The Bible [Archive] - This Board Rocks

Village Idiot

03-15-04, 09:48 PM

Text: The Answer, New Century Version Bible text, highly acclaimed for its readability and ease of understanding, 1993 by Word Publishing. Also,The NIV Study Bible, Tenth Anniversary Edition, New International Version, 1995 by Zondervan Corporation.

Please keep in mind that I'm not a Bible scholar or expert. Hasbeens has been gracious enough to allow me this forum to introduce the Bible for the interested (refernce) and for discussion. I conduct a class at my church for those who wish to read the Bible. I have a reading schedule there and will follow it here unless it appears we need to do it another way. My second class has already started and we are currently beginning the book of Joshua in the Old Testament (Book 6). I'll briefly (I do mean briefly) recap Genisis through Deuteronomy now and we can begin in Joshua this weekend. I'll also post the reading schedule one week ahead of time if any of you wish to follow along, usually ten chapters or less. Here we go.....

Genisis: The Beginnigng of All Things, Creation, Adam and Eve, The Garden of Eden, noahs Ark and The Great Flood, Patriarchal history, Abraham and Lot, Ishmael, Jacob, Esau and Joseph.

Exodus: Escape from Egypt; Moses, The Burning Bush, Moses returns to Egypt, The Plagues, The First Passover, Escape, The Red Sea, Mt Sinai ( Ten Commandments), The Covenant, The Ark of the Convenant, The Holy Tent.

Leviticus: Rules for Living; The Five Main Offerings, Rules, lots of them here.

Numbers: Wandering in the Desert; Israelites are counted ( men 20 years old or older - 603,550 ), Journey from Sianai to Kadesh, Rebellion, 12 Spies sent to Canaan, Kadesh to Moab, War with Midian, The Transjordan Tribes (Reuben, Gad and E. Manasseh).

Deuteronomy: Moses' Last Message; Israels refusal to enter Canaan, More Wandering, The Great Commandement (absolute allegiance), Ratification, Curses and Blessings, Change of Leadership (Joshua), Death of Moses.

Thats the five cent tour. If any of you wish to catch up, it wont take that long. I read the entire Bible in 4.5 months my first time reading about an hour or less every day. We'll pick up next time with the Book of Joshua, chapters 1-8. Peace.

Miss tery

03-15-04, 10:19 PM

Let's give equal time to the Koran and all the other religious texts.

Superfluous_Nut

03-15-04, 10:25 PM

Let's give equal time to the Koran and all the other religious texts.
post away.

Miss tery

03-15-04, 10:30 PM

I will be the first to admit I'm woefully ignorant. We need to recruit some foreigners.

Village Idiot

03-15-04, 10:38 PM

Let's give equal time to the Koran and all the other religious texts.Start another thread please. Thanks in advance.

Miss tery

03-15-04, 10:51 PM

Start another thread please. Thanks in advance.
I do not understand?

Chief Tony

03-15-04, 10:55 PM

I do not understand?
He wants to keep this thread for the Bible only

jbghostrat

03-15-04, 10:55 PM

I do not understand?

oh geez! she's not going to let this work is she?

Village Idiot

03-15-04, 11:00 PM

oh geez! she's not going to let this work is she?We'll work through it, I'm feeling pretty good about it now.

Rob

03-15-04, 11:04 PM

Here are a few good bible sites for those who want to do their reading online. Each offers numerous translations.

http://bible.gospelcom.net/

http://www.olivetree.com/bible/index.html

http://www.blueletterbible.org/

ECILAM

03-15-04, 11:07 PM

I will be the first to admit I'm woefully ignorant. We need to recruit some foreigners.

You should be able to find anything you're interested in. This is the internet, after all. Nothing's stopping you.

Honeygirl

03-15-04, 11:09 PM

This thread really interests me - but I have to admit to being completely ignorant of most of that first post VI. My knowledge of Biblical matters is woefully inadequate to contribute to any useful discussions when it comes to things to do with the Bible. In fact, I'll go so far to say that I nearly PMed you or HB with the following question. Which is: when you speak of Genisis, Exodus etc - are they found in your standard Bible? See, I told you I was hopeless :(. I will admit to loving Sunday school as a young lass, but I'm afraid a rather horrid teacher resulted in me avoiding her whippings as opposed to learning something useful from these classes. So I find myself, quite literally starting from scratch. Could anyone answer the above question?

Signed -
The Dolt from Downunder :(

Rob

03-15-04, 11:18 PM

jbghostrat

03-15-04, 11:21 PM

Honeygirl

03-15-04, 11:29 PM

Genesis, Exodus etc are "books of the bible". Click on those links I posted Honey and you can read them. There are also many translations. If you are just getting started I would suggest the New International Version(NIV) or New Living Translation(NLT)
Rob, thank you so much for the links! We both kind of posted together so apologies for appearing doubly stupid with my post :D. Spanks matey!
Don't worry honeyg, i have never read the Bible and i feel pretty stupid too. Well, i've started reading the bible this year, but a lot of questions i asked Hasbeens a while back and felt dumb for not knowing, are some of the questions that some of the adults and Miss tery are asking him now. We can start from scratch together, ok?
I think you're far from `dumb' JB - you're far more advanced with Biblical matters than I am. Since you've already started - I'll ask you my really, really basic questions first - then we can go to the scholars for the big stuff :D. W00T! :banana:

slydevl

03-16-04, 10:14 AM

I too am re-reading the Bible. I am in the middle of I Kings right when Isael split into the North and South kingdoms so I will also try to help with any questions anyone has.

The Creation story is cool and all but to me, the Bible real begins in Gen. 12. The covenant between God and Abraham. That sets the stage for everything else that happens in the Bible.

PantherMills

03-16-04, 11:04 AM

I'll be reading along as well. Keep it up VI.

Village Idiot

03-17-04, 10:35 AM

Thanks everybody, I was kinda unsure as to how this would be recieved. Stay tuned and feel free to join in at anytime.

Village Idiot

03-21-04, 03:51 PM

Israel conquers the Promised Land
Chapters: 1-8
After the death of Moses, Joshua is the new leader of the Israelites and is commanded by God to to lead them into the Promised Land. He is laso commanded to obey the teachings, to follow them and to read them daily. Joshua, in turn, commands the people to prepare to take up camp and cross the Jordan River. He also reminds the tribes of Reuben, Gad and E. Manasseh that they too should prepare to fight along side of their brothers. The Israelites agree that they will follow Joshua into Canaan and will obey him as they did Moses.
Spies are sent into the strong, walled city of Jercho. They encounter a prostitue, Rahab, and are given shelter and safe passage out of the city in turn for safety for the family of Rahab when Israel attcks Jericho.
Joshua gives the command for the Israelites to follow behind the Ark of the Agreement as they leave Moab and cross the Jordan river into Canaan. God himself causes the Jordan to stop flowing at the town called Adam and the people crossed on dry ground. This miracle was given to bolster Joshua's leadership and standing among the tribe. Twelve stones were gathered to set up an altar as a reminder of that event. Stones were also placed in the river at that crossing site as well. Israel camps at a place called Gilgal, east of Jericho.
The Israelites are circumcised at Gibeath Haaraloth. The earlier generation (Exodus) had this done but none born in the desert had been done so. They waited until all were healed and celebrated Passover. Joshua encounters a messenger from the Lord, the commander of the Lord's army. Joshua is given instruction on how to conquer Jericho.
The Iraelite army is to march around the city once a day for six days, led by the priests and the Ark. On the seventh day, they are to march around the city seven times and then blow the trumpets. The army is to give loud shout and the walls of Jericho will fall. They obeyed the Lord's command and Jericho fell to them. Rahab and her family were spared their lives for their help earlier. So the Lord was with Joshua and he became famous throughout the land.
A man from the camp had taken items from Jericho into the Israelite camp. This was against the Lord's command and brought sin into their midst. A few thousand soldiers had been dispatched to the town called Ai, but they were defeated and chased away by the fighting men of that small town. Thirty six Iraelite soldiers were killed as a result. A man called Achan was found to be guilty and admitted to keeping silver and clothing from Jericho. He was taken away from the camp and stoned to death along with his entire family. This was to atone for the sin and to remove sin from the camp.
Later, the Iraelite army lured the fighting men away from Ai and ambushed them in the desert. They had snuck into the city as part of them were being chased. The other Israelite soldiers had set the town afire and the men from Ai turned to see the smoke rising from their town. They were surrounded and killed by the Israelite army. Afterwards, Joshua read all the words of the Teachings, the blessings and the curses, exactly as they were written. All the people gathered round...the men, women and children. Joshua read every command that Moses had given.

Next: Joshua 9-15

reb

03-21-04, 07:18 PM

Question here, how come you are not starting with Genesis. I want to know if God created Adam and Eve as the first two people on the planet.

I want to know who here takes the Bible literally and if you do not then why have such a book start out and contain so much fiction. The truth should be more powerful than fiction and make it unnecessary.

VOR

03-21-04, 08:19 PM

reb

03-21-04, 08:22 PM

Seeeeee and you wonder why you're going to hell

You been hanging around repubicans too long :D That is a classic side step.

Village Idiot

03-21-04, 09:20 PM

reb

03-21-04, 09:32 PM

Bump...for reb

oh, I read that before. Send me a PM whenever you have time to answer my questions and I'll be glad to come back here and read your reply. I would rather they be answered here than a PM.

see ya

smashmouth5

03-21-04, 09:44 PM

smashmouth5

03-21-04, 09:45 PM

Glad you started this thread VI. Should lead to some great discussion.

Village Idiot

03-21-04, 09:53 PM

I want to know who here takes the Bible literally and if you do not then why have such a book start out and contain so much fiction. The truth should be more powerful than fiction and make it unnecessary.I do.
Fiction...is your opinion.
I believe what I choose, its really that simple.

Village Idiot

03-21-04, 09:55 PM

Glad you started this thread VI. Should lead to some great discussion.Thanks smash.

reb

03-21-04, 09:59 PM

I believe what I choose, its really that simple.

Me too.

slydevl

03-22-04, 11:22 AM

oh, I read that before. Send me a PM whenever you have time to answer my questions and I'll be glad to come back here and read your reply. I would rather they be answered here than a PM.

see ya

I wouldn't call Genesis fiction. I believe it is truth just not fact. It is a collection of parables that explain what happened in general terms just not exact terms.

Rob

03-22-04, 03:15 PM

One of the most amazing things is that Moses never got to see the promised land. But how many times is this true for many Christians? We spread the word, but we may never see the outcome. We have planted the seed, but we won't see the plant bear fruit until it is God's time.

One of the prominent themes speaking to me in these chapters of Joshua is Obedience. That's why Moses didn't get to enter the promised land. Its also why battles were lost and future problems occurred. The command was to take the land and destroy all the people and idols they worshiped. The Israelites didn't obey fully, made some of the captured people slaves and it came back to haunt them in the form of temptation and the falling away in future years.

I may be a little ahead. I read the whole book last week. Good thread!

Village Idiot

03-22-04, 05:31 PM

One of the prominent themes speaking to me in these chapters of Joshua is Obedience. That's why Moses didn't get to enter the promised land. Its also why battles were lost and future problems occurred. The command was to take the land and destroy all the people and idols they worshiped. The Israelites didn't obey fully, made some of the captured people slaves and it came back to haunt them in the form of temptation and the falling away in future years.

I may be a little ahead. I read the whole book last week. Good thread!During our classroom discussions we like to draw paralels between the Israelites of then and the USA today. Back when we were a young nation, uncertain about our future we depended on and served God more than we, as a nation, do today. In fact, we are trying to kick God outta all aspects of our lives. We have risen to to a status of world power and wealth. We dont need God anymore. We can survive on our own now. We have forgotten the blessings that he gave us BECAUSE we called upon him when we were young. We know what happened to Israel when they fell away from serving God. Does anybody else see the US headed down that same path?

Rob

03-22-04, 11:34 PM

During our classroom discussions we like to draw paralels between the Israelites of then and the USA today. Back when we were a young nation, uncertain about our future we depended on and served God more than we, as a nation, do today. In fact, we are trying to kick God outta all aspects of our lives. We have risen to to a status of world power and wealth. We dont need God anymore. We can survive on our own now. We have forgotten the blessings that he gave us BECAUSE we called upon him when we were young. We know what happened to Israel when they fell away from serving God. Does anybody else see the US headed down that same path?

The USA probably has a stronger parallel with the Roman Empire of the time of Christ. We are the most powerful super power in the world. Israel was outnumbered often in Joshua. Having God on their side made all the difference.

PantherMills

03-24-04, 08:07 AM

One of the most amazing things is that Moses never got to see the promised land. But how many times is this true for many Christians? We spread the word, but we may never see the outcome. We have planted the seed, but we won't see the plant bear fruit until it is God's time.What's more amazing, to me, is that he wasn't called to go free the Israelites until he was about 80 years old. This was after God put a limit on the length of years we can live to 120, like it is today.

How many times do we want God's direction today, not realizing God's plan for us may be years down the road.

Rob

03-24-04, 11:10 AM

What's more amazing, to me, is that he wasn't called to go free the Israelites until he was about 80 years old. This was after God put a limit on the length of years we can live to 120, like it is today.

How many times do we want God's direction today, not realizing God's plan for us may be years down the road.

That speaks to brokenness. God has little use for Christians who are puffed up and proud thinking they are doing the work of God. Remember with Moses what happened right before the 40 years in the wilderness. He killed an Egyptian who was abusing a Jewish slave. He essentially took things into his own hands to try to help his people. 40 years of exile later he was sufficiently broken to allow God to work through him. God can do anything and so can we if God empowers us. We just have to let go of the us.

Village Idiot

03-24-04, 05:08 PM

That speaks to brokenness. God has little use for Christians who are puffed up and proud thinking they are doing the work of God. Remember with Moses what happened right before the 40 years in the wilderness. He killed an Egyptian who was abusing a Jewish slave. He essentially took things into his own hands to try to help his people. 40 years of exile later he was sufficiently broken to allow God to work through him. God can do anything and so can we if God empowers us. We just have to let go of the us.good post rob

hasbeen99

03-25-04, 07:42 PM

One of the most amazing things is that Moses never got to see the promised land. But how many times is this true for many Christians? We spread the word, but we may never see the outcome. We have planted the seed, but we won't see the plant bear fruit until it is God's time.

That's true, but there's a major difference. Moses didn't cross into the promised land because of his own mistake. Sometimes that's true in the evangelistic process, but not always.

In fact, it's usually the exception rather than the rule that we get to see an evangelistic effort through to completion. Most of the time our efforts fall somewhere in the middle of the process. :)

hasbeen99

03-25-04, 07:43 PM

I wouldn't call Genesis fiction. I believe it is truth just not fact. It is a collection of parables that explain what happened in general terms just not exact terms.

Well put, Sly. I agree completly.

hasbeen99

03-25-04, 07:46 PM

One of the prominent themes speaking to me in these chapters of Joshua is Obedience.

Agreed. And not just obedience, but complete obedience. "Close enough" just wasn't in God's eyes, and it cost the Israelites dearly both in the short term and ultimately. This was a reoccurring problem for Israel.

hasbeen99

03-25-04, 08:01 PM

The USA probably has a stronger parallel with the Roman Empire of the time of Christ. We are the most powerful super power in the world. Israel was outnumbered often in Joshua. Having God on their side made all the difference.

True, but the same could be said about the USA during the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the incident against the Barbary Pirates, and perhaps even the Spanish-American War. We weren't really a dominant world power I don't think until after WWII.

I think VI's parallel between America and ancient Israel has a lot of merit. In fact, some people believe that America is the new Israel (i.e. God's chosen people). I don't agree with that at all, BTW. Israel is Israel, and always will be. I don't see Jesus changing His mind and setting up his millenial reign in Washington D.C.

But yes, we're making some of the same mistakes Israel did, and I think there's a better than average chance we could meet the same fate.

hasbeen99

03-25-04, 08:09 PM

How many times do we want God's direction today, not realizing God's plan for us may be years down the road.

Excellent point, PM. This is something I've struggled with for a while, and I'm just seeing it come to bear fruit. Not coincidentally, starting to see big ministry opportunities open up in my life has been proportional to my obedience level to God.

hasbeen99

03-25-04, 08:10 PM

Village Idiot

03-25-04, 09:00 PM

Tid-bits on Joshua
Earlier in his life Joshua was called simply Hoshea, meaning "salvation". But later Moses changed his name to Joshua, meaning "The Lord saves". When this same name (Greek form Jesus) was given to Mary's firstborn son, it became the most loved of names.
In the judgement of many scholars Joshua was not written until the end of the period of the kings, some 800 years after the actual events. But there are significant reasons to question this conclusion and to place the time of the composition much earlier. The earliest Jewish traditions (Talmud) claim that Joshua wrote his own book except for the final section about his funeral, which is attributed to Eleazar (son of Aaron, Moses' brother and high Priest).
Joshua's remarkable life was filled with excitement, variety, success and honor. He was known for his deep trust in God and as "a man in whom is the spirit". As a youth he lived through the bitter realities of slavery in Egypt, but he also witnessed the supernatural plagues and the miracles of Israels' escape from the army of the Egyptians when the waters of the sea opened before them. In the Sinai peninsula it was Joshua who led the troops of Israel to victory over the Amalekites. He alone was allowed to accompany Moses up the holy mountain where the tablets of the law were received.
Only Joshua and Caleb were ready to follow Gods will and take immediate possession of the land. The rest were condemmed to die in the desert. Even Moses died short of the goal and was told to turn everything over to Joshua. God promised to guide and strengthen Joshua, just as he had Moses.

Village Idiot

03-27-04, 10:14 PM

At this point in time many of the kings in the region had heard of the Israelites and their march through Canaan. Many prepared for war and joined together with the surrounding cities in the region. But the people of Gibeon had a different plan. They had devised a plan to act as if they were poor and from far away. They dressed in rags and made their way into the Israelite camp. Joshua, after speaking with them and hearing their story, accepted their plea for a peace treaty. He later learned that they had tricked him and made this demand....that the Gibeonites would be spared their lives in exchange for their sevices as slaves to the Israelites. The Gibeonites had no choice but to agree.
Five Ammorite kings, Adoni-Zedek (Jerusalem), Hoham (Hebron), Piram (Jarmuth), Japhia (Lachish) and Debir (Eglon) all met and decided to attack the city of Gibeon for making their treaty with Joshua. When the people of Gibeon heard of this they called on Joshua and Israel marched all night to defend the Gibeonites. Israel defeated the Ammorites and the five kings hid out in a nearby cave but were found, captured and later killed by the Israelite soldiers. On this day Joshua prayed to the Lord and asked for the sun to stand still. "Sun stand still over Gibeon. Moon, stand still over the Valley of Aijalon." That was the day that the Lord listened to a human being as God granted Joshua's request.
Joshua and the Israelites marched on in their conquest of the southern most cities...Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir...all the cities from Kadesh-Barnea to Gaza and from Goshen to Gibeon then returned to their camp at Gilgal.
On to the northern kings...Jabin, king of Hazor sent word to the tribes of that area and brough together an army of great magnitude to fight the Israelites. "There were as many soldiers as grains of sand on the sea shore." Joshua and his entire army surprised them at the waters of Merom. They chased them to Greater Sidon and beyond. Israel fought until none of them was left alive. So Joshua defeated all the people of the land. He had control of the mountains and the area of southern Canaan, all the areas of Goshen, the western hills and the Jordan Valley. Joshua then set out to divide it amongst the tribe. But there was still some land left to be taken.
Joshua was very old at this time and had fought many battles. The Lord spoke to him and reminded him of the regions of Geshur (Phillistines), areas near the borders of Egypt and Lebanon. He was to remember this land when he divided Canaan amongst the tribe. The land was divided (you can read this for yourself 13:7-33, 14:1-5). Land was also provided for Caleb, the brave soldier and spy who, along with Joshua obeyed the Lord in Moab. And land for the tribe of Judah was provided (we will make further reference to Judah later on in our reading). This land is in the southwest region of Canaan and Judah faced struggles obtaining some of the cities there. The army of Judah was unable to force out the Jebusites living in Jerusalem so they lived among the Israelites while they were there.

Next week: Joshua 16-24 (end)

hasbeen99

03-30-04, 08:05 PM

Village Idiot

03-30-04, 09:05 PM

VI - I have two questions for you:

1) Are you using The Message to paraphrase these passages, or are you doing it yourself?

2) What do you think about God's order to the Israelites to put every living being in those city-states to the sword?1. A little of both.
2. In the past, people from other tribes outside of the Israelites would bring idol worship into the camp. Baal worship was quite common in the region during this time. When the Israelite men would take women from outside the tribe as their wives they would be "seduced" into partaking in worshipping their gods too. Of course this was'nt the only way but probably the most common. When they were to take Canaan for their own, God's will was for them to purge the land of all other gods, thus those that worship them. Reading the accounts of this slaughter and then digesting the reality of them leaves one pondering the question "why". Why did all these innocent people "have" to die? It was harsh indeed and I'm certainly thankful for the New Covenant that Jesus brought us. The Old Law was weak through the flesh IMO.

What is your take on it HB?

Rob

03-30-04, 09:19 PM

1. A little of both.
2. In the past, people from other tribes outside of the Israelites would bring idol worship into the camp. Baal worship was quite common in the region during this time. When the Israelite men would take women from outside the tribe as their wives they would be "seduced" into partaking in worshipping their gods too. Of course this was'nt the only way but probably the most common. When they were to take Canaan for their own, God's will was for them to purge the land of all other gods, thus those that worship them. Reading the accounts of this slaughter and then digesting the reality of them leaves one pondering the question "why". Why did all these innocent people "have" to die? It was harsh indeed and I'm certainly thankful for the New Covenant that Jesus brought us. The Old Law was weak through the flesh IMO.

What is your take on it HB?

As I understand it this Idol worship was pretty bad stuff. They actually had human sacrifice. God was using Israel to do what He used a flood to do earlier. The only way to stamp it out completely was to kill everyone.

Problem was they didn't do it and it caused problems for many years later arguably to this day.

hasbeen99

03-31-04, 02:01 PM

What is your take on it HB?

I can only draw the conclusion that there was no other way to 'cleanse' the land. There was no Savior in place at that time, but even so, it seems harsh to the point of being frightening. And I think that deterrence was a factor, too. Why He made Israel do His 'dirty work', I don't know. I mean, I can see the lessons He taught them in battle, but putting women, children and even livestock to the sword is a different matter.

Then again, we've all seen some cultures even today using children as combatants. Maybe that was a factor. :thinking:

Perhaps these whole societies were demon-oppressed from worshipping false gods. I'm just speculating here, but I feel there's just got to be more to the story than what's written.

smashmouth5

03-31-04, 07:17 PM

We can't forget that God is without a doubt a loving God, but he is also a vengeful God. This was a horrible time, but imagine how bad it's going to be before the Jesus returns for those who aren't saved. God uses many means to get people to turn towards him. From what appears to be horrible acts to ultimate acts of love and kindness.

Just a few rambling thoughts there.

Village Idiot

03-31-04, 08:12 PM

smashmouth5

04-01-04, 01:57 PM

:xyzthumbs

Village Idiot

04-04-04, 09:05 PM

Land for the House of Joseph, known as the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh was provided. I wont go into details about the borders, but its all there if you wish to read. Other land was given, the daughters of Zelophedad were provided for. Zelophedad lived during the time of Moses and had only daughters. Moses devised a law that provided for female inheritance in certain situations. This would allow for property to remain within any family that had no sons born to them. Zelophedad was also within the tribe of Manasseh. The the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (the largest of all the tribes) asked Joshua for more land and were told to go into the hills and forests to clear land and fight the Canaanites who lived there. This was in the area's of Beth Shan and the Valley of Jezreel.
The rest of the land is divided. Joshua asked for three men from each of the seven remaining tribes to study the land and divide it into seven parts. Chapters 18-19 tells us of the decisions they came up with. This includes land for the tribes of Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and Dan. These borders are also written in these chapters. Joshua was given a city, Timnath Serah in the mountains of Ephraim.
Cities of Safety were provided as the law of Moses called for. These cities were to be safe havens for those accused of accidental murder and other crimes until a fair trail could be held. Towns for the Levites were given, also in accordance with the law of Moses (the Levites were the priests and caretakers of the Holy Tent and other work regarding the Lord). They were to inherit no land but were be provided for just the same with citites, pastures and part of the sacrifices and offerings given unto the Lord. Each tribe gave a few cities in their land to the Levites. Some cities even served double duty as both cities of safety and cities for the tribe of Levi.
The three tribes that settled east of the Jordan river asked to return home and were granted such by Joshua. These were the tribes of Reuben, Gad and E. Manasseh.They had fulfilled their obligation to fight along side their brothers in their quest to obtain the land of Canaan. Upon their return home the built an altar to the Lord at Geliloth, near the Jordan River. Now the other tribes in Canaan heard about this and became angry and afraid. They met together and decided to fight them over this, not understanding their full intentions. After meeting with Phinehas son of Eleazar the three tribes explained their intentions and agreed not to sin or become separate from their brothers in Canaan. In fact, the whole idea behind the building of the altar was to remain a part of the Israelite family in the years to come when time and distance could possibly remove the memory of who they were and what their ties were to their brothers. This is a good topic of discussion among those interested in Biblical history.
The last words of Joshua were a reminder to the tribe of Gods blessings if they were to remain in His will and obey the law. They were aslo reminded of the curses that would befall them if they did not. He also gathered them together and reminded them of where they had come from and the times that God had blessed them in battle and other conquests. Joshua and the people came together in one accord on that day and they agreed to continue to follow God and obey his teachings. Joshua died at the age of one hundred and ten years. He was buried in his own town in the Mountains of Ephraim. The Israelites served the Lord during the time of Joshua and all had seen and heard what the Lord had done for them during this time. The bones of Joseph were also buried in the Promised Land during this time. They had been carried out of Egypt during the exodus as Joseph had wished for. Eleazar, the son of Aaron also died during this time and was buried at Gibeath. This ends the Book of Joshua.

Next: the Book of Judges, chapters 1-7 --- Peace.

Village Idiot

04-11-04, 04:32 PM

After the death of Joshua the people of Israel had found themselves without a central leadership figure. All the prophecies from the time of Moses had been fulfilled and the Promised Land was now under their feet. All that remained was to eradicate the final remnants of Canaan and of paganism. But this did not happened as planned. Israel failed to complete their mission and fell away from Gods will. The following accounts are related to this time, a period of around 300 years, from the death of Joshua to Samuel. A time the Bible tells us about in the book of Judges. "Judges" were neither kings nor rulers, but rose to prominence during times of great need, when leadership roles were thrust upon them. As God called these common people to simply obey his will and have faith in Him, these words are inspiration for us today.

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Judges begins by telling us of fights wiht the Cannanites over parcels of land. The first was with Adoni-Bezek. The men from the tribe of Judah and some from Simeon fought and defeated ten thousand and captured Adoni-Bezek. They cut off his thumbs and big toes, as he had done to other kings seventy times before. The story of Caleb and his daughter Acsah, who was given in marriage to Othniel, a leader in battle. More battles are spoken of, but also spoken of is the continuing failure to remove those people from the land.
An angel prophesied to the Israelites at Bokim about their idol worship. They were warned to change their ways and to follow the Lord but they continued to disobey. Judges were chosen by the Lord to save the Israelites but He was still very angry with them.
These nations remained in the land along side of Israel, the five rulers of the Phillistines, the Canaanites, Sidon and the Hivites. At this time the Lord was angry with Israel and allowed them to be ruled by the Midianites for eight years until they cried out to God and he sent them Othniel, the first of the Judges, to win their freedom. The next was Ehud, a left handed warrior, who led them to freedom over Eglon king of Moab. Read the story of how Ehud killed Eglon by the sword and led the Israelites to victory in battle. The next was Shamgar who killed 600 Philistines with a sharp stick used for leading oxen. Deborah, the woman judge, who along with Barak the warrior and ten thousand soldiers, defeated Jabins army of Canaanites. Read the story of how Sisera, the leader of Jabins army was killed by a woman called Jael after he had fled the battle and hid out in her tent. The Song of Deborah in chapter five sings praises to God for all he has done and recounts the events of their conquests.
Later,the Midianites gained power over Israel for seven years. They robbed and raided the Israelites during this time. They stole from their tents, cities and gardens and were very cruel to them. An angel from the Lord paid a visit to a man called Gideon of the tribe of Manasseh. He told Gideon to be strong and brave. He told him that he was to lead the people to their freedom but Gideon was not sure that the message was frim God and asked for several "signs". The signs of the "offering" and the "fleece" are written here. Gideon also tore down the altars of Baal and Asherah and built and altar to God in their place. He led the Israelites against Midian and chose his army by some very unorthodox means and won the battle, surprising the enemy at night and by using trickery.

Next: Judges 8-14 --- Happy Easter!

Village Idiot

04-17-04, 04:38 PM

We continue this weeks reading with the story of Gideon. As Gideon and his army of 300 chased the two Midian kings, Zebah and Zalmunna, he stopped to ask for bread and provisions for he and his warriors in the towns of Succoth and Peniel and was turned away. He warned the leaders of these towns to beware of his return after capturing the two kings. To Succoth; "I whill whip your skin with thorns and briars from the desert", and to Peniel; "I will return and pull down this tower". The kings were captured and Gideon did as he had promised to these towns. Upon his return, the Israelites wanted Gideon to rule over them but he refused and told them to serve the Lord. He made a golden vest out of the gold taken in battle and the people wosrhipped the vest so it became a trap for Gideon and his family. Israel lived in peace for forty years during the time of Gideon. He had seventy sons and many wives. One son, Abimelech was born to a slave woman. Gideon died and was buried in the tomb of Joash, his father. As soon as he died the Israelites became unfaithful to the Lord once again.
Abimelech desired to be a king and went to his relatives in the town of Shechem and spoke with them there. They decided to follow his wishes and gave him silver. He hired some reckless men to fight for him and he killed his seventy brothers one by one, by the sword, upon the same rock. One brother, Jotham, escaped and fled to the city of Beer, but first left behind a message of prophecy for Shechem and Abimilech. The "promise of the trees" (my words) can be found in Judges 9, 7-20. Jothams prophecy came true and Abimelech turned on the older leaders of Shechem.They grew tired of his cruelty and a man called Gaal and his group spoke out against Abimelech and planned to fight him, but a man called Zebul broke the news to Abimelech. He and his men set a trap for Gaal and defeated them, then attacked Shechem and burned the tower there. Abimelech was not done yet and turned his wrath towards the town of Thebez and their strong tower. But a woman pushed a grinding stoned from the tower roof and crushed the head of Abimelech. As he lay dieing he commanded his officer to kill him by the sword. In that way God had punished both Shechem and Abimelech as Jotham had promised.
Later came judges, Tola who ruled for 33 years and Jair for 22 years. Afterwards the Ammonites troubled Israel for land taken east of the Jordan River. A man called Jephthah was called upon to lead Israel against the Ammonites. Jephthah was a strong soldier from Gilead but had been shunned because he was the son of a prostitute. He had ran waway and took up with some rough men in the land of Tob. But he promised to lead Israel and become their ruler if he was successful in battle. He made a promise to the Lord; "I will give you as a burnt offering the first thing that comes out of my house to meet me when I return from the victory. It will be the Lord's". Jephthah defeated the Ammonites and upon his return home his daughter, Mizpah, came to him singing and playing the tambourine. Jephthah tore his clothes in sorrow but his daughter agreed to his promise but first asked to spend some time with her friends in the mountains to grieve because she was a virgin and would bear no children. Mizpah spent two months with her friends and then the promise was fullfilled. From this came a custom in Israel that every year the young women would remember Mispah for four days. Later the men from Ephraim were angry with Jephthah, they claimed that he failed to ask them to fight along side him against the Ammonites. But Jephthah did ask and Ephraim refused so they fought against each other. Ephraim was defeated and 42,000 from Ephraim died during this time. Jephthah died and was buried in Gilead, was ruled for six years. Later other judges came, Ibzan ruled for seven years, Elon for ten and Abdon for eight.
There was a man named Manoah from the the tribe of Dan who lived in the city of Zorah. He and his wife had no children but an angel visited his wife and told her that she would bear a son and told her what to do with him and how to raise him. They offerd a burnt offering to the Lord and Manoah's wife became pregnant and later gave birth to a son, Samson the Nazirite. Samson was strong and the Lord was with him. He saw and desired a Philistine girl whom he wanted to marry. She was from the town of Timnah so Samson went to visit her along with his parents. Along the road a young lion attacked Samson and he killed the lion. Several days later he was returning and found a swarm of bees inside the carcass. He got some of the honey and ate it along the way and then gave some to his parents. At the wedding feast, Samson gave this riddle;"Out of the eater comes something to eat, out of the strong comes something sweet". He said that if anyone could solve this riddle in seven days he would give them thirty linen shirts and thirty changes of clothes. The men of Timnah could not sovle the riddle so after four days they sought Samsons young wife and told her that they would burn her and her family if she did not give them the answer. In her fear she begged Samson and he gave in. She told them the answer and Samson became furious and killed thirty men in the town of Ashkelon and gave their clothes to the men of Timnah. He went back home and gave his new wife to his best man.

Next: Judges 15-21

Village Idiot

04-26-04, 04:31 PM

We pick up the story of Samson here as he returns to his wife's father and asks to see her. The father refuses and offers her younger sister in her place. Samson becomes furious and plots his revenge. He ties together 150 pairs of foxes by their tails and to each of them he ties a lit torch. He sets them free in the grain fields of the Phillistines and the crops are destroyed by fire. The Phillistines seek out the father of the young wife of Samson and exact revenge upon them for his deeds. The Phillistines gather and set out for Judah. They ask for Samson and he is bound and taken to them by the men of Judah. Samson breaks free and kills 1000 Phillistines with the jaw bone of an ass.
Later Samson visits Gaza (and a prostitute there) where the men of the city plot his demise for the next day. Samson however decides to stay only until midnight and tears down the doors of the city gate and carries them off towards the hill that faces Hebron. Sometime later he falls for a Phillistine woman by the name of Delilah and marries her. She is tempted to reveal his source of strength by the enemies of Samson. After some time and several false leads, Samson reveals the sorce and Delilah has his hair cut off while he slept. He is taken prisoner and his eyes were gouged out by his captors. He is forced to hard labor and mocked by the Phillistine leaders. One day as many were gathered to offer sacrifices to the Phillistine god Dagon, Samson prays to his God for one last act of might against them. By this time his hair had grown long and his strength had returned. The Phillistines called for him to perform and he dislodged the two main weight bearing pillars of their temple. As the roof collapsed 3000 were killed on that day as was Samson. Samson judged for twenty years in Israel.
We next move on to the story of a man called Micah and his idols. Micah had set up some silver idols and started a pagan religion on his own. He even garnered the services of a Levite (Jonathan) to act as his priest. This story is believed to have taken place earlier in the period of the judges, before many of the judges mention before in this book. We read how the Levite is approached by the men from the tribe of Dan, who had abandoned their inheritance east of the Jordan river and were seeking out a new place to dwell. They take the Levite and the idols and continue the pagan idol worship while their search for land centered on Laish. They capture Laish and take it for their own. They continued to worship the idols made by Micah all the time that the house of God was in Shiloh.
Next comes the story of another Levite (not named) and his concubine. She had left him and returned to her father in Bethlehem. When he found her there they decided to return home some time later. As they traveled along the road they searched for a safe city to spend the night. They reached Gibeah (in Benjamin) and met a man there who offered them rest for the night at his house. During the night, some wicked men from the city decended upon the house and called for the owner to turn over the visitor to them. He refused and offered the concubine instead. She was found dead the next morning and the Levite cut her body into 12 parts and sent each part to a different tribe in Israel. Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba decided to attack the men on Bejamin for this terrible act. 4000 gathered and fought the men of Benjamin and eventually defeated them after heavy losses on both sides. Gibeah was taken as 25,100 Benjamites fell, but 600 escaped into the desert near Rimmon.
The story takes a strange twist in ch. 21 as the Israelite men wept for Benjamin and decided that they needed wives to continue their heritage. But none would surrender their own daughter(s) for that purpose so they devised a plan to attack Jabesh Gilead and kill everyone there except for the young virgins. (Jabesh Gilead had sent no soldiers to fight Benjamin.) The plan was carried out but there still were not enough women to go around. The men of Israel directed the remaining men of Benjamin to go to Shiloh where there was a festival going on. "Go and hide in the vineyards and watch. When the girls of Shiloh come out and join in the dancing, rush in from the vineyards a seize a wife and return to your own land in Benjamin". So this is what they did.

Next: Ruth 1-4, 1 Samuel 1-5

Village Idiot

05-01-04, 03:20 PM

We begin the Book of Ruth with a man called Elimelech, his wife Naomi and their two sons, Mahlon and Killion. During this time there was a shortage of food in Judah so Elimelech and his family left for Moab and they settled there. While there Elimelech died and the two sons each married Moabite women, Orpah and Ruth. After about ten years the two sons died and Naomi was left alone with the two young women. She had planned to return home to Bethlehem in Judah and begged the two women to return home to their families as well. Orpah kissed Naomi and then left, but Ruth satyed with her as they traveled to the land of Judah together.
Upon their return, life was hard and Ruth had to rely on the leftover grain in the fields for her and Naomi. One day as she was in the fields the owner, a man named Boaz saw her. He ordered his workers to be kind to her and to leave her plenty to take with her. Boaz was the rich relative of Naomi and was very kind to Ruth, he told her to only come to his fields and she ate at his table. This pleased Naomi and she devised a plan for both Ruth and the unsuspecting Boaz.
Naomi tells Ruth to go to Boaz while he lays down to sleep and that Boaz would tell Ruth what she should do. Boaz is awakened as the young woman lies in his bed and he is startled but pleased. He tells Ruth that there is another close relative who should take care of her but if that did not work out that he would be pleased to marry her and keep her for himself.
The next day he sends her away and then goes to the city gate to meet with the older leaders there. As the relative passes by, Boaz calls to him and offers Ruth but after talking with Boaz he declines and the agreement is settled right there before the city elders. They marry and Ruth gives birth to a son some time later. She names the boy Obed and Naomi is blessed among the women of Bethlehem. "Praise the Lord who gave you this grandson. May he become famous in Israel. He will give you new life and will take care of you in your old age because of your daughter-in-law who loves you. She is better than seven sons because she has given birth to a grand son." Obed went on to be the father of Jesse and Jesse was the father of David.

Village Idiot

05-01-04, 03:52 PM

There was a man called Elkanah from the mountains of Ephraim. He had two wives, Hannah and Penninah. Penninah bore him sons but Hannah could not and Hannah was teased by Penninah. Once while they traveled to the house of the Lord in Shiloh, Hannah became upset and would not eat. She fell at the entrance to the Lord's house and prayed to the Lord there. She was crying and no words would come from her lips but she prayed on. The priest, Eli saw her and told her to get up and stop drinking. "Stop getting drunk! Throw away your wine!" Hannah assured him that she was sober and told him of her prayer. Eli tells her to go and wishes her well. "May the God of Israel give you what you asked for". Hannah promises to give her child to God if she becomes pregnant and they return home the next day. Hannah does become pregnant and gives birth to a son, she named him Samuel. After the child is able to eat on his own she returns him to the Lords service by giving him to Eli, in Shiloh, as she had promised.
Hannah gives thatnks to the Lord in ch. 2: "The Lord filled my heart with joy; I feel very strong in the Lord". Now back in Shiloh, Eli's two sons Hophni and Phineas were evil and did what the Lord said was wrong. They stole from the offerings and had sex with the girl servants at the Lord house. Eli hears a message from God that He will destroy the house of Eli for his sons wrong.
One night as Samuel slept, he heard a voice call to him. Three times Samuel went to Eli thinking that he was the one who called out to him. Eli realized that God was speaking to Samuel so he told Samuel what to do. Samuel replied unto the Lord and was given a prophcy against Israel. God continued to show himself to Samuel during this time.
At that time Israel went out to fight the Phillistines and had lost a battle and 4000 fighting men, so they decided to go and get the Ark of the Covenant and bring it to the battle with them. "Then God will save us from our enemies".
The Phillistines were frightened but fought hard and defeated Israel. 30,000 lost their lives that day and the Ark was taken by the Phillistines. Hophni and Phineas, sons of Eli were killed on that day and when Eli heard the news he fell over dead. On that day, the prophecy against the house of Eli and Israel had come true.
After that, the Phillistines had taken the Ark back to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of their god, Dagon. The next day, their statue of Dagon was found lying on his face, so they stood him up again. The next day they found that Dagon had fallen again and this time his head and hands were broken off and lying at the temple door. They had also broken out in sores on their skin. They had become afraid of the Ark and moved it to the city of Gath and then to Ekron. The Phillistines were terrified of the Ark and cried out for it to be returned to the Israelites.

Village Idiot

05-09-04, 04:17 PM

Now the Phillistines had been keeping the Ark in their possession for seven months and had become afraid of it, so they decided to return it to the Israelites. They made some golden models in the form of the skin growths that had plagued them and rats that had also infested theirs cities. They palced these models inside the Ark, built a cart, hitched two cows to it and sent it on its way back towards Beth Shemesh in Israel. Upon the arrival of the Ark, there was a celebration, some even looked inside and seventy men died by the Lord's hand because of this.
The men of Kiriath Jearim came and took the Ark to Abinadab's house and made his son Eleazar the guardian of it. It stayed there for nearly twenty years and Israel began following the Lord once again. Samuel spoke to them and reminded them to rid the land of all other foriegn gods (Ball and Ashtoreth). They assembled at Mizpah and agreed to serve the Lord. But the Phillistines heard about this meeting and came up to attack them there. The Lord sent a mighty thunder and frightened the Phillistines, so they ran as Israel chased them, killing them along the way. The Lord was against the Phillistines all of Samuels life and he served the Lord in a way that none other had. He judged in Israel for many years.
As Samuel grew older he made judges of his two sons, Joel and Abijah, but they did what the Lord said was wrong. They took money for wrong judgments and were dishonest men. The people came to Samuel and asked for a king to lead them, "You're old and your sons dont live as you do. Give us a king to rule over us like all the other nations". But Samuel prayed to the Lord and this was the message he recieved, "He (the king) will take one tenth of your flocks and make you his servants....When that time comes you will cry out to the Lord because of the king you chose. But the Lord will not answer you then". But the people refused to take no for an answer and Samuel agreed to appoint them a king.
A man named Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, had a son named Saul. Saul stood taller than the rest and there were none better than he. Saul was sent out by his father one day to look for some missing donkeys. He and a servant decided to ask the man of God for a vision as to where they were. But little did they know that the man of God (Samuel) had an important message for Saul. As they approached Samuel near the city gate the Lord spoke to Samuel and told him, "This is the man I told you about. He will organize my people". Samuel told Saul not ot worry about the missing donkey because that one day all the wealth in Israel will belong to him and his family. The next day Samuel said to him that he would become the chosen king of Israel and other prophecy. He annointed Saul with oil and prophesied to him as he sent Saul home. "Three men on their way to worship God at Bethel will meet you". He also told Saul to wait for seven days once he returned home and then he would tell him what to do. Saul is made king of Israel in front of all the peopl at Mizpah and Samuel explained all the rights and duties before those that were gathered there.
About one month later, Nahash and his Ammonite army troubled the Israelites at the town of Jabesh. They offered to make a peace treaty with him but this was his answer, "I will make a treaty with you only if I'm allowed to poke out the right eye of each of you. Then all of Israel will be ashamed". Once Saul got word of this he called together an army and attacked Nahash, defeating them before the heat of the day. Afterwards, Saul and all the people met together at Gilgal and there was a celebration before the Lord.
Samuel gave a farewell speech to all the people and reminded them of Gods blessings upon Israel down through time and warned them not to turn away from Him in the future. The people asked for forgiveness and asked Samuel to pray for God to have mercy on them.
Saul was thirty years old when he became king and he ruled Israel for forty-two years. Jonathan (Sauls son) attacked the Phillistines at Geba, but they gathered strength and amassed a huge army to fight Israel at Micmash and Saul became afraid. He waited on Samuel for seven days and decided to give the offering himself. Samuel arrived soon afterwards and scolded Saul for acting foolishly, "You have'nt obeyed the command of the Lord your God. If you had obeyed Him, the Lord would have made your kingdom continue in Israel always, but now your kingdom will not continue". Israel did not have many weapons but they used their plows, hoes and axes to fight the Phillistine armies. Jonathan attacks the Phillistines once again and sent a panic throughout their camp. Saul hears the noise and asks "Check to see who is missing from the camp". When he found out that it was Jonathan he gathered his army and joined the battle. Saul made an oath before the Lord that no one would eat that day until the battle was finished, but his men became weary. Jonathan, not knowing about the oath, found some honey and ate some to reagain strength. That day Israel defeated the Phillistines and Saul asked the Lord for direction but he got no answer. He asked "Lets find out what sin has been done today....even if my son Jonathan did the sin, he must die." But no one in the army spoke. Saul asked the Lord to separate the men and only he and Jonathan remained. "What sin have you done?" Saul asked. "I only tasted a little honey from the end of my stick. And must I die now?" Saul said, "Jonathan, if you dont die may God punish me terribly?". But the men from the army pled for Jonathans life and he was shown mercy and did not die. Saul fought many battles against the enemies of Israel. He fought against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the Phillistines and the Amalekites. when he saw strong, brave men he took them into his army.

Village Idiot

05-15-04, 11:34 AM

Samuel said to Saul, "The Lord sent me to appoint you king over Israel. Now listen to His message. Samuel gave Saul the orders to destroy the city of Amalek and everything there...."Do not let anything live." but Saul only carried out most of the orders and even let king Agag live, so Samuel came against Saul with this maessage from God. "What pleases the Lord more: burnt offerings and scrifices or obedience to His voice? It is better to obey than to sacrifice. It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of sheep. Disobedience is as bad as the sin of sorcery. Pride is as bad as the sin of worshipping idols. You have rejected the Lords command. Now He rejects you as king." After this, Samuel never saw Saul again but he was sad for him and the Lord was very sorry that He had made Saul king.
The Lord directed Samuel to go to Bethlehem, to the house of Jesse and appoint one of his sons to be the new king. So Samuel fills his container with oil and sets out for Jesse's house. After seeing all but one of the sons of Jesse pass by, David is called to pass before Samuel. The Lord tells Samuel, "Go, appoint him, because he is the one." David was the youngest and was tending to sheep at the time. Samuel took the oil and appointed David in front of his brothers there. From that day on, the Lord's spirit was in David, so Samuel returned to Ramah. Now the spirit of the Lord had left Saul and he was troubled with an evil spirit. His servants told him of David who could play the harp for him and calm his troubled mind, so he sent for David. David served Saul in this way and the king grew to like David.
The Phillistines were making trouble for Israel and they gathered the armies for war. There was a Phillistine warrior named Goliath who stood 9' 4", his coat of armor weighed 125 pounds and the head of his spead another 15 pounds. He mocked the Israelites and their God each day and they feared him greatly. No one would confront this man. One day as David was bringing some bread to his brothers on the front line of battle, Goliath came and David heard his bragging. David went to the king and asked to fight the giant but was mocked himself and could not even wear the armor of the king. He told them this, "The Lord saved me from the lion and the bear and He will save me from this Phillistine." David took his sling and 5 small stones from the stream and went to face Goliath as both armies watched. The giant laughed and told David that he would feed his body to the birds, then he charged at the boy. David grabbed a stone and his sling, he whipped the stone at the giant and struck him in the forehead, sending Goliath face first into the ground. He then took the sword of Goliath and cut off his head. The Phillistines ran as the army of Israel chased and defeated them.
David was a hero and talked with Saul and his son, Jonathan. David and Jonathan became close and their bond grew strong, but Saul grew to fear David. He would try to pin him to the wall with his spear but each time David would escape. All the people of Israel grew to love David also but Saul's anger and hatred grew. Saul devises a plan to give a daughter to David as a wife so he could use her to trick David and kill him. David rejected the first one but accepted the second, Michal. Michal was loyal to David and helped him escape the traps of Saul.
Many times Saul would set traps for David but each time he would escape. Even Sauls own son, Jonathan would help David escape. David fled to Samuel in Ramah and Saul followed him but the people would not turn him over to Saul.
David returns to Jonathan and Saul is angered as David refuses to eat with him at the New Moon festival and plans to kill him. Jonathan helps David escape once again. They make a pact of friendship, "May the Lord hold Davids enemies responsible". Jonathan asked David to repeat the promise for him and each loved the other as much as they did themselves. After this, they both went their separate ways as David fled and Jonathan went back into town.
David went to Nob to see Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech was afraid and asked David why he was alone. "The king gave me a special order. He told me, 'No one must know what I am sending you to do or what I told you to do.' " David asked for food and the only food there was the holy bread but the priest gave it to David. One of Sauls servants was there that day, Doeg, the chief of Sauls shepherds. So David left but not before asking for a weapon, he was given the sword of Goliath by Ahimelech. David leaves and goes to Gath and meets with Achish, their king. They were also afraid of David so he acts like he has gone mad and Achish turns him away.

Village Idiot

05-27-04, 11:10 PM

I appologize for the lack of posting this week. It has been a busy one with my son playing legion ball, my daughters graduation and daily visits with my 90 year old granmother who was ill, plus some late nights down at the rock pile. My grandmother passed on to glory this morning around 7:30. I'll continue The Bible very soon.

hasbeen99

06-03-04, 07:24 PM

I'm sorry for your loss, VI. :(

Village Idiot

06-05-04, 09:40 AM

I'm sorry for your loss, VI. :(Thanks hb, have'nt seen you on here in a while (or at least our paths have'nt crossed lately), hope all is well for you and the wife....now back to the Word.

Village Idiot

06-05-04, 10:35 AM

In ch. 22, David escapes to Adullam, Mizpah and Hereth as Saul continues his pursuit. Saul learns of Davids visit to Ahimelech and becomes furious. He orders his officers to kill Ahimelech and his entire family but they are afraid to harm the high priest. Doeg, the Edomite (remember him) accepts the duty and carries out Sauls wishes but one of Ahimelech's sons, Abiathar, escapes. Meanwhile, David saves the town of Keliah from the Phillistines, but Saul continues to chase him through the mountains. David takes refuge in a mountain cave at En Gedi. As Saul enters the cave to relieve himself, David sneaks up and cuts off a piece of Sauls garment. After Saul has left, David calls to him later and tells him of their "meeting" in the cave. "Why do you listen to people who say that I want to harm you?", David called out. Saul was ashamed and cried loudly, "You are better than I am. You have been good to me but I have done wrong to you". So Saul returned home and David and his men returned to their hideout.
After the death of Samuel all the Israelites met and had a time of sadness. David moved to the Desert of Maon. There was a man there named Nabal who was very rich and had many sheep and goats. His wife was Abigail, she was very wise and beautiful. David heard about Nabal and sent some men to him to ask for provisions but Nabal insulted David. David planned to attack him and take what he wanted but Abigail sent word to David asking for mercy. She also went to meet David taking supplies and food as she went. David praised her efforts and agreed to her requests, sparing the life of her husband. Nabal was unaware of this but one morning Abigail told him and his heart stopped. Nabal died that day and Abigail went to David and became his wife and they left.
After a while, the people of Ziph went to Saul and told him that David was hiding on the hill of Hakilah. Saul set out to kill David once again. One night as Saul and his men camped near Hakilah, David and Abishai crept into the camp and took Saul's spear and water jug then fled without harming him. In that way, David shamed Saul again and they both parted and went their own way. But David thought to himself, "Saul will catch me some day". He fled and went to live amongst the Phillistines in Gath. He became friends with Achish, king of Gath.
The Phillistines gathered their army for war against Saul and Israel. Now Samuel was dead and Saul could not call upon him as he did before so he became afraid. He sought the services of a woman, The Witch of Endor to conjur up the spirit of the now dead Samuel. As they begin the ritual Samuel appears and once again tells Saul that he will be defeated and that he and his sons will die. Then the war with the Phillistines begins. David plans to join the Phillistines in battle but is refused by the other Phillistine kings. He is sent back to his city, Ziklag, that was given to him by Achish. Upon his arrival home, David finds that his city has been raided by the Amalekites and they have taken everything, women, children, animals and wealth. David is blamed and is threatened by his own men. He prays to the Lord for direction and they chase after the Amalekites. David found the Amalekites and recaptured all their families, animals and wealth then they returned to their homes.
The Phillistines fought against Israel and deafeated them. Sauls son Jonathan was killed and Saul was wounded. He ordered his officer to finish him off but he refused so Saul fell on his own sword and died that day. The Phillistines came and cut off the head of king Saul. They took the head and armor back the temple of the Ashtoreths and hung his body an the wall of Beth Shan. Later some brave men of Jabesh recovered the body and brought it back to be buried there.
This is the end of the book of 1 Samuel

y2b

06-05-04, 10:59 AM

So if God made us in his own image, does that mean he also feels love, anger, rage, fear, excitement, sadness, jealously, and all those other emotions that rule us?

Village Idiot

06-05-04, 11:27 AM

So if God made us in his own image, does that mean he also feels love, anger, rage, fear, excitement, sadness, jealously, and all those other emotions that rule us?good question...and I do believe that God does feel most emotions, I'm not too sure that He "fears" anything though...but thats just me.

The Bible tells us that God expresses love, anger, rage, sadness and jealousy.

Village Idiot

06-05-04, 01:43 PM

Now Saul was dead. After David had returned from defeateing the Amalekites the news was revealed to him about the defeat of Israel and the deaths of both Saul and Jonathan. Jonathan was very close to David and he still had respect for Saul even though he tried to kill him many times before. He wept for his friend and Israel. David wrote a song, as he often did, about Saul and Jonathan.
David returns to the city of Hebron in Judah and is made king of Judah before all that were gathered there. But those loyal to Saul had other plans and appointed Saul's son, Ish-Bosheth, as king of Israel in Jerusalem. War erupts between the two nations, as a result of a contest turned into killing at the pool of Gibeon, and other tensions. Two groups gathered there began to challenge each other to physical feats and then fighting broke out which led to the death of Ashael, son of Joab and officer to king David, at the hands of Abner (Saul loyalist). As the war went on, Davids group gathered strength while Sauls group faded. David was victorious and grew in power having many wives, slave women, sons and daughters while king of Judah. Abner has a change of heart and decides to join David but is killed by Joab upon his arrival in Hebron. David denounces Joab and his family for his deeds.
Even later, the king of Israel is killed by two men, Baanah and Recab. They run to David and break the news to him. He has them put to death for their crimes, "So even more I must put you evil men to death because you have killed an innocent man on his own bed in his own house!"
Then all of Israel and Judah met at Hebron and asked David to become king over all Israel. David took Jerusalem as his own and renamed it the City of David. He continued to fight victoriously against the Phillistines and grew more powerful and loved. The Ark is returned to Israel and king David danced before the Lord with all his might upon its arrival. He has a dream of building a temple unto the Lord in Jerusalem and asks Nathan the prophet for a word from the Lord. Nathan has a vision that night and brings David this message from God. "When you die and join your ancestors, I will make one of your sons the next king and I will set up his kingdom. He will build a house for me and I will let his kingdom rule always. I will be his father and he will be my son." Many have given thought to this prophecy down through the ages and it is there for you to read in II Samuel, ch. 7, 4-17. David prays to God and gives Him praise for all He has done.
David wins many more wars against Edom, Moab, Ammon, Phillistia and Amalek. He becomes merciful towards the remnants of Sauls family and sends for anyone left in the lineage of Saul. A servant named Ziba comes forward and is given land once owned by Saul, land to farm and reap its many benifits. Ziba also tells David of a child born to his beloved Jonathan, a child that suffered a crippling injury during his early childhood that left him unable to walk. Mephibosheth was his name and David brought him to his palace to live with him at dine at his table. In this way David showed mercy to the remaining family of Saul and Jonathan. Other battles are to be fought and won, wars against the Amalekites and Ammonites, but peace was prevalent for most of the time that David was king and Israel was in its glory years.

Village Idiot

06-05-04, 02:53 PM

In the spring, when kings normally went out to war, David sent Joab, his servants and all the Iraelite army to fight the Ammonites. David stayed in Jerusalem and one night while up on his roof David saw a woman, Bathsheba, bathing. She was a true beauty and David wanted her badly. He called for her and when Bathsheba came to him he had sexual relations with her. He was infatuated with the woman but she was already married to Uriah, an officer in the kings army, not to mention the fact that she was now pregnant with Davids child. David devised several plans to bring about the death of Uriah and finally he was killed in battle and David took Bathsheba as his wife. The word got out that this had happened and David got a visit from Nathan the prophet. He told David that the Lord would punish him for his sin and that he would lose the son that was to come from this sinful union. Nathans prophecy came true and the son born to David and Bathsheba died a week after it was born.
After this, one of Davids sons, Absalom had a daughter, Tamar, and she was also very beautiful. Absaloms half brother, Amnon desired her greatly and made himself sick thinking about her. He asked his friend, Jonadab how to get a chance to be alone with her. The plan was for Amnon to fake an illness and ask for Tamar to tend to him. The plan came together and when they were alone he raped her and then sent her away in shame, Absalom was furious but had mercy on his half brother....for the time being. Two years later, Absalom devised a plan to gather all the brothers together for a special occasion but king David could not attend. Once assembled, Absalom ordered his servants to kill Amnon and they did so. In the mean time Absalom had run away as the news traveled back to David in Jerusalem. David became devastated, thinking that all his sons were dead but later found out that only Amnon was killed. He still mourned the death of Amnon and Absalom stayed away for three years until David began to miss him greatly. Now Joab had devised a plan to make David come to his senses and sent a wise woman to David to "encourage" him to send for Absalom (ch.14). Absalom returns to Jerusalem for two full years without seeing his father but eventually they met and Absalom bowed face down on the ground and kissed his fathers feet.
But Absalom had other plans for David and his kingdom, plans that included Absalom becomming the king and he set off a chain of events that would send the kingdom into a whirlwind of turmoil. Absalom was very handsome and well spoken. He went about the city gaining the favor of Israelites from all across the country as they traveled to Jerusalem. Some men began to follow him and through time people began to favor Absalom over king David. David began to fear Absalom and his followers and fled the city with his own men. Along the way David meets Ziba (remember him) and is given food and provision for his flight from Absalom but Ziba tells him that Mephibosheth (remember him) desires the fall of David. He wishes for the family of Saul to regain power in Israel so David gives all that belongs to Mephibosheth to Ziba. David also meets a man named Shimei and he curses David as he travels along the road. But David refuses to punish him and continues on his way. Meanwhile Absalom, Ahithopel (advisor) and all the Israelites arrived in Jerusalem. Davids friend (and enemy spy), Hushai greeted Absalom at the city gate and pledged his loyalty to the "new" king. Hushai had been sent to discredit Ahithopel and cause choas among the braintrust of Absaloms group. He was very competent and in the end Ahithopel fell from favor and hung himself in despair. War broke out between the two factions and one day while they were fighting in the forest, Absaloms head was caught in the branches of a tree and he was slain there. His body was dumped in a pit and covered with stones. David mourned the death of his son, he went to the room near the city gate and cried, "My son Absalom, my son Absalom! I wish that I had died and not you. Absalom, my son, my son!"

Village Idiot

06-13-04, 05:13 PM

As told before in ch. 18 king David was still mourning the loss of his son Absalom, even though he had led the overthrow attempt on his own father. This caused the leader of the Iraeli army, Joab, to come down hard on the king, "Today you have shamed all your men. They saved your life and the lives of your sons, daughters, wives and slave women. You have shamed them because you haved loved those that hate you, and you hate those who love you. Today you have made it clear that your commanders and men mean nothing to you. I swear by the Lord that if you dont go out, no man will be left with you by tonight." So David got up and went to the city gate to greet the warriors and all the people there, and all came to see him. So David came together with all the Israelites and made his way back to Jerusalem. Even some that were against him before were now on his side. But one man, Sheba, spoke out against the king. He led a band of men away from the city but David soon sent his own men after him. Joab caught up with Sheba at Abel Beth Maacah where they began to tear down the walls of the city. A wise woman called down and asked them, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "Yes, I am." She also asked them who they were after and he told her, then she said this, " His head will thrown over the wall to you." After she talked with the people of the city, the head of Sheba was thrown over the wall to Joab and his men and they all went home.
Now this part of the book of II Samuel does some back tracking to events that had taken place earlier. One of them was when the Gibeonites punished the family of Saul (refer to II Samuel, 21) for crimes against them when he was king. There was a time of hunger in the land and the Gibeonites had not yet punished the family of Saul as the Lord had commanded them. David gave them permission to carry out their plan and the remaining sons (family) of Saul were killed and then the bones of Saul and Jonathan were brought from Gilead to be buried in Benjamin. After this, the time of hunger came to an end as the rain returned to the land. More wars with the Phillistines are told of, tales of giants and battles with the four sons of Rapha.
Davids song of praise is found in ch. 22.
"The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior.
My God is my rock.
I can run to him, for safety.
He is my shield and my saving strength, my defender and my place of safety....
Lord, you are loyal to those who are loyal, and you are good to those who are good.
You are pure to those who are pure, but you are against those who are evil.
You save the humble, but you bring down those who are proud....
I will sing praises to your name.
The Lord gives great victories to his king.
He is loyal to his appointed king, to David and his decendants forever."
Davids last word are found in ch. 23.
The Lord spirit spoke through me, and his word was on my tongue.
The God of Israel spoke; the Rock of Israel said to me: Whoever rules fairly over the people, who rule with respect for God, is like the morning light after dawn, like a morning without clouds.
He is like sunshine after the rain that makes the grass sprout from the ground...
He will accomplish my salvation and satisfy my desires."
Davids army is also spoken of in ch. 23, his elite core of "The 3" and "The 30".
David finally decides to count his army (which was against Gods will) and he was given three choices of punishment. He chose three days of sickness and many died during those days but God had mercy on them and cut short the time of sickness. David built an altar on the very spot that the angel of the Lord spared the lives of those that remained. God answered the prayers of David and his people and the disease stopped. This brings an end to the books of I and II Samuel.

Village Idiot

06-26-04, 02:37 PM

Since I missed last week, I'll combine two weeks worth of readings into one.

At this time King David was very old, and although his servants covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. Adonijah was the son of David and had the desire to become king. He took it upon himself to go about this. He gathered some men to follow him, namely Joab and Abiathar, and they offered sacrifices to the Lord at the Stone of Zoheleth. But Nathan the prophet went to Bathsheba with the news and she then went to the king. She reminded him that their son Solomon was to be annointed as king of Israel and David agreed. Solomon was annointed to become the king upon the death of his father. At this time Adonijah and all his guests were finishing their meal. They heard the sound of the trumpet and the news was spread that Solomon had been annointed and then they became afraid. They left quickly and scattered. He went to Solomon and bowed down before him but he was told to go home to his own house.
It was now time for David to die and he gave Solomon some last orders to carry out. Solomon was told to punish Joab and Shemei for their crimes and to remember the children of Barzillai in Gilead for their kindess when David was fleeing Absalom. David spoke these last words to Solomon; "My time to die is near. Be a good and strong leader. Obey the Lord your God. Follow Him by obeying His demands, His commands, His laws and His rules that are written in the book of Moses. If you do these things you will be successful in all that you do and wherever you go."
Solomon takes control as king and carries out the final wishes of his father. Adonijah comes to Bathsheba and asks for the slave girl that cared for David during his final days. She goes to Solomon and he has Adonijah killed saying, "Why do you ask me to give him Abishag? Why dont you ask for him to become king since he is my older brother? Abiathar and Joab would support him!" Benaiah son of Jehoiada carried out the orders of Solomon during this time.
Solomon made an agreement with the king of Egypt during this time and married his daughter. He was building a palace, the Temple of the Lord and a wall around Jerusalem as well. The Lord appeared to him in a dream and told him to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon did not ask for riches or long life. He asked for wisdom. This pleased the Lord so much that he granted him his wish for wisdom as well as wealth and honor. Solomon makes wise decisions in his early years as king. He decides the fate of a baby claimed by two women who fought over him, each claiming to be the babes mother. "Cut the living baby in half and give each one of them a half"......but the real mother said no to this judgement, so she was awarded her child. We read of his officers and more about his wisdom. He had great knowledge of plants, animals, fish, birds and crawling things. He wrote three thousand wise sayings and over one thousand songs. He was a great teacher to many and was respected across the land by kings, he was known for his widom by all.
He contracted the help of Hiram, king of Tyre to supply building materials for the Temple, cedar and stone. Solomon supplied workers and leaders of men to help. The Temple is built, the palace is built and the Ark of the Covenant is delivered in a grand ceremony. Solomon speaks to the people and prays to the Lord for his blessings and approval. God tells him that as long as he and his people serve the Lord they will be blessed with peace ans abundance. He also warns him that he would punish them if they did not.
Solomon is visited by the queen of Sheba, she comes seeking wise advice and they exchange gifts, then she and her servants went home to their own land. More of his welath is spoken of here. He had more riches than all the other kings on the earth. He imported goods and animals, silver became as common as figs upon the tree.The people of Israel appeared to be living the kind of life promised to them by the Lord. But trouble was brewing, trouble in the form of idol worship. The king was building altars to the gods worshipped by his many wives. Solomon had taken many, many wives, 700 wives and 300 slave women. Many from foreign countries, many who worshipped Chemosh, Ashtoreth and Molech. Solomon also began to worship along with them. This made the Lord very angry with Solomon, "I will tear your kingdom from you and give it to one of your officers", said the Lord. Solomon began to feel the pressure of enemies, enemies who had been waiting for his downfall. Ahijah the prophet spoke to a man called Jeroboam (an officer to Solomon). He tore his new coat into twelve peices and gave all but one to Jeroboam. "I will tear the kingdom away from Solomon and give you ten tribes", was the message given to him from the Lord. "I will make you rule over everything that you want. You will rule over all of Israel', sayeth the Lord. Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam but he escaped to Egypt where he stayed until the death of Solomon a short time later. Solomon ruled for for forty years, then he died and was buried in Jerusalem. His son Rehoboam was made king in his place.

Miss tery

06-26-04, 03:02 PM

Got that cut & paste thing down pat.

Village Idiot

06-27-04, 04:23 PM

Got that cut & paste thing down pat.its a gift
:xyzthumbs

Village Idiot

07-13-04, 08:11 PM

Now Rehoboam was foolish and took bad advice from his younger counterparts while ignoring the good advise given to him by the older and wiser leaders. This caused the people to turn against him. They had heard that Jeroboam had returned from his hiding and called for him. They made him king over Israel and only the tribe of Judah followed Rehoboam. He made the city of Shechem a stronghold and lived there in the mountains of Ephraim. But Jeroboam had created some problems of his own. He had golden calves built for the people to worship. He feared that the people would return to Rehoboam and the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. This became a great sin as people traveled from great distances to worship the idols.
A man of God spoke out against this sin, "Altar, altar, the Lord says to you: 'Davids family will have a son named Josiah. The priests for the places of worship now make their sacrifices on you, but Josiah will sacrifice those priests on you. Human bones will be burned on you." This did not stop Jeroboam, he made priests out of all who wished to do so and in this way the people continued to sin. He had a son named Abijah who had become very sick. He advised his wife to travel to Shiloh and seek the prophet Ahijah and ask what would become of their son. He told her to trick the old prophet so he could not recognize who she was but Ahijah, although blind, was not fooled. "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why are you pretending to be someone else?..........He goes on to tell her this message from the Lord; "I tore the kingdom away from Davids family but you are not like my servant David. I will destroy your family completely. Anyone who dies in your family will be eaten by dogs. The Lord will put a new king over Israel who will destroy Jeroboams family and this will happen soon". As soon as she returned home and entered the house, the boy died. Jeroboam was king of Israel for 22 years, he died and his son Nadab became king. Rehoboam was 41 when he became king of Judah and ruled for 17 years. Both kings did what the Lord said was wrong and caused the peole to do great sin. Rehoboam died and his son Abijah became king in his place. Abijah did the same sins as his father. He ruled for 3 years and then he died. His son Asa was made king in his place. Asa was loyal to God and did not cause the people to sin during his time. He tore down the places of idol worship and made the male prostitutes leave the Temple. He made peace with Ben-Hadad, king of Aram. Asa ruled for 41 years and then he died. His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place. All this happened while Jeroboam was still the king in Israel.
Now Nadab was made king of Israel after the death of his father, Jeroboam, during the second year of Asa's rule in Judah. He also did the same as his father and did what the Lord said was wrong. He was killed by a man called Baasha (from the tribe of Issachar) during an attack on the Philistines. Nadab ruled for about one year and then Baasha became king. Baasha acted swiftly and had the the entire family of Jeroboam killed. This happened as was prophecied by Abijah from Shiloh. Baasha and Asa fought against each other the whole time during his 22 years of rule. He also did what the Lord said was wrong. A prophet called Jehu spoke against him and his family. Baasha died and was buried in Tirzah. His son Elah became king in his place. Elah became king of Israel during Asa's 26th year in Judah. Elah was killed by one of his officers, Zimri, who became king in his place. Elah ruled for 2 years. Now Zimri also acted quickly and had the entire family of Baasha killed as soon as he became king. This fulfilled the prophecy from Jehu. Zimri ruled for 7 DAYS...He had heard of plans for the peole to make Omri king in his place so he fled to the palace, set it ablaze and died in the fire, so Omri was made king of Israel in his place. Now Israel was torn between two men. Half wanted Omri to rule but the other half wanted a man called Tibni. But Tibni died and Omri continued on as king. This happened during Asa's 31st year of rule in Judah. Omri also did what the Lord said was wrong. He ruled for 12 years and died. His son Ahab became king in his place.
Elijah the Tishbite was a prophet of the Lord during this time. He came to Ahab with this prophecy, " As surely as the Lord lives, no rain or dew will fall during the next few years unless I command it." The Lord told Elijah to take refuge in the land east of the Jordan River and he would live there during this time. But the stream where he drank from eventually dried up. By this time there was very little food or water in the land. He was told by the Lord to go to the town of Zarepath. "I have commanded a widow there to take care of you", said the Lord. They met as the woman was approaching the town gate. She told Elijah that she had just enough flour and oil to provide for her and her son to eat one last meal and then they would die. He assured her that if she would feed him that her and her son would have plenty to live on until the Lord brought rain unto the land once again. She did as Elijah wished and the flour and oil never ran out for them. They ate every day. Sometime later the son became very sick and the widow became terribly upset. The boy had stopped breathing and was all but dead. But Elijah went to the boy and laid on top of him three separate times. The boy began to breathe once again and was healed of his sickness. In this way Elijah was proven to be a true prophet of the Lord. During the third year without rain the Lord told Elijah to go meet king Ahab. "I will soon send the rain", said the Lord. Now Ahabs wife, Jezebel, was a follower of Baal and all the pophets of the Lord had fled the land for fear for there lives. A man called Obadiah had taken them all to hide out in caves. Elijah approached him and asked him to go to Ahab with a message but Obadiah was afraid. Elijah managed to persuade him to go and he did. Ahab went to meet Elijah and was told this, ""Now tell all of Israel to meet mne at Mt. Carmel. Also bring 450 prophets of Baal and the 450 prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebels table." At the gathering Elijah challenged the false prophets to build an altar to their god and provide wood and sacrifices for the offering but not the fire. He challenged them to pray to their god to provide the fire and they began to dance around the altar but after most of the day nothing happened. Elijah told them to all gather round as he built his altar to the Lord. He provided the wood and animals for the sacrifice. He also dug a trench around the altar and completely drenched the wood with water until the trench overflowed. Elijah prayed, "Lord answer my prayer so thsat these people will know that you, Lord, are God and that you will change their minds." Then fire from the Lord came down and burned up the altar and all the ground around it. All the people were afraid and Elijah had the false prophets taken away and killed. He spoke to Ahab, "Go eat and drink because a heavy rain is comming." Elijah told his servant to go look toward the sea. After the seventh time the servant said, "I see a cloud about the size of a mans fist comming from the sea." Elijah told him to go to Ahab and tell him to go home before the rain stopped him from doing so. The sky grew dark and the rains returned to the land. Elijah tightened his clothes and ran ahead of the king all the way to Jezreel.

Village Idiot

07-17-04, 05:42 PM

After the inicdent between Elijah and the prophets of Baal, Jezebel (Ahabs wife) was pretty upset with Elijah and sent a message to him that he would be dead the next day. He flees the area and during his hiding he prays to God, wishing that he would kill him. But Elijah gets a visit from an angel of the Lord. He is told to go to the mountain of God, Mt. Sinai, and to wait upon the Lord there. During his visitation to the mountain Elijah encounters wind, fire and earthquakes but none of these was the voice of God. Afterwards he heard a quiet, gentle sound......this was the voice of God that was about to speak to him. "Go back on the road that leads to the desert around Damascus. Enter that city, and pour olive oil Hazael to make him king over Aram....Then pour oil over Jehu....make him king over Israel........Pour oil on Elisha and make him a prophet in your place." Elijah did as he was told and annointed those men. Elisha made sacrifices to the Lord and began to follow Elijah.
Ahab (Israel) and Ben-Hadad (Aram) go to war against each other with Israel comming out victorious not once but twice within the span of one year. But the second time Ahab has the chance to kill Ben-Hadad for his crimes against Israel but he lets him go free. He receives even more prophecy against him for this. "This is what the Lord says: 'You freed the man I said should die, so your life will be taken instead of his. The lives of your people will be taken also.' " Ahab returned home angry and upset.
After these things happened, Ahab saw and desired a vineyard owned by a man named Naboth. He offered to buy it from him but Naboth refused. Ahab returned home and told his wife, Jezebel, about the failed attempt. She devised a plan to trick Naboth and have him killed for speaking out against Ahab and God. Naboth was taken out and stoned because of the lie and Ahab took control of his vineyard. Now Elijah was sent by the Lord with this message, "I will soon destroy you. I will kill every male in your family, both slave and free....I will destroy you because you have made me angry and led the people of Israel to sin......Dogs will eat the body of Jezebel in the city of Jezreel." So Ahab was sorry and went home in sadness. The Lord felt sorry for him and declared that He would wait upon the death of Ahab to bring destruction upon his family.
For three years there was peace between Israel and Aram. But Ahab remembered that the city of Ramoth had been taken from them by the king of Aram and nothing had been done about it. He went to Jehoshaphat (Judah) and asked him to fight along with Israel to regain Ramoth. Jehoshaphat agreed but one prophet, Micaiah spoke against Ahab, "I saw the army of Israel scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd. They have no leaders. They should go home and not fight." But Ahab refused, he even dressed in the clothes of a soldier (not wearing his royal clothing) and rode in a soldiers chariot. Even after all this a stray arrow found a crease in his armor and Ahab bled to death, his blood flowing into the bottom of the chariot. As it was cleaned out at a pool in Samaria, the dogs licked his blood from the ground there. His son, Ahaziah, became king in his place.
Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, ruled for 25 years. He did what the Lord said was right. He did not cause the people of Judah to sin. He died and was replaced by his son Jeroboam.

Village Idiot

07-17-04, 07:01 PM

Ahaziah was now the king of Israel. He fell through the wooden bars in his upstairs room. He was hurt badly and sent for the prophets of Ball-Zebub in Ekron, for a message as to when he would be healed. But Elijah found out and met the messengers and sent Ahaziah this message, "Why do you send messengers to ask questions of Baal-Zebub? Is it because you think there is no God in Israel? You will never get up from the bed that you are lying on, on it you will die." Ahaziah questioned the messengers about the prophet and found out that it was Elijah. He sent 50 men to find him and when they did they were struck down with fire. Another 50 were sent and they too met the same fate as the ones before. A third party was sent but this time their leader begged for their lives and they were spared. Elijah gave them the same message as before and they took it to the king. Ahaziah died and Joram was made king in his place because Ahaziah had no son. This happened the second year that Joram was king of Judah.
It was almost time for Elijah to be taken up to heaven by the Lord. As he was leaving Gilgal he bade Elisha to stay behind but Elisha refused. Elisha was saddened but stayed with Elijah as they made their way to the Jordan River. Elijah slapped the waters three times with his coat and they crossed on dry ground. After they crossed, Elijah asked Elisha, "Is there anything that I can do for you"?......."Give unto me a double portion of your spirit" Elisha said. "If you see me as I am taken up to heaven, then your wish will come true", was Elijah's reply. As Elisha watched, a chariot and horses of fire came down in a whirlwind and took Elijah up with them. Elisha shouted with fear and sorrow but Elijah was gone. He found the coat that Elijah wore lying on the ground. He took it to the rivers edge, slapped the waters, just as his master had done and the waters parted for him. In this way Elisha knew that his wish had been granted unto him. Many desired to look for Elijah but he was not to be found anywhere in the land. Elisha made his way to Jericho and stayed there for a while. The people of the city came to him with a request. The water there was impure and not fit to drink or grow crops. He poured salt upon the spring and the water was made fresh again. As he traveled on the road to Bethel, some boys came out to make fun of his bald head and two mother bears came out and ate 42 of them.
Israel and Moab go to war. Mesha, king of Moab turned against Israel after the death of Ahab. King Joram gathered the army and set out for the desert of Edom. They ran out of water there and cried out to the Lord. Elisha came to them and told them that they would find water if they dug holes in the valley floor and waited upon the Lord. He also told them that they would be victorious against Moab. "You will destroy every strong, walled city and every important town", was the prophecy given to them by the Lord. The Moabite army was fooled by the water in the valley, thinking it was the blood of the Israelite army. They ran in to gather the spoils but were met with swords instead. The king of moab tried to break through to Edom but failed and offerd his oldest son as a burnt offering to their god. There was great anger between the two countries after that.
There was a widow of a man who was once a prophet. She went to Elisha in need of help for her and her family. Elisha told her that her oil jars would remain full and that she would have plenty from the Lord to support her family. A woman from Shumen made a place in her house for Elisha and his servant to stay when they passed through the land. She told Elisha that she had no son and that her husband was too old to give her one. Elisha saw that the Lord was pleased with her and granted her a son. After a while the boy fell ill one day and ran to his father who was working in the fields. He then was taken home to his mother and stopped breathing. She sent for Elisha and he came to the boy and fell upon him in his bed. The boy regained his life that day and the Shunamite woman fell at the feet of Elisha, praising God. Other stories of Elisha are spoken of in ch. 4 and in ch. 5 the story of Naaman is told. Naaman was commander of the army in Aram, he also had a skin disease. He had much respect for the Lord and was shown favor because of this. A servant girl of Naamans wife was captured during a raid. The girl had asked for Naamna to be seen by the man of God so he could be healed. After both kings agreed, Naaman met with a messenger sent by Elisha. He was told to bathe in the Jordan River seven times and he would be healed. Naaman balked at the idea but was reminded to at least try it and he did. After his healing Naaman offered gifts to Elisha but was refused. Elisha's servant, Gehazi, however chased after Naaman and accepted the gift of silver. Gehazi was found out by Elisha and was cursed with the same skin disease that Naaman was cured of.
Othrer stories are told of Elisha the prophet in ch.6. The tale of the floating axe head and the blinding of the Aramean soldiers. Another story was about the shortage of food in the land when the king of Aram, Ben-Hadad attacked Samaria duirng this time of weakness. One day as the king of Israel walked the city wall a woman cried out to him, "Help me, my master and king!" This woman said to me, 'Give up your son so we can eat him today. Then we will eat my son tomorrow.' So we boiled my son and ate him. Then the next day....she had hidden her son." When the king heard this he became very andry and upset. He centered his anger upon Elisha and called for his head to cut off from his body and delivered to him. The king sends Elisha a message, "This trouble has come from the Lord. Why should I wait for him any longer?"

I appologize for any confusion before my last edit, thats what I get for posting in a hurry. Peace.

Village Idiot

07-25-04, 03:53 PM

Elisha say's "Listen to the Lords word. 'About this time tomorrow seven quarts of flour will be sold for two-fiths of an ounce of silver.....This will happen at the gates of Samaria". A bold prophecy, no doubt, due to the famine that had fell upon the land. Some scoffed, even an officer to the kings army who stood nearby. Elisha reassured him that this would happen but he also told him that he would not witness the event. There were four lepers who sat by the gate each day. They decided that they would soon die, one way or another. So they took it upon themselves to go to the enemy camp of the Aramean army to beg for food. Upon their arrival they found the camp empty and all the goods had been left behind in a hasty retreat from what they thought was several enemy armies. This confusion was caused by the Lord and the lepers took their news and riches back to the kings palace. The news spread and although the king tried to control the Israeli throng from storming the camp they could not hold back the crowd. An officer to the kings army was trampled to death beneath their feet. It was the same officer who scoffed at Elisha's prophecy. In this way the prophecy was fulfilled, but the hard times continued for Israel.
Chapter 8 tells of the story about the Shunamite woman (remember her and her son?) who was told to flee the land during this time. "Get up and go with your family. Stay any place you can because the Lord has called for a time without food that will last for seven years", was the message from Elisha. After this time she returned and was given her house and all her land by the order of the king. Then Elisha went to Damascus where Ben Hadad had become sick. He met there with Hazael and gave him a prophecy. He said the Ben-Hadad would live but then he began to cry. Hazael ask him why he was crying and Elisha said, "Because I know what evil you will do to the Israelites.....You will throw their babies to the ground and split open their pregnant women". "Am I a dog? How could I do such things?" Hazael asked. Elisha said, "The Lord has shown me that you will be king over Aram". After this, Hazael went to the sick king and comforted him in his bed. He then took a wet blanket and smothered king Ben-Hadad and became king of Aram in his place. During the time that Jehoshaphat was king in Judah, Jehoram became king in Israel. He did what the Lord said was wrong. Edom had broken away from Judah, Jehoram tried to attack them but his army fled during the night. Jehoram rule for eight years and died. His son, Ahaziah ruled in his place. This happened during the twefth year that Joram was king of Israel (I know that this gets confusing, but bear with me). Ahaziah ruled for only one year. He went with Joram to fight the Aramean army and Joram was wounded. Ahaziah went to visit him in Jezreel duirng his recovery.
At the same time Elisha called together some prophets of the Lord. He told them to go to Ramoth and make Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi, king over Judah. They obeyed and carried out this plan. Jehu was told that he would be appointed king and that he would exact the Lords revenge against the family of Ahab. This was as the Lord spoke through his prophet Elijah, on the mountain. Jehu did not know what to make of this strange event but when he told his men they began the act of placing Jehu into power. Jehu made plans against Joram in Jezreel. He went down to kill him but Ahaziah was there also. They sent out messengers when they saw Jehu and his army. Jehu would not give an answer to the messengers and finally Joram went to get an answer for himself. "Is all in order, Jehu?" asked Joram. "There will never be any order as long as your mother Jezebel worships idols and uses withchcraft", was Jehu's reply. At this time Ahaziah was drawing near also, "It's a trick Ahaziah" Joram yelled. But Jehu drew back his bow and buried an arrow between the shoulders of Joram and he died. Ahaziah fled but was also wounded and he too died near Megiddo. When Jehu neared Jezreel, Jezebel called to him, "Have you come in peace, you Zimri who killed his master?" She had fixed her hair and put on makeup. Jehu called to her servants, "Who is on my side? Who?..throw her down." Jezebel was thrown out of her window down onto the street below and was dead. The dogs ate her body, leaving only her skull, feet and the palms of her hands. This too, fulfilled the prophacy given by the Lords servant Elijah. The remainder of Ahabs family in Samaria was killed along with the remainder of Ahaziahs family near the well at Beth Eked. Jehu tricked the Baal worshippers in their temple and had them killed also. He burned the pillars of worship and the temple of Baal was made a sewage pit. Isarel was becoming smaller. Hazael (Aram) had taken land and cities from them in battle because of their sin. Jehu ruled Israel for twenty eight years, died and his son Jehoahaz became king in his place.
When Ahaziahs mother, Athaliah, heard that her son had been killed, she had the remainder of the royal family killed also. But one son was hidden from her in the temple of the Lord. Joash was a baby and lived in the temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. Jehoiada was the high priest duirng this time. When Joash became seven years old he called for the commanders of the army and they appointed Joash king of Judah. When Athaliah heard of this she came out of the palace calling them traitors, she was taken away and killed and Joash became the new king. Jehoiada made an agreement between the people and the Lord. They agreed to serve the Lord and to be his special people. Joash ruled for forty years. He restored the Temple of the Lord and brought peace to the land. He once paid Hazael (Aram) gold and silver from the treasures just to keep him from attacking Jerusalem. But Jehu's officers had made plans to kill him and they did at Beth Millo near Silla. Jozabad and Jehozabad killed Jehu. His son, Amaziah became king in his place.
Jehoahaz ruled in Israel for seven years. He did what the Lord said was wrong and the people worshipped idols and strayed from their Lord. Nothing was left of his army except for fifty horsemen, a few chariots and ten thousand soldiers. Jehoahaz died and was replaced by his son Jehoash as king of Israel. He also did what the Lord said was wrong. He died and his son, Jeroboam became king in his place.
At this time Elisha had become sick. Jehoash, king of Israel, went to visit him. He was saddened by what he saw and cried for Elisha. Elisha gave him a prophecy that he would crush Hazael and the Aramean army. This was the last prophecy given by Elisha, the Lords servant. Elisah died and was buried in Israel. During all the days that Jehoahaz was king of Israel they were troubled by Hazael (Aram). When Hazael died his son, Ben-Hadad (I know, I know) became king in Aram. Jehoash defeated the Aramens after this and took back all the cities that they had taken from Israel.

Village Idiot

08-01-04, 05:18 PM

Many tales of many kings, some from Israel and some from Judah. We will hit the high spots and not go into great detail on all of them, but feel free to add any thoughts or omissions to my recount.

First, we read the story of king Amaziah in Judah. He was a courageous warrior, killing thousands in battle against the Edomites. Amaziah sent a message to Jehoash king of Israel asking to meet with him but Jehoash refused, balking at the new found bravery displayed by Amaziah. Jehoash attacked Jerusalem, smashing down the wall in places and taking the treasures from the Temple of the Lord. Amaziah was captured and taken away by Jehoash. Later, after the death of Jehoash in Israel, the people of Jerusalem made plans against Amaziah and he fled but he was captured and put to death. Uzziah was made king in his place and Jeroboam was made king of Israel after the death of Jehoash. Uzziah was stricken with a skin disease and his son Jotham took care of the palace and governed the people. Upon the death of Uzziah, Jotham became king in his place. After the death of Jeroboam, his son Zechariah became king of Israel. He was killed six months later by Shallum who became king in his place. Shallum was killed by Menahem who became king of Israel in his place. Menahem ruled ten years in Israel. Pul from Assyria came to attack and Menahem paid him from the treasures in the Temple. He also taxed the people to pay Pul his ransom. Menahem died and Pekahiah became king in his place. He was killed by one of his captains, Pekah, and he became king of Israel. Israel was attacked by Assyria under the rule of Tiglath-Pileser and much land was taken by the Assyrians. Pekah was killed by Hoshea and he became king of Israel. In Judah, Ahaz became king after the death of his father Jotham. Judah came under the threat of attack from both Rezin/Aram and Pekah/Israel. Ahaz went to Tiglath-Pileser/Assyria and offered him payment for his protection against the foes of Judah. More treasure from the Temple left as payment. Assyria attacked Aram and Rezin was killed. Ahaz went to Damascus to meet with T-P (please), he saw the great altar there and desired for one to be built in Jerusalem by Uriah the high priest. Uriah built the grand altar and it awaited Ahaz upon his return to Jerusalem. He made several other modifications to the Temple of the Lord but the Lord was not pleased with him. He died and his son Hezekiah became king of Judah in his place.
Chapter 17 tell us the story of Hoshea, the last king of Israel. Israel was making payment to Assyria and king Shalmaneser but Hoshaea had made secret plans against this. Shalmaneser found out and attacked Israel, defeating them totally. He scattered the Israelites across the land in Halah, Gozah and in the cities of Medes. All these things happened because they had sinned against the Lord. Many times they were warned and did not heed the call of the prophets down through time. They worshipped idols and did not obey the Lords commands. Their kings were wicked and did not serve the Lord. Even Judah did not follow the Lord. He allowed them to be attacked and beaten by their enemies. The king of Assyria replaced the Israelite people with others in the land. He brought in people from Babylon, Cuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim. They brought in their own gods to worship but they also worshipped the Lord as well. The promised land was taken, the Lord was angry with his children and this was the time of punishment He warned them about. Later Shalmaneser was replaced by Sennacherib in Assyria. Israel had been scattered and Assyria set its sights upon Jerusalem and Judah. The Assyrian army surrounded the city and the supreme commander called for Hezekiah, "The great king of Assyria says, 'Who can you trust in now?.....Whom are you trusting for help so that you can turn against me?..The king of Egypt will hurt all those who depend upon him. You might say, 'We are depending on the Lord our God,' " 'But Hezekiah destroyed all the altars and the places of worship execpt for the one he built in Jerusalem' "' Now make an agreement with my master, the king of Assyria. I will give you horses if you can find men to ride them. You cannot defeat one of my masters weakest officers...........The Lord himself told me to come and destroy this place". Then Hezekiahs mesengers asked the commander to speak in a foriegn tongue so the people of the city could not understand him but he refused and shouted his insults against Jerusalem and the Lord, "Dont let Hezekiah fool you into trusting the Lord......Choose to live and not die"! After this the people were silent, they did not answer because Hezekiah had told them to be silent. Hezekiah then sent for Isaiah the servant of the Lord. Isaiah said, "The Lord says, 'Dont be afarid of what you have heard. Listen, I will put a spirit in the king of Assyria that he will hear a report......he will return to Assyria and then die by the sword". Sennacherib did receive that report, Tirhakah in Egypt was comming to attack Assyria, so he returned home. When Hezekiah heard this he spread the letter out before the Lord and prayed, "Lord God of Israel...........only you are God of all the kingdoms on the earth...Now Lord our God protect us from the kings power so that all the earth will know the you are the only God". God answers Hezekiahs prayer, this is what the Lord said against Sennacherib, "You have insulted and spoken against me, you have raised your voice against me. You have a proud look upon you face which is against me, the Holy One of Israel. You have sent your messengers to insult the Lord......I know when you rest, when you come and go and how you rage against me......I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth. Then I will force you to leave my country". Then the Lord spoke to Hezekiah, "You will eat the grain that grows wild and the second year you will eat the grain that grows wild from that. But the third year you will eat what you plant and harvest. Some of the people of Jerusalem in the family of Judah will escape. Like plants that take root they will grow strong and have many children. The strong love of the Lord will make this happen". That night an angel of the Lord went out and killed 185,000 in the Assyrian camp. Sennacherib went to Ninevah and stayed there. The next day he was killed, while he was worshipping in the temple of Nisroch, by his own sons. Then his son, Esarhaddon ruled in Assyria.

Village Idiot

08-07-04, 04:47 PM

Hezekiah had become sick and was near death. He called for Isaiah the prophet and wanted to know if he would continue to live. Isaiah told him that he would soon die. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord, "Lord please remember that I have always served you. I have given myself to you completely and have done what you said was right". Then the king cried loudly as he turned away from Isaiah. After leaving the king Isaiah recieved another message from the Lord that Hezekiah would live another 15 years and returned to tell the king the good news. Hezekiah asked for a sign and his shadow went back ten steps in the stairway of the palace. In this way the Lord proved himself faithful to his servants. During this time messengers from Babylon came to visit Hezekiah in Jerusalem. He was very gracious to them and they were shown all the riches and wealth in the kings palace and the Temple of the Lord. When Isaiah found out about this he told Hezekiah that one day the Babaylonians would own all the wealth and people in the land. The king praised this prohecy because he did not fully understand. Hezekiah lived a full life and when he died his son Manasseh became king of Judah. Manasseh did not serve the Lord and led the people away. He did what the Lord said was wrong and caused the people to sin greatly. He rebuilt the temples of idol worship and killed many innocent people in Judah. When he died his son Amon became king. After two years his officers made plans against him and he was killed. Then the killers fell to the sword and his son Josiah became king at the age of 8. During his 18th year as king, Josiah had the Temple repaired and the Book of the Agreement was found inside the Temple by Hilkiah the high priest.It was read to the king and when he heard the words of the teachings he cried for his people because he knew that they had not followed the Lords commands down through the years. The Book of the Agreement was read aloud to all the people in Jerusalem. Josiah destroyed all the places of idol woprship, even those that had been around since king Solomon. The Passover was celebrated and many older customs were once again practiced during his reign. but the Lord was still angry because of the sin of Manasseh and he was about to exact his revenge. Josiah would be spared the terrible time of judgement. Josiah was killed in battle against Necco/Egypt, he was carried home and buried in Jerusalem. He was replaced by his son Jehoahaz but he was taken prisoner by Necco and replaced by his son Eliakim (whos name was changed to Jehoiakim).
During this time Judah had fell under attack by king Nebuchadnezzar/Babylon and Jehoiakim became his servant, giving payment to Babylon for safety. But Jehoiakim revolted against Nebuchadnezzar and Judah was attacked by several contries including Babylon, Aram, Moab and Ammon. After Jeohoiakim died his son Jehoiachin became king at the age of 18. He was king for 3 months and Jerusalem was once again bombarded by Nebuchadnezzar. Jehoiachin surrendered and was taken away to Babylon. The Babylonians also raided the Temple of the Lord, taking the treasures inside. People were taken away to Babylon and only the poorest were left behind. Nebuchadnezzar then appointed Mattaniah, Jehoiachins uncle, as king. His name was changed to Zedekiah. But 11 years later Zedekiah turned against Nebuchadnezzar. This time the Babylonians surrounded the city and Zedekiah tried to escape. He was captured along with his family who was killed before his eyes and then his eyes were gouged out. Nebuchadnezzar completely destroyed Jerusalem this time. He broke down the walls around the city and burned the Temple. He broke the huge bronze pillars into pieces and carried them off to Babaylon. Very few were left behind as many were killed. The time of punishment had begun. The Lord used Babaylon to exact his punishment upon all of Israrel and Judah. Terrible times lay ahead.
Gedaliah was appointed governor in Jerusalem but he was killed by some of the remnants of the kings family and many fled to Egypt to escape the wrath of Babylon. After the death of Nebuchadnezzar he was replaced by Evil-Merodach as king in Babylon. Evil-Merodach was kind to his prisoner Jehoiachin (former king of Judah). He set him free and allowed him to eat at his table.
This concludes the book of II Kings, we are gonna do some backtracking for a bit in the upcomming books so please be patient.

Village Idiot

08-08-04, 03:03 PM

..just in case some of you wanted to read ahead and add to the thread as we go.

I Chronicles
8/15....1-10
8/22....11-20
8/29....21-29

II Chronicles
9/5....1-14
9/12....15-26
9/19....27-36

Ezra
9/26....1-8

Nehemiah
10/3....1-8
10/10....9-13

Esther
10/17....1-9

Job
10/24....1-15
10/31....16-31
11/7....32-42

Psalms
11/14....1-38
11/21....39-74
11/28....75-106
12/5....107-150

Village Idiot

08-15-04, 03:53 PM

To start with, I'll give a short intro into the book of Chronicles with the help of the NIV Study Bible.
According to ancient Jewish tradition Chronicles was written by Ezra (and Nehemiah). But as usual, this account has been disputed and a growing concensus dating the book to the latter half of the fifth century, still making the authorship by Ezra possible. Anyhow, Chronicles was wriiten for the for the purpose of the exiled after their return to Jerusalem. Chronicles begins with a recap of Israel's history from Adam to Abraham and that is where we will begin......

Chapter one recounts the family tree of Adam and continues on into Abraham, The Edomites from Seir and the kings of Edom (mostly names here, so we wont go into all that). We continue on to the family of Israel (Jacob), his twelve sons were as follows: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulon, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher, These are the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. More family names, The family of Judah, Caleb, Jerahmeel and King David. The Kings of Judah are listed along with the descendants left after the Babylonian captivity in chapter three. Other family groups are listed in chapter four, we find the story of a man called Jabez who prayed for prosperity and blessings from the Lord. You may recall the book "The Prayer of Jabez" from recent popularity, this is where he is found in the Bible. The families of Simeon, Reuben, Gad and E. Mannasseh are listed. Remember them?....the tribes that settled east of the Jordan River upon their arrival to the promised land. The family history of the Levites is found in chapter six. The Levites were the family chosen to be priests for the Lord and also to work in the Holy Temple. Their tasks included everything from carrying the tent poles to signing in the temple. They were given cities and land and a share of the offerings for their work. Many of their cities were also "cities of safty". The family history of Issachar, Bejamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim and Asher are found in chapter seven. The family history of king Saul is found in chapter eight.
A recount of the families of Israel who first returned to Israel, after the captivity, are listed in chapter nine. These were the Levites, and people from the tribes of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh. Workers for the Temple were chosen, guards and musicians were appointed. Their names are listed here. Another recount of the family of Saul and his death in battle are given in chapter ten.

Village Idiot

08-28-04, 04:03 PM

Again we are told of the events that had taken place earlier, by the writer of Chronicles, to the returning Israelites after their captivity in Babylon.
David is made king by the people and he is annointed with oil by the older leaders. The city of Jebus is taken by David and renamed Jerusalem. David rebuilds the city and becomes stronger because the Lord was with him. his warriors are recognized, the "THREE" Jashobeam from the Hecmonite people, Eleazar from the Ahohite people and Abishai, their captain. Recounts of their conquests, as well as the "THIRTY" chief soldiers are listed. Other warriors and fighting men joined David from across Israel during this time, all were brave soldiers and fought hard for their king.
The Ark of the Agreement was retrieved from the town of Kiriath-Jearim. Upon its return a man named Uzzah tried to steady the Ark as it was falling from it perched atop the oxen and he was struck dead by the hand of
God because of this. David fears the Ark and sends it to the house of Obed-Edom, a Levite. Obed-Edom is blessed for three months while the Ark remained in his care. Later David defeats the Phillistines at the town of Baal Perazim. Davids builds house's for himself as well as a place for the Ark to dwell in Jerusalem. He calls for the Levites to continue their duties as priests and caretakers of the Lords Holy Place as was written in the Law of Moses, a command that was not followed when the Ark was first returned. David gives a song of thanks as the Ark enters the city and dances before the Lord with all his might.
"Thank the Lord because He is good.
His love continues forever.
Say to Him, Save us God our Savior,
and bring us back and save us from other nations.
Then we will thank you
and will gladly praise you.
Praise the Lord, the God of Israel.
He always was and always will be."
David has the desire to build a temple unto the Lord and ask's Nathan the prophet for direction from God. He is told that he will not be the one to build the temple. He will have a son to do the task. But the name of David will be blessed among all other names and remain on the throne in Israel for all time. David prays to God.
"Lord, keep the promise forever that you have made about my family and me, your servant. Do what you have said. Then you will be honored always and the people will say, 'The Lord All-Powerful, the God over Israel, is Israels God. And the family of your servant David will continue before you."
David deafeats other nations and kings as he becomes more powerful. The Phillistines, Moabites and Edomites are defeated. Victories over the Ammonites, Arameans and battles with Phillistine giants are retold as chapter 20 brings us to a close for this week.

Village Idiot

08-28-04, 04:45 PM

Satan was against Isarel because of the sins of the king and caused David to count the people. Joab, his commander, tries to talk the king out of this but David will not listen. God becomes angry with David and gives him three choices of punishment. The people are punished with a time of sickness and many die as a result. The Lord felt sorry for them and called for the death angel to put away his sword. David prays to the Lord at the threshing floor of Araunah. David asks to build an altar on the site and Araunah is offered full price for his house. An altar is built there and God sends fire down upon the sacrifices to show his approval. (Further reading in the NIV suggests that this is the actual site where the Temple of the Lord is to be/and was built upon.) David makes preparation for the Temple to be built. Workers and materials are designated for the job. Levites are appointed and separated by family groups for the purpose of serving in the temple. Family names are recounted, the peoples of Gershom, Kohath and Merari are listed. The responsibilities are written. The groups of priests, musicians, gatekeepers and other leaders are listed and given their tasks. They throw lots for work periods and times. All have come together to carry out their appointed duties when the time comes to serve.
Army divisions are listed. Each twelve containing 24,000 men and serving one month rotations on duty. Tribal leaders are listed and the kings other directors are given also. David commands for all the people to join him in Jerusalem for the announcement of his plans for the temple.
"Listen to me my relatives and my people. I wanted to build a place for the Ark of the Agreement with the Lord. I wanted it to be Gods footstool. So I made plans to build a temple. But God said to me, 'You must not build a temple for worshipping me because you are a warrior and have killed many people.'........"But the Lord chose me from my whole family to rule Israel forever"......."The Lord has given me many sons and from those sons He has chosen Solomon to be the new king of Israel"........."The Lord said to me, 'Your son Solomon will build my temple and its courtyards." David continues, "All these plans are written with the Lord guiding me. He helpled me understand everything he plans." All the people were gathered and made an agreement to carry out the plans for the temple while they were assembled together. Gifts of precious metals and gemstones are brought forth and designated for their place in the temple, by all the people in Israel. David praises the Lord in front of the gathered crowd;
"Lord you are great and powerful.
You have glory, victory and honor.
Everything in heaven and on Earth belongs to you.
The kingdoms belong to you Lord;
You are the ruler over everything.
Riches and honor come from you......
Now, our God, we thank you
and praise your glorious name."
The next day, the people made Solomon king of Israel and annointed him with oil. Zadok is annointed and made priest. Solomon sat upon the throne and was accepted by all. David dies and is buried along with his ancestors as the book of I Chronicles closes.

Village Idiot

09-12-04, 03:45 PM

Beginning with Israel's history from Solomon to captivity.

In chapter one, Solomon is visited by God in a vision. "Ask whatever you want me to give you", said the Lord. "You have been very kind to my father David and you have made me king in his place............Now give me wisdom and knowledge so I can lead these people in the right way", was the reply Solomon gave. This pleased God and He rewarded him with wisdom and much, much more. Solomon amassed a vast wealth and gained great fame throughout the land. He prepares to build the temple of the Lord. He seeks the help of king Hiram of Tyre for materials and skilled workers. Huram-Abi is sent to work for Solomon as a director of fine art work and craftmanship. Solomon sent Hiram payment for all of his assistance during this time. The temple contstruction begins upon the site that his father, David purchased form Araunah the Jebusite. This was the threshing floor where the angel of the Lord appeared to him and David had erected an altar there. The temple is completed and filled with the treasures of Israel, gold, bronze and cedars from Lebanon graced the temple walls throughout. Many fine works of art were found there. Rooms for the priests, a courtyard and an altar to the Lord and 2 gold creatures with wings inside the Most Holy Place. Articles for the sacrifices were dedicated, pillars, large bronze bowls, bronze nets, 400 bronze pomegranites, bowl stands, 12 bronze bulls and utensils. The Ark of the Agreement is brought in, in a grand ceremony before the Lord. All were gathered at the courtyard and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. Solomon speaks to the people, "Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He has done what He promised my father David........Now I rule Israel as the Lord promised and I have built the Temple for the Lord. There I have put the Ark which is the Agreement the Lord has made with the Israelites." Solomon prays to the Lord as all the people are gathered, "God, can you really live here on the earth with the people? The sky and the highest place in Heaven cannot contain you.......Day and night, please watch over this Temple....Hear my prayers and the prayers of the people when they kneel and pray facing this place....when they sin against you, you will stop the rain from falling on their land......Teach them to do what is right....then the people will respect and obey you as long as they live in this land you gave their ancestors.......Now my God, look at us.....rise Lord and come to your resting place.......Let your priests receive your salvation....May your holy people be happy because of your goodness." Then the Temple is given to the Lord and the people held a festival that lasted for 7 days. The Lord appears to Solomon yet again........."I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself....but you must serve me as your father did", said the Lord. Solomon's other achievements are listed. Towns were rebuilt and ships were commisioned to sail and gather wealth from far away lands. The Queen of Sheba visits Solomon to gather wisdom and to exchange gifts with the king. Solomons wealth was more than any other kingdom on the earth. Gold, silver, clothes, weapons, spices, mules and horses....like none other had ever known, were abundant during his reign. Solomon dies at an old age and is buried along with his ancestors in Jerusalem. He ruled for 40 years and his son, Rehoboam becomes king in his place.
But Rehoboam was rejected by the peolpe. He was cruel and took bad advice from his younger advisors instead of good advice from the older and wiser ones. Jeroboam and some other Israelites broke away from Rehoboam and the people of Jerusalem; "We have no share in David, We have no part in the son of Jesse. People of Israel, lets go home. Let Davids son rule his own people!" So Israel had broken away from Jerusalem/Judah and the rule of Rehoboam. Judah becomes strong under the reign of Rehoboam. He gathers the Levites for the work in the Temple and they obey the ways of the Lord. Meanwhile, Jeroboam had to gather whoever he could to do the Lords work. They also set up their own altars and worshipped idols during this time. After Rehoboam and Judah became a strong nation, they had stopped serving the Lord (sound familiar?). They fell under attack from king Shishak of Egypt. Shishaks army was very large, he had 1200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen. He had the aid of the Libyans, Sukkites and Cushites. He captures the strong, walled cities of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem. So Rehoboam and the older leaders repented and cried out to the lord for forgiveness and protection from the invaders. Shishak attacked and removed treasures from the city but did not destroy it. Rehoboam ruled for 17 years, died and was replaced by his son Abijah.
There was war between Abijah in Judah and Jeroboam in Israel during this time. Their armies met at Mt. Zemarim and Jeroboam surrounded the army of Abijah. But God confused the Israeli army and they fled as Abijah and his men gave chase. Abijah became strong because he did what the Lord said was right. He ruled in Judah for 10 years, died and was replaced by his son Asa.
Asa did what the Lord said was right. He removed the places for idol worship and God gave him victory duirng this time. He defeated the Cushites and took much land and spoils of war for his country.

Village Idiot

09-12-04, 10:19 PM

Chapter 15 begins with the story of king Asa and a visit from Azariah. Azariah had a revelation and spoke it to king Asa; "The Lord is with you when you are with Him....If you obey Him, you will find Him....For a long time Israel was without the true God, without a priest to teach them and without the teachings. But when they were in trouble they turned to the Lord......Dont give up, because you will get a reward for your good work". Asa was filled with encouragement when he heard this and he did make some changes. He gathered the people together and sacrificed 700 bulls and 7000 sheep. All the people agreed to follow the ways of the Lord. He even removed his own grandmother from power because she had made an Ashera idol for worship. There was no war until his 35th year in power. But Judah came under attack from Basha in Israel. Asa took treasures from the temple and paid Ben-Hadad, king of Aram, for protection. Hanani, a prophet spoke against Asa for not trusting in the Lord to protect Judah. This made Asa very angry and Hanani was imprisoned. Asa became afflicted with a disease in his feet but still refused to call upon the Lord for healing. Asa ruled for 41 years, died and was replaced by his son Jehoshaphat.
Jehoshaphat did what the Lord said was right. He sent officers and Levites to the towns in Judah and taught the people about the Lord. Jehoshaphat grew in power, he built strong cities in Judah. Nations nearby feared them due to their closeness with God. Jehoshaphat made an agreement with king Ahab in Israel to join forces and attack Ramoth in Gilead. The two kings sent for the prophets to get a word from the Lord. All the prohets agreed that this was the right thing to do. But Michaiah, a prophet spoke against this. He was the only one to do so, but the two kings did not heed his warning. Ahab was killed in the battle when an arrow found its way between the pieces of his armor. Jehoshaphat was scolded once again when he returned home, this time by Jehu, son of Hanani, for disobeying the Lord. Later, Judah was attacked by the armies of Moab, Ammon and Edom. Jehoshaphat gathered all the men, women and children before the Lord. They called upon the Lord for victory. Jahaziel the Levite spoke to the crowd; "Listen to me, king Jehoshaphat and all you people living in Judah.......The battle is not your battle, it is Gods....You wont need to fight in this battle. Just stand strong in your places and see the Lord save you." As they marched out to war they began to sing praises; "Thank the Lord because His love continues forever." God sent ambushes upon their enemies and they bagan to attack each other and fled in confusion. After this God gave Jehoshaphat peace in Judah until his death. His son Jehoram became king of Judah in his place.
Now Jehoram did what the Lord said was wrong. He led the people of Judah away from the Lord. Elijah the prophet sent him a letter:
This is what the Lord say's........
You have lived as the kings of Israel have lived,
leading your people into sin against the Lord.
So now the Lord is about to punish your people.
You will have a terrible disease in your intestines
that will become worse every day.
Finally it will cause your intestines to come out.
Judah fell under the attack of the Phillistines and Arabs near Cush. All the wealth of Jerusalem was carried away. After this, Jehoram fell ill in his intestines and they fell out of his body and he died. Jehoram ruled for 8 years and his son Ahaziah was chosen to become king in his place.
Ahaziah began to rule but was heavily influenced by his mother Athaliah. He followed the ways of Ahabs family in Israel. God caused Ahaziahs death as he visited king Joram (Israel). He was killed by Jehu, an officer who was appointed by the Lord to punish Ahabs family. His mother Athaliah (thats right) ruled over Judah after his death.
Athaliah had the royal family in Judah put to death, but one escaped her punishment. Joash, the infant son of Ahaziah was hidden from her by the sister of Ahaziah. Joash was taken to the Temple and lived there until the age of 7. Jehoiada the high priest made an agreement with the officers and the Levites in Jerusalem. Young Joash was appointed king and when Athaliah saw him standing by the pillar at the Temple, she cried out "Traitors", and tore her clothes in saddness. Jehoiada had her captured and put to death near the city gate.
Joash was a good king and obeyed the ways of the Lord. He chose priests and guards for service to the Lord. He orderd for repairs to be made to the Temple and directed money to be paid to the workers. Joash grew strong and was well respected as long as Jehoiada was alive. But when Jehoiada died, Joash turned away from the Lord. He was filled with pride and refused advice from the prophets. A prophet, Zechariah, spoke directly to the king about his misgivings. The king and his officers had Zechariah killed. But he made a prophecy to the king as he lay near death; "May the Lord see what you are doing and punish you." At the end of the year Judah was attacked and defeated by the Arameans. Many of the leaders were killed and Joash was badly wounded. His officers made plans against him and he was killed. His son Amaziah became king in his place.
Amaziah did what the Lord said was right. He prepared the army for battle and hired soldiers from Israel to go fight for him. But a prophet came to him with a message from the Lord; "My king, dont let the army of Israel go with you. The Lord is not with Israel or the people of Ephraim. God has the power to help you or defeat you". King Amaziah obeyed this warning from God and was victorious in battle. But when he returned home, he brought idols with him and began to worship them. A prophet came to him with a word from God, but was turned away by the king. He stopped to speak on his way out; "I know that God has decided to destroy you for this. You did not listen to my advice". Amaziah took some bad advice and decided to make an agreement with Jehoash in Israel. Jehoash refused Amaziah so they went to war. Amaziah was captured but was returned to the city. Jerusalem was battered and the walls of the city were partially destroyed. Amaziah fell out of favor with the people and fled to Lachish. He was captured and killed and his body was returned. His son Uzziah was made king in his place.
Uzziah did what the Lord said was right as long as Zechariah the priest was alive. He grew in power and became very much loved among the people. But after a time, he became unfaithful to the Lord. His pride led to his ruin. He was found buring incense on the altar in the Temple of the Lord. A skin disease fell upon him right then and there. He was banished to a place outside the city and his son Jotham took care of the palace and all the kings' duties during this time......WHEW!

Village Idiot

09-25-04, 10:44 AM

More on the kings of Judah before the captivity...
King Jotham, who obeyed the Lord and rebuilt parts of the Temple and his victories over Ammon. Jotham ruled 16 years, died and was replaced by his son Ahaz. Ahaz did what the Lord said was wrong. He worshipped idols and caused the people to sin. Enemies came against him and Judah was defeated by Aram and king Pekah in Israel. The people of Judah were taken captive by the Israeli soldiers but this did not set too well with the older leaders in Israel. Oded, a prophet of the Lord, came to the leaders and reminded them that the people of Judah were their brothers and sister and were not to become their slaves. The people of Judah were given provisions and sent back to their homes. Even through all of his troubles, Ahaz refused to listen to the Lord. More trouble came upon Judah and they were constantly robbed by the Phillistines near the end of Ahazs' rule. Ahaz ruled 16 years, died and was replaced by his son Hezekiah as king. Hezekiah did what the Lord said was right. He re-opend the doors of the temple and purified it for service unto the Lord. He made the Levites holy and the Passover was celebrated as was written by Moses. Hezekiah gives a message to all the people;
"People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Then God will return to you who are still alive......Dont be like your ancestors and your relatives. They turned against the Lord.....so He caused other people to be disgusted with them.....Serve the Lord your God and He will not be angry with you.....The Lord your God is kind and merciful. He will not turn away from you if you return to Him". Letters were sent out to all the people in the land. All the people gathered for the Passover and agreed to serve the Lord. People brought their tithes to the Temple and to the Levites. So much was given that there was enough left over for the poor. Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came to attack Judah. His soldiers gathered arount the city and shouted insults to the Lord and bade the people to surrender. But Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah prayed to the lord and He sent an angel to destroy the Assyrian army. Sennacherib was even killed by his own men upon his return to Assyria. Hezekiah became sick in his later years and sought the help of the Lord. He was healed but did not give thanks unto the Lord. He was humbled and repented of this and this pleased the Lord. Hezekiah ruled for 29 years, died and was replaced by his son Manasseh. Manasseh did not obey the Lord. He worshipped idols and refused to listen to the prophets of his time. Judah was attacked by Assyria and Manasseh was taken prisoner. He feels badly about his refusal to obey the Lord and repents. He is then returned to Jerusalem and follows the Lord in his later years. Manasseh removed the idols and places of worship to other gods. He set up the lords altar again and the people began to worship there. Manasseh ruled for 55 years, died and was replaced by his son Amon. Amon did what the Lord said was wrong and after 2 years he was killed by his officers and replaced by his son Josiah. Josiah was only 8 years old at the time but he began to serve the Lord at an early age. During his rule, the Temple was purified again and the Book of the Teachings is found within the Temple by Hilkiah the high priest. It is then given to Shaphan the royal secretary. Shaphan read from the book and this made the king sad because he knew that the people had not been following the laws of God as was written by Moses. Huldah, a prophetess, gave this message from God;
"This is what the Lord says, 'I will bring trouble to this place and to the people living here.The people of Judah have left me and have burned incense to other gods......So I will punish them in my anger.....When you (Josiah) heard the words against this place and its people, you became sorry for what you had done and you humbled yourself before me...So I will let you die and be buried in peace. You wont see the trouble I will bring to this place and the people living here'". Now Josiah and all the people agreed to serve the Lord during their time. They worshipped and obeyed the Lord. The Passover is celebrated in such a manner that has never been repeated since. But Neco, king of Egypt came to attack a small town on the Euphrates River and Josiah marched out to fight. Neco warned Josiah that the battle was not his but Josiah refused and fought on. Josiah was shot by Neco's archers and bled to death. Josiah ruled for 31 years and was replaced by his son Jehoahaz. Jehoahaz ruled for 3 months and Neco/Egypt replaced him with his brother Eliakim and then changed his name to Jehoiakim. Jehoiakim ruled for 11 years and did not obey the Lord. Judah was overtaken by Nebuchadnezzar/Babylon and Jehoiakim was taken to Babylon as a prisoner. He was replaced by his 18 year old son, Jehoiachin (these names just kill me) by Nebuchadnezzar. He was replaced 3 months later by his uncle Zedekiah. Zedekiah ruled for 11 years and became stubborn towards Nebuchadnezzar and that was the end for him and Judah. Babylon destroyed the city of Jerusalem, the Temple of the Lord and the people, along with all their wealth, were taken away as prisoners. All this happened because they refused to obey the Lord during their time. They refused the advice of the prohets and they worshipped other gods in the land that the God of their ancestors had given them. It was over but their punishment was just beginning.

Village Idiot

09-25-04, 11:33 AM

In the first year Cyrus was king of Persia, the Lord caused him to send out an announcement and to put it in writing;
"The Lord, the God of Heaven, has given all the kingdoms of the earth to me and He has appointed me to rebuild the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. May God be with all of you whom are His people. You are free to go to Jerusalem and build the Temple of the Lord". So....the captivity was over after 70 years in Babylon and the captives begin their return home. Some of the names and numbers are listed in ch. 2. The total number was 42,360, not counting the male and female servants.
In the seventh month after their return the leaders met in Jerusalem and set forth the plan for rebuilding the Temple, but first, an altar had to be erected for sacrifices. Money was given and materials started comming in. Zerubbabel and Jeshua and their fellow priests worked hard to see that all was being done correctly. The foundation was laid and the people rejoiced but some of the older people cried because they had remembered what the origional Temple had looked like. There were, however, enemies of this and they began to set forth their plans to thwart the Israelites. The people of Trans-Euphrates sent a letter to king Artaxerxes in Persia suggesting that the people of Judah would become defiant and refuse to pay taxes. They cited past behavior and records of their history. Artaxerxes stopped the construction and sent out a letter to Rehum the governor:
"Now give an order for those men to stop their work. The city of Jerusalem will not be rebuilt until I say so". But the work continued in secret. The prophets of the Lord spoke to the people and encouraged them that God was on their side. Tattnai, the governor of Trans-Euphrates asked them who had told them that they could rebuild the city and temple. They told him of Cyrus and his orders. Then Tattenai sent a letter to king Darius in Persia during his second year (after Artaxerxes). Darius searched the royal records and found the decree sent out by Cyrus. He then sent out his decree:
"King Cyrus gave an order about the Temple of God in the first year he was king.'Let the Temple be rebuilt as a place to offer sacrifices. Let its foundations be laid'............Do not bother the work on that Temple of God....Give these people anything they need....God has chosen Israel as His place to be worshipped". So the Temple is completed and the people worshipped the Lord there. The Passover is celebrated and God was with them.
Now after a period of about 60 years a man named Ezra was sent to Jerusalem. He was well schooled in the law of Moses and served the Lord with a whole heart. Ezra came up from Babylon and brought with him some Levites and other men of God. He was to teach the people and to serve the Lord in Jerusalem. He brought along gold, silver and bronze for the Temple. Ezra was given some bad news upon his arrival. He was told that some of the men had taken wives from the the other people that were there before. This was not allowed by the law and Ezra tore his clothes is sadness. He gathered the leaders and spoke to the people about their sin. He encouraged them to repent and change their ways. The people agreed to see that these men would divorce those women and send them back to their homes. Then all the people confessed their sin and agreed to obey the Lord during the time of Ezra.

Village Idiot

10-17-04, 09:21 PM

Nehemiah was a servant to king Artaxerxes in Babaylon during the time that Ezra had been sent to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple along with the captive Jews. He had been given a report from some men who had been to the city and was sad to hear about its condition. He requested to be sent to Jerusalem and after some thought Artaxerxes granted his wishes. He is also given letters from the king and men to go along with him. Upon his arrival he found the city in a state of disrepair. He conducted his survey at night, fearing retribution from the enimies of the Jews. The city walls and houses were in a shambles so he set forth his plan for the rebuilding of the city. He gathered his workers and dispatched them in different locations and they worked under the cover of darkness. But there was opposition from the Arabs, Ammonites and the people of Ashdod. Nehemiah and his men worked on. They worked in shifts while others stood guard. During this time Nehemiah found out that many Jews were being taxed by their own people and this drove many into slavery. Nehemiah gathered the older and more important leaders together. He told them to stop oppressing their brothers and sisters and abide by the Laws of Moses. They agreed to stop their cruelty and to pay back everything they had taken from the poorer people in the area. The wall is finally rebuilt after 52 days of hard work. The names and numbers of the returning captives are listed. Ezra gathers the people together and the Book of the Teachings is read aloud to all the people who were gatherd at the Temple. The people are encouraged. They had a grand celebration and worshipped the Lord. The people confessed their sins before the Lord and recounted the mistakes that had been made by their ancestors down through the years. They made an agreement with the Lord to serve Him and obey His laws and commands. New people move to the land and their names and numbers are listed. The names of the Priests and Levites are listed. They celebrated the completion of the wall and appointed the Priests and Temple workers. Nehemiah returns to Babylon and king Artaxerxes when he had finished his work. But later reports of sin and wrong doing had upset him. So he asked for, and was granted permission to return to Jerusalem to purify the people once again. Nehemiah was a man who loved the Lord and served him all of his life.

Village Idiot

10-17-04, 09:50 PM

The events of this book have taken place during the time king Xerxes (before Artaxerxes) was in power in Babylon.

King Xerxes was king of Babylon. His kingdom stretched from India to Cush and he was very powerful. He had a grand celebration that lasted for 180 days and then another that lasted for 7 days. He was very happy (drunk) during this time and called for his wife, Queen Vashti, to come and display her beauty to the important men gathered with the king. But Vashti refused her king and fell under his wrath. She was stripped of her crown as an example to the other women. So the search went out for another queen for king Xerxes.

Now a man named Mordecai was a Jew and a servant of the Lord. He had adopted an orphan child (Esther) during her youth and loved her very much. Esther was very beautiful and was sent to prepare herself to be noticed by the king. After some time, Esther was chosen to be the wife of the king. But Mordecai had her keep her deep secret. Esther was Jewish, not exactly royal material in Babylon at the time. During this time Mordercai discovered a plot to kill the king. He had overheard some evil men plotting against Xerxes while at the city gate. He relayed his message to the king and the men were killed before they could carry out their plan. Also duirng this time a man named Haman (an officer) was made important by the king. Haman became proud and sought more power for himself. He noticed that the Jews, namely Mordecai, were not honoring (bowing) their king (and Haman) when they passed them by. He tricked Xerxes into signing a decree to have the Jews killed, all of them. Mordecai became afraid and begged Esther to go to the king and seek his help to reverse the order. But Esther was reluctant as to how she would appeoach the king and delayed. Mordecai asked her to think not only of herself but of the many Jews who who lose their lives if this plan was carried out. Meanwhile, Haman had erected a platform on which to hang Mordecai when the time was right. But Esther had another plan. She gained favor with the king and reminded him that he had not honored Mordecai for his revelation of the plan against him earlier. Xerxes agreed to honor Mordecai and have him led around the city on a royal stallion......led by Haman. Esther also told the king that she was a Jew and this made Haman very upset. The king was furious about Haman's evil plans and Haman was hanged on the very platform that he had built for Mordecai. Also, the king sent out another letter allowing the Jews to fight back against any and all oppostion they faced. The Jews defended themselves bravely against their eneimies and gained victory against them. Mordecai was made important by Xerxes and the king helped the Jews during his time. Mordecai was loyal to the Lord all of his life.

Village Idiot

11-11-04, 11:25 AM

Although most of this book contains the words of Job and his councelors, Job is not the author. In fact, the author is unknown. But we do know that he was an Israelite as his manner of speaking bears him out. Job is believed to have lived around the time of the second millennium (2000-1000 BC). The book provides a profound statement on the subject of theodicy (the justice of God in light of human suffering). How can the justice of an almighty God be defended in the face of evil, especially human suffering......even more, the suffering of the innocent. This book is very complex in my opinion. We spent three weeks in Job in our calss and I'm still not sure we hit on all the levels. This was the second time around for most of the class and my third time reading Job. I'm not really sure as to how I'm going to relate this story in writing, so I'll just tell it as it is written. Plese feel free to speak your peace.

The book of Job begins with a challenge laid before God, from Satan (an angel in heaven), as to what the reactions of a very blessed man of God would be if his worldly blessings were taken away. Job was an honest and innocent man. He loved God and obeyed Him in every way. God had bestowed many blessings upon Job. He was wealthy, had a large family and was well respected in the land. Satan "bet" God that Job would turn away from Him if all of this was taken away....and so the suffering of Job begins.
First, all of Jobs wealth was taken. His flocks were killed and then his children all died on the same day. Although Job was saddened, he still worshipped God..."I was naked when I was born, and I will be naked when I die. The Lord gave these things unto me, and He has taken them away. Praise the name of the Lord." In all this, Job did not blame God. But this did not satisfy Satan, he challenged God to attack the very flesh of Job, "One skin for another", he pled. God allowed Satan to place a terrible skin disease upon Job. Job left his home and sat among the ashes in his sorrow. His own wife told him to "curse God and die", but Job refused. He is visited by three men, councelors (or friends) we are told. Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar came to talk with Job about his ills and why all this was happening to him. Now to cut through all the banter, I'll try to make a long story a little shorter here. It seems that these men were trying get Job to realize that he had somehow "sinned" his way into the position that he now found himself in. But Job refused to believe this. He knew that in his heart he had been loyal and faithful to the Lord. But the councelors pressed on. Arguement after arguement went back and forth and they became frustrated with one another. Neither side was giving in.
Finally the three men stopped trying to answer Job because he was so sure that he was right. But another man, Elihu, became angry with Job and so he spoke. He was also angry with the Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar.
"Now listen to my words.
Pay attention to everything I say......
You said, I am pure, without sin;
I am innocent and free from guilt.
but God has found fault with me;
He considers me the enemy.
He locks my feet in chains and closely watches me wherever I go.
But I tell you that you are not right in saying this,
because God is greater than we are.
Why do you accuse God of not answering anyone?
God does speak-sometimes one way and sometimes another-even though people may not understand it."
Elihu continues.....
"Job says, 'I am not guilty,
and God has refused me a fair trial.
Instead of getting a fair trial,
I am called a liar.'......
So listen to me, you who can understand.
God can never do wrong!
It is impossible for the almighty to do evil.....
No one chose God to rule over the earth
or put Him in charge of the whole world.
If God should decide
to take away life or breath,
then everyone would die together
and turn back into dust.........
How can you blame God who is both fair and powerful?
God is the one who says to kings 'You are worthless,'
to important people, "you are evil.'.......
Do you think this is fair?
you say, 'God will show that I am right,'
but you also asked, 'What is the use?
I dont gain anything by not sinning.'....
If you sin it does nothing to God;
even if your sins are many, they do nothing to Him.
If you are good, you give nothing to God;
He recieves nothing from your hand.......
But God saves those who suffer through their suffering;
He gets them to listen through their pain.
God is gently calling you from the jaws of trouble
To an open place of freedom
where He has set your table full of the best food........
You suffer in your clothes
when the wind is silenced by the hot south wind.
You cannot stretch out the sky like God
and make it look as hard as polished bronze.
Tell us waht we should say to Him;
we cannot get our arguements ready
because we do not have enough understanding.
Should God be told that I want to speak?.....
The almighty is to high for us to reach.
He has great strength;
He is always right........
That is why people honor Him."

Then the Lord speaks from the storm........
"Who is this that makes My pupose unclear by saying things that are not true?
Be like a strong man!
I will ask you questions,
And you must asnwer Me........
What is the path to lights home,
and where does the darkness live?
Can you take them to their places?
Do you know the way to their homes?
Surley you know, if you were already born when it happened!
Have you lived many years?.....
Will the person who argues with the almighty God correct Him?"
Then Job answers..
"I am not worthy, I cannot answer you anything.......
I will say nothing more"
God responds......
"Be like a strong man!
Would you say that I am unfair?
Would you blame Me to make yourself right?"
The Job answers.....
"Surely I spoke of things that I did not understand;
I talked of things to wonderful for me to know....
I will change my heart and life.
I will sit in the dust and ashes."

After the Lord had said these things to Job, He scolded the concelors also. Job prayed to the Lord and offerd sacrifices unto him and he was restored with a new family and even more riches than he had before. The Lord blessed the last part of his life more than the first. Job lived 140 years and lived to see his grandchildrens children.

Village Idiot

11-29-04, 03:03 PM

From the NIV......
The names Psalms and Psalter come from the Greek translation of the OT and origionally referred to stringed instruments (harps and lyres) and then added lyrics to be sung as praises to the Lord in song form. The Psalter is a collection of collections and represents centuries of gathered writings. It is thought to have been completed by the third century BC. It was first used in the second temple (Zerubbabel/Herrod) as a book of praises, prayer and religious teachings. But after the first century AD it was commonly known as the Book of Psalms. Many collections preceeded the final book going all the way back to kings David and Solomon as noted within the title of each Psalm. Others come the collection of the "Sons of Korah", "Songs of Asaph", etc. The final collection contains 150 Psalms and they are grouped into 5 books. Psalm types do vary and are classified into 12 groups; 1. prayers of the individual, 2. praise of the individual (for Gods saving help), 3. prayers of the community, 4. praise from the community (for Gods saving help), 5. confessions of confidence in the Lord, 6. hymns in praise of Gods majesty and virtues, 7. hymns celebrating Gods universal reign, 8. songs of Zion, the city of God, 9. royal psalms, by and for the Lords appointed king, 10. pilgrimmage songs, 11. liturgical songs, 12. didactic (intructional) songs. Psalms is largely poetic in nature but Hebrew poetry lacks both rhyme and regular meter. Other opinions about their literary features have been disputed but make no mistake about them, these early poets had a style all their own and definately got their message across. The words written within these ancient "poems" are good for all mankind, even in todays world. Listed below are just a few from the Book of Pslams. Feel free to add your favorites as well.

Village Idiot

11-29-04, 04:33 PM

Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the Lord
and on his law he meditates day and night.
He is like a tree planted by streams of water
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgement
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 8
(A Psalm of David)
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name
in all the earth!

You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies
to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens
the work of your fingers
the moon and the stars
which you have set in place
what is man that you are mindful of him
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.

You make him ruler
over the works of your hands
you put everything under his feet
all flocks and herds
and the beasts of the field
the birds of the air
and the fish of the sea
all that swim the paths of the seas.

O Lord, our Lord
how majestic is your name
in all the earth!

Psalm 11
(for the director of music. Of David)
In the Lord I take refuge.
How then can you say to me:
Flee! like a bird
to your mountain
For look, the wicked bend their bows
they set their arrows against the strings
to shoot from the shadows
at the upright in heart.
When the foundations are being destroyed
what can the righteous do?

The Lord is in his holy temple
the Lord is on his heavenly throne.
He observes the sons of men
his eyes examine them.
The Lord examines the righteous
but the wicked and those who love violence
his soul hates.
On the wicked he will rain
firey coals and burning sulfur
a scorching wind will be their lot.

For the Lord is righteous
he loves justice
upright men will see his face.

Psalm 15
(A psalm of David)
Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?

He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous
who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellow man
who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the Lord
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts
who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe
against the innocent.

He who does these things
will never be shaken.

Psalm 16
(A miktam of David)
Keep me safe, O God
for in you I take refuge.

I said to the Lord
"You are my Lord."
apart from you I have no good thing.
As for the saints who are in the land
they are the glorious ones
in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out
their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.

Lord you have assigned me my portion
and my cup
you have made my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen
for me in pleasant places
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the Lord
who counsels me
even at night
my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand
I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad
and my tongue rejoices
my body will also rest secure
because you will not abandon me
to the grave
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me
the path of life
you will fill me with joy in your presence
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 18
(For the director of music. Of David)
I love you Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress
and my deliverer
my God is my rock in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise
and I am saved from my enemies.

The cords of death entangled me
the torrents of destrustion overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the Lord.
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice
my cry came before him, into his ears.
The earth trembled and quaked
and the foundations of the mountains shook
they trembled because he was angry.
Smoke rose from his nostrils
consuming fire came from his mouth
burning coals blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down
dark clouds were under his feet.
He mounted the cherubum and flew
he soared on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering
his canopy around him
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
The Lord thundered from heaven
the voice of the Most High resounded.
He shot his arrows
and scattered the enemies
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
the valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O Lord
at the blast of breath from you nostrils.

He reached down from on high
and he took hold of me
he drew me out of the deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerfull enemy
from my foes
who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster
but the Lord was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place
he rescued me because he delighted in me.

The Lord has dealt with me
according to my righteousness
according to the cleanness of my hands
he has rewarded me.
For I have kept the ways of the Lord
I have not done evil
by turning from my God.
All his laws are before me
I have not turned away from his decrees.
I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
The Lord has rewarded me
according to my righteousness
according to the cleanness of my hands
in his sight.

To the faithful
you show yourself faithful
to the blameless
you show yourself pure
but to the crooked
you show yourself shrewd.
You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, O Lord,
keep my lamp burning
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help
I can advance against a troop
with my God I can scale a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect
the word of the Lord is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God
besides the Lord?
And who is the Rock
except for God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer
he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory
and your right hand sustains me
you stoop down and make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me
so that my ankles do not turn.

I pursued my enemies
and overtook them
I did not turn back
until they were destroyed.
I crushed them so that they could not rise
they fell beneath my feet.
You armed me with strength for battle
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
You made my enemies
turn their backs in fight
and I destroyed my foes.
They cried for help
but there was no one to save them
to the Lord but he did not answer.
i beat them as fine as dust
borne on the wind.
I poured them out
like mud in the streets.

You have deliverd me
from the attacks of the people
you have made me the head of the nations
people I do not know are subject to me.
As soon as they hear me
they obey me
foreigners cringe before me.
They all lose heart
they come trembling
from their strongholds.

The Lord lives!
Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
He is the God who avenges me
who subdues nations under me
who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes
from violent men you rescued me.
Therefore I will praise you among the nations
O Lord
I will sing praises to your name.
He gives his king great victories
he shows unfailing kindness to his annointed
to David
and his descendants forever.

Village Idiot

12-14-04, 08:25 PM

Psalm 28
Lord, my Rock, I call out to you for help.
Do not be deaf to me.
If you are silent,
I will be like those in the grave.
Hear the sound of my prayer,
when I cry out to you for help.
I raise my hands
toward your Most Holy Place.
Dont drag me away with the wicked,
with those who do evil.
They say "Peace" to their neighbors,
but evil is in their hearts.
Pay them back for what they have done,
for their evil deeds.
Pay them back for what they have done,
give them their reward.
They dont understand what the Lord has done
or what he has made.
So he will knock them down
and not lift them up.

Praise the Lord,
because he heard my prayer for help.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
I trust him, and he helps me.
I am very happy,
and I praise him with my song.
The Lord is powerful;
he gives victory to his chosen one.
Save your people
and bless those who are your own.
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Psalm 32
Happy is the person
whos sins are forgiven,
whos wrongs are pardoned.
Happy is the person
whom the Lord does not consider guilty
and in whom there is nothing false.

When I kept things to myself,
I felt weak deep inside me.
I moaned all day long.
Day and night you punished me.
My strength was gone as in the summer heat.
Then I confessed my sins to you
and did'nt hide my guilt.
I said, "I will confess my sins to the Lord,"
and you forgave my guilt.

For this reason, all who obey you
should pray to you while they still can.
When troubles rise like a flood,
they will not reach them.
You are my hiding place.
You protect me from my troubles
and fill me with songs of salvation.

The Lord says, "I will make you wise
and show you where to go.
I will guide you and watch over you.
So dont be like a horse or donkey,
that does not understand.
They must be led with bits and reins,
or they will not come near you."

Wicked people have many troubles,
but the Lords love surrounds those who trust him.
Good people, rejoice and be happy in the Lord.
Sing all you whos hearts are right.

Psalm 47
Clap your hands, all you people.
Shout to God with joy.
The Lord Most High is wonderful.
He is the great King over all the earth!
He defeated nations for us
and put them under our control.
He chose the land we would inherit.
We are the children of Jacob,
whom he loved.

God has risen with a shout of joy;
the Lord has risen as the trumpets sounded.
Sing praises to God. Sing praises.
Sing praises to our King. Sing praises.
God is King of all the earth,
so sing a song of praise to him.
God is King over the nations.
God sits on his holy throne.
The leaders of the nations meet
with the people of the God of Abraham,
because the leaders of the earth belong to God.
He is supreme.

Psalm 53
Fools say to themselves,
"There is no God."
Fools are evil and do terrible things;
none of them does anything good.

God looked down from heaven on all people
to see if anyone was wise,
If anyone was looking to God for help.
But all have turned away.
Together, everyone has turned evil;
none of them does anything good.
Not a single person.

Dont the wicked understand?
They destroy my people as if they were eating bread.
They do not ask God for help.
The wicked are filled with terror
where there had been nothing to fear.
Gos will scatter the bones of your enemies.
You will defeat them,
because God has rejected them.

I pray that victory will come to Israel from Mt. Zion!
May God bring them back.
Then the people of Jacob will rejoice,
and the people of Israel will be glad.

Psalm 62
I find rest in God;
only he can save me.
He is my rock and salvation.
He is my defender;
I will not be defeated.

How long will you attack someone?
Will all of you kill that person?
Who is like a leaning wall,
like a fence ready to fall?
They are planning to make that person fall.
They enjoy telling lies.
With their mouths they bless,
but in their hearts they curse.

I find rest in God;
only he gives me hope.
He is my rock and slavation.
He is my defender;
I will not be defeated.
My honor and salvation come from God.
He is my mighty rock and my protection.

People, trust God all the time.
Tell him all your problems,
because God is our protection.

The least of people are only a breath,
and even the greatest are just a lie.
On the scales, they weigh nothing;
together they are only a breath.
Do not trust in force.
Stealing is of no use.
Even if you gain more riches,
dont put your trust in them.

God has said this,
and I have heard it over and over;
God is strong.
The Lord is loving.
You reward people for what they have done.

Psalm 75
God we thank you;
we thank you because you are near.
We tell about the miracles you do.

You say, "I set the time for trial,
and I will judge fairly.
the earth with all its people may shake,
but I am the one who holds it steady.
I say to those who are proud, 'Dont brag,'
and to the wicked, 'Dont show your power.
Dont try to use your power against heaven.
Dont be stubborn.' "

No one from the east or the west
or the desert can judge you.
God is the judge;
he judges one person as guilty
and another as innocent.
The Lord holds a cup of anger in his hand;
it is full of wine mixed with spices.
He pours it out even to the last drop,
and the wicked drink it all.

I will tell about this forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
He will take all power awayfrom the wicked,
but the power of good people will grow.

Village Idiot

12-14-04, 09:22 PM

Psalm 97
The Lord is King. Let the earth rejoice;
faraway lands should be glad.
Thick, dark clouds surround him.
His kingdom is built on what is right and fair.
A fire goes before him
and burns up his enemies all around.
His lightning lights up the world;
when the people see it, they tremble.
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord,
before the Lord of all the earth.
The heavens tell about his goodness,
and all the people see his glory.

Those who worship idols should be ashamed;
they brag about their gods.
All the gods should worship the Lord.
When Jerusalem hears this, she is glad,
and the towns of Judah rejoice.
They are happy beacuse of your judgements, Lord.
You are the Lord Most High over all the earth;
you are supreme over all gods.

People who love the Lord hate evil.
The Lord watches over those who follow him
and frees them from the power of the wicked.
Light shines on those who do right;
joy belongs to those who are honest.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who do right.
Praise his holy name.

Psalm 100
Shout to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with joy;
come before him with singing.
Know that the Lord is God.
He made us, and we belong to him;
we are his people, the sheep he tends.

Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving
and into his courtyards with songs of praise.
Thank him and praise his name.
The Lord is good. his love is forever,
and his loyalty goes on and on.

Psalm 112
Praise the Lord!

Happy are those who respect the Lord,
who want what he commands,
Their descendants will be powerful in the land;
the children of honest people will be blessed.
Their houses will be full of wealth and riches,
and their goodness will continue forever.
A light shines in the dark for honest people,
for those who are merciful and kind and good.
It is good to be merciful and generous.
Those who are fair in their business
will never be defeated.
Good people will always be remembered.
They wont be afraid of bad news;
and their hearts are steady because they trust the Lord.
They are confident and will not be afraid;
they will look down on their enemies.
They give freely to the poor.
The things they do are right and will continue forever.
They will be given great honor.

The wicked will see this and become angry;
they will grind their teeth in anger and then disappear.
The wishes of the wicked will come to nothing.

Psalm 121
I look up to the hills,
but where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let you be defeated.
He who guards you never sleeps.
He who guards Israel
never rests or sleeps.
The Lord guards you.
The Lord is the shade that protects you from the sun.
The sun cannot hurt you during the day,
and the moon cannot hurt you at night.
The Lord will protect you from all dangers;
he will guard your life.
The Lord will guard you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

Psalm 128
Happy are those who respect the Lord and obey him.
You will enjoy what you work for,
and you will be blessed with good things.
Your wife will give you many children,
like a vine that produces much fruit.
your children will bring you much good,
like olive branches that produce many olives.
This is how the man who respects the Lord will be blessed.
May the Lord bless you from Mt. Zion;
may you enjoy the good things of Jerusalem all your life.
May you see your grandchildren.

Let there be peace in Israel.

Psalm 131
Lord, my heart is not proud;
I dont look down on others.
I dont do great things,
and I cant do miracles.
But I am calm and quiet,
like a baby with its mother.
I am at peace, like a baby with its mother.

People of Israel, put your hope in the Lord
now and forever.

Psalm 141
Lord, I call to you. Come quickly.
Listen to me when I call to you.
Let my prayer be like incense placed before you,
and my praise like the evening sacrifice.

Lord, help me control my tongue;
help me be careful about what I say.
Take away my desire to do evil
or to join others in doing wrong.
Dont let me eat nasty food
with those who do evil.

If a good person punished me, that would be kind.
If he corrected me,
that would be like perumed oil on my head.
I should'nt refuse it.
But I pray against those who do evil.
Let their leaders be thrown down the cliffs.
Then people will know that I have spoken correctly;
"The ground is plowed and broken up.
In the same way, our bones have been scattered at the grave."

God, I look to you for help.
I trust in you, Lord. Dont let me die.
Protect me from the traps they set for me
and from the net that evil people have spread.
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
but let me pass by safely.

Psalm 150
Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his Temple;
praise him in his mighty heaven.
Praise him for his strength;
praise him for his greatness.
Praise him with trumpet blasts;
praise him with harps and lyres.
Praise him with tambourines and dancing;
praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.
Praise him with loud cymbals;
praise him with crashing cymbals.
Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!