S3E224 – Nehemiah 5-9: Is This Okay?

S3E236 – Numbers 21-24: Don’t Be Too Eager

Transcript ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Timothy LaFontaine PODCAST INTRODUCTION Today is Monday, so we’ll read from one of the books of the Law. We’re in the book of Numbers, and we’ll read chapters 21-24. After the reading I’ll have some comments. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I’m calling today’s episode “Don’t Be Too Eager.” S12E264Art3000-runner in starting blocks [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/22182223/S12E264Art3000-1.jpg]Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Serghei Trofimov on Unsplash COMMENTS ON NUMBERS 22 AND 24 THOUGHTS ON NUMBER 22 If this were Sesame Street, I would say that today’s chapter from Numbers was brought to you by the letter “B”. Balaam, Balak, Bamoth-Baal, Beor.  So what did you think about the situation with Balaam and God at first denying him permission to go to see Balak, and then telling him it was okay to go, and then being mad that he did go? Were you confused by that? Is God a capricious God? Of course not. But I was confused, too. So I did some digging, and here is what I found. Balak sent messengers first to ask Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. God told Balaam not to go since He, God, had blessed them. Then Balak sent even more distinguished messengers, with the additional message that he would confer great honor upon Balaam, in effect Balak was attempting to bribe Balaam. This appears to have been a bit of a temptation to Balaam, even though he said with his lips that even if Balak gave him enough silver and gold to fill a house, he could not do anything against what God had told him…he told the messengers that he would see if God had anything else to say on the matter. This seems to be the crux of the matter. God told Balaam that the people were blessed. Why would he expect that God would say anything different about cursing people whom He blessed?  Here is what God said, and the version we’re reading today doesn’t convey the original meaning well. Commentators agree that what God said was, “If the men come to you, then you may go with them.”  Let’s stop here for a moment. This is an important point. God allows us to do many things that He does not endorse. Right? Sometimes He will allow us to succumb to our own wicked and lustful hearts. He allows us, in effect, to touch the hot stove to see that it will burn us. I can imagine Balaam laying in his bed that night, thinking how cool it was that these important visitors had come to his humble home. He felt important. And I can also imagine him laying there fantasizing about the honors that Balak would bestow on him once he arrived. He got to thinking, perhaps, about the palace full of silver and gold. So what happened next? In the original Hebrew, God said, “If the men come to call thee, rise up, [and] go with them; but yet the word which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.” But Balaam got up the next morning and saddled his donkey and went with the men. Scripture doesn’t say, “When they came to get him, he went.” It says, “He got up and went.”  Balaam was too eager. He wanted to get his hands on the treasure Balak promised him. So he did not follow God’s instruction. Remember, the reason that Balak sent for Balaam was so that Balaam would come and curse the Israelites. God’s chosen people. God does not look with favor upon those who conspire to harm His people, or those who seek to gain favor with those who conspire to harm his people. So God became angry at Balaam.   THOUGHTS ON NUMBERS 24 In Numbers 24 Balaam once again disappointed Balak. I guess you have to hand it to Balak. He wasn’t one to give up easily. And it is good to see that, despite the inauspicious beginning of this time with Balak, Balaam was faithful to what God told him to say.  There is a good lesson to learn from this. How many times do we sin, and then feel as if, because of that sin, we cannot be a useful instrument for God? We might even think that since others saw our sin, our credibility is ruined. Here in these few chapters of Numbers we see that such is not the case. We can make an about face, we can turn in the right direction, and continue walking with God, and can go on to be a voice for Him…and be effective. Do not let the enemy of your soul steal away the blessing of following after God and doing His will just because you stumble. If you will confess your failure to God, He will forgive you. He can, and He *will* use you again for His glory. Remember, every person we have read about, or will read about in God’s Word, except Jesus, was imperfect. Every one of them failed at one time or another. Some of them multiple times. And God accomplished His will through them despite their failings. He will do the same with you, if you don’t give up and give in.  TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 21 KJV; Ch. 22 CEV; Ch. 23 GWT; Ch. 24 NASB SUPPORT This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT [/support/]. [/support/] TRANSCRIPT Download .txt file. [http://Upload Podcast/lsmedia-podcasts/lsfb/LSFAB_S12-E264_otter_ai-CorrectedV1.txt] STEVE WEBB – 0:00 We can make an about face. INTRO S12E263 – 0:09 This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. Welcome. This is the daily show where we are reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Monday. So we’ll read from one of the books of the law. We’re in the book of Numbers, and we’ll read chapters 21 through 24. After the reading, I’ll have some comments, and, of course, I’ll have an On This Date in Church History, and we have a prayer request today. So I’m calling today’s episode, “Don’t Be Too Eager.” The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e264 which means there are just 100 remaining days to this season of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started. NUMBERS 21 (KJV) – 0:59 Numbers, chapter 21. (1) And when king Arad the Canaanite, which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies; then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. (2) And Israel vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities. (3) And the LORD hearkened to the voice of Israel, and delivered up the Canaanites; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah. (4) And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. (5) And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. (6) And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. (7) Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. (8) And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. (9) And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. (10) And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth. (11) And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ije-abarim, in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising. (12) From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zared. (13) From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. (14) Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the LORD, What he did in the Red sea, And in the brooks of Arnon, (15) And at the stream of the brooks That goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, And lieth upon the border of Moab. (16) And from thence they went to Beer: that is the well whereof the LORD spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water. (17) Then Israel sang this song, Spring up, O well; sing ye unto it: (18) The princes digged the well, The nobles of the people digged it, By the direction of the lawgiver, with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah: (19) and from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth: (20) and from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country of Moab, to the top of Pisgah, which looketh toward Jeshimon. (21) And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, (22) Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards; we will not drink of the waters of the well: but we will go along by the king’s high way, until we be past thy borders. (23) And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. (24) And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. (25) And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof. (26) For Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. (27) Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, Let the city of Sihon be built and prepared: (28) For there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, A flame from the city of Sihon: It hath consumed Ar of Moab, And the lords of the high places of Arnon. (29) Woe to thee, Moab! Thou art undone, O people of Chemosh: He hath given his sons that escaped, And his daughters, into captivity Unto Sihon king of the Amorites. (30) We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, And we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, Which reacheth unto Medeba. (31) Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. (32) And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amorites that were there. (33) And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan: and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei. (34) And the LORD said unto Moses, Fear him not: for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. (35) So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land. NUMBERS 22 (CEV) – 5:50 Numbers, chapter 22. (1) Israel moved from there to the hills of Moab, where they camped across the Jordan River from the town of Jericho. (2-3) When King Balak of Moab and his people heard how many Israelites there were and what they had done to the Amorites, he and the Moabites were terrified and panicked. (4) They said to the Midianite leaders, “That huge mob of Israelites will wipe out everything in sight, like a bull eating grass in a field.” So King Balak (5) sent a message to Balaam son of Beor who lived among his relatives in the town of Pethor near the Euphrates River. It said: I need your help. A large group of people has come here from Egypt and settled near my territory. (6) They are too powerful for us to defeat, so would you come and place a curse on them? Maybe then we can run them off. I know that anyone you bless will be successful, but anyone you curse will fail. (7) The leaders of Moab and Midian left and took along money to pay Balaam. When they got to his house, they gave him Balak’s message. (8) “Spend the night here,” Balaam replied, “and tomorrow I will tell you the Lord’s answer.” So the officials stayed at his house. (9) During the night, God asked Balaam, “Who are these people at your house?” (10) “They are messengers from King Balak of Moab,” Balaam answered. “He sent them (11) to ask me to go to Moab and put a curse on the people who have come there from Egypt. They have settled everywhere around him, and he wants to run them off.” (12) But God replied, “Don’t go with Balak’s messengers. I have blessed those people who have come from Egypt, so don’t curse them.” (13) The next morning, Balaam said to Balak’s officials, “Go on back home. The Lord says I cannot go with you.” (14) The officials left and told Balak that Balaam refused to come. (15) Then Balak sent a larger group of officials, who were even more important than the first ones. (16) They went to Balaam and told him that Balak had said, “Balaam, if you come to Moab, (17) I’ll pay you very well and do whatever you ask. Just come and place a curse on these people.” (18) Balaam answered, “Even if Balak offered me a palace full of silver or gold, I wouldn’t do anything to disobey the Lord my God. (19) You are welcome to spend the night here, just as the others did. I will find out if the Lord has something else to say about this.” (20) That night, God said, “Balaam, I’ll let you go to Moab with Balak’s messengers, but do only what I say.” (21) So Balaam got up the next morning and saddled his donkey, then left with the Moabite officials. (22) Balaam was riding his donkey to Moab, and two of his servants were with him. But God was angry that Balaam had gone, so one of the Lord’s angels stood in the road to stop him. (23) When Balaam’s donkey saw the angel standing there with a sword, it walked off the road and into an open field. Balaam had to beat the donkey to get it back on the road. (24) Then the angel stood between two vineyards, in a narrow path with a stone wall on each side. (25) When the donkey saw the angel, it walked so close to one of the walls that Balaam’s foot scraped against the wall. Balaam beat the donkey again. (26) The angel moved once more and stood in a spot so narrow that there was no room for the donkey to go around. (27) So it just lay down. Balaam lost his temper, then picked up a stick and whacked the donkey. (28) When that happened, the Lord told the donkey to speak, and it asked Balaam, “What have I done that made you beat me three times?” (29) “You made me look stupid!” Balaam answered. “If I had a sword, I’d kill you here and now!” (30) “But you’re my owner,” answered the donkey, “and you’ve ridden me many times. Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted. (31) Just then, the Lord let Balaam see the angel standing in the road, holding a sword, and Balaam bowed down. (32) The angel said, “You had no right to treat your donkey like that! I was the one who blocked your way, because I don’t think you should go to Moab. (33) If your donkey had not seen me and stopped those three times, I would have killed you and let the donkey live.” (34) Balaam replied, “I was wrong. I didn’t know you were trying to stop me. If you don’t think I should go, I’ll return home at once.” (35) “It’s all right for you to go,” the Lord’s angel answered. “But you must say only what I tell you.” So Balaam went on with Balak’s officials. (36) When Balak heard that Balaam was coming, he went to meet him at the town of Ir on the Arnon River, which is the northern border of Moab. (37) Balak asked, “Why didn’t you come when I invited you the first time? Did you think I wasn’t going to pay you?” (38) “I’m here now,” Balaam answered. “But I will say only what God tells me to say.” (39) They left and went to the town of Kiriath-Huzoth, (40) where Balak sacrificed cattle and sheep and gave some of the meat to Balaam and the officials who were with him. (41) The next morning, Balak took Balaam to the town of Bamoth-Baal. From there, Balaam could see some of the Israelites NUMBERS 23 (GWT) – 10:51 Numbers, chapter 23. (1) Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” (2) Balak did what Balaam told him, and the two of them offered a bull and a ram on each altar. (3) Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I’m gone. Maybe the Lord will come and meet with me. I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” Then Balaam went off to a higher place where there were no trees. (4) God came to him, and Balaam said, “I have set up seven altars, and I offered a bull and a ram on each altar.” (5) The Lord told Balaam, “Go back to Balak, and give him my message.” (6) So he went back to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with all the princes of Moab. (7) Then Balaam delivered this message: “Balak brought me from Aram. The king of Moab summoned me from the eastern mountains. ‘Come, curse Jacob for me,’ he said. ‘Come, condemn Israel.’ (8) How can I curse those whom God hasn’t cursed? How can I condemn those whom the Lord hasn’t condemned? (9) I see them from the top of rocky cliffs, I look at them from the hills. I see a nation that lives by itself, people who do not consider themselves to be like other nations. (10) The descendants of Jacob are like specks of dust. Who can count them or number even one-fourth of the people of Israel? Let me die the death of innocent people. Let my end be like theirs.” (11) Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you here to curse my enemies, but all you’ve done is bless them!” (12) Balaam answered, “I must say what the Lord tells me to say.” (13) Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, where you can see the Israelites. You will see only some of them, not all of them. Curse them for me from there.” (14) So he took him to the Field of Zophim on top of Mount Pisgah, where he built seven altars. He offered a bull and a ram on each altar. (15) Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stay here beside your burnt offering while I meet with God over there.” (16) The Lord came to Balaam and told him, “Go back to Balak, and give him my message.” (17) He came to Balak and found him standing beside his burnt offering with the princes of Moab. Balak asked him, “What did the Lord say?” (18) Then Balaam delivered this message: “Stand up, Balak, and listen! Hear me, son of Zippor! (19) God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn’t change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. (20) I have received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I can’t change it. (21) He doesn’t want any trouble for the descendants of Jacob. He sees no misfortune for the people of Israel. The Lord their God is with them, praised as their king. (22) The God who brought them out of Egypt has the strength of a wild bull. (23) No spell can curse the descendants of Jacob. No magic can harm the people of Israel. Now it will be said of Jacob and Israel: ‘See what God has done!’ (24) Here is a nation that attacks like a lioness and is as ferocious as a lion. It doesn’t lie down until it eats its prey and drinks the blood of its victim.” (25) Balak said to Balaam, “If you won’t curse them, then at least don’t bless them!” (26) Balaam answered, “Didn’t I tell you that I must do whatever the Lord says?” (27) Balak said to Balaam, “Come, let me take you to another place. Maybe God wants you to curse them for me from there.” (28) So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, which overlooks Jeshimon. (29) Balaam said to Balak, “Build seven altars here, and prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me.” (30) Balak did what Balaam told him, and he offered a bull and a ram on each altar. NUMBERS 24 (NASB) – 14:39 Numbers, chapter 24. (1) When Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he did not go as at other times to seek omens but he set his face toward the wilderness. (2) And Balaam lifted up his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe; and the Spirit of God came upon him. (3) He took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened; (4) The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered, (5) How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel! (6) Like valleys that stretch out, Like gardens beside the river, Like aloes planted by the Lord, Like cedars beside the waters. (7) Water will flow from his buckets, And his seed will be by many waters, And his king shall be higher than Agag, And his kingdom shall be exalted. (8) God brings him out of Egypt, He is for him like the horns of the wild ox. He will devour the nations who are his adversaries, And will crush their bones in pieces, And shatter them with his arrows. (9) He couches, he lies down as a lion, And as a lion, who dares rouse him? Blessed is everyone who blesses you, And cursed is everyone who curses you.” (10) Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times! (11) Therefore, flee to your place now. I said I would honor you greatly, but behold, the Lord has held you back from honor.” (12) Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, saying, (13) ‘Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not do anything contrary to the command of the Lord, either good or bad, of my own accord. What the Lord speaks, that I will speak’? (14) And now, behold, I am going to my people; come, and I will advise you what this people will do to your people in the days to come.” (15) He took up his discourse and said, “The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor, And the oracle of the man whose eye is opened, (16) The oracle of him who hears the words of God, And knows the knowledge of the Most High, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered. (17) I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel, And shall crush through the forehead of Moab, And tear down all the sons of Sheth. (18) Edom shall be a possession, Seir, its enemies, also will be a possession, While Israel performs valiantly. (19) One from Jacob shall have dominion, And will destroy the remnant from the city.” (20) And he looked at Amalek and took up his discourse and said, “Amalek was the first of the nations, But his end shall be destruction.” (21) And he looked at the Kenite, and took up his discourse and said, “Your dwelling place is enduring, And your nest is set in the cliff. (22) Nevertheless Kain will be consumed; How long will Asshur keep you captive?” (23) Then he took up his discourse and said, “Alas, who can live except God has ordained it? (24) But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim, And they shall afflict Asshur and will afflict Eber; So they also will come to destruction.” (25) Then Balaam arose and departed and returned to his place, and Balak also went his way. COMMENTS ON NUMBERS 22 – 18:21 If this were Sesame Street, I would say that today’s chapter from Numbers was brought to you by– COOKIE MONSTER – 18:26 Hello there. Me Cookie Monster. And once again, me introduce letter of day. Haha. It “B”. Yeah, like in word “beautiful”… COMMENTS ON NUMBERS 22 (CONTINUED) – 18:41 And Balaam, Balak, Bamoth-Baal, and Beor. Now getting serious, what do you think about the situation with Balaam, and God at first denying him permission to go see Balak and then telling him it was okay to go? And after that being mad that he did go? Were you confused by that? Is God a capricious God? Well, of course not. But I was confused, too, so I did some digging. And this is what I found. Balak sent messengers first to ask Balaam to come and curse the Israelites. But God told Balaam not to go, since he God had blessed them. So Balak sent even more distinguished messengers with the additional message that he would confer great honor upon Balaam. And in so doing Balak was really trying to bribe Balaam. And it looks like maybe Balaam was tempted somewhat even though he said with his lips, that even if Balak gave him enough silver and gold to fill a house, he could not do anything against what God had told him. But he told the messengers that he would see if God had anything else to say on the matter. Well, this seems to be the crux. God told Balaam that the people were blessed. Why would Balaam expect that God would say anything different about cursing people whom he had blessed? Now this is what God said to Balaam. The version we read today and many other versions really don’t convey the original meaning. In the Hebrew what God said was, “If the men come to call you, rise up and go with them, but only say what I tell you to say.” Well, let’s stop here for a moment. And this is an important point. God allows us to do many things that he does not endorse, right? Sometimes he’ll allow us to succumb to our own wicked and lustful hearts. He allows us, in effect, to touch the hot stove to see that it will burn us. I can imagine Balaam laying in his bed that night thinking how cool it was that these important visitors had come into his humble home. He felt important. And I can also imagine him laying there fantasizing about the honors that Balak, would bestow on him once he arrived. And maybe he got to thinking–no, I think he definitely got to thinking–about the palace full of silver and gold. So in the morning, what happened was–remember God said, “If they come to call you”–but instead of Balaam, waiting for the guys to come show up to get him. The word tells us that in the morning, he got up and went, he didn’t wait for them to get him. Balaam was too eager. He wanted to get his hands on the treasure Balak promised him, so he did not follow God’s instruction. Remember, the reason that Balak sent for Balaam was so that Balaam would come and curse the Israelites God’s chosen people. Well, God doesn’t look with favor upon those who conspire to harm his people, or those who seek to gain favor with those who conspire to harm his people. So that’s why God became angry at Balaam. Does that help? COMMENTS ON NUMBERS 24 – 21:34 Now let’s move on to Numbers 24. Balaam once again disappointed Balak. I guess in a way you kind of have to hand it to Balak, he wasn’t one to give up easily. And it is also good to see that despite the inauspicious beginning of his time with Balak, Balaam was faithful to what God told him to say. There is a good lesson to learn from this. How many times do we sin and then feel as if because of that sin, we can’t be a useful instrument for God? We might even think that since others saw our sin, our credibility is completely ruined. Well here in these few chapters of Numbers, we see that that is not the case. We can make an about face. We can turn in the right direction and continue walking with God. And we can go on to be a voice for him and be effective. Don’t let the enemy of your soul steal away the blessing of following after God and doing His will just because you stumble. If we’ll confess our failure to God, He will forgive us. He can and he will use us for His glory. Remember, every person we’ve read about or will read about in God’s word, except for Jesus was imperfect. Every one of them failed at one time or another and some of them failed multiple times. And still, God accomplished his will through them, despite their failings, when they seek his forgiveness and follow Him. He will do the same with you. If you don’t give up and give in. You have a comment? I’d sure like to hear it. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e264 and let me know. Tomorrow we’ll begin the book of II Chronicles with chapters one through five. King David has died and now his son Solomon begins his reign. Boost! ASSOCIATE PRODUCER SHOUT-OUT – 23:23 Timothy LaFontaine came in with his monthly $20 Associate Producer donation. Thank you, Tim. God bless you, I appreciate your support. If you find value in the show, please go to lifespringmedia.com/support. You can sign up for a weekly, monthly, quarterly donation, whatever makes sense to you and whatever God leads you to do. Regardless of the amount Your support helps to make this show possible, lifespringmedia.com/support. ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 24:02 On this date in church history, May 23, 1974, Russian Orthodox liturgical scholar Alexander Schememann reflected in his journal, “The most important question is, how does objective faith become subjective? How does it grow in the heart to become a personal faith? When do common words become one’s own? The faith of the church, the faith of the fathers comes alive only when it is my own.” That’s true. Faith doesn’t matter if it’s someone else’s faith, it has to be your faith. PRAYER REQUEST – 24:43 Prayer requests. Yesterday, a very good friend of mine told me about another of his friends who has a son in his early twenties who has bipolar disorder. This is a terrible disease. I’ve known other people, too, with family members who suffer from this and when someone close to you has it you become aware that it really does affect the whole family. So let’s pray for this family. CLOSING PRAYER – 25:06 Our Heavenly Father, we thank you once again for your word. You’ve made your will very clear to us as to how to please you and we reaffirm now that we do want to stay within it. We don’t want to push the boundaries as Balaam did. Hold us close to you, Lord, and please forgive us when we fail. I pray for this young man with bipolar disorder and his family and I asked you to heal him. Balance his brain chemistry or whatever is causing this heartbreaking illness and help his family as they do what they can to help him. I thank you for the Lifespring family, Lord, and I ask that you bless them today. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Send in your prayer requests and your praises to prayer.lifespringmedia.com. OUTRO S12E264 – 25:57 Share the show. Don’t hide it under a bushel. Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e264. Email me at st***@*************ia.com. Thanks to the team, Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise for their hard work. Thanks to Associate Producer Timothy LaFontaine for his support of the show. And you can support the show at lifespringmedia.com/support. Thank you for sharing your time with me today and until tomorrow may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Corrected by Denise [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/28152340/donate.png]https://lifespringmedia.com/support/ * * [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/23123801/NULS_LSFB_RateTheShow.jpg]https://lovethepodcast.com/biblePlease rate or review the show by clicking the heart! The post S3E236 – Numbers 21-24: Don’t Be Too Eager [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e236-numbers-21-24-dont-be-too-eager/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].

S3E235 – John 7-9: Who Decides?

Transcript PODCAST INTRODUCTION Today we will read John 7-9. I’ll have some comments after the reading, and I’m calling today’s episode “Who Decides?”   S12E234Art3000-man with puzzled expression [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/22183346/S12E234Art3000.jpg]Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Ludovic Migneault on Unsplash COMMENTS ON JOHN 7-9 > But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders. > > > John 7:13 NLT > Many among the crowds at the Temple believed in him. “After all,” they said, “would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs than this man has done?” > > > When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things, they and the leading priests sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. > > > John 7:31-32 NLT >  So the crowd was divided about him. Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him. > > > John 7: 43-44 NLT > They asked his parents, “Is this your son, the one you say was born blind? Why can he see now?” > > > His parents replied, “We know that he’s our son and that he was born blind. But we don’t know how he got his sight or who gave it to him. You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough to answer for himself.” (His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. That’s why his parents said, “You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough.”) > > > John 19-23 NLT So now I have a question for you. Do these passages sound familiar to you? Do they sound similar to anything that is happening today?  “Cancel culture” is not new, is it? The Pharisees were used to being in control of the public narrative. People were afraid to voice their opinions, if they differed from what the Pharisees taught. The people could see with their own eyes and hear with their own ears what Jesus did and what He taught, and some believed that He was who He said He was, but many were afraid to support Him, lest they be thrown out of the synagogue. But there was one in our reading today who had courage. > They asked the man who had been born blind another question: “What do you say about the man who gave you sight?” > > > The man answered, “He’s a prophet.” > > > John 9:17 GWT At this point in the narrative, the Pharisees have the interview with his parents, which we have already read. As you know, they said, “He’s old enough, ask him yourselves.” > So once again the Jews called the man who had been blind. They told him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man who gave you sight is a sinner.” > > > The man responded, “I don’t know if he’s a sinner or not. But I do know one thing. I used to be blind, but now I can see.” > > > The Jews asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he give you sight?” > > > The man replied, “I’ve already told you, but you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” > > > The Jews yelled at him, “You’re his disciple, but we’re Moses’ disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know where this man came from.” > > > The man replied to them, “That’s amazing! You don’t know where he’s from. Yet, he gave me sight. 31We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners. Instead, he listens to people who are devout and who do what he wants. 32Since the beginning of time, no one has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he couldn’t do anything like that.” > > > John 9: 24-30 GWT > The Jews answered him, “You were born full of sin. Do you think you can teach us?” Then they threw him out ⌞of the synagogue⌟. > > > John 9:34 GWT This man refused to alter his answer just to mollify the Pharisees. And he paid a price, didn’t he? But did he really? > Jesus heard that the Jews had thrown the man out ⌞of the synagogue⌟. So when Jesus found the man, he asked him, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” > > > The man replied, “Sir, tell me who he is so that I can believe in him.” > > > Jesus told him, “You’ve seen him. He is the person who is now talking with you.” > > > The man bowed in front of Jesus and said, “I believe, Lord.” > > > John 9:35-37 GWT I would say that he gained everything. Beloved, “cancel culture” is happening more every day. You’ve heard me talk about it several times here on the show if you’ve been listening for very long. Here’s a very recent example. While the author does not specifically say that certain content should be de-platformed, they are “this” close to it. This is from the Brookings Institute, and the authors are Valerie Wirtschafter and Chris Meserole. The title of the article is “Policy recommendations for addressing content moderation in podcasts [https://www.brookings.edu/techstream/policy-recommendations-for-addressing-content-moderation-in-podcasts/].” It was published just a few days ago…April 18, 2022. Just the title gives you a clue as to their intent. Here it is again: “Policy recommendations for addressing content moderation in podcasts.” James Cridland and Sam Sethi of the Podland News podcast [https://www.podland.news/1538779/10478460-hello-to-spotify-s-new-curation-and-moderation-policies-goodbye-to-spotify-s-greenroom-creator-fund-and-facebook-s-podcasts] talked about it. “A great reckoning has arrived for content moderation in podcasts.” Oh really? Content moderation? Who’s going to do the moderating? This was the opening sentence in the article.  One sentence later, they say, “What speech should be permitted? What speech should be shared? And what principles should inform those decisions?” What speech should be permitted? Are you kidding me? All speech should be permitted. That’s what free speech is all about. If anyone’s speech can be disallowed, then there is no free speech. Free speech is not about, “You can say whatever you want as long as I agree with you.” Free speech guarantees the right to say whatever you want, whether anyone agrees with you or not.  Because if any speech is forbidden, it’s only a matter of time before YOUR speech is forbidden.  The article continues: “Debates over content moderation in podcasts hinge primarily on whether and how widely to share so-called “lawful but awful” content. Don’t you love that? Lawful but awful! Major podcasting apps—the applications commonly used on smartphones, tablets, and computers to listen and download to podcast episodes—already have policies and procedures in place to deal with blatantly illegal content. Spotify or Apple Podcasts won’t knowingly distribute an Islamic State recruitment podcast, since doing so would open them to prosecution for supporting a designated terrorist group. How podcasting apps should handle hate speech, misinformation, and related content that is legal but may have harmful societal effects is far less clear.”  Who is to say what “harmful societal effects” are? Who is going to call that? Specifically, a left-leaning proponent of the LGBT+ lifestyle would very probably say that this podcast would fall into under the “harmful societal effects” umbrella because I have read the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality and said that I believe the Bible. Continuing the article. This will be the last excerpt I share.  “Below the level of blatantly illegal content, the most popular podcasting apps face a daunting challenge. On the one hand, given the scale and reach of apps like Spotify and Apple Podcasts—each now enjoys more than 25 million monthly podcast listeners in the United States—their content moderation policies need to account for the societal harms that can result from the mass distribution of hate speech and misinformation.” Once again, who decides what is “hate speech and misinformation?” We have seen very recently that what is deemed “misinformation” one day becomes “information” the next, based on the whims of the CDC or Fauci or whomever.  We must be prepared, beloved. Christians are only a very, very short step away from being the next major target. I can see it very clearly. For example, when we plainly and boldly proclaim the Gospel, which says there is only ONE way to be saved, or when we plainly and boldly proclaim that ALL are sinners in need of the forgiveness that only comes through Jesus, we will be tried and convicted of hate speech.  Will you bend the knee to these people, or will you boldly stand for Jesus? The time is coming…No, the time is almost here when you will need to make a decision.  Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:33: But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. (NLT) We must stand before men, and bow the knee only before Jesus. Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB) 9For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. If you want to be sure that this show will continue to come to you no matter what Apple or any other podcast app decides should not be allowed, it is important to remember that it will always be available at LifespringMedia.com. That is the home base for the show. Not Apple Podcasts, not Google Podcasts. Not anywhere else. If the show stops updating in your podcast app with no warning from me, then some outside force has pulled the plug. Then what you do is go to LifespringMedia.com [http://LifespringMedia.com] to see if there are new episodes of the show. If there are, then you can subscribe from my website. You don’t need Apple or any other silicon valley company. Get an app from newpodcastapps.com [http://newpodcastapps.com]. Those apps use the podcastindex.org [http://podcastindex.org] podcast directory, and the whole idea…the impetus for the entire project was to preserve free speech. I could go on about this for a long time, but I’ll stop here. Just be aware beloved, that there are forces that want to silence us, and we must do all that we can to keep them from being successful in their efforts. But this is not new. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  But 1 John 4:4 says, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 7-8 NLT; Ch. 9 GWT SUPPORT This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT [/support/]. [/support/] TRANSCRIPT Download .txt file. [https://d1uphahyf7mnoz.cloudfront.net/lsfb/LSFAB_S12-E234_otter_ai.txt] Steve Webb 0:00 If any speech is forbidden, it’s only a matter of time before your speech is forbidden. Steve Webb 0:13 And here we are, again, this is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. I’m your OG God caster Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year and I’m really happy you’ve invited me into your day today. We’re going to read John chapter seven through nine today, and I’ll have some comments after the reading. I’m calling this episode, who decides the show notes page for today’s episode is at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 234. My email address is Steve at Lifespring media.com case you’d like to write, I love to hear from you. Let’s begin. Steve Webb 0:50 John, chapter seven. After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death. But soon it was time for the Jewish festival of shelters. And Jesus brothers said to him, leave here and go to Judea where your followers can see your miracles. You can’t become famous if you hide like this. If you can do such wonderful things, show yourself to the world. For even his brothers didn’t believe in Him. Jesus replied, now is not the right time for me to go. But you can go any time. The world can’t hate you. But it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. You go on? Well, I’m not going to this festival because my time has not yet come. After saying these things. Jesus remained in Galilee. But after his brother’s left for the festival, Jesus also went though secretly staying out of public view. The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued he’s a good man, but others said he’s nothing but a fraud, who deceives the people. But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders. Then midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the temple and began to teach. The people were surprised when they heard him. How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained? They asked. So Jesus told them, my message is not my own. It comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God, or is merely my own. Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves. But a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it. In fact, you are trying to kill me. The crowd replied, your demon possessed, who’s trying to kill you. Jesus replied, I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. But you work on the Sabbath to when you obey Moses law of circumcision. Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs long before the law of Moses, for if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly? Some of the people who lived in Jerusalem started to ask each other? Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill? But here he is speaking in public and they say nothing to him? Could our leaders possibly believe that he is the Messiah? But how could he be for we know where this man comes from? when the Messiah comes, he will simply appear, no one will know where he comes from. While Jesus was teaching in the temple, he called out, yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you. Then the leaders tried to arrest him. But no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come. Many among the crowds at the temple believed in him. After all, they said, would you expect the Messiah to do more miraculous signs that this man has done? When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things they in the leading priests sent temple guards to arrest Jesus? But Jesus told him, I will only be with you a little longer than I will return to the one who sent me. You will search for me but not find me and you cannot go where I am going. The Jewish leaders were puzzled by this statement. Where is he planning to go? They asked? Is he thinking of leaving the country and going to the Jews in other lands? Maybe he will even teach the Greeks. What does he mean when he says you will search for me but not find me and you cannot go where I am going. On the last day the climax of the festival Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds. Anyone who was thirsty may come to me. Anyone who believe leaves in me may come and drink. For the Scriptures declare rivers of living water will flow from his heart. When he said living water he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory. When the crowds heard him say this, some of them declared, surely this man is the prophet we’ve been expecting. Others said he is the Messiah. Still, others said, but he can’t be will the Messiah come from Galilee for the scriptures clearly state that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born. So the crowd was divided about him. Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him. When the temple guards returned without having arrested Jesus, the leading priests and Pharisees demanded, why didn’t you bring him in? We’ve never heard anyone speak like this. The guards responded. Have you been led astray to the Pharisees mocked? Is there a single one of us rulers or Pharisees who believes in Him? This foolish crowd follows him but they’re ignorant of the law. God’s curse is on them. Then Nicodemus, the leader, who had met with Jesus earlier spoke up is illegal to convict a man before he’s given a hearing he asked, they replied, Are you from Galilee to search the Scriptures and see for yourself. No prophet ever comes from Galilee. Then the meeting broke up and everybody went home. Steve Webb 6:31 John chapter eight, Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives. But early the next morning, he was back again at the temple. A crowd soon gathered at he sat down and taught them as he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd. Teacher, they said to Jesus, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The Law of Moses says to stone her, what do you say? They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him. But Jesus stooped down and rode in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer. So he stood up again and said, All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone. Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with a woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn? You? Know, Lord, she said, And Jesus said, Neither do I go and sin no more. Gee, Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness because you will have the light that leads to life. The Pharisees replied, You are making those claims about yourself. Such testimony is not valid. Jesus told him, these claims are valid, even though I make them about myself, for I know where I came from, and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect, because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my father who sent me is the other. Where is your father? They asked. Jesus answered, since you don’t know who I am. You don’t know who my father is. If you knew me, you would also know my father. Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested because his time had not yet come. Later, Jesus said to them again, I am going away, you will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going. That people asked, Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean you cannot come where I am going? Jesus continued, You are from below, I am from above. You belong to this world? I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I am who I claimed to be, you will die in your sins. Who are you? They demanded. Jesus replied, the one I have always claimed to be. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t, for I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me and he is completely truthful. But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his father. So Jesus said, When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I am he. I do nothing on my own, but say only what the father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me. He is not deserted. Me, for I always do what pleases Him. Then many who heard him say these things believed in Him. Jesus said to the people who believed in him, you are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. But we’re descendants of Abraham, they said, We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, you will be set free? Jesus replied, I tell you the truth. Everyone who sins is a SLAVE of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family. But a son is part of the family forever. So if the sun sets you free, you are truly free. Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message. I’m telling you what I saw when I was with my father, but you are following the advice of your father. Our father is Abraham. They declared? No, Jesus replied, for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. Instead, you’re trying to kill me because I told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. Know, you are imitating your real father. They replied, we aren’t illegitimate children. God himself is our True Father. Jesus told him, if God were your Father, you would love me because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. Why can’t you understand what I’m saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me. For you are the children of your father, the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me? Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me? Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God. The people retorted, you, Samaritan devil? Didn’t we say all along that you were possessed by a demon? No, Jesus said, I have no demon in me, for I honor my father, and you dishonor me. And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify Me. He is the true judge. I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die. The people said, Now we know you’re possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died. But you say, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die. Are you greater than our father Abraham, he died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are? Jesus answered? If I want glory for myself, it doesn’t count. But it is my father who will glorify Me. You say He is our God, but you don’t even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise. I would be as great a liar as you. But I do know him and obey him. Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad that people said, you aren’t even 50 years old. How can you say you’ve seen Abraham? Jesus answered, I tell you the truth. Before Abraham was even born, I am. At that point, they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the temple. Steve Webb 13:40 John chapter nine. As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been born blind. His disciples asked Him, Rabbi, why was this man born blind? Did he or his parents sin? Jesus answered, neither this man nor his parents sinned. Instead, he was born blind so that God could show what he can do for him. We must do what the one who sent me wants us to do while it is day, the night when no one can do anything is coming. As long as I’m in the world, I am light for the world. After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground and mixed the spit with dirt. Then He smeared it on the man’s eyes and told him wash it off in the pool of Siloam. Silo means set, the blind man washed it off and returned. He was able to see his neighbors and those who had previously seen him begging asked, isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg? Some of them said, he’s the one other said, No, he isn’t. But he looks like him. But the man himself said, I am the one. So they asked him, How did you receive your site? He replied. The man people called Jesus mixed some spit with dirt, smeared it on my eyes and told me go to Siloam and wash it off. So I went there, washed it off and received my sight. They asked him. Where is that man? The man answered, I don’t know. Some people brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. The day when Jesus mixed the spit and dirt and gave the man site was a day of worship. So the Pharisees asked the man again, how he received his sight. The man told the Pharisees, he put a mixture of spit in dirt on my eyes, I washed it off. And now I see. Some of the Pharisees said, the man who did this is not from God, because he doesn’t follow the traditions for the day of worship. Other Pharisees said, How can a man who was a sinner perform miracles like these? So the Pharisees were divided in their opinions? They asked the man who had been born blind. Another question, what do you say about the man who gave you sight? The man answered, he’s a prophet. Until they talked to the man’s parents, the Jews didn’t believe that the man had been born blind and had been given sight. They asked his parents, is this your son? The one you say, was born blind? Why can he see now? His parents replied, We know that He’s our son, and that he was born blind. But we don’t know how he got his sight, or who gave it to him. You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough to answer for himself. His parents said this, because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jews had already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. That’s why his parents said, You’ll have to ask him, he’s old enough. So once again, the Jews called a man who had been blind, they told him, give glory to God, we know that this man who gave you sight is the center. The man responded, I don’t know if he’s a senator or not. But I do know one thing. I used to be blind. But now I can see. The Jews ask him, What did he do to you? How did he give you cite? The man replied, I’ve already told you but you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become His disciples to the Jews yelled at him. You’re his disciple. But we’re Moses disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know where this man came from. The man replied to them. That’s amazing. You don’t know where he’s from, yet he gave me sight. We know that God does not listen to sinners. Instead, he listens to people who are devout and who do what he wants. Since the beginning of time, no one has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t do anything like that. The Jews answered him, You were born full of sin. Do you think you can teach us then they threw him out of the synagogue? Jesus heard that the Jews had thrown the man out of the synagogue. So when Jesus found the man, he asked him, Do you believe in the Son of man? The man replied, sir, tell me who he is, so that I can believe in Him. Jesus told him, you’ve seen him. He’s the person who was now talking with you. The man bowed in front of Jesus and said, I believe, Lord. Then Jesus said, I have come into this world to judge blind people will be given sight, and those who can see will become blind. Some Pharisees who are with Jesus heard this. So they asked him, Do you think we’re blind? Jesus told them, If you were blind, you wouldn’t be sinners. But now you say we see. So you continue to be sinners. Steve Webb 18:23 Before sharing my thoughts with you, I’d like to reread some excerpts from today’s reading. In chapter seven, verse 13, we read, but no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders. dropping down to verse 31. Many among the crowds at the temple believed in him. After all, they said, would you expect them aside to do more miraculous signs than this man has done? When the Pharisees heard that the crowds were whispering such things they in the leading priests sent temple guards to arrest Jesus? Verse 33, so the crowd was divided about him. Some even wanted him arrested, but no one laid a hand on him. And then back up to verses 19 and 20. They asked his parents, is this your son, the one you say was born blind? Why can he see now? His parents replied, We know that He’s our son and that he was born blind, but we don’t know how he got his sight or who gave it to him. You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough to answer for himself. His parents said this, because they were afraid of the Jews, the Jews that already agreed to put anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Christ out of the synagogue. So that’s why his parents said, You’ll have to ask him. He’s old enough. All right, so I have a question for you. Do these passages sound at all familiar to you? Do they sound similar to anything that’s happening? Oh, I don’t know. today. We’ve talked about canceled culture on the show before but it bears repeating today based on today’s reading. The Pharisees were used to being in control of the public narrative. People were afraid to voice their opinions if they differed from what the Pharisees taught. To the people couldn’t see with our own eyes and hear with our own ears what Jesus did and what He taught. And some believed that he was who He said He was. But many were afraid to support him, lest they be thrown out of the synagogue. But there was one in our reading today who had courage. In chapter nine, verse 17, we read, they asked the man who had been born blind. Another question, what do you say about the man who gave you sight? The man answered, he’s a prophet. So at this point in the narrative, the Pharisees have the interview with his parents, which we’ve already read. And as you know, they said, He’s old enough, ask Him yourselves. So picking up at verse 24. So once again, the Jews called the man who had been blind, they told him give glory to God, we know that this man who gave you sight is a sinner. The man responded, I don’t know if he’s a sinner or not. But I do know one thing. I used to be blind, but now I can see the Jews ask him, What did he do to you? How did he give you sight? The man replied, I’ve already told you but you didn’t listen. Why do you want to hear the story again? Do you want to become his disciples too? I love that. So what happened? The Jews yelled at him, you’re his disciple. But where Moses disciples, we know that God spoke to Moses, but we don’t know where this man came from. The man replied to them. That’s amazing. You don’t know where he’s from, yet he gave me sight. We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners. Instead, he listens to people who are devout and who do what he wants. Since the beginning of time, no one has ever heard of anyone giving sight to a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he couldn’t do anything like that. This was the reply from the man who was given sight. So then what happened? The Jews answered him, You were born full of sin. Do you think you can teach us? Then they threw him out of the synagogue? Well, this man refused to alter his answer just to mollify the Pharisees and he paid a price, didn’t they? But did he really? Starting in verse 35, Jesus heard that the Jews had thrown the man out of the synagogue. So when Jesus found the man he asked him, Do you believe in the Son of man, the man replied, sir, tell me who he is so that I can believe in Him. Jesus told him, you’ve seen him. He is the person who is now talking with you. The man bowed in front of Jesus and said, I believe, Lord. So I would say that he gained everything, wouldn’t you? Beloved, canceled culture is happening more every day. And I have a very recent example for you today. While the author of this article I’m going to tell you about does not specifically say that certain content should be de platformed. They are this close to it and I’m holding my fingers almost touching. This is from the Brooking Institute and the authors are Valerie vert Shafter and Chris Massar roll or miss Errol or something like that. The title of the article is policy recommendations for addressing content moderation in podcasts. It was published just a few days ago, April 18 2022. And just the title gives you a clue as to their intent. Here it is, again, policy recommendations for addressing content moderation in podcasts. James Cridland in SAM Sethi of the Portland news podcast, talked about it. Here, Sam Sam Sethi 23:24 talking about how platforms and their policies should be, I guess, restricting content and their discoverability, which is what it looks like Spotify is quietly doing here. She said, a great reckoning has arrived for content moderation in podcasts, what speech should be permitted and what speech should be shared? She says, and what principles should inform those decisions? I guess it’s time for the platforms to step up. Steve Webb 23:52 So a great reckoning has arrived for content moderation and podcasts. Oh, really? Content moderation. This was the opening sentence in the article. And then one sentence later they say, What speech should be permitted? What speech should be shared? What principles should inform those decisions? Are you kidding me? What speech should be permitted? All speech should be permitted. That’s what free speech is all about. If any one speech can be disallowed, then there is no free speech. Free speech is not about you can say whatever you want, as long as I agree with you. Free Speech guarantees the right to say whatever you want, whether anyone agrees with you or not. Because if any speech is forbidden, it’s only a matter of time before your speech is forbidden. Then the article continues. debates over content moderation and podcasts hinge primarily on whether and how widely to share so called lawful but awful content. Don’t you love that lawful but awful. The They continue. Major podcasting apps. The applications commonly used on smartphones, tablets and computers to listen and download. The podcast episodes already have policies and procedures in place to deal with blatantly illegal content. Spotify or Apple podcasts won’t knowingly distribute in Islamic State recruitment podcast, since doing so would open them to prosecution for supporting a designated terrorist group. How podcasting apps should handle hate speech, misinformation, and related content that is legal but may have harmful societal effects is far less clear. The wait a minute, who’s to say what harmful society effects are, who’s going to call that specifically a left leaning proponent of the LGBT plus lifestyle would very probably say that this podcast, the Lifespring family Audio Bible would fall under the harmful societal effects umbrella, because I’ve read the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality, and said that I believe the Bible. Let’s continue the article. This will be the last excerpt I share. Below the level of blatantly illegal content, the most popular podcasting apps face a daunting challenge. On the one hand, given the scale and reach of apps like Spotify and Apple podcasts, each now enjoys more than 25 million monthly podcast listeners in the United States. Their content moderation policies need to account for the societal harms that can result from the mass distribution of hate speech and misinformation. Well, once again, I asked who decides what is hate speech and misinformation. We’ve seen very recently that what is deemed misinformation, one day becomes information, the next based on the whims of the CDC or Fauci, or whomever, beloved, we must be prepared. Christians are only a very, very short step away from being the next major target. I can see it very clearly. For example, when we plainly and boldly proclaim the gospel which says there is only one way to be saved, or when we plainly and boldly proclaimed that all are sinners in need of the forgiveness that only comes through Jesus, we will be tried and convicted of hate speech. Well, beloved, I have to ask, Will you bend the knee to these people? Or will you boldly stand for Jesus, the time is coming. Now the time is almost here, when you will need to make a decision. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 1033. But everyone who denies me here on Earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven, beloved, we must stand before men, and bow the knee only before Jesus Philippians two nine through 11 says For this reason, also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on him the name which is above every name so that at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth, and under the sun. And every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So you heard in that article, how these people want to control what apps like Apple and Spotify and the other ones will allow you to hear? Well, if you want to be sure that this show will continue to come to you, no matter what Apple or any other podcast app decides should not be allowed, it’s important to remember that it will always be available at Lifespring media.com. That is the home base for this show. Not Apple podcasts, not Google podcasts, Steve Webb 28:35 certainly not Spotify, not Amazon, nowhere else. If the show stops updating in your podcast app with no warning from me, then some outside force has pulled the plug. And then what you do is you go to Lifespring media.com, just to confirm whether there are or are not new episodes of the show. If there are new episodes, then you can subscribe from my website. You don’t need Apple or any other Silicon Valley company. What I suggest you do, I’ve been talking about it. But here’s another reason. Get one of the apps at new podcast apps.com. Those apps use the podcast index.org Podcast Directory, they don’t use the apple directory. And the whole idea. The impetus for the entire project at podcast index was to preserve free speech. I could go on and on about this for a long time. But I’ll stop here. Just be aware that there are forces that want to silence us, and we must do all that we can to keep them from being successful in their efforts. But this is not new. Ephesians 612 says, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. But first John four four says you are of God little children and have overcome them because he who is in you is is greater than he who was in the world. The canceled culture we’re facing today, beloved is not new. It’s been around for 1000s of years. It just has a different face today. The technology may be different, but the aim is the same. Shut the people up. Well, my answer to that is greater is He that is in us than he who is in the world. Amen? Amen. All right, if you’ve got a comment, please go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 234. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page and you’ll see a box there where you can put your comments in. I read them all and I reply, tomorrow, our reading is First Timothy four through six boost. Steve Webb 30:45 Well, if you believe in what I’m doing with the Lifespring family, Audio Bible, if you wanted to remain independent of outside forces that would silence the clear teaching of the Bible, then I need your support. There are costs to being independent. And if you think the show is valuable than I’m asking you to decide what that value is for you. And then go to Lifespring media.com/support. and donate that amount. And if you can donate time or talent, those gifts are very welcome as well. I need help with transcript correction and creating chapter art. Send me an email if you’re able to help with either one of those, but whether you support the show with time, talent or treasure, I thank you, and I think God bless you. Steve Webb 31:35 On this date in church history, April 23 1982, w Cameron Townsend died, he was an American missionary pioneer and founder of Wickliffe Bible translators. Since then, Wickliffe has translated the New Testament into more than 130 native languages, they do great work. Steve Webb 32:02 Let’s pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for assuring us that the victory is already one. Jesus told us in John 1633 I’ve told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world. Lord, though we’re still in the midst of skirmishes, you’ve already won the war. So even while we struggle against the enemy, we can have peace and we thank you for that assurance. We’re not alone. And the battle is already won. Help us Lord as we engage with the enemy. Give us wisdom to know when where and how to engage. And Lord, I ask that you bless the Lifespring family. My thank you for each one. I pray this in Jesus name, amen. If you’d like to share a prayer request or a praise, go to prayer dot Lifespring media.com. Steve Webb 33:00 Well, I’d love to hear your comments on today’s show. Go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 234. Email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com. Please help to support the show at Lifespring media.com/support. My thanks to Sean of San Pedro for doing the chapters for every episode and thanks to Kirsty for putting out the newsletter every week. How did you like the picture in this one? Sign up at news dot Lifespring media.com Until tomorrow may God bless you richly. Thanks again for sharing your day with me. My name is Steve Webb, fight the good fight. Bye Transcribed by https://otter.ai [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/28152340/donate.png]https://lifespringmedia.com/support/ * * [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/23123801/NULS_LSFB_RateTheShow.jpg]https://lovethepodcast.com/biblePlease rate or review the show by clicking the heart! The post S3E235 – John 7-9: Who Decides? [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e235-john-7-9-who-decides/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].

S3E234 – Hosea 1-7: The Unfaithful Bride

Transcript ASSOCIATE PRODUCER Timothy LaFontaine PODCAST INTRODUCTION Today we will read Hosea 1-7. I’ll have some comments after the reading, and I’m calling today’s episode “The Unfaithful Bride.” S12E233Art3000-bride looking out window [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/21192446/S12E233Art3000.jpg]Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Cássio Jardim on Unsplash INTRODUCTION TO HOSEA Hosea is the first book in the group of OT books known as the Minor Prophets. They’re not called the Minor Prophets because they are less important than the Major Prophets (which we just completed with the reading of the book of Daniel). The reason they’re called the Minor Prophets is because these books are much shorter. These prophets probably preached just as much as the Major Prophets, they just didn’t write as much.  Of the twelve books in the Minor Prophets, nine of them were written before the captivity. The last three were written after the Jews returned to their own land.  The book of Hosea was the longest of the prophetic books written before the captivity. As he wrote, Israel was at its worst. The sinfulness of the nation had brought great judgment from God. Hosea himself was the first prophet who wrote down the messages God gave him. Tradition says that he was from Bethshemish, and of the tribe of Issachar. He had a long ministry. He prophesied long enough to warn the Jews of God’s coming judgment, and then see it take place and lament it. Hosea was alive at the same time as the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Micah.  COMMENTS ON HOSEA 1-7 We read in chapter one that God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. The Lord looked upon the Jews as an unfaithful wife, and He wanted Hosea to experience the heartbreak He felt when his wife betrayed the marriage vows.  There are few things in life that are as painful as learning that your spouse has been unfaithful. It can be more painful than the death of a loved one. Death from disease, an accident or old age hurts, but the one who dies had no choice in the matter. But an unfaithful spouse made an active decision to break the trust. That’s very hard to live with for the one who has been betrayed.  We don’t often think of God as being the victim of an unfaithful spouse, do we? But that is how He saw Himself in this period of history. But as we know, God is love. Instead of putting His people, His wife, away permanently, in chapter three we see His promise that He will take her back. And of course we know that the final chapter, the last great redemption is even now being played out. We know that Jesus came to make a bride for Himself, and that bride is the church. But God is not through with the Jews. They will have yet another chance to turn to God, and many will. In the book of Revelation, we see how that will happen. I’m not entirely happy with the way the first sentence of chapter 7 was translated in the New Living Translation, which is the version we read today. It read: I want to heal Israel, but its sins are too great. Samaria is filled with liars. Most other major translations are very similar to this one from the NASB: When I would heal Israel, The iniquity of Ephraim is uncovered, And the evil deeds of Samaria… As you can see, the NLT’s rendering of this verse is subtly different, but it does change the meaning. The NLT adds the phrase “but its sins are too great”. I looked at the original Hebrew for this verse, and that phrase is not there. There is only one sin that is too great, one sin that is unforgivable, and that is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, as we are told in Matthew 12:31.  God is always willing to forgive, if we are willing to ask Him and will turn from our sin. In the Old Testament, over and over God said to the people, “If you turn from your wicked ways, I will heal you.” What God was saying here in Hosea chapter seven was, “I was prepared to heal you, but you keep on sinning.” God looks at the heart. What He saw in the hearts of the Jews was an unwillingness to repent. They did not want to obey the Lord, they wanted to continue practicing evil. As long as that continued, He could not heal them. Only a contrite heart will see forgiveness. Only a heart that is willing to turn toward God. TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-7 NLT SUPPORT This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT [/support/]. [/support/] TRANSCRIPT Download .txt file. [https://d1uphahyf7mnoz.cloudfront.net/lsfb/LSFAB_S12-E233_otter_ai.txt] Steve Webb 0:00 God looks at the heart Steve Webb 0:09 Hello, this is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. I’m your OG God caster Steve Webb. I’m really happy we get to spend some time together today. That’s great. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year and today we’re going to read Hosea chapters one through seven. Before we start the reading. I’ll give you a short introduction to Hosea. Then after the reading, I’ll give you some comments. The show notes page for today’s episode is at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 233. My email address is Steven Lifespring media.com. And with that, let’s get started. Steve Webb 0:48 Hosea is the first book in the group of Old Testament books known as the Minor Prophets. They’re not called the Minor Prophets, because they’re less important than the major prophets, which we just completed with the reading of the book of Daniel. The reason they’re called the Minor Prophets is because these books are much shorter. These prophets probably preached just as much as the major prophets. They just didn’t write as much of the 12 books in the Minor Prophets. None of them were written before the captivity. The last three were written after the Jews returned to their own land. The book of Hosea was the longest of the prophetic books written before the captivity. As Hosea wrote, Israel was at its worst, the sinfulness of the nation had brought great judgment from God. And Hosea was the first prophet who wrote down the messages God gave him. Tradition says that he was from Beth Shemesh, and of the tribe of Issachar. He had a very long ministry and he prophesied long enough to warn the Jews of God’s coming judgment and then to see it take place in lamented. And Hosea was alive at the same time as the prophets Isaiah, Amos and Micah. Steve Webb 1:58 Hosea chapter one. The Lord gave this message to Hosea son of BNI. During the years when Uzziah Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Judah and Jeroboam, son of Joash, was king of Israel. When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, Go and marry a prostitute so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshipping other gods. So Hosea married Gomer, the daughter of Dibley, him and she became pregnant and gave Hosea a son. And the Lord said, named the child Jezebel, for I am about to punish King J. Hughes dynasty to avenge of the murders, he committed a jazz real. In fact, I will bring an end to Israel’s independence, I will break its military power in the jazz real Valley. Soon, Gomer became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter. And the Lord said to Hosea, name your daughter, Lo, Ruhama, not loved, for I will no longer show love to the people of Israel or forgive them. But I will show love to the people of Judah. I will free them from their enemies, not with weapons and armies or horses and jury tears, but by My power is the Lord their God. After Gomer had weaned lo Ruhama, she again became pregnant and gave birth to a second son. And the Lord said, name him Lo, am I, not my people, for Israel is not my people, and I am not their God. Yet the time will come when Israel’s people will be like the sands of the seashore, too many to count. Then at the place where they were told you are not my people, it will be said, You are children of the living God. Then the people of Judah and Israel will unite together, they will choose one leader for themselves, and they will return from exile together. What a day that will be the day of jazz real when God will again plant his people in his land. Steve Webb 3:58 Hosea chapter two. In that day, you will call your brothers Am I my people, and you will call your sisters Ruhama the ones I love. But now bring charges against Israel your mother for she is no longer my wife and I am no longer her husband. Tell her to remove the prostitutes makeup from her face and the clothing that exposes her breasts. Otherwise, I will strip her as naked as she was on the day she was born. I will leave her to die of thirst as in a dry and barren wilderness. And I will not love her children for they were conceived in prostitution. Their mother is a shameless prostitute and became pregnant in a shameful way. She said I will run after other lovers and sell myself to them for food and water for clothing of wool and linen and for olive oil and drinks. For this reason, I will fence her in with thorn bushes. I will block her path with a wall to make her lose her way. When she runs after her lovers, she won’t be able to catch them. She will search for them but not find them. Then she will think I might as well returned to my husband for I was better off with him than I am now. She doesn’t realize it was I who gave her everything she has the grain, the new wine, the olive oil. I even gave her silver and gold, but she gave all my gifts to bail. But now I will take back the ripened grain and new wine I generously provided each harvest season. I will take away the wool and linen clothing I gave to cover her nakedness. I will strip her naked in public while all her lovers look on, no one will be able to rescue her from my hands. I will put an end to her annual festivals, her new moon celebrations and her Sabbath days all her appointed festivals. I will destroy her grape vines and fig trees. things she claims her lovers gave her I will let them grow into tangled thickets where only wild animals will eat the fruit. I will punish her for all those times when she burned incense to her images of bail when she put on her earrings and jewels and went out to look for her lovers but forgot all about me says the Lord. But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and Speak tenderly to her there. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the valley of trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there as she did long ago when she was young when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt. When that day comes, says the Lord you will call me my husband instead of my master. oh Israel, I will wipe the many names of bale from your lips and you will never mention them again. On that day I will make a covenant with all the wild animals and the birds of the sky and the animals that scurry along the ground so that they will not harm you. I will remove all weapons of war from the land all swords and bows so you can live unafraid in peace and safety. I will make you my wife forever showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine and you will finally know me as the Lord. In that day I will answer says the Lord. I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds and the sky will enter the earth with rain. Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries of the grain the grape vines and the olive trees and they in turn will answer jazz real God plants. At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself. I will show love to those I called not loved and to those I called not my people, I will say now you are my people, and they will reply you are our God. Steve Webb 7:37 Hosea chapter three. Then the Lord said to me, go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord’s still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them. So I bought her back for 15 pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine. Then I said to her, you must live in my house for many days and stop your prostitution. During this time, you will not have sexual relations with anyone, not even with me. This shows that Israel will go a long time without a king or Prince and without sacrifices, sacred pillars, priests or even idols. But afterward the people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to David’s descendent their king. In the last days they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of His goodness. Steve Webb 8:29 Hosea chapter four. Hear the Word of the Lord, oh people of Israel. The Lord has brought charges against you saying there is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God and your land. You make vows and break them. You kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere, one murder after another. That is why your land is in mourning and every one is wasting away. Even the wild animals, the birds of the sky, the fish of the sea are disappearing. Don’t point your finger at someone else and try to pass the blame. My complaint you priests is with you. So you will stumble in broad daylight and your false prophets will fall with you in the night. And I will destroy Israel, your mother. My people are being destroyed because they don’t know me. Since you priests refuse to know me. I refuse to recognize you as my priests. Since you have forgotten the laws of your God, I will forget to bless your children. The more priests there are, the more they sinned against me. They have exchanged the glory of God for the shame of idols. When the people bring their sin offerings, the priests get fed. So the priests are glad when the people sin and what the priests do the people also do. So now I will punish both priests and people for their wicked deeds. They will eat and still be hungry. They will play the prostitute and gain nothing from it for they have deserted the Lord to worship other gods. Wine has robbed my people of their understanding. They ask if piece of wood for advice. They think a stick can tell them the future. Longing after idols has made them foolish. They have played the prostitute serving other gods and deserting their God. They offer sacrifices to idols on the mountaintops, they go up into the hills to burn incense in the pleasant shade of oaks, poplars and terabit trees. That is why your daughter’s turned to prostitution and your daughters in law committed adultery. But why should I punish them for their prostitution and adultery? For your man are doing the same thing sinning with horrors in shrine prostitutes, or foolish people you refuse to understand? So you will be destroyed? Though you Israel are a prostitute. May Judah not be guilty of such things. Do not join the false worship at Gill gal or Beth Haven, and do not take oaths there in the Lord’s name. Israel is stubborn like a stubborn heifer. So should the Lord feed her like a lamb and a lush pasture? Leave Israel alone because she is married to idolatry. When the rulers of Israel finish their drinking Off they go to find some prostitutes. They love shame more than honor so a mighty wind will sweep them away. Their sacrifices to idols will bring them shame. Steve Webb 11:16 Hosea chapter five. Hear this you priests pay attention you leaders of Israel. Listen you members of the royal family judgment has been handed down against you for you have led the people into a snare by worshipping the idols at Misbah and Tabor you have dug a deep pit to trap them and Acacia Grove, but I will settle with you for what you have done. I know what you were like oh Ephram, you cannot hide yourself from me, oh Israel, you have left me as a prostitute leaves her husband. You are utterly defiled. Your deeds won’t let you return to your God. You are a prostitute through and through and you do not know the Lord. The arrogance of Israel testifies against her. Israel and Ephram will stumble into the load of guilt. Judah to will fall with them. When they come with their flocks and herds to offer sacrifices to the Lord. They will not find him because he has withdrawn from them. They have betrayed the honor of the Lord bearing children that are not his. Now their false religion will devour them along with their wealth. Sound the alarm and Guebuza blow the trumpet in Ramah raised the battle cry and Beth Haven lead on into battle warriors of Benjamin. One thing is certain Israel on your day of punishment, you will become a heap of rubble. The leaders of Judah have become like thieves so I will pour my anger on them like a waterfall. The people of Israel will be crushed and broken by my judgment because they are determined to worship idols. I will destroy Israel as a moth consumes wool. I will make Judah as weak as rotten wood. When Israel and Judah saw how sick they were, Israel turned to Syria to the great king there, but he could neither help them nor cure them. I will be like a lion to Israel, like a strong young lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces. I will carry them off and no one will be left to rescue them. Then I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and turn to Me. For as soon as trouble comes. They will earnestly search for me. Steve Webb 13:21 Hosea chapter six. Come let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces. Now he will heal us. He has injured us now he will bandage our wounds. In just a short time he will restore us so that we may live in His presence. Oh that we might know the Lord. Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of Dawn Are they coming of rains in early spring? oh Israel and Judah What should I do with you asks the Lord, for Your love vanishes like the morning mist and disappears like do in the sunlight. I set my prophets to cut you to pieces to slaughter you with my words with judgments as inescapable as light. I want you to show love not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want bird offerings. But like Adam, you broke my covenant and betrayed my trust. Gilead is a city of sinners tracked with footprints of blood. Priests form bands of robbers waiting in ambush for their victims. They murder travelers along the road to check them and practice every kind of sin. Yes, I’ve seen something horrible and Ephram it Israel. My people are defiled by prostituting themselves with other gods. Oh Judah, a harvest of punishment is also waiting for you though I wanted to restore the fortunes of my people. Steve Webb 14:45 Hosea chapter seven. I want to heal Israel but its sins are too great. Samaria is filled with liars. Thieves are on the inside and bandits on the outside. It’s people don’t realize that I’m watching them their sin infill deeds are all around them and I see them all. The people entertain the king with their wickedness and the princes laugh at their lies. They are all adulterers always aflame with lust. They are like an oven that is kept hot while the baker is kneading the dough. On royal holidays, the princes get drunk with wine, carousing with those who mock them. Their hearts are like an oven blazing with intrigue. Their plot smolders through the night, and in the morning, it breaks out like a raging fire, burning like an oven they consume their leaders. They kill their kings one after another and no one cries to me for help. The people of Israel mingle with godless foreigners making themselves as worthless as a half baked cake. Worshipping foreign gods is sapped their strength, but they don’t even know it. Their hair is gray, but they don’t realize they’re old and weak. Their arrogance testifies against them, yet they don’t return to the Lord their God or even try to find him. The people of Israel have become like silly witless doves first calling to Egypt, then flying to his Syria for help. But as they fly about, I will throw my net over them and bring them down like a bird from the sky. I will punish them for all evil they do. What sorrow awaits those who have deserted me. Let them die for they have rebelled against me. I wanted to redeem them but they have told lies about me. They do not cry out to Me with sincere hearts. Instead they sit on their couches and wail. They cut themselves begging foreign gods for grain and new wine, and they turn away from me. I trained them and made them strong yet now they plot evil against me. They look everywhere except to the Most High, they are as useless as a crooked bow. Their leaders will be killed by their enemies because of their insolence toward me, then the people of Egypt will laugh at them. Steve Webb 16:54 In chapter one, we read that God told Hosea to marry a prostitute. He looked upon the Jews as an unfaithful wife and he wanted Hosea to experience the heartbreak he felt when his wife betrayed the marriage vows. There really are a few things in life that are as painful as learning that your spouse has been unfaithful, it can be more painful than the death of a loved one. Death from disease and accident or old age hurts. But the one who dies had no choice in the matter. But an unfaithful spouse made an active decision to break the trust. That’s very hard to live with, for one who’s been betrayed. We don’t often think of God as being the victim of an unfaithful spouse, Dewey. But that’s how he saw himself in this period of history. But as we know God is love. Instead of putting his people his wife away permanently. In chapter three, we see His promise that He will take her back. And of course, we know that the final chapter, the last great redemption is even now being played out. We know that Jesus came to make a bride for himself and that bride is the church. But God is not through with the Jews, they will have yet another chance to turn to God in many will. In the book of Revelation, we see how that will happen. Now in Hosea seven, I’m not entirely happy with the way the first sentence was translated in the New Living Translation, which is the version we read today. It read, I want to heal Israel, but its sins are too great. Samaria is filled with liars. Well, most other major translations are very similar to this one from the New American Standard. Listen, when I would heal Israel, the iniquity of FGM is uncovered in the evil deeds of Samaria. Well, as you can see, the New Living Translation is rendering of this is subtly different, but it does change the meaning. The New Living Translation adds the phrase, but its sins are too great. Well, I looked up the original Hebrew for this verse And that phrase is not there. There is only one sin that is too great, the one that is unforgivable, and that is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, as we’re told in Matthew 1231. God is always willing to forgive if we’re willing to ask him and we’ll turn from our sin. In the Old Testament, over and over, God said to the people, if you turn from your wicked ways, I will heal you. What God was saying here in Hosea chapter seven was, I was prepared to heal you but you keep on sinning. See, God looks at the heart. What he saw in the hearts of the Jews was an unwillingness to repent. They did not want to obey the Lord. They wanted to continue practicing evil. And as long as that continued, God could not heal them. Only a contrite heart will see forgiveness. Only a heart that is willing to turn toward God. I’d love to hear your thoughts go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 233 Min let me know our reading. Tomorrow will be John chapters seven through nine. Steve Webb 20:08 We have an associate producer today. His name is Timothy LaFontaine. And he came in yesterday with his monthly $20 donation. Timothy. Thank you, brother. God bless you. Thank you for helping to make this episode possible. Steve Webb 20:21 You too can help support the show with time, talent or treasure. If you’d like to donate time or talent, email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com and let me know what you’d like to do. And also correcting the transcriptions let me know. And monetary donations are always welcome. You can do that at Lifespring media.com/support. Again, Timothy, thank you, my brother, God bless you. Steve Webb 20:54 On this date in church history, April 22 1864. Bronze two cent pieces were imprinted with the words In God We Trust, making them the first American coins to carry that motto. The motto was designed to remind the union that the resolution of the American Civil War was in God’s hands. Steve Webb 21:23 Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father Lord, we do love you. We ask that you forgive us when we fail you. We want to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when he corrects us. And we want to hear you say well done good and faithful servant when we see you face to face. Lord, I ask that you bless the Lifespring family today. I thank you for each one listening right now. And I pray Lord, that they would feel your presence in their life today. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Send your prayer requests and your praises in at prayer dot Lifespring media.com. I will pray for you in my private prayer time. And we’ll pray together on the show. Agreeing together as we lift up prayer requests is something that God asks us to do. So I look forward to hearing from you prayer dot Lifespring media.com. Steve Webb 22:17 Your comments on the show are always welcome. Go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 233. That’s the show notes page for today. Scroll to the very bottom of the show where you’ll find a box where you can put your comments. I’m always happy to get your emails to Steve at Lifespring media.com. My thanks to Sean of San Pedro for doing the chapters for every episode. And thanks to Kirsty for putting the newsletter together each week. You can sign up for that it news dot Lifespring media.com And thanks again to associate producer Timothy LaFontaine for helping to make this episode possible. You can help support the show to go to Lifespring media.com/support. Check it out. Think about it, pray about it, and then do his God leads until tomorrow. May God bless you richly. Thanks again for sharing your day with me. My name is Steve Webb. See you tomorrow. Bye Transcribed by https://otter.ai [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/28152340/donate.png]https://lifespringmedia.com/support/ * * [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/23123801/NULS_LSFB_RateTheShow.jpg]https://lovethepodcast.com/biblePlease rate or review the show by clicking the heart! The post S3E234 – Hosea 1-7: The Unfaithful Bride [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e234-hosea-1-7-the-unfaithful-bride/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].

S3E233 – James 4-5: Golden Nuggets

Transcript DISTINGUISHED PRODUCER Lifespring Family Berean, Brother Paul of Seattle. PODCAST INTRODUCTION Today is  Epistles Sunday James 4-5. I’m calling today’s episode “Golden Nuggets.”  S12E305Art1400-open hand stop [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/02204242/S12E305Art1400.jpg]Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash COMMENTS ON JAMES 4 Some have said that James is a bit like the book of Proverbs because of the way nuggets of truth are presented. Let’s look at a few of them. James 4:2b – You do not have, because you do not ask. Prayer is a necessary part of the Christian’s life. If we want God to bless us, we must ask. Listen to Charles Spurgeon: “Remember this text: Jehovah says to his own Son, ‘Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.’ If the royal and divine Son of God cannot be exempted from the rule of asking that he may have, you and I cannot expect the rule to be relaxed in our favor. Why should it be?” Also from Spurgeon: “If you may have everything by asking, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is, and I beseech you to abound in it… Do you know, brothers, what great things are to be had for the asking? Have you ever thought of it? Does it not stimulate you to pray fervently? All heaven lies before the grasp of the asking man; all the promises of God are rich and inexhaustible, and their fulfillment is to be had by prayer.” James 4:3 – You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.  Contrast this with 1 John 5:14 – And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. James 4:4b – Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.  Beloved, we cannot have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, ““No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” James 4:6b-7a – “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.” Pride is at the center of sin. Pride caused the fall of Lucifer. Pride caused the fall of Adam and Eve, and thus our sinful nature. Is it any wonder that God opposes the proud? But when we humble ourselves before God, when we confess our sin, God pours out His grace. It isn’t as though our humility *earns* God’s grace, but when we are humble, we are acknowledging that we are in need of the grace that He so freely gives. Spurgeon: “Do you suffer from spiritual poverty? It is your own fault, for he giveth more grace. If you have not got it, it is not because it is not to be had, but because you have not gone for it.”  James 4:7b – Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Notice the text does not say, “…and he may flee from you.” or “…sometimes he will flee from you.” When we actively resist the enemy’s lies and temptations, we are *promised* that he will flee, though he will return to test our resolve. We can and we must resist him, in the name of Jesus,  as the already defeated foe he is. The Greek word translated as “resist” is a combination of two words: stand against. We are never conquered as long as we do not consent.  James 4:8 – Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. This is both an invitation and a promise. And it comes directly after the “resist and he will flee” promise. When we resist the devil, we can and we *should* draw near to God. It is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted in the desert, but He did not sin. When we have had an encounter with temptation, the best thing we can do is draw near to God for shelter and for strength. How do we draw near to God? In prayer, in worship and in praise. We learn to walk with God in our daily lives. We respond to His invitation to have an ongoing, daily, hour by our and minute by minute relationship with Him. We ask Him to guide our decisions and help us with our struggles. We thank Him for His blessings. In short, we live our lives with the awareness that He is always with us, and He delights in us. And we delight in Him. TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 4-5 ESV SUPPORT This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT [/support/]. [/support/] TRANSCRIPT Download .txt file. [https://d1uphahyf7mnoz.cloudfront.net/lsfb/LSFAB_S12-E305_otter_ai-correctedV1.txt] STEVE WEBB – 0:00 We can’t have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s kingdom. INTRO S12E305 – 0:11 Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. I’m so glad you’re here today. Thanks for joining me. Today is Epistle Sunday. We’re going to read James 4 and 5. I’m calling today’s episode, “Golden Nuggets”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e305. I’d love it if you go by and leave a comment. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin. JAMES 4 (ESV) – 0:45 James, chapter 4. (1) What causes quarrels and fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? (2) You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. (3) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. (4) You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (5) Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? (6) But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (9) Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. (10) Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (11) Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. (12) There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? (13) Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— (14) yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. (15) Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (16) As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. (17) So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. JAMES 5 (ESV) – 2:52 James, chapter 5. (1) Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. (2) Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. (3) Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. (4) Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. (5) You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. (6) You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. (7) Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. (8) You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (9) Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. (10) As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. (11) Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (12) But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. (13) Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. (14) Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (16) Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. (17) Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. (18) Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. (19) My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, (20) let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. COMMENTS – 5:31 Let’s talk a bit about James 4. Some have said that James is a bit like the book of Proverbs because of the way nuggets of truth are presented. Let’s take a look at just a few of them. In verse 2b it says, “You do not have because you do not ask.” Beloved, prayer is a necessary part of the Christian life. If we want God to bless us, we have to ask. Listen to what Charles Spurgeon said, “Remember this text: Jehovah says to his own Son, ‘Ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.’” Spurgeon continues, “If the royal and divine Son of God cannot be exempted from the rule of asking that he may have, you and I cannot expect the rule to be relaxed in our favor. Why should it be?” Good question. He also said, “If you may have everything by asking, and nothing without asking, I beg you to see how absolutely vital prayer is, and I beseech you to abound in it… Do you know, brothers, what great things are to be had for the asking? Have you ever thought of it? Does it not stimulate you to pray fervently? All heaven lies before the grasp of the asking man; all the promises of God are rich and inexhaustible, and their fulfillment is to be had by prayer.” Is prayer important? I’d say it is. And then in verse 3, we read, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly.” To spend it on your passions. Well, let’s contrast this with 1 John 5:14, which says, “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” So if we ask for the wrong motivation, our prayers are not answered. But if we ask according to his will, he does hear us. And verse 4b, “Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” Beloved, we can’t have one foot in the world and one foot in God’s kingdom. Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Beloved, we have to ask ourselves, Where is my focus? Is my focus on the things of God or on the things of the world? And verses 6b and 7a, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.” God opposes the proud. Pride is the center of sin. Pride caused the fall of Lucifer. Pride caused the fall of Adam and Eve, and thus our sinful nature. Is it any wonder that God opposes the proud? But when we humble ourselves before God, when we confess our sin, God pours out His grace. It isn’t as though our humility earns God’s grace. But when we are humble, we’re acknowledging that we’re in need of the grace that he so freely gives. Charles Spurgeon said this, “Do you suffer from spiritual poverty? It is your own fault, for he giveth more grace, if you have not got it, it is not because it is not to be had but because you have not gone for it.” Verse 7b, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” Beloved, notice that the text does not say “and he may flee from you” or “sometimes he will flee from you.” When we actively resist the enemy’s lies and temptations we are promised that he will flee, though he will return to test our resolve. We can and we must resist him in the name of Jesus as the already defeated foe that he is. The Greek word translated as “resist” is a combination of two words, “stand against”. Beloved, we are never conquered, as long as we do not consent. Then verse 8 says, “Draw nearer to God and he will draw near to you.” This is both an invitation and a promise, “Draw near to God” is the invitation and “He will draw near to you” is the promise. And this promise comes directly after the “resist and he will flee” promise. When we resist the devil we can and we should draw near to God. We have to understand it is not a sin to be tempted. Jesus was tempted after all in the desert, but he did not sin. When we have had an encounter with temptation, the best thing that we can do is draw near to God for shelter and for strength. Well, how do we draw near to God? We do it in prayer, in worship, and in praise. We learn to walk with God in our daily lives, we respond to His invitation to have an ongoing daily, hour-by-hour and minute-by-minute relationship with him. We ask him to guide our decisions and help us with our struggles. We thank him for his blessings. In short, we live our lives with the awareness that he is always with us, and he delights in us, and we should delight in him. What do you think? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e305 and let me know. Tomorrow’s Monday, so we’ll read from the Law. We’ll read Deuteronomy 7 through 9. Boost. DISTINGUISHED PRODUCER SHOUT-OUT – 11:05 I want to thank Lifespring Family Berean Brother Paul of Seattle who came in with his weekly $22.22 donation. He’s our Distinguished Producer today. And thank you, Brother Paul of Seattle for helping to produce episode s12e305. Beloved, if you believe in what the Lifespring Family Audio Bible is all about, if the show has helped you in any way, whether in helping you to read the Bible on a more consistent basis, or helping you to understand Scripture a little better or in challenging you to walk closer to God, then please consider supporting the show with your time, talent or treasure. Go to lifespringmedia.com/support and see if what you find there makes sense to you, lifespringmedia.com/support. And whether you support the show with time, talent or treasure, I thank you and I think God will bless you. ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 12:01 On this date in church history, July 3, 1756, John Wesley, the founder of English Methodism, wrote in a letter, “One who lives and dies in error or is in dissent from our church may yet be saved, but one who lives and dies in their sin must perish.” And on this date in church history, July 3, 1878, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod missionaries J. Friedrich Doescher and Frederick Berg established the Negro Lutheran Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, the first formal outreach to African-Americans made by Lutherans in the United States. CLOSING PRAYER – 12:44 Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, you have given us everything we need. You have given us our life, you have given us your word, and you have given us the way to spend eternity with you. Thank you for those and countless other blessings. Your love for us is just immeasurable, and we praise you. We ask the Lord that you work closely with us today and we ask for your blessing. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. Do you have a prayer request? Do you have a praise? Would you like to share it with the Lifespring family? Go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com? OUTRO S12E305 – 13:27 Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e305. Email me at st***@*************ia.com. Thanks to Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise for everything you guys do for us. Thanks to Lifespring Family Berean Brother Paul of Seattle for his support of this show today. Thanks to those of you who faithfully stream sats and send boosts every single day. And thank you, Beloved, for inviting me into your day today support the show at lifespringmedia.com/support. And until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye. Transcribed by https://otter.ai Corrected by Denise [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/28152340/donate.png]https://lifespringmedia.com/support/ * * [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/23123801/NULS_LSFB_RateTheShow.jpg]https://lovethepodcast.com/biblePlease rate or review the show by clicking the heart! The post S3E233 – James 4-5: Golden Nuggets [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e233-james-4-5-golden-nuggets/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].

S3E232 – Psalms 99-101: Inside Outside

Transcript PODCAST INTRODUCTION Today we will read Psalms 99-101.   I’ll give a brief introduction to each chapter, and I’ll have some comments after the reading. I’m calling today’s episode “Inside Outside.” S12E231Art3000-man standing and looking out window [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/19193007/S12E231Art3000.jpg]Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Max Harlynking on Unsplash COMMENTS ON PSALM 101 In chapter 101, verse 2, David wrote, “2I will be careful to lead a life that is without blame. When will you come and help me? In my own home I will lead a life that is without blame.” As I’ve already said before we read this chapter, wouldn’t it be great if leaders today made this their goal? Beloved, I believe that we need to pray that God would move in the hearts of our local leaders, our state or province leaders and our national leaders. No matter where you’re hearing this, pray for your leaders. When God gets hold of them, or moves new, godly people into their spots, we will begin to see changes for the good around the world.  Yes, I believe we are in the end times, but I would be delighted to be proven wrong. If God chooses to move on the hearts of people around the world, if we were to see a new and fresh awakening, a monumental revival, I would be thrilled beyond words. Grant it Lord, grant it. I Jesus’ name. But even if that doesn’t happen, we can still make that our goal. David said, “In my own home I will lead a life that is without blame.” Sometimes people live much different lives inside their homes than they do outside. They show a smiling, “everything is right with the world”, “Christian” facade to the world, but at home they’re the exact opposite. Don’t be that way, beloved. Don’t be a hypocrite. If you truly love the Lord, and but don’t act like it at home, then I would encourage you to take a hard look at why you act this way. Are you stressed because of work, or bills, or family problems? Have you taken your problems to the Lord and laid them at His feet, only to pick them up again? Maybe you need help from your pastor, or a trusted friend or a counselor. Listen, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everybody needs help from time to time.  Galatians 5:22-26 has a lot to say about how we should behave:  22But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good. It is being faithful 23and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to his cross. They don’t want these things anymore. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become proud. Let us not make each other angry. Let us not want what belongs to others.” Beloved, as we go about our days the Fruit of the Spirit should flow from us whether we are inside or outside of our homes. Jesus said that they will know we are Christians by our love for one another. Let’s pray that we will mature as believers to the point that people truly see Jesus in us. TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 99 NASB; Ch. 100-101 NIRV SUPPORT This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT [/support/]. [/support/] TRANSCRIPT Download .txt file. [https://d1uphahyf7mnoz.cloudfront.net/lsfb/LSFAB_S12-E231_otter_ai.txt] Steve Webb 0:00 I would be delighted to be proven wrong. Steve Webb 0:10 It’s Wednesday and this is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California podcasting since 2004. I’m your OG God cast your Steve Webb, welcome. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year and today we’re reading the Psalms. We’ll be in chapters 99 through 101. As has become our custom, I’ll give you a brief introduction before each Psalm and I’ll have some comments after the reading. Today’s title is Inside Outside. The show notes page for today’s episode is at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 231. My email address is Steve at Lifespring media.com. I’d love to hear from you. Let’s get started. Steve Webb 0:52 Psalm 99 is another song that has no title or author attribution about Psalm 99 Commentator Derek Kidner wrote here after the carefree delight of Psalm 98 we recollect how exalted in holy he is, and how profound is the reverence we owe him. Steve Webb 1:11 Psalms chapter 99. The Lord reigns let the peoples tremble. He is enthroned above the cherub him, Let the earth shake. The Lord is great in Zion, and He is exalted above all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name. holy is he? The strength of the King loves justice. You have established equity, you have executed justice and righteousness and Jacob, exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool. holy is he, Moses and Aaron were among his priests. And Samuel was among those who called on his name. They called upon the Lord and he answered them, he spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them, oh Lord, our God, you answered them. You are a forgiving God to them and yet an avenger of their evil deeds. exalt the Lord our God and worship at His holy hill, for Holy is the Lord our God. Steve Webb 2:17 The title of Psalm 100 is a Psalm of Thanksgiving. And perhaps surprisingly, it’s the only Psalm with this title. I especially like what G Campbell Morgan said about Psalm 100. “It is jubilant with confidence for the whole earth as it contemplates the glory of that earth, when all its people are submitted to the reign of Jehovah.” Oh, beloved, won’t that be glorious? Steve Webb 2:44 Psalms chapter 100. Shout to the Lord with joy, every one on Earth. Worship the Lord with gladness, come to him with songs of joy. I want you to realize that the Lord is good. He made us and we belong to Him. We are His people. We are the sheep belonging to his flock. Give thanks as you enter the gates of his temple, give praise as you enter its courtyards. Give thanks to Him and praise his name. The Lord is good. His faithful love continues forever. It will last for all time to come. Steve Webb 3:20 The title of Psalm 101 is a Psalm of David. This all may have been written just after David became king. Listen to what Alexander McClaren wrote, “He had but recently ascended to the throne. The abuses and confusions of Saul’s last troubled years had to be reformed. The new king felt that he was God’s viceroy, and here he declares what he will strive to make his monarchy, a copy of Gods.” And James Montgomery Boice wrote this, “I was startled to find that Martin Luther had done an exposition of the psalm that ran to 80 pages. The reason I discovered is that he was deeply concerned about civil government, and wanted to expound the Psalm as a listing of qualities toward which every Christian Prince or magistrate should strive.” Beloved would that leaders today at all levels should aspire to this kind of administration. Steve Webb 4:17 Psalms chapter 101. I will sing about your love and fairness. Lord, I will sing praise to You. I will be careful to lead a life that is without blame. When will you come and help me? I will lead a life that is without blame in my house. I won’t look at anything that is evil. I hate the acts of people who aren’t faithful to you. I don’t even want people like that around me. I will stay away from those whose hearts are twisted. I don’t want to have anything to do with evil. I will get rid of anyone who tells lies about his neighbor in secret. I won’t put up with anyone whose eyes and heart are proud. I will look with favor on the faithful people in the land. They will live with me those whose lives are without blame will serve me. No one who lies and cheats will live in my house. No one who tells lies will serve me. Every morning I will get rid of all the sinful people in the land. I will remove from the city of the Lord, everyone who does what is evil. Steve Webb 5:19 In chapter 101 Verse two, David wrote, I will be careful to lead a life that is without blame. When will you come and help me? In my own home, I will lead a life that is without blame. As I’ve already said, before we read this chapter, wouldn’t it be great if leaders today made this their goal? Beloved, I believe that we need to pray that God would move in the hearts of our local leaders, or a state or province leaders and our national leaders. Beloved, no matter where you’re hearing this, pray for your leaders. When God gets a hold of them or moves new, godly people into their spots will begin to see changes for the good around the world. Yes, you’ve heard me say many times, I believe that we’re in the in times, but I would be delighted to be proven wrong. If God chooses to move on the hearts of people around the world. If we were to see a new and fresh awakening, a monumental revival, I would be thrilled beyond words, granted, Lord, grant it in Jesus name. But even if that doesn’t happen, we can still make that our Go. David said in my own home, I will lead a life that is without blame. You know, sometimes people live much different lives inside their homes than they do outside. They show a smiling everything is right with a World Christian facade to the world. But at home, they’re the exact opposite. Don’t be that way. Beloved, don’t be a hypocrite. If you truly love the Lord, but don’t act like it at home that I would encourage you to take a hard look at why you act this way. Are you stressed because of work or bills or family problems? Well, let me ask you this if you taken your problems to the Lord and laid them at his feet, only to pick them up again. Maybe you need help from your pastor or a trusted friend or a counselor. Listen, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. Everybody needs help from time to time. It’s okay. If you need help get it Galatians 522 through 26 has a lot to say about how we should behave. It says but the fruit the Holy Spirit produces his love, joy and peace. That is being patient kind and good. It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed their sinful desires to His cross. They don’t want these things anymore. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become proud. Let us not make each other angry. Let us not want what belongs to others. Beloved, as we go about our days, the fruit of the Spirit should flow from us whether we are inside or outside of our homes. Jesus said that they will know we are Christians by our love for one another. Well, let’s pray that we will mature as believers to the point that people truly see Jesus in us. I would sure like to hear what you think. Go on over to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 231. Scroll to the bottom of that page. And then let me know what you’re thinking there’s a box there that you can put your comments into. Proverbs 19 will be our reading tomorrow boost. Steve Webb 8:35 We have an executive producer today. John came in with his monthly $50 executive producer donation. Thank you, John so much and God bless you. You know you can help support the show and ensure that it keeps coming to you every day by going to Lifespring media.com/support. And making a donation. You can sign up for a weekly, monthly or quarterly donation or just make a one time donation. It’s all about value for value supporting the show with time talent or treasure. If you get something from it in the measure that you receive it in an amount that means something to you. I can’t say what that is only you can for some people $5 might be a lot others can do more. Do what makes sense to you pray about it. Ask the Lord what he would have you do, then go to Lifespring media.com/support And do it all thank you and I think God will bless you for it. And John, thanks again brother for your support. God bless you. Steve Webb 9:42 On this date in church history, April 20 1759 George Frederick Handel passed away. He of course was the German born English composer of his religious compositions. The most famous are his Messiah oratory. Oh and several him Antunes including while shepherds watched their flocks by night, Joy to the world, and Thine be the glory risen, conquering sun. And on this date in church history April 20 1952, three years after the 1949 revolution that established the People’s Republic of China, evangelical leader, Watchman Nee was arrested by the Chinese government and imprisoned for trumped up charges of corrupt business practices. He spent nearly all of his last 20 years in prison. If you’ve never read Watchmen, the I highly recommend you pick up one of his books and do so. And Nee is spelled n-e-e. Watchman Nee. Steve Webb 10:49 Let’s pray. Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for psalms of praise like we read today. They teach us how to praise you and they remind us of all the things that you are and that you have done in the things that you do and will do. They remind us that you indeed are worthy of praise. We do have reason to shout joyfully and serve you with gladness. Hallelujah. Lord, we pray that you would raise up leaders around the world that would turn to you for guidance and for godly principles to rule by like David did. We pray for a revival the likes of which have never been seen, Lord, forgive us, Lord, for our failure to stand up for you and to be salt in light. Give us opportunities to share the gospel. Use us to bring glory to your name, and may the fruit of the spirit be shown in our lives. Lord, I thank you for each one who’s listening right now who you’ve brought into the Lifespring family. No one is here by accident. You’ve called them here. And I thank you for that. I pray that you would take what they hear on the show and use it for your kingdom. I pray God that you would bless each one in the Lifespring family today. And I pray this in Jesus name, amen. If you’ve got prayer requests or praises, go to prayer dot Lifespring media.com and fill out that form there. I’ll pray for you in my private prayer time, and we’ll pray together on the show. Steve Webb 12:17 Beloved, if you enjoy the show that I’ll bet you know somebody else who would also enjoy it, share the show, comment on the show at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 231. Or email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com. Support the show if you would please it Lifespring media.com/support. Thanks to Kirsty for putting the newsletter together each week. You can sign up for that at news dot Lifespring media.com. And thank you to Sean of San Pedro for doing the chapters for every episode, they are donating time and talent and I’m so thankful for their help. And thanks again to executive producer John for his donation of treasure to bring this episode to you. Until tomorrow. May God bless you richly. It was great to see you today. My name is Steve Webb. See you tomorrow. Bye Transcribed by https://otter.ai [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/28152340/donate.png]https://lifespringmedia.com/support/ * * [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/23123801/NULS_LSFB_RateTheShow.jpg]https://lovethepodcast.com/biblePlease rate or review the show by clicking the heart! The post S3E232 – Psalms 99-101: Inside Outside [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e232-psalms-99-101-inside-outside/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].