October 25, 2007 5:26 AM
Sam wrote:
Prov 25:25. "LIKE COLD WATER TO A WEARY SOUL IS GOOD NEWS FROM A DISTANT LAND." Didn't mean to SHOUT, but my Caps Lock was on when I started this, so decided to leave it on as this is an important verse for us to hear. How refreshing it is to get good news! Like the good news that Rick and family are hanging around atlanta for another few years. That brought joy to me. Like Rich sharing about his wife who started out of her shell---pleased me. And Tony, who calls me often with news like "the Home Depot on the East-West is now a 30%-off Home Depot depot". GREAT refreshing news. But, to top it all off, is the fantastic news that the New Testament has about Jesus. C'mon, ya can't get any better or refreshing news than that! To be able to live eternity in bliss? How cool is that? We should be taking this "cool water to weary souls" so that they can be refreshed as well. I've been slacking in this area lately, I'm sad to admit, but then, probably we all have been. Let's change.
Zech 9. "Ok..."
NAH, I can't leave it at that, wouldn't be fair to the rest of you. What did I get out of this? On the surface, God is opposing nations but promises to support Jerusalem. Deeper, God is against everything evil. Like the rich people of Tyre, the sinners who do destable things to God, like eating (back then) forbidden foods, and all the other oppressors of innocent people. I would expect God is right now looking at all nations on this earth and is planning destruction for all those who oppress other nations for want of wealth and more power (look out America!!!). TODAY, I believe God's "chosen people" are not just the Jews who were returning to Jerusalem years ago. The NT talks about opening up the possibility of Heaven to all Gentiles (all non-Jews). I beleive ALL people are God's chosen ones, and the way He now distinguishes one from another, is by the path of sin we elect to follow. The Lord did appear in Jerusalem, in the Temple. Today, God 'appears' all the time in our lives, and watches us, and all people from all nations, and decides who He will allow into Heaven. The Bible says, only he who comes through Jesus will be allowed in. Jesus said to love your enemies (as does Proverbs), so I know HE loves everyone, and will give anyone a chance to come to Him. How this all works with people following other religions, I am not sure, and I don't judge (as God will do what God will do), however, people who don't follow "God" in ANY manner, need our help. In the last part of this chapter, it says that God will save the people even though they sin, and that "they will sparkle in his land". We have that chance to sparkle, by repenting and sharing the gospel. He says that we will be attractive and beautiful, that "grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women." (in my former life, as "I" drank wine, the more attractive became the women!!!) God's telling us He will love us for ever. What a great God He is! Reply to this
October 25, 2007 7:24 AM
rik wrote:
proverbs 25 was written by the kings men and they start out with kingly proverbs. in vs 1-8 I wonder if they were trying to appeal to the people to how this king ruled? if so then they are complementing king Hezekiah, it appears to me that he put much thought into everything, and his decisions were quit deep unsearchable even. then they go on and give instructions on how to act around the king. again I relate this to the commanding officer (CO) of a military bunch. If you have a kind CO who goes into the work spaces and wants to know his troops, sometimes the troops can treat him as if he is not the commanding officer, not giving him his proper respect. if king Hezekiah was a peoples king they may not have been giving him his proper respect. so this could have been a way to gently correct those who were not acting correctly in front of the king. let us remember to give respect to those who have earned it and if we are feeling like a king let us put thought into our decisions and serve with great understanding. (only spelled one word wrong!!!) Reply to this
October 25, 2007 7:43 AM
rik wrote:
z 9: 12 O prisoners of hope ?? what is a prisoner of hope? that seem to be an oxymoron.
it seem you are for God or against God. so there is not really anyone agnostic or atheistic. they would be against God.
Sorry about the Ok..., but I couldn't get anything out of the chapter yesterday until i read others thoughts and those thought made good since, so i was not going to try to conjure something up. good comments by everyone yesterday. It helps the days of "duty" reading. Reply to this
Prov 25:25. "LIKE COLD WATER TO A WEARY SOUL IS GOOD NEWS FROM A DISTANT LAND." Didn't mean to SHOUT, but my Caps Lock was on when I started this, so decided to leave it on as this is an important verse for us to hear. How refreshing it is to get good news! Like the good news that Rick and family are hanging around atlanta for another few years. That brought joy to me. Like Rich sharing about his wife who started out of her shell---pleased me. And Tony, who calls me often with news like "the Home Depot on the East-West is now a 30%-off Home Depot depot". GREAT refreshing news. But, to top it all off, is the fantastic news that the New Testament has about Jesus. C'mon, ya can't get any better or refreshing news than that! To be able to live eternity in bliss? How cool is that? We should be taking this "cool water to weary souls" so that they can be refreshed as well. I've been slacking in this area lately, I'm sad to admit, but then, probably we all have been. Let's change.
Zech 9. "Ok..."
NAH, I can't leave it at that, wouldn't be fair to the rest of you. What did I get out of this? On the surface, God is opposing nations but promises to support Jerusalem. Deeper, God is against everything evil. Like the rich people of Tyre, the sinners who do destable things to God, like eating (back then) forbidden foods, and all the other oppressors of innocent people. I would expect God is right now looking at all nations on this earth and is planning destruction for all those who oppress other nations for want of wealth and more power (look out America!!!). TODAY, I believe God's "chosen people" are not just the Jews who were returning to Jerusalem years ago. The NT talks about opening up the possibility of Heaven to all Gentiles (all non-Jews). I beleive ALL people are God's chosen ones, and the way He now distinguishes one from another, is by the path of sin we elect to follow. The Lord did appear in Jerusalem, in the Temple. Today, God 'appears' all the time in our lives, and watches us, and all people from all nations, and decides who He will allow into Heaven. The Bible says, only he who comes through Jesus will be allowed in. Jesus said to love your enemies (as does Proverbs), so I know HE loves everyone, and will give anyone a chance to come to Him. How this all works with people following other religions, I am not sure, and I don't judge (as God will do what God will do), however, people who don't follow "God" in ANY manner, need our help. In the last part of this chapter, it says that God will save the people even though they sin, and that "they will sparkle in his land". We have that chance to sparkle, by repenting and sharing the gospel. He says that we will be attractive and beautiful, that "grain will make the young men thrive, and new wine the young women." (in my former life, as "I" drank wine, the more attractive became the women!!!) God's telling us He will love us for ever. What a great God He is!
Reply to this
proverbs 25 was written by the kings men and they start out with kingly proverbs. in vs 1-8 I wonder if they were trying to appeal to the people to how this king ruled? if so then they are complementing king Hezekiah, it appears to me that he put much thought into everything, and his decisions were quit deep unsearchable even. then they go on and give instructions on how to act around the king. again I relate this to the commanding officer (CO) of a military bunch. If you have a kind CO who goes into the work spaces and wants to know his troops, sometimes the troops can treat him as if he is not the commanding officer, not giving him his proper respect. if king Hezekiah was a peoples king they may not have been giving him his proper respect. so this could have been a way to gently correct those who were not acting correctly in front of the king.
let us remember to give respect to those who have earned it and if we are feeling like a king let us put thought into our decisions and serve with great understanding. (only spelled one word wrong!!!)
Reply to this
z 9: 12 O prisoners of hope ?? what is a prisoner of hope? that seem to be an oxymoron.
it seem you are for God or against God. so there is not really anyone agnostic or atheistic. they would be against God.
Sorry about the Ok..., but I couldn't get anything out of the chapter yesterday until i read others thoughts and those thought made good since, so i was not going to try to conjure something up. good comments by everyone yesterday. It helps the days of "duty" reading.
Reply to this