
faithfulness in the past.  At the end of the first half, the psalmist
declares that God has answered him (1-21).

The second half of the psalm expresses the joy of "The Victorious
Sufferer".  He will gladly praise God for hearing him and providing
deliverance.  He encourages all those who fear God to praise and glorify
Him, confident that God's blessings will extend to many nations and to
people not yet born.  This is because the kingdom is the Lord's, and He
rules over the nations (22-31).

OUTLINE

I. THE SUFFERER FORSAKEN BY GOD (22:1-21)

   A. HIS FORLORN CRY (1-2)
      1. Why has God forsaken him?  Why does God not help?
      2. Day and night his cry is made...why does God not hear?

   B. HIS HOPE FOR DELIVERANCE (3-5)
      1. God is holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel
      2. The fathers trusted in God, and He delivered them
      3. They cried to Him, and God did not disappoint them

   C. HIS TORMENT BY OTHERS (6-8)
      1. Reduced to be like a worm, not a man
      2. The object of derision, despised by others
      3. Ridiculed, he is taunted by those who mock his trust in God

   D. HIS FAITH IN GOD (9-11)
      1. He acknowledges that God has been with him since birth
      2. He looks to God as his only helper

   E. HIS SUFFERING DESCRIBED (12-18)
      1. Depiction of his enemies
         a. They surround him like strong bulls of Bashan
         b. Their mouths opened like a raging and roaring lion
      2. Depiction of his suffering
         a. Poured out like water, bones out of joint
         b. Heart like wax, melted within him
         c. Strength dried up, tongues clinging to his jaws
         d. Brought to the dust of death
      3. The suffering imposed by his enemies
         a. Like dogs, they surround him; like evildoers they encircle
            him
         b. They have pierced his hands and feet
         c. He can count all his bones, while they feast their eyes on 
            him
         d. They divide his garments, and cast lots for his clothing

   F. HIS FINAL CRY (19-21)
      1. For God not to be far off
         a. For He who is his strength to hasten and help him
         b. For Him to deliver his life from the sword, his precious 
            life from the power of the dog
         c. For Him to save him from the lion's mouth and horns of wild
            oxen
      2. A sudden declaration that God has answered him!

II. THE SUFFERER DELIVERED BY GOD (22:22-31)

   A. GOD BE PRAISED! (22-25)
      1. The sufferer will praise God
         a. Proclaiming His name to his brethren
         b. Praising Him in the middle of the assembly
      2. Let those who fear God praise Him
         a. Let the descendants of Jacob honor Him
         b. Let the descendants of Israel stand in awe of Him
      3. Reasons for such praise
         a. God has not despised or abhorred his affliction
         b. God has not hidden His face from him, but hearkened to his
            cry
      4. The sufferer will praise God and pay his vows
         a. In the great assembly
         b. Before them that fear Him

   B. GOD BE WORSHIPPED! (26-31)
      1. By the meek, and those that seek the Lord
         a. They shall be eat and be satisfied
         b. They shall praise Him
      2. By those from the ends of the earth
         a. Who shall bear these things in mind and return to the Lord
         b. All families of the nations will bow down before Him
         c. For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He is the Ruler among the
            nations
      3. By the prosperous and the dead
         a. The prosperous will eat, and worship Him
         b. The dying shall bow before Him
      4. By the generations to come
         a. Posterity shall serve him
         b. For men shall tell of what God has done
         c. People yet born shall hear of God's justice

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM

1) What are the main points of this psalm?
   - Forsaken by God (1-21)
   - Delivered by God (22-31)

2) Who is the author of this psalm?
   - David

3) What is the nature of this psalm?
   - Messianic

4) When did Jesus quote the first verse of Psalm 22?
   - As He suffered on the cross (Mt 27:46)

5) Upon what basis does the psalmist hope for deliverance? (3-5)
   - The fathers trusted in God, and He delivered them when they cried
     out to Him

6) What scornful remark in the psalm were also expressed at Jesus' 
   crucifixion? (8)
   - "He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him..." (Mt 27:43)

7) Upon what basis does the psalmist have faith in God's help? (9-11)
   - God has been with him since birth

8) What two metaphors are used to describe the enemies of the psalmist?
   (12-13)
   - They surround him like strong bulls of Bashan
   - They gape at him with mouths like a raging and roaring lion

9) How does the psalmist describe his bodily suffering? (14-15)
   - Poured out like water
   - Bones out of joint
   - Heart like wax, melted within him
   - Strength dried up like a potsherd
   - Tongue clinging to his jaws
   - God has brought him to the dust of death

10) What two things did the enemies do to the psalmist that were
    literally fulfilled at the crucifixion of Jesus? (16-18)
   - They pierced his hands and feet (Mt 27:35a)
   - They divide his garments and cast lots for his clothing (Mt 27:35b)

11) As the psalmist makes another cry for deliverance, how does he
    indicate that God has helped him? (19-21)
   - By saying "You have answered me."

12) What does the psalmist promise to do in response to God's 
    deliverance? (22,25)
   - Declare God's name to his brethren
   - Praise God in the midst of the congregation  (cf. He 2:11-12)
   - Pay his vows in the presence of those who fear Him

13) What does the psalmist call upon people to do?  Why? (23-24)
   - To praise, glorify, and fear God
   - For God has heard the cry of the afflicted

14) As the psalm nears its end, what eight things does the psalmist say
    will happen? (25-31)
   - The poor will eat and be satisfied
   - Those who seek God will praise Him
   - All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord
   - All the families of the nations shall worship before Him
   - All the prosperous of the earth shall eat and worship
   - All who go down to the dust shall bow before Him
   - A posterity shall serve Him
   - God's deliverance and righteousness will be recounted to the next
     generation, even those who are yet unborn

15) Why is the psalmist confident that such things will occur? (28)
   - For the kingdom is the Lord's, and He rules over the nations

What do you wish for???

What would make us ask a question like the rabbit's?  If you could have anything you wanted; what would it be?  And, oh yes; how MUCH would you want?  Therein is the rub!!!  You know, be careful what you ask for... you just might get it!!!  Which makes me think of Jesus and what was done to him.  Remember, when he was before Pilate and the Roman Governor asked the Jews who they wanted to release, Jesus or Barabbas and the chose the latter.  Then, later, we see Peter delivering his famous sermon in Acts chapter 2 and those same Jews come to grips with their choice...

WEB: Acts Chapter 2

[14] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words. [15] For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day. [16] But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel:

[17] ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.


Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.


[18] Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.


[19] I will show wonders in the sky above,
and signs on the earth beneath;
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.


[20] The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
[21] It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’


[22] “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know, [23] him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed; [24] whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. [25] For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before my face,
For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.


[26] Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;


[27] because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.


[28] You made known to me the ways of life.
You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’


[29] “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. [30] Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, [31] he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay. [32] This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses. [33] Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear. [34] For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,
[35] until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’


[36] “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
[37] Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

[38] Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.” [40] With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

[41] Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. [42] They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer. [43] Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. [44] All who believed were together, and had all things in common. [45] They sold their possessions and goods, and distributed them to all, according as anyone had need.

 When faced with life or death, material "things" are of no importance.  The Jews realized what they had done and listened to Peter.  The church grew a lot that day!!!  As for things... well, they sold them and made distribution.  I wonder what the rabbit would do if he were Jewish?  I don't think he would care a whit about carrots anymore!!!!

Mar. 2 Exodus 12

Mar. 2

Exodus 12

Exo 12:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,

Exo 12:2 "This month shall be to you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year to you.

Exo 12:3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, 'On the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to their fathers' houses, a lamb for a household;

Exo 12:4 and if the household is too little for a lamb, then he and his neighbor next to his house shall take one according to the number of the souls; according to what everyone can eat you shall make your count for the lamb.

Exo 12:5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You shall take it from the sheep, or from the goats:

Exo 12:6 and you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at evening.

Exo 12:7 They shall take some of the blood, and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel, on the houses in which they shall eat it.

Exo 12:8 They shall eat the flesh in that night, roasted with fire, and unleavened bread. They shall eat it with bitter herbs.

Exo 12:9 Don't eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted with fire; with its head, its legs and its inner parts.

Exo 12:10 You shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; but that which remains of it until the morning you shall burn with fire.

Exo 12:11 This is how you shall eat it: with your waist girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste: it is Yahweh's Passover.

Exo 12:12 For I will go through the land of Egypt in that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and animal. Against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments: I am Yahweh.

Exo 12:13 The blood shall be to you for a token on the houses where you are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and there shall no plague be on you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.

Exo 12:14 This day shall be to you for a memorial, and you shall keep it a feast to Yahweh: throughout your generations you shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever.

Exo 12:15 " 'Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread; even the first day you shall put away yeast out of your houses, for whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel.

Exo 12:16 In the first day there shall be to you a holy convocation, and in the seventh day a holy convocation; no manner of work shall be done in them, except that which every man must eat, that only may be done by you.

Exo 12:17 You shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this same day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore you shall observe this day throughout your generations by an ordinance forever.

Exo 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the twenty first day of the month at evening.

Exo 12:19 Seven days shall there be no yeast found in your houses, for whoever eats that which is leavened, that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a foreigner, or one who is born in the land.

Exo 12:20 You shall eat nothing leavened. In all your habitations you shall eat unleavened bread.' "

Exo 12:21 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said to them, "Draw out, and take lambs according to your families, and kill the Passover.

Exo 12:22 You shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning.

Exo 12:23 For Yahweh will pass through to strike the Egyptians; and when he sees the blood on the lintel, and on the two doorposts, Yahweh will pass over the door, and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to strike you.

Exo 12:24 You shall observe this thing for an ordinance to you and to your sons forever.

Exo 12:25 It shall happen when you have come to the land which Yahweh will give you, according as he has promised, that you shall keep this service.

Exo 12:26 It will happen, when your children ask you, 'What do you mean by this service?'

Exo 12:27 that you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of Yahweh's Passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he struck the Egyptians, and spared our houses.' " The people bowed their heads and worshiped.

Exo 12:28 The children of Israel went and did so; as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

Exo 12:29 It happened at midnight, that Yahweh struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of livestock.

Exo 12:30 Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

Exo 12:31 He called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, "Rise up, get out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve Yahweh, as you have said!

Exo 12:32 Take both your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also!"

Exo 12:33 The Egyptians were urgent with the people, to send them out of the land in haste, for they said, "We are all dead men."

Exo 12:34 The people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading troughs being bound up in their clothes on their shoulders.

Exo 12:35 The children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they asked of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and clothing.

Exo 12:36 Yahweh gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked. They despoiled the Egyptians.

Exo 12:37 The children of Israel traveled from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot who were men, besides children.

Exo 12:38 A mixed multitude went up also with them, with flocks, herds, and even very much livestock.

Exo 12:39 They baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt; for it wasn't leavened, because they were thrust out of Egypt, and couldn't wait, neither had they prepared for themselves any food.

Exo 12:40 Now the time that the children of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years.

Exo 12:41 It happened at the end of four hundred thirty years, even the same day it happened, that all the armies of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt.

Exo 12:42 It is a night to be much observed to Yahweh for bringing them out from the land of Egypt. This is that night of Yahweh, to be much observed of all the children of Israel throughout their generations.

Exo 12:43 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, "This is the ordinance of the Passover. There shall no foreigner eat of it,

Exo 12:44 but every man's servant who is bought for money, when you have circumcised him, then shall he eat of it.

Exo 12:45 A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat of it.

Exo 12:46 In one house shall it be eaten; you shall not carry forth anything of the flesh abroad out of the house; neither shall you break a bone of it.

Exo 12:47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.

Exo 12:48 When a stranger shall live as a foreigner with you, and will keep the Passover to Yahweh, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as one who is born in the land: but no uncircumcised person shall eat of it.

Exo 12:49 One law shall be to him who is born at home, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among you."

Exo 12:50 All the children of Israel did so. As Yahweh commanded Moses and Aaron, so they did.

Exo 12:51 It happened the same day, that Yahweh brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

"THE BOOK OF PSALMS" Psalm 19 - God's Two Books by Mark Copeland

  "THE BOOK OF PSALMS"

                      Psalm 19 - God's Two Books

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS PSALM

1) To note two ways God has made Himself known to mankind

2) To be impressed with the value of God's revealed Will, i.e., the
   Word of God

3) To be reminded of the need for sanctification, and not just
   forgiveness

SUMMARY

This well-known psalm of David might be appropriately titled "God's Two
Books", for in it we are told how God has expressed Himself in two
different ways.

Through the book of creation, the glory and handiwork of God are made
known as one observes the heavens and firmament.  Day and night
"speaks" to the whole world if people will just listen (cf. Ro 1:20).
As an illustration of the pervasive nature of this revelation, the sun
passes through the heavens from one end to the other, like a joyful
bridegroom or a strong runner.  There is no place hidden from its heat
(1-6).

While one might learn of God's power and the fact of His deity through
nature, we learn of His Will for man only through His book of
revelation, i.e., the Word of God.  Using different synonyms for God's
Word (law, testimony, statutes, etc.), David extols its virtue and
impact upon the soul and well-being of man.  He praises it value as
worth more than much gold, and sweeter than honey (7-11).

The psalm ends with a prayer that is a proper response of one who has
been influenced by both "books". Acknowledging the challenge of knowing
one's own secret sins (cf. Ps 40:12; Lev 5:15-17), and the danger of
sinning presumptuously (cf. Num 15:30-31; Deut 17:12-13), David prays
for cleansing and help that he might be blameless and innocent.  But he
desires more than just forgiveness, David prays that his future words
and thoughts will always be acceptable in the sight of the Lord, the
source of his strength and redemption (12-14).

OUTLINE

I. THE GLORY OF GOD IN CREATION (19:1-6)

   A. DECLARED BY THE SKIES (1-4a)
      1. The heavens declare God's glory
      2. The firmaments shows His handwork
      3. The days and nights speak of His knowledge
         a. Such speech is universal
         b. Its distribution is worldwide

   B. DEMONSTRATED BY THE SUN (4b-6)
      1. The skies are like a tabernacle for the sun
      2. The sun passes through the skies
         a. Like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber
         b. Like a strong man rejoices in anticipation of his race
      3. The effect of the sun is universal
         a. From one end of heaven to the other
         b. Nothing is hidden from its heat

II. THE GIFT OF GOD IN REVELATION (19:7-11)

   A. THE VIRTUE OF GOD'S WORD (7-9)
      1. The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul
      2. The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple
      3. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart
      4. The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes
      5. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever
      6. The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous forever

   B. THE VALUE OF GOD'S WORD (10-11)
      1. More desirable than much fine gold
      2. Sweeter than honey and the honeycomb
      3. By them God's servant is warned
      4. Keeping them has great reward

III. THE GRACE OF GOD IN SANCTIFICATION (19:12-14)

   A. A PRAYER FOR PURIFICATION (12)
      1. The difficulty of understanding (knowing) one's errors
      2. Plea for cleansing from secret faults (sins of which one is
         not aware)

   B. A PRAYER FOR PREVENTION (13)
      1. Plea to be kept from the domination of presumptuous sins (sins
         of which one is aware)
      2. Then one shall be blameless and innocent of great
         transgression

   C. A PRAYER FOR PERFECTION (14)
      1. That the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart be
         acceptable in His sight
      2. Addressed to the Lord, the source of his strength and his
         redemption

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE PSALM

1) What are the main points of this psalm?
   - The glory of God in creation (1-6)
   - The gift of God in revelation (7-11)
   - The grace of God in sanctification (12-14)

2) Who is the author of this psalm?
   - David

3) What is the character or style of this psalm?
   - Praise and prayer

4) What declares God's glory, and shows His handiwork? (1)
   - The heavens and the firmament (skies)

5) What speaks knowledge about God's glory? (2)
   - The passing of day and night

6) Where is this knowledge of God's glory heard? (3-4)
   - Through all the earth; there is no place it cannot be known

7) What provides an illustration of the pervasive reach of God's glory?
   (4b-6)
   - The circuit of the sun from one end of heaven to the other

8) What six synonyms are used for the Word of God? (7-9)
   - The law of the Lord
   - The testimony of the Lord
   - The statutes of the Lord
   - The commandment of the Lord
   - The fear of the Lord
   - The judgments of the Lord

9) What six attributes and benefits describe the Word of God? (7-9)
   - Perfect, converting the soul
   - Sure, making wise the simple
   - Right, rejoicing the heart
   - Pure, enlightening the eyes
   - Clean, enduring forever
   - True and righteous altogether

10) How does David compare the value of God's Word? (10)
   - More desirable than much fine gold
   - Sweeter than the honey and honeycomb

11) What two things are true of the words of God? (11)
   - By them the servant of God is warned
   - Keeping them offers great reward

12) What concern does David have regarding "secret faults"? (12)
   - Who can understand (know) them?
   - To be cleansed from them

13) For what does he pray concerning "presumptuous sins"? (13)
   - To be kept back from them
   - To not be dominated by them

14) What is David's prayer as he closes the psalm? (14)
   - That the words of his mouth and the mediation of his heart be
     acceptable in God's sight

15) How does David view God? (14)
   - As his strength and his redeemer