S3E216 – Leviticus 25-27: Try Me

S3E224 – Nehemiah 5-9: Is This Okay?

Transcript PODCAST INTRODUCTION This is History Tuesday. and we’ll read Nehemiah 5-9, and  I’m calling today’s episode “Is This Okay?” S12E342Art1400-vineyard [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/08160409/S12E342Art1400.jpg]Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Alex Gorbi on Unsplash COMMENTS ON NEHEMIAH 5 In the New Living Translation, this is how verse 19 reads: “Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.” When I read “…and bless me for it” I raised my eyebrows just a bit. That seems a bit presumptuous, don’t you think? But then I thought of the prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10: “He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.” God granted Jabez’s request, which tells us that God did not think Jabez’s prayer was out of line. Jabez asked God to give him more, and God did it. Why? We don’t have a lot to go on, except for the verse previous to what we just read. Verse 9 says: “There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful.” So now we know that Jabez was an honorable man. And so was Nehemiah. This we know because everything we read of him here in the book that bears his name testifies to that fact. He did not take on this task of rebuilding the walls for personal gain. He did it to honor God and to help the people.  God knows our heart, beloved. You cannot fool Him. And if our heart is pure, if our motivations are right and honorable, we can come to God in confidence and humbly ask Him to bless us.  TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 5-6 NLT; Ch 7-8 NIRV; Ch. 9 NCV 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-E342_otter_ai-correctedV1.txt] STEVE WEBB – 0:00 I kind of raised my eyebrows just a bit. INTRO S12E342 – 0:10 Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And 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. And today is History Tuesday. We’ll read Nehemiah 5 through 9 and I’m calling today’s episode “Is This Okay?” The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e342. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started. NEHEMIAH 5 (NLT) – 0:42 Nehemiah, chapter 5. (1) About this time some of the men and their wives raised a cry of protest against their fellow Jews. (2) They were saying, “We have such large families. We need more food to survive.” (3) Others said, “We have mortgaged our fields, vineyards, and homes to get food during the famine.” (4) And others said, “We have had to borrow money on our fields and vineyards to pay our taxes. (5) We belong to the same family as those who are wealthy, and our children are just like theirs. Yet we must sell our children into slavery just to get enough money to live. We have already sold some of our daughters, and we are helpless to do anything about it, for our fields and vineyards are already mortgaged to others.” (6) When I heard their complaints, I was very angry. (7) After thinking it over, I spoke out against these nobles and officials. I told them, “You are hurting your own relatives by charging interest when they borrow money!” Then I called a public meeting to deal with the problem. (8) At the meeting I said to them, “We are doing all we can to redeem our Jewish relatives who have had to sell themselves to pagan foreigners, but you are selling them back into slavery again. How often must we redeem them?” And they had nothing to say in their defense. (9) Then I pressed further, “What you are doing is not right! Should you not walk in the fear of our God in order to avoid being mocked by enemy nations? (10) I myself, as well as my brothers and my workers, have been lending the people money and grain, but now let us stop this business of charging interest. (11) You must restore their fields, vineyards, olive groves, and homes to them this very day. And repay the interest you charged when you lent them money, grain, new wine, and olive oil.” (12) They replied, “We will give back everything and demand nothing more from the people. We will do as you say.” Then I called the priests and made the nobles and officials swear to do what they had promised. (13) I shook out the folds of my robe and said, “If you fail to keep your promise, may God shake you like this from your homes and from your property!” The whole assembly responded, “Amen,” and they praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised. (14) For the entire twelve years that I was governor of Judah—from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of the reign of King Artaxerxes—neither I nor my officials drew on our official food allowance. (15) The former governors, in contrast, had laid heavy burdens on the people, demanding a daily ration of food and wine, besides forty pieces of silver. Even their assistants took advantage of the people. But because I feared God, I did not act that way. (16) I also devoted myself to working on the wall and refused to acquire any land. And I required all my servants to spend time working on the wall. (17) I asked for nothing, even though I regularly fed 150 Jewish officials at my table, besides all the visitors from other lands! (18) The provisions I paid for each day included one ox, six choice sheep or goats, and a large number of poultry. And every ten days we needed a large supply of all kinds of wine. Yet I refused to claim the governor’s food allowance because the people already carried a heavy burden. (19) Remember, O my God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it. NEHEMIAH 6 (NLT) – 3:55 Nehemiah, chapter 6. (1) Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies found out that I had finished rebuilding the wall and that no gaps remained—though we had not yet set up the doors in the gates. (2) So Sanballat and Geshem sent a message asking me to meet them at one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But I realized that they were plotting to harm me, (3) so I replied by sending this message to them: “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?” (4) Four times they sent the same message, and each time I gave the same reply. (5) The fifth time, Sanballat’s servant came with an open letter in his hand, (6) and this is what it said: “There is a rumor among the surrounding nations, and Geshem tells me it is true, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel and that is why you are building the wall. According to his reports, you plan to be their king. (7) He also reports that you have appointed prophets in Jerusalem to proclaim about you, ‘Look! There is a king in Judah!’ “You can be very sure that this report will get back to the king, so I suggest that you come and talk it over with me.” (8) I replied, “There is no truth in any part of your story. You are making up the whole thing.” (9) They were just trying to intimidate us, imagining that they could discourage us and stop the work. So I continued the work with even greater determination. (10) Later I went to visit Shemaiah son of Delaiah and grandson of Mehetabel, who was confined to his home. He said, “Let us meet together inside the Temple of God and bolt the doors shut. Your enemies are coming to kill you tonight.” (11) But I replied, “Should someone in my position run from danger? Should someone in my position enter the Temple to save his life? No, I won’t do it!” (12) I realized that God had not spoken to him, but that he had uttered this prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. (13) They were hoping to intimidate me and make me sin. Then they would be able to accuse and discredit me. (14) Remember, O my God, all the evil things that Tobiah and Sanballat have done. And remember Noadiah the prophet and all the prophets like her who have tried to intimidate me. (15) So on October 2 the wall was finished—just fifty-two days after we had begun. (16) When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God. (17) During those fifty-two days, many letters went back and forth between Tobiah and the nobles of Judah. (18) For many in Judah had sworn allegiance to him because his father-in-law was Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan was married to the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. (19) They kept telling me about Tobiah’s good deeds, and then they told him everything I said. And Tobiah kept sending threatening letters to intimidate me. NEHEMIAH 7 (NIRV) – 6:43 Nehemiah, chapter 7. (1) The wall had been rebuilt. I had put up the gates at the main entrances to the city. The people who guarded the gates were appointed to their positions. So were the musicians and the Levites. (2) I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah helped him. Hananiah was commander of the fort that was by the temple. Hanani was an honest man. He had more respect for God than most people do. (3) I said to Hanani and Hananiah, “Don’t open the gates of Jerusalem until the hottest time of the day. Tell the men who guard the gates to shut them before they go off duty. Make sure they lock them up tight. Also appoint as guards some people who live in Jerusalem. Station some of them at their appointed places. Station others near their own homes.” (4) Jerusalem was large. It had a lot of room. But only a few people lived there. The houses hadn’t been rebuilt yet. (5) So my God gave me the idea and encouraged me to gather the people together. He also encouraged me to gather the nobles and officials together with them. He wanted me to list them by families. I found the family history of those who had been the first to return. Here is what I found written on it. (6) Nebuchadnezzar had taken many Jews away from the land of Judah. He had forced them to go to Babylon as prisoners. Now they returned to Jerusalem and Judah. All of them went back to their own towns. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. (7) The leaders of the Jews included Zerubbabel, Joshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah and Nahamani. They also included Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah. Here is a list of the men of Israel who returned home. (8) There were 2,172 from the family of Parosh. (9) There were 372 from Shephatiah. (10) There were 652 from Arah. (11) There were 2,818 from Pahath-Moab through the family line of Jeshua and Joab. (12) There were 1,254 from Elam. (13) There were 845 from Zattu. (14) There were 760 from Zakkai. (15) There were 648 from Binnui. (16) There were 628 from Bebai. (17) There were 2,322 from Azgad. (18) There were 667 from Adonikam. (19) There were 2,067 from Bigvai. (20) There were 655 from Adin. (21) There were 98 from Ater through the family line of Hezekiah. (22) There were 328 from Hashum. (23) There were 324 from Bezai. (24) There were 112 from Hariph. (25) There were 95 from Gibeon. (26) There were 188 from the men of Bethlehem and Netophah. (27) There were 128 from Anathoth. (28) There were 42 from Beth Azmaveth. (29) There were 743 from Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah and Beeroth. (30) There were 621 from Ramah and Geba. (31) There were 122 from Mikmash. (32) There were 123 from Bethel and Ai. (33) There were 52 from the other Nebo. (34) There were 1,254 from the other Elam. (35) There were 320 from Harim. (36) There were 345 from Jericho. (37) There were 721 from Lod, Hadid and Ono. (38) There were 3,930 from Senaah. (39) Here is a list of the priests. There were 973 from the family line of Jedaiah through the line of Jeshua. (40) There were 1,052 from Immer. (41) There were 1,247 from Pashhur. (42) There were 1,017 from Harim. (43) The Levites belonged to the family line of Jeshua through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah. The total number of men was 74. (44) The musicians belonged to the family line of Asaph. The total number of men was 148. (45) The men who guarded the temple gates belonged to the family lines of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai. The total number of men was 138. (46) Here is a list of the members of the family lines of the temple servants. Ziha, Hasupha, Tabbaoth, (47) Keros, Sia, Padon, (48) Lebana, Hagaba, Shalmai, (49) Hanan, Giddel, Gahar, (50) Reaiah, Rezin, Nekoda, (51) Gazzam, Uzza, Paseah, (52) Besai, Meunim, Nephusim, (53) Bakbuk, Hakupha, Harhur, (54) Bazluth, Mehida, Harsha, (55) Barkos, Sisera, Temah, (56) Neziah, Hatipha (57) Here is a list of the members of the family lines of the servants of Solomon. Sotai, Sophereth, Perida, (58) Jaala, Darkon, Giddel, (59) Shephatiah, Hattil, Pokereth-Hazzebaim, Amon (60) The total number of the members of the family lines of the temple servants and the servants of Solomon was 392. (61) Many people came up to Judah from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer. But they weren’t able to prove that their families belonged to the people of Israel. (62) There were 642 of them from the family lines of Delaiah, Tobiah and Nekoda. (63) Here is a list of the members of the family lines of the priests. They were Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai. Barzillai had married a daughter of Barzillai from Gilead. So he was also called Barzillai. (64) The priests looked for their family records. But they couldn’t find them. So they weren’t able to serve as priests. They weren’t “clean.” (65) The governor gave them an order. He told them not to eat any of the most sacred food. They had to wait until there was a priest who could use the Urim and Thummim. The priest would use them to get decisions from the Lord. (66) The total number of the entire group that returned was 42,360. (67) That didn’t include their 7,337 male and female slaves. There were also 245 male and female singers. (68) And there were 736 horses, 245 mules, (69) 435 camels and 6,700 donkeys. (70) Some of the family leaders helped pay for the work. The governor gave 19 pounds of gold to be added to the temple treasure. He also gave 50 bowls and 530 sets of clothes for the priests. (71) Some of the family leaders gave 375 pounds of gold for the work. They also gave one and a third tons of silver. All of that was added to the temple treasure. (72) The rest of the people gave a total of 375 pounds of gold and one and a fourth tons of silver. They also gave 67 sets of clothes for the priests. (73) The priests and Levites made their homes in their own towns. So did the musicians, the temple servants and the men who guarded the gates. The rest of the Israelites also made their homes in their own towns. The Israelites had made their homes in their towns. In the seventh month… [Narrators note: This verse continues in verse 1 of chapter 8.] NEHEMIAH 8 (NIRV) – 14:09 Nehemiah, chapter 8. [Narrators note: Verse 1 is continued from the final verse of chapter 7.] (1) …all of them gathered together. They went to the open area in front of the Water Gate. They told Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses. The Lord had given Israel that Law so they would obey him. Ezra was the teacher of the Law. (2) Ezra the high priest brought the Law out to the whole community. It was the first day of the seventh month. The group was made up of men, women, and children old enough to understand what Ezra was going to read. (3) He read the Law to them from sunrise until noon. He did it as he faced the open area in front of the Water Gate. He read it to the men, the women, and the children old enough to understand. And all the people paid careful attention as Ezra was reading the Book of the Law. (4) Ezra, the teacher of the Law, stood on a high wooden stage. It had been built for the occasion. Mattithiah, Shema and Anaiah stood at his right side. So did Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah. Pedaiah, Mishael and Malkijah stood at his left side. So did Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam. (5) Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him. That’s because he was standing above them. As he opened the book, the people stood up. (6) Ezra praised the Lord. He is the great God. All the people lifted up their hands and said, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down. They turned their faces toward the ground and worshiped the Lord. (7) The Levites taught the Law to the people. They remained standing while the Levites taught them. The Levites who were there included Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai and Hodiah. They also included Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah. (8) All these Levites read to the people parts of the Book of the Law of God. They made it clear to them. They told them what it meant. So the people understood what was being read. (9) Nehemiah was the governor. Ezra was a priest and the teacher of the Law. They spoke up. So did the Levites who were teaching the people. All these men said to the people, “This day is set apart to honor the Lord your God. So don’t weep. Don’t be sad.” All the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. (10) Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy some good food and sweet drinks. Send some of it to people who don’t have any. This day is holy to our Lord. So don’t be sad. The joy of the Lord makes you strong.” (11) The Levites calmed all the people down. They said, “Be quiet. This is a holy day. So don’t be sad.” (12) Then all the people went away to eat and drink. They shared their food with others. They celebrated with great joy. Now they understood the words they had heard. That’s because everything had been explained to them. (13) All the family leaders gathered around Ezra, the teacher. So did the priests and Levites. All of them paid attention to the words of the Law. It was the second day of the month. (14) The Lord had given the Law through Moses. He wanted the Israelites to obey it. It is written there that they were supposed to live in booths during the Feast of Booths. That feast was celebrated in the seventh month. (15) They were also supposed to spread the message all through their towns and in Jerusalem. They were supposed to announce, “Go out into the central hill country. Bring back some branches from olive and wild olive trees. Also bring some from myrtle, palm and shade trees. Use the branches to make booths.” (16) So the people went out and brought back some branches. They built themselves booths on their own roofs. They made them in their courtyards. They put them up in the courtyards of the house of God. They built them in the open area in front of the Water Gate. And they built them in the open area in front of the Gate of Ephraim. (17) All the people who had returned from the land of Babylon made booths. They lived in them during the Feast of Booths. They hadn’t celebrated the feast with so much joy for a long time. In fact, they had never celebrated it like that from the days of Joshua, the son of Nun, until that day. So their joy was very great. (18) Day after day, Ezra read parts of the Book of the Law of God to them. He read it out loud from the first day to the last. They celebrated the Feast of Booths for seven days. On the eighth day they gathered together. They followed the required rules for celebrating the feast. NEHEMIAH 9 (NCV) – 18:42 Nehemiah, chapter 9. (1) On the twenty-fourth day of that same month, the people of Israel gathered. They fasted, and they wore rough cloth and put dust on their heads to show their sadness. (2) Those people whose ancestors were from Israel had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood and confessed their sins and their ancestors’ sins. (3) For a fourth of the day they stood where they were and read from the Book of the Teachings of the Lord their God. For another fourth of the day they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God. (4) These Levites were standing on the stairs: Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani. They called out to the Lord their God with loud voices. (5) Then these Levites spoke: Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah. They said, “Stand up and praise the Lord your God, who lives forever and ever.” “Blessed be your wonderful name. It is more wonderful than all blessing and praise. (6) You are the only Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, with all the stars. You made the earth and everything on it, the seas and everything in them; you give life to everything. The heavenly army worships you. (7) “You are the Lord, the God who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur in Babylonia and named him Abraham. (8) You found him faithful to you, so you made an agreement with him to give his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Girgashites. You have kept your promise, because you do what is right. (9) “You saw our ancestors suffering in Egypt and heard them cry out at the Red Sea. (10) You did signs and miracles against the king of Egypt, and against all his officers and all his people, because you knew how proud they were. You became as famous as you are today. (11) You divided the sea in front of our ancestors; they walked through on dry ground. But you threw the people chasing them into the deep water, like a stone thrown into mighty waters. (12) You led our ancestors with a pillar of cloud by day and with a pillar of fire at night. It lit the way they were supposed to go. (13) You came down to Mount Sinai and spoke from heaven to our ancestors. You gave them fair rules and true teachings, good orders and commands. (14) You told them about your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, orders, and teachings through your servant Moses. (15) When they were hungry, you gave them bread from heaven. When they were thirsty, you brought them water from the rock. You told them to enter and take over the land you had promised to give them. (16) “But our ancestors were proud and stubborn and did not obey your commands. (17) They refused to listen; they forgot the miracles you did for them. So they became stubborn and turned against you, choosing a leader to take them back to slavery. But you are a forgiving God. You are kind and full of mercy. You do not become angry quickly, and you have great love. So you did not leave them. (18) Our ancestors even made an idol of a calf for themselves. They said, ‘This is your god, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ They spoke against you. (19) “You have great mercy, so you did not leave them in the desert. The pillar of cloud guided them by day, and the pillar of fire led them at night, lighting the way they were to go. (20) You gave your good Spirit to teach them. You gave them manna to eat and water when they were thirsty. (21) You took care of them for forty years in the desert; they needed nothing. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell. (22) “You gave them kingdoms and nations; you gave them more land. They took over the country of Sihon king of Heshbon and the country of Og king of Bashan. (23) You made their children as many as the stars in the sky, and you brought them into the land that you told their ancestors to enter and take over. (24) So their children went into the land and took over. The Canaanites lived there, but you defeated them for our ancestors. You handed over to them the Canaanites, their kings, and the people of the land. Our ancestors could do what they wanted with them. (25) They captured strong, walled cities and fertile land. They took over houses full of good things, wells that were already dug, vineyards, olive trees, and many fruit trees. They ate until they were full and grew fat; they enjoyed your great goodness. (26) “But they were disobedient and turned against you and ignored your teachings. Your prophets warned them to come back to you, but they killed those prophets and spoke against you. (27) So you handed them over to their enemies, and their enemies treated them badly. But in this time of trouble our ancestors cried out to you, and you heard from heaven. You had great mercy and gave them saviors who saved them from the power of their enemies. (28) But as soon as they had rest, they again did what was evil. So you left them to their enemies who ruled over them. When they cried out to you again, you heard from heaven. Because of your mercy, you saved them again and again. (29) You warned them to return to your teachings, but they were proud and did not obey your commands. If someone obeys your laws, he will live, but they sinned against your laws. They were stubborn, unwilling, and disobedient. (30) You were patient with them for many years and warned them by your Spirit through the prophets, but they did not pay attention. So you handed them over to other countries. (31) But because your mercy is great, you did not kill them all or leave them. You are a kind and merciful God. (32) “And so, our God, you are the great and mighty and wonderful God. You keep your agreement of love. Do not let all our trouble seem unimportant to you. This trouble has come to us, to our kings and our leaders, to our priests and prophets, to our ancestors and all your people from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. (33) You have been fair in everything that has happened to us; you have been loyal, but we have been wicked. (34) Our kings, leaders, priests, and ancestors did not obey your teachings; they did not pay attention to the commands and warnings you gave them. (35) Even when our ancestors were living in their kingdom, enjoying all the good things you had given them, enjoying the land that was fertile and full of room, they did not stop their evil ways. (36) “Look, we are slaves today in the land you gave our ancestors. They were to enjoy its fruit and its good things, but look, we are slaves here. (37) The land’s great harvest belongs to the kings you have put over us because of our sins. Those kings rule over us and our cattle as they please, so we are in much trouble. (38) “Because of all this, we are making an agreement in writing, and our leaders, Levites, and priests are putting their seals on it.” COMMENTS – 25:31 In Nehemiah chapter 5 in the New Living Translation, this is how verse 19 reads, “Remember, O God, all that I have done for these people, and bless me for it.” When I read “…and bless me for it”, I kind of raised my eyebrows just a bit. Seems a bit presumptuous, don’t you think? Is this okay? But then I remembered the prayer of Jabez in 1 Chronicles 4:10, which reads, “He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!’ And God granted him his request.” So God granted Jabez’ request, which tells us that God didn’t think that Jabez’ prayer was out of line. Jabez asked God to give him more and God did it. Why do you suppose that is? Well, we don’t have a lot to go on except for the verse previous to what we just read. We read verse 10. Here’s verse 9. “There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful.” So now we at least know that Jabez was an honorable man. And so getting back to Nehemiah here, we know that Nehemiah was an honorable man. We know this because everything we read of him here in the book that bears his name testifies to that fact, he did not take on this task of rebuilding the walls for personal gain. He did it to honor God, and to help the people. Beloved, God knows our heart. You cannot fool him. And if our heart is pure, if our motivations are right and honorable, we can come to God in confidence and humbly ask him to bless us. What do you think about that? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e342 and leave a comment. Tomorrow is Psalms Wednesday, and our reading will be chapters 143 through 145. Boost. ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 27:38 On this date in church history, August 9, 1788, Adoniram Judson was born. He was the pioneer American Baptist missionary to Burma. He translated the Bible into Burmese and he also penned the hymn, “Come Holy Spirit Dove Divine”. And on this date in church history, August 9, 1973. In Asheville, North Carolina delegates from 200 congregations voted to sever ties with the Southern Presbyterian Church, believing it had become too liberal. The new denomination, the National Presbyterian Church was formed and became the Presbyterian Church in America in 1974. PRAYER REQUESTS – 28:26 Prayer requests. As I record this, it’s a little past noon on Monday. And there’s no news yet on Steve O’Brien. He’s supposed to be transported to the other hospital where the angiogram and any subsequent procedures will take place. But he’s not been moved yet. And it’s been a few days since Kathi had her first dose of the new cancer drug, and so far, she’s only had flu like symptoms for side effects. But I guess the nurses said that, to use their words, “It will take several infusions before the storm hits.” So our prayer will be that if and when the storm hits, it’ll just be a light drizzle. CLOSING PRAYER – 29:01 Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, we again thank you for your word and the way that you teach us about yourself through it. And we ask that you would use us to bring people to you and to bring honor to your name. I pray now for a Steve O’Brien that as the doctors and the rest of the medical team work on him today that everything would go well and that there would be no problems. And we continue to pray for Kathi. I ask Lord that you bring healing to her body. I thank you, Lord, that the storm has not hit. And I pray, Lord, that you keep the storm from hitting. Help the drug to do what it’s supposed to do. Bring healing to her body. Lord, I ask in Jesus’ name. And Lord, I ask that you bless the Lifespring family and help each of us to please you today. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com, if you’ve got a prayer request or a praise that you’d like to share with the Lifespring family. OUTRO S12E342 – 29:58 Just a reminder that I need to get plenty more emails from those of you who have not yet written in a Next Step email to me, I really do need to hear from you. I’m not joshin’. Please do write to me at st***@*************ia.com. Give some thought and prayer to the question of what you’d like to see me do once the season is over, and then put in that subject line “THE NEXT STEP”. I appreciate it. And I thank those of you who have already sent emails in. The last couple of days I’ve heard from some people that I’ve never heard from before, and I thank you for writing. It was great to hear from you. Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e342. Thanks to the team Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise. And thank you for sharing your time with me today. Are you glad the show is here? If so, support it go to lifespringmedia.com/support. And until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb. Bye. Free delivery. 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 S3E224 – Nehemiah 5-9: Is This Okay? [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e224-nehemiah-5-9-is-this-okay/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].

S3E223 – Numbers 1-4: In the Wilderness

Transcript PODCAST INTRODUCTION Today we will begin the book of  Numbers by reading chapters 1-4. I’m calling today’s episode “In the Wilderness” because that is the Hebrew title for the book of Numbers.  The previous book, Leviticus, told the story of the Hebrew people in the year after God, through Moses, led them out of Egyptian bondage. It covered just a year. Numbers covers the more than thirty-eight years they were in the wilderness. S12E229Art3000-wilderness [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/18090014/S12E229Art3000.jpg]Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Eelco Böhtlingk on Unsplash TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1 CEB; Ch. 2 NIRV; Ch. 3 CEV; Ch. 4 NCV 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-E229_otter_ai.txt] Steve Webb 0:07 This is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. And podcasting since 2004. I’m your OG God casters, Steve Webb, welcome. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year and the show’s about 11 hours later. Sorry about that. We’re going to begin the Book of Numbers by reading chapters one through four today. I hope your Resurrection Sunday was a good one. The lovely lady Liana and I spent the day with family at her mom’s house, which is why the episode is so late. It was a great day. But I was just completely wiped out when we got home. And it was probably 1030 or so before I was even able to think about getting into the studio, which would have made the show late to begin with, because I normally put the show out at 10pm, the day before. So for Monday show I should be getting things out and published at 10 o’clock Sunday. Like I said, I didn’t get in the studio till 1030 or so. Also, I was exhausted. We had been up very late the night before preparing some of the food for the dinner, Resurrection Sunday dinner. And we got up early the next day to continue their preparation. So yeah, I was not able to do anything. So I just came to bed. And right now as I’m recording this, it’s 8:32am Monday morning, and hopefully this will get pushed out by nine o’clock. So that’s what’s going on. I’m sorry, it’s late. But my guess is you probably didn’t even listen to the show on Resurrection Sunday, because you were involved yourself with your own family or your church or whatever. So this is late, but we’re still on time. As far as the the schedule for getting through the Bible in a year. The title for today’s show is in the wilderness, because that is the Hebrew title for the book of Numbers. The previous book, Leviticus told the story of the Hebrew people in the year after God through Moses led them out of Egyptian bondage. And that book, Leviticus covered just a year, this book numbers covers the more than 38 years that they were in the wilderness. So that’s all the commentary that we’re going to have today. We’ll just have the reading. And we’ll get out of here. As a matter of fact, I’ll say goodbye right now and get directly into the reading. So until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. Oh, by the way, in case you’d like to come in on today’s show the shownotes pages at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 228. And my email address is Steve at Lifespring media.com. So, with that said, may God bless you richly. I’ll see you tomorrow with a normal show. My name is Steve Webb, By Steve Webb 2:57 Numbers chapter one. The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert in the meeting tent on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they left the land of Egypt. Take a census of the entire Israelite community by their clans and their households recording the name of every male 20 years old and above who was eligible for military service in Israel. These you and Aaron will enlist in their military units. Take with you one man from each tribe who was the head of his household. These are the names of the men who will assist you from Reuben Eliza chettiars son from Simeon Shelumiel Zahra shadows son from Judah Nahshon emitted dad’s son from his car Nathanael Zoomers son from Zebulon Eliab. Whelan’s son, from Joseph sons from efirium Ally Shema, Umayyad son from Manasa, Gmail Leo Pedraza his son from Benjamin Abidan Gideons son from Dan a high user Emma shadows son from Asher pigpio Aucklands son from gad ally Assaf duels son from nafed Ally a Hira, Ian’s son. These are the ones appointed from the community chiefs of their ancestral tribes and leaders of the divisions of Israel. Moses and Aaron took these men who were selected by name, and they assembled the entire community on the first day of the second month. They registered them by their clans and their households recording the name of each male 20 years old and above. Moses enlisted them in the Sinai desert just as the Lord commanded him. There were the descendants of Reuben, Israel’s oldest registered by their clans in their households. Every man 20 years old and above eligible for military service was individually recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Reuben were 46,500. There were the descendants of Simeon registered by their clans and their house. Steve Webb 5:00 holds every male 20 years old and above eligible for military service was individually recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Simeon were 59,300. There were the descendants of Gad, registered by their clans and their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Gad were 45,650 Steve Webb 5:28 there were the descendants of Judah registered by their clans and their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Judah were 74,600. They were the descendants of vissa car registered by their clans and their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of VISTA car were 54,400. There were the descendants of Zebulun registered by their clans in their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400. From Joseph descendants, there were the descendants of African registered by their clans and their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Ephram were 40,500. There were the descendants of Manasa registered by their clans and their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200. Steve Webb 6:46 There were the descendants of Benjamin registered by their clans and their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400. There were the descendants of Dan registered by their clans and their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Dan were 62,700. Steve Webb 7:17 They were the descendants of Asher registered by their clans in their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of Asher were 41,500. They were the descendants of NAFTA ally registered by their clans and their households. The men 20 years old and above eligible for military service were recorded by name. Those enlisted from the tribe of NAFTA ally were 53,400. These are the ones who were enlisted by Moses, Aaron and the 12 chiefs of Israel, each from his own household. All the Israelites 20 years old and above eligible for military service in Israel were enlisted by their households. All those enlisted were 603,550. But the Levites belonging to their own ancestral tribe weren’t enlisted along with them. Steve Webb 8:14 The Lord spoke to Moses, you must not enlist the tribe of Levi, nor should you take their census along with the Israelites rather assign the Levites to the covenant dwelling to all its equipment and to everything that belongs to it. They will carry the dwelling and all its equipment perform its religious ceremonies and camp around the dwelling. When it’s time to break camp, the Levites will take down the dwelling and when it’s time to make camp, the Levites will set up the dwelling. Any other person who approaches will be put to death, the Israelites will camp each in their own place under the banner of their own military unit. But the Levites will camp around the covenant dwelling so that God’s anger will not strike the Israelite community. The Levites will guard the covenant dwelling, the Israelites did everything exactly as the Lord commanded Moses. Steve Webb 9:05 Numbers chapter two. The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, he said, the people of Israel must camp around the tent of meeting, but they must not camp too close to it. All of them must camp under their flags and under the banners of their families. The companies of the camp of Judah must be on the east side. They must set up camp toward the sunrise. They must camp under their flag. The leader of the tribe of Judah is not even the Son of emitted dab. There are 74,600 men in his company. The tribe of vissa car will camp next to them. The leader of the tribe of VISTA car is Nathanael the son of xuer. There are 54,400 men in his company, the tribal Zebulon will be next. The leader of the tribal Zebulon is Eliab, the son of Heelan. There are 57,400 men in his company. So a total of 186,400 men Steve Webb 9:59 We’ll be set apart for the camp of Judah. They will be arranged company by company. They will start out first. The companies of the camp of Reuben will be on the south side. They will be under their flag. The leader of the tribe of Reuben is Eliza, the son of shittier. There are 46,500 men in his company, the tribe of Simeon will cap next to them. The leader of the tribe of Simeon is Shelumiel. The son of Zahra Shaddai. There are 59,300 men in his company. Steve Webb 10:31 The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the tribe of Gad is Ally Assaf, the son of duel. There are 45,650 men in his company. So a total of 151,450 men will be set apart for the camp of Reuben, they will be arranged company by company. They will start out second then the camp of the Levites will start out. The Tent of Meeting will go with them. They will march in the middle of the other camps. They will start out in the same order as they do when they set up camp. Each one will be in his own place under his flag. Steve Webb 11:09 The companies of the camp of Ephram will be on the west side, they will be under their flag. The leader of the tribe of Ephram is Alicia the son of a MyoD. There are 40,500 men in his company, the tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the tribe of Manasseh is Gamaliel. The son of Pedraza, there are 32,200 men in his company, the tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the tribe of Benjamin is a Biden the son of giddy oni, there are 35,400 men in his company. So a total of 108,100 men will be set apart for the camp of Ephram, they will be arranged company by company. They will start out third. The companies of the camp of Dan will be on the north side. They will be under their flag. The leader of the tribe of Dan is AI easer, the son of ama Shana. There are 62,700 men in his company. The tribe of Asha will camp next to them. The leader of the tribe of Asher is Peggy Hill, the son of Oghren. There are 41,500 men in his company, the tribe of naff July will be next. The leader of the tribe of Neff July is a Hira, the son of iman. There are 53,400 men in his company. So a total of 157,600 men will be set apart for the camp of Dan, they will start out last they will march under their flags. Those are the men of Israel. They were counted in keeping with their families. The total number of all the men who were in the camps is 603,550. company by company. But the Levites weren’t counted along with the other man of Israel. That’s what the Lord had commanded Moses. So the people of Israel did everything the Lord had commanded Moses. That’s the way they set up camp under their flags. And that’s the way they started out. Each man marched out with his own tribe and family. Steve Webb 13:06 Numbers chapter three. When the Lord talked with Moses on Mount Sinai errands for sons, Nadab, a by you, Lea Azar and Ithamar were the ones to be ordained as priests. But the Lord killed may dabinett by you in the Sinai desert when they used fire that was unacceptable in their offering to the Lord. And because they happen to by you had no sons, only Eliezer and Ithamar served his priests with their father Aaron, The Lord said to Moses, assigned the Levi tribe to Aaron the priest, they will be his assistance in work at the sacred tent for him and for all the Israelites. The Levites will serve the community by being responsible for the furnishings of the tent, they are assigned to help Aaron and his sons who have been appointed to be priests. Anyone else who tries to perform the duties of a priest must be put to death. Moses, I have chosen these Levites from all Israel, and they will belong to me in a special way. When I killed the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I decided that the firstborn sons in every Israelite family and the firstborn males of their flocks and herds would be mine. But now I accept these Levites in place of the firstborn sons of the Israelites in the Sinai desert The Lord said to Moses, now I want you to count the men and boys in the Levi tribe, by families and by clans include everyone at least a month old. So Moses obeyed encountered them Levis, three sons, Gershon, Kohath, and Moray had become the heads of their own clans. gursha and sons were Limni and shimmy AI Kohath sons were Amram izhar Hebron and oziel and Moray sons were Molloy and mu shy. These were the sons and grandsons of Levi and they had become the leaders of the Levite clans. The two Gershon clans were the lib knights and the shimmy heights and Steve Webb 15:00 They had 7500 men and boys at least one month old. But Gershonites under the leadership of Alas, AF son of Lail were to camp on the west side of the sacred tent. Their duties at the tent included taking care of the tent itself, along with its outer covering the curtain for the entrance, the curtains hanging inside the courtyard around the tent, as well as the curtain and ropes for the entrance to the courtyard and its altar. The Gershonites were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down. The four Cohab clans were the Amorites is her rights Ebro knights and the Israelites and they had 8600 men and boys at least one month old. The Kohath heights under the leadership of LSA fan, son of a zeal were to camp on the south side of the sacred tent. Their duties at the TED included taking care of the sacred chest, the table for the sacred bread, the lampstand, the altars, the objects used for worship, and the curtain in front of the Most Holy Place. The Kohathites were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down. LEA is our son of Aaron was the head of the Levite leaders, and he made sure that the work at the sacred tent was done. The two marayke lands where the Mali lights and the new shites and they had 6200 men and boys at least one month old. The marae writes under the leadership of Zuriel, son of Abba Hale were to camp on the north side of the sacred tent. Their duties included taking care of the tent frames in the pieces that held the tent up, the bars, the posts, the stands and its other equipment. They were also in charge of the posts that supported the courtyard, as well as their stands, tent pegs and ropes. The Moray clans were responsible for setting these things up and taking them down. Moses, Aaron and his sons were to camp in front of the sacred tent on the east side, and to make sure that the Israelites worshiped in the proper way. Anyone else who tried to do the work of Moses and Aaron was to be put to death. So Moses and Aaron obeyed the Lord and counted the Levites by their clans. The total number of Levites, at least one month old, was 22,000. The Lord said to Moses, make a list and count the firstborn sons at least one month old and each of the Israelite families. They belong to me, but I will accept the Levites as substitutes for them. And I will accept the Levites livestock as substitutes for the Israelites firstborn livestock. Moses obeyed the Lord encountered the firstborn sons, there were 22,273 of them. Then the Lord said, the Levites will belong to me and will take the place of the firstborn sons, their livestock will take the place of the Israelites firstborn livestock. But since there are more firstborn sons than Levites, the extra 273 men and boys must be bought back from me. For each one, you are to collect five pieces of silver weighed according to the official standards. This money must then be given to Aaron and his sons. Moses collected the silver from the extra 273 firstborn men and boys, and it amounted to 1365 pieces of silver weighed according to the official standards. Then he gave it to Aaron and his sons just as the Lord had commanded Steve Webb 18:21 Numbers chapter four. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, count the CO Hittites among the Levites by family groups and families count the men from 30 to 50 years old, all who come to serve in the meeting tent, the Kohathites are responsible for the most holy things in the meeting tent. When the Israelites are ready to move, Aaron and his sons must go into the holy tent, take down the curtain and cover the Ark of the agreement with it. Over this, they must put a covering made from fine leather, then spread the solid blue cloth over that and put the poles in place, then they must spread a blue cloth over the table for the bread that shows the person is in God’s presence. They must put the plates, pans bowls and the jars for drink offerings on the table. They must leave the bread that is always there on the table. Steve Webb 19:11 Then they must put a red cloth over all these things, Cover everything with fine leather and put the poles in place. With a blue cloth, they must cover the lampstand it’s lamps. It’s wick trimmers, it’s trays and all the jars for the oil used in the lamps. Then they must wrap everything and find leather and put all these things on a frame for carrying them. They must spread a blue cloth over the gold altar, cover it with fine leather and put the poles in place. They must gather all the things used for serving in the holy place and wrap them in a blue cloth. Then they must cover that with fine leather and put these things on a frame for carrying them. They must clean the ashes of the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it. They must gather all the things used for serving at the altar. The pans for carrying the fire the meat Steve Webb 20:00 forks, the shovels in the balls and put them on the bronze altar. Then they must spread a covering of fine leather over it and put the poles in place. When the Israelites are ready to move in when Aaron and his sons have covered the holy furniture and all the holy things, the call heights may go in and carry them away. In this way, they won’t touch the holy things in die. It is the Kohathites job to carry the things that are in the meeting tent. LEA is our son of Aaron the priest will be responsible for the Holy tent and for everything in it for all the holy things. It has the oil for the lamp, the sweet smelling incense, the continual grain offering, and the oil used to appoint priests and things to the Lord service. The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, don’t let the Kohathites be cut off from the Levites do this for the CO Hittites so that they may go near the Most Holy Place and not die. Aaron and his sons must go in and show each Kohathites what to do and what to carry. The Kohathites must not enter in look at the holy things even for a second or they will die. The Lord said to Moses, count the Gershonites by families and by family groups, count the men from 30 to 50 years old, all who have a job to do in the meeting Tet. This is what the Gershonites family groups must do and what they must carry. They must carry the curtains of the holy tent, the meeting tent it’s covering and its outer covering made from fine leather. They must also carry the curtains for the entrance to the meeting tent, the curtains of the courtyard that go around the holy tent in the altar. The curtain for the entry to the courtyard, the ropes, and all the things used with the curtains. They must do everything connected with these things. Aaron and his sons are in charge of what the Gershonites do or carry. You tell them what they are responsible for carrying. This is the work of the Gershonites family group at the meeting tent Ithamar son of Aaron the priest will direct their work. Count the marae right families and family groups count the man from 30 to 50 years old, all who work at the meeting tent it is their job to carry the following is they serve in the meeting tent, the frames of the holy tent, the cross bars, the posts and bases in addition to the posts that go around the courtyard, their bases, tent pegs, ropes, and everything that is used with the poles around the courtyard. Tell each man exactly what to carry. This is the work that Moray right family group will do for the meeting tent. FMR, son of Aaron the priest will direct their work. Steve Webb 22:34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel countered the CO Hittites by families and family groups, the men from 30 to 50 years old who were to work at the meeting tent. There were 2750 men in the family groups. This was the total of the Kohath family groups who worked at the meeting tent who Moses and Aaron counted as the Lord had commanded Moses. Also, the Gershonites were counted by families and family groups, the men from 30 to 50 years old who were given work at the meeting tent. The families and family groups had 2630 men. This was the total of the Gershon family groups who worked at the meeting tent, who Moses and Aaron counted as the Lord had commanded. Also, the men in the families and family groups of the Moray family were counted. The men from 30 to 50 years old who were to work at the meeting tent, the family groups had 3200 men. This was the total of the Moray family groups who Moses and Aaron counted as the Lord had commanded Moses. So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by families and family groups. They counted the men from 30 to 50, who were given work at the meeting tent and who carried the tent. The total number of these men was 8580. Each man was counted as the Lord had commanded Moses. Each man was given his work and told what to carry as the Lord had commanded Moses. 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 S3E223 – Numbers 1-4: In the Wilderness [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e223-numbers-1-4-in-the-wilderness/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].

S3E222 – 1 Timothy 1-3: Words of Advice

Transcript PODCAST INTRODUCTION Today we will begin the book of 1 Timothy 1-3.  I’m calling today’s episode “Words of Advice.” This is going to be a short one today. I know I said that yesterday, and it ended up being a normal length show, but today I’m just going to give you a brief introduction to 1 Timothy, then there will be the reading, and that’s it.  S12E228Art3000-steve and timothy webb [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/15203744/S12E228Art3000.jpg]Steve and Timothy Webb on Timothy’s Wedding Day | Photo: Tyler Ljunghammar KEITH GREEN “EASTER SONG” YouTube player [https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Z3kc1jDahU4/maxresdefault.jpg] TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-2 NIRV; Ch. 3 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-E228_otter_ai.txt] Steve Webb 0:00 He is risen. He is risen indeed hallelujah and Amen. Steve Webb 0:12 This is the Lifespring family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California, podcasting since 2004. I’m your OG God castors. Steve Webb, happy Resurrection Sunday. Welcome. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. And this is my favorite holy day, because without the resurrection, we’re just spinning our wheels. Today, we will begin the book of First Timothy by reading chapters one through three. Today’s title is words of advice, and this is going to be a short one today. I know I said that yesterday, and it ended up being just a normal link show. But today, I’m going to give you just a brief introduction to First Timothy, then there’ll be the reading. And that’s it. But I do have a special video for you on the show notes page. You know, I love Keith Greene’s music and over there I’ve got a video of him singing the Easter song live in 1982. So this would have been very shortly before he went to be with the Lord. To see that you’ll want to go to the show notes page at Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 228. You can email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com. So let’s get started. Steve Webb 1:21 Well, up to this point in the Epistles Paul’s letters have been directed at specific churches, beginning now with First Timothy. Paul’s letters are now directed at individuals. There are two letters to Timothy, a letter to Titus and one to phi Lehmann. Now like Paul, Timothy and Titus were evangelists. They went from place to place preaching the good news. Timothy received the message of the gospel from Paul when he was about 15 years old, which is why Paul refers to him as his son in the faith. At the time of this writing, it’s thought that Timothy was about 35 years old. Timothy is pastoring the church at Ephesus, and Paul is offering some words of advice on how he should conduct himself and lead his congregation. Steve Webb 2:08 First Timothy chapter one, I Paul am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus just as God our Savior commanded Christ Jesus also commanded, we have put our hope in Him. Timothy, I’m sending you this letter, you are my true son in the faith. May God the Father in Christ Jesus, our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. Stay there in Ephesus. This is what I told you to do when I went into Macedonia. I want you to command certain people not to teach things that aren’t true. Command them not to spend their time on stories that aren’t completely true. They must not waste time on family histories that never end. Things like that cause people to argue instead of doing God’s work, his work is done by faith. Love is the purpose of my command. Love comes from a pure heart. It comes from a good sense of what is right and wrong. It comes from faith that is honest and true. Some have wandered away from those teachings. They would rather talk about things that have no meaning. They want to be teachers of the law. And they are very sure about that law, but they don’t know what they’re talking about. We know that the law is good if it is used properly. We also know that the law is it made for godly people. It is made for those who break the law. It is for those who refuse to obey. It is for ungodly and sinful people. It is for those who aren’t holy and who don’t believe it is for those who killed their fathers or mothers. It is for murderers. It is for those who commit adultery. It is for those who have a twisted view of sex. It is for people who buy and sell slaves. It is for liars. It is for those who give witness to things that aren’t true. And it is for anything else that is the opposite of true teaching. True teaching agrees with a glorious good news of the blessed God. He trusted me with that good news. I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me strength. I thank him that he considered me faithful. And I thank him for appointing me to serve him. I used to speak evil things against Jesus. I tried to hurt his followers. I really pushed them around. But God showed me mercy anyway, I did those things without knowing any better. I wasn’t a believer. Our Lord poured out more and more of his grace on me. Along with it came faith and love from Christ Jesus. Here’s the saying that you can trust it should be accepted completely. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, and I am the worst sinner of all. But for that very reason God showed me mercy and I am the worst of sinners. He showed me mercy so that Christ Jesus could show that he is very patient. I was an example for those who would come to believe in Him than they would receive eternal life. The eternal King will never die. He can’t be seen. He is the only God give him honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. My son, Timothy, I give you these teachings, they’re in keeping with the prophecies that were once made about you. By following them, you can fight the good fight, then you will hold on to faith, you will hold on to a good sense of what is right and wrong. Some have not accepted these teachings. By doing that they have destroyed their faith. They’re like a ship that is sunk. Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them. I’ve handed them over to Satan, that will teach them not to speak evil things against God. Steve Webb 5:42 First Timothy chapter two. First, I want all of you to pray for everyone. Ask God to bless them, give thanks for them. Pray for kings, pray for all who are in authority. I pray that we will live peaceful and quiet lives and pray that we will be godly and holy. That is good. It pleases God our Savior, He wants everyone to be saved. He wants them to come to know the truth. There is only one God. And there is only one go between for God and human beings. He is the man Christ Jesus. He gave himself to pay for the sins of everyone. That was a witness given by God at just the right time. I was appointed to be a messenger and an apostle to preach the good news. I am telling the truth. I am not lying. God appointed me to be a teacher of the true faith to those who aren’t Jews. I want men everywhere to pray. I want them to lift up holy hands. I don’t want them to be angry when they pray. I don’t want them to argue. I also want women to dress simply, they should wear clothes that are right and proper. They shouldn’t braid their hair. They shouldn’t wear gold or pearls. They shouldn’t spend too much on clothes. Instead, they should put on good works as if they were clothes that is proper for women who claim to worship God. When a woman is learning, she should be quiet. She should follow the leaders in every way. I do not let women teach. I do not let them have authority over men. They must be quiet. Adam was made first then II was made. Adam was not the one who was tricked. The woman was tricked and became a sinner. Will women be saved by having children only if they keep on believing, loving and leading a holy life in a proper way. Steve Webb 7:33 First Timothy chapter three. This is a statement that can be trusted. If any one sets his heart on being a bishop, he desires something excellent. A bishop must have a good reputation. He must have only one wife, be sober, use good judgment, be respectable, be hospitable and be able to teach. He must not drink excessively or be a violent person. But he must be gentle. He must not be quarrelsome or love money. He must manage his own family well, his children should respectfully obey Him. If a man doesn’t know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church, he must not be a new Christian or he might become arrogant like the devil and be condemned. People who are not Christians must speak well of him or he might become the victim of disgraceful insults that the devil sets as traps for him. deacons must also be of good character, they must not be too faced or addicted to alcohol. They must not use shameful ways to make money. They must have clear consciences about possessing the mystery of the Christian faith. First, a person must be evaluated. Then if he has a good reputation, he may become a deacon. Their wives must also be of good character. They must not be gossips, but they must control their tempers and be trustworthy in every way. A Deacon must have only one wife, deacons must manage their children and their families. Well. Those deacons who serve well gain an excellent reputation and will have confidence as a result of their faith in Christ Jesus. I hope to visit you soon. However, I’m writing this to you in case I’m delayed. I want you to know how people who are members of God’s family must live. God’s family is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. The mystery that gives us our reverence for God is acknowledged to be great. He appeared in his human nature was approved by the Spirit was seen by angels was announced throughout the nations was believed in the world and was taken to heaven in glory. Steve Webb 9:43 Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. Thank you for inviting me to be with you today. Remember to go to the show notes page to see Keith green sing the Easter song because it truly is a blessing. Enjoy your Resurrection Sunday. My name is Steve Webb. 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 S3E222 – 1 Timothy 1-3: Words of Advice [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e222-1-timothy-1-3-words-of-advice/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].

S3E221 – Esther 6-10: Coincidence? I Think Not

Transcript PODCAST INTRODUCTION This is history Tuesday, and we will finish the book of Esther by reading chapters 6-10, which will also complete our reading of the entire Bible for season 12 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, the last “live” season of the show. I’m calling today’s show, “Coincidence? I Think Not.” S12E363Art1400-Steve and LeeAnn Webb [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/29204135/S12E363Art1400.jpg]Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Tim Webb COMMENTS ON ESTHER 6 Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish His plans? There are some people who believe that once God finished His work of creation, He stepped away and let events on earth happen on their own. Seems like a foolish notion to me. Here in Esther 6, we have an example of how God orchestrates the events of man for His purposes. The king is unable to sleep on the very night that Haman is plotting to kill Mordecai, so he does what many of us do. He decides to read a book, hoping that will make him sleepy. Think of it. Ahasuerus is the king of the most powerful kingdom on earth, so he could have done almost anything for a diversion, but he chooses to read a book. He orders that a book of remembrances be brought to him. He had a kingdom of 127 provinces, so I can imagine that this book of remembrances had several volumes, can’t you? But the person who was tasked with bringing the book brought the volume that included the account of how Mordecai saved the king from assassination. And the servant opened the book to the very page with that record. What are the odds? Well, with God, the odds are 100%. Without God, who knows? There had to have been many remembrances in the book, but on this specific night, this specific page was opened.  Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish His plans? Of course He does. Has God ever intervened in your life like this? Can you remember a time where the course of your life was changed by a seemingly random event? Let me tell you about a time this happened to me. It happened in 2004. It was a Saturday in September, I think. I turned on the radio to listen to a talk show about technology. It was normally a call-in type show where people would ask the host for help with their tech devices. But when I turned on the radio, the host was interviewing a guy, and the guy was telling the host about new thing he had invented where radio-type shows could be automatically downloaded to people’s computers. And better still, every time a new show was created, the new episodes would just show up on their computers. And then, they could transfer the new shows to their portable mp3 player and listened to whenever they wanted. This idea sounded pretty interesting to me, having been in radio in the late 70s and early 80s.  Of course, this new invention was podcasting. The interviewer was Leo Laporte and the interviewee was Adam Curry, whom I am now happy to not only call my friend, but ecstatic to call my brother in the Lord, but that’s a different story. Or is it?  Just a week or so before I heard this interview, I had asked God what more I could do to serve Him. I was already the tech guy at my church and putting a lot of time into that, but I wanted to do more for God since He had been so very good to me and had blessed me with a wonderful wife, great kids, a business that paid the bills and a home. I just wanted to be available to do whatever God had for me. I prayed and asked God what more I could do, and His answer was a very clear, almost audible, “Proclaim my name.” So, was it just a random event when I heard Adam Curry telling Leo Laporte about podcasting? I don’t think so. God prompted me to turn on the radio at just the right time, and on November 13, 2004 I uploaded the world’s first Christian podcast to my church’s website. Within days I received emails from around the world telling me stories of how God was using my podcast to bring them to Jesus. God was using my little podcast in miraculous ways.  But the story doesn’t end there. From the first podcast, that I called “Lifespring!”, I created several other podcasts, one of which was the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Because of that show, a person asked me to record the entire Douay Rheims Bible, and because of that project, I wrote Webb’s Easy Bible Names Pronunciation Guide, which was published in 2012 and has helped many, many people as they study and teach and preach God’s Word. Also, because of podcasting, I have a career doing voice overs for radio and TV commercials, videos for companies around the world, church videos, and so much more, something I never dreamed could happen. My life was changed when God orchestrated events on that September Saturday in 2004. Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish His plans? I most certainly do. PODCAST EXPO 2006 [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/29215044/257031037_75baa27cb1_z.jpg]Greg (Cohost of the Rosary Army podcast), Steve Webb (Lifespring Family of Podcasts), Fr. Roderick (Catholic Insider, Daily Breakfast), LeeAnn Webb (Lifespring!’s Your Wedding, Your Way), Jennifer (Cohost of the Rosary Army podcast) TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 6-7 ESV; Ch. 8 NLT; Ch. 9 NIV; Ch. 10 NKJV 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-E363_otter_ai-correctedV1.txt] STEVE WEBB – 0:00 Do you believe that God orders the events in the lives of people to accomplish his plans? INTRO S12E363 – 0:13 One more time! Coming to you from Riverside, California. This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And podcasting since 2004, I am your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. This is History Tuesday, and we’ll finish the book of Esther by reading chapters 6 through 10 which will also complete our reading of the entire Bible for season 12 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, the last live season of the show. More about that a bit later. I’m calling today’s episode “Coincidence? I Think Not.” As promised on yesterday’s show. I’ll be talking about my plans for the future after my comments on Esther today. I’ll be sharing some of the ideas that came in from the “The Next Step” emails you sent in. And of course, we’ll have a time of prayer. Today’s show notes page is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e363. Let’s begin. ESTHER 6 (ESV) – 1:12 Esther, chapter 6. (1) On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. (2) And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. (3) And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” (4) And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him. (5) And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” (6) So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” (7) And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, (8) let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. (9) And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” (10) Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” (11) So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.” (12) Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. (13) And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.” (14) While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared. ESTHER 7 (ESV) – 3:35 Esther, chapter 7. (1) So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. (2) And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” (3) Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. (4) For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” (5) Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” (6) And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen. (7) And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king. (8) And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman’s face. (9) Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman’s house, fifty cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” (10) So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated. ESTHER 8 (NLT) – 5:24 Esther, chapter 8. (1) On that same day King Xerxes gave the property of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Then Mordecai was brought before the king, for Esther had told the king how they were related. (2) The king took off his signet ring—which he had taken back from Haman—and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s property. (3) Then Esther went again before the king, falling down at his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot devised by Haman the Agagite against the Jews. (4) Again the king held out the gold scepter to Esther. So she rose and stood before him. (5) Esther said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am pleasing to him, let there be a decree that reverses the orders of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered that Jews throughout all the king’s provinces should be destroyed. (6) For how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered and destroyed?” (7) Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews. (8) Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.” (9) So on June 25 the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, including that of the Jews. (10) The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring. Mordecai sent the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king’s service. (11) The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies. (12) The day chosen for this event throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was March 7 of the next year. (13) A copy of this decree was to be issued as law in every province and proclaimed to all peoples, so that the Jews would be ready to take revenge on their enemies on the appointed day. (14) So urged on by the king’s command, the messengers rode out swiftly on fast horses bred for the king’s service. The same decree was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa. (15) Then Mordecai left the king’s presence, wearing the royal robe of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer cloak of fine linen and purple. And the people of Susa celebrated the new decree. (16) The Jews were filled with joy and gladness and were honored everywhere. (17) In every province and city, wherever the king’s decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them. ESTHER 9 (NIV) – 8:46 Esther, chapter 9. (1) On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. (2) The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. (3) And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. (4) Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful. (5) The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. (6) In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. (7) They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, (8) Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, (9) Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, (10) the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder. (11) The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day. (12) The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.” (13) “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons be impaled on poles.” (14) So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the ten sons of Haman. (15) The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder. (16) Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder. (17) This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. (18) The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy. (19) That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other. (20) Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, (21) to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar (22) as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor. (23) So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. (24) For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction. (25) But when the plot came to the king’s attention, he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. (26) (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, (27) the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. (28) These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants. (29) So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. (30) And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance— (31) to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation. (32) Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records. ESTHER 10 (NKJV) – 13:44 Esther, chapter 10. (1) And King imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. (2) Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? (3) For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen. COMMENTS – 14:17 Beloved, I have a question for you. Do you believe that God orders the events in the lives of people to accomplish his plans? There are some people who believe that once God finished His work of creation, he stepped away, took his hands off, and let events on earth happen on their own. To me, that seems sort of foolish, but that’s what some people think. Well, here in Esther, we have an example of how God does orchestrate the events of man for his purposes. The king was unable to sleep on the very night that Haman was plotting to kill Mordecai. So the king does what many of us do, he decided to read a book hoping that that’ll make him sleepy. Think of it. Ahasuerus is the king of the most powerful kingdom on earth, so he could have done almost anything for a diversion, but he chose to read a book. He orders that a book of remembrances be brought to him. Now he had a kingdom of 127 provinces, so I can imagine that this book of remembrances probably had several volumes, can’t you? But the person who was tasked with bringing the book brought the volume that included the account of how Mordecai saved the king from assassination. And the servant opened the book to the very page with that record. What are the odds? Well, with God, the odds are 100%. Without God, who knows? There had been many remembrances in that book. But on this specific night, this specific page was opened. Coincidence? I think not. Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish his plans? Of course he does. Has God ever intervened in your life like this? Can you remember a time where the course of your life was changed by a seemingly random event? Let me tell you about a time this happened to me. And some of you know this story. But it happened in 2004. It was a Saturday in September, I think it was. And I turned on the radio to listen to a talk show about technology. This was normally a call-in type show where people would ask the host for help with their tech devices. But when I turned on the radio, the host was interviewing a guy, and the guy was telling the host about this new thing he invented where radio-type shows would be automatically downloaded to people’s computers. And better still, every time a new show was created. The new episodes would just show up on their computers, and then they could transfer the new shows onto their portable mp3 player, and they could listen to them whenever they wanted. Well, this idea sounded pretty interesting to me having been in radio in the late 1970s and early 1980s. And, of course, this new invention was podcasting. The interviewer was Leo Laporte, and the interviewee was Adam Curry, whom I am now happy to not only call my friend, but ecstatic to call my brother in the Lord. But that’s a different story. Well, just a week before I heard this interview, I had asked God, what more I could do to serve him. I was already the tech guy at my church and putting in a lot of time in that. But I wanted to do more for God since he had been so very good to me and had blessed me with a wonderful wife, great kids, a business that paid the bills and a home. I just wanted to be available to do whatever God had for me. I prayed and I asked God, what more I could do. And his answer was a very clear almost audible, “Proclaim my name.” So was it just a random event when I heard Adam Curry telling Leo Laporte about podcasting? I don’t think so. God prompted me to turn on that radio at just the right time. And on November 13, 2004, I uploaded the world’s first Christian podcast to my church’s website. And within days, I received emails from around the world telling me stories of how God was using my podcast to bring them to Jesus. God was using my little podcast in miraculous ways. But the story doesn’t end there. From that first podcast that I called Lifespring. I created several other podcasts, one of which was the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And because of that show, a person asked me to record the entire Douay-Rheims Bible. And because of that project, I wrote Webb’s Easy Bible Names Pronunciation Guide, which was published in 2012, and has helped many, many people as they study and teach and preach God’s word. And also because of podcasting, I’ve got a career doing voiceovers for radio and TV commercials and videos for companies around the world and church videos and so much more. Something I never would have dreamed would happen. My life was changed when God orchestrated events on that September Saturday in 2004. Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish his plans? I sure do. You have a comment? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e363. I’d love to hear from you. Boost. THE NEXT STEP – 19:27 Normally, this is the time where we do the donation segment, but I want to talk to you first about what my plans are. So here we are at the last episode of the final fully live season of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. I guess there should probably be an asterisk there on “fully live” since by definition a podcast isn’t really live, but now with a brand new lit tag in the Podcasting 2.0 namespace. That’s even no longer true, but let’s not get too geeky here. You know what I mean. I will no longer be producing episodes of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible with new content every day. It isn’t that I’ve lost interest. It isn’t that I don’t want to. It’s just that I have to step back because I have to take care of myself. I have a wonderfully understanding and patient and supportive wife who deserves much, much more of my attention, and for whom I would love to do some projects that have been simmering on the back burner for literally years. And I’ve got grandchildren and sons and daughters-in-law with whom I would love to spend time, and I’ve got hobbies that I’d like to get back to. But at the same time, I am a firm believer that there really is no retirement plan for Christians. As long as God continues to give me breath, he’s got a job for me to do for His kingdom. And I believe that’s true for every believer. Like Paul said, I want to finish the race. I don’t plan on dropping out of the race. I want to finish strong, stretching for the finish line. So what I did, as you know, is I asked you to send me emails for what my next step should be. And many of you did, for which I am grateful. I tried, and I think I succeeded in responding to each email, and if I missed responding to yours, believe me it was not intentional. And I’m sorry, if I did miss you. What I want to do right now is share some of these emails with you. I’m doing this because there are some ideas that came through in here, and some reasons for the decision that I have made going forward. So the first one, I think appropriately is from Brother Paul of Seattle. He says, “Hi, Steve, I think you’re recording the last episode of the Family Audio Bible tomorrow or Monday. So I just wanted to say a huge thank you for putting out the daily Family Audio Bible. It’s interesting to see how God led me to the podcast through TWiT, Leo Laporte saying he was totally opposite politically of No Agenda in some sidebar, and I thought, hey, I should check that out. So from TWiT I went to No Agenda, and then from No Agenda to the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. It only took 16 years. I am very happy as listening to the Family Audio Bible rekindled my relationship with God. And I believe God has brought me back to his path. I still struggle as I know everyone does. But my prayer is for God to continue to work in my life, grow my faith in Him, learn to listen to him, and look for how I can serve God with my life, not just continue doing the job every day. So thank you for listening to God’s calling 17 plus years ago, I don’t know how many lives God has changed through you. But I know that there is at least one. I’m looking forward to seeing what podcasts you’re going to do. And I already subscribe to the all media feed. And by the way, it was for me a little hard to find the all media feed.” I’m gonna stop right there for just a second, if you were searching for the Lifespring all media feed, that might be one of the problems that you had. It’s the Lifespring Media All Shows Feed. I tried this out just a little while ago, and I went to my different podcast apps that I have on my phone, and I did a search for Lifespring Media All Shows Feed, and it shows up every time. So if you look for Lifespring all media feed, that might be why it was difficult. That’s my guess. Continuing the email here. “I know I mentioned this in a previous email, but I’m serious about wanting to help in some way with Lifespring Media. I don’t know what that would be or what I could do. But if you need help with something, let me know. Signed, Paul” Brother Paul, thank you so much for that. I don’t know what your skills are. But keep listening because there’s something that’s going to come up a little bit later that if you have skills in this area, for sure I would want your help. So keep listening. And again, thank you so much for your email and for all the support and encouragement you’ve given me this year. So thank you, Paul. And then here’s another one. “Hi, Steve, Sir Snide here. ITM.” In The Morning to you Sir Snide. He says, “I want to thank you for what you’ve done, and let you know that it has enriched my life and walk with God. Being an engineer, I have had many thoughts about possible next steps a lot over the past several days. From a personally selfish perspective, I would like things to continue as is. But this is neither respectful nor feasible. So the engineer in me kicks in and my mind ran through many possible outcomes. Number one, do nothing and let people access the archives to read the Bible again on their schedule, very manual and high friction for the user, but easiest to accomplish. Number two, automate and rebroadcast the last season with pre-canned intro about it being a rebroadcast and the donor segment is from last year and please support the rebroadcast cost by donating again on the value-for-value model as servers, storage and bandwidth cost. May be simple to accomplish. Has the advantage that podcast apps can pick them up on a published schedule, which makes it easier for the user. Number three, if you still have the raw files and if you recorded things in segments, you could create an evergreen version that has the scripture reading, your best or favorite commentary from the past seasons, this day in history, and a canned value-for-value donation request for the servers, storage and bandwidth as in point two. This has the advantage to be able to be replayed year after year with minimal effort after the evergreen episodes are created. Still benefits users with a scheduled release for their podcast apps to handle, but I fear some of the personality and special extras from time-to-time would disappear. But also at the same time, it would not grow stale due to old prayer requests and other time-anchored elements. Number four, find a successor and mentor them and allow them to become the host for this podcast adding a second personality to your Lifespring Media setup. So turning off my engineering mode, I will support your future choices and treasure the blessings of this podcast that I have received over the past year. I leave it in your capable hands and I’m sure God will make his will clear to you. Best regards, Sir Snide.” Thank you, Sir Snide, for all of those suggestions. They were all good. I agree with you on your evaluation of each option, but they were some very good suggestions there. Thank you, Sir Snide. I appreciate it very much. And now I have a short one from Denise; yes, Denise who helps with the transcriptions. She said some very nice things. And then, she says, “I love history. So I’d vote for a weekly church history podcast, 20 minutes on an historical figure or event in church history. Or do a daily reading from someone’s journal, like John Wesley’s, for instance, and do, like, a year-in-the-life of John Wesley, but I don’t know how that would work with a weekly podcast.” She said, “I liked Susan from Oregon’s idea of doing a weekly podcast on current social issues. And I also liked Jane’s idea of keeping the daily Bible readings going but doing a weekly commentary.” I could make a hybrid of Sir Snide’s suggestion of reassembling the shows. That’s… that would be a possibility. And then she volunteered this last wonderful little bit. She said, “If you need any help with transcripts or research in the next season, if there is a next season, I’d be glad to help with that.” She said, “God bless you and LeeAnn and enjoy your visit with little Penelope this coming week.” Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Denise. Those are great ideas. And yeah, stay tuned. And now from John Taves from Candanavia. He’s been around these parts for many, many years now. He wrote some very nice things as well. And then he said, “Ideas could include reading a smaller part of the Bible, just the New Testament or a few books, or a topical study, like endtimes, living in Christian life or foundations of the faith, etc. Number two, reading from other Christian material: books, studies, topics, etc. Next suggestion is updates and prayer time. Another idea is more HymnStories or other shows with music.” Problem with music shows is the copyright issue, that… it’s getting harder all the time. “Next, repost the Bible, you’ve already recorded with some of the commentary relating to the world at that time trimmed out. Shorter shows rebroadcasted.” This is a theme that came up with a lot of them. “Something shorter, like a devotional and commentary on a less frequent schedule, or something more like the original Lifespring show, sporadic shows discussing a topic or interviewing someone, etc.” And that one came up quite a bit, too, redoing the Lifespring show. New episodes of a Lifespring-type show. So that came up quite a bit. This one is from a brand new listener, Jason Morgan. He said, “I started listening to your show a month ago, and I just wanted to thank you for all your good works. I have needed this, my brother. It helps me understand the message more than reading alone. I’m thankful you share your knowledge in the Holy Spirit daily. God bless you, Steve. PS, I hope to hear more from you. I’m listening.” He put a smiley face. So Jason, thank you very much for that. And I’m so glad you found us even though it is sort of late in the year. And I got quite a few of this type of thing. “I just found your show. And I’m so glad that I did find it.” This email and the others like it are one of the reasons why I have made the decision to, at least, keep going in some manner. Keep listening here on this, this episode. And then Sir Kevin said, “What I’d really like to hear are your insights, your stories. What’s on Steve’s mind? What have you been up to? What have you been thinking about? Is there a particular Bible verse you’ve read that has stuck out to you or that you’ve learned something new from? Is there a story from your life that applies to something happening today? Or that might be just what someone in the family needs to hear? How’s the Lovely Lady LeeAnn? How are the grandkids? How are Del and Kathi holding up? Maybe we could spend some time praying together.” I like that. “Maybe 30 minute episode per week, longer if you’ve got more to say, or more often, if you have the time. I think a lot of what that will be will be up to you. But those are my thoughts. I hope that’s the kind of feedback you’re looking for.” And Sir Kevin that’s exactly what I was looking for. And thank you for those suggestions. So really what Sir Kevin is referring to is something like the old Lifespring show used to be. So put another hash on the scoreboard for that one. And then here’s another one from a longtime listener. This is Matt Bogart. “How about a scaled down weekly version of the current show? Maybe just one or two verses, along with some commentary, then prayer requests. One caveat on prayer…,” And this is why I’m reading this particular email. “One caveat on prayer requests is that they work best whenever they’re closer to real time. So not sure a once per week prayer show would work well.” You know, Matt, I’ve thought a lot about that. And here’s my thinking – and this just me. You might very well be right about it being important to be near real time. But here’s my thought. God is outside of time. Think of it a little bit like we live in a fishbowl. We are inside of time. Fish… the fishbowl is time and we live in there. And God is outside of that, as if he’s looking into the fishbowl. He’s not in time. So when we have a prayer request, and when we pray, for God, it’s not really real time. In other words, being outside of time, he knows about the, the need. He knows about the prayer request, even before we pray it. So, if we had a show that was just once a week, as an example, and I took prayer requests, we could pray for something, and it could be as far as a week out before you hear the prayer or before we pray the prayer. But to God, it doesn’t matter. I know that can be kind of a weird concept. But the fact that we pray isn’t really to cause God to change His mind. It’s more to change our heart to conform to God’s will. It’s like when I pray for Kathi Brixey, I don’t really expect that I’m going to change God’s will for Kathi’s life. It would be wonderful if because of my prayers, God says, “Okay, Steve talked me into it. I’m going to heal her.” I don’t expect that to happen. God’s plan for Kathi is God’s plan for Kathi. As I pray, I try to align my heart to God’s will. I think it’s okay. I think God wants us to submit our petitions to him. But as we do that, as we live our lives, the Holy Spirit does His work in us to conform us to him. Now, all that being said, what you say might very well be true. I don’t know how receptive people would be to having prayer requests that aren’t, like, you know, the next day… they are going to show up on the next day. I could explain this idea of God being outside of time. And I think some people would say, “That makes sense”. But other people might say, “I don’t know.” So I don’t know. Something to think about. If you, Beloved, as you’re listening to this have any comments on what I just said, feel free to send them to me, st***@*************ia.com. And then here in the email, Matt had some other suggestions for Lifespring-type shows, for interview-type things. Oh, here’s one that kind of grabbed my, my attention. Matt said, “Lastly, if you recall from our conversation over lunch a few years back, I also mentioned I thought a podcast interview that covers a show guests’ conversion story or testimony would be super interesting.” So yeah, I like that idea. That might have legs. So put that on the scorecard here. He closed by saying, “However it shakes out, you definitely should take a break to clear your mind and rest those vocal cords before you do the next thing. You’ve earned it.” Thank you, Matt. And then this one from York Campbell, who, who does the Poetic Earthlings podcast. And if you like storytelling podcasts, look up Poetic Earthlings. York said, “I’m a faithful listener to your show. God has used you in profound ways to speak to my heart. You have strengthened my understanding of the love of God and His Word. Thank you. What about if you do a weekly show and you tackle the difficult parts in the Bible?” First off, York, thank you so much for those very kind words. I appreciate it. And I do like that idea about doing a weekly show that tackles the difficult parts of the Bible. That’s definitely something that’s in the mix. And then Roderick sent an email – and by the way, for those of you who’ve been around podcasting since the early days, no, this is not Father Roderick, the Dutch Catholic priest that had a very successful podcast, back in the day. And, you know what, I’ve even got a picture of myself and LeeAnn and Father Roderick together along with Greg and Jennifer, co-hosts of the Rosary Army Podcast, back in the day. I’ll put that picture up on the show notes page if you’d like to see who we all look like back in 2006. But, our Roderick said, New believers need to hear every single word you read. Old Believers, like me, need to hear every single word you read.” And he’s talking about, obviously, the Bible, not my own comments. But he says, “I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with my family after listening to you reading the Word of God. So for me, I wouldn’t want you to change a thing. I find enormous value in your teaching. And…” Well, thank you. “And hope to hear you continue reading every word of the Bible, until I get to be with you and yours in heaven.” Well, Roderick, thank you so very much for that. And your comment there about the importance of getting the Word out, along with the comments from new believers about how this show has really helped them in their walk with God has had a really big influence on my decision to keep the Lifespring Family Audio Bible alive in one way or another. I’ve got just two more emails to share with you. One of the emails is from Ann whom we’ve heard from before in donation segments, and Ann is the wife of Howie who we prayed for. Howie is the father-in-law of Sean of San Pedro. So Ann is Sean of San Pedro’s mother-in-law. She said, “Another podcast topic could be about family and being Christian grandparents and the impact grandparents have in the lives of their grandchildren, or the knowledge they can share with the third generation. I know as grandparents Howie and I see things differently, now. However, as a Christian scholar…” She’s talking about me. Are you talking about me? Who me? “…as a Christian scholar, you have an abundant knowledge and insights to share and teach young families. I keep ‘hearing’…” – and she puts that in quotes – “I keep ‘hearing’ that your next ministry needs to bring joy to your heart. And it needs to make you smile every time you think about it. This is very important. I’m also ‘hearing’, quote, “Teach them about me, and what a wonderful Father I am,” unquote. Share stories from your experiences as a grandfather and connected to Scripture. The joy you felt in your heart the first time you held your grandchild, and how that’s how God feels about us.” Ann, thank you for that. I very, very much appreciate your thoughts. And yes, I do want whatever I do to bring joy to my heart. I think that when we are working for God, when we’re doing what he calls us to do, that’s one of the benefits. God puts joy in our hearts. Not that it’s always easy. God does not always call us to things that are easy. But in following him, it does bring joy. And then the last email this one is from Howie. He wrote, “One idea we thought of is a Q & A podcast where listeners can send in biblical questions they may have wanted to ask their pastor, but never had the opportunity since pastors are so busy these days. That’s why we really enjoy your summaries at the end of the Bible readings.” Thank you for that, Howie. And then, lastly, there are a couple of people who suggested I do a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly show with another well-known podcaster, who will remain unnamed right now. Well, to those of you who suggested this idea, I want you to know that I did mention it to this person. But they have not, as yet, responded, probably because they’ve been out of town. But if this show is to happen, I want it to be of God. So I’m not going to push it with this other person. If the Lord wants it to happen, I want him to lay it on this other person’s heart. So I want you to know that I did not just put that suggestion off to the side. So there you go. These are just a few of the emails that y’all sent me. There’s some great ideas there, I think you’ll agree and each has got merit. What I’m gonna do is rest and recharge, and I’m going to continue to seek God’s will. And I think after I’ve had time to rest and just really make this a matter of prayer. I’ll know what to do. One thing I will say is that it is clear that the Lifespring Family Audio Bible has to continue in some form or fashion. I’ve learned never to say never, but I don’t anticipate the show coming back in its present form. But I’m going to take the ideas that you sent in and I’ll bring it back in some way. Now to do some of the automated things that were suggested. I would need some fairly sophisticated help. I am in no way a coder. I know just enough PHP and CSS to get me into trouble. But I don’t know anything beyond that, certainly nowhere near enough to do the things that were suggested in some of these emails, like especially from Sir Snide. But I would love it if someone would be willing to donate their time, talent or treasure toward that end, if they would step forward. I need someone who could write some code to add a pre-roll and/or a post-roll value-for-value message to the nearly 3000 episodes that are already at lifespringmedia.com. Or a pre-roll that talks about what’s new with Lifespring Media, and somebody who could write something to automate the scheduling of posting new episodes, stuff like that. If that’s you, or if you know somebody who could do this stuff, let me know. Write to me at st***@*************ia.com. And before we go to the next segment, please know how very, very thankful I am for each one of you. You have made this the best year I have ever had in podcasting. The interaction we’ve had this year has been leaps and bounds ahead of any other of my nearly 18 years in podcasting. You’ve been generous with your time, with your talent, with your treasure in the form of emails, your prayers, figuring out the new Podcasting 2.0 toys, and your donations. Listen, podcasting can sometimes be a very lonely thing. You speak into a microphone. You edit the show. You post it. And most of the time you wonder if what you’re doing matters to anybody. But this year has been different. You’ve been with me and you’ve let me know that I’m not here by myself. And it’s because of that interaction that I’m coming back. Do me a favor, if you have other podcasts that matter to you. Be sure to let those podcasters know. Give them some love, too, because, unless it’s a really huge show, they wonder if what they’re doing is worthwhile, too. Now you’ve heard me call you “Beloved” many times on the show. And each time I use that word, it was intentional. I love you. And I’ll be back, Lord willing. But give me at least two weeks, perhaps a month. But do know that the Lifespring Family Audio Bible will be back in its new form. soon. Stay subscribed, and subscribe to the Lifespring Media All Shows Feed in your chosen podcast app, or you can subscribe right there at lifespringmedia.com. And one last thing all the episodes at Lifespring Media are value-for-value enabled so you can boost and stream even on the old episodes. DISTINGUISHED PRODUCER SHOUT-OUTS – 42:21 And now today we have three Distinguished Producers. These three people have distinguished themselves by their generous and selfless value-for-value gifts of time, talent and treasure. Kirsty has been creating the Lifespring Media newsletter for much of this season. And she’s done it with only occasional input from Yours Truly. And without Sean of San Pedro, the chapters for the show would not exist. For those of you that have been brave enough to switch to a modern Podcasting 2.0 podcast app and have enjoyed the chapters function, you have Sean to thank. He even wrote a custom web-based chapter-generating app to speed the process up. And one of the first things I’m going to do with my newly found free time is show this app to Adam Curry and Dave Jones. And Denise has been correcting the artificial-intelligence- (or I should say not-so-intelligence)generated transcripts for several months now, which is certainly not a glamorous task, but is highly appreciated by me as one who can be a bit of a stickler for spelling and punctuation. And if you want confirmation on that, just ask the Lovely Lady LeeAnn. It drives me crazy to see bad punctuation and spelling…, and so thank you Denise. So because of their sacrifice of their time, talent and treasure, I hereby name Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise Distinguished Producers of this, the final episode of season 12 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, episode s12e363. LIFESPRING FAMILY BEREANS – 43:52 And I furthermore bestow the title of Lifespring Family Berean on the henceforth to be known as Sister Kirsty, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Sister Denise, with my heartfelt gratitude. Your service to the Lifespring family will forever be remembered. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER SHOUT-OUT – 44:08 And I want to thank Kevin Schneider in Candanavia who sent in $123.45, 1-2-3-4-5, via Pay Pal and just said, “For the Daily Audio Bible,” making him our Associate Producer today. Kevin, thank you so very much. You’ve been a Lifespring family member for quite some time, and I appreciate you. God bless you, Brother. And speaking of Brother Sean of San Pedro, he sent in a $50 donation via Zelle with this note: “For the last episode of the year. What a year!” Yes, Sean, it has been quite a year. Thank you. MORE SUPPORTER SHOUT-OUTS – 44:42 And Matthew Thomas sent in a row-o-ducks, $22.22 and he did that over at lifespringmedia.com/support. He said, “First time making it through the Bible in a year. Thank you for your courage and passion. ITM.” Well, he obviously came over from No Agenda. I should have one of those jingles like Adam has for Joe Rogan when one of the Joe Rogan listeners comes over to No Agenda. Well Matthew, thank you for your gift. Thank you for your courage and may God bless you richly. Thank you. Boostagram. And there’s a boostagram. Sean of San Pedro sent an another 1-2-3-4-5 sat boost, 12,345 sats. Thank you. And last, but not least, Wayne Henderson sent in yet another Stryper boostagram of 777 sats using the Fountain app. [Stryper sings.] And by the way, if you’re a Green Bay Packers fan, you really need to check out Wayne’s show, the Packers Fan Podcast at, strangely enough, packersfanpodcast.com. He’s been doing this show since June of 2011. Congrats on that Wayne and thank you for the boostagram, buddy. God bless you. And while I’m on the subject of boostagrams, which is a subset of streaming sats, which is something that every podcaster who is participating in this Podcasting 2.0 technology is thrilled to receive. I want to acknowledge and thank each and every one of you who have streamed sats while listening to the show over this year. I can’t thank you by name because I don’t get that information. I only get your name if and when you send a boostagram and you choose to share your name in the boostagram. But there are some of you who have been extremely generous in your streaming. Don’t think that I haven’t noticed, I have and I’m thankful. God bless all of you who have taken this admittedly geeky and not always easy step. So I very much appreciate each of you. ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 46:51 On this date in church history, August 30, 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University in Xenia, Ohio, and ownership of the school was transferred to the African Methodist Episcopal Church or AME Church in 1863. PRAYER REQUESTS – 47:17 Prayer requests. Del said that Kathi had a rough night. She kept waking up. Overall, she’s feeling about the same. She’s probably going to start her oral nausea medications today, since the ones given to the IV are losing their effectiveness and the pain in her mouth and throat, much like a sunburn, you’ll remember, is still there. Del says he asked her to message her doctor to see how to relieve that pain, but she’s always iffy about contacting the doctor. I told Del to slap her upside the head and say, “That’s what the doctor is there for!” No, I didn’t say that, but I said, “That’s what the doctor is for.” And then this came in from Sean this morning. He said, “Thank you and the Lifespring family for all of the prayers for Brittaney, for me and our extended family.” That would be Howie, of course, and his friend that was anonymous on the show. Sean wanted me to pass that along to you the Lifespring family. CLOSING PRAYER – 48:08 So let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, Lord, I thank you for calling me to this microphone, despite my many faults. Who am I, Lord, that you would allow me to have a part in your work? Oh, Lord, You are so merciful. I worship you. And I offer myself to you once more to do with me as you see fit. Lord, I ask you to be with Kathi. Help her through this time. Bring healing to her body. Ease the pain. Ease the nausea and the vertigo. And I know, Lord, that Dell is afraid. He’s afraid. And I pray God that you would be with him and comfort his heart. I thank you, Lord, for each person that you brought to the show over the years and right up to today. Thank you for touching their hearts and for the work you’ve done and continue to do in their lives through the hearing of your Word. We know, Lord, that your word never returns void. And it is a joy to be involved in anything having to do with your word. I thank You, Lord. I pray, Lord, that you’ll bless these brothers and sisters, these Lifespring family members according to your mercy, and your grace and your love. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen. This is the place where I always say: “If you have a prayer request or a praise that you’d like to share with the family, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com and let me know about it.” Well, obviously there’s not going to be another one of these shows for a while. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about what’s happening in your life. If you have a prayer request or if God is doing something marvelous in your life, I do want to hear about it. And prayer.lifespringmedia.com is an easy way for you to make that happen. Or, like I said before, you can always email me at st***@*************ia.com OUTRO S12E363 – 49:55 If you have a comment on this show, please do leave it at lifespringmedia.com/s12e363. As I’ve said many times, scroll all the way to the bottom of that page where you’ll find a box where you can put your comments. There won’t be another show necessarily to share your comments with, but I’ll see the comments and I’ll respond. Thank you to Sister Kirsty, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Sister Denise. I love each of you. Thank you to Kevin. Thank you to Brother Sean. And thank you to Matthew for your gifts today. And thanks to Sean of San Pedro and Wayne for the boostagrams. And thank you for allowing me to be in your life yet once more today. Please stick around. Stay subscribed. And if you haven’t yet, subscribe now to the Lifespring Media All Shows Feed. I love you and until next time, may God bless you richly. My name as always is Steve Webb. See you soon. Fun for the whole family. You won’t want to miss it. 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 S3E221 – Esther 6-10: Coincidence? I Think Not [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e221-esther-6-10-coincidence-i-think-not/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].

S3E220 – Daniel 1-6: An Astonishing About Face

Transcript PODCAST INTRODUCTION Today we will complete the book of  Daniel 1-6. I’ll have comments on both chapters after the reading, and I’m calling today’s episode “An Astonishing About Face.” S12E219Art3000-hairpin turn [https://dzzggm57pi1og.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/07192110/S12E219Art3000.jpg]Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Kees Streefkerk on Unsplash COMMENTS ON DANIEL 4 Going back to chapter 4, where King Nebuchadnezzar gave praise to God. Remember who this is. He is the proud and haughty king of Babylon who boasted about how great and mighty he was, how he could do anything because of his great power. He was the evil king who God used to bring his chosen people into captivity. And here, near the end of his life, he has come to know who the one true God is, and he publicly, before the whole world, gives God praise. Is there someone in your life, perhaps a loved one, whom you think is beyond God’s reach? Someone who sees no need for God or for forgiveness or redemption? Remember Nebuchadnezzar. God can reach anyone.  I’ve told the story before, but I’ll repeat a condensed version of it here for those who might be new. I was not brought up in a Christian home. When I became a believer in Jesus at the age of sixteen, my dad told me I was a fool. Over the years I tried several times to share the reality of Jesus with him, and what he did in my life. Nearly every time, I ended up in tears because of the hardness of my dad’s heart and mind. I finally gave up, and I prayed that God would bring someone into his life that he would listen to. Finally, when my dad was very old, just about a year before he died, a neighbor was able to bring my dad to the Lord. And today, I know that someday I’ll see him again. If God can save Nebuchadnezzar, if God can save my dad, He can bring your loved one into a relationship with Himself, too. Don’t give up. Don’t stop praying. Be faithful. Hang in there. God loves that person infinitely more than you do. VIDEOS YouTube player [https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OyiQ6Pgb9V4/maxresdefault.jpg] YouTube player [https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_AzNILEEZGs/maxresdefault.jpg] TODAY’S BIBLE TRANSLATION Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-6 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-E219_otter_ai.txt] TobyMac 0:00 Hey, what’s up? I’m Toby Mac, and you’re listening to my man Steve Webb on…That’s a great name for a podcast, man…on Lifespring Podcast. Steve Webb 0:17 Hi, come on in. This is the Lifespring family Audio Bible. There’s a reason I played that for today’s intro, and I’ll tell you more later. My name is Steve Webb and I’m coming to you from Riverside, California. And I’m your OG God caster. I’m so glad you’re with me today. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. The show notes page for today’s episode is that Lifespring media.com/s 12 e to 19. You might want to remember that I think you want to go check it out after the show. You can email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com. Today we’re going to begin the book of Daniel will read the first six chapters. Of course, I’ll have some comments after the reading, but I’ll give you an introduction to the book before I begin reading as well. The title of today’s show is an astonishing about face. Let’s get started. Steve Webb 1:06 All right, how about a brief introduction to the book of Daniel. The Book of Ezekiel, which we completed last week showed us prophecies of the beginning of Israel’s captivity. Daniel’s book is of the latter years of their captivity. The visions God gave his zekiel were meant to be a comfort to the Jews in the midst of their captivity. And the same is true of Daniel’s vision as their captivity dragged on. Knowing that God was still speaking to them and had plans for them was surely something that helped them make it through. Now Daniel is considered to be one of the most prominent prophets. He lived in the courts of some of the greatest kings, Nebuchadnezzar, Cyrus and Darius. The first six chapters of the book are historical and pretty easy to understand. The last six chapters are of a prophetic nature and not so easy to understand, but they do speak clearly of the coming Greek and Roman kingdoms and of the coming Messiah. So with that introduction, let’s begin. Steve Webb 2:10 Daniel chapter one. In the third year of the reign of Jehovah, Kim, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of shiner to the house of his God, and place the vessels in the treasury of his God. Then the king commanded ashpan as his chief unic to bring some of the people of Israel both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without blemish of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding, learning, and competent to stand in the king’s palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time, they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hannah, nyah, Michelle and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the Unix gave them names Daniel, he called belta Shahzad, Hannah Nya, he called Shadrach. Michelle, he called me Shaq, and as Araya he called Abednego. But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore, he asked the chief of the Unix to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the Unix and the chief of the Unix said to Daniel, I fear my lord and king who assigned your food and your drink. For why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youth who are of your own age, so you would endanger my head with the king. Then Daniel said to the steward, whom the chief of the Unix had assigned over Daniel Han, Anya, Michel and Azariah Test Your servants for 10 days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the Kings food be observed by you and deal with your servants according to what you see. So he listened to them in this manner and tested them for 10 days. At the end of 10 days, it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youth who ate the Kings food. So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables. As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill and all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding and all visions and dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in. The chief of the units brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among all of them, none was found like Daniel and Anya, Michelle and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king, and in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king and Steve Webb 4:59 choir of them. He found them 10 times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. And Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus. Steve Webb 5:10 Daniel chapter two. In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams, his spirit was troubled and his sleep left him. Then the king commanded that the magician’s, the enchanters, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans be summoned to tell the king his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king. And the king said to them, I had a dream and my spirit is troubled to know the dream. Then the Chaldeans said to the king, and aromatic, oh king, live forever. Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, the word from me is firm. If you do not make known to me the dream and its interpretation, you shall be torn limb from limb, and your houses shall be laid in ruins. But if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards in great honor. Therefore, show me the dream and its interpretation. They answered a second time and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream and we will show its interpretation. The king answered and said, I know a certainty that you are trying to gain time because you see that the word for me is firm. If you do not make the dream known to me, there is but one sentence for you. You have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me tell the times change. Therefore, tell me the dream and I shall know that you can show me its interpretation. The Chaldeans answered the king and said, there is not a man on earth who could meet the Kings demand for no great and powerful king is asked such a thing. If any magician or Enchanter or Kaldi in the thing that the king asks is difficult, and no one can show it to the king except the gods whose dwelling is not with flesh. Steve Webb 6:56 Because of this, the king was angry and very furious and commanded that all the wise men of Babylon be destroyed. So the decree went out, and the wise men were about to be killed, and they saw Daniel and his companions to kill them. Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch, the captain of the king’s guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon. He declared to Arioch, the king’s captain, why is the decree of the king so urgent, Then Arioch made the matter known to Daniel and Daniel went in and requested the king to appoint him a time that he might show the interpretation to the king. Then Daniel went to his house and made the matter known to Hannah Nya, Michelle and Azariah his companions and told them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that Daniel and his companions might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel and a vision of the night. Then Daniel, bless the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever to whom belong wisdom and might. He changes times and seasons, he removes kings and sets up kings, he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and hidden things, he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To you, oh god of my father’s, I give thanks and praise, for you have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of you or you have made known to us that kings matter. Therefore, Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him, do not destroy the wise men of Babylon, bring me in before the king and I will show the king the interpretation. Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste and said thus to him, I have found among the exiles from Judah, a man who will make known to the king the interpretation, the king declare to Daniel whose name was belta Shas are, are you able to make known to me the dream that I’ve seen and its interpretation? Daniel answered the king and said, No, Wiseman and chanters magicians or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked. But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days, your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these to you, oh king, as you lay in bed came thoughts of what would be after this, and he who reveals mysteries made known to you what is to be but as for me, this mystery has been revealed to me, not because of any wisdom that I have more than all the living, but in order that the interpretation may be made known to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your mind. You saw King and behold a great image. This image mighty end of exceeding brightness stood before you, and its appearance was frightening. The head of this image was of fine gold. It’s Steve Webb 9:59 chest and arms of silver. It’s middle in the eyes of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold, all together were broken in pieces and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors. And the wind carried them away so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. This was the dream. Now we will tell the king its interpretation. You owe King, the King of kings to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power and the mind and the glory and into whose hand he has given wherever they dwell, the children of man, the beasts of the field, and the birds of the heavens, making you rule over them all. You are the head of gold, another kingdom inferior to you shall arise after you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze which shall rule over all the earth. And there shall be a fourth kingdom strong as iron, because iron breaks to pieces and shatters all things. And like iron that crushes it shall break and crush all these. And as you saw the feet and toes partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom, but some of the firmness of iron shall be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. And as the toes of the feet were partly iron and partly clay. So the kingdom shall be partly strong and partly brittle. As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay. So they will mix with one another in marriage, but they will not hold together just as iron is not mixed with clay. And in the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever. Just as you saw that a stone was cut from a mountain by no human hand. And then it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold. A great God has made known to the king what shall be after this? The dream is certain and its interpretation. Sure. Steve Webb 12:19 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face and paid homage to Daniel, and commanded that an offering and incense be offered up to him. The king answered and said to Daniel, truly your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery. Then the king gave Daniel High honors in many great gifts and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon. Daniel made a request of the king and he appointed Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the Kings court. Steve Webb 12:58 Daniel chapter three. King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold whose height was 60 cubits and its breath six cubits. He set it up on the plane of dura in the province of Babylon. Then King Nebuchadnezzar sent together the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurer’s, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Then the satraps, the prefects and the governors, the counselors, the treasurer’s, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up, and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. And the Herald’s proclaimed aloud, you are commanded old peoples nations and languages, that when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, liar, try Gon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up, and whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. Therefore, as soon as all the peoples heard the sound of the horn, pipe, liar, try gone harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music. All the peoples nations and languages fell down and worshipped the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. Therefore, at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and maliciously accused the Jews. They declared to King Nebuchadnezzar, Oh, King Live Forever You, O King, have made a decree that every man who hears the sound of the horn pipe liar, Trigun, harp bagpipe, and every kind of music shall fall down and worship the golden image, and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. These men Oh King pay no attention to you. They do not Steve Webb 15:00 serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be brought. So they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, is it true Oh Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I’ve set up. Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, liar, Trigun, harp bagpipe, and every kind of music to fall down and worship the image that I’ve made well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace, and who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands? Shadrach Meshach and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand oh king, but if not the unknown to you, oh king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated, and he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the Kings order was urgent and the furnace overheated. The flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. And these three men Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell bound into the burning fiery furnace. Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished and rose up in haste. He declared to his councillors, did we not cast three men bound into the fire? They announced instead of the King Truffaut king, he answered and said, but I see four men, unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they’re not hurt, and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods. Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the door of the burning fiery furnace, he declared Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego servants of the Most High God, come out and come here. Then Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out from the fire and the satraps, the prefects, the governors and the kings counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. And be kanessa answered and said, bless it be the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants who trusted in him and set aside the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God. Therefore, I make a decree any people, nation or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb, and their houses laid in ruins, for there is no other God who was able to rescue in this way. Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. Steve Webb 18:26 Daniel chapter four. King Nebuchadnezzar to all peoples, nations and languages that dwell in all the earth, peace be multiplied to you. It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the most high God has done for me. How great are His signs, how mighty His wonders, his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation. I Nebuchadnezzar was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace, I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed, the fancies in the visions of my head alarmed me. So I made a decree that all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told him the dream, but they could not make known to me it’s interpretation. At last Daniel came in before me, he who was named belta, Shahzad after the name of my God, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. And I told him the dream saying all belta Shas, our chief of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these I saw and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth at its height was great. The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the Steve Webb 20:00 Whole Earth. Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant. And in it was food for all the beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches and all flesh was fed from it. I saw in the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold a watcher, a holy one came down from heaven, He proclaimed, allowed and said, Thus, chop down the tree and lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But leave the stump of its roots in the earth bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. let his portion be with a beasts in the grass of the earth. Let his mind be changed from a man’s and let a beasts mind be given to him, and let seven periods of time pass over him. The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, the decision by the word of the holy ones, to the end, that the living may know that the most high rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom He will insets over it, the lowliest of men. This dream i King Nebuchadnezzar saw, and you will belta shares are telling me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able for the spirit of the holy gods is in you. Then Daniel, whose name was belta, Shahzad was dismayed for a while, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, belta shares are, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you belta shares are answered and said, My Lord, may the dream be for those who hate you, and its interpretation for your enemies, the tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that it’s top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, whose leaves were beautiful, and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived, it is you, oh king, who have grown and become strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. And because the king saw a watcher, a holy one coming down from heaven, and saying, chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till seven periods of time Passover him. This is the interpretation oh king. It is a decree of the Most High which has come upon my lord the king, that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with a beast of the field, you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and seven periods of time shall pass over you tell you know that the most high rules the kingdom of man and gives it to whom He will. And as it was commanded to leave the stuff of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that heaven rules. Therefore, oh king, let my counsel be acceptable to you. Break off your sins by practicing righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity. Steve Webb 23:18 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar, at the end of 12 months, he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. And the king answered and said, Is not this great Babylon which I have built by my mighty power is a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty, while the words were still in the king’s mouth, their fellow voice from heaven, Oh, King Nebuchadnezzar, to you, it is spoken, the Kingdom has departed from you, and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the most high rules the kingdom of men, and gives it to whom He will. Steve Webb 24:02 Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven tell his hair grew as long as Eagles feathers, and his nails were like birds claws. At the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted my eyes to heaven. And my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever. For His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation, all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted is nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say to him, What have you done? At the same time, my reason returned to me and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my Lords sought me and I was established in my kingdom and Steve Webb 25:00 Till more greatness was added to me. Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and His ways are just and those who walk in pride, he is able to humble. Steve Webb 25:14 Daniel chapter five. King Belshazzar made a great feast for 1000s of his lords and drank wine in front of the 1000. Belshazzar, when he tasted the wine, commanded that the vessels of gold and of silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem be brought that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them. Then they brought in the golden vessels that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God in Jerusalem, and the king had his lords his wives and his concubines drank from them. They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood and stone. Immediately the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace, opposite the lampstand. And the king saw the hand as it wrote. Then the king’s color changed, and his thoughts alarmed him. His limbs gave way and his knees knocked together. The king called loudly to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans and the astrologers, the king declared to the wise men of Babylon. Whoever reads this writing and shows me its interpretation shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation, then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed at his color changed, and his lords were perplexed. The Queen because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banqueting hall and the Queen declared, old king live forever. Let not your thoughts alarm you or your color change. There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods were found in him. And King Nebuchadnezzar, your father, your father, the king, made him chief of the magicians and chanters, Chaldeans and astrologers. Because an excellent spirit knowledge and understanding to interpret dreams, explain riddles, and solve problems were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. Then Daniel was brought in before the king, the king answered and said to Daniel, you are that Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, whom the king my father brought from Judah, I have heard of you that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. Now, the wise man, the enchanters, had been brought in before me to read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not show the interpretation of the matter. But I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now, if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom. Then Daniel answered and said before the king, let your gifts be for yourself and give your rewards to another. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. Oh King, the most high God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father kingship and greatness and glory and majesty. And because of the greatness that he gave him, all peoples nations and languages trembled and feared before him, whom he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive, whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he humbled. But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened, so that he dealt proudly, he was brought down from his kingly throne, and his glory was taken from him. He was driven from among the children of mankind, and his mind was made like that of a beast, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. He was fed grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven until he knew that the most high God rules the kingdom of mankind, and sets over it whom He will, and you his son Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart though you knew all this, but you have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven. And the vessels of this house had been brought in before you and you and your lords, your wives, and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold of bronze iron, wood and stone which do not see or hear or know, but the God in whose hand is your breath, and whose are all your ways you have not honored. Then from his presence, the hand was sent in this writing was inscribed and this is the writing that was inscribed. Many, many Tekle Parson This is the interpretation of the matter, meaning Steve Webb 30:00 If God has numbered the days of your kingdom and his brought it to an end tackle, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting periods. Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. Then Belshazzar gave the command and Daniel was clothed with purple. A chain of gold was put around his neck and a proclamation was made about him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. That very night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was killed, and Darius the Mede received the kingdom being about 62 years old. Steve Webb 30:36 Daniel chapter six. It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom 120 satraps to be throughout the whole kingdom, and over them three high officials of whom Daniel was one, to whom the satraps should give account so that the king might suffer no loss. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him and the king plant to set him over the whole kingdom. Then the high officials in the satraps sought to find a ground for complaining against Daniel with regard to the kingdom, but they could find no grounds for complaint or any fault because he was faithful, and no error or fault was found in him. Then these men said, We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we can find it in connection with the law of his God. Then these high officials and satraps came by agreement to the king and said to him, Oh, King Darius live forever, all the high officials of the kingdom, the prefects, and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an injunction that whoever makes petition to any god or man for 30 days, except to you, oh, God, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, oh king, establish the injunction and sign the document so that it cannot be changed according to the law of the Medes and the Persians which cannot be revoked. Therefore, King Darius signed the document and injunction. When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God as he had done previously. Then these men came by agreement and found Daniel making petition and plead before his God. Then they came near and said before the king concerning the injunction, oh king, did you not sign an injunction that anyone who makes a petition to any god or man within 30 days except to you, Oh, King, shall be cast into the den of lions. The king answered and said, the things dance fast according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked. Then they answered and said before the king Daniel, who was one of the exiles from Judah pays no attention to you, oh king, or the injunction you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day. Then the King when he heard these words, was much distressed, and set his mind to deliver Daniel, and he labored till the sun went down to rescue him. Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, no, oh king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed. Then the king commanded Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, may your god whom you serve continually deliver you, and a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own Signet, and with the Signet of his lords, that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting, no diversions were brought to him, and sleep fled from him. Then, at break of day, the king arose and went in haste to the den of lions. As he came near to the den where Daniel was, he cried out in a tone of anguish, the king declared to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, as your god whom you serve continually been able to deliver you from the lions. Then Daniel said to the king, Oh, King live forever. My God said his angel and shut the lions mouths, and they have not harmed me because I was found blameless before him. And also before you, Oh, King, I have done no harm. Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him because he had trusted in his God, and the king commanded and those men who had maliciously accused Daniel were brought in cast into the den of lions, they their children and their wives, and before they reached the bottom of the den, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones in pieces. Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples nations and languages that dwell in all the earth, please be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in all my royal dominion, people are to turn Steve Webb 35:00 Rambo and fear before the God of Daniel, for He is the Living God enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed and his dominion shall be to the end. He delivers in rescues, he works, signs and wonders in heaven and on earth. He who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions. So this Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian. Steve Webb 35:26 Alright, going back to chapter four, where King Nebuchadnezzar gave praise to God, remember who this is, this is the proud and haughty king of Babylon, who boasted about how great and mighty he was, and how he could do anything because of his great power. He was the Evil King who God used to bring his chosen people into captivity. And here near the end of his life, in chapter four, he has come to know who the one true God is, and he publicly before the whole world gives God praise. Is there somebody in your life, perhaps a loved one, whom you think is beyond God’s reach? Someone who sees no need for God or forgiveness or redemption? Remember, Nebuchadnezzar, God can reach anyone. I’ve told the story before on the show here, but I’ll repeat a condensed version of it here for those who might be new. I was not brought up in a Christian home. And when I became a believer in Jesus at the age of 16, my dad told me I was a fool. Over the years, I tried several times to share the reality of Jesus with him, and what he did in my life, and nearly every time I ended up in tears because of the hardness of my dad’s heart in mind, I finally gave up and I prayed that God would bring someone into his life that he would listen to. Well, finally, when my dad was very old, just about a year before he died, a neighbor was able to bring my dad to the Lord. And today I know that someday I’ll see him again. Steve Webb 36:54 Well, if God can save Nebuchadnezzar, if God can save my dad, he can bring your loved one into a relationship with Himself too. Don’t give up. Don’t stop praying. Be faithful. Hang in there. God loves that person infinitely more than you do. Steve Webb 37:12 I’d love to hear your comments. Go to Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 219. Scroll to the bottom of the page and leave your comment there. Our reading tomorrow will be John three and four loose. Steve Webb 37:29 And remember that this coming Monday’s episode will be number 222. It’s a perfect time for a row of ducks donations like 22 dot 22 or 222 dot 22 or even 2222 dot 22. We’ll have a row of duck segment on Monday show make your donation at Lifespring media.com/support. Or do a special Rob Dux. Those two grants. Also distinguished producer executive producer and associate producer ships are always available. Get the details at Lifespring media.com/support. If you enjoy the Lifespring family Audio Bible and if you’re glad when you see it in your podcast app, return some of that value to me and a value for value donation. Lifespring media.com/support. Thank you and God bless you. Steve Webb 38:26 On this date in church history, April 8 1947, Larry Norman was born he was a Christian singer and songwriter known as the father of Christian rock. As a part of the Jesus movement in the late 1960s. He was known for raising his index finger and the signature one way gesture. I did it many times myself. One of my favorite Larry Norman songs is called I wish we’d all been ready, and it’s found its way into several church hymnals. I’ll have the song I wish we’d all been ready at the end of today’s show. Plus, I’ll have a video of Larry doing this song with DC talk on the show notes page. And speaking of Larry Norman, have you seen the new documentary called The Jesus music? It tells the story of how Jesus music began in the late 1960s and 70s. And how it morphed into what was called contemporary Christian music. And the stories of the founders and some who came later, you’ll see and hear some of the people in groups I’ve talked about on the show here and even some of the people I’ve interviewed. Larry Norman has gone to be with the Lord but he’s featured in the movie along with Chuck Girard of Love Song whom I’ve interviewed my pastor Greg Laurie of harvest ministries, who incidentally wrote all the notes in the new believers Bible that I offer as a gift when someone accepts the Lord here when listening to the show. And Amy Grant is interviewed. I never got to meet her but I was this close back in the 80s at a Christian Booksellers Association convention when she was at a meet and greet that ran out of time just before I got to meet her, or people ushered her out and I was like, whoa, wait a minute. Unknown Speaker 40:00 Michael W. Smith is on the movie, Kirk Franklin TobyMac, who I interviewed for the 2005 harvest crusade podcast at Anaheim stadium. And that’s why I used Toby’s introduction to the show today. And Steven Curtis Chapman, Andre crouch, striper, Billy Graham, Chris Tomlin, Michael Tait, and so many others. And if you look really close, pay attention here. If you look really close when you’re watching the Jesus music documentary, there’s even a quick shot of an MTV VJ that some of us are familiar with. You got to watch closely but he’s there. Here’s the audio of the official trailer for the Jesus movie see the richness of Hope land upon someone’s spirit via rhythm Brian finality, sound, I don’t understand it. Unknown Speaker 40:50 Thanks a lot of hymns or close your eyes singing to God. I wanted to sing with my eyes wide open and singing to each other. Unknown Speaker 40:59 This thing Jesus music ballot play in my hometown and changed my life. Unknown Speaker 41:06 When it comes to music, and how we can express ourselves, we don’t have to do it the way it was done before. Unknown Speaker 41:14 One time in loving wave to have these conversations. Unknown Speaker 41:20 My generation had seen all of the civil unrest most of us were trying to escape the pain and the misery. Unknown Speaker 41:28 Where do we go from here? Unknown Speaker 41:31 You feel like something’s in the wind whose soundtrack emerges? Or I Unknown Speaker 41:36 had no idea they were helping to create an entire industry. I saw contemporary Christian music born right before my very eyes. You don’t know you’re a pioneer or something. When you’re doing it. We were just doing what we love. You had grunge and you had pop and you had rock new and hip hop. There was so much great music going on everything felt so fresh and knew Unknown Speaker 42:00 what we were doing said so much across the world. It was so much drama in the church, every setback, Unknown Speaker 42:08 there will be a glimmer of hope, Unknown Speaker 42:12 money, cultural influence off the chart that’s bigger than any one person or one artist. Unknown Speaker 42:22 offers people a sense of hope. Yeah, that was DC talks. Here’s the deal. Unknown Speaker 42:30 I’ve never shared this with anybody, would you change anything? Unknown Speaker 42:35 Let’s not forget music is God’s idea. Unknown Speaker 42:38 I think music is the most powerful, universal language in the world. Music was a lifeline. It became part of the fabric of who I was, but pushed me to do some courageous things to touch the soul like somebody’s talking to you, you can. Unknown Speaker 42:54 And you can do all that in three and a half minutes. Steve Webb 42:59 If you’d like to see the video was on the show notes page as well. Lifespring media.com/s 12 e to 19. I saw the documentary in Hulu, but it’s also on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and I’m sure you can look around and find it. Steve Webb 43:23 Let’s pray. Steve Webb 43:25 Our Heavenly Father we learned today that even the most unlikely people are not beyond your reach. So for those of us who have loved ones who seem hopelessly lost, I pray that will not grow weary of praying for them. Help us to continue to do spiritual battle for them. We know that it’s not your will that any should perish. So we humbly ask you to keep knocking on the doors of our loved ones hearts. We pray that you would do whatever necessary to bring them to you. turn their hearts of stone to hearts of flesh. We pray that you do not let them rest until they realize that the only lasting and true rest is found in You. Lord, I pray today for Jim, the husband of Leanne’s cousin candy. He’s having breathing and heart issues and he’s in the hospital and they don’t know what the problem is. I pray, Lord, that You would give the doctors wisdom and that you would guide their decisions. I pray, Lord, that You would touch Jim and that you’d heal him. Lord, we know that there’s no one better to care for Jim than you and we put him in your hands right now. I ask Lord that you bless each one of the Lifespring family today. I thank you for every individual who’s listening now and I ask that you encourage them. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen. If you have a prayer request or a praise let me know at prayer dot Lifespring media.com. I’ll pray for you in my private prayer time and we’ll pray together on the show. Unknown Speaker 44:57 I’d love to hear your thoughts on today’s show. Comment at Steve Webb 45:00 Lifespring media.com/s 12 e 219 Email me at Steve at Lifespring media.com support the show please don’t forget the roadex donations go to Lifespring media.com/support Up next is a song that deeply touches my heart over 50 years after its writing this is Larry Norman with his song I wish we’d all been ready and remember to go to the show notes page to see a video of Larry with DC talk doing the song until tomorrow may God bless you richly thank you for being with me today. My name is Steve Webb be sure you’re ready Write me if you’re not sure bye Unknown Speaker 46:03 life was filled with guns and war and everyone got trampled on the floor Unknown Speaker 46:12 I wish Unknown Speaker 46:16 children died The days grew cold a piece of bread goodbye I Unknown Speaker 46:25 wish we’d all Unknown Speaker 46:29 there is no time change your mind the sun has come Unknown Speaker 46:35 in love me Unknown Speaker 46:42 oh man wife was sleeping bed she hears a noise and turns her head is Unknown Speaker 46:51 a wish meter Unknown Speaker 46:55 to men walking up the hill disappears and one’s left standing still a wish Unknown Speaker 47:09 time to change your mind the sun has come in you Unknown Speaker 47:41 was filled with guns warned everyone got trampled on Unknown Speaker 47:49 sweet Unknown Speaker 47:53 children died or days cold peace bread goodbye Unknown Speaker 48:02 wish Unknown Speaker 48:06 is no time to change your mind How could you have been so Unknown Speaker 48:13 love father’s the demon Stein The sun has Unknown Speaker 48:20 been left behind Unknown Speaker 48:26 left behind Unknown Speaker 48:32 left behind 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 S3E220 – Daniel 1-6: An Astonishing About Face [https://lifespringmedia.com/lifespring-one-year-bible-rewind/s3e220-daniel-1-6-an-astonishing-about-face/] first appeared on Lifespring! Media [https://lifespringmedia.com].