marysittingathisfeet

[marysittingathisfeet]

Wise Woman Lead

"a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” 17 He went toward her, and she asked, “Are you Joab?”

“I am,” he answered.

She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”

“I’m listening,” he said." 2 Samuel 16, 17

In this passage- Joab commander of David's army pauses to listen to a woman who is known as wise. What is the scenario behind this? After Absalom's rebellion Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, rebelled against David.

"So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem." 2 Samuel 20: 2

David and Sheba go to war. David's army was led by Joab. He was a brutal man. He was known for being treacherous and killing in cold blood. He was responsible for killing Absalom who was dangling from a tree because his hair had gotten caught in the branches. Joab killed Abner, the commander of Saul's army and David's cousin in cold blood. He also killed Amasa who was appointed to lead David's army during Absalom's rebellion. 

"Joab said to Amasa, “How are you, my brother?” Then Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. 10 Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground." 2 Samuel 20: 9,10.

Sheba and his army runs to the city of Abel Beth Maakah with Joab and his troops in pursuit. Abel Beth Maakah was a Benjamite city of the Bichrites. Now Sheba's father was Bichri so most likely this was a clan within the Benjamites. Joab besieges the Benjamite city deep within the clan that Sheba was from.

"All the troops with Joab came and besieged Sheba in Abel Beth Maakah. They built a siege ramp up to the city, and it stood against the outer fortifications." 2 Samuel 20: 15A.

Usually besieges do not end well. If the people do not starve, when the opposing troops finally are able to capture the city usually the people are slaughtered or taken as slaves.

"While they were battering the wall to bring it down, a wise woman called from the city, “Listen! Listen! Tell Joab to come here so I can speak to him.” 2 Samuel 20: 15 B,16

Imagine during a battle a woman yells from the wall to Joab and he comes over to speak with her. This conveys respect that Joab had for this woman. Perhaps Joab knew her through reputation. She asks him a question.

"She said, “Listen to what your servant has to say.”

“I’m listening,” he said.

18 She continued, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Get your answer at Abel,’ and that settled it. 19 We are the peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?” 2 Samuel 20: 17-19

Joab says, "“Far be it from me!” Joab replied, “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy!" 2 Samuel 20: 20

He then explains that he is chasing Sheba because he "has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Hand over this one man, and I’ll withdraw from the city.” 2 Samuel 20: 21A

The woman responds that “His head will be thrown to you from the wall.” 2 Samuel 20: 21B

The woman them advises the people of the city to do as Joab said. They cut off Sheba's head and toss it over the wall. When this happens Joab withdraws from the city. The wise woman demonstrated that reason and negotiation can achieve peace. Through her actions she saved not only her city, but also prevented the needless deaths of men on both sides of the battle.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Woman Change History

Whenever a woman is highlighted in the Old Testament, the woman has an impact on Israel. From Deborah who led her people to victory, Hannah who dedicated her son who anointed the first two kings of Israel. to Jael who killed Sisera the Canaanite general who had escaped from the Israeli army. Rizpah is no different. She was originally a concubine of Saul. She is scattered in the Old Testament.

Rizpah's name means coal or hot stones. In the Bible hot often designates spiritual zeal and passionate commitment to God as opposed to being lukewarm or cold. Stones often designate strength and memorial stones. Jesus is known as the corner stone. When Rizpah was born, her mother wanted her daughter committed zealous servant of the Lord.

Rizpah gave birth to two sons of Saul- Armoni and Mephibosheth. After Saul was killed, his son Ish-Bosheth ruled all but the tribe of Judah for two years. During that time there was a war between David and Ish-Bosheth. Rizpah of course is now widowed. As a former concubine of a king, she can only marry a king. She cannot marry her stepson as this is against Israeli law. Abner, Saul's general, is accused by Ish-Bosheth of sleeping with Rizpah. Why did this upset Ish-Bosheth? Taking a former king's concubine was seen as a claim to the throne. As mentioned Rizpah can only marry a king. If Abner marries her he is declaring himself king especially since he would become the stepfather of the former king's sons. Abner is eventually killed by Joab, so the marriage between Rizpah and Abner never occurred. Once more she is left widowed and powerless.

Hebraic tradition teaches that David did marry Rizpah.

The Gideonites were a people that had originally made a covenant with Joshua. Fearful of the invading Israelis, the Gibeonites sent emissaries who were purposefully dressed in worn out clothing and moldy bread. The idea was to make it look like they had travelled many miles to meet Joshua.

"However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,  they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.” Joshua 9: 4-6

They trick Joshua into signing a treaty with them.

"Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath." Judges 9: 15

When Joshua finds out he is angry, but he has to honor the treaty.

"but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them.” Joshua 9: 19, 20

But Saul when he was king, did not honor the treaty signed by Joshua. "Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them." 2 Samuel 21: 2B. The Gibeonites must have really suffered under Saul because they tell David, " As for the man who destroyed us and plotted against us so that we have been decimated and have no place anywhere in Israel." Samuel 2: 5

Saul's actions resulted in the nation of Israel to suffer under a drought.

"During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years; so David sought the face of the Lord. The Lord said, “It is on account of Saul and his blood-stained house; it is because he put the Gibeonites to death." 2 Samuel 1:21

"David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make atonement so that you will bless the Lord’s inheritance?” 2 Samuel 21: 3

The Gibeonites request that " seven of his male descendants (Saul's) be given to us to be killed and their bodies exposed before the Lord at Gibeah of Saul—the Lord’s chosen one." 2 Samuel 21:6

Rizpah's two sons were 2 of the seven descendants of Saul chosen for retribution. The sons were impaled by the Gibeonites at the sanctuary Gibeah.

"Rizpah daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest till the rain poured down from the heavens on the bodies, she did not let the birds touch them by day or the wild animals by night. " 2 Samuel 21: 10.

From the first days of the barley harvest when the 7 men were killed until the rains is about 5 months. For 5 months, Rizpah was exposed to the elements- heat, cold, wind. The corpses probably smelled horrible. She endured bugs attracted to the dead bodies. She chased off not only birds, but animals. Wolves, bears, lions, and other predators were probably drawn to the smell of the rotting flesh. Her devotion cannot be compared. In her world and her culture she had no power.. But protecting her sons bodies, was something that she could do. She was determined to give her sons a dignified death and preserve their memory. Her actions caused David to account.

"When David was told what Aiah’s daughter Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the citizens of Jabesh Gilead. (They had stolen their bodies from the public square at Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hung them after they struck Saul down on Gilboa.) David brought the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from there, and the bones of those who had been killed and exposed were gathered up.

They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land." 2 Samuel 21: 11-14

It is not until David buries the bodies, that the curse on the land is lifted. Rizpah's actions convicted David, who then responded as he should have done when the men were killed. Only then was the drought lifted. She didn't storm the palace, protest in the streets, or plot revenge. Instead Rizpah gently pointed the way through silence and devotion.

What does this teach us? Sometimes a gently response is more powerful than a violent one. A soft and kind response can bring about peace. Harsh angry responses can escalate tensions and enhance divisions.

[marysittingathisfeet]

And The Fire Devoured Them

Note: Jerubbaal was Gideons other name.

"If you then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice you in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech." Judges 9: 19, 20

Who was Abimelech? Abimelech's name can be interpreted as "my father is king. This establishes his right to rule. Lets call him Abi. Abi was the son of Gideon and Gideon's Shechemite concubine. This means that his mother was from Shechem. The bible does not tell us the name of his mother only that she was from Shechem.

In Judges 8 we learn that Gideon had 70 sons, not including Abi. When Gideon dies, Israel once more returns to worshipping idols. Abi was ruthlessly ambitious. Abi convinces his mother's brothers, uncles, to make him king. The uncles then convince the citizens of Shechem to follow Abi because - "he is related to us." Judges 9: 3 

The men of Shechem agreed and gave Abi "seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers." Judges 9: 4

Abi and the scoundrels return to Gideon's home in Ophrah and murders his seventy brothers. The bible tells us on "one stone." I imagine that he coldly and brutally beheaded each brother one by one with the help of his gang. The youngest son Jotham, however, hid and escaped execution. Once Abi's half brothers were all murdered, the men of "Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king." Judges 9: 6. When Jotham hears about Abi being crowed king, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted a curse to the men of Shechem.

"let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech." Judges 9: 20 (Note house of Millo was likely an important fortification, possibly a citadel or a fortified palace, that played a role in the defense of Jerusalem. No one is really certain what this was.)

Basically Jotham predicts that Abi will destroy the men of Shechem- relatives or not- and the men of Shechem would devour Abi. And this is exactly what happened. After three years the Bible tells us

" God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: That the cruelty done to the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren." Judges 9: 23,24

The men of Shechem rebelled against Abi. To oppose Abi the "citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek." Judges 9: 25

Gaal the son of Ebed with the support of the men of Shechem, plans a revolt against Abi. But Zebul the governor of Shechem reveals the plot to Abi. To make a long story short, Gaal and his men are driven from Shechem. Then Abi proceeds to kill the people of the town the next day.

""And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.

And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt." Judges 9: 42-45

By sowing salt on the ground, Abi made the ground unsuitable for farming. Was this good enough for Abi? No. The citizens of Shechem fled to the tower of their idol god - El-Berith on mount Zalmon. When Abi hears that they are there, Abi cruelly and coldly plots their death.

"And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

And Abimelech got himself up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women." Judges 9: 46-49

The people of Shechem were supposed to be his relatives and he basically wipes out the entire city. I guess if you have no problem killing your brothers, killing distant relatives is no big deal.

Was Abi satisfied with this? Absolutely not.

"Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it. Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull." Judges 9: 50-53

Abi asks his armor bearer to kill him" so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’" Judges 9: 54.

His amour bearer does kill him. The chapter is ended with this verse.

" Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them." Judges 56

So Jotham's prophecy was fulfilled. Shechem and Abi destroyed each other.

So what are we to learn from this story

Never underestimate women. (LOL)

selfish ambition can lead to harm to not only the ambition one, but to those around him or her.

It is important to have Godly leaders. Character does matter. Abi not only had no loyalty to anyone but himself, but he was oppressive and violent. He demonstrates this when he turns against his brothers. The people of Shechem should have realized if Abi turned against his brothers, he probably would turn against them.

God's justice may be slow, but it is always just. The people involved in the murder of 70 men, all met a violent death. It is ironic that Abi who killed his brothers on one stone, was killed by a single stone himself.

[marysittingathisfeet]

The Witch of Endor

"When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"" 1 Samuel 28: 12

Who was the witch of Endor? First understand the times she lived in. The bible tells us that Saul early in his reign had been obedient to God.

"Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19: 31

So Saul had the mediums driven out of Israel. Those that weren't killed, fled.

"Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land." 1 Samuel 28: 3

Because of this she probably lived her life in fear and she was probably poor. On the outskirts of Endor there were many caves. She probably lived in one of these caves hiding out from those who had driven other mediums out of Israel. She must have had some successful prophecies because she was known by Saul's attendants.

"Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.”

“There is one in Endor,” they said." 1 Samuel 28: 7

This does not mean that she was a prophetess because we know that familiar spirits can also appear to be prophetic.

"Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling." Acts 16:16

She was most likely elderly. She had probably lived hidden in the caves for years. The younger mediums would have fled out of Israel. Perhaps she was too old to take on such a journey so she hunkered down in one of the hidden caves near Endor. She probably lived in isolation most of the time. Those who wanted her services, had to brave the wilderness where bears and lions roamed and climb the hills to her cave. Perhaps she could even see then coming long before they arrived. Saul having been tormented for years by an evil spirit, losing his spiritual counselor and friend, and knowing he lost the kingdom was a broken desperate man. Like others before him whose hearts were rebellious toward God, he sought out a witch rather than repenting and asking God for forgiveness.

But Saul had long since stopped obeying the Lord. The Lord had ripped the kingdom from Saul. Not only that, but the Saul was tormented by an evil spirit. Then Samuel, Saul's spiritual counselor and friend, died. Saul knew the Lord was no longer with him. He knew that the kingdom was torn from his hands. He is desperately alone as the Philistine army gathered against Israel.

"When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart." 1 Samuel 28: 5

The great tall warrior that had defeated the Philistines, Amalekites, Moabites, Ammonites, and other enemies of Israel was now afraid. Saul sought the Lord, but the Lord did not answer Saul.

"He inquired of the Lord, but the Lord did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets." 1 Samuel 28: 6.

Saul later admits his desperation when he is speaking to the ghost of Samuel.

“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

Samuel said, “Why do you consult me, now that the Lord has departed from you and become your enemy?" 1 Samuel 15, 16

So Saul desperate decides to seek out a medium. Saul was willfully rebellious toward God and sought out reassurance that his battle with the Philistine army would be successful. Knowing he was doing wrong and wanting to avoid judgement of the people Saul disguised himself. The medium from years of being an outlaw was suspicious of course.

"But the woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done. He has cut off the mediums and spiritists from the land. Why have you set a trap for my life to bring about my death?”

Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As surely as the Lord lives, you will not be punished for this.” 1 Samuel 28: 9,10

Saul asks her to bring up Samuel. The medium is able to bring up Samuel and is surprised by this. She is also frightened because she is sitting across from the man who had ordered the execution of many of her fellow mediums.

" When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 1 Samuel 28: 12

Saul reassures her that he will not harm her. The being who appears to be Samuel does not give Saul the prophecy he wanted.

"The Lord will deliver both Israel and you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. The Lord will also give the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 28: 19

This report is devastating to Saul. He falls prostrate on the ground.

"Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night." 1 Samuel 28: 20

How does this woman whose mourned friends and family who had been executed respond? How does she respond to the man who had forced her to live a life of solitude and fear She responds with gentle compassion.

"When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. Now please listen to your servant and let me give you some food so you may eat and have the strength to go on your way.” 1 Samuel 28: 21, 22

She sets him on the couch then she goes out and kills the fattened calf. Like a prisoner condemned to death, this may have been Saul's last meal as he dies the next day falling on his own sword.

"The woman had a fattened calf at the house, which she butchered at once. She took some flour, kneaded it and baked bread without yeast. Then she set it before Saul and his men, and they ate. That same night they got up and left." 1 Samuel 28: 24, 25

In the Old Testament the fatted calf was used for joyous celebrations like feasts and weddings. In the parable of the lost son, the father celebrates when his son returns.

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate." Luke 15: 22- 24

What celebration had she been planning on using this calf? The Bible does not tell us. But she chooses to honor Saul, and give him her best. This tells us that she was not only forgiving, but generous.

What became of this woman we do not know. Despite Saul's rebellion, God allowed her to be used to speak to Saul. Despite the fact that her lifestyle was rebellious toward God, she has been given a small honor. Even though the Bible never even gives her a name and she probably died alone and in obscurity, she has been remembered for thousands of years.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Why A New Tomb

"At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid." John 19: 41

Why did was Jesus put in a new tomb where no one had been laid, besides the obvious, who wants to wake up surrounded by corpses?

Firstly, the new unused tomb exemplified Jesus special position and power. No one else was like Jesus. He was and is unique. Only He alone was sinless. He alone was able to redeem mankind.

In Jesus day social status and available resources determined where you would be buried. The poor and foreigners were often buried in mass graves or communal burial plots, sometimes in vertical shafts or potter's fields. Wealthy families often had tombs carved into rock. Joseph of Arimethea was a wealthy man. How do we know? Firstly he had commissioned that a tomb be carved out of rock, most likely for him and his family. When Joseph and Nicodemus took Jesus to the tomb, they brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes that weighed about 75 pounds and wrapped Jesus body with strips of linen and the spices.

Myrrh is Jesus day was more valuable than gold and comparable to Frankincense in value. Some estimates suggest that a pound of myrrh could have cost around $4000 per pound in todays monetary value.   This means the cost of the 75 pounds of anointing oil was about 300,000 dollars in todays value. Joseph and Nicodemus truly were honoring Jesus with their priceless gifts.

Another person who honored Jesus with an expensive gift was Mary of Bethany, Lazarus sister.

"Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume."

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages." John 12: 3-5

When Mary of Bethany washes Jesus feet with the perfume, it most likely had myrrh in it as myrrh was what was often used to prepare bodies for burial.

"“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12: 7,8

This is why Judas said it was worth a years wage.

Like the tomb Jesus rode a colt that had never been ridden. This colt was special. Like the tomb it had never been used exemplifying Jesus remarkable uniqueness. Horses do not naturally take to being ridden. They have to be "broken." This colt that had never been ridden, willingly allowed Jesus to ride it.

Secondly, Levitical Law had strict rules about touching a dead body. "Whoever touches a human corpse will be unclean for seven days. " Numbers 19: 11

Therefore, the tomb was clean ritualistically. It was “a clean place” from a ritual point of view since no dead corpse had been buried there before. Naturally Jesus could not be amongst corpses because then he would have been unclean.

Thus this is why it was important that Jesus be placed in a new unused tomb.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Pilate's Dreaming Wife

"While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” Matthew 27:19

Who was Pilate's wife? Like many woman in the Bible she is presented without a name. Christian tradition gave her the name Claudia Procula, meaning follower at the gate. Chrisitan tradition also state that she is the Claudia mentioned in II Timothy.

"Greet Priscilla and Aquila and the household of Onesiphorus.  Erastus stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick in Miletus. Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters." II Timothy 4:19-21

There is no historical reason for equating these two Claudias as Pilates wife, however, some authorities identify her as such. Whoever this Claudia was she was a Roman Christian not a Jewish Christian as Claudia is a Roman name with a Latin root. It is the feminine form of Claudius.

Claudia's plea to her husband stands out in the gospels. Although she was most likely of noble birth, her tone was not arrogant or demanding. You can sense her concern for her husband, her passion, and her gentleness.

She is so disturbed by the dream that she sends a message to her husband as he is sitting in the judgement seat. Obviously this was of great importance to her. That would be like the judges wife sending a message to the judge while he is in court.

Claudia pleads- "“Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man."

Knowing Jesus was innocent, Claudia did not want an innocent man unjustly punished. Maybe she had seen the crowds following Jesus from her window. Maybe she even had heard him speak as she sat in her carriage. She knew nothing that Jesus had done or said warranted his death. She also knows her husbands future is dangling on a precipice. If Jesus is God, she thinks, then surely God would punish the man responsible for His son's death.

Pilate was not a strong man. He was known as a brutal ruler whose actions, often sacrilegious, instigated rebellion from the Jewish population. He cared little for their traditions and religion. His arrogance and harshness contracts sharply against his wife's gentle plea and compassion for an innocent man.

Unlike his wife, he was not a person of conviction. He was more concerned with holding onto his position of power. He had no fear of God. Despite this, the message from his wife caused him to try to have Jesus released several times before he gave in to the mob.

"When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” Matthew 27:24

But Pilate couldn't wash away his responsibility. History tells us that Pilate's rule in Palestine came quickly and abruptly to an end when Caesar called him back to Rome. According to Josephus the Jewish historian, Pilate was removed from office because he violently suppressed an armed  Samaritan movement. He was sent back to Rome by the Legate of Syria to answer for this incident before Tiberius, but the emperor died before Pilate arrived in Rome. Rumor has it that he was exiled to Southern France where he committed suicide. He had let the crowd have their way because he wanted to hold onto his position, but eventually lost his position anyway.

If Claudia is the woman mentioned in II Timothy, then we know that she accepted Jesus as her savior. Whether it was Jesus sinless life or resurrection that caused her to accept Jesus as her savior, we will never know until heaven. I would like to think that she was open to the Gospel and did eventually accept Jesus.

[marysittingathisfeet]

A Name Beyond Understanding

"Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, "What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?"

He replied, "Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding." Judges 13: 17, 18

Prior to this Israel has been under the rule of several different judges. While the judges lived, the people served the Lord. When the judges died, the people went back to idol worship.

"Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years." Judges 13:1

Samson is going to be born into this environment. Before Samson was conceived, Samson's mother had a visit from the Angel of the Lord who tells her that she is going to have a son and gives specific instructions for this son such as no fermented drinks such as wine and no cutting his hair. TI believe The Angel of The Lord is a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus.

How do you know? Several reasons. Samson's mother tells her husband Manoah about her visitor. Manoah them prays that The Angel of The Lord returns and gives him instructions on how to raise the child.

"God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband was not with her." Judges 13: 9

She runs and gets her husband. Manoah follows his wife to the field where The Angel of The Lord is waiting.

:Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, " Are you the man who talked to my wife?"

"I am," he said." Judges 13: 11

God declared to Moses hundreds of years earlier the His name was I am.

"God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’

“This is my name forever,     the name you shall call me     from generation to generation." Exodus 3: 14, 15

Jesus angered the people when he Jesus declared that he was I am.

"“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds." John 8: 58, 59

Why did the people want to stone Jesus? Because the people understood what Jesus was saying. They understood that Jesus was saying that he was God.

Another indication that this was a preincarnate encounter with Jesus was when Manoah offered up a goat in sacrifice on a rock. The Bible tells us that this was offered up to the Lord.

"And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched." Judges 13: 19B

The Bible is very clear that this is the Lord. Now we know it is not the Father God because the Bible tells us that no man can see the face of God and live. God tells Moses this when Moses asked to see God.

"And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Exodus 33:19, 20

The Holy Spirit is spirit, therefore, it cannot be the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it must be Jesus. He appeared in his earthly form.

Lastly the Angel of the Lord disappeared in the flames.

"...And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched. As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flames. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground." Judges 13: 19B, 20.

Lastly Manoah himself declares that the angel was God.

"We are doomed to die!" he said to his wife. "We have seen God!" Judges 13: 22

So why did God say His name was beyond understanding? Afterall he told Moses it was I Am. The Angel of the Lord had already told Manoah that he was I am. God has many names in the Old testament. So why not use one of those? Because God wanted Manoah to trust him.

God is a mystery to mankind. His name represents God's essence. God is so complex that our understanding of God is very limited. His nature and divine attributes are incomprehensible to us. We can witness God's works and have a personal relationship with God, but there are aspects of His nature that remain beyond our grasp. We are limited by time, space, and our five senses. In addition our own experiences will limit our understanding. Everybody carries past hurts. These past hurts cloud our view of God. God was telling Manoah to trust him even though Manoah could not understand who he was. Like Manoah we should trust God, even though our understanding of God is limited.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Jephthah's Daughter's Sacrifice

“My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised, now that the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. 37 But grant me this one request,” she said. “Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.” Judges 11:36

The haunting tragedy of Jephthah's daughter reminds me of a Greek tragedy. The Bible never tells us her name. Why? Perhaps not giving her a name, prevents false worship of a girl who willingly gave up her life because of her father's rash vow. Her story is still told thousands of years later.

To understand the story, we have to understand Jeph. Jephthah's (let's call him Jeph) was a man of rejection most of his life. The opening line of the chapter tells us two things immediately about Jeph.

"Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute." Judges 11:1

The Gileadites were descendants of the half tribe of Manasseh that had settled in a mountainous area east of the Jordan River along with Reubenites and Gadites.

We see that although Jeph's social standing was poor, he was known as a mighty warrior. Despite this his half brothers drove him from Gilead because they did not want to share their inheritance with him. Now we don't know how many half brothers Gilead had, but despite being a mighty warrior, he obviously did not want to fight his brothers.

Jeph fled to the nearby land of Tob. The men who lived in Tob were described as outlaws suggesting it was a region of outcasts and those who had no place in mainstream society. These outlaw men rallied around Jeph and made him their commander most likely because Jeph was an excellent warrior. I imagine that when Jeph arrived, he had to have a few battles. Much like prisoners, there is a leader and the new guy is taught quickly who is in charge. After a fierce beating, most men bow down to the chief man. But like the TV dramas, the new guy is different from all of those other men. He is big and tough and knows how to fight. The new guy easily defeats the head coalition. Then men began to align themselves with the winner. I imagine that this was exactly what happened to Jeph. Reminds me of David and the outcasts that joined him as well.

So Jeph is living in Tob. We don't know how long, but during that time he obviously married and had a daughter and she had time to grow into a young woman. She was his only child. We don't know what happened to her mother. There is no mention of her whatsoever in the Bible. Perhaps she had died early on and that why Jeph had only one child.

Now the Ammonites had gathered to fight against Israel.

"W hen the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in Gilead.” Judges 10: 17

Here an army of Ammonites is actually settled in the land of Gilead. The leaders are desperate. They know that in order to defeat the Ammonites they need a man of war. Jeph is the perfect candidate. All those years living as an outcast in a lawless land, probably taught him a lot about fighting. The man the people of Gilead had rejected, suddenly became the man they all needed. "Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?” Judges 11: 7

Reminds me of Jesus being rejected by the Pharisees and leaders of Israel.

"The stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone" Psalm 118:22

Joseph was also rejected by his half brothers and God raised him to be a ruler of Egypt. God often uses those who have been rejected.

So we see that the elders had expressed hatred toward Jeph and helped to drive him out of town. Not not only was Jeph rejected by his own brothers, but also by the townspeople. His mother must have been truly despised. Maybe being a prostitute was the only way she could have survived. Perhaps she was a foreigner. Perhaps like Jeph she had been illegitimate. Whatever the reason, the people of the town rejected her and her son.

Now Jeph is a little wary of this offer from men who had hated him in the past.

 "Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me—will I really be your head?”" Judges 11:9

Obviously the elders had made promises to him in the past that they didn't keep. The Gilead elders assure Jeph that he would be the ruler.

"The elders of Gilead replied, “The Lord is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.” So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the Lord in Mizpah." Judges 11:10, 11

Now Mizpah was a fortified town on the edge of Gilead. I am certain that he brought his daughter to this town with him. When it came time to battle the Ammonites, The Spirit of The Lord came upon Jeph. This is when the story takes a terrible turn. Jeph is marching across the territory to fight the Ammonites.

"And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” Judges 11:30

Why did Jeph do this? His insecurities were greater than his faith in God. Being rejected his whole life, he was suddenly accepted. If he lost the battle, then he most likely would be an outcast again. Not only did this have implications for him, but also his daughter who has basically grown up in the wild wild west type atmosphere. He wanted a more civilized life for her. Perhaps he felt that if he made God a promise, God would be more likely to give Jeph a victory. But Jeph spoke rashly and without thought.

Jeph does defeat the Amorites and drives them from the land. Of course when he returns home, who rushes to greet him but his only child. Not having a mother and being raised by a single dad, she was probably very close to her father. She was probably also only a teenager as woman married young in those days. She probably had bangles on her arms, rings in her toes as she tapped her tambourine and danced . She probably twirled and swayed joyously. Not only had her father returned to her alive and unharmed, but he was also victorious. She probably was grinning and laughing as she approached her father.

Did she know of the vow her father had made? Perhaps. Jeph's response when he sees her hints that she may have known.

"When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.” Judges 11: 35

Jeph's daughter does not ask what the vow was. She just accepts her fate.

"My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised, now that the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites. " Judges 11:36

If she knew what the vow was, why did she come forth first? Perhaps she self sacrificed herself to keep others in her household from that fate. What is her response? Devotion to her father and God. Courage to accept the fate. Her only request is to be allowed 2 months to walk the hills with her friends. The hills were probably where she had wandered and played as a child as her father lived in exile. The hills probably had sweet memories for her. With her friends beside her, they mourned her fate together. The hills were also seen as being closer to God. Perhaps she could sense God more strongly in the peaceful silence of the wilderness.

Was she sacrificed? The Bible does not tell us. I do not believe that she was killed because God disliked human sacrifice of any sort. This was one of the reasons God wanted the Canaanites driven from the land as they sacrificed their children.

Psalm 49: 7 -"No one can redeem the life of another     or give to God a ransom for them—"

When the Israelites had worshipped the golden calf, Moses had offered himself to God. However, God rejected Moses offer.

"So Moses went back to the Lord and said, “Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin—but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.”

The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.  Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin.”

And the Lord struck the people with a plague because of what they did with the calf Aaron had made." Exodus 32: 31- 35

In fact one of the laws that Moses had written down stated that the children should not pay for the parents crimes.

"Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin." Deuteronomy 24: 16

Numbers 35 further expounds on this law. "“‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. " Numbers 35:33

Therefore, I do not believe that Jeph's daughter was killed. She tells us that she is mourning that she may never marry.

"You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. After the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin." Judges 11: 38,39

Here we see the emphasis is on her not marrying and her being a virgin. You get the sense that she lived the rest of her life as a sort of "nun" devoted to serving the Lord.

"Now Eli, who was very old, heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting." 1 Samuel 2: 22

Here we see that there were woman who served the Lord. Perhaps this is the position that Jeph's daughter took as her sacrifice to God.

Was her life wasted? Her life may not have gone the way she or her father had planned, but her life was not wasted. Her life may not have been God's perfect plan for her, but I am certain that He was not surprised by what happened. He had other plans for Jeph's daughter that used and blessed her service. Serving the Lord has its own rewards. Often when we are forced to give up something we desire, God is able to replace that desire with other more fulfilling desires. He is a loving God, and I am certain that he did not abandon Jeph's daughter.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Living Water

I thought this Thyme plant had died. It was all brown and crusty. The winter had been unusually cold. Then the warmth of the sun (God's love) and the water (Holy Spirit) I sprinkled on it, awakened this lifeless plant.

God is described as the sun in the Bible. The sun is a source of light and warmth. Without the warmth of the sun, this planet would be cold, dark, and dead.

"For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. He does not withhold any good thing from those who walk blamelessly." Psalm 84: 11

Here we see God is also our protector.

Water is used as a metaphor for the Holy Spirit in over 60 verses in the bible. Water is essential for life. The Holy Spirit is like water to our spirits.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

and streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring,

and my blessing on your descendants.

They will spring up like grass in a meadow,

like poplar trees by flowing streams.- Isaiah 44:3-4

God promises He will provide for our spiritual needs by pouring out His Holy Spirit on us.

Jesus tells the Samaritan woman that He provides living water- "Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10

How can we get this living water? Jesus himself tells us- "On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” " John 7: 37-38

It was the last day of the festival. Jesus knew many of the people present would be heading back to their villages and towns. He wanted to make sure the people understood that believing in Jesus would give them eternal life. All they had to do was believe.

What did Jesus mean by believing? Do you just acknowledge his existence? We all know Satan believes in God and Jesus. He has seen and talked to God the Father and when Jesus walked the earth tempted Jesus. But Satan does not worship or obey God.

Believing means acknowledging Jesus as the Son of God. He was not an angel. He was not merely a prophet or a teacher. He was God incarnate. Believing also means confessing and repenting from your sins and accepting the gift of salvation. You have to trust Jesus will take care of you, even when it seems like your world is falling apart. Believing also means making Jesus the Lord of your life. If you love him, you will obey him.

After John quotes Jesus, John writes - "By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified." John 7:39

Of course Jesus has since been glorified and the Holy Spirit is given freely to us. We are blessed because the people in that day did not have this gift; this living water to refresh, strengthen, and renew their spirits.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Jesus Did Not Trust

"But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. " John 2: 24, 25

entrust-giving responsibility for something, trusting they will handle it properly.

Prior to this verse three things occurred.

Jesus chased the moneychangers out of the temple with a whip, overturned their tables, and scattered the money. (Today someone would record it and put it on You tube labelling Jesus a Karen- which he is not. He was righteously angry. "The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him." Proverbs 11:1)

When asked by what authority he did these things, "Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in 3 days.'" John 2:19 - Of course we now know he was referring to His death and resurrection. His authority came from Jesus own sacrifice for mankind. (that is deep and in itself a whole bible study.)

He was in Jerusalem during the Passover Festival and did many signs and wonders. "...many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name." John 2: 23b. So the people believed because of the signs.

The next verse is when we read that Jesus would not entrust himself to them. Jesus did not seek or want their approval. He knew the crowd was fickle. He knew that there were sincere believers in the crowd, but also those who just enjoyed the miracle show or wanted to follow Jesus for the momentary prestige.

"Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." John 6:26

"for He knew all people"- this verse tells us that he was omniscient. He could see into the hearts of the people around him.

Several examples of Jesus omniscience are seen throughout the New testament. For example...

"Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things?" Mark 2:8

"But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there." Luke 6:8

omniscient- having complete and universal knowledge of all things including past, present, and future happenings. Omniscience implies that God knows every detail of a person's life, thoughts, and emotions, and even what will happen in the future. 

"Would not God discover this? For he knows the secrets of the heart." Psalm 44:1

Here we see that omniscience is attributed to God. Therefore, we can know that Jesus is God for no other being can claim omniscience.

"The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:3

Jesus got His validation from the Father (as we should).

"he did not need any testimony from mankind, for he knew what was in each person." This reinforces the idea the Jesus knew and understood flawed humanity and he did not need external validation. In Matthew the Father himself validates Jesus.

"As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17

Not only did the Father validate publicly the son, but Jesus often said that his actions and words were the words and deeds of the Father.

"For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken".  John 12:49

Jesus knew the hearts and minds of the people around him. He knew the man who was worried about his ill wife, the person who was planning a theft, the man who hated his neighbor and wished him harm, and all those with nefarious plans. Yet Jesus still chose to lay down his life for everyone despite the evil hidden in man's heart. That is true love.

"we love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

[marysittingathisfeet]

Alive When Appearing to Be Dead

"made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:5

Gardening is a relaxing hobby. it takes away the stress of the day when I get to go outside water my plants and watch the various fauna enjoying the mini paradise. It is exciting when seeds start to grow, and I cannot wait until they bloom. But there have been times when the seeds did not seem to grow or a plant that flourished last year, remains lifeless long after all the other plants have regrown their leaves in the spring. Suddenly I am pleasantly surprised when a brown dried out plant starts to sprout again or seeds that I had long ago gave up on, start breaking through the soil. It is exciting. Our spiritual life is like that. We were dead brown leafless plants in God's garden, but through God's tender care, we suddenly sprung to life. Eventually we will produce a ten fold harvest.

When my plants are blooming, I am so proud of them. Sometimes I go outside to just look at them. God does the same with us.

"The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; In His love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing" Zephaniah 3:17

Not only can we be dead in our sins before accepting and submitting ourselves to Jesus sacrificial death on the cross, but our hearts can grow cold.

Jesus warns us about this in Matthew - "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold," Matthew 24: 12.

What can we do if our hearts have grown cold. With God's help, we become alive again.

"I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. " Ezekiel 11;19

God repeats this again later in Ezekiel-  "I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." Ezekiel 36: 25-27

How will God do this? Through His unconditional love. Remember  "We love because he first loved us." John 4:19. First he will cleanse and purify us. Jesus blood covers a multitude of sins. There is nothing you can do, that God cannot redeem. He will put the Holy Spirit in us who can revive us. We will fall in love with God once more and willingly follow is decrees and laws out of love.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Commander of the Lord's Army

"Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”

 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so." Joshua 5:13-15

There are many times in the Old Testament when Jesus appears as an Angel of the Lord. I contend that this is one of those times.

Why? Joshua worshipped the being. If it had just been an angle, the angel would not have allowed the act of worship.

"I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” Revelation 22:8-9

Secondly Joshua was told that the ground where he was standing was holy. Moses was also told to take off his shoes when he encountered God as a burning bush. "

"When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”

“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[a] the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:4,5

So why did The Commander of the Lord's army answer Neither when Joshua asked who the Commander was supporting.

If the Lord had answered Israel, then Caleb would have become his leader. God cannot be led by man. Man is led by God.

God had his own divine purpose for conquering Canaan. The Israelites were just a small part of that purpose. God's plans and purpose was much bigger than finding a land for the Israelites to live. God's ultimate purpose was to be born and die on the cross for all of mankind.

God loves all people even when they are rebellious. I am certain that God felt no pleasure in destroying entire towns of men, woman, and children. However, for generations these people not only worshipped Idol, but also had child sacrifices which God hates.

Jesus has many names. Some are well known such as KIng of Kings, Lord of Lords, Bright Morning Star, Son of Man, Emmanuel, Faithful and True, Word of God, and etc. In Revelation, Jesus is leading his army on a white horse.

"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. ... The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. " Revelation 19:11, 14, 15

In the Book of Revelation the Commander of the Lord's army is leading an army, which can include people, angels and other spiritual beings. Many times in the Old Testament it was God who defeated the enemy of Israel. The Commander of the Lord's Army rides into battle to protect God's people and execute His judgments. 

Isn't it great to know we serve a God who is a warrior and will fight for His people? But Jesus showed his greatest strength, when He willingly laid down his life. Jesus could have called the army of the Lord to His side and wiped out the earth is seconds, but Jesus greatest strength was in His weakness.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Be Strong and Courageous

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid: do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1: 9

Here God is speaking to Joshua. Moses has just died and Joshua is to lead his people into Canaan to conquer it. There are giants in the land and nations with powerful armies. God repeats to Joshua multiple times that Joshua is to be strong and courageous. In fact God calls it a command. That means that like Joshua, we can choose to be strong and courageous.

This isn't the first time Joshua had to choose courage. Forty years earlier when the Israelites were at Canaan's border, Moses had sent 12 spies into Canaan. Only Joshua and Caleb chose to trust God. The ten other spies agreed that the land was good, but then they said..

"BUT (emphasis mine) the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak (giant) there." Numbers 13:28

The people threatened to rebel against Moses and return back to Egypt. Back to captivity. (Sometimes we choose to remain fearful or anxious because it makes us think we are safe. If the Israelites had returned to Egypt most likely they would have been killed. Afterall Pharoah came after them with his army to destroy them.)

What was Joshua and Caleb's response to the rebellion of the people?

"Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." Numbers 14:9

Here we see that fear is seen as rebellion. Twice Joshua tells the people to not be afraid. Perhaps this is why God reminds Joshua three times 40 years later to not be afraid. Like Joshua we face giants and armies in our lives. Like Joshua we need to face these challenges boldly.

In Luke 21 Jesus is telling his disciples all of the troubles that will befall mankind. World wars, earthquakes, famines, pestilences, fearful events and great signs from heaven. Then Jesus proceeds to tell His disciples that they will be persecuted. They will be put in prisons and be brought before kings and governors.

"And so you will bear testimony to me. But make up you mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves." Luke 21:13.

Here once more Jesus is stating that you can choose to not be afraid or worry. He directs His disciples to "Make up their mind."

So how can we choose to be strong and courageous when the world seems to be spiraling into oblivion before our eyes? God himself is our strength.

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control." 2 timothy 1:7. Paul is reminding Timothy of his faith and that Paul had laid hands on Timothy blessing him.

God does not leave us powerless and on our own. He equips us so that we can be strong and courageous.

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands." 2 Timothy 1:6.

What was this gift? It was the Spirit of God. "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power and discipline." 2 Timothy 1: 7

God tells us in Isaiah that He will be our source of strength -"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.

Here we see once more the command to not fear. God tells Isaiah why he shouldn't fear. Because God is Isaiah's God as he is ours as well. Who can stand before God or defeat Him? God has no equal. Not even close. He stands alone and mighty in the universe. Yet at times this fallen world can instill fear in us. Jesus warns us that the troubles of this world can lead to anxiety. But even when all hope seems gone, we must not sway in our faith.

"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you like a trap." Luke 21: 34

Jesus equated anxiety with carousing and drunkenness. Drunkenness is listed as a sin that will keep you out of heaven in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God."

We were all headed to hell, but by accepting Jesus gift of salvation we were redeemed and rescued from hell.

Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you like a trap

What day is Jesus referring to?

"At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing nigh." Luke 21: 27

When we look at the circumstances, we will fear anxious, overwhelmed, angry, fearful, bitter, or a number of other negative emotions. This an lead us away from Christ. But when we focus on God; His love, His power, His righteousness and etc we are emboldened.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6

God is in control. He holds us in the palm of His hand. Who can defeat the creator of heaven and earth and everything in between. Satan himself must obey the commands of God. We see in Job that God puts limits on what Satan can do.

"The Lord said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger." Job 1:12

Satan could not even touch Job, until God said he could. Then God gave Satan limits on what he could do.

Yes, we will have troubles on this earth. Jesus himself said so.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Most of the apostles were killed for their testimony about Jesus. Yet, this was not a defeat as this world is brief and someday will be destroyed.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." Matthew 24:35.

Jesus is declaring that the word of God will endure. This earth, this reality we endure is just temporary. Even if we do pass away before Jesus comes back, we will reside with Him for an eternity in heaven where we will receive rewards for our faithfulness here on earth.

"Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven." Matthew 5:12

Therefore- "Let us hold unswervingly to the faith we profess, for God is our Helper, and we will not be afraid." - Hebrews 13:6

[marysittingathisfeet]

The Father's Grief

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lemasabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:45

Why was the curtain torn? In the temple the curtain or veil separated the Holy Place where the Ark Of the Covenant was kept from the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary. The curtain was 60 feet ling, 30 feet wide, and 4 inches thick. It was so heavy and thick that 300 priests were needed to manipulate it. The curtain was a physical barrier between the people and God's holy presence, only accessible to the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement.  Ehen the veil was torn in two at Jesus' crucifixion it symbolized that there was no longer a barrier between God and man because of Jesus sacrifice.

But the tearing of the veil was more than just a symbolic gesture of God and man being able to fellowship together.

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom." Matthew 27: 50, 51

The veil was torn from top to bottom. The veil was torn in grief. When the Israelites were grieved they tore their cloaks from top to bottom. In the Bible, tearing clothes was a common practice to express grief, mourning, and repentance, with examples found throughout the bible in the old and new testament. For example...

Genesis 37:29, 34: Reuben tore his clothes when he realized Joseph was missing, and Jacob tore his clothes and mourned for his son, believing Joseph was dead. 

2 Samuel 1:11-12: David and his men tore their clothes and mourned for Saul and Jonathan after their deaths. 

Matthew 26:65: High Priest Caiaphas tore his clothes when he accused Jesus of blasphemy. 

Acts 14:14: Paul and Barnabas tore their clothes when the people of Lystra tried to worship them. 

Why did they tear their clothes? It was a spontaneous public symbolic act of expressing deep emotions such as grief, repentance or humility. It was not required that a person tear their clothes. Rather it was in response to a deep emotion.

Mourning and Grief: The tearing of clothes was a visible sign of deep sorrow and grief. Think of Job when he found out his children had died.

Repentance: Sometimes, tearing clothes was associated with repentance and humility. King Josiah tore his robe upon discovering the Book of the Law, expressing profound regret for the sins of his ancestors and the people in 2 Kings 22

Humility and Distress: The action was a way to express distress and humility in the face of difficult circumstances. Think of the wicked King Ahab. Because Ahab and Jezebel had led the people away from God, God announced that He would reject the people and allow disaster to come upon them. In response, Ahab tore his clothes, put on sack-cloth and fasted in humility. 1 Kings 21

So what was God publicly declaring? We know God loved Jesus. The day that Jesus was baptized by John....

"And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17

God declares publicly that he loves Jesus. Jesus also declared that he loved the Father.

"But I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here." John 14:31

So when Jesus was dying on the cross and cried out- “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Not only was Jesus separated from God, but God was separated from His Son. God was most likely crying out, "My Son, My Son why have you forsaken me?"

How do we know this? Because Jesus and God were one. Jesus repeatedly declared that ""I and the Father are one." Matthew 10:30. Jesus was declaring the unity between himself and God the Father.

When Phillip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus replied.. "Don't you know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How can you ask me to show you the Father?" John 14:9

The Father and Jesus were one in such a way that Jesus repeated many times that he could only do what the Father wanted him to do.

"So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise." John 5:19

Jesus was separated from God at that very moment for the first (and only) time. God was separated from His son for the first and only time as well. Both were grieving the separation. To make matters worse, God had experienced every bit of His son's torture. Jesus endured multiple beatings. He was whipped with a device made to tear off the flesh. He suffered under 40 of these lashes. Jesus was mocked, spit upon, and slapped. Jesus eventually was crucified in the most brutal way. The soldiers drove spikes into his hands and feet. Father God felt every blow that hit his son. Every yank on Jesus beard, every slap, the brutality of the whip, the brutal crown of thorns and the agony of the cross. Jesus wasn't the only one who suffered that day, God did as well. Is it no wonder then that God declared his grief physically for mankind to see?

But when God tore the veil he wasn't just feeling grief, He was experiencing joy as well. Although Father God was momentarily separated from His beloved Son, He was now reunited with mankind.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Stained Glass Art

Lamp light shining through the darkness.

Stained glass windows to the soul.

So bright. So cheery. So pure

Until...

Gale force winds destroy

Leaving shattered scattered glass across the floor

Broken glass, Broken dreams, wounded soul.

The light snuffed out by the storms

Grace gathered,

Creator restored,

mosaic colored window reborn

Light shines bright colors everywhere

[marysittingathisfeet]

Parable Of The Dishonest Business Manager

When I read the following parable, I have to admit it befuddles me. What exactly was Jesus trying to teach? He wasn't saying it was good to be dishonest. Nor does it imply that Christians should act like the shrewd manager. Or does it?

"Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses." Luke 16: 1-4

Let's call the Manager- Jack. Jack knew he was in trouble. He may have been a thief and embezzler, but he was at least honest with himself. He knew that hard physical labor was not his thing. Years behind a desk had made him scrawny. He also knew he had too much pride to beg. Up until now Jack had no real thought for his future. He probably thought he would just continue to embezzle off of his master until he died. He obviously spent whatever he took. He is going from being the CEO of a business to homeless and jobless. Now he needed to think about the next stage of his life. I think this is one of the things Jesus was admiring. The man recognized he needed to plan for his future. What does this mean for us? Yes we should plan for retirement and so forth, but also we need to plan for eternity. We need to plan for the next stage of our existence as well.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6: 19-21

What was Jack's plan? So he decided he would in essence bribe his master's business associates. They would be so grateful that Jack could mooch off of them for the rest of his life. He was still cheating his master, but he was carefully laying out safety nets for himself.

 “So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

“‘Nine hundred gallons[a] of olive oil,’ he replied.

“The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’

 “Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’

“‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied.

“He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." Luke 16: 5-9

I think Jesus is also saying that we should bless other people. We can use our worldly wealth to help those in need. We can bless people not only financially as Jack did, but also gifts of time, words of encouragement, and acts of service. However, give your gifts quietly.

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.   Matthew 6: 1-4

In Revelation Jesus repeats this promise that we will be rewarded by our works. Note we are not saved by our works. We are saved by Grace. But like workers in the field, we will be rewarded based upon how good of a job we did here on earth.

“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." Revelation 22: 12,13

So be like Jack. Plan for your eternal future. Use your position, power, influence, and wealth to bless other people. But don't be a scoundrel like Jack.

[marysittingathisfeet]

Does Jesus Want Us To Hate

 Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14: 25-26

So does Jesus want us to really hate our family. To understand what he is saying here, it is important to look at his message in context. Prior to this statement, Jesus tells the parable about the man preparing a great banquet, but the people he had invited were too busy to come. They had new oxen they needed to try, one had just gotten married, and another had a new field. Because of these people actions, Jesus states...

"I tell you, not one of those who were invited will get a taste of my banquet."

The moral of the parable is this. Don't be too busy for God. If your too busy for God, then God is too busy for you.

After Jesus makes this statement about hating your family, Jesus tells another story.

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish." Luke 14:28

When Jesus sees the multitude surrounding him Jesus feels compassion for them. He is aware that many have come for the miracles and free food.

"Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill." John 6: 26

However, Jesus is trying to warn them that following him is not easy. It could mean the loss of your family, friends, livelihood, wealth, and even your life. Following Jesus carries a personal cost that Jesus calls carrying the cross. (Remember he is saying this BEFORE he is crucified.) Suffering is a part of the Christian life and that Jesus himself endured suffering, serving as an example for his followers to emulate. 

But remember- "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." Matt: 10: 39. Our lives on this earth are brief when compared to eternity. Even Adam who lived 930 years, his life is but a wisp of smoke when compared to eternity. Therefore, by keeping our eyes upward and our treasures in heaven is how you will find true life.

"I am the vine, you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

It is Jesus who gives our Spirit life. Without him we would dry up and wither away.

Not only may we have to give up possessions and family , but Christians may suffer physical punishment as well. Remember Jesus warned his disciples that the world would not accept them. Paul knew first hand the cost of following Jesus.

Paul writes- "Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,  I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers

"If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." John 15:18

But don't despair, when this brief life is over Jesus promises that we will reap our rewards.

"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you".  Matthew 5:12. There is the promise of a great reward for those who endure hardship and persecution for Christ's sake.