Yes, yes -- it's really true
We have arrived at fifty-two.
I hold the experience very dear
that I journied through the Bible
with my friends last year.
And now a little spiritual food
as we start this week
in the book of Jude.
Tuesday will start us out real strong
as we listen to the music
of Moses' song.
Wednesday, Esther reveals her plight
her courage and plan
bringing insight
Thursday we'll soak in David's life
giving us an example in
good times and strife.
Thursday we'll hear about God's above
as we read the story of
a couple's love.
Friday the future will be more clear
as we search the scriptures
with courage, not fear.
We'll end our Journey, with the life of Paul
An example of dedication,
For one and all.
I'm hoping we all
Into the Bible will delve
once again together
in two thousand and twelve:)
Love to you all - Linda
oh my, I didn't know you were a poet! :D I thought my browser had displayed the page wrong for a moment. LOL
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if Jude was Jesus brother since he was James but was just too humble to say he was.
ReplyDeleteWhy in v2 does he say rest & then in v3 & 4 say fight?
I did like the reminders to live in love not works.
Especially liked v20 I think it was. He said to live with your arms open & outstretched, waiting on God. I'm really thankful God keeps reminding me of that as I have a thick head!
I spent a bit of time in vs 1 & 2. Mine doesn't say anything about rest . . .
ReplyDeleteJude calls himself a slave of Jesus Christ. Being a slave back then, probably didn't give much weight to your writings. But being a slave of someone counteracts the people he is talking about that "denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ (vs 4) So he is already setting up the choices for people in those first couple of verses.
I appreciate the character of God the Father coming out in vs 1. The Father loves you (it's always brought out that Jesus loves us; but I like taking it throughout the Godhead here) the father keeps us safe in the care of Jesus!! and it's explained more in vs 24 when God is able to keep us from falling away and will bring us into His presence (we don't deserve that, y'know!)
So many times I hear people say, why did God allow - - and yet, in vs 6,7 it talks about people, angels who do not stay within the limits of authority that God Gave them. We want to blame our disrespect and disregard on Him - -
I wonder again if there is any connection between the angels in 6 and the stars in 13?
Grumblers, complainers, scoffers -- all fruits of not staying in God's presence. I find myself falling toward this when I'm not centered in Him.
A lot of weight on mercy in verses 20-22. God's mercy toward us, and then us turning that mercy toward others:) and it reminds me of the mercy Jude is blessing us with in verse 2. I am wanting to live this Christmas day with an awareness and attitude of Mercy!
The last hours of Moses. If you knew you had only a few short hours left on the earth - what would you say to your friends & family? Duane's dad got a call last week from his college friend who told him that he probably wouldn't live past the end of the year. The friend called to say goodbye.
ReplyDeleteMoses song is all about God's faithfulness -- the song that God hadn't turned away, He was always there (32:11-12) -- it was humans that turned on God (15). they forgot the God who had given them birth (18) that's a very sad picture. The joy of birth and creating & caring for that special baby turns into the sorrow of rejection.
I will provoke their anger through the foolish Gentiles. Romans 10:19 talks about this too -- and it's true, the jealousy of the Jews was intense; but God was all for using whatever He could to get their attention and draw them back.
The main part of Moses song that I love is in vs 41, 43. The emphasis is on the word ALL -- and you'll see that word again in Rev 15:4. In the end, ALL recognize that His ways are just true; that He's been faithful! Every knee will bow:) and He will "cleanse the land for His people"
You can hear Moses passion in vs 47 "These instructions are not empty words - they are your life! You can hear the passion of Paul in these words -- both of these men didn't care a fig about what happened to them; they were secure, God's friends -- but they desparatly wanted those around them to know this rest.
The same day, Moses gets his marching orders -- no whining from him; just blessing the people he'd leave behind.
I love his final words "There is no one like the God of Israel; He rides across the heavens to help you . . His everlasting arms are under you. What a thought when we're struggling.
Combining 34:6 with Jude 9 might be a clue about the theory that Michael the arch-angel is Jesus. I know there are different view-points on this. But an interesting comparison!
I just finished reading Esther. (I know---I'm early)
ReplyDeleteHallelujah and Blessed be the God of Israel, who takes the schemes of our enemies and uses them for our benefit!
Esther is one of those books that gets over looked a lot but is a great read. You get to see behind the scenes & watch as God overthrows the enemy's plans to destroy His people. It's so encouraging, especially if you're in a tight, dark, discouraging place.
ReplyDeleteGod is working constantly for His children, we are never forgotten. It does take a while to play out though & that's the hard part for me.
I would have really liked to have seen Haman's face when he was told to do all that to Mordecai. So close to killing one of God's chosen & God already had things in place so that Mordecai would be honored instead. What a reversal! What a shock!
I had to go back a couple of times to clarify dates & times. It seems like these people never slept!
I was thinking how the Jews might have (did they?) taken advantage of the decree to destroy their enemies, because I know it would happen today. Get carried away by emotion & strike down anyone who looked sideways at you. But then I see that they didn't take any plunder on the 2 days they killed their enemies. That's impressive. They could have.
What a feeling to be free from those who hate you & make your life miserable. Makes me think of heaven & the party we will have up there. No more sin. No more struggle to stay connected to God & hear His voice. Nothing to distract, nothing between.
I bet there were so many things to include in the Bible, but God knew exactly what would help us the most.
Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
ReplyDeleteThat fits pretty tightly with 6:6 Haman thought to himself, "Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?" hee hee -- can you imagine him leading the horse and shouting his proclamation through clenched teeth.
I thought it was pretty insightful of Haman's advisiors when they said "this man . . . is of Jewish birth, you will never succeed in your plans against him. It will be fatal to continue opposing him." This statement makes me think that the "fear of the Jews" was well known in Media Persia; it makes me wonder about the type of people that planned to slaughter them. And I wonder what Zaresh (Haman's wife) thought when she heard those words from the advisors, and then lived to see her husband and 10 sons impaled on the pole. Remember, she's the one that thought of the pole in the first place (5:14)
Esther does another uninvited entrance in 8:3 - - I wonder if she is as nervous this time; I wonder if she would have been killed in the palace - - it kindof indicates that she would not in 8:6; so her plea wasn't for her own life, but the Jewish race.
In 8:15 it said the people of Susa (not just the Jews) celebrated the new decree. This new decree would mean a lot of turmoil in their city -- lots of fighting -- their celebration must have been simply because they cared about their Jewish neighbors) Maybe everyone hated Haman, and were so thrilled to have Mordecai take his place, that they were all about Mordecai's leadership.
Not sure the evangelistic idea of 8:17 is a change of heart type of conversion!!
9:2 "no one could make a stand against them"
and yes Chris -- I love the thought of connecting this story with the celebration of heaven, a time when our enemies will be destroyed 9:20 says it for me! "when their sorrow was turned into gladness and their mourning into joy!!"
I can see David penning these 2 psalms when the ark of the covenant was brought back to Jerusalem (the 2nd time) by him.
ReplyDeletev4 why the praise? Because God delights in His people.
The call in v5 for true lovers to break out into praise. Why would you praise your Lover who has taken such good care of you & provided for you always?
I see it as a call for true worshipers to praise, get up, worship with your your whole heart & body. Dance, lift your hands & worship your Lover, your King.
150 says to praise Him in His holy house & in the open skies. Where ever you find yourself, worship, praise your Creator for His magnificent greatness.
I consider it a privilege to praise God. If I'm not, then am I living with a grateful, open & contented heart or a closed, selfish heart?
Chris, the wording of the message brought out 2 thoughts for me!
ReplyDeleteFirst the "True Lovers" - wow; does that ever fit with our SOS reading? Where the lover and the lovee are praising each other and delighting in each other? Great illustration of worship!!
Also "praise Him in the open skies -- or maybe, in the case of our winter weather; the skies that open and pour down rain; remember what Dear Jesus said to embrace the sorrow, well tie that in with praising God in the blessing of the rain --
Some contrasts in 149 praise Him with the tambourine and harp. The tambourine is loud, jangly, percusive. The harp is gentle, flowing - - a good way for David to show that there are many different styles of praise.
Praise Him with dancing . . . sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Another illustration, as you pointed out Chris, that it's wherever you find yourself.
What a great way for David to end his book -- it's like, The moral of the story is . . . to PRAISE GOD! In fact, everything that breaths should praise Him for His mighty works and his unequaled greatness!
oooo, great way to contrast the harp & tambourine. Different styles of worship. Nice thought!
ReplyDelete7:10 "I am my lover's. I'm all he wants. I'm all the world to him!..." Wow, wouldn't it be nice to hear those words from a human mouth & have the capacity or innocence to believe them? Unfortunately innocence is lost way too early & we are such a manipulative people that everything is viewed through self-protective lenses.
ReplyDeleteIt's so far from the Garden of Eden & the relationship that God desired to have with us & with each other. I think this is why God waits to come back. It takes a lot longer to woo His children, to convince them (us) that He really is madly in love with us & really does want to spend forever with us.
We're so confused about what love really means. He has to undo the warped thinking, get the roots of doubt & lack of value that are so very deeply ingrained in us & then plant true love & guard, water & weed around it every moment.
So much vested interest alone prove His love but we are very selfish & thick headed. He's going to be just as relieved as we are when we're finally in heaven. But you can imagine the sorrow of rejection also after all that time & care put into 1 soul that rejects Him, let alone millions!
8:4 again the warning of not stirring up love until we are ready for it. How do you know though? I'm sure we all thought we were.
v7 "Love can't be bought, love can't be sold—it's not to be found in the marketplace." Hmmm, so different from what we know today. This is pretty much all we know & are taught, especially in the media. But God's love is totally this way, it's a gift, we don't earn it & we don't lose it. God still will mourn about satan being lost forever. God will still love the sinners who reject His grace. Pretty odd to think about it that way though.
The end of 8 I see a small picture of Jesus, leaving heaven. He can't enjoy it without us, so He gave it all up in pursuit of our souls. Is 53 says that He saw the reward of His sufferings & was satisfied. The man tells Solomon to keep his vineyards, he has his true love & that's all that matters to him. Jesus gave up His omnipresence, to be forever in human form, so He could pursue us & be with us forever. He also risked all of heaven, because 1 little slip & He would have lost it all, just because He sought His true love - us.
Chris, I appreciate the way you have looked at love through the words of SOS - - Love is what the Bible's focus is; and SOS is one more way He tries to communicate His love for us; using the courtship of a man and woman to show how deeply and unconditionally He loves us and sees past our weaknesses and faults. Where we bring brokenness and insecurity into the relationship, He brings healing and acceptance. Where we bring defects and ugliness, He sees wholeness and beauty.
ReplyDelete7:11 and 12 Let's spend the night . . Let's get up early - - our love, our worship is a lifestyle, not just a couple of hours on the weekend or in the evening. We live in His presence and long for that presence.
8:6,7 Love is as strong as death (Jesus showed that) Love flashes like fire, waters cannot quench love, rivers can't drown it - - reminds me of Romans 8:38,39 -- Nothing can separate us from His love.
Loved your marketplace thoughts Chris -- Love can't be bought or sold -- His love is a gift to us; will we accept it with awe and wonder - - do we grow callused to His love and fall into entitlement; or do we delight each day in His love, looking for ways to return it? the first love flush of amazed joy!
8:12 my vineyard is mine to give - - my love is mine to give; God will not force me, won't manipulate me, won't waken it before I am ready. He is patient, He will win my heart; I'm thinking of 1st Cor 13 True love, His love is: patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails -- a grand thought to end the last Thursday of 2011 on!
I really like how you took 7:11, 12 about worship being a lifestyle & not just a 2 think we do on Sabbaths.
ReplyDeleteAnd 8:12...wow, I have something to give! Nice thought. I realize that when I stop living with closed hands & open them up. It's like carrying around a bag with stuff in it but never opening it to share with others & I forget what's in there because I never look at it as what I can give. Really like that.
Looking for ways to return to His love, hadn't thought about that either. You've given me a lot to think about as I drive this morning! Thanks!
Interesting isn't it how everyone who bought, sold, traded, & partied with Babylon/Great Whore laments at her destruction...but not too closely. They don't want to get "burned" either. They're really bummed though because now the party's over. They're not bummed because they realize they were wrong in what they did.
ReplyDeleteI can see a lot of allusions to world powers in here saying what shame that their "benefactor" is gone but trying to be PC about it so they might still carry on if another one should show up. They don't get that it's all over.
In 19:7 or 8 it says the the Lamb's wife has made herself ready. So Jesus (Lamb) returns for His wife (His people). Not a physical church, but these are the ones described in 12:11 & 14:12. They've kept themselves pure through it all & they are given His righteousness v8 as a bridal gown.
All throughout the Bible God's people are depicted as His bride & I really like how Revelation keeps that same theme all the way to the end.
Hmmm, so the Great Whore must be just the opposite. So called Christians who have not put God first in everything in their lives. It was just a convenience for them. They never spent time developing their relationship with Jesus so it was easy for them to follow off after people who spoke half truths. So important to study out things for ourselves & to get to know God's voice of Truth now. It only becomes clearer as I listen to it & obey it, not argue with it.
Wow, every one of God's children in heaven looking thru the books during the 1,000 yrs.(20:4-6). Everyone else is dead. Here are the 2 resurrections that Jesus spoke of in John 5:28,29. Definitely best to be in the 1st! Course to be living during that time too...wow! the stuff that would be happening. Either way though, just being faithful & being there in heaven, I just wanna be there!
End of 20 shows the Judgment to be at the end of the world, not when each person dies. Another reason why people don't go to heaven when they die. They don't know yet. But I'm sure people take this out of context too.
What a great promise to look forward to in 21:3-5. God living among us. We'll get to see & talk to Him - all 3 of them!
Such vivid, beautiful descriptions of heaven & us standing by the sea of glass, praising & worshiping forever with Jesus! Just love to meditate on these word pictures. So much left open for the imagination to dwell on & never get tired of dreaming what heaven will be like. And we're not even close! Can't wait!
I just feel filled up after the reading today; that on top of the call to love yesterday! I'm so glad the Bible ends on the promise of living with God! and, according to HIS words - - it'll be soon:)
ReplyDeleteThe world is swirling down into two main traps it sounds like, immorality and a desire for extravagant luxery (18:3) That really does sum up what humanity naturally leans toward - - and at the heart of it all is glorifying self (18:7) Our only hope is that connection with Christ and following the Lamb wherever He goes.
There is a call in 18:20 to rejoice of the complete destruction and end to evil in 18:20-21; and the mighty angel throwing the millstone (the millstone of sin that we all battle against) shows what a weight and horror sin is to all of heaven. That mighty angel is anxious to throw down evil so that Babylon will "never be found again!!"
And after rejoicing over the fate of evil, we now turn our attention to praising God! 19:1
Twice here in the end, John is so overcome with God's incredible victory that he falls down to worship the angel/messenger. The angel doesn't scold - but just redirects John to God. This is an important lesson for us, to redirect all honor to God.
I love the thought that John names the rider on the white horse with the same language he uses in John 1:1-5. It's Jesus, his dear friend. How wonderful to see His Jesus now as the Victor, as the God that Jesus once claimed to be when He walked the earth:)
I like the sound in 19:20 that the beast and the false prophet were captured & destroyed; Satan is chained - - evil is done, over - hallelujah!
And how could we end the year on a more joyful note than the description of the home God has prepared for us? Thank you Lord! Look! (Rev 21:3) God's home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. HE will wipe every tear from their eyes!!" This picture to me is worth everything. It will be a beautiful place to live, yes -- but the thought of living with God far outweighs any other picture for me. I am not worthy, but I am so very grateful that He loves me and want me to be part of His family.
God gives His people favor in the eyes of those over them. Paul was treated very humanly for being a prisoner. I'm sure this also had to do with being a Roman citizen. The soldiers on the ship had reason to doubt Paul.
ReplyDeleteThey didn't believe in His God, probably never had heard of Him AND one of His followers was in their power as a prisoner. Why should they listen to him? But as God protected them & Paul when the viper bit him & through all those that were healed, seeds were planted that Paul's God was the true God. Their lives might never have been touched except for Paul being in a prisoner.
Same for the people of Malta. God will take us to extremes to reach even 1 soul. When I look at it from this perspective, why do I whine? Because I'm selfish & want it all easy. I'm glad God pursues us, even if it means we're uncomfortable at times.
The last part of the verse in Isaiah that Paul quoted to the Jews has always bothered me. It's Is 6:9,10. We won't listen & stick our fingers in our ears to keep from listening. Shut our eyes so we don't see & (MSG)"...so they won't have to deal with me face-to-face and let me heal them."
Why wouldn't we want healing? It involves change, we have to move out of our comfort zone. It's painful, we might lose friends & aquaintance's we've known for years. Even if they've caused us pain we don't like the change. That's how it is with sin in our lives too. It's what we know. Sadly, many times we choose the sin, the lifestyle, the belief, the people, over healing & truth. All because of change.
We could be free, happier than ever & living like Paul was at the end. Ministering to others; his door always open; his life not important; totally abandoned to God & His will for him. Great example!
You're right Linda, great way to end the year. The picture of our home in heaven & seeing God face to face & the example of Paul; living not for himself, but willing to be spent however God needed him to be so others could be there too.
I'm guessing that Paul really cared about Julius; as a person, as a friend - - that's just the way Paul was wired. He tried to Save the King Agrippa, Felix, and Festus - - even though they had the power to condemn him. So I'm guessing Paul was after Julius's heart as well. What an example of caring about people and wanting them to share eternity with us!! (and remember, we're not talking about our best friends in this context. For Paul, it was the guy who was withholding his freedom - his captor)
ReplyDelete27:3 -- Julius was very kind to Paul -- sounds like Paul achieves friendship and trust.
It appears that Paul commanded respect wherever he went. I'm guessing that is because his focus was not centered on earthly problems & plans - - he was totally focused on God; centered in Him; abandoned to Him. THAT is what got the attention of those soldiers and caused them to sit up and listen when Paul spoke.
God worked it out so that anyone that left Paul's side would be lost. That's why the soldiers would loose out if they took the life boat (or, in this case - the death boat).
27:20 it was when "all hope was gone" that the men finally put aside their strategies and plans and listened to the one that had the direct link with God. and I LOVE how Paul points them away from himself and to the One that can help: vs 23 says "the God to whom I belong and whome I serve stood beside me . . and granted safety to everyone . . . so take courage! For I believe in God!" I have been in scarey situations before, and I find great peace and courage when I look to a person near me who remains calm. Paul changed the whole outlook of this crew.
and another picture of trust - - the commanding officer wanted to spare Paul. He must have admired Paul's courage, His relationship with Paul, His friendship.
(Can't you see Paul giving Bible studies on the boat? What a captive receptive audience he must have had!!!)
Rome was his next target - the Jews there, Paul goes at it again. Arguments (not much has changed between Paul's day and ours), and Paul's final word on the whole discussion. If we close our eyes and ears, the message will move on to others.
Wouldn't you like to have been one of the people that stopped by and visited Paul?? He would have welcomed you, and no one would have tried to stop him (that's really a neat little thought! Paul had free reign for proclaiming God's word right in the heart of Pagan Rome!!) -- but wait, we can read his words, or some of his words in this special Book that we just completed!! What a blessing 2011 has been.