All Powerful / King of All, Consequences of Sin, Discipline / Guidance From God, Father / Yahweh, Grace / Forgiveness, Justice / Judgment, Merciful, Protector / Deliverer, Wickedness / Evil, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

Embrace Rather than Reject God’s Message Amidst Adversity

There are several themes of which to take note in Jeremiah 32. Consider them as you read the passage below.

  • Jeremiah brought the true word of God, and people did not want to hear it. He was imprisoned because of it. Do not expect everyone to embrace God’s message or messenger, especially when bringing correction. However, we are still called to carry out God’s instructions and deliver His word, even if it is hard.
  • Sometimes what God asks us to do will seem to have no effect on those to whom He sends us. Nevertheless, we are to do as He tells us.
  • It is not good for God’s people to stir up God’s wrath by rejecting Him and His ways. He is a loving father and will pursue them, even if He needs to discipline them harshly to get their attention.
  • Often, when God corrects us, he is doing it for our own benefit, and that of our children who come after us.
  • Even as God plans correction and rebuke, He has in mind reconciliation of His people to Himself.
  • Nothing is too difficult for God.

Jeremiah 32

Jeremiah Imprisoned

      1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2Now at that time the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the guard, which was in the house of the king of Judah, 3because Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, “Why do you prophesy, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am about to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will take it; 4and Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but he will surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will speak with him face to face and see him eye to eye; 5and he will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and he will be there until I visit him,” declares the LORD. “If you fight against the Chaldeans, you will not succeed”’?”

      6And Jeremiah said, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 7‘Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you, saying, “Buy for yourself my field which is at Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.”’ 8“Then Hanamel my uncle’s son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of the LORD and said to me, ‘Buy my field, please, that is at Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin; for you have the right of possession and the redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD.

      9“I bought the field which was at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle’s son, and I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10“I signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11“Then I took the deeds of purchase, both the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions and the open copy; 12and I gave the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the sight of Hanamel my uncle’s son and in the sight of the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, before all the Jews who were sitting in the court of the guard. 13“And I commanded Baruch in their presence, saying, 14‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Take these deeds, this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, that they may last a long time.” 15‘For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Houses and fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”’

Jeremiah Prays and God Explains

      16“After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah, then I prayed to the LORD, saying, 17‘Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, 18who shows lovingkindness to thousands, but repays the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them, O great and mighty God. The LORD of hosts is His name; 19great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, giving to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds; 20who has set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and even to this day both in Israel and among mankind; and You have made a name for Yourself, as at this day. 21‘You brought Your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and with wonders, and with a strong hand and with an outstretched arm and with great terror; 22and gave them this land, which You swore to their forefathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23‘They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey Your voice or walk in Your law; they have done nothing of all that You commanded them to do; therefore You have made all this calamity come upon them. 24‘Behold, the siege ramps have reached the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the pestilence; and what You have spoken has come to pass; and behold, You see it. 25‘You have said to me, O Lord GOD, “Buy for yourself the field with money and call in witnesses”—although the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.’”

      26Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying, 27“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” 28Therefore thus says the LORD, “Behold, I am about to give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will take it. 29“The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will enter and set this city on fire and burn it, with the houses where people have offered incense to Baal on their roofs and poured out drink offerings to other gods to provoke Me to anger. 30“Indeed the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah have been doing only evil in My sight from their youth; for the sons of Israel have been only provoking Me to anger by the work of their hands,” declares the LORD. 31“Indeed this city has been to Me a provocation of My anger and My wrath from the day that they built it, even to this day, so that it should be removed from before My face, 32because of all the evil of the sons of Israel and the sons of Judah which they have done to provoke Me to anger—they, their kings, their leaders, their priests, their prophets, the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 33“They have turned their back to Me and not their face; though I taught them, teaching again and again, they would not listen and receive instruction. 34“But they put their detestable things in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. 35“They built the high places of Baal that are in the valley of Ben-hinnom to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire to Molech, which I had not commanded them nor had it entered My mind that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.

      36“Now therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel concerning this city of which you say, ‘It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, by famine and by pestilence.’ 37“Behold, I will gather them out of all the lands to which I have driven them in My anger, in My wrath and in great indignation; and I will bring them back to this place and make them dwell in safety. 38“They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. 40“I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me. 41“I will rejoice over them to do them good and will faithfully plant them in this land with all My heart and with all My soul. 42“For thus says the LORD, ‘Just as I brought all this great disaster on this people, so I am going to bring on them all the good that I am promising them. 43‘Fields will be bought in this land of which you say, “It is a desolation, without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.” 44‘Men will buy fields for money, sign and seal deeds, and call in witnesses in the land of Benjamin, in the environs of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland and in the cities of the Negev; for I will restore their fortunes,’ declares the LORD.”

Take a few minutes and prayerfully reflect on the themes we highlighted before the scripture passage. Ask God to show you how they apply in your life today.

As you reflect on the discipline God’s people endured as described in this chapter of Jeremiah, consider God’s reasons.

 38“They shall be My people, and I will be their God; 39and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good and for the good of their children after them. 40“I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me.

God was acting for their own good and the good of their children after them. He was not just being vindictive or mean or getting even. Like a good father with his children, God wants what is best for us.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Jesus Christ / Yeshua, Loving / Kind, Marriage

Be Passionate in Your Feelings Toward Your Spouse and Toward Jesus

Some of the specific poetic language may not resonate in our time and culture (e.g. your hair is like a flock of goats), but don’t miss the sentiment of the passage. Solomon is truly excited about his bride, and yes it is ok to appreciate physical beauty in addition to beauty within the person, especially when directed at your spouse.

Song Of Solomon 4

Solomon’s Love Expressed 

     1“How beautiful you are, my darling,
How beautiful you are!
Your eyes are like doves behind your veil;
Your hair is like a flock of goats
That have descended from Mount Gilead.

      2“Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes
Which have come up from their washing,
All of which bear twins,
And not one among them has lost her young.

      3“Your lips are like a scarlet thread,
And your mouth is lovely.
Your temples are like a slice of a pomegranate
Behind your veil.

      4“Your neck is like the tower of David,
Built with rows of stones
On which are hung a thousand shields,
All the round shields of the mighty men.

      5“Your two breasts are like two fawns,
Twins of a gazelle
Which feed among the lilies.

      6“Until the cool of the day
When the shadows flee away,
I will go my way to the mountain of myrrh
And to the hill of frankincense.

      7“You are altogether beautiful, my darling,
And there is no blemish in you.

      8“Come with me from Lebanon, my bride,
May you come with me from Lebanon.
Journey down from the summit of Amana,
From the summit of Senir and Hermon,
From the dens of lions,
From the mountains of leopards.

      9“You have made my heart beat faster, my sister, my bride;
You have made my heart beat faster with a single glance of your eyes,
With a single strand of your necklace.

      10“How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride!
How much better is your love than wine,
And the fragrance of your oils
Than all kinds of spices!

      11“Your lips, my bride, drip honey;
Honey and milk are under your tongue,
And the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

      12“A garden locked is my sister, my bride,
A rock garden locked, a spring sealed up.

      13“Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates
With choice fruits, henna with nard plants,

      14Nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon,
With all the trees of frankincense,
Myrrh and aloes, along with all the finest spices.

      15“You are a garden spring,
A well of fresh water,
And streams flowing from Lebanon.”

      16“Awake, O north wind,
And come, wind of the south;
Make my garden breathe out fragrance,
Let its spices be wafted abroad.
May my beloved come into his garden
And eat its choice fruits!”

Let us all seek to care for both our internal and external beauty. Let us be good stewards of our bodies and our spirits. Let us seek to love our spouses and be excited about them and by them.  Continue to invest in the relationship over time.

Also, try to keep in mind that our relationship with Christ is compared metaphorically to a husband and wife with Christ as the husband and the church as the bride. We can be reminded that Jesus loves us, not in a sexual way, but the metaphor holds. He wants to be close to us. We should want to pursue Him as well and draw near.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Help / Serve Others, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Prayer, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms, Suffering / Adversity

Draw Near To God in Difficult Times

We all have figured out by now that we face difficult times while we are on this earth. However, what a great step we are making in drawing near to Yahweh when we turn to Him for help with praise and thanksgiving even during the hard times. He is our Father and we can share what is on our hearts with Him honestly and then turn our attitude toward one of praise and thanksgiving toward Him.

Psalm 41

The Psalmist in Sickness Complains of Enemies and False Friends.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

      1How blessed is he who considers the helpless;
The LORD will deliver him in a day of trouble.

      2The LORD will protect him and keep him alive,
And he shall be called blessed upon the earth;
And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies.

      3The LORD will sustain him upon his sickbed;
In his illness, You restore him to health.

      4As for me, I said, “O LORD, be gracious to me;
Heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.”

      5My enemies speak evil against me,
“When will he die, and his name perish?”

      6And when he comes to see me, he speaks falsehood;
His heart gathers wickedness to itself;
When he goes outside, he tells it.

      7All who hate me whisper together against me;
Against me they devise my hurt, saying,

      8“A wicked thing is poured out upon him,
That when he lies down, he will not rise up again.”

      9Even my close friend in whom I trusted,
Who ate my bread,
Has lifted up his heel against me.

      10But You, O LORD, be gracious to me and raise me up,
That I may repay them.

      11By this I know that You are pleased with me,
Because my enemy does not shout in triumph over me.

      12As for me, You uphold me in my integrity,
And You set me in Your presence forever.

      13Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.

Trust in God even when things are not going well. Share your heart openly and honestly, but then remember to thank Him and praise Him even before the situation is fully resolved in your eyes. The value of our relationship with our Creator is so much more than just an escape from hard times. He helps us in our distress, sometimes to escape it and sometimes to endure it and learn from it. He loves us as a Father. At a minimum, we should love Him back as a little child does a loving father… even if we do not understand all that we are going through. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.

James 4:8a

 8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

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Have you submitted your life to Jesus Christ? If you die today, do you know for sure that you would be with God in heaven? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faithful, Grace / Forgiveness, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness

God’s Faithfulness Offers a Transformative Journey from Brokenness to Abundant Blessings

Jeremiah 31, a pivotal chapter in the book of Jeremiah, carries a profound message of hope and restoration in the midst of turmoil. Against the backdrop of the Babylonian exile and the fall of Jerusalem, the central theme of this chapter revolves around the promise of a new covenant between God and His people.

At its core, Jeremiah 31 envisions the restoration of both the Northern Kingdom of Israel (Ephraim) and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Despite the people’s disobedience and the consequences they face, God’s unwavering love and faithfulness shine through. The chapter paints a picture of a triumphant return from exile, where the people are called to rejoice and sing as they journey back to their homeland.

The concept of the new covenant takes center stage, embodying a profound shift from external obedience to an internal transformation. Unlike the old covenant established at Mount Sinai, which was written on stone tablets, this new covenant will be etched onto the hearts of the people. This intimate inscription signifies a deeper connection with God, where forgiveness, redemption, and a renewed relationship become paramount.

Through Jeremiah’s words, God’s promise to forgive sins and remember them no more echoes, highlighting His boundless mercy. The lush imagery of the land’s fertility and the population’s growth paints a vibrant picture of flourishing prosperity. Jeremiah 31 resonates with the unchanging nature of God’s love, demonstrating His unyielding commitment to His people despite their failings.

In essence, Jeremiah 31 encapsulates a message of renewal—a promise that out of adversity, a fresh start awaits. It encapsulates a profound sense of hope, underscoring the idea that even in the face of challenges and exile, God’s covenantal relationship endures. This chapter serves as a timeless reminder that God’s faithfulness prevails, offering a transformative journey from brokenness to abundant blessings.

Jeremiah 31

Israel’s Mourning Turned to Joy

      1“At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”

      2Thus says the LORD,
“The people who survived the sword
Found grace in the wilderness—
Israel, when it went to find its rest.”

      3The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.

      4“Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt,
O virgin of Israel!
Again you will take up your tambourines,
And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers.

      5“Again you will plant vineyards
On the hills of Samaria;
The planters will plant
And will enjoy them.

      6“For there will be a day when watchmen
On the hills of Ephraim call out,
‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
To the LORD our God.’”

      7For thus says the LORD,
“Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
And shout among the chief of the nations;
Proclaim, give praise and say,
‘O LORD, save Your people,
The remnant of Israel.’

      8“Behold, I am bringing them from the north country,
And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together;
A great company, they will return here.

      9“With weeping they will come,
And by supplication I will lead them;
I will make them walk by streams of waters,
On a straight path in which they will not stumble;
For I am a father to Israel,
And Ephraim is My firstborn.”

      10Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
And declare in the coastlands afar off,
And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him
And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”

      11For the LORD has ransomed Jacob
And redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.

      12“They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion,
And they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—
Over the grain and the new wine and the oil,
And over the young of the flock and the herd;
And their life will be like a watered garden,
And they will never languish again.

      13“Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old, together,
For I will turn their mourning into joy
And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.

      14“I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance,
And My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” declares the LORD.

      15Thus says the LORD,
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
She refuses to be comforted for her children,
Because they are no more.”

16Thus says the LORD,
“Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears;
For your work will be rewarded,” declares the LORD,
“And they will return from the land of the enemy.

      17“There is hope for your future,” declares the LORD,
“And your children will return to their own territory.

      18“I have surely heard Ephraim grieving,
‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised,
Like an untrained calf;
Bring me back that I may be restored,
For You are the LORD my God.

      19‘For after I turned back, I repented;
And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh;
I was ashamed and also humiliated
Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’

      20“Is Ephraim My dear son?
Is he a delightful child?
Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him,
I certainly still remember him;
Therefore My heart yearns for him;
I will surely have mercy on him,” declares the LORD.

      21“Set up for yourself roadmarks,
Place for yourself guideposts;
Direct your mind to the highway,
The way by which you went.
Return, O virgin of Israel,
Return to these your cities.

      22“How long will you go here and there,
O faithless daughter?
For the LORD has created a new thing in the earth—
A woman will encompass a man.”

      23Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Once again they will speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities when I restore their fortunes,
‘The LORD bless you, O abode of righteousness,
O holy hill!’

24“Judah and all its cities will dwell together in it, the farmer and they who go about with flocks. 25“For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” 26At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.


A New Covenant

      27“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast. 28“As I have watched over them to pluck up, to break down, to overthrow, to destroy and to bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD.

      29“In those days they will not say again,
‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

30“But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.

      31“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant which I made with their fathers in the day I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, although I was a husband to them,” declares the LORD. 33“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the LORD, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 34“They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them,” declares the LORD, “for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.”

      35Thus says the LORD,
Who gives the sun for light by day
And the fixed order of the moon and the stars for light by night,
Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar;
The LORD of hosts is His name:

      36“If this fixed order departs
From before Me,” declares the LORD,
“Then the offspring of Israel also will cease
From being a nation before Me forever.”

37Thus says the LORD,
“If the heavens above can be measured
And the foundations of the earth searched out below,
Then I will also cast off all the offspring of Israel
For all that they have done,” declares the LORD.

      38“Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the city will be rebuilt for the LORD from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. 39“The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb; then it will turn to Goah. 40“And the whole valley of the dead bodies and of the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be holy to the LORD; it will not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.”

Take a few minutes in prayer to thank God for His faithfulness in offering a transformative journey from brokenness to abundant blessings to each of us.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Compassionate, Demons, Faith / Trusting God, Healer, Interceding for Others, Learning To Pray Effectively, Loving / Kind, Miracles

Yeshua Is Moved With Compassion for Those Who Seek Him Faithfully, Humbly, and Persistently

As much as we would like to think that Yahweh looks upon everyone equally, scripture does not always appear to back this up. Yahweh sent Yeshua and most often the prophets to His chosen people, the Hebrew people. It was not until the Hebrew people rejected Him that He turned to the Gentiles, in which case those who accept Him are now grafted into Israel as part of His people (Romans 11). Individuals are grafted in or grafted out with rejection of Messiah, but Israel is not thrown aside as if discarded and Christianity is not a brand new start, or “do over”. The path demonstrated by Yeshua and His disciples built upon the Hebrew roots and added Messiah. We should take note and do the same.

In Mark 7, we even see Yeshua initially refusing to cast out a demon for someone else who was not Jewish. Ultimately, because of her faith and persistence, He had compassion on her and cast the demon out of her daughter. We can learn from this to be sure.

Yeshua was often moved by compassion in the face of faith demonstrated by people who wholeheartedly sought after Him. Even for those whom He had not intended to help, such as those not among the Jewish people, He was still moved when the came seeking Him humbly, faithfully, and persistently. As a side note, this also shows a tangible example where God invites us to come to Him in prayer persistently. We are not rebuked for asking more than once, though we do need to seek the Spirit on how and what we ask for persistently (reference Luke 18:1-8).

The answer could still be “no” in some cases and we may not always understand why (reference Job and Yeshua’s prayer in Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46). None the less we are encouraged to persistently bring righteous prayers before our Father and not lose heart.

Mark 7:24-37

The Syrophoenician Woman

      24Jesus got up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He wanted no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. 25But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. 26Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27And He was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” 28But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.” 29And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.” 30And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.

      31Again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis. 32They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him. 33Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; 34and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” 35And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. 36And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. 37They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Do not overlook or cease to be amazed at the miraculous healing power of God. Seek Him persistently and humbly. Trust Him in His answer. Do not lose heart.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, thank You for demonstrating Your love and compassion on Your people, and even those who are not Your people, when we desperately and faithfully seek You. Help us to have the courage to persist and not lose heart and help us also to trust in Your answer to our prayer without losing faith if the answer is “no”. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Is the Old Testament Relevant Today?, Obeying God, Study the Word, Teachable

Did Jesus Declare All Food Clean?

There are some topics that are clearly a challenge to cover in a daily post or article which is intended to be read quickly. There are clearly topics that one can only touch on and stage some ideas in a brief setting like this one and then those who are reading must pray and choose to study and consider more thoughtfully after they have finished reading. Today’s subject is one of those topics from scripture.

There is a phrase included in some, but not all, English translations of the Bible in Mark 7:19 that goes something like this… “(Thus He declared all foods clean.)”

Many wish to immediately jump on this, if it is in the translation of the Bible they are reading, and declare that all foods are clean. They jump to the seeming conclusion that they already want to be true, despite the inconsistency it creates with regards to scripture in broader context and comparison. We should take caution and tread carefully before jumping to conclusions. Test everything against the full context of the entire Bible.

Mark 7:1-23

Followers of Tradition

      1The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?”

6And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,
BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

      7‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,
TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’

8“Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

      9He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10“For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; 11but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

The Heart of Man

      14After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16[“If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”]

      17When he had left the crowd and entered the house, His disciples questioned Him about the parable. 18And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 19because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.) 20And He was saying, “That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. 21“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, 22deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. 23“All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man.”

Several things draw my attention in regards to the phrase “(Thus He declared all foods clean.)”

1- The declaration that suddenly all food is clean is completely out of context in the scripture. The scripture is about the flawed basis of traditions of men that people cling to and specifically about being made unclean by not washing hands before eating. It has nothing to do with what things are considered appropriate to eat or not.

2- Cross check with other English translations shows that this phrase only shows up in some versions. I suspect, but have not completed, a further study of the history of this verse and tracing it back might prove interesting to determine if it is original or was added in some translations at a later time. For example… it is not in the King James Version. Is it in the original Greek?

3- Similarly, a cross check with the other gospels, such as Matthew 15, reveal that this phrase is not included.

The Heart of Man

      15Peter said to Him, “Explain the parable to us.” 16Jesus said, “Are you still lacking in understanding also? 17“Do you not understand that everything that goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated? 18“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. 19“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. 20“These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”

4- Other detailed cross checks and study across scripture identifies many other conflicts with the claim that all things we could eat are considered good and appropriate to eat. We could cite many Old Testament scripture but also just observing the behavior of Jesus and the disciples shows a complete continuity of their lives lining up with God’s instruction from the Old Testament.

5- We could further explore this phrase… “all foods clean”. When I say to someone I like cupcakes, it does not mean that I like every possible cupcake that could be imagined… such as ant and cricket stuffed straw cupcakes. It means that for the wide variety of things that I consider to be described as cupcakes, I generally like them. Similarly, one could ask … “If I say all food is clean, then what exactly do I mean by “food”.” Would it make sense that I mean “anything that I put in my mouth”? Of course not. I can put rocks in my mouth but that is not food. Exploring a bit deeper in the culture of the ones speaking and documenting the scripture… they are Jewish. They define food in that culture and context consistent with God’s definition of food from the Old Testament. That is very different than what we, today, may consider to be food.

The clear message of the scripture is simply that in regards to man’s traditions, such as washing hands before eating, we will not be defiled by failing to follow these traditions. We are much more defiled by our attitudes in which we dishonor or disrespect God and His instructions that come from our heart and reveal our lack of obedience and faithfulness to God.

For those of you who are “germ conscious”… have no fear… it is ok to wash your hands before you eat to address your germ concerns. That is not really the point of the scripture either.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help me to challenge and test everything against Your word. Let me not simply accept what is commonly taught. Help me to have a desire to study and seek You diligently. Open my eyes to the truth of Your word. Help me to see through Your eyes. Help me also remember that those who may disagree with me on certain doctrine  are not my enemies. We should test and challenge scripture with one another. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Discerning / Judging, False Prophets / Teachers, Hypocrisy, Teachable, Traditions / Holidays, Unteachable / Foolish

Do Not Set Aside The Commandments of God for the Tradition of Men

Yeshua firmly reminds us to seek to understand and live according to the commandments of Yahweh rather than the traditions of men. Many of us have read the scripture in Mark 7 and just thought… “Those Pharisees were really lost.” But I challenge each of us to dig deeper. The same is true in our churches and society today around the world. There is often a push to set aside the commandments of Yahweh as “irrelevant” or “obsolete” and to instead live according to tradition of our family, our culture, or even our church.

Mark 7:1-13

Followers of Tradition

      1The Pharisees and some of the scribes gathered around Him when they had come from Jerusalem, 2and had seen that some of His disciples were eating their bread with impure hands, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders; 4and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they cleanse themselves; and there are many other things which they have received in order to observe, such as the washing of cups and pitchers and copper pots.) 5The Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with impure hands?”

6And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,
BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.

      7‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,
TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’

8“Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”

      9He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition. 10“For Moses said, ‘HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER’; and, ‘HE WHO SPEAKS EVIL OF FATHER OR MOTHER, IS TO BE PUT TO DEATH’; 11but you say, ‘If a man says to his father or his mother, whatever I have that would help you is Corban (that is to say, given to God),’ 12you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother; 13thus invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down; and you do many things such as that.”

We must truly challenge ourselves to test everything against the holy scriptures. There are many examples where we as Christians have strayed in large numbers from the commands of Yahweh. An easy, basic example is activities around Sabbath. Do Christians truly seek to obey Yahweh’s command around Sabbath weekly? Do we avoid work? Do we rest and seek Him on this day each week? The facts are we do not even celebrate our day of worship broadly on the same day that He commanded. From the beginning He created the earth and rested on the seventh day, which for us is Saturday. Jesus and the disciples recognized Sabbath in what would correspond to our current Gregorian calendar as Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown. We have created and follow traditions of men instead of those laid out by Yahweh and demonstrated even by Yeshua!

Similar exploration could be fruitful regarding holy days, or appointed times. Yahweh lays out the holy days in Leviticus 23, and elsewhere, that we are commanded to obey for all generations. However, rather than celebrate these (e.g. Passover), we instead have created our own traditions to replace them. We create a new tradition of men to celebrate the birth of Christ and then blend it in with pagan celebrations and traditions and cling to it as if it is from Yahweh. We do the same with resurrection, pursuing pagan practices like Easter eggs instead of celebrating Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, as commanded.

God commands us to not have graven images as part of worship, but in many cases man puts carved images of Yeshua or Mary in their churches where we worship. Yahweh commands us not to covet, or to be envious of what others have. Yet our culture is saturated with an attitude of needing to have what others have, even if we can’t afford it. People go into debt so far they can never dig out.

Yahweh calls us to trust in Him, but instead most put their trust in money. Scripture warns us that we can not serve two masters. We will love one and hate the other. We must choose if we trust and serve our Father or money.

Yahweh calls us to repentance. It is the first teaching from Yeshua in His earthly ministry and the first for the disciples whom He sent out. It is ripe throughout the history of Yahweh’s prophets in the messages they bring. It is the very core of our faith. However, culture and society claim that all people are inherently good instead of sinful. We are told to accept people the way they are rather than call for and lead them to change. Why is it that our culture insists we are not supposed to talk about gluttony, but rather just accept people as they are… which is not helping them at all. In the USA there is a tremendous obesity problem resulting in all sorts of health issues impacting people’s lives. Why are we not supposed to speak the truth about homosexuality and other sexual identify confusion? Why are we not to engage one another to repent regarding coveting or sex outside marriage? The tradition of men continues to march on away from the commands of Yahweh, insisting that accepting everyone as they are, without repentance, is good. But our Father tells us to lovingly confront one another and help one another to repent and change our behaviors.

I could go on. The traditions of men continue to push out and overshadow the commands of Yahweh broadly in our world today. Seek prayerfully where you need to make changes in your life to obey Yahweh more, and the traditions of men less.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father please bring about an awakening to contrast the ways of man from Your ways. Bring about the restoration of all things to return to Your ways and bring You glory. Defeat the plans of the wicked. Raise up and defend the righteous for Your name’s sake. Open the eyes of Your people to their sin and disregard for Your commandments and lead us to repentance on a broad scale across our nation and the world. Help us to have the strength and courage to challenge and test what we have long accepted as correct and further to walk away from those things for which we need to let go so we can return to Your ways instead of the ways of man. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Faith / Trusting God, His Timing Not Ours, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Peace / Rest, Protector / Deliverer, Strong in Our Weakness, Thankfulness

From Despair to Destiny: A Divine Promise of Restoration

The key theme from Jeremiah chapter 30 is the promise of restoration and hope for the future. In this chapter, Jeremiah, the prophet, delivers a message of comfort to the Israelites during a time of great distress and exile. The chapter is often referred to as the “Book of Consolation” or the “Book of Restoration.”

Jeremiah 30 begins with a message from the Lord to Jeremiah, instructing him to write down all the words that God has spoken. The primary focus of the chapter is on the future restoration of Israel and Judah after a period of suffering, captivity, and judgment. Here are some of the key themes from Jeremiah 30:

  1. Restoration and Healing: God promises to bring back His people from exile and restore them to their land. He will heal their wounds and bring them back to a state of prosperity and peace.
  2. Divine Protection: God assures His people that He will protect them during their time of distress and persecution. He will deliver them from their enemies and establish them as a secure and respected nation.
  3. Jacob’s Trouble: The chapter also mentions a time of great distress and trouble for Jacob (representing the entire Israelite nation). However, even during this difficult period, God promises to save His people.
  4. Return of the King: There is a prophecy of a ruler from the lineage of David who will reign over the restored Israel and lead them in righteousness and justice.
  5. Covenant Relationship: God reaffirms His covenant with His people, emphasizing that He will always be their God, and they will be His people.
  6. Fear of God: The restored nation will serve and fear God with a renewed reverence, turning away from their sins and following His commandments.

Overall, Jeremiah 30 offers a message of hope, restoration, and God’s faithfulness to His people, even in the midst of their trials and hardships. It provides comfort to the Israelites, assuring them that their current suffering is not the end, and God has a plan to bring them back to a place of blessings and prosperity.

As you read it, consider how these same themes still apply to our lives and our relationship with God today.

Jeremiah 30

Deliverance from Captivity Promised

      1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book. 3‘For behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The LORD says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.’”

      4Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah:

      5“For thus says the LORD,
‘I have heard a sound of terror,
Of dread, and there is no peace.

      6‘Ask now, and see
If a male can give birth.
Why do I see every man
With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth?
And why have all faces turned pale?

      7‘Alas! for that day is great,
There is none like it;
And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,
But he will be saved from it.

      8‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves. 9‘But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

      10‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant,’ declares the LORD,
‘And do not be dismayed, O Israel;
For behold, I will save you from afar
And your offspring from the land of their captivity.
And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease,
And no one will make him afraid.

      11‘For I am with you,’ declares the LORD, ‘to save you;
For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you,
Only I will not destroy you completely.
But I will chasten you justly
And will by no means leave you unpunished.’

      12“For thus says the LORD,
‘Your wound is incurable
And your injury is serious.

      13‘There is no one to plead your cause;
No healing for your sore,
No recovery for you.

      14‘All your lovers have forgotten you,
They do not seek you;
For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy,
With the punishment of a cruel one,
Because your iniquity is great
And your sins are numerous.

      15‘Why do you cry out over your injury?
Your pain is incurable.
Because your iniquity is great
And your sins are numerous,
I have done these things to you.

      16‘Therefore all who devour you will be devoured;
And all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity;
And those who plunder you will be for plunder,
And all who prey upon you I will give for prey.

      17‘For I will restore you to health
And I will heal you of your wounds,’ declares the LORD,
‘Because they have called you an outcast, saying:
“It is Zion; no one cares for her.”’

Restoration of Jacob

     18“Thus says the LORD,
‘Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob
And have compassion on his dwelling places;
And the city will be rebuilt on its ruin,
And the palace will stand on its rightful place.

      19‘From them will proceed thanksgiving
And the voice of those who celebrate;
And I will multiply them and they will not be diminished;
I will also honor them and they will not be insignificant.

      20‘Their children also will be as formerly,
And their congregation shall be established before Me;
And I will punish all their oppressors.

      21‘Their leader shall be one of them,
And their ruler shall come forth from their midst;
And I will bring him near and he shall approach Me;
For who would dare to risk his life to approach Me?’ declares the LORD.

      22‘You shall be My people,
And I will be your God.’”

      23Behold, the tempest of the LORD!
Wrath has gone forth,
A sweeping tempest;
It will burst on the head of the wicked.

      24The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back
Until He has performed and until He has accomplished
The intent of His heart;
In the latter days you will understand this.

Take a few minutes to thank God in prayer and reflect on how the key themes highlighted before the scripture reading apply to you in your life today.

Shalom. May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you. Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Marriage, Seeking God, Strong in Our Weakness

Yeshua Is The Bridegroom for the Church

There are some parallels we can draw from Song of Solomon about our relationship with Christ as our redeemer. Yeshua is the bridegroom and the church is His bride. One thing in particular that stands out for me when I think about my relationship to Yeshua in this way is that I should be passionate rather than stoic in pursuing relationship with Him. He comes as my savior! The church should be passionate about Him rather than indifferent. He should be a top priority, not one of many… just as we would expect a husband and wife to pursue one another. Yeshua has already done much in showing His love for us in that He came to dwell amongst us and died on the cross for our sins. He has made a way for us to reconcile to YHWH at great personal cost. We should each ask ourselves if we are doing the same for Him in how we live our lives.

Song of Solomon 3

The Bride’s Troubled Dream

     1“On my bed night after night I sought him
Whom my soul loves;
I sought him but did not find him.

      2‘I must arise now and go about the city;
In the streets and in the squares
I must seek him whom my soul loves.’
I sought him but did not find him.

      3“The watchmen who make the rounds in the city found me,
And I said, ‘Have you seen him whom my soul loves?’

      4“Scarcely had I left them
When I found him whom my soul loves;
I held on to him and would not let him go
Until I had brought him to my mother’s house,
And into the room of her who conceived me.”

      5“I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
By the gazelles or by the hinds of the field,
That you will not arouse or awaken my love
Until she pleases.”

Solomon’s Wedding Day

     6“What is this coming up from the wilderness
Like columns of smoke,
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense,
With all scented powders of the merchant?

      7“Behold, it is the traveling couch of Solomon;
Sixty mighty men around it,
Of the mighty men of Israel.

      8“All of them are wielders of the sword,
Expert in war;
Each man has his sword at his side,
Guarding against the terrors of the night.

      9“King Solomon has made for himself a sedan chair
From the timber of Lebanon.

      10“He made its posts of silver,
Its back of gold
And its seat of purple fabric,
With its interior lovingly fitted out
By the daughters of Jerusalem.

      11“Go forth, O daughters of Zion,
And gaze on King Solomon with the crown
With which his mother has crowned him
On the day of his wedding,
And on the day of his gladness of heart.”

Though I do not hold that any particular commentary can replace our seeking to understand the Bible directly, with God’s help, I do believe that we can leverage the thoughts of others who went before us and then test that against scripture to see if it helps us gain potential insight into the word. I have selected one for more comment on today’s scripture.

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

3:1-5 It was hard to the Old Testament church to find Christ in the ceremonial law; the watchmen of that church gave little assistance to those who sought after him. The night is a time of coldness, darkness, and drowsiness, and of dim apprehensions concerning spiritual things. At first, when uneasy, some feeble efforts are made to obtain the comfort of communion with Christ. This proves in vain; the believer is then roused to increased diligence. The streets and broad-ways seem to imply the means of grace in which the Lord is to be sought. Application is made to those who watch for men’s souls. Immediate satisfaction is not found. We must not rest in any means, but by faith apply directly to Christ. The holding of Christ, and not letting him go, denotes earnest cleaving to him. What prevails is a humble, ardent suing by prayer, with a lively exercise of faith on his promises. So long as the faith of believers keeps hold of Christ, he will not be offended at their earnest asking, yea, he is well pleased with it. The believer desires to make others acquainted with his Saviour. Wherever we find Christ, we must take him home with us to our houses, especially to our hearts; and we should call upon ourselves and each other, to beware of grieving our holy Comforter, and provoking the departure of the Beloved.

3:6-11 A wilderness is an emblem of the world; the believer comes out of it when he is delivered from the love of its sinful pleasures and pursuits, and refuses to comply with its customs and fashions, to seek happiness in communion with the Saviour. A poor soul shall come up, at last, under the conduct of the Comforter; like a cloud of incense ascending from the altar, or the smoke of the burnt-offerings. This signifies pious and devout affections, and the mounting of the soul heaven-ward. The believer is filled with the graces of God’s Spirit; his devotions now are very lively. These graces and comforts are from the heavenly Canaan. He, who is the Peace of his people, the King of the heavenly Zion, has provided for the safe conveyance of his redeemed through the wilderness of this world. The bed, or palanquin, was contrived for rest and easy conveyance, but its beauty and magnificence showed the quality of its owner. The church is well guarded; more are with her than are against her: believers, when they repose in Christ, and with him, though they have their fears in the night, are yet safe. The chariot here denotes the covenant of redemption, the way of our salvation. This is that work of Christ, which makes him loved and admired in the eyes of believers. It is framed and contrived, both for the glory of Christ, and for the comfort of believers; it is well ordered in all things and sure. The blood of the covenant, that rich purple, is the cover of this chariot, by which believers are sheltered from the wind and storms of Divine wrath, and the troubles of this world; but the midst of it is that love of Christ which passes knowledge, this is for believers to repose upon. Christ, in his gospel, manifests himself. Take special notice of his crown. Applying this to Christ, it speaks the honour put upon him, and his power and dominion.

I encourage each of you to study and pray as you seek to understand all that God’s word has for you.

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Faith / Trusting God, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Psalms

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You!

We all experience difficult times in our life. Much of what defines who we are and whom we serve is revealed in these times. David consistently turned to Jehovah even when his situation was desperate. He always made time not just to ask God for help, but also to ask forgiveness, praise and thank God with joyful heart. We should all strive to follow David’s example in his relationship with God.

Psalm 40

God Sustains His Servant.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

     1I waited patiently for the LORD;
And He inclined to me and heard my cry.

      2He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay,
And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm.

      3He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God;
Many will see and fear
And will trust in the LORD.

      4How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust,
And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

      5Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders which You have done,
And Your thoughts toward us;
There is none to compare with You.
If I would declare and speak of them,
They would be too numerous to count.

      6Sacrifice and meal offering You have not desired;
My ears You have opened;
Burnt offering and sin offering You have not required.

      7Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

      8I delight to do Your will, O my God;
Your Law is within my heart.”

      9I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation;
Behold, I will not restrain my lips,
O LORD, You know.

      10I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.

      11You, O LORD, will not withhold Your compassion from me;
Your lovingkindness and Your truth will continually preserve me.

      12For evils beyond number have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to see;
They are more numerous than the hairs of my head,
And my heart has failed me.

      13Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me;
Make haste, O LORD, to help me.

      14Let those be ashamed and humiliated together
Who seek my life to destroy it;
Let those be turned back and dishonored
Who delight in my hurt.

      15Let those be appalled because of their shame
Who say to me, “Aha, aha!”

      16Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You;
Let those who love Your salvation say continually,
“The LORD be magnified!”

      17Since I am afflicted and needy,
Let the Lord be mindful of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
Do not delay, O my God.

Each of us should take time to prayerfully consider… “Do we take time to joyfully praise and thank God?” This is an important part of our relationship with our Father in heaven. Do not wait until everything is going amazingly well to thank Him… but thank Him even while you are still experiencing difficulty.

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