God's provides a way!

New Guest: Like this one, most posts are devotional; those related to CAR BIZ can be found by searching for that title. You might start with 'Welcome,' the first post in the archives, dated November 12, 2008, where I introduce myself and the blog.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Devotions: Ps 49, 119:49-72; Ezra 6; Rev 5:1-10; Mt 13:10-17

Hear this portion of holy wisdom: I will not fear when I am threatened by men who trust in riches and boast of wealth. No one has enough money to ransom himself—salvation is only by God. Even the wise will die, like fools and the stupid. All are mortal. But God will ransom me from the power of the grave and death; He will receive me to Himself. So don’t fear or envy the wealthy or those who have high positions in the world: when they die, they keep none of these possessions. Humble faith, not power, fame or wealth, is what we need to live! Lord, Your word is my comfort. I will sing of You and Your law through the night watches. I will cling to YHWH as my Portion; it is Your favor, Lord, that I seek with all my heart. Be gracious to me according to Your promise and covenant. I am friend to all who follow You. Teach me good judgment and useful knowledge. My afflictions have taught me to trust only You; Your law and Your words are worth more to me than silver or gold!

King Darius searched the royal records and found that his predecessor Cyrus had directed the reconstruction of the temple of YHWH in Jerusalem, to be financed from the royal treasury; and the temple furnishings taken to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar were to be returned to the new temple. Therefore, Darius directed Tattenai, governor of his province Beyond the River, and his associates to permit and assist the Jewish leaders to complete their project, with the cost to be paid in full and without delay using royal revenues from Tattenai’s province. The penalty for disobeying or disregarding Darius’ proclamation was that the offender would be impaled on a beam pulled from his own house, which would be turned into a dunghill. The Babylonian officials complied with their king’s decree, and the elders of the Jews, encouraged by Haggai and Zechariah, finished their work on the 3rd of Adar in Darius’ sixth year [early spring, 516 B.C.]. All the people of Israel celebrated the dedication of the new temple. The community restored the feasts of Passover and Unleavened Bread, as they had been aided by the king of Assyria to restore the house of Israel’s God, YHWH.

John’s heavenly vision continues: ‘I saw in the right hand of Him Who was seated on the great throne a scroll, written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. A mighty angel cried out: ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ No one did so at first, and the apostle wept profusely. But one of the heavenly elders comforted him: ‘Don’t cry; look: the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered; He can open the scroll and its seven seals!’ Then John saw this: between the throne and the four living creatures and amid the elders stood a Lamb, as though slain yet alive, with seven horns and seven eyes—God’s sevenfold spirits sent out into all the earth. The Lamb took the scroll from the right hand of the Enthroned One, and the four living creatures and 24 elders fell down before the Lamb; each held a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sang a new song: ‘Worth are You to take the scroll and to open its seals; for You were slain and by Your blood did ransom humans for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and You have thus made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth!’ Then all the angels around heaven took up the song, ‘myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.’ They sang together, ‘Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ John heard ‘every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea’ saying: "To Him Who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!"' And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the elders fell facedown and worshiped.

Jesus’ disciples questioned Him, asking why He taught the people using parables. He answered, ‘It has been given to you to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them this has not been given. It is God’s principle that to one who has much, more will be given, but from one who has little, even that will be taken away. This is why I teach the crowds in parables: they do not see, hear or understand. Truly, in them is Isaiah’s prophecy fulfilled: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. This people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and they have closed their eyes; otherwise, they should perceive with the eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn for Me to heal them.” Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous mortals longed to see what you see, and hear what you hear, but they did not hear it!’