Questions questions there are always questions galore L-rd. Guess we were made as inquisiting people seeking answers to enlarge our knowledge. We run to and fro to find the answers but not all the answers can be found.
You seem to sit and lesson to the debates going on, just to see were we are all coming from. How far have we advanced in our intimacy with you, for it is by our questions and answers that tell of our growth.
Have we learn to know Your will?
Have we studied Your Word to follow Your character?
What attributes of Yours have we pick up?
Who’s path are we trotting on?
We all seem to have an opinion, even to things we know nothing about. Everyone wants to be heard even if they are just airing out their head. Didn’t Scripture say “silence is golden”, no, that is one of man’s sayings. Very recently a friend made an astounding statement “We don’t want the G-d in us to be overcome by the character of the humanist in us.” Scripture does say in Ps. 32:3 “When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.” Therefore through all my questions, pleas and cries, I eventually learned what is needed to be repented of, and thanking a friend for not remaining silent.
And in 1 Pet. 2:15 “For so is the will of G-d, that with well doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.” In paraphrasing, “ignorance is no excuse of the Law,” and I heard a quote from Arthur Burt once saying: “G-d doesn’t need my wisdom but He can do without my ignorance!” So some questions need to be asked to keep from being ignorant.
When You have heard enough of our debates, You step up to the plate to take matters now into Your own hand to straighten out the mess we have dug for ourselves. Surprisingly You did not answer any question directly, in fact seemed to avoid them all together. Why is that? Are all our questions tribal to You? I do not think so, but maybe we are not asking the right questions.
We are not to be challenging You or debating as if we know better or have found a better way. Many times we speak as if in Your name when it is really not. And people follow a blind Shepard for lack of discernment.
What we need is more holy fear, more reverence to You and Your word. For it says in
Prov. 9:10 The fear of the L-rd is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. And in Ps. 111:10 The fear of the L-rd is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever.
In all the questions one has asked, You seem to politely put us all back into our place just by not answering a single one of the direct questions, but reminding us who’s great and marvelous plan everything was in the first place.
Who is in control is the one that created everything, not the creation.
Those six marvelous questions You came back with reminds us that we are but clay in the Potter’s hand. Having Your favor from time to time did not make us surpass the Creator in all seeing and all wisdom.
Those therefore that would thrive must have an eye to Your blessing, and acknowledge their obligations to You for Your blessing. The last days of a good person sometimes prove their best days, their last works their best works, their last comforts their best comforts; for Your path, like that of the morning-light, shines more and more to the perfect day.
In respect of outward prosperity You are pleased sometimes to make the latter end of a good person’s life more comfortable than the former part of it has been, and strangely to outdo the expectations of Your afflicted people, who thought they should never live to see better days, that we may not despair even in the depths of adversity. We know not what good times we may yet be reserved for in our latter end.
What we do know is that Your DNA was placed in us; all we need to do is let it shine forth as we serve You without all those doubting questions for we know all things are done for Your glory. We see only in part but You see the whole picture and we place our trust in You.
Compared to a Raven
Job. 38:41 Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and G-d feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Matt. 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
According to the Jews there are three sorts of ravens, the black raven, the raven of the valley, which is said to be white, and the raven whose head is like a dove. The raven is a black carnivorous bird Proverbs 30:17; The Hebrew oreb is applied to the several species of the crow family. Fowls of very little worth, and disregarded by men, and odious to them, as well as unclean by the Law; (Solomon 5:11 Forbidden as food Leviticus 11:15 ; Deuteronomy 14:14 for it is unclean) and yet these are taken care of by G-d.
As ravenous beasts, so ravenous birds, are fed by the divine Providence. Who but G-d provides for the raven his food? Man does not; he takes care only of those creatures that are, or may be, useful to him. But G-d has a regard to all the works of His hands, even the meanest and least valuable. The ravens' young ones are in a special manner necessitous and G-d supplies them, Ps. 147:9. G-d's feeding the fowls, especially these fowls in Matt. 6:26, is an encouragement to us to trust Him for our daily bread.
Raven – Transition from the noble lioness to the croaking raven. Though man dislikes it, as of ill omen, G-d cares for it, as for all His creatures.
1. What distress the young ravens are often in: As soon as they are able to fly they turn them out of their nests, and even drive them out of the country where they are; when, as it is said in Job 38:41, they wander for lack of meat. The old ones, they say, neglect them, and do not provide for them as other birds do for their young: and indeed those that are ravenous to others are commonly barbarous to their own, and unnatural.
2. What they are supposed to do in that distress: They cry, for they are noisy clamorous creatures, and this is interpreted as crying to G-d, who gibes it to them. It being the cry of nature, it is looked upon as directed to the G-d of nature. The putting of so favourable a construction as this upon the cries of the young ravens may encourage us in our prayers, though we can but cry, Abba, Father.
3. What G-d does for them. Some way or other He provides for them, so that they grow up, and come to maturity. And He that takes this care of the young ravens certainly will care for His people or theirs.
The providence of G-d is so much concerned for such worthless creatures, the people of G-d, and disciples of the Messiah, ought by no means to distrust it: for as it follows, The Hebrews acknowledge this, that the least and meanest of creatures are fed by G-d. Do not you differ from them? Are you not much more excellent than they? And if G-d feeds and provides for inferior creatures, such as are very mean and contemptible, how much more will He not provide for you? There is a passage in the Talmud, which has great affinity to this of Y’Shua and appears to have in it pretty much of the like kind of reasoning. In the Mishna. This, being but one instance of many of the divine compassion, may give us occasion to think how much good our G-d does, every day, beyond what we are aware of.
Luke 12:24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and G-d feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
Matt. 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
According to the Jews there are three sorts of ravens, the black raven, the raven of the valley, which is said to be white, and the raven whose head is like a dove. The raven is a black carnivorous bird Proverbs 30:17; The Hebrew oreb is applied to the several species of the crow family. Fowls of very little worth, and disregarded by men, and odious to them, as well as unclean by the Law; (Solomon 5:11 Forbidden as food Leviticus 11:15 ; Deuteronomy 14:14 for it is unclean) and yet these are taken care of by G-d.
As ravenous beasts, so ravenous birds, are fed by the divine Providence. Who but G-d provides for the raven his food? Man does not; he takes care only of those creatures that are, or may be, useful to him. But G-d has a regard to all the works of His hands, even the meanest and least valuable. The ravens' young ones are in a special manner necessitous and G-d supplies them, Ps. 147:9. G-d's feeding the fowls, especially these fowls in Matt. 6:26, is an encouragement to us to trust Him for our daily bread.
Raven – Transition from the noble lioness to the croaking raven. Though man dislikes it, as of ill omen, G-d cares for it, as for all His creatures.
1. What distress the young ravens are often in: As soon as they are able to fly they turn them out of their nests, and even drive them out of the country where they are; when, as it is said in Job 38:41, they wander for lack of meat. The old ones, they say, neglect them, and do not provide for them as other birds do for their young: and indeed those that are ravenous to others are commonly barbarous to their own, and unnatural.
2. What they are supposed to do in that distress: They cry, for they are noisy clamorous creatures, and this is interpreted as crying to G-d, who gibes it to them. It being the cry of nature, it is looked upon as directed to the G-d of nature. The putting of so favourable a construction as this upon the cries of the young ravens may encourage us in our prayers, though we can but cry, Abba, Father.
3. What G-d does for them. Some way or other He provides for them, so that they grow up, and come to maturity. And He that takes this care of the young ravens certainly will care for His people or theirs.
The providence of G-d is so much concerned for such worthless creatures, the people of G-d, and disciples of the Messiah, ought by no means to distrust it: for as it follows, The Hebrews acknowledge this, that the least and meanest of creatures are fed by G-d. Do not you differ from them? Are you not much more excellent than they? And if G-d feeds and provides for inferior creatures, such as are very mean and contemptible, how much more will He not provide for you? There is a passage in the Talmud, which has great affinity to this of Y’Shua and appears to have in it pretty much of the like kind of reasoning. In the Mishna. This, being but one instance of many of the divine compassion, may give us occasion to think how much good our G-d does, every day, beyond what we are aware of.
Hydrologic Cycle
Rain is well known that rain falls copiously in thunder-storms. The flash is first seen, the clap is next heard, and last the rain descends. The lightning travels all lengths in no perceivable succession of time. Sound is propagated at the rate of 1142 feet in a second. Rain travels still more slowly, and will be seen sooner or later according to the weight of the drops, and the distance of the cloud from the place of the spectator.
Now the flash, the clap, and the rain, take place all in the same moment, but are discernible by us in the succession already mentioned, and for the reasons given above.
Lighting is represented as coming immediately from the hand of G-d.
Thunder, the clap is the effect of the lightning, which causes a vacuum in that part of the atmosphere through which it passes; the air rushing in to restore the equilibrium may cause much of the noise that is heard in the clap.
How does the thunder cause rain? By the most accurate and incontestable experiments it is proved that water is a composition of two elastic airs or gases as they are called, oxygen and hydrogen. In 100 parts of water there are 88 1/4 of oxygen, and 11 3/4 of hydrogen. Pass a succession of electric sparks through water by means of a proper apparatus, and the two gases are produced in the proportions mentioned above. The rain descending after the flash and the peal and the electric spark or matter of lightning, passing through the atmosphere, ignites and decomposes the oxygen and hydrogen, which explode, and the water which was formed of these two falls down in the form of rain. The explosion of the gases, as well as the rushing in of the circumambient air to restore the equilibrium, will account for the clap and peal: as the decomposition and ignition of them will account for the water or rain which is the attendant of a thunder storm. Thus by the lightning of thunder G-d causes it to rain on the earth. How marvelous and instructive are his ways!
Dew is a dense moist vapour, found on the earth in spring and summer mornings, in the form of a muzzling rain and appears to differ from rain as less from more. Its origin and matters are doubtless from the vapors and exhalations that rise from the earth and water.
Ice is a solid, transparent, and brittle body, formed of water by means of cold. Some philosophers suppose that ice is only the re-establishment of water in its natural state; that the mere absence of fire is sufficient to account for this re-establishment; and that the fluidity of water is a real fusion, like that of metals exposed to the action of fire; and differing only in this, that a greater portion of fire is necessary to one than the other. Ice, therefore, is supposed to be the natural state of water; so that in its natural state water is solid, and becomes fluid only by the action of fire, as solid metallic bodies are brought into a state of fusion by the same means. Ice is lighter than water, its specific gravity being to that of water as eight to nine. This rarefaction of ice is supposed to be owing to the air-bubbles produced in water by freezing, and which, being considerably larger in proportion to the water frozen, render the body so much specifically lighter; hence ice always floats on water. The air-bubbles, during their production, acquire a great expansive power, so as to burst the containing vessels, be they ever so strong.
Hoar-frost is the coagulation of dew, in frosty mornings, on the grass. It consists of an assemblage of little crystals of ice, which are of various figures, according to the different disposition of the vapors when met and condensed by the cold. Is it enough to say that hoar-frost is water deposited from the atmosphere at a low temperature, so as to produce coagulation?
25-28 After the great flood, the whole world was a wilderness, and there were no men to irrigate or till the ground. In the pre-flood world, there had been no rain (Gen. 2:5), but the ground had been watered by a daily mist, or dew, and by a system of rivers fed by artesian springs emerging from the great deep, a vast system of underground pressurized reservoirs. The prehistoric water above the firmament and the great deep had been dissipated at the flood, so G-d had to devise a new system for watering the earth. This he accomplished by activating the marvelous engine which we know today as the hydrologic cycle. See Gen. 7:11.
In directing the course of the rain He does not neglect the wilderness, the desert land, where no man is. Since rain fails also on places uninhabited by man, it cannot be that man guides its course. Such rain, though man cannot explain the reason for it, is not lost. G-d has some wise design in it.
Now the flash, the clap, and the rain, take place all in the same moment, but are discernible by us in the succession already mentioned, and for the reasons given above.
Lighting is represented as coming immediately from the hand of G-d.
Thunder, the clap is the effect of the lightning, which causes a vacuum in that part of the atmosphere through which it passes; the air rushing in to restore the equilibrium may cause much of the noise that is heard in the clap.
How does the thunder cause rain? By the most accurate and incontestable experiments it is proved that water is a composition of two elastic airs or gases as they are called, oxygen and hydrogen. In 100 parts of water there are 88 1/4 of oxygen, and 11 3/4 of hydrogen. Pass a succession of electric sparks through water by means of a proper apparatus, and the two gases are produced in the proportions mentioned above. The rain descending after the flash and the peal and the electric spark or matter of lightning, passing through the atmosphere, ignites and decomposes the oxygen and hydrogen, which explode, and the water which was formed of these two falls down in the form of rain. The explosion of the gases, as well as the rushing in of the circumambient air to restore the equilibrium, will account for the clap and peal: as the decomposition and ignition of them will account for the water or rain which is the attendant of a thunder storm. Thus by the lightning of thunder G-d causes it to rain on the earth. How marvelous and instructive are his ways!
Dew is a dense moist vapour, found on the earth in spring and summer mornings, in the form of a muzzling rain and appears to differ from rain as less from more. Its origin and matters are doubtless from the vapors and exhalations that rise from the earth and water.
Ice is a solid, transparent, and brittle body, formed of water by means of cold. Some philosophers suppose that ice is only the re-establishment of water in its natural state; that the mere absence of fire is sufficient to account for this re-establishment; and that the fluidity of water is a real fusion, like that of metals exposed to the action of fire; and differing only in this, that a greater portion of fire is necessary to one than the other. Ice, therefore, is supposed to be the natural state of water; so that in its natural state water is solid, and becomes fluid only by the action of fire, as solid metallic bodies are brought into a state of fusion by the same means. Ice is lighter than water, its specific gravity being to that of water as eight to nine. This rarefaction of ice is supposed to be owing to the air-bubbles produced in water by freezing, and which, being considerably larger in proportion to the water frozen, render the body so much specifically lighter; hence ice always floats on water. The air-bubbles, during their production, acquire a great expansive power, so as to burst the containing vessels, be they ever so strong.
Hoar-frost is the coagulation of dew, in frosty mornings, on the grass. It consists of an assemblage of little crystals of ice, which are of various figures, according to the different disposition of the vapors when met and condensed by the cold. Is it enough to say that hoar-frost is water deposited from the atmosphere at a low temperature, so as to produce coagulation?
25-28 After the great flood, the whole world was a wilderness, and there were no men to irrigate or till the ground. In the pre-flood world, there had been no rain (Gen. 2:5), but the ground had been watered by a daily mist, or dew, and by a system of rivers fed by artesian springs emerging from the great deep, a vast system of underground pressurized reservoirs. The prehistoric water above the firmament and the great deep had been dissipated at the flood, so G-d had to devise a new system for watering the earth. This he accomplished by activating the marvelous engine which we know today as the hydrologic cycle. See Gen. 7:11.
In directing the course of the rain He does not neglect the wilderness, the desert land, where no man is. Since rain fails also on places uninhabited by man, it cannot be that man guides its course. Such rain, though man cannot explain the reason for it, is not lost. G-d has some wise design in it.
Magnificent Six Questions
Noticed in all of Job’s problems and questions, G-d does not answerer a one of them. If He had we would have made a doctrine out of it. G-d proceeds to ask Job many puzzling questions instead, to convince him of his ignorance, and so to shame him for his folly in prescribing to Him. If we will but try ourselves with such interrogatories as these, we shall soon be brought to own that what we know is nothing in comparison with what we know not.
Job is here challenged to give an account of six things:--
I. Of the springs of the morning, the day-spring from on high, 38:12-15.
2. Of the springs of the sea, 38:16. G-d's way in the government of the world is said to be in the sea, and in the great waters Ps. 77:19, intimating that it is hidden from us and not to be pried into by us.
3. Of the gates of death, 38:16. Man knows not his time. Let us make it sure that the gates of heaven shall be opened to us on the other side death, and then we need not fear the opening of the gates of death, though it is a way we are to go but once.
4. Of the breadth of the earth, 38:18. The divine perfection is longer than the earth and broader than the sea; it is therefore presumption for us, who perceive not the breadth of the earth, to dive into the depth of G-d's counsels.
5. Of the place and way of light and darkness, 38:19. Light is not to be located in a certain place or situation. Neither does it simply appear, or disappear, instantaneously. Light is traveling! It dwells in a ‘way’, always on the way to someplace else. Though usually traveling in waves, sometimes it seems to move as a stream of particles, but it is always moving. When light stops traveling, there is darkness. Thus, darkness is static; staying in place; but light is dynamic, dwelling in a way.
G-d glories in it that He forms the light and creates the darkness; and if we must take those as we find them, take those as they come, and quarrel with neither, but make the best of both, then we must, in like manner, accommodate ourselves to the peace and the evil which G-d likewise created. Isa. 45:7.
If we would, in like manner, reckon upon changes in our outward condition, we should neither in the brightest noon expect perpetual day nor in the darkest midnight despair of the return of the morning; G-d has set the one over against the other, like the day and night; and so must we, Ecc. 7:14.
6. Of the treasures of the snow and hail, 38:22-23. The direct words of G-d, in His final message to Job, are especially interesting, though still mysterious, for we know only a little about the treasures of the snow and the treasures of the hail. To serve the purposes of Providence, in G-d's fighting for His people and against His and their enemies, against the time of trouble, the day of battle and war, when G-d will either contend with the world in general (as in the deluge, when the windows of heaven were opened, and the waters fetched out of these treasures to drown a wicked world, that waged war with Heaven) or with some particular persons or parties, as when G-d out of these treasures fetched great hail-stones wherewith to fight against the Canaanites, in Joshua 10:11.
Treasures of the hail - It is easier to account for the formation of snow than of hail. Hail, however, is generally supposed to be drops of rain frozen in their passage through cold regions of the air; and the hail is always in proportion to the size of the raindrop from which it was formed. But this meteor does not appear to be formed from a single drop of water, as it is found to be composed of many small spherules frozen together, the centre sometimes soft like snow, and at other times formed of a hard nucleus, which in some cases has been of a brown colour, capable of ignition and explosion. In the description given of snow, 37:6, it has been stated that both snow and hail owe their formation to electricity; the hail being formed in the higher regions of the air, where the cold is intense, and the electric matter abundant. By this agency it is supposed that a great number of aqueous particles are brought together and frozen, and in their descent collect other particles, so that the density of the substance of the hailstone grows less and less from the centre, this being formed first in the higher regions, and the surface being collected in the lower. This theory is not in all cases supported by fact, as in some instances the centre has been found soft and snow-like, when the surface has been hard.
Hail is the only meteor of this kind, from which no apparent good is derived. Rain and dew refresh and give life to the whole vegetable world; frost, by expanding the water contained in the earth, pulverizes and renders the soil fertile; snow covers and defends vegetables from being destroyed by too severe a frost; but hail does none of these. It not only does no good, but often much harm-always some. It has a chilling, blasting effect in spring and summer, and cuts the tender plants so as to injure or totally destroy them. In short, the treasures of hail are not well known; and its use in the creation has not yet been ascertained. But frost is G-d's universal plough, by which He cultivates the whole earth.
See what folly it is to strive against G-d, who is thus prepared for battle and war, and how much it is our interest to make our peace with Him and to keep ourselves in His love. G-d can fight as effectually with snow and hail, if He pleases, as with thunder and lightning or the sword of an angel!
Do we really take time to enjoy His creation? To examine it? To sit in amazement of it? In all that we think we know we find out we know nothing at all.
Job is here challenged to give an account of six things:--
I. Of the springs of the morning, the day-spring from on high, 38:12-15.
2. Of the springs of the sea, 38:16. G-d's way in the government of the world is said to be in the sea, and in the great waters Ps. 77:19, intimating that it is hidden from us and not to be pried into by us.
3. Of the gates of death, 38:16. Man knows not his time. Let us make it sure that the gates of heaven shall be opened to us on the other side death, and then we need not fear the opening of the gates of death, though it is a way we are to go but once.
4. Of the breadth of the earth, 38:18. The divine perfection is longer than the earth and broader than the sea; it is therefore presumption for us, who perceive not the breadth of the earth, to dive into the depth of G-d's counsels.
5. Of the place and way of light and darkness, 38:19. Light is not to be located in a certain place or situation. Neither does it simply appear, or disappear, instantaneously. Light is traveling! It dwells in a ‘way’, always on the way to someplace else. Though usually traveling in waves, sometimes it seems to move as a stream of particles, but it is always moving. When light stops traveling, there is darkness. Thus, darkness is static; staying in place; but light is dynamic, dwelling in a way.
G-d glories in it that He forms the light and creates the darkness; and if we must take those as we find them, take those as they come, and quarrel with neither, but make the best of both, then we must, in like manner, accommodate ourselves to the peace and the evil which G-d likewise created. Isa. 45:7.
If we would, in like manner, reckon upon changes in our outward condition, we should neither in the brightest noon expect perpetual day nor in the darkest midnight despair of the return of the morning; G-d has set the one over against the other, like the day and night; and so must we, Ecc. 7:14.
6. Of the treasures of the snow and hail, 38:22-23. The direct words of G-d, in His final message to Job, are especially interesting, though still mysterious, for we know only a little about the treasures of the snow and the treasures of the hail. To serve the purposes of Providence, in G-d's fighting for His people and against His and their enemies, against the time of trouble, the day of battle and war, when G-d will either contend with the world in general (as in the deluge, when the windows of heaven were opened, and the waters fetched out of these treasures to drown a wicked world, that waged war with Heaven) or with some particular persons or parties, as when G-d out of these treasures fetched great hail-stones wherewith to fight against the Canaanites, in Joshua 10:11.
Treasures of the hail - It is easier to account for the formation of snow than of hail. Hail, however, is generally supposed to be drops of rain frozen in their passage through cold regions of the air; and the hail is always in proportion to the size of the raindrop from which it was formed. But this meteor does not appear to be formed from a single drop of water, as it is found to be composed of many small spherules frozen together, the centre sometimes soft like snow, and at other times formed of a hard nucleus, which in some cases has been of a brown colour, capable of ignition and explosion. In the description given of snow, 37:6, it has been stated that both snow and hail owe their formation to electricity; the hail being formed in the higher regions of the air, where the cold is intense, and the electric matter abundant. By this agency it is supposed that a great number of aqueous particles are brought together and frozen, and in their descent collect other particles, so that the density of the substance of the hailstone grows less and less from the centre, this being formed first in the higher regions, and the surface being collected in the lower. This theory is not in all cases supported by fact, as in some instances the centre has been found soft and snow-like, when the surface has been hard.
Hail is the only meteor of this kind, from which no apparent good is derived. Rain and dew refresh and give life to the whole vegetable world; frost, by expanding the water contained in the earth, pulverizes and renders the soil fertile; snow covers and defends vegetables from being destroyed by too severe a frost; but hail does none of these. It not only does no good, but often much harm-always some. It has a chilling, blasting effect in spring and summer, and cuts the tender plants so as to injure or totally destroy them. In short, the treasures of hail are not well known; and its use in the creation has not yet been ascertained. But frost is G-d's universal plough, by which He cultivates the whole earth.
See what folly it is to strive against G-d, who is thus prepared for battle and war, and how much it is our interest to make our peace with Him and to keep ourselves in His love. G-d can fight as effectually with snow and hail, if He pleases, as with thunder and lightning or the sword of an angel!
Do we really take time to enjoy His creation? To examine it? To sit in amazement of it? In all that we think we know we find out we know nothing at all.
Post-flood Ice Age
[Job 38: 11] And said, Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further: and here shall thy proud waves be stayed?[There are even hints of the post-flood Ice Age scattered throughout the book of Job. When the thermal water vapor blanket (the waters above the firmament) rained on the earth during the flood, the greenhouse environment dissolute. Snow began to fall in the polar latitudes and eventually great ice sheets fanned out over the northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. This glacial period did not last for a million years or more, as evolutionary geologist believe, but it could have persisted for several centuries.
The ice sheets did not extend into Bible lands, but they did undoubtedly affect their climates, producing much more rain, snow, and ice than occur today in those regions, known today for their heat and dryness.
Hitherto shall thou come - The tides are marvellously limited and regulated, not only by the lunar and solar attractions, but by the quantum of time also which is required to remove any part of the earth's surface from under the immediate attractive influence of the sun and moon. And this regulation takes place by means of the rotation of the earth round its own axis, which causes one thousand and forty-two miles of its equator to pass from under any given point in the heavens in one hour; and about five hundred and eighty miles in the latitude of London: so that the attracted fluid parts are every moment passing from under the direct attractive influence, and thus the tides cannot generally be raised to any extraordinary height. The attraction of the sun and moon, and the gravitation of its own parts to its own centre, which prevent too great a flux on the one hand, and too great a reflux on the other; or, in other words, too high a tide, and too deep an ebb, are also some of those bars and doors by which its proud waves are stayed, and prevented from coming farther; all being regulated by these laws of attraction by the sun and moon, the gravitation of its own parts from the sun and moon, and the diurnal motion round its own axis, by which the fluid parts, easily yielding to the above attraction, are continually moving from under the direct attractive influence.
No further - its rolling tides shall go up so far in rivers that go out of it, and then return, keeping exactly to time and place; this is said by Jehovah, the Word of G-d, and through His almighty power is tended to. Here a world of wisdom and management was necessary, in order to proportion all these things to each other, so as to procure the great benefits which result from the flux and reflux of the sea, and prevent the evils that must take place, at least occasionally, were not those bars and doors provided. It is well known that the spring-tides happen at the change and full of the moon, at which time she is in conjunction with and opposition to the sun. As these retire from their conjunction, the tides neap till about three days after the first quartered, when the tides begin again to be more and more elevated, and arrive at their maximum about the third day after the opposition. From this time the tides neap as before till the third day after the last quartered; and afterwards their daily elevations are continually increased till about the third day after the conjunction, when they recommence their leaping; the principal phenomena of the tides always taking place at or near the some points of every lunar syndic revolution.
Proud waves - though they may toss up themselves as proud men toss up their heads, for which, reason pride is ascribed to them, yet they shall not prevail, (Jer. 5:22); all this may be accommodated to the afflictions of G-d's people, which are sometimes compared to the waves and billows of the sea, (Ps. 42:7. 88:7); and these issue out of the womb of G-d's purposes and decrees, and are not the effects of chance; they are many, and threaten to overwhelm, but G-d is with His people in them, and preserves them from being overflowed by them.
Stayed - Hebrew, "a limit shall be set to." He has set the bounds and measures of them, beyond which they cannot go; see (Isa. 27:8, 45:2); and also to the world, and to the men of it, who are like a troubled sea, (Dan. 7:2-3; Isa. 57:20); and who rise, and swell, and dash against the people of G-d, being separated from them who were originally mixed with them; but the L-rd restrains their wrath and fury, and suffers them not to do His people any harm; whom He has placed in the monition of rocks out of their reach, that those proud waters cannot go over them as they threaten to do; (Ps. 76:10, 124:2-6).
It is also to be looked upon as an act of G-d's mercy to the world of mankind and an instance of His patience towards that provoking grace. Though He could easily cover the earth again with the waters of the sea, and show what the sea could do, and would do, if He would give it leave), yet He restrains them, being not willing that any should perish, and having reserved the world that now is unto fire, 2 Pet. 3:7.]
The ice sheets did not extend into Bible lands, but they did undoubtedly affect their climates, producing much more rain, snow, and ice than occur today in those regions, known today for their heat and dryness.
Hitherto shall thou come - The tides are marvellously limited and regulated, not only by the lunar and solar attractions, but by the quantum of time also which is required to remove any part of the earth's surface from under the immediate attractive influence of the sun and moon. And this regulation takes place by means of the rotation of the earth round its own axis, which causes one thousand and forty-two miles of its equator to pass from under any given point in the heavens in one hour; and about five hundred and eighty miles in the latitude of London: so that the attracted fluid parts are every moment passing from under the direct attractive influence, and thus the tides cannot generally be raised to any extraordinary height. The attraction of the sun and moon, and the gravitation of its own parts to its own centre, which prevent too great a flux on the one hand, and too great a reflux on the other; or, in other words, too high a tide, and too deep an ebb, are also some of those bars and doors by which its proud waves are stayed, and prevented from coming farther; all being regulated by these laws of attraction by the sun and moon, the gravitation of its own parts from the sun and moon, and the diurnal motion round its own axis, by which the fluid parts, easily yielding to the above attraction, are continually moving from under the direct attractive influence.
No further - its rolling tides shall go up so far in rivers that go out of it, and then return, keeping exactly to time and place; this is said by Jehovah, the Word of G-d, and through His almighty power is tended to. Here a world of wisdom and management was necessary, in order to proportion all these things to each other, so as to procure the great benefits which result from the flux and reflux of the sea, and prevent the evils that must take place, at least occasionally, were not those bars and doors provided. It is well known that the spring-tides happen at the change and full of the moon, at which time she is in conjunction with and opposition to the sun. As these retire from their conjunction, the tides neap till about three days after the first quartered, when the tides begin again to be more and more elevated, and arrive at their maximum about the third day after the opposition. From this time the tides neap as before till the third day after the last quartered; and afterwards their daily elevations are continually increased till about the third day after the conjunction, when they recommence their leaping; the principal phenomena of the tides always taking place at or near the some points of every lunar syndic revolution.
Proud waves - though they may toss up themselves as proud men toss up their heads, for which, reason pride is ascribed to them, yet they shall not prevail, (Jer. 5:22); all this may be accommodated to the afflictions of G-d's people, which are sometimes compared to the waves and billows of the sea, (Ps. 42:7. 88:7); and these issue out of the womb of G-d's purposes and decrees, and are not the effects of chance; they are many, and threaten to overwhelm, but G-d is with His people in them, and preserves them from being overflowed by them.
Stayed - Hebrew, "a limit shall be set to." He has set the bounds and measures of them, beyond which they cannot go; see (Isa. 27:8, 45:2); and also to the world, and to the men of it, who are like a troubled sea, (Dan. 7:2-3; Isa. 57:20); and who rise, and swell, and dash against the people of G-d, being separated from them who were originally mixed with them; but the L-rd restrains their wrath and fury, and suffers them not to do His people any harm; whom He has placed in the monition of rocks out of their reach, that those proud waters cannot go over them as they threaten to do; (Ps. 76:10, 124:2-6).
It is also to be looked upon as an act of G-d's mercy to the world of mankind and an instance of His patience towards that provoking grace. Though He could easily cover the earth again with the waters of the sea, and show what the sea could do, and would do, if He would give it leave), yet He restrains them, being not willing that any should perish, and having reserved the world that now is unto fire, 2 Pet. 3:7.]
Vanity of worldly wealth
As I was pondering how I never seemed to fit in this Scripture came to mind.
Matt. 8:20 “And Y’Shua said unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has no where to lay His head.”Hmm, the Son of man did not seem to fit in either, always wondering from place to place with no place to call His own or lay His head. Wow, now that set me to chewing on it – are we not to be like Him? Do we not just apply that to the good stuff, nothing that includes any pain and suffering. If we were meant to stay in one spot to fellowship or minister than why did our Leader keep moving around and notice He was not fellowshipping with the upper crust, trying to rub shoulders with the ‘name droppers.’
There has to be more to this, so lets see what this verse is trying to show us-----.
There are many resolutions for religion, produced by some sudden pangs of conviction, and taken up without due consideration that proves fruitless, and come to nothing: soon ripe, soon rotten.
Y’Shua will have him (the person that wanted to follow Him) know what he is doing, not to make a rash decision and "count the cost." He will have him weigh well the real nature and the strength of his attachment, whether it is such as will abide in the day of trial.
The Son of man was Daniel's name for the Messiah (Dan. 7:10-13), it is the name by which the L-rd ordinarily designates Himself as the Messiah - the Son of G-d manifested in the flesh of Adam; the second Adam. The Son of man has to depend on the hospitality of others, and borrow the pillow whereon He lays His head. He chose not to be self-provision but need the rest of the body to bring forth their gifting.
If He would take our nature upon Him, one would think, He should have taken it in its best estate and circumstances: no, He takes it in its worst. We are to take His nature not the other way around, and His was humility.
How well provided for the inferior creatures are, G-d provides holes for them in which they are earthed: man endeavors to destroy them, but thus they are sheltered; their holes are their castles. The birds of the air, though they take no care for themselves, yet are taken care of, and have nests (Ps. 104:17); nests in the field; some of them nests in the house; in G-d' s courts, Ps. 84:3.
How poorly the Messiah Y’Shua was provided for. It may encourage us to trust G-d for necessaries, that the beasts and birds have such good provision; and may comfort us, if we want necessaries, that our Master did so before us. Note, our Messiah Y’Shua, when He was here in the world, submitted to the disgraces and distresses of extreme poverty; for our sakes He became poor, very poor. He had not a settlement, had not a place of repose, not a house of His own, to put His head in, not a pillow of His own, to lay His head on. He and His disciples lived upon the charity of well-disposed people that ministered to Him of their substance, Lk. 8:2. The Messiah submitted to this, not only that He might in all respects humble Himself, and fulfill the Scriptures, which spoke of Him as poor and needy, but that He might show us the vanity of worldly wealth, and teach us to look upon it with a holy contempt; that He might purchase better things for us, and so make us rich, 2 Cor. 8:9.
The Messiah saw his heart, and answered to the thoughts of that, and therein teaches us all how to come to the Father. At first, the scribe's resolve seems to have been sudden; and Y’Shua would have us, when we take upon us a profession of religion, to sit down and count the cost (Lk. 14:28), to do it intelligently, and with consideration, and choose the way of godliness, not because we know no other, but because we know no better. Let him that will follow the Messiah know the worst of it, and expect to lie hard, and fare hard. If he follows Him, he cannot expect to fare better than He fared.
An unwilling mind never wants an excuse. Many are hindered from and in the way of serious godliness, by an over-concern for their families and relations; these lawful things undo us all, and our duty to G-d is neglected, and postponed, under color of discharging our debts to the world; here therefore we have need to double our guard.
Matt. 8:20 “And Y’Shua said unto him, the foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has no where to lay His head.”Hmm, the Son of man did not seem to fit in either, always wondering from place to place with no place to call His own or lay His head. Wow, now that set me to chewing on it – are we not to be like Him? Do we not just apply that to the good stuff, nothing that includes any pain and suffering. If we were meant to stay in one spot to fellowship or minister than why did our Leader keep moving around and notice He was not fellowshipping with the upper crust, trying to rub shoulders with the ‘name droppers.’
There has to be more to this, so lets see what this verse is trying to show us-----.
There are many resolutions for religion, produced by some sudden pangs of conviction, and taken up without due consideration that proves fruitless, and come to nothing: soon ripe, soon rotten.
Y’Shua will have him (the person that wanted to follow Him) know what he is doing, not to make a rash decision and "count the cost." He will have him weigh well the real nature and the strength of his attachment, whether it is such as will abide in the day of trial.
The Son of man was Daniel's name for the Messiah (Dan. 7:10-13), it is the name by which the L-rd ordinarily designates Himself as the Messiah - the Son of G-d manifested in the flesh of Adam; the second Adam. The Son of man has to depend on the hospitality of others, and borrow the pillow whereon He lays His head. He chose not to be self-provision but need the rest of the body to bring forth their gifting.
If He would take our nature upon Him, one would think, He should have taken it in its best estate and circumstances: no, He takes it in its worst. We are to take His nature not the other way around, and His was humility.
How well provided for the inferior creatures are, G-d provides holes for them in which they are earthed: man endeavors to destroy them, but thus they are sheltered; their holes are their castles. The birds of the air, though they take no care for themselves, yet are taken care of, and have nests (Ps. 104:17); nests in the field; some of them nests in the house; in G-d' s courts, Ps. 84:3.
How poorly the Messiah Y’Shua was provided for. It may encourage us to trust G-d for necessaries, that the beasts and birds have such good provision; and may comfort us, if we want necessaries, that our Master did so before us. Note, our Messiah Y’Shua, when He was here in the world, submitted to the disgraces and distresses of extreme poverty; for our sakes He became poor, very poor. He had not a settlement, had not a place of repose, not a house of His own, to put His head in, not a pillow of His own, to lay His head on. He and His disciples lived upon the charity of well-disposed people that ministered to Him of their substance, Lk. 8:2. The Messiah submitted to this, not only that He might in all respects humble Himself, and fulfill the Scriptures, which spoke of Him as poor and needy, but that He might show us the vanity of worldly wealth, and teach us to look upon it with a holy contempt; that He might purchase better things for us, and so make us rich, 2 Cor. 8:9.
The Messiah saw his heart, and answered to the thoughts of that, and therein teaches us all how to come to the Father. At first, the scribe's resolve seems to have been sudden; and Y’Shua would have us, when we take upon us a profession of religion, to sit down and count the cost (Lk. 14:28), to do it intelligently, and with consideration, and choose the way of godliness, not because we know no other, but because we know no better. Let him that will follow the Messiah know the worst of it, and expect to lie hard, and fare hard. If he follows Him, he cannot expect to fare better than He fared.
An unwilling mind never wants an excuse. Many are hindered from and in the way of serious godliness, by an over-concern for their families and relations; these lawful things undo us all, and our duty to G-d is neglected, and postponed, under color of discharging our debts to the world; here therefore we have need to double our guard.
Body Conscious World
There are many products to clean up, paint up, fix up, color it, touching up our bodies. Always to ‘improve’ on what G-d has originally given us, never satisfied with what we have becomes a way of life more than maintaining what we have to the best of our ability. Watch that cholesterol, reduce that salt, eat more roughage, exercise clubs, exercise machines, etc, a large money making industery.
The Scriptures adds another dimension to concern for the body.
The day you became a Believer, something happened to your body and you see what great care was given to its design. What immense wealth was placed into its construction.
I was taught as a child that cigarette smoking was a sin because it was harmful to the body. I do believe that smoking is harmful to the body but it is not the only practice that is harmful to the body. Obesity is rampant in the United States and most obese people probably call themselves Christians. I wonder how many of these obese people would believe that their condition is sinful? This is a taboo topic and as a Christian I have never until recently heard any minister even approach this topic. The fact is that anything that is harmful to the body or damages the body or is directly opposite to G-d's commandments should be carefully reviewed and steps should be taken to change or repent.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of G-d, and that the Spirit of G-d dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of G-d, him shall G-d destroy; for the temple of G-d is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but G-d shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the L-rd; and the L-rd for the body.
14 And G-d hath both raised up the L-rd, and will also raise us up by His own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Messiah? shall I then take the members of Messiah, and make them the members of an harlot? G-d forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the L-rd is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committed fornication sinned against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of G-d, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify G-d in your body, and in your spirit, which are G-d's.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of G-d, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto G-d, which is your reasonable service.
Your body is the temple of G-d.
1. Be careful where it goes.
2. Be careful what it does.
3. Be careful what it ponders.
4. Be careful how it reacts.
With the Spirit indwelling you, every word, every thought, and every deed is in His view.
1. The Holy Ghost knows you.
2. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses.
3. He knows your sinful acts and your holy deeds.
4. He knows you better than you do.
The purpose of the Holy Ghost is to build you up in the body of Messiah to the glory of G-d.
He regenerates (John 3:3-5).
He indwells (Rom. 8:11).
He anoints (1 John 2:27).
He baptizes (Acts 2:17-41).
He empowers (Micah 3:8).
He sanctifies (Rom. 15:16).
He comforts (John 14:16-26).
He gives joy (Rom. 14:17).
He gives discernment (1 Cor. 2:10-16).
He bears fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).
He gives gifts 1 Cor. 12:3-11).
Surrender your body to the Father and stop living for the flesh.
Stop being so vain and tenderly care for what G-d has given you and treat it as holy palace for the Holy Ghost to dwell in. Get the proper sleep, food, excercise and tender loving care -- not so much dressing up the outside. Folks beauty is only skin deep, it is what is going on in the inside that really counts.
The Scriptures adds another dimension to concern for the body.
The day you became a Believer, something happened to your body and you see what great care was given to its design. What immense wealth was placed into its construction.
I was taught as a child that cigarette smoking was a sin because it was harmful to the body. I do believe that smoking is harmful to the body but it is not the only practice that is harmful to the body. Obesity is rampant in the United States and most obese people probably call themselves Christians. I wonder how many of these obese people would believe that their condition is sinful? This is a taboo topic and as a Christian I have never until recently heard any minister even approach this topic. The fact is that anything that is harmful to the body or damages the body or is directly opposite to G-d's commandments should be carefully reviewed and steps should be taken to change or repent.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of G-d, and that the Spirit of G-d dwelleth in you?
17 If any man defile the temple of G-d, him shall G-d destroy; for the temple of G-d is holy, which temple ye are.
1 Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but G-d shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the L-rd; and the L-rd for the body.
14 And G-d hath both raised up the L-rd, and will also raise us up by His own power.
15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Messiah? shall I then take the members of Messiah, and make them the members of an harlot? G-d forbid.
16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
17 But he that is joined unto the L-rd is one spirit.
18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committed fornication sinned against his own body.
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of G-d, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify G-d in your body, and in your spirit, which are G-d's.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of G-d, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto G-d, which is your reasonable service.
Your body is the temple of G-d.
1. Be careful where it goes.
2. Be careful what it does.
3. Be careful what it ponders.
4. Be careful how it reacts.
With the Spirit indwelling you, every word, every thought, and every deed is in His view.
1. The Holy Ghost knows you.
2. He knows your strengths and your weaknesses.
3. He knows your sinful acts and your holy deeds.
4. He knows you better than you do.
The purpose of the Holy Ghost is to build you up in the body of Messiah to the glory of G-d.
He regenerates (John 3:3-5).
He indwells (Rom. 8:11).
He anoints (1 John 2:27).
He baptizes (Acts 2:17-41).
He empowers (Micah 3:8).
He sanctifies (Rom. 15:16).
He comforts (John 14:16-26).
He gives joy (Rom. 14:17).
He gives discernment (1 Cor. 2:10-16).
He bears fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).
He gives gifts 1 Cor. 12:3-11).
Surrender your body to the Father and stop living for the flesh.
Stop being so vain and tenderly care for what G-d has given you and treat it as holy palace for the Holy Ghost to dwell in. Get the proper sleep, food, excercise and tender loving care -- not so much dressing up the outside. Folks beauty is only skin deep, it is what is going on in the inside that really counts.
H e l l o from FDL
Hello -- I once was dead, but now I have risen and am here to tell you about the tunnels back to life. Choose wisely for there are only three doors - although you get a second chance, turn-abouts are unnecessary pain to pass through again and again. So I am going to take you on a mysterious ride, fasten your seat belt, grab on to what you can and throw away the rest, for not even I know where this is going.
Whenever I had the 'pleasure' of being a hospital guest, I was always alone for life keeps everybody else busy in their own schedules. G-d has indeed enriched me this ‘go round’ for I have had many visitors and calls, beautiful presents and lovely cards -- all to say we may feel all alone on this side, but we are never totally alone even though sometimes we might just their minds.
Now that I got to see both sides of the having someone or not having anyone, I would highly suggest no visitors for the first two days at least – I was in so much pain that it took all my strength just to block it off! Smiling and making nice was definitely not at the top of my list – one was gambling with their own life entering this lion’s den, but this too could have been their trial to see if they could get out without being eaten alive.
Now throughout life’s journey a lot of people may have gotten dropped into the compost pile, pushed, shoved, stepped onto – whatever it doesn’t make a difference how one got there, but how to stay out, for compost, like all other faculties in life reproduces itself. I am in the stage of my treatment of being asked whether I could pass air or did I have a bowl movement, so that set me off and running in my thoughts – do I really want to birth and produce more compost? You could even be given white chalk to drink and have albino babies for a week. Do they not know the pain it would bring on? Speaking of pain, the most useful present was a lovable teddy bear with sympathetic eyes – you just hug that old bear as close to you as possible to muffle the pain in coughing; guess it keeps you and teddy from bursting the railroad tracks wide open, plus sharing your pain with a strong friend who can ‘bear’ it. Compost is compost and we neither have to stay were we have been nor set up house there. The only necessary fruit of compost is to bury it! Stop making friends with it and enjoying the squishiness between your toes! You have been lied to, and furthermore, you have bought into that lie hook, line and sinker --- time to take a shower for we are moving upward and out of this pit of decay.
Now I have been down all three of the tunnels. Ok, so I am a slow learner, but in all fairness there was never a light shining at the end of any tunnel to say ‘pick me’. My Father knows I love to solve and work out the details, so He allows me to pick and choose the hard way. The names of the tunnels were not revealed when choosing, but discovered after closing the doors behind you. One was “MY WAY” this had lots of twist and turns, dead ends and blocks. I spent many a year in this tunnel for I could not find my way out and kept hitting walls. G-d has given free choice to all His children, so My way was the choice not of my own, but of another one that had the capability to make that choice. Some times we are but pawns in the hands of the players. If you pay close attention to the players you start to learn the strategy of the game and eventually understand you are coming into the ability to start making right choices and change the rules of the game.
The Second door “YOUR CHOICES.” If you hit this one, I am proud of you for you are moving in the right direction and there are many lessons to learn in this tunnel. This tunnel is made by your choices – now don’t be so hard on yourself – look at the role models you had, didn't have. Many times we just have to wing it, you play with what you have and learn from your mistakes, bottom line is you're pushing on - run, crawl, skip, jump; just keep moving and don’t set up house in this tunnel you are to be PASSING THROUGH.
Now I swear I spend as much time in this one as in the first, if not more, for now I felt like I had to clean up everyone’s else’s mistakes. You know the dance, two steps forward and three steps behind, shake a little, bow a little and shove right on back. This is the noisy tunnel for everyone has a opinion on everything and all mean well to just tell you how it all is – Did you ever say ‘just keep your opinion to yourselves?!’ But then that would include your own opinions, maybe this world would get along better if there was more thinking and less speaking going on, ‘but then that’s my opinion.’ Eventually you learn that it was not the right place to go - you have not enjoyed life, nor any of your own choices and whatever is behind this door has got to be right, for there is no other choice to make at this time. You are being blown out of here, for you are ready to make more right shoices.
Door number three, come on down!! I thought you would never pick this door; it has been a long time coming!! This door is called “His Way”, so might as well say goodby for there are going to be a lot of changes and I need you to pay attention. I can tell you this ‘you will enjoy this trip for you are finally in the right tunnel toward bigger and better things. You can invite all your friends at a later time for you are going to become quite a promoter of this place.
Whenever I had the 'pleasure' of being a hospital guest, I was always alone for life keeps everybody else busy in their own schedules. G-d has indeed enriched me this ‘go round’ for I have had many visitors and calls, beautiful presents and lovely cards -- all to say we may feel all alone on this side, but we are never totally alone even though sometimes we might just their minds.
Now that I got to see both sides of the having someone or not having anyone, I would highly suggest no visitors for the first two days at least – I was in so much pain that it took all my strength just to block it off! Smiling and making nice was definitely not at the top of my list – one was gambling with their own life entering this lion’s den, but this too could have been their trial to see if they could get out without being eaten alive.
Now throughout life’s journey a lot of people may have gotten dropped into the compost pile, pushed, shoved, stepped onto – whatever it doesn’t make a difference how one got there, but how to stay out, for compost, like all other faculties in life reproduces itself. I am in the stage of my treatment of being asked whether I could pass air or did I have a bowl movement, so that set me off and running in my thoughts – do I really want to birth and produce more compost? You could even be given white chalk to drink and have albino babies for a week. Do they not know the pain it would bring on? Speaking of pain, the most useful present was a lovable teddy bear with sympathetic eyes – you just hug that old bear as close to you as possible to muffle the pain in coughing; guess it keeps you and teddy from bursting the railroad tracks wide open, plus sharing your pain with a strong friend who can ‘bear’ it. Compost is compost and we neither have to stay were we have been nor set up house there. The only necessary fruit of compost is to bury it! Stop making friends with it and enjoying the squishiness between your toes! You have been lied to, and furthermore, you have bought into that lie hook, line and sinker --- time to take a shower for we are moving upward and out of this pit of decay.
Now I have been down all three of the tunnels. Ok, so I am a slow learner, but in all fairness there was never a light shining at the end of any tunnel to say ‘pick me’. My Father knows I love to solve and work out the details, so He allows me to pick and choose the hard way. The names of the tunnels were not revealed when choosing, but discovered after closing the doors behind you. One was “MY WAY” this had lots of twist and turns, dead ends and blocks. I spent many a year in this tunnel for I could not find my way out and kept hitting walls. G-d has given free choice to all His children, so My way was the choice not of my own, but of another one that had the capability to make that choice. Some times we are but pawns in the hands of the players. If you pay close attention to the players you start to learn the strategy of the game and eventually understand you are coming into the ability to start making right choices and change the rules of the game.
The Second door “YOUR CHOICES.” If you hit this one, I am proud of you for you are moving in the right direction and there are many lessons to learn in this tunnel. This tunnel is made by your choices – now don’t be so hard on yourself – look at the role models you had, didn't have. Many times we just have to wing it, you play with what you have and learn from your mistakes, bottom line is you're pushing on - run, crawl, skip, jump; just keep moving and don’t set up house in this tunnel you are to be PASSING THROUGH.
Now I swear I spend as much time in this one as in the first, if not more, for now I felt like I had to clean up everyone’s else’s mistakes. You know the dance, two steps forward and three steps behind, shake a little, bow a little and shove right on back. This is the noisy tunnel for everyone has a opinion on everything and all mean well to just tell you how it all is – Did you ever say ‘just keep your opinion to yourselves?!’ But then that would include your own opinions, maybe this world would get along better if there was more thinking and less speaking going on, ‘but then that’s my opinion.’ Eventually you learn that it was not the right place to go - you have not enjoyed life, nor any of your own choices and whatever is behind this door has got to be right, for there is no other choice to make at this time. You are being blown out of here, for you are ready to make more right shoices.
Door number three, come on down!! I thought you would never pick this door; it has been a long time coming!! This door is called “His Way”, so might as well say goodby for there are going to be a lot of changes and I need you to pay attention. I can tell you this ‘you will enjoy this trip for you are finally in the right tunnel toward bigger and better things. You can invite all your friends at a later time for you are going to become quite a promoter of this place.
Prophetic Word
PROPHETIC WORD GIVEN TO THE CHURCH, (this was recorded as it was spoken out)
Revelation 3:14-21
“My children, I tell you that this morning I am here in your midst. The church that bears this name Laodicea has long since ceased to be in existence. Yet the message goes forth today as timely, as acutely as it did then. My children, I would ask you today you cry out for My presence, cry out for My hand and pleasure. As I look from heaven and behold your assembly, I see those who gather daily and know My presence and My heart, and they know My right hand extended to them. My children, my heart breaks to tell you I see others who only know Me remotely from afar. They give no thought to Me day to day and week to week. Their only purpose in coming here is to show up, to appear righteous before men. My children, I tell you, My eyes see and My ears hear. I see the things that are done in darkness, and I hear the things that are spoken behind closed doors, and I know. My children, I know your deeds. My children, you assemble here week after week expecting, hoping for, longing for, desiring for Me to do something wonderful in your midst. My children, I remind you that even Moses My servant, the most humble man on the face of the earth, cried out, ‘If I have found any favor in Your sight, Lord, show me Your glory.’ And even to Moses I spoke ‘face to face’ yet even he could not look upon My face and live. And Abraham, he was called the friend of God, he beheld My form but not My face that you seek. My children, I tell you I am ready, all of Heaven is ready, to come into this place and to touch this community and surround environs; My children, it has been prophesied, it has been spoken. It is not Me that is holding back this prophecy. My children, it is you, lukewarm, half-devoted, and more in love with the world and with pleasure than with your God. My children, I do not speak with each of you. My Spirit is at this moment going forward to convict hearts. My children, there is a day fixed in Heaven when I am coming and not just to do a miraculous work in this community but also to close the door of salvation for mankind. Many of you are dancing around that day, busy with your lives, going from place to place giving excuses, ‘Lord, tomorrow I’ll have time to be with You; tomorrow I will have time to read the Word, tomorrow I will have time to extend the hand of grace to a neighbor. And you know to whom it is I speak. You have been doing this some of you for weeks and years, and the truth is, no, you will never do this unless today you decide to step off the fence and onto My side, into My Kingdom, to be wholly and fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, not embarrassed. My children, I tell you the time is short, and tomorrow it will be shorter still. My children, I am ready move in your midst. My children, are you ready to pay the price to have Me move in your midst? That is the question before you today, and all of Heaven is awaiting your answer. There was a time when many disciples followed My Son when He walked this earth and He spoke a hard word and many walked away and shook the dust off their feet and said, ‘Who can listen to this word? It is too difficult’ and they departed. On the night of His betrayal and He asked Peter, James and John, ‘Would you pray with Me one hour?’ and they slept, not once or twice but three times were found sleeping, and the hour of His arrest came, and they could give no answer. My children, I tell you the hour of the betrayal of the world is upon you. The night where the power belongs to the evil one is upon you right now, and I ask you, are you sleeping, are you taking your rest, are the pressures of the world too much for you? I warn you, how will you fare in warfare when you stumble in a time of peace? My children, I tell you I am moving on. This day I tell you, I am about to move on and you must ask yourself are you going to move with Me or stay behind until I am lost from even your memories? My children, today is the day of salvation. I ask you are you saved? Are you secure with Me for all eternity or have you been walking the tightrope teetering left and right, seeing on the one hand My Kingdom, My glory and what you sing about, My pleasures. My children, I have pleasures, and I would extend them to you. Many of you know of them. Some of you only imagine. In My presence is fullness of joy, but many of you find your pleasure and the fullness of your joy in the things of this earth. My children, I tell you I am coming to this community and this church whether you will have Me or not. The question is when I come will you receive Me, and when I come will there be faith found on the earth? My children, I love you, My word is as true to you as it was to the Laodicean church. Those I love I rebuke and discipline. My children, I remind you that it is My kindness that leads you to repentance. It is a kind word and not a harsh word that I give you today. It is because I love you I warn you that the days are short. Those of you who have made a decision day after day to be entangled with the things of this world will not be able to extricate yourselves to follow Me. I caution you, I warn you, and I tell you this day if you have made a conscious decision to live a life of sin, as of this day the clock is running out for you. You must choose this day whom you will serve as Joshua cried out to the nation of Israel, so I cry out to you, ‘You must choose this day whom you will serve.’ Those of you who have walked in adultery, those of you who have walked in stealing, those of you who have walked in lying, those of you who have walked in lust, those of you who have walked in love of the things of the world; as of this day a line is drawn in the sand. Either you will continue in these things or you will step over that line and say, ‘Lord, I leave them behind.’ You must choose as Lot’s wife had to choose to walk face forward toward Me or look back longingly at the things of Sodom. My children, what will it be? Adultery, stealing from Me or from the men of this world? Lying? Bitterness, unforgiveness, judgment? Dishonoring your parents, abandoning your children in their hour of need? My children, I remind you, I know your deeds. I see it all. I see it all. My children, if the salt of the earth has lost its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? If the light of the world has become darkness, how will it shine? Many who were once salty before this world, many of you who were light in a dark place have become tasteless, and must be thrown out. Many of you have chosen to put a bushel basket over your light so the world cannot see the difference between you and the world. And worse, many of you have chosen to walk in sin and have dishonored My glory and My righteousness before the world. This day and this hour and this moment you must choose. There are two back doors in this assembly. For those of you who say this word is too difficult, ‘He does not expect me to be holy and righteous and to love Him with your whole heart, soul and mind’ there is an escape for you. There is no escape from hell. There is no back door out of hell. There is a front door into Heaven and a passage through one way, through the blood of Jesus Christ. My children, you can no longer after this day come into My house with filthy rags, with a sacrifice that is lame and blind and disfigured, and expect that I will receive it. I Myself because of the command and the necessity of My holiness, say to you, either gird your loins with righteousness, with purity, or walk out the back door. You must choose. My children, it is not My desire that any should leave this assembly or sanctuary and be lost. The world will welcome you with open arms and will tell you freely, ‘What in the world were you thinking anyway, trying to worship a God who is invisible, whose voice is inaudible, who covers Himself with light such as cannot be seen and whose mandates and prescriptions are so difficult no one can follow save One?’ The world will receive you with these words. My children, I have a word for you as well. For those of you who choose to stay, who will choose to bend the knee before Me at the altar and say, ‘Lord, I’m guilty; I see my sin is ever before me. Lord, take the coal from the altar and touch my lips. Lord, take the sin from my heart. I am so sorry. I knew better.’ For those of you who will bend the knee, I have a word for you. Welcome! Welcome, my son, my daughter. Enter into the joy of your reward, good and faithful servant. In these minutes that remain, you must choose. Make no mistake, if you do not choose righteousness, you are choosing the back door. If you do not choose holiness, you are choosing the back door. If you are not choosing to love Me with your whole heart, you are choosing the back door, and it will certainly slam on you as you leave. For I tell you, this day is fixed in heaven even as the day came when I gathered Noah and his sons into the ark and I closed the door, I tell you that the door is closing on this fellowship today. Make no mistake, the door is closing on this fellowship today, and either you choose to be inside or you choose to be out. What will it be? You alone must choose. I am standing here with open arms, but you must choose. Choose to come.”
Revelation 3:14-21
“My children, I tell you that this morning I am here in your midst. The church that bears this name Laodicea has long since ceased to be in existence. Yet the message goes forth today as timely, as acutely as it did then. My children, I would ask you today you cry out for My presence, cry out for My hand and pleasure. As I look from heaven and behold your assembly, I see those who gather daily and know My presence and My heart, and they know My right hand extended to them. My children, my heart breaks to tell you I see others who only know Me remotely from afar. They give no thought to Me day to day and week to week. Their only purpose in coming here is to show up, to appear righteous before men. My children, I tell you, My eyes see and My ears hear. I see the things that are done in darkness, and I hear the things that are spoken behind closed doors, and I know. My children, I know your deeds. My children, you assemble here week after week expecting, hoping for, longing for, desiring for Me to do something wonderful in your midst. My children, I remind you that even Moses My servant, the most humble man on the face of the earth, cried out, ‘If I have found any favor in Your sight, Lord, show me Your glory.’ And even to Moses I spoke ‘face to face’ yet even he could not look upon My face and live. And Abraham, he was called the friend of God, he beheld My form but not My face that you seek. My children, I tell you I am ready, all of Heaven is ready, to come into this place and to touch this community and surround environs; My children, it has been prophesied, it has been spoken. It is not Me that is holding back this prophecy. My children, it is you, lukewarm, half-devoted, and more in love with the world and with pleasure than with your God. My children, I do not speak with each of you. My Spirit is at this moment going forward to convict hearts. My children, there is a day fixed in Heaven when I am coming and not just to do a miraculous work in this community but also to close the door of salvation for mankind. Many of you are dancing around that day, busy with your lives, going from place to place giving excuses, ‘Lord, tomorrow I’ll have time to be with You; tomorrow I will have time to read the Word, tomorrow I will have time to extend the hand of grace to a neighbor. And you know to whom it is I speak. You have been doing this some of you for weeks and years, and the truth is, no, you will never do this unless today you decide to step off the fence and onto My side, into My Kingdom, to be wholly and fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ, not embarrassed. My children, I tell you the time is short, and tomorrow it will be shorter still. My children, I am ready move in your midst. My children, are you ready to pay the price to have Me move in your midst? That is the question before you today, and all of Heaven is awaiting your answer. There was a time when many disciples followed My Son when He walked this earth and He spoke a hard word and many walked away and shook the dust off their feet and said, ‘Who can listen to this word? It is too difficult’ and they departed. On the night of His betrayal and He asked Peter, James and John, ‘Would you pray with Me one hour?’ and they slept, not once or twice but three times were found sleeping, and the hour of His arrest came, and they could give no answer. My children, I tell you the hour of the betrayal of the world is upon you. The night where the power belongs to the evil one is upon you right now, and I ask you, are you sleeping, are you taking your rest, are the pressures of the world too much for you? I warn you, how will you fare in warfare when you stumble in a time of peace? My children, I tell you I am moving on. This day I tell you, I am about to move on and you must ask yourself are you going to move with Me or stay behind until I am lost from even your memories? My children, today is the day of salvation. I ask you are you saved? Are you secure with Me for all eternity or have you been walking the tightrope teetering left and right, seeing on the one hand My Kingdom, My glory and what you sing about, My pleasures. My children, I have pleasures, and I would extend them to you. Many of you know of them. Some of you only imagine. In My presence is fullness of joy, but many of you find your pleasure and the fullness of your joy in the things of this earth. My children, I tell you I am coming to this community and this church whether you will have Me or not. The question is when I come will you receive Me, and when I come will there be faith found on the earth? My children, I love you, My word is as true to you as it was to the Laodicean church. Those I love I rebuke and discipline. My children, I remind you that it is My kindness that leads you to repentance. It is a kind word and not a harsh word that I give you today. It is because I love you I warn you that the days are short. Those of you who have made a decision day after day to be entangled with the things of this world will not be able to extricate yourselves to follow Me. I caution you, I warn you, and I tell you this day if you have made a conscious decision to live a life of sin, as of this day the clock is running out for you. You must choose this day whom you will serve as Joshua cried out to the nation of Israel, so I cry out to you, ‘You must choose this day whom you will serve.’ Those of you who have walked in adultery, those of you who have walked in stealing, those of you who have walked in lying, those of you who have walked in lust, those of you who have walked in love of the things of the world; as of this day a line is drawn in the sand. Either you will continue in these things or you will step over that line and say, ‘Lord, I leave them behind.’ You must choose as Lot’s wife had to choose to walk face forward toward Me or look back longingly at the things of Sodom. My children, what will it be? Adultery, stealing from Me or from the men of this world? Lying? Bitterness, unforgiveness, judgment? Dishonoring your parents, abandoning your children in their hour of need? My children, I remind you, I know your deeds. I see it all. I see it all. My children, if the salt of the earth has lost its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? If the light of the world has become darkness, how will it shine? Many who were once salty before this world, many of you who were light in a dark place have become tasteless, and must be thrown out. Many of you have chosen to put a bushel basket over your light so the world cannot see the difference between you and the world. And worse, many of you have chosen to walk in sin and have dishonored My glory and My righteousness before the world. This day and this hour and this moment you must choose. There are two back doors in this assembly. For those of you who say this word is too difficult, ‘He does not expect me to be holy and righteous and to love Him with your whole heart, soul and mind’ there is an escape for you. There is no escape from hell. There is no back door out of hell. There is a front door into Heaven and a passage through one way, through the blood of Jesus Christ. My children, you can no longer after this day come into My house with filthy rags, with a sacrifice that is lame and blind and disfigured, and expect that I will receive it. I Myself because of the command and the necessity of My holiness, say to you, either gird your loins with righteousness, with purity, or walk out the back door. You must choose. My children, it is not My desire that any should leave this assembly or sanctuary and be lost. The world will welcome you with open arms and will tell you freely, ‘What in the world were you thinking anyway, trying to worship a God who is invisible, whose voice is inaudible, who covers Himself with light such as cannot be seen and whose mandates and prescriptions are so difficult no one can follow save One?’ The world will receive you with these words. My children, I have a word for you as well. For those of you who choose to stay, who will choose to bend the knee before Me at the altar and say, ‘Lord, I’m guilty; I see my sin is ever before me. Lord, take the coal from the altar and touch my lips. Lord, take the sin from my heart. I am so sorry. I knew better.’ For those of you who will bend the knee, I have a word for you. Welcome! Welcome, my son, my daughter. Enter into the joy of your reward, good and faithful servant. In these minutes that remain, you must choose. Make no mistake, if you do not choose righteousness, you are choosing the back door. If you do not choose holiness, you are choosing the back door. If you are not choosing to love Me with your whole heart, you are choosing the back door, and it will certainly slam on you as you leave. For I tell you, this day is fixed in heaven even as the day came when I gathered Noah and his sons into the ark and I closed the door, I tell you that the door is closing on this fellowship today. Make no mistake, the door is closing on this fellowship today, and either you choose to be inside or you choose to be out. What will it be? You alone must choose. I am standing here with open arms, but you must choose. Choose to come.”
Human Suffering
Job 38-41 we can count about 77 questions, many are symbolic questions, which none of the men could answer except by acknowledging that G-d Himself was the answer or that
G-d alone knew the answer. Many seem to be legitimate concerns of scientific research.
8 verses deal with the early history of the earth, 27 with the physical world as it functions today, 33 verses with the nature and needs of the animals (not including the behemoth and the leviathan, which are treated in more detail than the others, having 44 verses). All of these are a part of His creation, giving clear testimony of His providential care for all His creatures, and an implied rebuke to men and women for failing to understand this.
Keep in mind that not all statements – with the exception of G-d’s own words in chapters 38-42 – necessarily express divine truth, but all are correctly recorded by divine inspiration.
They had all had their saying, and yet had not gained their point, and then it was time for G-d to interpose, whose judgment is according to truth. When we know not who is in the right, and perhaps are doubtful whether we ourselves are, this may satisfy us, that G-d will determine shortly in the valley of decision, Joel 3:14.
G-d’s solution to human suffering - - He said noting about it! His divine message, given out of the whirlwind, occupies 123 verses in four chapters, yet there is not a word about the sufferings of Job, or even about human suffering in general.
What the Father does talk about is creation! The mighty message from heaven focuses exclusively on the doctrine of special creation of all things by G-d, and then His providential care of His creation. It exalts His power, His wisdom, His purpose, His love. In our present humanistic culture, even Believers have become self-centered instead of G-d centered, G-d and His purpose in creation to only a peripheral role in our thoughts and deeds. Do we not hear: “What about me? Why me? I need help? I need money. Ect.” What we really are saying is: You are not providing for me and I lack trust in You.
G-d’s response, at first, seems inadequate when these Believers were groping for answers to great human needs and problems. He was deeply concerned with Job, his suffering, and his reaction to it. Therefore, His reply to Job’s pleadings could not have indicated indifference. Instead, silence must have been the best possible answer, both to the wrong solutions proposed by his friends and to Job’s confusion as he sought to understand them.
This leads us to the remarkable conclusion that a correct and complete doctrine of creation is the answer to all the problems that burden this present hurting world.
Creation should have first priority in their thinking, no matter what problem they were facing. If G-d Himself laid such stress on it in dealing with this most vexing of all human problems, we would also do well to give it priority when dealing with this or lesser problems.
Men and women must first be brought back to recognition of their Creator before they can comprehend the meaning of sin against Him and salvation by Him. Creation is the basis of true Believers, true faith, and true salvation, true fellowship and true peace. The purpose on earth of those who have been reconciled to G-d is to bring others to the same happy condition.
Life is not about ourselves and our daily problems, sufferings are also part of our training and equipping and being in Him. May we stop our crying and start enjoying all of His creation for we are in His providential care! There is nothing you go through that G-d does not know about and everything is in His control.
G-d alone knew the answer. Many seem to be legitimate concerns of scientific research.
8 verses deal with the early history of the earth, 27 with the physical world as it functions today, 33 verses with the nature and needs of the animals (not including the behemoth and the leviathan, which are treated in more detail than the others, having 44 verses). All of these are a part of His creation, giving clear testimony of His providential care for all His creatures, and an implied rebuke to men and women for failing to understand this.
Keep in mind that not all statements – with the exception of G-d’s own words in chapters 38-42 – necessarily express divine truth, but all are correctly recorded by divine inspiration.
They had all had their saying, and yet had not gained their point, and then it was time for G-d to interpose, whose judgment is according to truth. When we know not who is in the right, and perhaps are doubtful whether we ourselves are, this may satisfy us, that G-d will determine shortly in the valley of decision, Joel 3:14.
G-d’s solution to human suffering - - He said noting about it! His divine message, given out of the whirlwind, occupies 123 verses in four chapters, yet there is not a word about the sufferings of Job, or even about human suffering in general.
What the Father does talk about is creation! The mighty message from heaven focuses exclusively on the doctrine of special creation of all things by G-d, and then His providential care of His creation. It exalts His power, His wisdom, His purpose, His love. In our present humanistic culture, even Believers have become self-centered instead of G-d centered, G-d and His purpose in creation to only a peripheral role in our thoughts and deeds. Do we not hear: “What about me? Why me? I need help? I need money. Ect.” What we really are saying is: You are not providing for me and I lack trust in You.
G-d’s response, at first, seems inadequate when these Believers were groping for answers to great human needs and problems. He was deeply concerned with Job, his suffering, and his reaction to it. Therefore, His reply to Job’s pleadings could not have indicated indifference. Instead, silence must have been the best possible answer, both to the wrong solutions proposed by his friends and to Job’s confusion as he sought to understand them.
This leads us to the remarkable conclusion that a correct and complete doctrine of creation is the answer to all the problems that burden this present hurting world.
Creation should have first priority in their thinking, no matter what problem they were facing. If G-d Himself laid such stress on it in dealing with this most vexing of all human problems, we would also do well to give it priority when dealing with this or lesser problems.
Men and women must first be brought back to recognition of their Creator before they can comprehend the meaning of sin against Him and salvation by Him. Creation is the basis of true Believers, true faith, and true salvation, true fellowship and true peace. The purpose on earth of those who have been reconciled to G-d is to bring others to the same happy condition.
Life is not about ourselves and our daily problems, sufferings are also part of our training and equipping and being in Him. May we stop our crying and start enjoying all of His creation for we are in His providential care! There is nothing you go through that G-d does not know about and everything is in His control.
Mystery of Snow
[Job 37:6] For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.[He said – Isa. 55:10-11. The word of G-d, as for its purity, so for its warming, refreshing, and fructifying nature, is compared unto it.
Snow – A cloud of vapors being condensed into drops, these drops, becoming too heavy to be suspended in the atmosphere, descend; and, meeting with a cold region of the air, they are frozen, each drop shooting into several points. These still continuing their descent, and meeting with some intermitting gales of a warmer air, are a little thawed, blunted, and again, by falling into colder air, frozen into clusters, or so entangled with each other as to fall down in what we call flakes.
Snow differs from hail and hoar-frost in being crystallized: this appears on examining a flake of snow with a magnifying glass; when the whole of it will appear to be composed of fine points diverging like rays from a centre.
The lightness of snow is owing to the excess of its surface, when compared with the matter contained under it.
Its whiteness is owing to the small particles into which it is divided: for take ice, opaque almost to blackness, and pound it fine, and it becomes as white as snow.
The immediate cause of the formation of snow is not well understood: it has been attributed to electricity; and hail is supposed to owe its more compact form to more intense electricity, which unites the particles of hail more closely than the moderate electricity does those of snow.
But rain, snow, hail, frost, ice, they are formed out of the vapors which have been exhaled by heat from the surface of the waters.
It is not a fact that it possesses in itself any fertilizing quality, such as nitrous salts, according to vulgar opinion: its whole use is covering the vegetables from intense cold, and thus preventing the natural heat of the earth from escaping, so that the intense cold cannot freeze the juices in the tender tubes of vegetables, which would rupture those tubes, and so destroy the plant.
Ps. 148:8. G-d has His treasures of it, and He brings it forth at His command, it goes at a word speaking; it is one of the things that fulfil His word. To the earth only it is useful, warming, refreshing, and fructifying; it has a wonderful virtue in it.
Small rain – the lesser or more gentle falls in the winter, when the north wind blows
Great rain – the larger in the spring with the south wind.
His strength - sudden thunder storms, when the rain descends in torrents: or violent rain from dissipating water-spouts.]
Adam Clarke
The providence of G-d is to be acknowledged, both by husbandmen in the fields and travelers upon the road, in every shower of rain, whether it does them a kindness of a diskindness. It is sin and folly to contend with G-d's providence in the weather; if He sends the snow or rain, can we hinder them? Or shall we be angry at them? It is as absurd to quarrel with any other disposal of Providence concerning ourselves or ours.
Majestic Clouds
In the clouds, the womb where all these watery meteors are conceived, guided and governed by the counsel of G-d, which extends even to those things that seem most casual and minute, that they may do whatsoever He commands them; for the stormy winds, and the clouds that are driven by them, fulfil His word; and by this means He causes it to rain upon one city and not upon another, Amos 4:7-8.
Three sorts of clouds Elihu here speaks of in Job 37:
1. Close, black, thick clouds, pregnant with showers; and these with watering he wearies, that is, they spend themselves, and are exhausted by the rain into which they melt and are dissolved, pouring out water till they are weary and can pour out no more.
2. Bright thin clouds, clouds without water; and these He scattereth; they are dispersed of themselves, and not dissolved into rain, but what becomes of them we know not. The bright cloud, in the evening, when the sky is red, is scattered, and proves an earnest of a fair day, Matt. 16:2.
3. Flying clouds, which do not dissolve, as the thick cloud, into a close rain, but are carried upon the wings of the wind from place to place, dropping showers as they go; and these are said to be turned round about by His counsels.
What we hear is not likely to profit us unless we consider it, and we are not likely to consider things fully unless we stand still and compose ourselves to the consideration of them. The works of God, being wondrous, both deserve and need our consideration, and the due consideration of them will help to reconcile us to all his providences.
We are here taught:
1. The perfection of G-d's knowledge, it is one of the most glorious perfections of G-d that He is perfect in knowledge; He is omniscient. His knowledge is intuitive: He sees, and does not know by report. It is intimate and entire: He knows things truly, and not by their colors--thoroughly, and not by piecemeal. To His knowledge there is nothing distant, but all near--nothing future, but all present--nothing hid, but all open. We ought to acknowledge this in all His wondrous works, and it is sufficient to satisfy us in those wondrous works which we know not the meaning of that they are the works of one that knows what He does.
2. The imperfection of our knowledge. It is good for us to be made sensible of our own ignorance, are so balanced, so spread, that they never rob us of the benefit of the sun (even the cloudy day is day), so balanced that they do not fall at once, nor burst into cataracts or water-spouts. The rainbow is an intimation of G-d's favour in balancing the clouds so as to keep them from drowning the world.
When we look up to heaven above we should remember it is a mirror or looking-glass, not to show us our own faces, but to be a faint representation of the purity, dignity, and brightness of the upper world and its glorious inhabitants.
Matthew Henry
Three sorts of clouds Elihu here speaks of in Job 37:
1. Close, black, thick clouds, pregnant with showers; and these with watering he wearies, that is, they spend themselves, and are exhausted by the rain into which they melt and are dissolved, pouring out water till they are weary and can pour out no more.
2. Bright thin clouds, clouds without water; and these He scattereth; they are dispersed of themselves, and not dissolved into rain, but what becomes of them we know not. The bright cloud, in the evening, when the sky is red, is scattered, and proves an earnest of a fair day, Matt. 16:2.
3. Flying clouds, which do not dissolve, as the thick cloud, into a close rain, but are carried upon the wings of the wind from place to place, dropping showers as they go; and these are said to be turned round about by His counsels.
What we hear is not likely to profit us unless we consider it, and we are not likely to consider things fully unless we stand still and compose ourselves to the consideration of them. The works of God, being wondrous, both deserve and need our consideration, and the due consideration of them will help to reconcile us to all his providences.
We are here taught:
1. The perfection of G-d's knowledge, it is one of the most glorious perfections of G-d that He is perfect in knowledge; He is omniscient. His knowledge is intuitive: He sees, and does not know by report. It is intimate and entire: He knows things truly, and not by their colors--thoroughly, and not by piecemeal. To His knowledge there is nothing distant, but all near--nothing future, but all present--nothing hid, but all open. We ought to acknowledge this in all His wondrous works, and it is sufficient to satisfy us in those wondrous works which we know not the meaning of that they are the works of one that knows what He does.
2. The imperfection of our knowledge. It is good for us to be made sensible of our own ignorance, are so balanced, so spread, that they never rob us of the benefit of the sun (even the cloudy day is day), so balanced that they do not fall at once, nor burst into cataracts or water-spouts. The rainbow is an intimation of G-d's favour in balancing the clouds so as to keep them from drowning the world.
When we look up to heaven above we should remember it is a mirror or looking-glass, not to show us our own faces, but to be a faint representation of the purity, dignity, and brightness of the upper world and its glorious inhabitants.
Matthew Henry
Thunder Struck
Job 37: Hear attentively the noise of His voice. Though the thunder will be heard, and whatever we are doing we cannot help attending to it, yet, to apprehend and understand the instructions G-d thereby gives us, we have need to hear with great attention and appliction applicatio of mind. Thunder is called the voice of the L-rd (Ps. 29:3-9), because by it G-d speaks to the children of men to fear before Him, and it should put us in mind of that mighty word by which the world was at first made, which is called thunder.
How Elihu describes them:
1. Their original, not their second causes, but the first. G-d directs the thunder, and the lightning is His in 37:3. Their production and motion are not from chance, but from the counsel of G-d and under the direction and dominion of His providence, though to us they seem accidental and ungovernable.
2. Their extent. The claps of thunder roll under the whole heaven, and are heard far and near; so are the lightings darted to the ends of the earth; they come out of the one part under heaven and shine to the other.
3. Their order. The lightning is first directed, and after it a voice roars in Job 37:4. The flash of fire, and the noise it makes in a watery cloud, are really at the same time; but, because the motion of light is much quicker than that of sound, we see the lightning some time before we hear the thunder, as we see the firing of a great gun at a distance before we hear the report of it. The thunder is here called the voice of G-d's excellence, because by it He proclaims His transcendent power and greatness. He sends forth His voice and that a mighty voice, Ps. 68:33.
4. Their violence. He will not stay them, that is, He does not need to check them, or hold them back, lest they should grow unruly and out of His power to restrain them, but lets them take their course, says to them, Go, and they go--Come, and they come--Do this, and they do it. He will not stay the rains and showers that usually follow upon the thunder (which He had spoken of, in 36: 27, 29, but will pour them out upon the earth when His voice is heard. Thunder-showers are sweeping rains, and for them He makes the lightings, Ps. 135:7.
5. The inference he draws from all this, in v. 5. Does G-d thunder thus marvellously with His voice? We must then conclude that His other works are great, and such as we cannot comprehend. From this one instance we may argue to all, that, in the dispensations of His providence, there is that which is too great, too strong, for us to oppose or strive against, and too high, too deep, for us to arraign or quarrel with.
The changes and extremities of the weather, wet or dry, hot or cold, are the subject of a great deal of our common talk and observation; but how seldom do we think and speak of these things, as Elihu does here, with an awful regard to G-d the director of them, who shows His power and serves the purposes of His providence by them! We must take notice of the glory of G-d, not only in the thunder and lightning, but in the more common revolutions of the weather, which are not so terrible and which make less noise.
Notice of the winter-weather, when He speaks the word the small rain distils and the great rain pours down as He pleases--the winter-rain. Then He says to the snow, Be thou on the earth; He commissions it, He commands it, He appoints it, where it shall light and how long it shall lie. He speaks, and it is done. The distinction in the Hebrew between the small rain and the great rain is this, that the former is called a shower of rain, the latter of rains, many showers in one; but all are the showers of His strength: the power of G-d is to be observed as much in the small rain that soaks into the earth as in the great rain that batters on the house-top and washes away all before it.
It is the duty and interest of all men to fear G-d. Those that will not fear the L-rd and His goodness shall for ever tremble under the pouring out of the vials of His wrath.
Matthew Henry
How Elihu describes them:
1. Their original, not their second causes, but the first. G-d directs the thunder, and the lightning is His in 37:3. Their production and motion are not from chance, but from the counsel of G-d and under the direction and dominion of His providence, though to us they seem accidental and ungovernable.
2. Their extent. The claps of thunder roll under the whole heaven, and are heard far and near; so are the lightings darted to the ends of the earth; they come out of the one part under heaven and shine to the other.
3. Their order. The lightning is first directed, and after it a voice roars in Job 37:4. The flash of fire, and the noise it makes in a watery cloud, are really at the same time; but, because the motion of light is much quicker than that of sound, we see the lightning some time before we hear the thunder, as we see the firing of a great gun at a distance before we hear the report of it. The thunder is here called the voice of G-d's excellence, because by it He proclaims His transcendent power and greatness. He sends forth His voice and that a mighty voice, Ps. 68:33.
4. Their violence. He will not stay them, that is, He does not need to check them, or hold them back, lest they should grow unruly and out of His power to restrain them, but lets them take their course, says to them, Go, and they go--Come, and they come--Do this, and they do it. He will not stay the rains and showers that usually follow upon the thunder (which He had spoken of, in 36: 27, 29, but will pour them out upon the earth when His voice is heard. Thunder-showers are sweeping rains, and for them He makes the lightings, Ps. 135:7.
5. The inference he draws from all this, in v. 5. Does G-d thunder thus marvellously with His voice? We must then conclude that His other works are great, and such as we cannot comprehend. From this one instance we may argue to all, that, in the dispensations of His providence, there is that which is too great, too strong, for us to oppose or strive against, and too high, too deep, for us to arraign or quarrel with.
The changes and extremities of the weather, wet or dry, hot or cold, are the subject of a great deal of our common talk and observation; but how seldom do we think and speak of these things, as Elihu does here, with an awful regard to G-d the director of them, who shows His power and serves the purposes of His providence by them! We must take notice of the glory of G-d, not only in the thunder and lightning, but in the more common revolutions of the weather, which are not so terrible and which make less noise.
Notice of the winter-weather, when He speaks the word the small rain distils and the great rain pours down as He pleases--the winter-rain. Then He says to the snow, Be thou on the earth; He commissions it, He commands it, He appoints it, where it shall light and how long it shall lie. He speaks, and it is done. The distinction in the Hebrew between the small rain and the great rain is this, that the former is called a shower of rain, the latter of rains, many showers in one; but all are the showers of His strength: the power of G-d is to be observed as much in the small rain that soaks into the earth as in the great rain that batters on the house-top and washes away all before it.
It is the duty and interest of all men to fear G-d. Those that will not fear the L-rd and His goodness shall for ever tremble under the pouring out of the vials of His wrath.
Matthew Henry
Thunder Storms twofold effects
[Job 36:27] For he maketh small the drops of water: they pour down rain according to the vapour thereof:
[27-28 For - Having affirmed that G-d's works are incomprehensibly great and glorious, he now proves it from the most common works of nature and providence. And hence he leaves it to Job to consider how much more deep and inconceivable the secret counsels of G-d must be.
Water - weighs much more than air and is converted by solar energy into vapor state. Since water vapor is lighter than air, the winds can first elevate, and then transport the water from the oceans to the lands where it is needed. There, under the right conditions, the vapor can condense around dust particles, salt particles, or other nuclei of condensation. This appears simply to refer to evaporation, "he exhales;" detaches the smallest particles of the aqueous mass from the surface in order to form clouds, as reservoirs for the purpose of furnishing rain for the watering of the earth. G-d is seen in little things, as well as great things; and the unthinkably little, as well as the spectacularly great, are equally the work of Omnipotence.
They pour down rain - These exceedingly minute drops or vapour become collected in clouds; and then, when agitated by winds, many particles being united, they become too heavy to be sustained by the air in which they before were suspended, and so fall down in rain, which is either a mist, a drizzle, a shower, a storm, or a waterspout, according to the influence of different winds, or the presence and quantum of the electric fluid. And all this is proportioned, "to its vapour," to the quantity of the fluid evaporated and condensed into clouds.]
[28] Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
[Clouds do drop - When this happens, clouds are formed. Water vapor is invisible, whereas clouds are aggregations of liquid water droplets. Rains descend, and the clouds cover with their shadows multitudes of men: He hath appointed to animals to know the order of their dwellings. At the contemplation of these things is not your mind transported, and your heart ready to part from your body?"]
[29] Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
[Can any understand the spreadings of the clouds – to different winds and currents which might drive it all to the sandy deserts, or direct its course so that it should fall again into the great deep from which it has been exhaled, without watering and refreshing the earth; yet so does the good and wise providence of G-d manage this matter, that every part of the arable terrene surface receives an ample supply; and in every place, where requisite, it may be truly said that "The rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and water the earth, and cause it to bring forth and bud, that it may minister seed to the Sower, and bread to the eater, supplying the wants of the earth, of men, and of cattle?” I ask, with Elihu, "Who can understand the spreadings of these clouds?"
Noise - The noise must refer to the blowing of winds and tempests. or to the claps, peals, and rattling of thunder, by means of the electric fluid.
His tabernacle - The thunder produced in the clouds, which are often called G-d's tent or tabernacle. By the tabernacle we may understand the whole firmament or atmospheric expansion; the place where the Almighty seems more particularly to dwell; whence He sends forth the rain of His strength, and the thunder of His power.]
[30] Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
[Light upon it - This is spoken in reference to the flashes and coruscations of lightning in the time of thunder storms, when, even in a dark night, a sudden flash illuminates for a moment the surface of the earth under that place.
Covers the bottom - roots
Of the sea - namely, with the light. In the storm the depths of ocean are laid bare; and the light "covers" them, at the same moment that it "spreads" across the dark sky. So in Ps. 18:14-15, the discovering of "the channels of waters" follows the lightning’s. "He spreads His light upon Himself, and covereth Himself with the roots of the sea" Ps. 104:2. G-d's garment is woven of celestial light and of the watery depths, raised to the sky to form His cloudy canopy. The phrase, "cover Himself with the roots of the sea," is harsh; but the image is grand. the depths of the sea are as much under His control and influence as the atmosphere, and its whole collection of vapors, meteors, and galvanic and electric fluids.]
[31] For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
[Judges the people - He makes storms, tempests, winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, thunder and lightning, drought and inundation, the instruments of His justice, to punish rebellious nations.
Meat in abundance - Though by these He punishes offenders, yet through the same, as instruments, He provides for the wants of men and animals in general. Storms, tempests, and hurricanes, agitate the lower regions of the atmosphere, disperse noxious vapors, and thus render it fit for respiration; and without these it would soon become a stagnant, putrid, and deadly mass, in which neither animals could live, nor vegetables thrive. And by dews, rains, snows, frosts, winds, cold, and heat, He fructifies the earth, and causes it to bring forth abundantly, so that every thing living is filled with plenteousness. Though by these He punishes offenders, yet through the same, as instruments, He provides for the wants of men and animals in general. Storms, tempests, and hurricanes, agitate the lower regions of the atmosphere, disperse noxious vapors, and thus render it fit for respiration; and without these it would soon become a stagnant, putrid, and deadly mass, in which neither animals could live, nor vegetables thrive. And by dews, rains, snows, frosts, winds, cold, and heat, He fructifies the earth, and causes it to bring forth abundantly, so that every thing living is filled with plenteousness.
Rain and lighting - by them He judges (chastises on the one hand), (and on the other, by them) He giveth meat (food). The twofold effects of His waters are set forth, so here, of His light; in the one hand, destructive lightning against the wicked; in the other, and the genial light for good to His friends.]
[32] With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
[Clouds - With thick and black clouds spread over the whole heavens.
Light - The sun.
The cloud - Which G-d interposes as a veil between the sun and earth.]
[33] The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
[The noise - The thunder gives notice of the approaching rain.
Also - And as the thunder, so also the cattle sheweth, concerning the vapour, concerning the coming of the rain, by a strange instinct, seeking for shelter, when a change of weather is near.
How wonderful and marvelous are His creations!!
As pretty as the clouds can be, I sometimes wonder if He removed the veil we could see directly into the heavenly.
[27-28 For - Having affirmed that G-d's works are incomprehensibly great and glorious, he now proves it from the most common works of nature and providence. And hence he leaves it to Job to consider how much more deep and inconceivable the secret counsels of G-d must be.
Water - weighs much more than air and is converted by solar energy into vapor state. Since water vapor is lighter than air, the winds can first elevate, and then transport the water from the oceans to the lands where it is needed. There, under the right conditions, the vapor can condense around dust particles, salt particles, or other nuclei of condensation. This appears simply to refer to evaporation, "he exhales;" detaches the smallest particles of the aqueous mass from the surface in order to form clouds, as reservoirs for the purpose of furnishing rain for the watering of the earth. G-d is seen in little things, as well as great things; and the unthinkably little, as well as the spectacularly great, are equally the work of Omnipotence.
They pour down rain - These exceedingly minute drops or vapour become collected in clouds; and then, when agitated by winds, many particles being united, they become too heavy to be sustained by the air in which they before were suspended, and so fall down in rain, which is either a mist, a drizzle, a shower, a storm, or a waterspout, according to the influence of different winds, or the presence and quantum of the electric fluid. And all this is proportioned, "to its vapour," to the quantity of the fluid evaporated and condensed into clouds.]
[28] Which the clouds do drop and distil upon man abundantly.
[Clouds do drop - When this happens, clouds are formed. Water vapor is invisible, whereas clouds are aggregations of liquid water droplets. Rains descend, and the clouds cover with their shadows multitudes of men: He hath appointed to animals to know the order of their dwellings. At the contemplation of these things is not your mind transported, and your heart ready to part from your body?"]
[29] Also can any understand the spreadings of the clouds, or the noise of his tabernacle?
[Can any understand the spreadings of the clouds – to different winds and currents which might drive it all to the sandy deserts, or direct its course so that it should fall again into the great deep from which it has been exhaled, without watering and refreshing the earth; yet so does the good and wise providence of G-d manage this matter, that every part of the arable terrene surface receives an ample supply; and in every place, where requisite, it may be truly said that "The rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and water the earth, and cause it to bring forth and bud, that it may minister seed to the Sower, and bread to the eater, supplying the wants of the earth, of men, and of cattle?” I ask, with Elihu, "Who can understand the spreadings of these clouds?"
Noise - The noise must refer to the blowing of winds and tempests. or to the claps, peals, and rattling of thunder, by means of the electric fluid.
His tabernacle - The thunder produced in the clouds, which are often called G-d's tent or tabernacle. By the tabernacle we may understand the whole firmament or atmospheric expansion; the place where the Almighty seems more particularly to dwell; whence He sends forth the rain of His strength, and the thunder of His power.]
[30] Behold, he spreadeth his light upon it, and covereth the bottom of the sea.
[Light upon it - This is spoken in reference to the flashes and coruscations of lightning in the time of thunder storms, when, even in a dark night, a sudden flash illuminates for a moment the surface of the earth under that place.
Covers the bottom - roots
Of the sea - namely, with the light. In the storm the depths of ocean are laid bare; and the light "covers" them, at the same moment that it "spreads" across the dark sky. So in Ps. 18:14-15, the discovering of "the channels of waters" follows the lightning’s. "He spreads His light upon Himself, and covereth Himself with the roots of the sea" Ps. 104:2. G-d's garment is woven of celestial light and of the watery depths, raised to the sky to form His cloudy canopy. The phrase, "cover Himself with the roots of the sea," is harsh; but the image is grand. the depths of the sea are as much under His control and influence as the atmosphere, and its whole collection of vapors, meteors, and galvanic and electric fluids.]
[31] For by them judgeth he the people; he giveth meat in abundance.
[Judges the people - He makes storms, tempests, winds, hurricanes, tornadoes, thunder and lightning, drought and inundation, the instruments of His justice, to punish rebellious nations.
Meat in abundance - Though by these He punishes offenders, yet through the same, as instruments, He provides for the wants of men and animals in general. Storms, tempests, and hurricanes, agitate the lower regions of the atmosphere, disperse noxious vapors, and thus render it fit for respiration; and without these it would soon become a stagnant, putrid, and deadly mass, in which neither animals could live, nor vegetables thrive. And by dews, rains, snows, frosts, winds, cold, and heat, He fructifies the earth, and causes it to bring forth abundantly, so that every thing living is filled with plenteousness. Though by these He punishes offenders, yet through the same, as instruments, He provides for the wants of men and animals in general. Storms, tempests, and hurricanes, agitate the lower regions of the atmosphere, disperse noxious vapors, and thus render it fit for respiration; and without these it would soon become a stagnant, putrid, and deadly mass, in which neither animals could live, nor vegetables thrive. And by dews, rains, snows, frosts, winds, cold, and heat, He fructifies the earth, and causes it to bring forth abundantly, so that every thing living is filled with plenteousness.
Rain and lighting - by them He judges (chastises on the one hand), (and on the other, by them) He giveth meat (food). The twofold effects of His waters are set forth, so here, of His light; in the one hand, destructive lightning against the wicked; in the other, and the genial light for good to His friends.]
[32] With clouds he covereth the light; and commandeth it not to shine by the cloud that cometh betwixt.
[Clouds - With thick and black clouds spread over the whole heavens.
Light - The sun.
The cloud - Which G-d interposes as a veil between the sun and earth.]
[33] The noise thereof sheweth concerning it, the cattle also concerning the vapour.
[The noise - The thunder gives notice of the approaching rain.
Also - And as the thunder, so also the cattle sheweth, concerning the vapour, concerning the coming of the rain, by a strange instinct, seeking for shelter, when a change of weather is near.
How wonderful and marvelous are His creations!!
As pretty as the clouds can be, I sometimes wonder if He removed the veil we could see directly into the heavenly.
Bound in cords of affliction
[Job 36:8] And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;
[Bound and holden in cords - These are means which G-d uses, not of punishment, but of correction.]
[9] Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
[Work – He shows them the exceeding sinfulness of sin.
Have exceeded - that they have strengthened themselves, and did not trust in the living G-d; and therefore they would not help themselves when trouble came.]
[10] He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
[Open and commands - He gives them to understand the reason why they are thus corrected, and commands them to return from those iniquities which have induced Him to visit them with afflictions and distresses.]
[11] If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
[If they obey and serve Him - There may appear in the course of Providence to be some exceptions to this general rule; but it is most true, that this is literally or spiritually fulfilled to all the genuine followers of G-d. Every man is happy, in whatsoever circumstances, whose heart is unreservedly dedicated to his Maker.]
[12] But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
[Perish by the sword - Instead of they shall perish by the sword, the meaning of the Hebrew is, "By a dart they shall pass by." They shall be in continual dangers, and often fall before they have lived out half their days.]
[13] But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
[Hypocrites in heart - The hypocrite is he who has the form but not the power, though he wishes to be thought as inwardly righteous as he is outwardly correct; and he takes up the profession of religion only to serve secular ends.
Cry not - They are too stubborn to humble themselves even under the mighty hand of G-d.
Bindeth - With the cords of affliction.]
[14] They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
[Die in youth - the psalmist says, "Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days," Ps. 55:23. Literally, the words of Elihu are, "They shall die in the youth of their soul."
Among the unclean - among the whores, harlots, prostitutes, and sodomites, though it also signifies consecrated persons. They shall die by some exemplary stroke of Divine vengeance. Yea, and after death, their life is among the unclean, the unclean spirits, the devil and his angels, for ever excluded from the New Jerusalem, into which no unclean thing shall enter.]
[15] He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
[Opens their ears in oppression - He will let them know for what end they are afflicted, and why He permits them to be oppressed. The word yigel might be translated He shall make them exult, or sing with joy, in oppression; like the three Hebrews in the burning fiery furnace.]
[16] Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
[He have removed thee out - If you had turned to, obeyed, and served Him, your present state would have been widely different from what it is.
Into - A state of ease and freedom.]
[15] He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
[Opens their ears in oppression - He will let them know for what end they are afflicted, and why He permits them to be oppressed. The word yigel might be translated He shall make them exult, or sing with joy, in oppression; like the three Hebrews in the burning fiery furnace.]
[16] Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
[He have removed thee out - If you had turned to, obeyed, and served Him, your present state would have been widely different from what it is.
Into - A state of ease and freedom.]
[21] Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
[Regard not iniquity - you have preferred death to affliction, thereby setting your wisdom against the wisdom of G-d. Many in affliction, long for death; and yet they are not prepared to appear before G-d! What madness is this! If he takes them at their wish, they are ruined for ever. Affliction may be the means of their salvation; the wished-for death, of their eternal destruction.
Chosen - you hast chosen rather to quarrel with G-d, and censure His judgments, than quietly to submit to them.]
Have you ever felt like you were bound in affliction?
Had a death wish that needs canceling out?
You don’t want to die in the youth of your soul and let life get you down. Learn to rejoice in all circumstances for we only see in part, He is in control!
[Bound and holden in cords - These are means which G-d uses, not of punishment, but of correction.]
[9] Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded.
[Work – He shows them the exceeding sinfulness of sin.
Have exceeded - that they have strengthened themselves, and did not trust in the living G-d; and therefore they would not help themselves when trouble came.]
[10] He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.
[Open and commands - He gives them to understand the reason why they are thus corrected, and commands them to return from those iniquities which have induced Him to visit them with afflictions and distresses.]
[11] If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures.
[If they obey and serve Him - There may appear in the course of Providence to be some exceptions to this general rule; but it is most true, that this is literally or spiritually fulfilled to all the genuine followers of G-d. Every man is happy, in whatsoever circumstances, whose heart is unreservedly dedicated to his Maker.]
[12] But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge.
[Perish by the sword - Instead of they shall perish by the sword, the meaning of the Hebrew is, "By a dart they shall pass by." They shall be in continual dangers, and often fall before they have lived out half their days.]
[13] But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them.
[Hypocrites in heart - The hypocrite is he who has the form but not the power, though he wishes to be thought as inwardly righteous as he is outwardly correct; and he takes up the profession of religion only to serve secular ends.
Cry not - They are too stubborn to humble themselves even under the mighty hand of G-d.
Bindeth - With the cords of affliction.]
[14] They die in youth, and their life is among the unclean.
[Die in youth - the psalmist says, "Bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days," Ps. 55:23. Literally, the words of Elihu are, "They shall die in the youth of their soul."
Among the unclean - among the whores, harlots, prostitutes, and sodomites, though it also signifies consecrated persons. They shall die by some exemplary stroke of Divine vengeance. Yea, and after death, their life is among the unclean, the unclean spirits, the devil and his angels, for ever excluded from the New Jerusalem, into which no unclean thing shall enter.]
[15] He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
[Opens their ears in oppression - He will let them know for what end they are afflicted, and why He permits them to be oppressed. The word yigel might be translated He shall make them exult, or sing with joy, in oppression; like the three Hebrews in the burning fiery furnace.]
[16] Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
[He have removed thee out - If you had turned to, obeyed, and served Him, your present state would have been widely different from what it is.
Into - A state of ease and freedom.]
[15] He delivereth the poor in his affliction, and openeth their ears in oppression.
[Opens their ears in oppression - He will let them know for what end they are afflicted, and why He permits them to be oppressed. The word yigel might be translated He shall make them exult, or sing with joy, in oppression; like the three Hebrews in the burning fiery furnace.]
[16] Even so would he have removed thee out of the strait into a broad place, where there is no straitness; and that which should be set on thy table should be full of fatness.
[He have removed thee out - If you had turned to, obeyed, and served Him, your present state would have been widely different from what it is.
Into - A state of ease and freedom.]
[21] Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction.
[Regard not iniquity - you have preferred death to affliction, thereby setting your wisdom against the wisdom of G-d. Many in affliction, long for death; and yet they are not prepared to appear before G-d! What madness is this! If he takes them at their wish, they are ruined for ever. Affliction may be the means of their salvation; the wished-for death, of their eternal destruction.
Chosen - you hast chosen rather to quarrel with G-d, and censure His judgments, than quietly to submit to them.]
Have you ever felt like you were bound in affliction?
Had a death wish that needs canceling out?
You don’t want to die in the youth of your soul and let life get you down. Learn to rejoice in all circumstances for we only see in part, He is in control!
Hyprocrite in Politics
[Job 34:30] That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
[Hypocrite - is not meant a common hypocrite in religion, but an hypocrite in politics; who pretends to great humanity and goodness, to a tender care of the people, and a preservation of them in their rights and liberties, and promises to support and establish the constitution, and observe the laws of the nation, with a show of zeal for the religion professed in it.
But when he has ascended the throne, and got the power into his hands, he throws off the mask and becomes a tyrant. Men of such a temper, either G-d does not suffer to ascend the throne, but if they do get on it through pretense and deceit, He suffers them not to continue, but deposes them, and cuts their reign short.
The pride of hypocrites is they aim to reign; the praise of men, and power in the world, are their reward, what they aim at.
The policy of tyrants is when they aim to set up themselves they sometimes make use of religion as a cloak and cover for their ambition and by their hypocrisy come to the throne. Power, in the hands of dissemblers, is often destructive to the rights and liberties of a people, which they are more easily wheedled out of than forced out of.
Much mischief has been done likewise to the power of godliness under the pretence of a form of godliness.
Reign – G-d suffers not such to reign, but when he does it is because of the offences or sins of the people. He gives them such kings in His wrath, to punish them for their iniquities.
Ensnared - be brought into bondage, and lose their rights, privileges, and liberties; or lest they be drawn into sin by their precepts or examples, as in 1 Kgs. 12:28, 30. lest the people should be longer kept in the snares of oppression.
G-d doth this to free poor oppressed people from the snares which ungodly men lay for them]
The word hypocrite is found 11 times in Scripture and six of those are in the book of Job.
[Hypocrite - is not meant a common hypocrite in religion, but an hypocrite in politics; who pretends to great humanity and goodness, to a tender care of the people, and a preservation of them in their rights and liberties, and promises to support and establish the constitution, and observe the laws of the nation, with a show of zeal for the religion professed in it.
But when he has ascended the throne, and got the power into his hands, he throws off the mask and becomes a tyrant. Men of such a temper, either G-d does not suffer to ascend the throne, but if they do get on it through pretense and deceit, He suffers them not to continue, but deposes them, and cuts their reign short.
The pride of hypocrites is they aim to reign; the praise of men, and power in the world, are their reward, what they aim at.
The policy of tyrants is when they aim to set up themselves they sometimes make use of religion as a cloak and cover for their ambition and by their hypocrisy come to the throne. Power, in the hands of dissemblers, is often destructive to the rights and liberties of a people, which they are more easily wheedled out of than forced out of.
Much mischief has been done likewise to the power of godliness under the pretence of a form of godliness.
Reign – G-d suffers not such to reign, but when he does it is because of the offences or sins of the people. He gives them such kings in His wrath, to punish them for their iniquities.
Ensnared - be brought into bondage, and lose their rights, privileges, and liberties; or lest they be drawn into sin by their precepts or examples, as in 1 Kgs. 12:28, 30. lest the people should be longer kept in the snares of oppression.
G-d doth this to free poor oppressed people from the snares which ungodly men lay for them]
The word hypocrite is found 11 times in Scripture and six of those are in the book of Job.
In Dispute
[Job 34:3] For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat.
[The ear trieth words- The ear of the well thought-out tries words, whether what is said be true or false, right or wrong, and he that speaks must stand the test of the intelligent. A sanctified ear tries these; but then men must have such ears to hear, and be attentive to what they hear, and retain it; hear internally as well as externally; and which a man does when his ears are opened by the L-rd, from who are the hearing ear and seeing eye.
The mouth tasteth meat - As we must prove all things we hear, so we must be willing that what we speak should be proved. Words and doctrines are like meat, some good and some bad; and such that have a good taste try them, either a rational or rather a spiritual discernment: some have no spiritual taste, their taste is not changed, and therefore cannot distinguish, nor make any good judgment of things; but others have, and these discern the difference, relish truth, savor the things that be of G-d, taste the good Word of G-d, and esteem it more than their necessary food; and it is sweeter to them than the honey or the honeycomb.]
[4] Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.[Let us - Not contend for victory, but for truth and equity. He does not pretend to be sole dictator, nor undertake to say what is just and good and what is not, but he is willing to join with them in searching it out, and desires a consultation: "Let us agree to lay aside all animosities and feuds, all narrow-mindedness and affectation of disagreement, and all stiffness in hold fast to the opinion we have once take up.”
Choose to ourselves judgment - Take the part of the question or controversy in which truth and justice lie, let us fix right principles on which to proceed, and then take right methods for finding out truth. Let us not seek the applause of men, nor contend for victory. Let our aim be to obtain correct views and notions of all things; and let us labor to find out what is good.
Among ourselves - and let us know among ourselves, by comparing notes and communicating our reasons, what is good and what is otherwise We are then likely to discern what is right when we agree to assist one another in searching it out.]
[11] For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
[For the work of man – G-d ever will do justice; the righteous shall never be forsaken, nor shall the wicked ultimately prosper. Good works shall be rewarded and evil works either punished or satisfied for; so that sooner or later, in this world or in that to come, He will cause every man to find according to his ways.]
[15] All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
[All – G-d's absolute and uncontrollable sovereignty over all mankind.
Perish together - What He may do with us without doing us wrong. He may recall the being He gave, of which we are but tenants at will, and which also we have forfeited; and therefore, as long as that is continued of His mere favour, we have no reason to cry out of wrong, whatever other comforts are removed.
Dust - Gen. 3:19 unto dust shall thou return.]
[21] For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. [For – G-d does not destroy either prince or people unjustly, no nor out of His mere pleasure, but for their sins, which He sees exactly, although they use all possible arts to hide them.
His eyes - Which denotes the omniscience of G-d, which reaches to every man, to every individual, and to all men in general; and to their ways, to every step taken by them, to the whole of their lives and conversations, and every action of them; to all their internal and external ways and goings?
He seeth all - all their inward thoughts, the workings of their mind, the imaginations of their heart; their entire secret purposes, designs, and schemes; and all the desires and affections of their soul; and all these, whether good or bad, the whole of his walk and conversation, conduct and behavior; all his external ways, works, and actions. Ps. 139:1-6.]
[The ear trieth words- The ear of the well thought-out tries words, whether what is said be true or false, right or wrong, and he that speaks must stand the test of the intelligent. A sanctified ear tries these; but then men must have such ears to hear, and be attentive to what they hear, and retain it; hear internally as well as externally; and which a man does when his ears are opened by the L-rd, from who are the hearing ear and seeing eye.
The mouth tasteth meat - As we must prove all things we hear, so we must be willing that what we speak should be proved. Words and doctrines are like meat, some good and some bad; and such that have a good taste try them, either a rational or rather a spiritual discernment: some have no spiritual taste, their taste is not changed, and therefore cannot distinguish, nor make any good judgment of things; but others have, and these discern the difference, relish truth, savor the things that be of G-d, taste the good Word of G-d, and esteem it more than their necessary food; and it is sweeter to them than the honey or the honeycomb.]
[4] Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.[Let us - Not contend for victory, but for truth and equity. He does not pretend to be sole dictator, nor undertake to say what is just and good and what is not, but he is willing to join with them in searching it out, and desires a consultation: "Let us agree to lay aside all animosities and feuds, all narrow-mindedness and affectation of disagreement, and all stiffness in hold fast to the opinion we have once take up.”
Choose to ourselves judgment - Take the part of the question or controversy in which truth and justice lie, let us fix right principles on which to proceed, and then take right methods for finding out truth. Let us not seek the applause of men, nor contend for victory. Let our aim be to obtain correct views and notions of all things; and let us labor to find out what is good.
Among ourselves - and let us know among ourselves, by comparing notes and communicating our reasons, what is good and what is otherwise We are then likely to discern what is right when we agree to assist one another in searching it out.]
[11] For the work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according to his ways.
[For the work of man – G-d ever will do justice; the righteous shall never be forsaken, nor shall the wicked ultimately prosper. Good works shall be rewarded and evil works either punished or satisfied for; so that sooner or later, in this world or in that to come, He will cause every man to find according to his ways.]
[15] All flesh shall perish together, and man shall turn again unto dust.
[All – G-d's absolute and uncontrollable sovereignty over all mankind.
Perish together - What He may do with us without doing us wrong. He may recall the being He gave, of which we are but tenants at will, and which also we have forfeited; and therefore, as long as that is continued of His mere favour, we have no reason to cry out of wrong, whatever other comforts are removed.
Dust - Gen. 3:19 unto dust shall thou return.]
[21] For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. [For – G-d does not destroy either prince or people unjustly, no nor out of His mere pleasure, but for their sins, which He sees exactly, although they use all possible arts to hide them.
His eyes - Which denotes the omniscience of G-d, which reaches to every man, to every individual, and to all men in general; and to their ways, to every step taken by them, to the whole of their lives and conversations, and every action of them; to all their internal and external ways and goings?
He seeth all - all their inward thoughts, the workings of their mind, the imaginations of their heart; their entire secret purposes, designs, and schemes; and all the desires and affections of their soul; and all these, whether good or bad, the whole of his walk and conversation, conduct and behavior; all his external ways, works, and actions. Ps. 139:1-6.]
History repeats itself
Exodus 1:10 come, let us deal shrewdly with them,lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
[must get rid of G-d's people and His ways.]
11. set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens.
12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
[G-d will always have a remnant.]
14. they made their lives bitter with hard bondage--in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.
16. "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."
Isaiah 10:2 To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that]they may rob the fatherless.
[Rights being removed as it is today.]
Jer. 15:8 Their widows will be increased to Me more than the sand of the seas; I will bring against them, Against the mother of the young men, A plunderer at noonday; I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly.
[G-d will repay.]
Mal. 3:5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien-- Because they do not fear Me," Says the L-RD of hosts.
[Gives the reason why G-d is displeased.]
1 Tim. 5:16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
[Children ought to be taking care of their own, it was left to the church now in the governments care.]
Jam. 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before G-d and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
[This is what true religion is!!]
Ezekiel 20:27. "Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, 'Thus says the L-rd G-D: "In this too your fathers have blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me.
[Unfaithfulness brings judgment.]
28. When I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and they saw all the high hills and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up their sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings.
29. Then I said to them, 'What is this high place to which you go?' So its name is called Bamah to this day."
Like unto the days of old, history repeats itself for we have not learned from the mistakes of others that were set before us.
Pharaoh killed all the boy babies, now we have laws to legally abort our unborn.
Pharaoh put heavy taxes and burdens on G-d’s people, the same thing is now taking place.
G-d had Laws and provisions for the widows and elderly; today they are being taken away, for they are considered second class citizens of no value.
Why is this all happening you say? Because we have placed our trust in to the government system - people we have elected to make or change our laws, who we set high over us.
G-d is allowing it for if we choose to serve the idols of this world we deserve to receive the fruit from them. He has always allowed the enemy to take over to bring us back into submission to Him, but the choice is ours as to whom we wish to serve and believe.
Are you trusting in the system or standing firm on G-d’s system that was clearly written down for us to follow? Place your trust in Him for He is your provider.
We are not to judge another, but if one professes with their mouth they are a Christian then make abortions legal, allow same sex marrage, place freezes on Social Security and change medicar -- their fruit stinks and we are to be fruit expectors.
[must get rid of G-d's people and His ways.]
11. set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens.
12. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
[G-d will always have a remnant.]
14. they made their lives bitter with hard bondage--in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.
16. "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."
Isaiah 10:2 To rob the needy of justice, And to take what is right from the poor of My people, That widows may be their prey, And that]they may rob the fatherless.
[Rights being removed as it is today.]
Jer. 15:8 Their widows will be increased to Me more than the sand of the seas; I will bring against them, Against the mother of the young men, A plunderer at noonday; I will cause anguish and terror to fall on them suddenly.
[G-d will repay.]
Mal. 3:5 And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness Against sorcerers, Against adulterers, Against perjurers, Against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, And against those who turn away an alien-- Because they do not fear Me," Says the L-RD of hosts.
[Gives the reason why G-d is displeased.]
1 Tim. 5:16 If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.
[Children ought to be taking care of their own, it was left to the church now in the governments care.]
Jam. 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before G-d and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
[This is what true religion is!!]
Ezekiel 20:27. "Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, 'Thus says the L-rd G-D: "In this too your fathers have blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me.
[Unfaithfulness brings judgment.]
28. When I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and they saw all the high hills and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up their sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings.
29. Then I said to them, 'What is this high place to which you go?' So its name is called Bamah to this day."
Like unto the days of old, history repeats itself for we have not learned from the mistakes of others that were set before us.
Pharaoh killed all the boy babies, now we have laws to legally abort our unborn.
Pharaoh put heavy taxes and burdens on G-d’s people, the same thing is now taking place.
G-d had Laws and provisions for the widows and elderly; today they are being taken away, for they are considered second class citizens of no value.
Why is this all happening you say? Because we have placed our trust in to the government system - people we have elected to make or change our laws, who we set high over us.
G-d is allowing it for if we choose to serve the idols of this world we deserve to receive the fruit from them. He has always allowed the enemy to take over to bring us back into submission to Him, but the choice is ours as to whom we wish to serve and believe.
Are you trusting in the system or standing firm on G-d’s system that was clearly written down for us to follow? Place your trust in Him for He is your provider.
We are not to judge another, but if one professes with their mouth they are a Christian then make abortions legal, allow same sex marrage, place freezes on Social Security and change medicar -- their fruit stinks and we are to be fruit expectors.
Senselss Destruction
The economic damage caused far greater than the money they will take.
There’s the destruction of natural habitats, sadistic murder of plants
This included everything from the masked villian slicing blades of grass in half to disfiguring flowering trees and watching them slowly die to stapling shut a venus fly trap and watching it starve, wouldn’t work unless the venus fly trap were potted in such poor soil that it actually needed the extra nutrients from insects to survive.
The affront is not to a specific plant but to nature, to beauty, and to that part of us that appreciates beauty. And that rejection of beauty, humanity, and collective responsibility is something ugly and something people should be offended by.
We have laws against animal cruelty. Confined feeding operations, slaughter house practices, and animal transportation are about as abhorent as you can get—but few people change their diet because of this.
There are indanger speicies on land and in the water, senseless taking just for the sport of it. There was a time when hunters hunted to feed their familys not to just hang it on the wall for display.
Gen. 1:11-12 And G-d said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and G-d saw that it was good.
So why do we try to make a better improved seed? All new technology is not good; you can not improve G-d’s handiwork.
Some would argue that this is an example of our moral inclinations misfiring.
Similarly, people tend to think of terrorism as a greater threat than our land and food, or automobile accidents despite, for example, facts. Usually this estimation tool saves time and yields approximate results, but sometimes it misfires.
It’s not about keeping something exactly how we found it. It’s also not about destroying it completely. And it’s not about doing whatever we feel like doing with it to get out our jollies. It is about taking care of the earth—but doing so in a beautiful way. And we may disagree on what that is. In some cases, it means hands off. Let the untouched remain untouched. In other cases, it means gardening. Careful cultivation.
It means treating the earth and objects that derive from the earth with respect and dare I say reverence. We will and should disagree on how that reverence manifested itself.
Then there is sensless destruction of ourselfs. We do not take care of our own bodies in getting enough sleep or eating the right way. We do not take the time to read G-d’s Word that gives us all the instuctions on how to live our lifes. No wonder we are not a G-d fearing nation anymore!
We have become a fast pace generation, wanting more and more and giving little back. Never satisfied, needing the bigger and better improved models. We all have more material things than needed. There is a differnce between wants and needs.
Can we get back to the basics? I sure hope so, if not G-d will allow distruction.
Let’s revamp our priorities!
There’s the destruction of natural habitats, sadistic murder of plants
This included everything from the masked villian slicing blades of grass in half to disfiguring flowering trees and watching them slowly die to stapling shut a venus fly trap and watching it starve, wouldn’t work unless the venus fly trap were potted in such poor soil that it actually needed the extra nutrients from insects to survive.
The affront is not to a specific plant but to nature, to beauty, and to that part of us that appreciates beauty. And that rejection of beauty, humanity, and collective responsibility is something ugly and something people should be offended by.
We have laws against animal cruelty. Confined feeding operations, slaughter house practices, and animal transportation are about as abhorent as you can get—but few people change their diet because of this.
There are indanger speicies on land and in the water, senseless taking just for the sport of it. There was a time when hunters hunted to feed their familys not to just hang it on the wall for display.
Gen. 1:11-12 And G-d said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.
And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and G-d saw that it was good.
So why do we try to make a better improved seed? All new technology is not good; you can not improve G-d’s handiwork.
Some would argue that this is an example of our moral inclinations misfiring.
Similarly, people tend to think of terrorism as a greater threat than our land and food, or automobile accidents despite, for example, facts. Usually this estimation tool saves time and yields approximate results, but sometimes it misfires.
It’s not about keeping something exactly how we found it. It’s also not about destroying it completely. And it’s not about doing whatever we feel like doing with it to get out our jollies. It is about taking care of the earth—but doing so in a beautiful way. And we may disagree on what that is. In some cases, it means hands off. Let the untouched remain untouched. In other cases, it means gardening. Careful cultivation.
It means treating the earth and objects that derive from the earth with respect and dare I say reverence. We will and should disagree on how that reverence manifested itself.
Then there is sensless destruction of ourselfs. We do not take care of our own bodies in getting enough sleep or eating the right way. We do not take the time to read G-d’s Word that gives us all the instuctions on how to live our lifes. No wonder we are not a G-d fearing nation anymore!
We have become a fast pace generation, wanting more and more and giving little back. Never satisfied, needing the bigger and better improved models. We all have more material things than needed. There is a differnce between wants and needs.
Can we get back to the basics? I sure hope so, if not G-d will allow distruction.
Let’s revamp our priorities!
Destiny & calling dreams
Not everything G-d shows you is something that you, and you specifically, are destined to do. So much in life, including destiny, revolves around Y’Shua’ statement in Matthew 22:14: “Many are called, but few are chosen.”
There are two types of destiny dreams: those that show us what we could do and those that show us what we need to do.
1. The things we could do are things that might be in our bloodline or things that were never finished by others and now are waiting to be picked up by someone else. Those can influence what we dream about and also what we feel drawn to do.
2. The things we need to do are what G-d specifically created us to do. These aren’t options; they’re requirements, and when we’ve stepped into them, they give us momentum. It is a powerful force, and not much can derail it.
Saying yes to the specific path G-d laid out for us helps protect us from the enemy. But that, of course, makes the opposite true as well. When we aren’t walking in what we were created to do, we aren’t protected as well. This isn’t because G-d is punishing us, but it’s because we left the tracks — the path we were created to take — and became exposed. We became more vulnerable. So it is vital, both for us and for everyone around us, that we walk in our destiny. G-d gives us a lot of options that are simply that — options that we can choose to do or not. We don’t have to do them all, but we need to do what G-d requires us to do, or it will affect the course of our life.
Finally, if you don’t know what your destiny is or have questions about it, ask Him. As He created us to walk in our destiny, He’s very interested in helping us get there. Did He not say: “I have a plan and a purpose for you.”
What has He put on your heart to do for the advancement of the Kingdom?
Don’t let your life count for nothing, life is short so make the best of it well you can.
James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeared for a little time, and then vanishes away.”
There are two types of destiny dreams: those that show us what we could do and those that show us what we need to do.
1. The things we could do are things that might be in our bloodline or things that were never finished by others and now are waiting to be picked up by someone else. Those can influence what we dream about and also what we feel drawn to do.
2. The things we need to do are what G-d specifically created us to do. These aren’t options; they’re requirements, and when we’ve stepped into them, they give us momentum. It is a powerful force, and not much can derail it.
Saying yes to the specific path G-d laid out for us helps protect us from the enemy. But that, of course, makes the opposite true as well. When we aren’t walking in what we were created to do, we aren’t protected as well. This isn’t because G-d is punishing us, but it’s because we left the tracks — the path we were created to take — and became exposed. We became more vulnerable. So it is vital, both for us and for everyone around us, that we walk in our destiny. G-d gives us a lot of options that are simply that — options that we can choose to do or not. We don’t have to do them all, but we need to do what G-d requires us to do, or it will affect the course of our life.
Finally, if you don’t know what your destiny is or have questions about it, ask Him. As He created us to walk in our destiny, He’s very interested in helping us get there. Did He not say: “I have a plan and a purpose for you.”
What has He put on your heart to do for the advancement of the Kingdom?
Don’t let your life count for nothing, life is short so make the best of it well you can.
James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeared for a little time, and then vanishes away.”
Gifts of the Seer
The seers have strong impressions, smell, seeing things, and tasting things. The prophet teaches it logically. Discernment is the seer’s lifeline.
What is discernment? - Relationship and history with G-d develop your discernment: sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that enables us to tell the difference between His communications and our own thoughts or the voice of the enemy. This is important because His voice, as well as the enemy’s voice, can sound a lot like our own thoughts. I’ve been thinking about AJ a lot lately. Maybe I should pray for him. That is an example of a normal, “everyday” thought that is probably from G-d but sounds like something we’re just thinking. Why doesn’t the pastor realize how gifted I am? He must not be listening to G-d. That is an example of a thought that also sounds everyday but could be coming from the enemy. Both are subtle. Both sound “like us.” When G-d has built up within us sensitivity to His Holy Spirit, we will be more able to tell when something is amiss with our thoughts, emotions, plans and interactions with others.
Shirley a friend, long ago taught me about journaling my thoughts. The first thoughts after praying are from G-d, the second is from the adversary and the third is your own thoughts questing what you wrote.
Cults and religious factions are sometimes the byproduct of sincere, gifted, faith-filled leaders who believe they’re doing what G-d has told them to do. We should never stop praying for discernment, because it will keep us from confusing G-d’s voice with any other voice, discerning between light from G-d and what is only pretending to be light.
Once G-d has developed discernment within us, we can be trusted to see more and more, because now we can recognize what we’re seeing, and He knows we will act wisely.
How does G-d develop discernment within us? G-d’s process of developing our discernment is by practicing, like driving a car, and as we learn how to balance, steer and avoid obstacles. The Father helps guide us and then slowly releases as we learn how to drive on our own.
When we are able and ready, G-d puts the weight of discernment on us. He gives us the opportunity to make bad decisions because He knows we’re now able to not make them. He grows discernment within us and only afterward puts us in situations where we’ll have to use it. G-d will protect us from interacting with anything that wasn’t from Him. He even allows something negative to approach us, because He knew there would be a check in our spirit that asked, Wait a minute — is this G-d?
When we’re capable of choosing wisely- G-d knows how we will react; He will lent His attributes of mercy and love, and He knows that we will seek His favor on His people’s behalf.
G-d won’t allow us to enter situations that are dangerous for us until we’re capable of choosing wisely. He is just; when He tests us, He wants us to succeed, not to fail. G-d made gave us free-will so you can choose the gift or refuse it. Knowing the future, G-d planned on using our failures, but He didn’t make it impossible for us to succeed.
Having discernment doesn’t mean that we’re incapable of making poor decisions. We could choose to ignore G-d’s still, small voice within us, or we could purposefully put ourselves into situations that are over our heads, to learn more. There is always the possibility for failure because without it, our success wouldn’t have any real meaning.
It’s humbling to realize that we’re capable of failing. After we’ve made a right decision, G-d will sometimes show us how easily we could have made the wrong decision, and we’re filled with gratitude and thankfulness. In His grace, He kept us from failing.
Discernment will come as a result of relationship with G-d. Then, as we grow in discernment, we will also grow in our relationship with Him.
Discernment is not only a chose but a necessary if we want to stay on the right course. The day will come when what He says to us may make the difference between life and death.
What is discernment? - Relationship and history with G-d develop your discernment: sensitivity to the Holy Spirit that enables us to tell the difference between His communications and our own thoughts or the voice of the enemy. This is important because His voice, as well as the enemy’s voice, can sound a lot like our own thoughts. I’ve been thinking about AJ a lot lately. Maybe I should pray for him. That is an example of a normal, “everyday” thought that is probably from G-d but sounds like something we’re just thinking. Why doesn’t the pastor realize how gifted I am? He must not be listening to G-d. That is an example of a thought that also sounds everyday but could be coming from the enemy. Both are subtle. Both sound “like us.” When G-d has built up within us sensitivity to His Holy Spirit, we will be more able to tell when something is amiss with our thoughts, emotions, plans and interactions with others.
Shirley a friend, long ago taught me about journaling my thoughts. The first thoughts after praying are from G-d, the second is from the adversary and the third is your own thoughts questing what you wrote.
Cults and religious factions are sometimes the byproduct of sincere, gifted, faith-filled leaders who believe they’re doing what G-d has told them to do. We should never stop praying for discernment, because it will keep us from confusing G-d’s voice with any other voice, discerning between light from G-d and what is only pretending to be light.
Once G-d has developed discernment within us, we can be trusted to see more and more, because now we can recognize what we’re seeing, and He knows we will act wisely.
How does G-d develop discernment within us? G-d’s process of developing our discernment is by practicing, like driving a car, and as we learn how to balance, steer and avoid obstacles. The Father helps guide us and then slowly releases as we learn how to drive on our own.
When we are able and ready, G-d puts the weight of discernment on us. He gives us the opportunity to make bad decisions because He knows we’re now able to not make them. He grows discernment within us and only afterward puts us in situations where we’ll have to use it. G-d will protect us from interacting with anything that wasn’t from Him. He even allows something negative to approach us, because He knew there would be a check in our spirit that asked, Wait a minute — is this G-d?
When we’re capable of choosing wisely- G-d knows how we will react; He will lent His attributes of mercy and love, and He knows that we will seek His favor on His people’s behalf.
G-d won’t allow us to enter situations that are dangerous for us until we’re capable of choosing wisely. He is just; when He tests us, He wants us to succeed, not to fail. G-d made gave us free-will so you can choose the gift or refuse it. Knowing the future, G-d planned on using our failures, but He didn’t make it impossible for us to succeed.
Having discernment doesn’t mean that we’re incapable of making poor decisions. We could choose to ignore G-d’s still, small voice within us, or we could purposefully put ourselves into situations that are over our heads, to learn more. There is always the possibility for failure because without it, our success wouldn’t have any real meaning.
It’s humbling to realize that we’re capable of failing. After we’ve made a right decision, G-d will sometimes show us how easily we could have made the wrong decision, and we’re filled with gratitude and thankfulness. In His grace, He kept us from failing.
Discernment will come as a result of relationship with G-d. Then, as we grow in discernment, we will also grow in our relationship with Him.
Discernment is not only a chose but a necessary if we want to stay on the right course. The day will come when what He says to us may make the difference between life and death.
Weighed and Tested
From Stir the Waters:
There is a testing going on right now, one that is affecting all of us. Everything is being weighed — our thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, spiritual inheritances, bloodline issues — to see where we are weak.
When G-d judges and weighs His people, it seems that He doesn’t go through our issues one at a time; He addresses all of them at once. It’s a process of being assessed and reviewed for strengths and weaknesses, and any flaw in any area is poked and prodded and exposed.
While this is going on, we tend to be very aware of our faults. Our issues come up. Some of us may find ourselves struggling with finances and hereditary illnesses. We feel like we’re under spiritual attack. G-d is testing us — not to condemn us but to deal with our weaknesses.
Whenever He does this, He has a reason and a purpose, both of which are usually better and more significant than we realize. This is the year 2009. Nine is the number of judgment. It isn’t so much the passing of judgment as it is the process of judgment, in which the weaknesses and limitations of every person are exposed. G-d judges us because He is preparing us for Himself. He’s getting ready to move and pour out and bless — and to bring judgment on those who aren’t responding.
What is the most important thing we can do during this time? We can embrace G-d’s testing. Instead of cowering or drawing back, we should lay everything out before Him and let Him touch, handle, heal, remove and rearrange as He sees fit. We want Him to take care of any holes or weak spots within us, so that when the fullness of judgment arrives, we will be overcome with blessing.
This is a really good thing that’s happening right now. It’s exciting and positive. The weights are heavy today because we’re going to be stronger tomorrow. When many of us hear about testing, we sigh and groan, “Oh, great.” But there is a very odd thing that happens when we’re in alignment with G-d and His will for our lives: We don’t want the judging process to end. We realize the benefit of it, and instead of trying to get through it, we learn to embrace it as an opportunity to study and adopt the ways of G-d.
There is a testing going on right now, one that is affecting all of us. Everything is being weighed — our thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, spiritual inheritances, bloodline issues — to see where we are weak.
When G-d judges and weighs His people, it seems that He doesn’t go through our issues one at a time; He addresses all of them at once. It’s a process of being assessed and reviewed for strengths and weaknesses, and any flaw in any area is poked and prodded and exposed.
While this is going on, we tend to be very aware of our faults. Our issues come up. Some of us may find ourselves struggling with finances and hereditary illnesses. We feel like we’re under spiritual attack. G-d is testing us — not to condemn us but to deal with our weaknesses.
Whenever He does this, He has a reason and a purpose, both of which are usually better and more significant than we realize. This is the year 2009. Nine is the number of judgment. It isn’t so much the passing of judgment as it is the process of judgment, in which the weaknesses and limitations of every person are exposed. G-d judges us because He is preparing us for Himself. He’s getting ready to move and pour out and bless — and to bring judgment on those who aren’t responding.
What is the most important thing we can do during this time? We can embrace G-d’s testing. Instead of cowering or drawing back, we should lay everything out before Him and let Him touch, handle, heal, remove and rearrange as He sees fit. We want Him to take care of any holes or weak spots within us, so that when the fullness of judgment arrives, we will be overcome with blessing.
This is a really good thing that’s happening right now. It’s exciting and positive. The weights are heavy today because we’re going to be stronger tomorrow. When many of us hear about testing, we sigh and groan, “Oh, great.” But there is a very odd thing that happens when we’re in alignment with G-d and His will for our lives: We don’t want the judging process to end. We realize the benefit of it, and instead of trying to get through it, we learn to embrace it as an opportunity to study and adopt the ways of G-d.
Stay out of darkness
Stay out of dark places; studing under TD Jakes.
In-between praise and pain comes your message to bring deep healing in your soul. Depression is a killer; it creates pressure and brings on restriction. Look at Elijah in 1 Kings 18 & 19; he had just confronted four-hundred and fifty prophets of Baal to prove that the G-d of Israel was the only G-d. Then Jezebel sends him a message that she would take his life at the same time the next day; one lonely woman scares him with a treat and he runs away. What are you running from? What scares you into the darkness of depression? What threats have you heard in your life that did more damage than any punch you may have received?
When Elijah run scared into the wilderness, went and sat down under a juniper tree and requested for himself that he might die, depression set in. The pressure comes in how you think about your situation. If you can’t get your mind to work with you, you can’t think straight or see things clearly. When you are tired and weary you will think things are dead when they are not dead. Do not make decisions when you are tired, or your emotions are tired for you will see things as dead when they are only asleep; your perception and discernment are off when you are tired. You write the books that you read into your life and walk in the reality of your own thinking. Do you bounce ideas off someone who speaks in the language that you're accustomed to based on your own personal dysfunction, or do you leave a hole in your soul. The hole needs to be filled with encouragement and hope. Elijah had a hole; even people in high leadership had holes that drive them to greatness.
G-d sends an angel when life does not give you your due. Are you waiting for your angel to show up or running ahead of Him? Stand still and wait!!
Elijah is laying waiting for death to show up, but an angel shows up cooking for him. For what ever is taking you down G-d is cooking up something just for you.
Notice Elijah had to arise and eat, feeding himself after resting. You need to take care of yourself getting plenty of rest and nourishment before you can help another. You can’t help others if you go down physically and mentally yourself. Feed your self on His Word, daily renewing your mind.
Twice he did eat and rested, but it was the second meal that was to get him ready for where he was going. As soon as you get over what you have been through G-d, has something else for you to do. All tribulation is for your edification and promotion to the next level.
Stay out of the darkness of depression or issues that are lurking. Don’t dress up the depression, but get delivered from it. Walk into the light of His anointing, for it will destroy the yoke of the enemy. Everything is not broken through prayer alone, but thanks to G-d for faith and works together can get the victory in your life.
G-d created you to be happy, healthy and enjoy life!
In-between praise and pain comes your message to bring deep healing in your soul. Depression is a killer; it creates pressure and brings on restriction. Look at Elijah in 1 Kings 18 & 19; he had just confronted four-hundred and fifty prophets of Baal to prove that the G-d of Israel was the only G-d. Then Jezebel sends him a message that she would take his life at the same time the next day; one lonely woman scares him with a treat and he runs away. What are you running from? What scares you into the darkness of depression? What threats have you heard in your life that did more damage than any punch you may have received?
When Elijah run scared into the wilderness, went and sat down under a juniper tree and requested for himself that he might die, depression set in. The pressure comes in how you think about your situation. If you can’t get your mind to work with you, you can’t think straight or see things clearly. When you are tired and weary you will think things are dead when they are not dead. Do not make decisions when you are tired, or your emotions are tired for you will see things as dead when they are only asleep; your perception and discernment are off when you are tired. You write the books that you read into your life and walk in the reality of your own thinking. Do you bounce ideas off someone who speaks in the language that you're accustomed to based on your own personal dysfunction, or do you leave a hole in your soul. The hole needs to be filled with encouragement and hope. Elijah had a hole; even people in high leadership had holes that drive them to greatness.
G-d sends an angel when life does not give you your due. Are you waiting for your angel to show up or running ahead of Him? Stand still and wait!!
Elijah is laying waiting for death to show up, but an angel shows up cooking for him. For what ever is taking you down G-d is cooking up something just for you.
Notice Elijah had to arise and eat, feeding himself after resting. You need to take care of yourself getting plenty of rest and nourishment before you can help another. You can’t help others if you go down physically and mentally yourself. Feed your self on His Word, daily renewing your mind.
Twice he did eat and rested, but it was the second meal that was to get him ready for where he was going. As soon as you get over what you have been through G-d, has something else for you to do. All tribulation is for your edification and promotion to the next level.
Stay out of the darkness of depression or issues that are lurking. Don’t dress up the depression, but get delivered from it. Walk into the light of His anointing, for it will destroy the yoke of the enemy. Everything is not broken through prayer alone, but thanks to G-d for faith and works together can get the victory in your life.
G-d created you to be happy, healthy and enjoy life!
Bridegroom/Husband
Isa. 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the L-RD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The G-d of the whole earth shall He be called.
Your Maker is G-d the Father.
Jer. 31:32 although I was an husband unto them, saith the L-RD:
G-d married to Isreal.
Hosea 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith the L-RD, that thou shall call me Ishi; and shall call me no more Baali.
Ishi means husband. Baali means master.
19: And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.
20: I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shall know the L-RD.
Notice who He betroths…
Matt. 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
He betroths only them who are ready and watching for Him, who have prepared themselves.
13: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
29: He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Y’Shua has the bride and is the Bridegroom, there are many witnesses for the ceremony, for not everyone will be a bride.
Rev. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.
8: And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9: And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He saith unto me, These are the true sayings of G-d.
Who is your husband? Do you want to call Him Ishi or Baali, husband or Master? Do you want to be His bride or one of the witnesses?
Your Maker is G-d the Father.
Jer. 31:32 although I was an husband unto them, saith the L-RD:
G-d married to Isreal.
Hosea 2:16 And it shall be at that day, saith the L-RD, that thou shall call me Ishi; and shall call me no more Baali.
Ishi means husband. Baali means master.
19: And I will betroth thee unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies.
20: I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shall know the L-RD.
Notice who He betroths…
Matt. 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
He betroths only them who are ready and watching for Him, who have prepared themselves.
13: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
29: He that hath the bride is the Bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and hears Him, rejoices greatly because of the Bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Y’Shua has the bride and is the Bridegroom, there are many witnesses for the ceremony, for not everyone will be a bride.
Rev. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made herself ready.
8: And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9: And He saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And He saith unto me, These are the true sayings of G-d.
Who is your husband? Do you want to call Him Ishi or Baali, husband or Master? Do you want to be His bride or one of the witnesses?
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