God's Presence blesses believers and plagues God's enemies

Monday, June 22, 2015
Devotions: Ps 89; 1 Sam 5:1-12; Acts 5:12-26; Lk 21:29-36

Ethan the Ezrahite wrote: I will sing of Your steadfast love forever, YHWH.   You Are the High God, above all other deities; none is mighty as You Are; You rule all nature, and every creature was made by You.  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne, and all who serve You rejoice as they praise Your holy name.  You raised up David to shepherd Your chosen people, and You sustained him in his reign.  You did not remove Your steadfast love from David's house, but established it forever, through the Person of Your Son, my Lord Jesus the Messiah. 

When the Philistines captured the Ark of God, they carried it to Ashdod and brought it into the temple of their deity Dagon.  Early the next day, the devoted servants of the temple found their idol fallen face down before the Ark of YHWH.  They set their god up again, but the following morning, again Dagon had fallen before the Ark, and Dagon's head and hands were severed, lying on the temple threshold.  (Since that day, those who serve Dagon avoid treading on the threshold of the Ashdod temple.)  And YHWH's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its surrounding territory; the people were sorely afflicted with tumors.  The men of Ashdod recognized their peril, so they arranged for the Ark of YHWH to be transported to Gath.  But again YHWH's power broke forth, and the people of Gath were thrown into a deadly panic and were sorely afflicted with painful tumors; many died, and the survivors were stricken with tumors.  And the city's cry went up to heaven.

God did many signs and wonders through the apostles of Jesus, and the believers gathered day by day in the Portico of Solomon.  No others dared join them, but the followers of Jesus were held in high esteem by the people.  And many men and women were added to the number of believers.  People carried their sick into the streets and laid them on beds and pallets, so that Peter's shadow might fall upon them as he passed.  People also brought the sick and demon-afflicted from the towns around Jerusalem, and all were healed by God's power through the apostles.  But the Jewish High Priest and his fellow Sadducees, filled with jealousy, arrested the apostles and had them imprisoned.  But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors, led forth the captives, and said, 'Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words pertaining to this Life.'  And the disciples went to the temple, and at dawn, began to teach there.  At the same hour, the high priest and his party convened the Jewish council and the senate of Israel, and sent to have the prisoners brought to them from prison.  The officers failed to find Jesus' followers in prison, and reported this back to their masters: 'We found the prison securely locked and the sentries guarding the doors; but when we opened it, we found no one inside.'  The captain of the temple guard and chief priests were perplexed to hear this, wondering how things would turn out.  Then someone came and reported that the men they had imprisoned were standing in the temple, teaching the people.  So the captain led the temple officers and brought the disciples back to the council, but without violence, since they feared being stoned by the people, who regarded the disciples highly.

Jesus told this parable:  'Consider the fig tree and all the trees when they come out in leaf; seeing this, you know that summer is already near.  So also, when you observe the things I have told you, you know that the kingdom of God is near.  I tell you the truth: this generation will not pass away till all has taken place.  Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not.  But take heed, lest your hearts be weighed down by drunkenness or dissipation and the cares of this life, so that the day comes upon you suddenly and by surprise, like a snare.  For that day will come upon all who dwell on the earth.  So watch at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of man.'  And every day, Jesus as teaching in the temple; and at night, He went out and lodged on Mount Olivet.  And early in the morning, all the people came to the temple to hear Jesus.