What is Truth?

I have called this blog, "What is Truth", because below, you will see a copy of a now deleted post that I posted in a facebook group, in bold letters.  Did it go outside of the lines of the group focus? I will admit that, yeah, it did step over that line. 

Even so, the reason for doing so, was done with a pure heart. To share in the knowledge of this very real plague that is affecting our society today.

Actually, with the action taken to delete the post, I'm no longer sure that chronic disease is the most destructive plague.  Maybe the more destructive plague is that of willful ignorance. 

You want to know the beauty of having that post up for the 8 or 9 hours that it was up?

Regardless of what people thought about it being in a "Christian group" is, for everyone who read it, they no longer have the excuse of, "I didn't know." They read it! Some commented on it, some very positive, and others not. One person even described it as, "God sent." Do I know why she called it God sent? No I don't,  what I do know is it affected her in a way which led her to say what she said. Who knows what that little bit of knowledge that I shared will lead to.

You can read the deleted post below.

____________________________________________

"I have no biblical verses to cite along with this post, but still words of wisdom that I would like to share, cause you never know as to how many people that are not aware of it.

To many people suffer from chronic disease needlessly.
They get diagnosed with a chronic disease,; but, apart from knowing the name of the disease, do you actually know what the disease name is actually saying?

How many people have taken notice of many of these chronic diseases end in the same 4 letter? "itis." Are you aware that those letters are telling you exactly what the problem is?
itis is another way of saying inflammation.
The first part of the word is saying where the inflammation is at.
For instance: Arthritis: The first 3 letters of the word refers to lt location of the inflammation.
"Art" simply means joint. Knowing this, you now know, when you here that it's Arthritis, that you have inflammation in that joint that is hurting.

What good is knowing about this? For one thing, if your diagnosed with a chronic disease,  it's helpful to know what you have just been diagnosed with. Once you understand that, then you can do more research, on you own to see what it is that YOU can do to fix it beyond taking prescription medications,  or getting injections that often times lead to even more diseases,  that require different medications, and it becomes a never ending cycle.
But, what if there's a way out of that cycle? Don't ask you typical AMA health care provider about it, as they will most likely tell you that it's just something that happens as we age? Is it really?
What if aging had nothing to do with it, and the way you eat has everything to do with it?
A person in this group even stated in a comment, how she was confined to her bed do to all the chronic disease, until making the extreme decision to put herself on the carnivore diet. Since making that decision,  she is no longer chained to her bed. She can now get up and move and walk. Most of the people who choose this diet, often turns it in to a lifestyle,  as they like the results and don't want to chance reverting back to where they were at before the improvements.
I say this not to necessarily start a debate over it, but just to prehaps impart some knowledge to someone who may have didn't know that "itis" means inflammation,  or "art" means joint.
I don't expect, nor do I want you to just take my word for it. Look it up. Do your own research, and discover what you can do to improve your own health."

_____________________________________________

If you are still reading, the only reason this original post still exist is due to the fact that I noticed the comments had been turned off, and knowing that it wasn't exactly within the guidelines of the group, plain ole common sense told me I should copy the post, and save it as a file before existing out of or refreshing the page. As I knew, if I did either one of those things before copying it, it would have just been gone. Sure, I could have tried to recreate it, it just wouldn't have been the exact wording. The things that were left out of a recreation post, might very well have been the things that that one comment to say that it was God sent.

There were a couple of comments that added to the post, sharing more information about the way of eating I mentioned. I didn't mention what he talked about for one simple reason. 

I wasn't promoting the way of eating, and it wasn't the primary focus of the post.

Sadly, there were comments that made it the primary focus.

Then there were comments that thanked me for taking the time to share this knowledge,  One that said it wasn't "Christian" and didn't belong in that group. Ok. Point made, or was it? I would say that it was a very Christian thing to do, as I just had provided knowledge so that whosoever can go on to get even more knowledge, and gain understanding, that will give them the wisdom to know what to do next. How they can be an active participant in their own health.

Another comment asked me if I was a doctor, nurse, dietician,  or suffered from a chronic disease for 6 months or more, as though the truthfulness of the post was dependent on how I answered. Another didn't object to, or agree with the post either one, it just mocked the post. And the last one that I can remember was from a retired nurse who confirmed that "itis" indeed was saying inflammation. Oh, there is one more comment I just now thought of. Another stated all the reasons she would not  eat thalis way. Ok, but I don't recall telling anyone to "eat that way", and it concluded with, "do your own research!" Wait! Didn't I say those very words, two different times in the post?

Since deciding to blog about this, a few questions have came to mind that.

One of them is, alot of us already knew that disease names ending in "itis", were young enough that inflammation hadn't started to affect us as of yet, so there really was no practical use of having the knowledge. We could share the information,  like when someone receives a new diagnosis of, say, arthritis,  you might respond by saying something like, " so you have joint inflammation ?", and maybe ask, which joint or joints the inflammation is in. If they had no idea that arthritis meant joint inflammation,  then you just educated them about it. How they use and apply that new found knowledge completely up to them.

Another question I have. If all of these "itis" diseases are inflammation,  why so many  medications to treat the same thing? 

Marketing? Profit?

Think about it. If everyone was to get wise to this, and began to eat healthy,  to reduce or eliminate inflammation,  then no one would need the medication. That would be a huge loss for a certain industry,  would it not?

One more recent thing that I thought of, then I think I'm done.

The age of these inflammatory diseases keeps dropping, which broadens the profit margins.

The food use to be cleaner, and actual food, which means it took a lot longer for things to build up to manifesting as pain. Maybe that's why, when I was a kid it was pretty much unheard of that arthritis  affected anyone under the age of 65. Not because they were 65, but because thats just how  long it took for the toxicity to build up, that presented as cronic disease. Now, with who knows what we are eating with this stuff that we call food, that same level of toxicity builds up so much sooner now. Why rely on a person depending on a drug for 20 years to feel better when you can get 50 or more years out of them?

Last prophet, first king: Israel Demands A King... part 3

Israel Demands A King

In this last part of Last prophet, First king, we have arrived to the point where the finally are demanding a king. As we will see, that request would be a request they would come to regret.

I have this listed as a 3 part series, but the all are independent of each other. Part 1 and 

Part 2 is  the history of Samuel up unto this point. It is recommended that yo read them, either here or from the Bible, as it is interesting to see how everything lines up for him to be there at that time

We left off with Israel  getting back on track and, serving the LORD. 

Then as everyone does, Samuel was advancing  in years, and he made his son's  judges over a Israel  (chapter 8:1) The people could tell that, as with Eli, Samuel son's was nothing like their father. v.3

The elders had a meeting, came to Samuel and told him their concern; that he was getting old. His son's didn't walk in Samuel's ways; then demanded that he would make them a king, to judge them, "like all the other nations." v4-5

Samuel is not happy about this, and prays to God about it. God tells Samuel to give them what they want. Samuel wasn't the one being rejected, God was. Even so, God tells Samuel to tell the people what kind of king they will get. 8:6-9

      "  ¹¹  And he said, this will be the manner

              of knight that shall reign over you:

              He will take you son's and appoint 

              them for himself, for his chariots, 

              and to be his horseman; and some

             will run before the chariots

        ¹²  And he will appoint captains over

             thousands,  and captains over fifties;

             and will set them to ear his ground,

             and to reap his harvest,  and to make 

             his instruments of war, and

             instruments of his chariots.

       ¹³   He will take your daughters to be

             confectionaries, cooks, and bakers.

       ¹⁴   He will take your field, vineyards,

             and your oliveyards, the best, and 

             give them to his servants 

       ¹⁵   He will take the tenth part of your

             seed, and your vineyards, and give

             them to his officers and servants. 

       ¹⁶   He will take you menservants and

             your maidservants, and your 

             goodliest young men,  and your 

             donkeys and put them to his work.

       ¹⁷   He will take the tenth of your sheep:

              And you will be his servants.

                                           1 Samuel 8:11-17"

That is a lot of protesting; And, in the next verse, Samuel even tells them, that, in that day. When they've had enough of being powerless. They will cry out to God, because of the king that they chose for themselves, and God will not hear, and they still refused to listen, and demanded a king.

Why is God turning His back on them?  The answer is pretty easy. He's not! They have turned their backs on Him, time and time again. He would be there whenever they got into trouble, as a result of turning their hearts away from God, and He would still get them out of whatever mess they got theirselves in.

I suppose that God said it is time for them to feel the consequences of rejecting Him, as they have been told what kind of king they will get, and wanted an eathly king just the same. 

This kinda reminds me of when they wondered around in the wilderness for forty years, because of all their grumbling and complaing at every little bump in the road, rather than simply trusting that God woul provide for all their needs. They would, instead, say stupid things like, " it would have been better for us if we had stayed in bandage back in Egypt. At least we knew we cumould eat till we were stuffed."

So, God gives them their hearts desire. Their king who will put them back in bondage.

It is rather comical how it all lines up in order to get the future king in front of Samuel .

Chapter 9 of 1 Samuel  opens by giving us a snapshots of Saul's family tree.

 

     "  ¹  Now there was a man of Benjamin,  

            whose name was Kish, the son of

            Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of

            Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a

            Benjamite,  a mighty man of power.

        ²   And he had a son whose name was

             Saul .....

                                              1 Samuel 9:1-2a"

Saul and one of the servants are out looking for a daddy's lost donkeys. They looked in mount Ephraim,  Shalisha, and Shalim, and the land of the Benjamites, and the ended their search in Ziph. 9:4-5 Saul wants to turn and go back, before his dad starts to worry about them. The young man with Saul tells him, that there is a "man of God there" and he could tell them where the donkeys were.

Saul got a lot more then learning the donkeys had been found. He got anointed as king.

    "  ²⁴  And Samuel said to all the people,,

            see ye him whom the LORD hath 

            chosen, that there is none like him.      

            among all people? And all the people

            shouted, and said, God save the king.

       ²⁵  Then Samuel  told the people the

            manner of the kingdom, and wrote it

            in a book, and laid it up before the 

            LORD. And Samuel sent all the people 

            away, every man to his house.

                                          1 Samuel  10:24-25"

Now Saul is king. One family rejects him as king, doesn't think that the can save them, and they attempt to make a covenant with Nahash the Ammonite. 11:1. Which they are willing to make. The terms of the covenant was definitely a power play move that said " I'm in control." These people actually asked for 7 days to spread the word, and consider it, and said, if there was no man to save them, they would come out to them (agree to the terms).

Word got around, all the people wept. Saul heard about, and "The Spirit of the God came upon Saul (11:6), and he pulled his own power play move, that spoke loudly and said, " There's now a king in town. Mess with us, and this will happen to you." The message was well received . It goes on to say that, "all the fear of the LORD fell on the people, and they came out with one consent (11:7b)." 

There was a battle, and Israel won. And that should have been cause to celebrate,  but the people were upset, and wanted to end the man that rejected Saul at the start, which is what lead to the blood shed. Saul said, no. No one is dying today " for today the LORD wrought salvation in Israel.  11:13b)"

Samuel got the people to gather at Gilgal, and there, renewed the kingdom, and officially made Saul king. v14-15.

Chapter 12 opens up with Samuel talking to the people, and said, I have heard what you've been saying, and given you what you wanted, a king. 

Samuel asks these questions of the people, to be witnessed  before the LORD, and his anointed. 

Whose ox, or donkey have I've taken? Who have I defrauded? Who have I oppressed? Have I taken any bribes to blind my eye's  (12:3-4)"

I chose to include the part of this speech, as it gives us a good visual of what a good and true leader is.  Sure,  there are people today who are getting all the ungodly desires of their hearts that they could want, at no cost to them. But, make no mistake about it, there are cost to give you what you want. The first cost comes from the pockets of the people that has to be robbed in order to get what you might think is owed to you.

The way this works is, some has less money, you get what you want, and both the provider and the government are richer for it.

But, It is the cost to the recipient of the free service provided, that comes much later, once you realize that all the crying about the free stuff that you think is owed to you, has profited you NOTHING! That the cost that will really be sufficient will not come from everyone else's pockets, but from the one's demanding that they be propped up by theft .

And, no amount of money will cover that cost.

As that cost is that feeling of the empty hole left by the temporary pleasures that others was forced to pay for. Are you have to do is ask those who have already been there and done it. Some has come through it well once they chose God's path of righteousness, and the one's who has yet to make that choice, are still suffering from previous bad choices. What makes it so sad is, it doesn't have to be that way.

What is so magical about choosing God? Does it undo the past?

Nothing magical.  What was done can't be undone, the past is still the past. But, that is the key words. "The past."

What choosing God andvHis ways does, is, if it's real, causes you to change your ways. Turn away from the unrighteous things that once excited you. They know longer have the appeal that they once had. Sin had a hold on you then, but now that it's lost it's grip on you; you have officially repented, which is what it means to repent " to turn away from ... "

Wow! maybe I should have left that part of Samuel's speech out. That rant was longer then excepted. But, if it helps someone to see the light, and maybe even prevent them from being drawn to that broad path, then it's worth it.

I could say more, but we will get back to the king, and Samuel. 

Samuel reminds them again of att the trouble the LORD brought them out of, from the time he brought the out of Egypt, with the leadership all the way up through the point and time they were now in.

Now that they were facing yet another threat, Samuel was old, and his son's were nothing like their dad, the only way forward that they could see was a king to "fight their battles for them" (8:20b)

Even though the people now have their king, Samuel gives some words that contrast obeying the LORD, and rebelling against the LORD.

      "  ¹³  Now therefore behold the king that

               ye have chosen, whom ye have 

              desired! Behold, the LORD hath set a 

              king over you.

         ¹⁴  IF ye will fear the LORD, and serve 

              Him, and obey His voice, and not 

              rebel against the commandent of

              the LORD, then both ye and also

              the king that reigned over you

              continues following the LORD your

              God:

         ¹⁵  BUT if ye will not obey the voice of

              the LORD, but rebel against the

              commandent of the LORD, then shall

              the hand of the LORD be against

              you, as it was against your father's. 

                                         1 Samuel 12:13-15"

Samuel tells them to watch the sign of their great likeness in asking for a king. There is a thunder storm on that day of wheat harvest.

The people feared greatly, and confessed their sins of asking for a king and ask him to pray for them,  and they die not, and the will serve the LORD. Samuel tells them to:

         "  ²⁰  Fear not: ye have done all this 

                 wickedness : yet, turn not aside

                 from following the LORD, but serve

                 the LORD with all your heart;

            ²¹  And turn not aside: for then should

                 ye go after vain things, which 

                 cannot profit nor deliver; for they

                 are vain.

                                        1 Samuel 12:20-21"

As for Samuel, he doesn't sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for them, and he taught them the good and right way.

Chapter 12 draws to a close like this:

         "  ²⁴  ONLY fear the LORD, and serve Him

                  in truth with ALL you heart: For

                  consider how great things He hath

                  Done for you

             ²⁵  BUT if ye shall still do wickedly, 

                  ye shall be consumed both you

                  and your king.

                                          1 Samuel 12:24-24"

One thing is for sure, no one could say that they wasn't warned of the consequences of 

rebelling again God. Samuel told them multiple times since they demanded a king, so, they knew.

   The Start of the Kings Down fall

After 2 years as king, Saul divides 3000 men into 2 companies, in which he keeps 2000, and send the other 1000 was with him son,  Jonathan; and he did his Job. The Phillistines  heard of it, and Saul blew a trumpet to gather the people.

As it would turn out, those 3000 men was no match for the 30,000 chariots,  and 6000 horsemen, and a multitude of people as the sand is on the seashore.

The people see what they are up against and hide in caves, thicket of rock, in pits, and high places. The men that went with Saul to Gilgal, went trembling. They waited there 7 days, as instructed waiting on Samuel's arrival,  only he was late in his coming, and Saul made the decision to stand in for Samuel,  for just this 1 time. Now, he just set himself up as prophet, priest, and king! Big mistake.

As soon as Saul is finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel shows up.

Saul, think he did nothing wrong goes out to meet and salute Samuel,  only, Saul does not get the thanks that he thinks he deserves; instead he has to answer the question Samuel asks. "What have you done?" Saul comes up with his excuses of why he did it, and Samuel says:

        "  ¹³  Thou hast done foolishly: Thou hast 

                 not kept the commandment of the 

                 LORD thy God, now would the LORD

                 hath established thy kingdom on

                 Israel forever

           ¹⁴   BUT now thy kingdom shall not 

                 continue: the LORD hath sought

                 Him a man after His own heart,

                 and the LORD hath commanded him

                 to be a captain over His people, 

                 because thou hast not kept that

                 which the LORD commanded.

                                          1 Samuel 13-12-14"

There is war with the Phillistines all the days of Saul. He wins a few, and looses a lot more. 

In chapter 15, we see Samuel talking to Saul, and reminds him that he was selected, by God, to be anointed king over His people, over Israel. Tells Saul to listen to the voice of the LORD: 

        "  ²  Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I

               remember what Amalek did to Israel,

               how he laid wait for him in the way, 

               when he came from Egypt 

                                                  1 Samuel 15:2"

Saul is given orders of what to do,. He did most of it, but spared what he thought was worth sparing.  That was not obedience to the LORD. He doesn't compromise.  He gives a command, and it is to be followed to the letter, otherwise it is disobedience. 

If Saul was given one last chance to see if he would be obedient to the LORD'S  command, he blew it. Not only did he blow it, he lied about it, and then when he was called out on his lie, he blamed it on the people 

Now we get to a couple of my favorite old testemet verse. Samuel says after Saul said the people kept the best to sacrifice to the LORD in Gilgal:

       "  ²²  And Samuel said, hath LORD as 

               great delight in burnt offerings

               and sacrifices, as in obeying the

               voice of the LORD? Bhold, to obey

               is better than sacrifice,  to hearken 

               is better than the fat of rams.

          ²³  For rebellion is as the sin of 

               witchcraft, and stubbornness 

                is as iniquity  and Idolatry. 

                Because thou has rejected the word

                of the LORD, he has rejected thee as

                being king.

                                            1 Samuel 15:22-23"

Saul, once again blamed his failure to obey on the people, saying that he feared the.Saul begs Samuel to pardon his sin, so that he could worship the LORD

Samuel says no, and turn to walk away,, grabbs, and rips the garment he was wearing and Samuel says, even as this has been ripped, even so has the kingdom has been ripped out of you hand, and given it to thine neighbor,  who is better then you, and says:

        " ²⁹  And also the strength of Israel will

               not lie nor repent m: for he is not

               a man that he should repent.

                                             1 Samuel 15:29"

The next verse as pitiful as it is, is important funny. Saul: Yeah, I know that I have sinned, but help me to save face by honoring me in front of these people. Samuel honored him, and Saul worshipped the LORD. After his little chrade was finished, Samuel said, bring me the king of the Amalekites, and he did what Saul would not do. Afterwards, they both went their own way, and Samuel saw him no more until his death. 

At the same time, Samuel is still human, and the human side of him mourned for his friend.

Chapter 16 opens with the LORD asking Samuel how long he intended to morn over Saul, since Ge (God) rejected Saul?

God says, arise, fill you horn with oil, and go anoint my king.

So he goes to the house of Jesse with a sacrifice. God tells Samuel to not look on the outward appearance,  as the7 that he seen, all looked like a king, on the outside. After the seventh son of Jesse was rejected by the LORD, Samuel asked if that was all of his children, as God had refused them all. Jesse says, the remains the youngest, but he's it the field watching the sheep. Samuel says,  go get him, we will not sit down until I see him.

David comes in, God says that's him! He's the king that I have chosen. Samuel anointed him in the midst of his brothers, and leaves. From that moment on, the Spirit of the LORD was on David, and left Saul.

As it goes, the LORD woul get David and Saul together, David would play soothing music whenever a troubling sprit came upon Saul.

We once again in chapter 17 see Israel and the Phillistines going at it. The Phillistines was on top of one mountain,  and Israel on the other with a valley between them and Goliath talked trash to them. David heard this and said, I'll go up against him, The LORD has it. And I'd you know the story, the trash talking giant is permanently shut up. Saul finds out whose son David is and keeps him. So now he is in the kings palace where he behaved wisely. After another battle,  which the won.

The women was singing and dancing, scribing  1,000's to Saul, and 10,000' to David. From that point on, Saul knew that David was destined to be king, and would become obsessed in protecting his kingdom from David.

Which he would ultimately loose anyway .

One of the take aways is, this stuff wit Saul, didnt have to happen. Samuel out lived Saul, and a good while into David's reign.  All the people had to do was trust that God would keep Samuel alive and health until David was ready.

We have reached the end of this series, and even though I didn't do any comparisons between Saul and Jeroboam,  yo can see the similarities in them, as they both got their kingdoms front God, neither of them sought it out. They both started as good kings. They both was also warn that their kingdoms would not continue, and they both became obsessed with holding on to the kingdoms.

           

        

        

                 

 

Last prophet, first king: The LORD calls Samuel ... 2 Part

We left off with at 1 Samuel 2:26, and now we pick it up in the next verse with:

If you haven't read part 1 yet, you can 

read it by clicking here

   "  ²⁷  And there came a man of God unto

           Eli, and said unto Him, Thus saith the 

           LORD, did I plainly appear to the house

           of thy father,  when they were on Egypt

           in Pharoah's house?

      ²⁸  And did I choose him out of all the

           tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer

           upon my alter, to burn incense, to wear

           an eprod before me?  and did I give 

           unto the house of thy father all the

           offerings made by fire of the children

           of Israel?

     ²⁹  Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and

           mine offering, which I have

           commanded in my habitation; an

           honournest thy son's above me, to

           make thyself fat with the cheapest of

           all the offerings of Israel my people?

      ³⁰  Wherefore the LORD GOD of Israel

            saith, I said indeed that thy house,

            and the house of thy father, should

            walk before me forever: but now the

            LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them

            that honour's me: for them that honour

            me will I honour's, and them that 

            hateth me shall lightly be esteemed.

                                             1 Samuel  2:27-30"

 

Judging by the verses that follows, it sounds like God has had enough of the Levitical priesthood. As you read through the remaining text, it seems like He is gong to cut them off.

Chapter 3 opens by reminding us, yet again of Samuel.:

   

    "  ¹  And the child Samuel ministered unto

           the LORD before Eli. And the word of

           the LORD was precious in those days; 

           there was no open vision.

                                                   1 Samuel 3:1"

The next 2 verses says that Eli's eye's waxed dim, and the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was. Seems like God has washed his hands of them. Not quite yet. Let's not forget about young Samuel. He was laid down when he hears the call of the LORD the first time, only he thinks it's Eli, and goes to him, as he did not know the LORD yet. This would happen two more times, and Eli  precieved that it was the LORD calling him. He instructs Samuel to go back to bed, and if he was called again, to say, " speak LORD, thy servent hearth."  v3-9.

    "  ¹⁰  And the LORD came and stood, and

            called, as at other times, Samuel, 

            Samuel.  Then Samuel answered,

            speak; for thy servent  heareth.

                                            1 Samuel 3:10"

Samuel basically gets told the same thing that the man of God already warned Eli about.

Why is He going to going to do these things? the last part of v13 answer that question.

   " ¹³ ... his sons made themselves vile,

               and he restrained them not.

                                             1 Samuel 3:13(b)"

The next morning comes. Samuel is afraid to tell Eli the vision. v15.  Eli tells Samuel to tell him the vision, and not to hold anything from him. v17. So Samuel  tells him everything.

   "  ¹⁹  And Samuel grew, and the LORD was

           with him, and did let none of his words

           fall to the ground.

      ²⁰  And all of Israel from Dan even to

           Beer-sheba knew that Samuel  was

           established to be a prophet of 

           the LORD.

     ²¹  And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh:

          for the LORD revealed himself to 

          Samuel in Shiloh  by the word of

          the LORD.

                                            1 Samuel 3:19-21"

One would think that since the nation knew that Samuel was a prophet of the LORD, that they would cling to every word he said, but, we still have to get to the point where God preform the thing He said he was going to do, which it does. Both of Eli's son's die in the battle, and when Eli heard that the ark of the covenant was taken, he fell backwards and broke his neck and died. His daughter in law died also after giving birth and naming the child I-chabod, meaning, the glory is departed form Israel.  For the ark was taken. 

1 Samuel 4:17-22. Was this the end, or the cutting off of the Levitical  priesthood? 

Read more about the origins of the name 

I-chabod, and the tragedy the nation was in at Biblehub.

I appreciate that in the above linked study of 

I-chabod's name, that it points to the fact that the people placed their faith in the objects, 

(the ark) rather than the glory of God, that it represented in remaining obedient to God's  commands (guidance).

The last time we read Samuel's name is:

    "  ¹  And the word of Samuel came to all

           Israel. Now Israel went out against the 

           Philippines to battle, and pitched

           besides Eben-ezer; And the

           Phillistines pitched in Aphek.

                                                 1 Samuel  4:1"

We won't see Samuel's name again until 

1 Samuel 7:3. 

As I was reading the study in the linked article above, it helped me to see something that I otherwise may have missed. 

After The Phillistines wiped the floor with Israel in 1 Samuel 4:2, the following verse says that the elders in the camp suggests that they go and fetch the ark of the covenant of God. They do v5, and alert the Phillistines by all the shouting, 

The Phillistines seem to be aware that these people have placed their faith into the object that ark of the covenant of God is meant to represent, rather than the God the made the covenant.  With that knowledge, all the Phillisines had to do was just go and steal the object of their faith. v.6

(Can we understand why we should never place our faith into an object? Loose the object,  loose the faith)

You can continue reading to see how well that worked out for them. They had their own God called Dagon, and when they set the ark of the covenant up beside of dagon, twice it fell over, the second time, it was in more then one piece. So they sent the ark back, with gifts. 

It's during that time that the ark of the covenant of God was taken that everything happened with Eli, his son's, and his daughter,-in-law.

Chapter 6 ends by saying:

   "  ²¹  And they messengers to the

           inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying,

           the Phillistines have brought again

           the ark of the LORD; come ye down

           and fetch it up to you.

                                             1 Samuel 6:21"

They did so, and took it to the house of Abinadab, in the hill, and sanctified his son, Eleazar to keep it; and it stayed there for 20 long years: And all the house of Israel lamented after the LORD. 1 Samuel 7:1-2.

    "  ³  And Samuel spoke to all the house

           of Israel, saying, if ye do return unto 

           the LORD with all you hearts, then put

           away the strange gods and Ashtarroth

           from among you, and prepare your

           hearts unto the LORD, and serve him

           only: and He will deliver you out of

           the hand of the Phillistines. 

       ⁴  Then the children of Israel did put 

           away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and 

           served the LORD only.

                                           1 Samuel 7:3-4"

When they all were gathered at Mizpeh at Samuel's instruction,  they confessed their sins, in saying; "we have sinned against the LORD."  v5-6 The Phillistines hear of this gathering, and plan on overtaking them there. When the nation hears of it, they were afraid v7. and said to Samuel, to not to cease "crying out to the LORD" for them, and was specific in their request. That the "Phillistines not over take us"  v8. 

V10, As the Phillistines were drawing near, and while Samuel was offering up the offering; it says that, " the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Phillistines,  and discomfited them."

Let's just say that on that day that the plan of the Phillistines got interrupted, and they became the hunted.

This seems to be a good place to bring this one to a close. The next part finally brings us up to the intended area of focus. It's  title will be:  Last prophet, first king: Israel Demands A King... part 3.

 Late yesterday evening, I felt lead to start reading in the old testemet book of Joshua.  I know, we keep going backwards, but it helps. I read the first 5 chapters and seen another theme that is seen, really, throughout the bible.

I haven't started writing yet, although I do have a title and a few lables saved as a draft. 

Since I did mention the next e planned studies, I would like to point out a couple of things.

I can tell you from past experience how frustrating bible reading can be. You start thinking things like: "this happened so long ago. How's it going to help me (us) now?" We think those things, by missing key phases that is throughout the bible. Such as: "God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He changes not." And, "In your generation."

Isn't those 2 phases in direct conflict with each other? No, they aren't. Like, today, a military unit could not march around Jericho several times,  jump and shout, to bring the walls down. That was the instruction that Joshua got for guidance in how to be a leader in his day In his generation generation.

But, it can be used as a guide for us today as an encouragement to trust in the LORD. Trust that his plan is to help and not harm you.

Another thing I wanted to point out before closing; and I may of already alluded to it. These studies are not meant to replace you own bible reading and study. Just meant as a guide to help get you started. And, here is what is so amazing about this. You may use this as a guide, to assist you in your bible reading, and may see something that I completely overlooked, or may have not found it relevant to this particular study in the mindset I had at the time of this writing. 

Chances are, I could read the same text 6 months from now with a different mindset, and see what you see. It doesn't mean that either one of them is wrong, and that is what is so great about the bible. You can always find what you need, when you need it, and, as you advance in your knowledge,  you will find more eternal wisdom, rather than words to help get you through your current crisis, meaning, if it can get you through whatever your facing now will help you in the next one, and the one after that, and so on ...

That is when "the cares of this world" looses it's grip on you, it doesn't have the same effect on you as before. Your reactions are different, you have been transformed. Re-programmed to think and act differently.  God gets the glory, we get the victory, and Satan looses again.

Never give up, and be encouraged!

    

    

Last prophet, First king: Hannah's Prayer ... Part 1

I was going  to end "Jeroboam's Reign " with the first king. Saul. It would have been to long, so I decided on a separate study.

We will start at the start to see what all took place that lead up to the change from Samuel to Saul.

As with all other books in the old testemet, it doesn't begin with the man that God will use to restore order and bring the people back to God. It introduces us to his parents.

   "  ¹  Now there was a certain man of

          Ramathain-zophim, of mount

          Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah,

          the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu,

          the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an

          Ephrathite:

                                               1 Samuel 1:1"

I included this verse to indicate the generations before getting to Samuel. 5 generation, and Samuel will make the sixth.

Elkanah had 2 wives, Hannah and Peninnah: who had children, but Hannah had none v.2. , and He went to Shiloh once a year to worship and sacrifice unto the LORD. Eli, the priest, had 2 sons that were there v.3

The next to verses are of interest,  as we have seen this before. The names are the only thing that's different.

   "  ⁴ And when the time was that Elkanah

         offered, he gave peninnah his wife,

         and to all her son's and daughter's 

         portions:

      ⁵ But unto Hanannah he gave a worthy

        portion, for he loved Hannah; but the

        LORD had shut up her womb.

                                           1 Samuel 1:4-5"

Why is this. Is it because of the 2 wives? Maybe because the wife that had children was mocking and provoking the other? Or, prehaps, Elkanah loved the wife that could not give him children,  or a combination of all 3. That remains to be seen.

Continuing, this grieved Hannah.  The bible cause it bitterness of soul, she prayed to the LORD, and wept sore v10.

   "  ¹¹  And she vowed a vow, and said, 

           O LORD of hosts, if thou will indeed

           look on the affliction of thine

           handmaid, and remember me, and

           not forget thine handmaid, but wilt

           give unto thine handmaid a man

           child, then I will give him unto

           the LORD all the days of his life,

           and there shall no rasor come

           open his head.

                                         1 Samuel  1:11"

Before moving on, let's take a look at this prayer. The first thing we see is her bitterness of soul. She meant every word of that prayer.

We see that she is asking for herself. As she calls herself handmaid 3 different times, in this prayer.

She aked: look on my affliction (singular)

                  remember me and forget me not

Specific request:  give me a man child

Her promise: I will give Him unto the LORD

                        all the days of his life, and no

                        rasor shall come upon his

                        head.

The priest, Eli, though she was drunk, as she prayed in her heart. Only her lips moved, but no words came out.

He asked how long she would be drunken; she said, " I am a woman of sorrowful spirit: 

            I have neithr drunk neither wine nor 

            strong drink, but poured out my

            soul before the LORD.  v15.

Imagine that! Being so sorrowful,  and still having to take the time to explain why you were praying like you was. Without apology of his false judgment on her, he does tell her to:

   "  ¹⁷  Then Eli answered and said, Go in

           peace: an the God of Israel gran thee

           thy petition that thou hath asked of

           Him.

      ¹⁸  And she said, let thine handmaid find

           grace in thy sight. So the woman went 

           on her way, and did eat, and her 

           countenance was no more sad.

                                          1 Samuel 1:17-18

There is alot to unpack in this one short, but sincere prayer.

Why was it that her countenance was no more Sad? She didn't ask God to destroy her adversary; she didn't regard her at all.

In that prayer, all her troubles was washed away. She prayed sincerely,  and she believed sincerely that the LORD both heard her and granted her request.

v.19, 20 says, that they rose up in the morning, worshipped before the LORD, and went home. Elkanah "knew" Hannah his wife: " and the LORD remembered her." She conceived and bare a son and called his name Samuel, because she asked him of the LORD.

Hannah didn't go to the yearly sacrifice until Samuel was weaned, so that he could appear before the LORD, and abide forever v.22, She takes him up to Shiloh v24, and the child was young.

The next few verses, she reminds the priest who she is, and that this was the child she had prayed for. The LORD gave him to her, and nownow she has lent him back to the LORD v.27, 28

Chapter 2 opens with Hannah's pray, covered in 1 Samuel 2:1-10; and what a prayer it is. If you ever read any of David's prayers in psalms,  you would think this is his prayer.

Here is the 1st and 10th verse of her prayer. The only way you could read this prayer, and not think of David is to have never read psalms.

   

   "  ¹  And Hannah prayed, and said, my heart 

          rejoiceth in the LORD, my horn is exalth 

          in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over

          mine enemies; because I rejoice in

          thy salvation.

           :

           :

           :

     ¹⁰  The adversaries of the LORD shall be

          broken in pieces; out of heaven shall

          He thunder upon them: the LORD shall

          judge the end of the earth; and he shall

          give strength unto His king. And exalt 

          the horn of His anointed.

                                          1 Samuel 2:1; 2:10"

Elkanah goes back to his home, and Samuel minsters to Eli, the priest v11.

 Next we are reminded of Eli's 2 son's, son's of Belial; that  knew not the LORD v12.

It continue with all that Eli's son's did, and then reminds us about Samuel:

   "  ¹⁸  But Samuel ministered before the 

           LORD, being a child, gilded with a

           linen ephod.

                                           1 Samuel 2:18"

Each year his mother comes up to for the yearly sacrifice, she bring a little coat for her son. v19

Eli blesses both Elkanah and Hannah , and they went on to have 3 more son's and 2 daughter's. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD. v20-21

Are we starting to see how important Samuel will become, as it won't let us forget about him, even though we are reading the book that bares his name? 

Eli was very old when he learned what his son's were doing v22. He rebukes them, but they don't change their evil ways.

    "  ²⁶  And The child Samuel grew on, and

             was in favor both with the LORD, and

             with men.

                                                  1 Samuel 2:26"

This looks like a good place to bring this first part to a close, as things about to change.

You can read the remainder of Chapter 2, and we will pick this up again with Chapter 3 with:

Last prophet, first king: The LORD calls Samue ...  part 2

See also part 3

                  

Jeroboam's Reign

To think, this started with my own personal devotional of king Solomon which I didn't start fom the beginning.  I picked it up with the queen of Sheba's vist. That turned into, what is now a three part study which can be  accessed by clicking the links provided, 

part 1 and part 2. 

We will begin the third part: "Jeroboam's Reign".  

 

Part 2 of "God's Simple Commandment, ended with Jeroboam fleeing into Egypt until the death of Solomon. Chapter 11 closes with this:

    "  ⁴³  And Solomon slept with his father's,

            and was buried in the city of David

            his father: And Rehoboam his son

            reigned in his stead.

                                              1 kings 11:43"

                 Chapter 12 opens with with:

    "  ¹   And Rehoboam went to Shechem:

            for all Israel were come to Shechem

            to make him king.

                                               1 kings 12:1"

Understad that, before Jeroboam  could be made king, Rehoboam would first have to be rejected as king. 

    "  ¹⁹   So Israel rebelled against the house

             of David unto this day.

        ²⁰  And it came to pass, when all of

             Israel heard that Jeroboam was come

             again,  that they sent and called him

             unto the congregation,  and made

             him king over all of Israel: There were

             none that followed the house of

             David, but the tribe of Judah only.

Back in Jerusalem,  Rehoboam  assembles a large army of warriors from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin  to take the Israel back, by force:

   "  ²²  But the Word of God came unto

           Shemaiah the man of God, saying,

      ²³  Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of

           Solomon,  king of Judah, and unto

           all the house of Judah and Benjamin, 

           and to the remnant of the people,

           saying,

      ²⁴  Thus saith the LORD, ye shall not go

           up, no fight against your brethren

           the children of Israel: Return every

           man unto his house; for this thing is 

           from me. They hearkened unto the

           voice of the LORD, and returned to

           depart, according to the Word of 

           the LORD.

                                         1 kings 12:22-24

 

In Jeroboam's fears that the people would turn back to Rehoboam. 

 Jeroboam made sacrifice easy for the people, in what appears as an act of compassion. and while to some extent that may have been true, his selfish motivation  for doing what he did was not the comfort of the peopl. It was to keep the people.

     

    "  ²⁸  Whereupon the king took counsel, 

            and made two calves of gold, and 

            and said unto them, it is too much

            for you to go to Jerusalem: behold

            thy gods, O Israel, which brought

            the up out of the land of Egypt.

He sets one towards Beth-el and the other towards Dan. v.29, and v.30 says that this thing became a sin: ..He made a house of high places, and made the priest (not of the son's of Levi) the lowest of the people. 

He ordained a feast on the 15th day of the eighth month to imitate the feast in Judah, and offered upon the alter; and did the same in Beth-al and offered sacrifices unto the golden calves that he had made.

Chapter 13 opens with " a man of God coming out of Judah". You can read what he says in the verses that followed, as well as the sign that was given in v.4 of the chapter.

After Jeroboam was restored the use of his hand, (as that was the sign), he asked the man of God to come to his house, which he refuses as God told him not to go. 

Things ultimately go wrong for the man of God also, as and old prophet, met him, and asked him to come home with him and eat bread. At first he refuse as the LIRD said no. Then the prophet told him that he also was a prophet, and an angel spoke to him and told him that it was OK that he went back to his house with him. v.18. That was a lie, but the man of God believed it and went with him.

He didn't fully obey God's commandment,  and was cut down for the disobedience.  See v.24

  " ³³ After this thing, Jeroboam returned not

         from his evil way; but made again of the 

         lowest of the people priest of the high

         places: whosoever would, he 

         consecrated him, and he became one

         of the priests of the high places.

    ³⁴  And the thing became sin unto the

         house of Jeroboam,  even to cut it off,

         and to destroy it from off the face

         of the earth.

                                               1 kings 33-34

The above verses closes chapter 13, but the story doesn't end there,  as it gets even worse for Jerusalem's house.

His son falls sick. Jeroboam tells his wife to disguise herself and go to Shiloh, with gift, for the prophet  Ahijah,  and he would tell what would become of the child. which he did, and the news is not good.

The more I read this, the more parallels I see between Jeroboam,  and Saul, Israel first king that they chose.

God had a king in mind, but it wasn't Saul. The king that God had in mind, (David) wasn't yet ready to be king.

Jeroboam was given 10 kingdoms due to Solomon's turning away from God.

Nevertheless,  God gave both of these kings a chance to establish their kingdoms forever. They both failed to do so, as they both became obsessed with protecting their kingdom from being lost, and lost it anyway, and they both started out good.

Since there are notable comparisons between Israel's first and fourth king, let's wrap this up with this: 

There is the last prophet in the nation, whose son's doesn't walk in his ways. This is why the people wanted a king to begin with. Then it turns into wanting a king to "be like all the other nations." They got their king. Here they are in order:

1 Saul 

2 David

3 Solomon 

4 Jeroboam  (Rehoboam, 1 kingdom)

Before ending, lets look at the generations from the house of David, which doesn't include Saul, or Jeroboam to get back to a king close to David.

1) David. God's chosen. Wasn't perfect, and 

    still was rightous.

2) Solomon. David's son. Started out very

     but his heart was turned away, from God.

3) Rehoboam. All his days were in fighting             with Jeroboam to regain control of his

     kingdom. 1 kings 14:30

4) Abijam. 1 kings 15:1; 15:6

      " ³ And he walked in all the ways of his

           father, which he had done before him:

           and his heart was not perfect with the

           LORD his God, as the heart of David his

           father.

           Nevertheless less for David's sake did

           the LORD his God give him a lamp in

           Jerusalem,  to establish Jerusalem:

                                                  1 kings 15:3-4

5) Asa - did right in the sigh of the LORD, as 

               David his father v11. He took away

               the Sodomites from the land, and 

               removed the idols his father's had  

               made v.12 He removed his mother

               from being green, and destroyed

               her idol. v.13

    " ¹⁴  But the high places were not removed:

           nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect

           with the LORD all his days.

                                                   1 kings 15:14

              

I went back and added to this. In reading for preparations of, Last prophet,  First king. I discovered more similarities. Before moving on, I wanted to point to them, which I conclude that once the leaders take their eye's off of God, and does what is right in their own eye's,  this is how long it takes to get back to God. The question we should be asking is: Are we there yet?

I don't think this turning away from God started with my generation.  If we use ww2 as a place to start, that would have to be my grandparents generation. If that is right, then yes. We are in the turn back to God.

I included the last verse, as it kinda made me scratch my head in wonder.

I came to the determination that, it's  not the " high places" that God is against, it's how the high places are used. Rather they are used as a road block to grant access to God, except for the few.

.

       

        

God's Simple Commandment ... Part 2

In part 1, we covered Why Solom lost the kingdom; and 10 tribes were given to Jeroboam.  

      "Because they have forsaken me ...  

                                          1 kings 11:33"

However, God didn't give him all 12 tribes, for David's sake (God's servant), and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which God hath chosen out of all the tribes of Israel.

                                              1 kings 11:32

Before we see why Jeroboam was picked to be king, let's first look at where Solom went wrong. To really understand this, let's go to Deuteronomy: This is a good place th start.

   "  ¹⁴  When thou art come unto the land

            that the LORD thy God giveth thee,

            and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell

            therein, and shalt say, I will set a king

            over me like all the other nations 

            about me

        (We see this in 1 Samuel as Israel demand

         a king, as he is old, and his sons walk not

         in his ways (1 Samuel  9))

      ¹⁵  Thou shalt in any wise set him king 

           over thee, whom The LORD thy God

           shall choose: One from among thy

           brethren shat thou set over thee:

           Thou mayest not set a stranger 

           over thee, which is not thy brother.

       ( With Solomon in mind, pay close

          attention to v.16 an 17.)

      ¹⁶  But he shall NOT multiply horse unto

           himself, nor cause the people to

           return to Egypt,  to the end that he 

           should multiply horses: For the LORD 

           hath said unto you, Ye shall

           henceforth return no more that way.

       ¹⁷ Neither shall he multiply wives to 

           himself that his heart turn not away:

           Neither shall he multiply unto 

           himself silver and gold.

                                Deuteronomy  17:15-17"

From part 1 we see that Solom didn't listen to the instructions layed out in Deuteronomy 17:15-17. This failure to keep the LORD, as a priority it his life, and to obey His statues would the reason Solomons son lost the majority of the kingdom.

But, Lets include the next two verses, which I can tell you that Solomon did not do, as I have read I 1 kings 4 through 9 looking for what we read in these next 3 verses:

  

    "  ¹⁸  And it shall be, when he sitteth upon 

            the throne of his kingdom, that he

            shall write him a copy of this law

            in a book out of that which is before

            the priest and Lenvites.

       ¹⁹  And it shall be with him, and he shall

            read therein all the days of lis life;

            that he may learn to fear the LORD

            his God, to keep all the words of this

            law and these statutes to do them:

      ²⁰   That his heart be not lifted up against

            his brethren, and that he turn not 

            aside from  the commandent,  to the 

            right hand, or to the left: to the end

            that he mat prolong his days in his

            kingdom, he and his children, in the

            midst of Israel.

                                    Deuteronomy  17:18-20"

Do you see the pattern that has emerged actually starting in 1 Samuel  when the people wants a king, because Samuel is getting old, and his sons doesn't walk in his ways; that is until the people wants a king to "be like all the other nation." And they get Saul, which starts out pretty good. Until Saul crosses a line, and learns that he has Los the kingdom.  Saul know it is Davi that will sit on the thrones. Saul spend the rest of his life trying to protect his crown by killing David, he just never succeeds, and David becomes king.

David inherits a mess, so he is a war time king, aside from a few slip ups, he kept God's comments,  and statutes,  and did that which is right in the eye's of the LORD, but because David was a king of war, he couldn't build God's house. When his son Solomon sits on the throne, he gets the privilege of building the house.

Like Saul in 1 Samuel,  Solomon starts out really good. When God asked him what he wanted; rather than asking for long life, riches, or anything else that would have benefited no one other than Solomon.  He asked for wisdom and understanding,  so that he could do his job in a way that was pleasing to God.

God granted him that wisdom and understanding,  but also gave to him the things he didn't ask for.

Unlike Saul, Solomon did build God's house; but as his wealth, wives, and fame grew: His heart was turned away from the LORD, and began following the gods of the strange women" that was his wives..

God even appeared to Solomon twice. The first appearance came to him in a dream

     "  ⁵  In Gibeon the LORD appeared  to

            Solomon in a dream by night: and

            God said, Ask what I shall give thee.

                                                      1 kings 3:5"

   It is in verse 9 that Solomon asks for

    " ⁹  Give therefore thy servent an 

          understanding heart to judge the

          people, that I may discern between

          good and bad: for who is able to

          Judge this thy so great of people?

                                                 1 kings 3:9"

And, as already mentioned, Solomon's asks pleased God, and Solomon was blessed with a lot more then he asked for.

Chapter 9 opens with telling us that Solomon has finished building two houses. 1 for the LORD,  and the other for his self in v.1

v.2, The LORD appeared to Solomon as he did in Gibeon, in a dream

       "  ⁴  And if thou wilt walk before me,

              as David thy father walked, in

              integrity of heart, and in

              uprightness, to do all that I have

              commanded thee, and wilt keep

              my statutes and my judgments:

          ⁵  Then I will establish the throne of

              thy kingdom upon Israel forever,

              as I promised to David thy father, 

              saying, there shall not fail thee a

              man upon the throne of Israel.

          ⁶  But if ye at all turn from following

             me, ye or you children, and wilt not

             keep my commandents or my

            statutes which I have set before

            you, but go and serve other gods:

            Then I will cut Israel out of the land

            which I have given them; and this 

            house, which I have hallowed for

            name,  will I cast out of my sight:

            and Israel shall be proverb and a

            by word among all the people.

                                             1 kings 9:4-7"

Solomon  could have prevented the downfall that his son would feel, by reading God's word daily, but he didn't 

He could have also heeded the warning from the second appearance,  and, he didn't do that either.

Now we're gonna jump back to chapter 11. We've covered all of Solomons wives, and their gods in part 1. 

    "  ⁴ For it came to pass, when Solomon was

          old, his wive's turned away his heart

          after other gods: and his heart was not

          perfect with the LORD his God, as was   

          the heart of David his father.

                                                   1 kings 11:4"

The next verse tells what all Solomon  went after. Then we get to a sad commentary:

    

    " ⁶  And Solomon did evil in the sight of

          the LORD, and went not fully after

          the LORD, as did David his father

                                                1 kings 11:6

Verses 11 through 13,  The LORD tell Solomon that his son will keep one kingdom for David's  sake, 

The LORD stirs up a few adversaries for Solomon,  and we are introduced to Jeroboam:

    "  ²⁶  And Jeroboam the son of Nebat,

            an Ephrathite, of Zereda, Solomon's

            servant,  whose mother's name was

            Zeruah, a widow woman, even he

            lifted up his hand against the king.

       ²⁷ And this was the cause he lifted up 

            his hand against the king: 

            Solomon built Millo, and repaired

            the breaches in the city of David.

                                         1 kings 11:26-27

Solomon makes him a ruler *v.28. Now we are back to what was discussed in paer 1, where Ahijah  prophesied to Jeroboam that he will be over 10 tribes.

Leading up to v.37 Ahijah  informs Jeroboam as to why  he will be getting the kingdom, and then here's the following:

    "  ³⁷ And I will take thee, and thou shalt

           reign according to all that thy soul

           desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

      ³⁸  And it shall be, if thou will hearken 

           unto all that I command thee, and

           wilt walk in my ways, and do that is

           right in my sight, to keep my statutes

           and my commandment, as David my 

           servant did; that I will be with thee, and

           build thee a sure house, as I built

           for David, and will give Israel unto

           thee.

After this Solomon  attempt to protect this kingdom by destroying the man whom God picks to get the kingdom. Jeroboam flees into Eygpt and remains there until the death of Solomon.

This was a little presumptuous of me to think I could finish this with only 2 studies; That being said, we will continue this in a future study call  Jeroboam,s Reign.

    

    

The Works of the Flesh

    "  ¹⁹  Now the works of the flesh are 

             manifest, which are these;

             Adultery,  fornication, uncleaned,

             lasciviousness,

       ²⁰   Idolatry, witchcraft, hatered,

             variance, emualations, wrath,

             strife, seditions, heresies, 

        ²¹  envying, murders, drunkenness, 

             revealing,

             and such like: of which I tell you 

             before, as I have also told you in

             times past, that they which do such

             things shall not inherit the

             kingdom of God.

                                             Galatians 5:19-21

I took some time to look some ok these word up to find their true meaning, as we don't use these words in today's society.  We know that it's listed under the "works of the flesh", therefore, we can determine that they are not good.

That is true, however, since probably no one walks in the Spirit 100% of the time, it helps to know what this word means, as, not to fall into this, work of the flesh.

Lasciviousness according to gotquestions.org, has two meanings. they are as follows:

 >" ¹ Lasciviousness refers to the practice of debauchery, lewdness, or licentiousness. In a word, to be lascivious is to be lustful.<

  > ² Lasciviousness also means “excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures.” It’s having a complete disregard for the integrity and honor of others. Examples of such behavior include that of the people of Sodom and Gomorrahth (2 Peter 2:6-7) and false teacher's who promise freedom but who are themselves slaves of depravity 2 Peter 2:2. <

 Read full article here

>"Emualation is an obsolete word meaning “jealous competition” or “ambition driven by envy.” Sinful emulation is a greed-driven desire to “imitate” someone’s success or share their wealth; it is a “keeping up with the Joneses,” immersed in covetousness.              Galatians 5:19-21" <

Read full article at " Gotquestions.org " by clicking here.

This is not talking about a moment of weakness, seeing what someone else has, wishing it was your, and come back to your senses and realize just how blessed you are. You might even feel the need to repent of the temporary lapse in judgment,  and that is ok if you do. Notice how in the first definition of it says, " the practice of Lasciviousness ", meaning that these works of the flesh  are a life style, rather a momentary thought. Those momentary thoughts, aren't the best of thoughts to have, and having those kinds of thoughts to many times, and for to long, can certainly go from a passing thought to the practice of ...

The wonderful thing about the Word of God is, it's not just a book full of things not to do. It has the formula to how to avoid these things. the only thing we need to do is to know this formula and incorporate it into our lives.

The contrast to the works of the flesh are listed in the verses below:

      "  ²²  But the fruit of the Spirit is, love, 

              joy, peace, longsuffering, 

              gentleness, goodness, faith,

         ²³  Meekness, temperance: against

              such, there is no law

                                            Galatians 5:22-23

  And here is why there is no law against the      Spirit:

        ²⁴  And they that are Chrisr's have

             crucified the flesh with the

             affections and lust

        ²⁵  If we live in the Spirit, let us also

             walk in the Spirit.

        ²⁶  Lets not be destroys of vain glory,

             provoking one another, envying 

             one another.

                                       Galatians 5:24-26

I Started this blog late in the evening, this past Saturday. To late to finish it. But, I can say that when I started it, I was on a pretty good roll with it. Even this morning, I wasn't doing to bad, but then I paused to do something else, and now, I am having a hard time getting restarted. I am convinced that Satan doesn't want me publishing this; I even know what tatic he's use to try and stop it. 

The hurt I spoke of in my first few blogs is creeping back in. That feeling of, my losing everything, just doesn't seem to matter, and, That hurt will always be there, even if I was to get more money then I would ever need; the fact that it wasn't there when it was, and still is needed has already been done. There's no going back and undoing the hurt that caused.

I was considering taking this section immediately above out; as I typed those words before the thing that I experienced on Apriel 13 occured. Read that post here.

Then I felt like I should leave, as a way to, not only to document everything that I was thinking and feeling just before, but also to compare to any and all changes moving forward.