Ezekiel44:23 And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. So, that the juridical authority of the priests was purely of a moral kind, can be maintained only by rejecting 2Chronicles_17:7-9 and 2Chronicles_19:5-11 as unhistorical. Pulpit Commentary Also in the third year of his reign he sent to his princes, … to teach in the cities of Judah. And with them he sent Levites, And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the Lord with them, and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people. 2Chronicles 17:7-9 names omitted. The meaning is—he sent orders to his princes to see to it that Judah was taught by the Levites. “And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city, And said…
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Twice in Psalm 42 the Psalmist cries out, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” V. 5 and 11. Strange thought and strange wording, a man speaks to his own soul, but from where? It must be that the Word of God has brought about the separation of soul from spirit as spoken in Hebrews 4:12 There the Word is “quick” and powerful and pierces to the “dividing asunder” of soul and spirit… Nevertheless, the psalmist is observing the self-bending down of his own soul — it seems to have a mind of its own. Paul appears to speak from this same kind of separation in his letter to the Romans.: “Now if I do that I would not, it is no…
The sweet psalmist prayed to God, ” Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. ” from Psalm 51 a psalm of David. Never can a man do either of David’s requests but both are, nevertheless, required for fellowship with God and the God-graced life from above. For God to be the initiator and source of our life should be no surprise. He is the beginning and ending of all things. A powerful relief for us, the faithful God meets our broken hearts as we draw nigh to Him. “If we confess our sins, He is Faithful…” Thank you Lord, you are always there! ” …and just.” Thank you Lord, that you are operating justly in all of your actions towards us. “to forgive us our sins.” Forgiveness means remission, the taking away of all of my wrong attitudes, my wrong thinking, my rebellions,…
“It is all grace that we have been saved. And it is all grace that God has kept us. He has allowed us to go through many transitions. No one can even remotely comprehend the grace that God has provided for life.” Carl H. Stevens Some people are “backed to the wall because they resist receiving something they do not deserve.” The word of God says, “beware, lest we be led away by the error of the wicked. We must, grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2Peter 3:18) ” The believer is saved by grace and begins his new life with God at the mercy seat. Understanding this , divine goodness and mercy follow him all the days of his life.” Psalm 23 God the Father has been satisfied: ” we are dead and our life his hid with Christ in God.”…
Subtract sin from a man and what do we get? Something very blessed and also precious results. Tears come into the eyes as mercy releases us of the captivity sin brings. Almost too good to be true, the hard driver of the soul, judged, must take a back seat at our discretion. Yes, we can affirm this morning’s reawakening, His compassions fail not, so says the book of Lamentations. As the new math would have it, then, we also add — the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. We receive what we don’t deserve, yes, in abundance. What does it mean? Well, it provides all of the Person needed to live a life hidden with Christ in God. Not necessarily a life of success or earthly failure. But one of supreme success in the secret place of the most high God, under the shadow of the Almighty. The…
For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Psalm 30:5 After a long layoff, I was finally getting called back to work. I had spent a lot of my free time trying to rearrange things, had made some new commitments, found some new friends. I desperately needed income and I had been scheduled for the over night shift at the strip mill. When the time came to report for work, I was overwhelmed with details of life and missed showing up. I frantically looked for a phone number to report my absence but found none. My whole life was falling apart, and a sense of dread powered over my mind and heart. And then it happened: I woke up from the dream. I hadn’t worked in that steel mill for 42 years but for one…
“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.” Ephesians 3:10 I have borrowed two short stories to help us see both our identity and purpose. Dr. Jack Hyles was going to college and pastoring a church on the weekends. Every Monday morning his teacher, doctor Bruce, would ask the students to get up and talk about what they did over the weekend. Doctor Hyles stood up and said, “well I have this little church down in…..” ” Sit down”, doctor Bruce said. “I don’t want to hear about it.” all the other men in the room were allowed to go on with their reports. The next week, doctor Bruce asked the same question and doctor Hyles stood and said, ” our little church…..” “Sit down,” I don’t wanna hear from you,” doctor Bruce shouted…
“And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. “ Mark 16:5-8 Trembling and astonished, the were all dumbfounded, but the young man singles out Peter and sites him by name. Yes, even Peter was to be told and invited to Galilee. He had denied any acquaintance with Jesus just a few days prior. “Then a…
“Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:25-27 A life of integrity requires attention to heart, speech, eyes, and conduct. J,F and B Lets condense the thought: Luke teaches us, For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Luke 14:28-30 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsakes not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33 “Or what king, going to make war…
“Of this good news I have been appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher. This is why I am suffering so, but I am not ashamed of it, for I know whom I have trusted and I am absolutely sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2Timothy 1:11-12 “O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard: Which holdeth our soul in life, and suffereth not our feet to be moved.” Psalm 66:9 Friends, it is our soul which must be kept. But what can we discern about its proper state? Well, when thoughts are established, our way is brought to pass, and surety and confidence emanate of it, God is keeping my soul! The Bible teaches such. But, there is a danger — and we must guard our hearts with all diligence. See Proverbs…