A very wise King Solomon, in times of peace and prosperity for Israel, built a Temple to the Lord in Jerusalem per his father David’s wishes. He teamed up with King Hiram of what is now Lebanon who supplied the cedar trees used in the construction of the Temple:

And Solomon had under him all the kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines, even to the border of Egypt: and they brought him presents, and served him, all the days of his life.

And the provision of Solomon for each day… and he had peace on every side round about. And Juda and Israel dwelt without any fear, every one under his vine, and under his fig tree, from Dan to Bersabee, all the days of Solomon.

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thousand for the saddle…

And God gave to Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart as the sand that is on the sea shore. And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the Orientals, and of the Egyptians, and he was wiser than all men… and he was renowned in all nations round about. Solomon also spoke three thousand parables: and his poems were a thousand and five… And they came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from the kings of the earth, who heard of his wisdom.

And Hiram, king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon… for Hiram had always been David’s friend.

Solomon to Hiram: Thou knowest the will of David my father, and that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of them that were round about him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God hath given me rest round about: and there is no adversary nor evil occurrence. Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom I will set upon the throne in thy place, he shall build a house to my name. Give orders therefore that thy servants cut me down cedar trees out of Libanus, and let my servants be with thy servants: and I will give thee the hire of thy servants whatsoever thou wilt ask, for thou knowest how there is not among my people a man that has skill to hew wood like to the Sidonians.

Now when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced exceedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath given to David a very wise son over this numerous people… I have heard all thou hast desired of me: and I will do all thy desire concerning cedar trees and fir trees… So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees, and fir trees, according to all his desire.

And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they made a league together.

And King Solomon chose workmen out of all Israel, and the levy was of thirty thousand men… And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand every month by turns, so that two months they were home… And Solomon had seventy thousand to carry burdens, and eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountain… And the king commanded, that they should bring great stones, costly stones, for the foundation of the temple, and should square them, and the masons of Solomon, and the masons of Hiram hewed them; and the Giblians prepared timber and stones to build the house.

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel came out of the land if Egypt, in the fourth year of the reign of Solomon over Israel…he began to build a house to the Lord.

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stones hewed and made ready: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house when it was in building.

And the Lord was obviously very pleased with King Solomon:

And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying: This house which thou buildest, if thou will walk in my statues, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments, walking in them, I will fulfill my word to thee which I spoke to David thy father. And I will dwell in the midst of the children if Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

And he made the oracle in the midst of the house, in the inner part, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord… And he covered it and overlaid it with most pure gold… and fastened on the plates with nails of gold. And there was nothing in the temple that was not covered with gold: the whole altar of the oracle he covered also with gold.

And he made in the oracle two cherubims of olive tree, of ten cubits in height. And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

And the floor of the house he also overlaid with gold within and without… And he built the inner court with three rows of polished stones, and one row of beams of cedar.

And King Solomon sent, and brought Hiran from Tyre… an artificer in brass, and full of wisdom, and understanding, and skill to work all work in brass.

And he cast two pillars in brass (for the Temple)… And Hiram made caldrons, and shovels, and basins, and finished all the work of King Solomon in the temple of the Lord… All the vessels that Hiram made for King Solomon for the house of the Lord were of fine brass.

No cost was spared in terms of materials—cedar—stones—brass—gold!

And Solomon finished all the work that he made in the house of the Lord, and brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver and the gold, and the vessels, and laid them up in the treasures of the house of the Lord.

In the fourth year was the house of the Lord founded… in the eleventh year… the house was finished in all works thereof, and in all appurtenances thereof: and he was seven years in building it.

Seven years to build the Temple and then thirteen to build his own house?

And Solomon built his own house in thirteen years, and brought it to perfection. He built also the house of the forest Libanus… He made also the porch of the throne, wherein is the seat of judgment… And in the midst of the porch, was a small house where he sat in judgment, of the like work.

He made also a house for the daughter of Pharao (Whom Solomon had taken to wife).

Wise King Solomon build a Temple to the name of the Lord His God… and his house and one for his wife too! Peace and prosperity in Israel under the wise King Solomon!

Day 115: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Wise King Solomon Builds a Temple to the Name of the Lord His God…

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Third Book of Kings Chapters 4-7

Bible Notes:

This Book opens with the death of King David. Solomon, his son, succeeded him. King Solomon ruled wisely, beautified Jerusalem, and built the Temple. But later he encouraged idolatry. After his death his kingdom split into two hostile sections, Israel in the North and Juda in the South.

3 Kings Chapter 4: Solomon’s princes; Solomon’s governors; Extent of Solomon’s kingdom; Solomon’s daily provision; Solomon’s stables; Solomon’s wisdom.

And King Solomon reigned over all of Israel, and these were the princes which he had: Azarias; Alihoreph, and Ahia… the scribes;  Josaphat… the recorder;  Banaias over the army; Sadoc and Abiathat priests; Azarias, over them that were about the king; Zabud, the king’s friend; Abisar, governor of the house; Adoniram, over the tribute…

And Solomon had twelve governors over all of Israel, who provided victuals for the king and for his household: for every one provided necessaries, each man his month in the year… Benhur, Bendecar, Benhesed, Benabinadah, Hana, Bengaber, Abinadab, Achimaas, Baana, Josaphat, Semei, Gaber, over all that were in the land.

And Solomon had under him all the kingdoms from the river to the land of the Philistines, even to the border pf Egypt: and they brought him presents, and served him, all the days of his life.

And the provision of Solomon for each day… and he had peace on every side round about. And Juda and Israel dwelt without any fear, every one under his vine, and under his fig tree, from Dan to Bersabee, all the days of Solomon.

And Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses, and twelve thousand for the saddle…

And God gave to Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart as the sand that is on the sea shore. And the wisdom of Solomon surpassed the wisdom of all the Orientals, and of the Egyptians, and he was wiser than all men… and he was renowned in all nations round about. Solomon also spoke three thousand parables: and his poems were a thousand and five… And they came from all nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from the kings of the earth, who heard of his wisdom.

3 Kings Chapter 5: Solomon asks King Hiram for help; Hiram supplies timber for the Temple; Solomon’s payment to Hiram; Numbers of Solomon’s workmen.

And Hiram, king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon… for Hiram had always been David’s friend.

Solomon to Hiram: Thou knowest the will of David my father, and that he could not build a house to the name of the Lord his God, because of them that were round about him, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet. But now the Lord my God hath given me rest round about: and there is no adversary nor evil occurrence. Wherefore I purpose to build a temple to the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spoke to David my father, saying: Thy son, whom I will set upon the throne in thy place, he shall build a house to my name. Give orders therefore that thy servants cut me down cedar trees out of Libanus, and let my servants be with thy servants: and I will give thee the hire of thy servants whatsoever thou wilt ask, for thou knowest how there is not among my people a man that has skill to hew wood like to the Sidonians.

Now when Hiram had heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced exceedingly, and said: Blessed be the Lord God this day, who hath given to David a very wise son over this numerous people… I have heard all thou hast desired of me: and I will do all thy desire concerning cedar trees and fir trees… So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees, and fir trees, according to all his desire.

And the Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and they made a league together.

And King Solomon chose workmen out of all Israel, and the levy was of thirty thousand men… And he sent them to Libanus, ten thousand every month by turns, so that two months they were home… And Solomon had seventy thousand to carry burdens, and eighty thousand to hew stones in the mountain… And the king commanded, that they should bring great stones, costly stones, for the foundation of the temple, and should square them, and the masons of Solomon, and the masons of Hiram hewed them; and the Giblians prepared timber and stones to build the house.

3 Kings Chapter 6: Dimensions of the Temple; The Lord approves the Temple; Interior of the Temple; The oracle of the Temple; The cherubims; Carvings on the walls; The doors of the Temple; The inner court of the Temple; The time of building the Temple.

And it came to pass in the four hundred and eightieth year after the children of Israel came out of the land if Egypt, in the fourth year of the reign of Solomon over Israel…he began to build a house to the Lord.

And the house, when it was in building, was built of stones hewed and made ready: so that there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house when it was in building.

And the word of the Lord came to Solomon, saying: This house which thou buildest, if thou will walk in my statues, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments, walking in them, I will fulfill my word to thee which I spoke to David thy father. And I will dwell in the midst of the children if Israel, and will not forsake my people Israel.

And he made the oracle in the midst of the house, in the inner part, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord… And he covered it and overlaid it with most pure gold… and fastened on the plates with nails of gold. And there was nothing in the temple that was not covered with gold: the whole altar of the oracle he covered also with gold.

Oracle—(especially in ancient Greece) an utterance, often ambiguous or obscure, given by a priest or priestess at a shrine as the response of a god to an inquiry; a shrine or place at which such responses were given: the oracle of Apollo at Delphi.

And he made in the oracle two cherubims of olive tree, of ten cubits in height. And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

Cubit—an ancient linear unit based on the length of the forearm, from elbow to the tip of the middle finger, usually from 17 to 21 inches (43 to 53 cm).

And the floor of the house he also overlaid with gold within and without… And he built the inner court with three rows of polished stones, and one row of beams of cedar.

In the fourth year was the house of the Lord founded… in the eleventh year… the house was finished in all works thereof, and in all appurtenances thereof: and he was seven years in building it.

Appurtenance– something subordinate to another, more important thing; adjunct; accessory; apparatus; instruments.

3 Kings Chapter 7: Solomon’s palace; The house for Pharao’s daughter; Hiram, the workman; Pillars for the Temple; The molten sea or laver; Ten stands for the lavers; Ten lavers of brass; Other equipment for the Temple; David’s treasures brought into the Temple.

And Solomon built his own house in thirteen years, and brought it to perfection. He built also the house of the forest Libanus… He made also the porch of the throne, wherein is the seat of judgment… And in the midst of the porch, was a small house where he sat in judgment, of the like work.

He made also a house for the daughter of Pharao (Whom Solomon had taken to wife).

And King Solomon sent, and brought Hiran from Tyre… an artificer in brass, and full of wisdom, and understanding, and skill to work all work in brass.

And he cast two pillars in brass (for the Temple)… And Hiram made caldrons, and shovels, and basins, and finished all the work of King Solomon in the temple of the Lord… All the vessels that Hiram made for King Solomon for the house of the Lord were of fine brass.

And Solomon finished all the work that he made in the house of the Lord, and brought in the things that David his father had dedicated, the silver and the gold, and the vessels, and laid them up in the treasures of the house of the Lord.

 

The Lord performed a miracle in Saul transforming him from a persecutor of early Christians into a bold Christian himself proclaiming the Good News of Salvation. Ironically he became persecuted as a Christian, same as Christ and the Disciples now turning Apostles.

The Peter, in his Christ-like Glory, performed back-to-back miracles: first an eight-year paralytic named Aeneas and then he brought Tabitha back to life as much as Christ did Lazarus. But the real lasting miracle was performed through Cornelius, a Gentile and Peter, a Jew and it proved the unity of Christ in that the Holy Spirit sees a believer and nothing else, especially race!

As the outward miracles happened Jesus and Peter started looking deeply within to root truly life changing possibilities for each one of us!

Miracles, why not look inward for your own miracles? A change in perspective, a change in heart, some love, compassion and mercy to oneself can do wonders. Perhaps your miracle is a nonphysical one? To get outside of yourself and think differently; identify, accept and feel emotions but not let them rule you or your life; and finally find your own spirituality, your own Splendid Spiritual Self and live in peace, joy, unity, and freedom. There are still miracles today, through doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professional; some we understand scientifically and so we have no clue as to how they happened. Why not team up with God and make yourself one?

God, as illustrated in vivid detail in these passages, Combines dreams and visions with the interaction of others to enlighten our spiritual minds. Peter’s dream when he was hungry was not about food. Nor was it about eating common or uncommon food.

Actually there were two messages. The first was that I am the Lord your God and never question my intention, just follow my commands.

Here is the narrative from the Acts of the Apostles:

But Saul, still breathing threats of slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any men of women belonging to this Way, he might bring them in bonds to Jerusalem. And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven shone round about him; and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him:

“Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?”

Saul: “Who art thou, Lord?”

Jesus: “I am Jesus, whom thou are persecuting.

And Saul trembling and amazed, said: “Lord, what wilt thou have me do?”

Lord: “arise and go into the city, and it will be told thee what thou must do.”

Now the men who journeyed with Saul stood speechless, hearing indeed this voice, but seeing no one. And Saul arose from the ground, but when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, thy brought him into Damascus. And for three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank.

Lord to Ananias in a vision: “Ananias.”

Ananias: “Here I am Lord.”

Lord” “Arise and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul. For behold, he is praying.”

Ananias: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem. And here too he has authority from the high priests to arrest all who invoke thy name.”

Lord: “Go, for this man is a chosen vessel to me, to carry my name among nations and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

So Ananias departed and entered the house, and laying hands upon him, said:

“Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me—Jesus, who appeared to thee on thy journey—that thou mayest recover thy sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

And straightaway there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he recovered his sight, and arose, and was baptized. And after taking some food he regained his strength.

Now for some days he joined the disciples in Damascus, and straightaway in the synagogues he began to preach that Jesus is the Son of God. And all who heard him were amazed and said:

“Is not this he who used to make havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon his name, and who has come here for the purpose of taking them in bonds to the chief priests?”

But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who were living in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

But as time grew on the Jews made a plot to kill Saul. But the plot became known to Saul. They were even guarding the gates both day and night in order to kill him; but his disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Now on his arrival at Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he told them how on his journey he had seen the Lord, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had acted boldly in the name of Jesus. And he moved freely among them in Jerusalem, acting boldly in the name of the Lord; he also spoke and disputed with the Hellenists; but they sought to kill him. When the brethren got to know this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

Now throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria the Church was in peace and was being built up, walking in fear of the Lord, and it was filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.

And it came to pass that Peter, while visiting all the saints, came to those living at Lydda, And he found there a certain man named Aeneas who had kept his bed eight years, being a paralytic. And Peter said to him:

“Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals thee; get up and make thy bed.”

And straightaway he got up. And all who lived in Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Now at Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha; this woman had devoted herself to good works and acts of charity. But it happened that at this time she fell ill and died; and they washed her out and laid her in an upper room… But Peter, putting them (all the widows) all out, knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said”

“Tabitha arise.”

And she opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, she sat up. Then Peter gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and the widows, he gave her back to them alive. And it became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

The second message of unity was revealed later on when Peter was greeted by Cornelius:

Now there was in Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called Italian; he was devout and God-fearing… he saw distinctly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him:

“Cornelius.”

Cornelius: “What is it Lord?”

Lord via an Angel: “Thy prayers and thy alms have gone up and been remembered in the sight of God. And now send men to Joppa and fetch one Simon, surnamed Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, who has a house by the seaside.”

When the angel who was speaking to him had departed… now the next day… Peter went up to the roof to pray, about the sixth hour; but he got very hungry, and wanted something to eat. But while they were getting it ready, he fell into an ecstasy, and saw heaven standing open and a certain vessel coming down like a great sheet, let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth; and in it were all the four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the air. And there came a great voice to him:

“Arise, Peter, kill and eat.”

Peter: “Far be it from me, Lord, for never did I eat anything common or unclean.”

Voice: “What God has cleansed, do not thou call common.”

But while Peter was pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him:

“Behold, three men are looking for thee. Arise, therefore, go down and depart with them without any hesitation, for I have sent them.”

So Peter went down to the men and said:

“Behold I am the man you are asking for; what is the reason for your coming?”

The Men: “Cornelius, a centurion, a just and God-fearing man, to whom the whole nation of the Jews bears witness, has been directed by a holy angel to fetch thee to his house and to hear words from thee.”

And the next day he arose and started off with them… the following day he reached Caesarea… and as Peter entered, Cornelius me him and, falling at his feet, made obedience to him. But Peter raised him up, saying:

“Get up, I myself also am a man.”

Peter: “You know it is not permissible for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean; therefore I came without hesitation when I was sent for. I ask, therefore, why you have sent for me.”

Cornelius: “Three days  ago, at this very hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments… now, therefore, we are all present in thy sight to hear whatever has been commanded thee by the Lord.”

But Peter began, and said:

“Now I really understand that God is not a respecter of persons, but in every nation he who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. He sent his word to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (who is Lord of all). You know what took place throughout Judea; for he begun in Galilee after the baptism preached by John: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went about doing good and healing all who were in the power of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; and yet they killed him, hanging him from a tree. But God raised him on the third day and caused him to be plainly seen, not by all the people, but by witnesses designated beforehand by God, that is, by us, who ate and drank with him after he had risen from the dead. And he charged us to preach to the people and to testify that he it is who has been appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that through his name all who believe in him may receive forgiveness of sins.”

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon all who were listening to his message. And the faithful of the circumcision, who had come with Peter, were amazed, because on the Gentiles also the grace of the Holy Spirit had been poured forth; for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.

Then Peter answered: “Can anyone refuse the water to baptize these, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”

And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Unity within leads to unity outside which leads to all faiths coexisting in peace, joy, unity, and freedom!

Saul, You, Saul, Me; Peter teaches us as Christ did: Unity is the answer!

Day 116: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Saul, You, Saul, Me; Peter teaches us as Christ did: Unity is the answer!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 9-10.

Bible Notes:

Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome

Acts Chapter 9:  The vision of Saul; Ananias sent by God to Saul; Ananias meets Saul, Saul is baptized; Saul preaches Christ; Saul escapes a plot to kill him; Saul meets the Apostles; Peter heals Aeneas; Peter raises Dorcas from the dead.

But Saul, still breathing threats of slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any men of women belonging to this Way, he might bring them in bonds to Jerusalem. And as he went on his journey, it came to pass that he drew near to Damascus, when suddenly a light from heaven shone round about him; and falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him:

“Saul, Saul, why dost thou persecute me?”

Saul: “Who art thou, Lord?”

Jesus: “I am Jesus, whom thou are persecuting.

And Saul trembling and amazed, said: “Lord, what wilt thou have me do?”

Lord: “arise and go into the city, and it will be told thee what thou must do.”

Now the men who journeyed with Saul stood speechless, hearing indeed this voice, but seeing no one. And Saul arose from the ground, but when his eyes were opened, he could see nothing. And leading him by the hand, thy brought him into Damascus. And for three days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank.

Lord to Ananias in a vision: “Ananias.”

Ananias: “Here I am Lord.”

Lord” “Arise and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul. For behold, he is praying.”

Ananias: “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to thy saints in Jerusalem. And here too he has authority from the high priests to arrest all who invoke thy name.”

Lord: “Go, for this man is a chosen vessel to me, to carry my name among nations and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

So Ananias departed and entered the house, and laying hands upon him, said:

“Brother Saul, the Lord has sent me—Jesus, who appeared to thee on thy journey—that thou mayest recover thy sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

And straightaway there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he recovered his sight, and arose, and was baptized. And after taking some food he regained his strength.

Now for some days he joined the disciples in Damascus, and straightaway in the synagogues he began to preach that Jesus is the Son of God. And all who heard him were amazed and said:

“Is not this he who used to make havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon his name, and who has come here for the purpose of taking them in bonds to the chief priests?”

But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who were living in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.

But as time grew on the Jews made a plot to kill Saul. But the plot became known to Saul. They were even guarding the gates both day and night in order to kill him; but his disciples took him by night and let him down over the wall, lowering him in a basket.

Now on his arrival at Jerusalem he tried to join the disciples, and they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he told them how on his journey he had seen the Lord, that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had acted boldly in the name of Jesus. And he moved freely among them in Jerusalem, acting boldly in the name of the Lord; he also spoke and disputed with the Hellenists; but they sought to kill him. When the brethren got to know this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

Now throughout Judea and Galilee and Samaria the Church was in peace and was being built up, walking in fear of the Lord, and it was filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit.

And it came to pass that Peter, while visiting all the saints, came to those living at Lydda, And he found there a certain man named Aeneas who had kept his bed eight years, being a paralytic. And Peter said to him:

“Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals thee; get up and make thy bed.”

And straightaway he got up. And all who lived in Lydda and in Sharon saw him, and they turned to the Lord.

Now at Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha; this woman had devoted herself to good works and acts of charity. But it happened that at this time she fell ill and died; and they washed her out and laid her in an upper room… But Peter, putting them (all the widows) all out, knelt down and prayed, and turning to the body, he said”

“Tabitha arise.”

And she opened her eyes and, seeing Peter, she sat up. Then Peter gave her his hand and raised her up; and calling the saints and the widows, he gave her back to them alive. And it became known all over Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

Acts Chapter 10:  The vision of Cornelius; The vision of Peter; Peter goes with Cornelius’ servants; Peter meets Cornelius; Cornelius describes his vision; Peter’s discourse; Peter baptizes Cornelius and his family.

Now there was in Caesarea a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the cohort called Italian; he was devout and God-fearing… he saw distinctly in a vision an angel of God come in to him and say to him:

“Cornelius.”

Cornelius: “What is it Lord?”

Lord via an Angel: “Thy prayers and thy alms have gone up and been remembered in the sight of God. And now send men to Joppa and fetch one Simon, surnamed Peter; he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, who has a house by the seaside.”

When the angel who was speaking to him had departed… now the next day… Peter went up to the roof to pray, about the sixth hour; but he got very hungry, and wanted something to eat. But while they were getting it ready, he fell into an ecstasy, and saw heaven standing open and a certain vessel coming down like a great sheet, let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth; and in it were all the four-footed beasts and creeping things of the earth, and birds of the air. And there came a great voice to him:

“Arise, Peter, kill and eat.”

Peter: “Far be it from me, Lord, for never did I eat anything common or unclean.”

Voice: “What God has cleansed, do not thou call common.”

But while Peter was pondering over the vision, the Spirit said to him:

“Behold, three men are looking for thee. Arise, therefore, go down and depart with them without any hesitation, for I have sent them.”

So Peter went down to the men and said:

“Behold I am the man you are asking for; what is the reason for your coming?”

The Men: “Cornelius, a centurion, a just and God-fearing man, to whom the whole nation of the Jews bears witness, has been directed by a holy angel to fetch thee to his house and to hear words from thee.”

And the next day he arose and started off with them… the following day he reached Caesarea… and as Peter entered, Cornelius me him and, falling at his feet, made obedience to him. But Peter raised him up, saying:

“Get up, I myself also am a man.”

Peter: “You know it is not permissible for a Jew to associate with a foreigner or to visit him; but God has shown me that I should not call any man common or unclean; therefore I came without hesitation when I was sent for. I ask, therefore, why you have sent for me.”

Cornelius: “Three days  ago, at this very hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in shining garments… now, therefore, we are all present in thy sight to hear whatever has been commanded thee by the Lord.”

But Peter began, and said:

“Now I really understand that God is not a respecter of persons, but in every nation he who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. He sent his word to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (who is Lord of all). You know what took place throughout Judea; for he begun in Galilee after the baptism preached by John: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and he went about doing good and healing all who were in the power of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all that he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem; and yet they killed him, hanging him from a tree. But God raised him on the third day and caused him to be plainly seen, not by all the people, but by witnesses designated beforehand by God, that is, by us, who ate and drank with him after he had risen from the dead. And he charged us to preach to the people and to testify that he it is who has been appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that through his name all who believe in him may receive forgiveness of sins.”

While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came upon all who were listening to his message. And the faithful of the circumcision, who had come with Peter, were amazed, because on the Gentiles also the grace of the Holy Spirit had been poured forth; for they heard them speaking in tongues and magnifying God.

Then Peter answered: “Can anyone refuse the water to baptize these, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we did?”

And he ordered them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

 

 

I love reading the Old Testament. It gets a little horrific and monotonous in places but there is a thread of love, heart, and mercy throughout. The Old Testament is transformed through that same love, heart, and mercy of God to become the New Testament via His Son, Our Savior Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is present in the Old Testament and permeates the New Testament as well as us.

King Solomon brought the Ark of the Covenant from the City of David into Jerusalem

“Now in the ark there was nothing else but the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

“A cloud filled the house of the Lord… for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord… and I (Solomon) stand in the room of David my father, and sit upon the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised: and have built a house to the name of the Lord the God of Israel

Solomon’s prayer: “Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above, or on earth beneath: who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that have walked before thee with all their heart… whatsoever they shall pray for in this place, and hear them in the place of thy dwelling in heaven; and when thou hearest, show them mercy… and forgive the sin of thy people Israel… and show them the good way wherein they should walk… when a man shall know the wound of his own heart, and shall spread forth his hands in this house, then hear thou in heaven, in the place of thy dwelling, and forgive, and do so to every one according to his ways, as thou shalt see his heart…”

Solomon also prayed for strangers and nonbelievers to come to call upon the Lord:

“Moreover also the stranger, who is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name’s sake… for when he shall come, and shall pray in this place, then hear thou in heaven… and do all those things, for which the stranger shall call upon thee: that all the people of the earth may learn to fear thy name, as do thy people Israel…”

Solomon also prayed for sinners captured by their enemies:

“But if they sin against thee (for there is no man who sinneth not) and thou being angry deliver them up to their enemies, so that they be led away captives into the land of their enemies far or near; then if they do penance in their hear in the place of captivity, and being converted make supplication to thee in their captivity saying: ‘We have sinned, we have done unjustly, we have committed wickedness, and return to thee with all their heart, and all their soul, in the land of their enemies… then hear thou in heaven… and do judgment for them. And forgive thy people, who have sinned against thee, and all their iniquities, by which they have transgressed against thee: and give them mercy before them that have made them captives, that they may have compassion on them.”

Solomon blesses all Israel with gratitude:

“The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers, and not leave us, nor cast us off, but may he incline our hearts to himself, that we may walk in all his ways, and keep his commandments, and his ceremonies, and all his judgments which he commanded our fathers…. that all the people of the earth may know, that the Lord he is God, and there is no other besides him. Let our hearts also be perfect with the Lord our God, that we may walk in his statues, and keep his commandments, as at this day.”

The queen of Saba came to validate the God-given wisdom of Solomon:

Having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions… she came to king Solomon, and spoke to him all that she had in her heart… she no longer had any spirit in her, and she said to the king… ‘thy wisdom and thy works, exceed the fame which I heard… blessed be the Lord thy God, whom thou hast pleased, and who hath set thee upon the throne of Israel, because the Lord hath loved Israel for ever, and hath appointed thee king, to do judgment and justice.’

And King Solomon was rich and getting richer as other kings brought him gifts:

King Solomon also made a great throne of ivory: and overlaid it with the finest gold. Moreover all the vessels, out of which king Solomon drank, were of gold… and King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches, and wisdom. And all the earth desired to see Solomon’s face, to hear his wisdom, which God had given in his heart…

But the fall of King Solomon came because:

King Solomon loved many strange women besides the daughter of Pharao…

The Lord said to the children of Israel: “You shall not go in unto them, neither shall any of them come in to yours: for they will most certainly turn away your heart to follow their gods. And to these was Solomon joined with a most ardent love, and he had seven hundred wives as queens, and three hundred concubines: and the women turned away his heart. And when he was now old, his heart was turned away by women to follow strange gods; and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

And the Lord was angry with Solomon… “because thou hast done this… I will divide and rend thy kingdom, and will give it to thy servant. Nevertheless in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Neither will I take away the whole kingdom, but I will give one tribe to thy son for the sake of David my servant, and Jerusalem which I have chosen.

And the Lord raised up an adversary to Solomon, Adad the Edomite… and he was an adversary to Israel, all the days of Solomon: and this is the evil of Adad, and his hatred against Israel, and he reigned in Syria.

So it came to pass at that time, that Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahias the Silonite, clad in a new garment, found him in the way: and the two were alone in the field.

Ahias to Jeroboan: “Take to thee ten pieces: for this saith the Lord the God of Israel: Behold I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give thee ten tribes.”

And to his son I will give one tribe, that there may remain a lamp for my servant David before me always in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen, that my name might be there… and I will all for this afflict the seed of David, but yet not for ever.

And the rest of the words of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom: behold they are all written in the book of the words of the days of Solomon. And the days that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel, were forty years. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father, and Roboam his son reigned in his stead.

But Solomon’s Prayer from the Old Testament remains with us and is still new today, a prayer of love, heart, and mercy for all who worship God instead of worshipping themselves, king or no king!

Day 117: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Solomon’s Prayer from the Old World but still New Today!.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Third Book of Kings Chapters 8-11.

This Book opens with the death of King David. Solomon, his son, succeeded him. King Solomon ruled wisely, beautified Jerusalem, and built the Temple. But later he encouraged idolatry. After his death his kingdom split into two hostile sections, Israel in the North and Juda in the South.

Bible Notes:

3 Kings Chapter 8: The ark is placed in the Temple; The glory of the Lord fills the Temple; Solomon blesses God; Solomon’s prayer; Solomon asks to be heard; May God forgive trespassers; Plea for forgiveness; Rain asked for the repentant; Rewards for prayers and supplications; May God hear also strangers; God’s help in wars; Prayers of the repentant; Solomon blesses all Israel; Solomon’s peace offering.

Then all the ancients of Israel with the princes of the tribes, and the heads of the families of the children of Israel were assembled to King Solomon in Jerusalem…

…and the priests took up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city of David, that is, out of Sion… and the tabernacle of the covenant…

Now in the ark there was nothing else but the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

…a cloud filled the house of the Lord… for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord.

…and I stand in the room of David my father, and sit upon the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised: and have built a house to the name of the Lord the God of Israel

Solomon’s prayer: “Lord God of Israel, there is no God like thee in heaven above, or on earth beneath: who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that have walked before thee with all their heart… whatsoever they shall pray for in this place, and hear them in the place of thy dwelling in heaven; and when thou hearest, show them mercy… and forgive the sin of thy people Israel… and show them the good way wherein they should walk… when a man shall know the wound of his own heart, and shall spread forth his hands in this house, then hear thou in heaven, in the place of thy dwelling, and forgive, and do so to every one according to his ways, as thou shalt see his heart…”

Is it then to be thought that God should indeed dwell upon earth? For if heaven, and the heavens of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house which I have built?

“Moreover also the stranger, who is not of thy people Israel, when he shall come out of a far country for thy name’s sake… for when he shall come, and shall pray in this place, then hear thou in heaven… and do all those things, for which the stranger shall call upon thee: that all the people of the earth may learn to fear thy name, as do thy people Israel…”

“But if they sin against thee (for there is no man who sinneth not) and thou being angry deliver them up to their enemies, so that they be led away captives into the land of their enemies far or near; then of they do penance in their hear in the place of captivity, and being converted make supplication to thee in their captivity saying: ‘We have sinned, we have done unjustly, we have committed wickedness, and return to thee with all their heart, and all their soul, in the land of their enemies… then hear thou in heaven… and do judgment for them. And forgive thy people, who have sinned against thee, and all their iniquities, by which they have transgressed against thee: and give them mercy before them that have made them captives, that they may have compassion on them.”

Solomon blesses all Israel: “The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our fathers, and not leave us, nor cast us off, but may he incline our hearts to himself, that we may walk in all his ways, and keep his commandments, and his ceremonies, and all his judgments which he commanded our fathers…. that all the people of the earth may know, that the Lord he is God, and there is no other besides him. Let our hearts also be perfect with the Lord our God, that we may walk in his statues, and keep his commandments, as at this day.”

…so the king, and the children of Israel dedicated the temple of the Lord.

 

3 Kings Chapter 9: The Lord talks with Solomon; Solomon and Hiram exchange gifts; Solomon builds and fortifies cities; Tribute exacted from foreigners; No Israelite slaves; Solomon’s religious practices; Solomon’s fleet brings gold.

…that the Lord appeared to him (Solomon) a second time, as he had appeared to him in Gabaon. And the Lord said to him: “I have heard thy prayer… I have sanctified this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever, and my eyes and my heart shall be there always… and if thou will walk before me… in simplicity of heart, and in uprightness… there shall not fail a man of thy race upon the throne of Israel… but if you and your children revolting shall turn away from following me… but will go and worship strange gods, and adore them, I will take Israel from the face of the land which I have given them; and the temple which I have sanctified in my name, I will cast out of my sight, and Israel shall be a proverb, and a byword among all people…”

And when twenty years were ended after Solomon had built the two houses, that is, the house of the Lord, and the house of the king… then Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee… and Hiram came out of Tyre, to see the towns which Solomon had given him, and they pleased him not… And he called them the land of Chabul to this day.

Pharao the king of Egypt came up and took Gazer… and gave it for a dowry to his daughter, Solomon’s wife.

 

3 Kings Chapter 10: The queen of Saba visits Solomon; She admires his wisdom and riches; Her gift to Solomon; The queen of Saba departs; Solomon’s gold; Solomon’s ivory throne; Solomon’s household vessels and furniture; Solomon’s chariots and horses.

And the queen of Saba, having heard of the fame of Solomon in the name of the Lord, came to try him with hard questions… she came to king Solomon, and spoke to him all that she had in her heart… she no longer had any spirit in her, and she said to the king… ‘thy wisdom and thy works, exceed the fame which I heard… blessed be the Lord thy God, whom thou hast pleased, and who hath set thee upon the throne of Israel, because the Lord hath loved Israel for ever, and hath appointed thee king, to do judgment and justice.’

King Solomon also made a great throne of ivory: and overlaid it with the finest gold.

Moreover all the vessels, out of which king Solomon drank, were of gold…

And King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the earth in riches, and wisdom. And all the earth desired to see Solomon’s face, to hear his wisdom, which God had given in his heart…

 

3 Kings Chapter 11: Solomon falls into idolatry; The Lord threatens Solomon; Adad is Solomon’s enemy; Razon is Solomon’s enemy; Rebellion of Jeroboam; Prophecy of Ahias; Jerobaum flees; Death of Solomon.

And King Solomon loved many strange women besides the daughter of Pharao…

The Lord said to the children of Israel: “You shall not go in unto them, neither shall any of them come in to yours: for they will most certainly turn away your heart to follow their gods. And to these was Solomon joined with a most ardent love, and he had seven hundred wives as queens, and three hundred concubines: and the women turned away his heart. And when he was now old, his heart was turned away by women to follow strange gods; and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.

And the Lord was angry with Solomon… “because thou hast done this… I will divide and rend thy kingdom, and will give it to thy servant. Nevertheless in thy days I will not do it, for David thy father’s sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son. Neither will I take away the whole kingdom, but I will give one tribe to thy son for the sake of David my servant, and Jerusalem which I have chosen.

And the Lord raised up an adversary to Solomon, Adad the Edomite…

God also raised up against him (Solomon) an adversary, Razon…

And he was an adversary to Israel, all the days of Solomon: and this is the evil of Adad, and his hatred against Israel, and he reigned in Syria.

So it came to pass at that time, that Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, and the prophet Ahias the Silonite, clad in a new garment, found him in the way: and the two were alone in the field.

Ahias to Jeroboan: “Take to thee ten pieces: for this saith the Lord the God of Israel: Behold I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give thee ten tribes.”

And to his son I will give one tribe, that there may remain a lamp for my servant David before me always in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen, that my name might be there… and I will all for this afflict the seed of David, but yet not for ever.

And the rest of the words of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom: behold they are all written in the book of the words of the days of Solomon. And the days that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel, were forty years. And Solomon slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David his father, and Roboam his son reigned in his stead.

I have to admit that I like reading The Bible; mostly for its wisdom and inspiration but also because I find that the wording and terminology are interesting and resonate, for some unknown reason, with me.

Phrases from today’s reading that stand out to me include the following: ‘I was praying and while in ecstasy’; ‘the Holy Spirit fell upon them’; ‘God has given repentance unto life’; ‘dispersed by the persecution’; ‘and the hand of the Lord was with them’; ‘believed and turned to the Lord’; ‘the king set hands on certain members of the Church’; and ‘but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

The phrases resonate in my mind like a pin ball and hit a bumper that activates a light and a memory and invariably a question triggered by the expanse of time and what was then and what is now.

My memory is no longer crystal clear especially from the early days on my childhood. When I was a baby was I baptized in both water and The Holy Spirit? Or did The Holy Spirit come to me at my Confirmation? Should I be re-baptized via full immersion as an adult?

I do have a vision of walking out of the water complete and radiated with The Holy Spirit and continuing on completely as my Splendid Spiritual Self for the rest of my life and beyond to eternity.

I am aware that the various bibles translate and interpret the original Scriptures using different words. No interpretation or translation is perfect and absolutely correct with respect to original intention. I have and use the family Bible from my childhood.

Copyrighted by the Catholic Press, Inc. in 1950 and 1952, there is a handwritten ‘1952’ on the page where ‘presented to’ and ‘presented by’ were left blank. I think it was a gift to themselves and to our family by Mom and Dad. Most of the ‘Life of Our Family’ pages in the latter part have been filled out in my Mom’s handwriting.

I use this Bible because I like to think, actually I know that, it will reveal my whole spiritual life going back to my birth. I do utilize other Bible for translations along the way from time to time.

Spirituality and our Splendid Spiritual Selves are a growing entity.

I love reading the Acts of the Apostles mainly because I identify with their trials and tribulations in a secular world. Obviously to a much small degree in terms of intensity and life and death matters.

Though likely not in terms of the inward spiritual battles we all have and the quest for eternal life. After all the Apostles were human like us whereas Jesus was human too but of the divinity we all long for.

“And for a whole year they took part in meetings of the Church and taught a great multitude. And it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.””

The disciples earned their stripes so to speak (another phrase that intrigues me in life that my father used), earned the right to be called “Christians.” It didn’t happen by being associated with Jesus but being disassociated from Jesus, on their own, sharing the Jesus legacy with the intent and objective to have others ‘believe and turn to the Lord’ as they had.

“Now at this time Herod the king set hands on certain members of the Church to persecute them. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter…”

 

 

Death and imprisonment were the rewards for questioning the ways of those days. The persecution did not end with the death of Jesus rather it only had just begun.

But God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit were more powerful and still are today even though it does not seem like it when you see the conflict there is among the nations and peoples of the world. Downright depressing.

The Good Guys (or Good Gals if you like) freed Peter from prison by miraculous means.

“When Herod had searched for him (Peter) and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death…”

For some reason I remember a portion of the story that is not included here or maybe it was another imprisonment whereby Peter stayed imprisoned even though he was freed by an earthquake because he knew the fate of the guards were he to escape?

Yet it would not be the demise of Peter, it would be King Herod that would fall to the hands of The Almighty.

“…they (Tyrians and Sidonians) asked for peace, because their country depended on him (King Herod) for its food supply… And the people shouted, “It is the voice of a god, and not of man.” But immediately an angel of the Lord struck him (King Herod) down, because he had not given the honor to God; and he was eaten by worms, and died.”

Aren’t we all kings (and queens) in our own mind?

Better give the honor to God for all our blessings and fortune in life.

“But the word of the Lord continued to grow and spread…”

The Disciples of Christ carry The Word onward while King Herod perishes…

Day 118: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Disciples of Christ Carry The Word Onward; King Herod Perishes…

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 11-12.

Bible Notes:

Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome

Acts Chapter 11:  Many wonder about baptizing Gentiles; Peter’s explanation; Greek converts to Antioch; Alms sent to Christians in Judea.

…heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God.

Then Peter began to explain… “I was praying… and while in ecstasy… And I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Arise, Peter, kill and eat.’ ‘What God has cleansed, do not thou call common.’ …and the Spirit bade me not to hesitate to go with them… But when I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, just as it did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore, if God gave to them the same grace as he gave to us who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that should be able to interfere with God? …Therefore to the Gentiles also God has given repentance unto life.”

Now those who had been dispersed by the persecution that had broken out over Stephen, went all the way to Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to none except to Jews only. But some of them were Cyprians and Cyreneans, who on reaching Antioch began to speak to the Greeks also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number, believed and turned to the Lord… Now when he (Barnabas) came and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and exhorted them all to continue in the Lord with steadfast heart; for he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith… And for a whole year they took part in meetings of the Church and taught a great multitude. And it was in Antioch that the disciples were first called “Christians.”

Some prophets from Jerusalem came down to Antioch, and one of them named Agabus got up and revealed through the Spirit that there would be a great famine all over the world. The famine occurred in the reign of Claudius. So the disciples, each according to his means, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea. And this they did, sending it to the presbyters by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.

 

Acts Chapter 12:  Peter in prison; His liberation by an angel; The angel leaves him; Peter announces his deliverance; Herod orders the guards killed; Herod’s death; The growth of the Church.

Now at this time Herod the king set hands on certain members of the Church to persecute them. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and seeing that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also, during the days of the Unleavened Bread (Passover)… So Peter was being kept in prison; but prayer was being made to God for him by the Church without ceasing.

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood beside him… saying, “Get up quickly.” The chains dropped from his hands. And the angel said to him, “Gird thyself and put on thy sandals.” And he did so; and he (the angel) said to him, “Wrap thy cloak about thee and follow me.”

And he followed him out, without knowing that what was being done by the angel was real, for he thought he was having a vision… and came to the iron gate that leads into the city; and this opened to them of its own accord… and straightaway the angel left him. The Peter came to himself, and he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent an angel and rescued me from the power of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.”

When he realized his situation, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was surnamed Mark where many had gathered together and were praying…When he knocked on the outer door, a maid named Rhoda came to answer it… in her joy she did not unlock the gate… “Thou art mad”…. “It is his angel.”… But Peter kept knocking; and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But he motioned to them with his hand to be quiet, and related how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell this to James ad to the brethren.” And he departed, and went to another place.

When Herod had searched for him (Peter) and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered them to be put to death…

…they (Tyrians and Sidonians) asked for peace, because their country depended on him (King Herod) for its food supply… And the people shouted, “It is the voice of a god, and not of man.” But immediately an angel of the Lord struck him (King Herod) down, because he had not given the honor to God; and he was eaten by worms, and died.

But the word of the Lord continued to grow and spread. Now Barnabas and Saul, when they had fulfilled their mission, returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, who was surnamed Mark.

Genesis’ “begats” to Third Kings where it seems “‘wicked’ reigns ad infinitum?

In Genesis… Adam lived a hundred and thirty years and begat a son Seth… Seth begat Enos… Enos begat Cainan… “begats” forever in Genesis…

In Three Kings… Roboam’s wicked reign in Juda… Abiam’s wicked reign in Juda… Nadab’s wicked reign in Israel… Baasa’s wicked reign… Amri’s wicked reign over Israel; Achab’s wicked reign over Israel… there was a lot of wickedness in the leaders of the Old Testament.

Fortunately God interceded and applied His Own Law to make the necessary changes.

Is a second ‘parable’ in The Old Testament found in this section of Three Kings?

Remember the first ‘parable’ in The Old Testament was told by Nathan to David after he had Bethsabee’s husband Urias sent to the front of the battle where he was killed.

Day 105: OT Second Kings C6-12; War and David; Sin & God’s First Parable

This first parable of the Old Testament resulted in forgiveness.

David to Nathan the prophet: I have sinned against the Lord.

Nathan the prophet to David: The Lord also hath taken away thy sin: thou shalt not die.

War and David; sin & God’s first parable… and now Solomon too!

 

In Three Kings, a man of God appears and foretells the birth of Christ in the house of David but also in doing so is warning Jeroboam to change his ways and treat the children of Israel, God’s chosen children, a little better.

A certain old prophet deceives the man of God. While not interfering with his prophecy, he tricks him into disobeying God and paying the price of his life for doing so.

This could be a parable about how deceitful people will appear to be your friend and sympathize with you with the result being your downfall. If God wants you to do something different He will tell you or minimally tell you to look for a sign through another human being.

While I am not sure for what reason or motive the certain old prophet did this other than to be lying down in the same sepulcher with a true man of God after he dies. Immortality is not achievable through pride or ego. Immortality is possible through God, His Son Jesus Christ, and The Holy Spirit in a meek and humble way by bearing whatever Cross you need to bear in your life experience.

I do know, for me, the take-away is to stay in constant prayer and communication with God The Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and The Holy Spirit for not only guidance and direction but to obtain the power behind the inspiration to power one’s self to fulfill one’s own individual prophecy.

Remember that this if The Old Testament, the time of law and only God’s love for His children in the world. The ‘covenant of law’ alone did not work so God sent His Only Son into the world to save the world which He did in Jesus’ Blood and in Jesus’ Name.

God The Father, Jesus His Son and now The Holy Spirit is present and inspiring the people of this world. So inspired by God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit with the inspiration of other religions and spiritualties and no religion or spirituality at all… comes The Third Testament of the Splendid Spiritual Self through which we all do God’s Will.

 

And the rest of the words and all that was revealed through spiritual breakthroughs in life and others who inspired him, are thy not to be written in TROML Journals and culminated in The Third Testament of the Splendid Spiritual Self?

And there was war throughout our lifetimes both outside in the world and inside us between good and evil. Eventually we sleep with our mothers and fathers. There will be many memorials to Christ bearing our pursuit of eternity from the year of our birth to TROML Forever in cemeteries overlooking winding and flowing rivers.

And The Third Testament of the Splendid Spiritual Self will live on in hopes of achieving the spiritual redemption and salvation of the world through a unified means of law, love and the spirit. 

Glory to God!

For this we pray, Amen.

Day 119: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective;

A Second Parable of the Old Testament with Visions of a Third Testament.

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Third Book of Kings Chapters 12-16

Bible Notes:

This Book opens with the death of King David. Solomon, his son, succeeded him. King Solomon ruled wisely, beautified Jerusalem, and built the Temple. But later he encouraged idolatry. After his death his kingdom split into two hostile sections, Israel in the North and Juda in the South.

3 Kings Chapter 12: The people ask for lighter burdens; Roboam consults old and young; Roboam refuses the people’s request; Revolt of ten tribes; God tells Roboam, not to fight the rebels; Jeroboam leads his people into idolatry.

Roboam the son of King Solomon…

Jeroboam the son of Nabat, who was yet in Egypt, a fugitive from the face of King Solomon, hearing of his death, returned out of Egypt.

Thy father (King Solomon) laid a grievous yoke upon us… of his most heavy yoke… make the yoke which thy father put upon us lighter?

What counsel do you give me?

Old men: grant their petition and they will be thy servants always…

Young men: I will add to your yoke.

So Jeroboam and all the people came to Roboam…

…but I will add to your yoke: my father beat you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions… for the Lord was turned away from him (King Roboam), to make good his word… (behold I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give thee (Jeroboam) ten tribes…

What portion do we have in David?

And Israel revolted from the house of David (David-Solomon-Roboam), unto this day.

…and there was none that followed the house of David but the tribe of Juda only.

…and the tribe of Benjamin…

House of Israel (ten tribes) vs. the House of David (one tribes); 12^th tribe was Levi?

The Lord: “You shall not go up nor fight against your brethren the children of Israel…”

And Jeroboam said in his heart: Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David, if this people go up to offer sacrifices in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem: and the heart of this people will turn to their lord Roboam the king of Juda, and they will kill me, and return to him.

FEAR, LACK OF TRUST IN GOD???

Jeroboam made two golden calves… and he set one in Bethel, and the other in Dan… and this thing became an occasion of sin… and he made temples in high places, and priests of the lowest of the people, who were not of the sons of Levi… which he had devised of his own heart.

 

3 Kings Chapter 13: Prophecy of the birth of Jesus; Jeroboam’s hand writers; Restoration of Jerobaum’s hand; The prophet from Juda returns to Bethel; God is angry with the prophet from Juda; The prophet is slain by a lion; The prophet from Juda is buried in Bethel; Jerobaum continues to sin.

A man of God:

“O altar, altar, thus saith the Lord: Behold a child shall be born to the house of David, Josais by name, and he shall immolate upon thee the priests of the high priests, who now burn incense upon thee, and he shall burn men’s bones upon thee. And he gave a sign the same day saying: This shall be the sign: that the Lord hath spoken: Behold the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out.”

The word of the man of God…

King Jeroboam: “Lay hold on him.” And his hand which he stretched forth against him withered: and he was not able to draw it back again to him.

King Jeroboam to the man of God: “Entreat the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me.” And the man of God besought the face of the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored to him, and it became as it was before.

The Lord had commanded the man of God: “Thou shalt not eat bread nor drink water, nor return by the same way that thou camest.” So he departed by another way, and returned not by the way that he came into Bethel.

Now a certain old prophet said to the man of God: “art thou the man of God that camest from Juda?” He answered: “I am.”

The old prophet said to the man of God: “I also am a prophet kike unto thee: and an angel spoke to me in the word of the Lord, saying: “Bring him back with thee into thy house, that he may eat bread, and drink water.” He deceived him, and brought him back with him: so he ate bread and drank water in his house.

Lord to the man of God: “…thy body shall not be brought into the sepulcher of thy fathers.”

And when he was gone, a lion found him in the way, and killed him, and his body was cast in the way…

The old prophet: “It is the man of God that was disobedient to the mouth of the Lord…”

And he laid the dead body in his own sepulcher.

Old prophet: “When I am dead, bury me on the sepulcher wherein the man of God is buried: lay my bones besides his bones. For assuredly the word shall come to pass which he hath foretold in the word of the Lord against the altar that is in Bethel and against all the temples of the high places, that are in the cities of Samaria.

After these words Jeroboam came not back from his wicked way: but on the contrary he made the meanest of the people priests of the high places…

And for this cause did the house of Jeroboam sin, and was cut off and destroyed from the face of the earth.

 

3 Kings Chapter 14: Jeroboam’s wife consults the prophet, Ahias; He foretells the ruin of Jeroboam’s family; Death of Abia, son of Jeroboam; Death of Jeroboam; Roboam’s wicked reign in Juda; Sesac pillages Jerusalem; Abiam succeeds Roboam.

At that time Abia the son of Jeroboam fell sick. And Jeroboam said to his wife: Arisee, and change thy dress, that thou be not known to be the wife of Jeroboam, and go to Silo, where Ahias the prophet is… for he will tell thee what shall become of this child… but he (Ahias) could not see, for his eyes were dim by reason of his age.

And the Lord said to Ahias… thus and thus shalt thou speak to her. So when she was coming in, and made as if she were another woman… Come in, thou wife of Jeroboam: why dost thou feign thyself to be another?… Go, and tell Jeroboam… and thou hast not been as my servant David, who kept my commandments, and followed me with all his heart… and hast made thee strange gods and molten gods… therefore I will bring evils upon the house of Jeroboam… and I will sweep away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as dung is swept away till all be clean… for the Lord has spoken… the child shall die… for he only of Jeroboam shall be laid in a sepulcher, because in his regard there is found a good word from the Lord the God of Israel… And the Lord God shall strike Israel as a reed is shaken in the water; and he shall root up Israel out of this good land… And the Lord shall give up Israel for the sins of Jeroboam, who hath sinned, and made Israel to sin…

… the child died, and they buried him. And all Israel mourned for him according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by the hand of his servant Ahias the prophet.

And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he fought, and how he reigned, behold they are written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel. And the days that Jeroboam reigned, were two and twenty years: and he slept with his fathers: and Nadab his son reigned in his stead.

And Roboam the son of Solomon reigned in Juda: Roboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign; and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem the city, which the Lord chose out of all the tribes of Israel to put his name there.

And Juda did evil in the sight of the Lord, and provoked him above all that their fathers had done, in their sins which they committed. For they also built them altars, and statures, and groves upon every high hill and under every green tree. They were also the effeminate in the land and they did according to all the abominations of the people whom the Lord had destroyed before the face of the children of Israel.

Groves: I believe that “groves” in the true word of God are places where pagan altars and images are displayed, and heathen religious rituals are performed.  It is quite clear that many times these places are located outdoors in (or near) a “grove” of trees (http://www.learnthebible.org/groves.html)

Effeminate: (of a man or boy) having traits, tastes, habits, etc., traditionally considered feminine, as softness or delicacy.   (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/effeminate?s=t).

And in the fifth year of the reign of Roboam, Sesac king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. And he took away the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the king’s treasures, and carried all off; as also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.

Now the rest of the acts of Roboam, and all that he did, behold they are written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda. And there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam always. And Roboam slept with his fathers… and Abiam his son reigned in his stead.

 

3 Kings Chapter 15: Abiam’s wicked reign in Juda; Asa succeeds Abiam; Asa’s good reign; War between Asa and Baasa; Josaphat succeeds Asa; Nadab’s wicked reign in Israel; Baasa slays Nadab and becomes king; Baasa’s wicked reign.

Now in the eighteenth year of the reign of Jeroboam… Abiam reigned over Juda. He reigned three years in Jerusalem… And he walked in all the sins of his father… and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father… because David had done that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, and had not turned aside from any thing that he commanded him, all the days of his life, except the matter of Urias the Hethite. But there was war between Roboam and Jeroboam all the time of his life.

FLASHBACK to Day 105: OT Second Kings C6-12; War and David; Sin & God’s First Parable

David saw from the roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the woman was very beautiful… that she was Bethsabee… the wife of Urias the Hethite… and David sent messengers, and took her, and she came in to him, and he slept with her… and she returned to her house having conceived.

David to Joan: Set ye Urias in the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest: and leave ye him that he may be wounded and die… and Urias the Hethite was killed… and Bethsabee mourned for him. And the mourning being over. David sent and brought her into his house, and she became his wife, and she bore him a son…

And this thing which David had done, was displeasing to the Lord.

David to Nathan the prophet: I have sinned against the Lord.

Nathan the prophet to David: The Lord also hath taken away thy sin: thou shalt not die. Nevertheless, because thou hast given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, for this thing, the child that is born to thee shall surely die.

And David besought the Lord for the child: and David kept a fast, and going in by himself lay upon the ground.

And it came to pass on the seventh day that the child died. David went into the house of the Lord: and worshiped, and then he came into his own house. And David comforted Bethsabee his wife, and went in unto her, and slept with her: and she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon, and the Lord loved him… and called his name, Amiable to the Lord, because the Lord loved him

War and David; sin & God’s first parable… and now Solomon too!

END of FLASHBACK.

And the rest of the words of Abiam, and all that he did, are thy not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? And there was war between Abiam and Jeroboam. And Abiam slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Asa his son reigned in his stead.

So in the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, reigned Asa king of Juda, and he reigned one and forty years on Jerusalem.

And Asa did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, as did David his father. And he took away all the effeminate out of the land, and he removed all the filth of the idols, which his fathers had made… but the high places he did not take away. Nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with the Lord all his days, and he brought in the things which his father had dedicated…

And there was war between Asa, and Baasa king of Israel all their days… Then Asa took all the silver and gold that remained in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king’s house, and delivered it into the hands of his servants; and sent them to Benadad… king of Syria, who dwelt in Damascus, saying… I desire thee to come, and break thy league with Baasa king of Israel, that he may depart from me. Benadad hearkening to king Asa, sent the captains of his army against the cities of Israel, and they smote…

But the rest of all the acts of Asa, and all his strength, and all that he did, and the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda? But in the time of his old age he was diseased in his feet. And he slept with his fathers, and was buried with them in the city of David his father. And Josaphat his son reigned in his place.

But Hadab the son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel the second year of Asa king of Juda: and he reigned over Israel two years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

And Baasa the son of Ahias (the prophet?)… conspired against him (Nadab), and slew him in Gebbethon… So Baasa slew him (Nadab) in the third year of Asa king of Juda, and reigned in his place. And when he was king he cut off all the house of Jeroboam: he left not so much as one soul of his seed… Bit the rest of the acts of Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel? And there was war between Asa and Baasa, the king of Israel, all their days.

In the third year of Asa, king of Juda, Baasa the son of Ahias reigned over all Israel… four and twenty years. And he did evil before the Lord, and walked in the ways of Jeroboam, and in his sins, wherewith he made Israel to sin.

 

3 Kings Chapter 16: Jehu’s prophecy against Baasa; Ela succeeds Baasa as king of Israel; Zambri rebels against Ela; Zambri slays all of Baasa’s family; Zambri reigns seven days and kills himself; Amri gains the throne over Thebni; Amri builds Samaria; Amri’s wicked reign over Israel; Achab’s wicked reign over Israel; Josue’s curse fulfilled.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jehu… against Baasa, saying… Behold, I will cut down the posterity of Baasa, and the posterity of his house, and I will make thy house as the house of Jeroboam…

But the rest of the acts of Baasa and all that he did, and his battles, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel? So Baasa slept with his fathers… and Ela his son reigned in his stead. And when the word of the Lord came in the hand of Jehu, the son of Hanani the prophet, against Baasa… for this cause he (Ela?) slew him (Jehu), that is to say, Juhu the son on Hanani the prophet.

In the six and twentieth year of Asa king of Juda, Ela the son of Baasa reigned over Israel… two years. And his servant Zambri… rebelled against him: now Ela was drinking… and drunk in the house of Arsa… And Zambri rushing in, struck him and slew him in the seven and twentieth year of Asa king of Juda, and he reigned in his stead.

And when he (Zambri) was king and sat upon his throne, he slew all the house of Baasa, and he left not one thereof to piss against a wall… according to the word of the Lord, that he had spoken to Baasa in the hand of Jehu the prophet… But the rest of the acts of Ela, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?

In the seven and twentieth year of Asa, king of Juda, Zambri reigned seven days… And when they heard that Zambri had rebelled, and slain the king (Ela), all Israel made Armi their king, who was general over Israel in the camp that day… And Zambri seeing that the city was about to be taken, went into the palace and burnt himself with the king’s house: and he died in his sins, which he had sinned, doing evil before the Lord… But the rest of the acts of Zambri, and of his conspiracy and tyranny, are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?

In the one and thirtieth year of the Asa king of Juda, Amri reigned over Israel twelve years: in Thersa he reigned six years. And he bought the hill of Samaria of Semer… and he built upon it, and he called the city which he built Samaria, after the name of Semer, the owner of the hill.

And Amri did evil in the sight of the Lord, and acted wickedly above all that were before him… And Amri slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria, and Achab his son reigned in his stead.

Now Achab the son of Amri reigned in the eight and thirtieth year of Asa king of Juda… and reigned over Israel in Samaria two and twenty years… but he also took to wife Jezabel daughter of Ethbaal king of the Sidonians. And he went, and served Baal, and adored him… and Achab did more to provoke the Lord the God of Israel, than all the kings of Israel that were before him.

In his days Hiel of Bethel built Jericho… according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke in the hand of Josue the son of Nun.

WOW! What an opening to Chapter 13 of the Acts of the Apostles:

Now in the Church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, among whom were Barnabas and Simon… and Manahen… and Saul. And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Saul and Barnabas unto the work to which I have called them.” Then having fasted and prayed and laid their hands upon them, they let them go.

Instantly takes you in with the mystery of “the work to which I have called them.”

What was the word that The Holy Spirit had called Saul and Barnabas?

Other questions popped up in my head too!

The Church of Antioch? Was this the first time the word “Church” is used up to this point in the New Testament?

Also, judging by the use of the term, “laid their hands upon them,” seems to be quite an early Church tradition.

And on a personal note coming off Day 119 in the Old Testament in Three Kings and introducing ‘The Third Testament of the Splendid Spiritual Self,’ here we have an active and speaking Holy Spirit. Random act, pure coincidence or somehow otherwise ordained?

 

Prayerfully Passive, then Divinely Decision are the changes in the direction of our life?

Jesus cures the blind and the disciples make wicked nonbelievers blind?

Paul’s discourse on the Old Testament… referenced 530 years in so doing but the period of time was likely to be three or four times that. I wonder if the prophets of today can see as far into the future as Paul recalled into the past? Not in terms of technology or worldly things but in terms of our spirit and souls.

God so stated that: “I have found in David, the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all that I desire.” Which translates to me that God has a heart and had one throughout the Old Testament history. His heart manifested itself in the Love of Jesus Christ in the New Testament and forever to all of time through the resurrection and eternal life… spiritually thinking. We know how our spirit will live on in heaven but what about our remaining years here on Earth?

David wrote Psalms 3 to 9, 11 to 32, 34 to 41, 68 to 70, 51 to 65,101, 86, 103, 108 to 110, 124, 122, 133, 131 and 138 to 145. He wrote a total of 73. (Reference.com)

“So we now bring you the good news that the promise made to our fathers, God has fulfilled to our children, in raising up Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, ‘Thou art my son, this day I have begotten thee’… never again to return to decay, he has said thus, ‘I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.’ Because he says also in another Psalm, ‘Thou will not let thy Holy One undergo decay.’ For David… fell asleep and was laid among his fathers and did undergo decay; but he whom God raised to life did not undergo it.”

Realization that the resurrection was not made retroactive, was not grandfathered, to the good guys and gals of the Old Testament pre the resurrection of Jesus. What of those like John the Baptist that pre-deceased Jesus?

King David’s body did undergo decay; Jesus’ body did not. Why then do (or will do) our bodies undergo decay as physical evidence suggests?

As Billy Graham states… there are some things we humans cannot understand and must accept by faith!

I believe that and pray that God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit direct my thinking. Not that I can think like God but I surrender to His Will and His Power to carry out His Will with my life. I let God do my thinking for me!

Paul: “Be it known therefore to you, brethren, that through him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and in Him everyone who believes is acquitted of all the things of which you could not be acquitted by the Law of Moses.”

Something clicked for me as I read, typed, and reread the above quotation of Paul.

First is there any way spelled out in the Bible that one can be acquitted in the Law of Moses?

Secondly, any sin, any evil act, even those we cannot yet fathomed in our minds (notice I did not say ‘imagine or inspire’ as I believe evil cannot be referenced as doing good or positive things; same reasoning as to why present day terrorists cannot be inspired to do heinous acts) is acquitted of those who believe. Forgiveness of all sins no matter what they are or who committed them is possible.

The people asked to have all of this said to them on the following Sabbath. Repetition was working even back them!

Many of the Jews and the worshipping converts went away with Paul and Barnabas, and they (Paul and Barnabas) talked with them and urged them to hold fast to the grace of God.

Some rejected the spoken word and judged themselves unworthy of eternal life.

And there you have it once again… that selfish egotistical control of ‘free will,’ yet if a habit is habitual cab ‘free will’ ever be free?

And in Lystra… a certain man… lame from his very birth… He listened to Paul as he spoke; when Paul, gazing at him and seeing that he had faith to be cured, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on thy feet.” And he sprang up and began to walk.

Then the crowds, seeing what Paul had done, saying “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.” And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury… and with the people would have offered sacrifice… But upon hearing this, the apostles Barnabas and Paul rushed into the crowd, tearing their clothes, and shouting, “Men, why are you doing this? We also are mortals, human beings like you, bringing to you the good news that you should turn from these vain things to the living God… And even with these words they could hardly restrain the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

But some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium; and after winning over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking that he was dead.

But the disciples gathered round him and he got up and re-entered the city.

Got up and re-entered the city after being stoned?

After preaching the gospel… reassuring the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and reminding them that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed presbyters for them in each church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

…And from there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been entrusted to the grace of God for the work which they had now finished. On their arrival they called the church together and reported all that God had done with them, and how he had opened up to the Gentiles a door of faith.

The ‘Door of Faith’ is Open; Let Us Walk Through to True Freedom!

Day 120: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The ‘Door of Faith’ is Open; Let Us Walk In for True Freedom!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 13-14.

Bible Notes:

Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome

Acts Chapter 13:  Paul’s first journey: Antioch; Cyprus; Antioch in Pisidia; Paul’s discourse: The Old Testament; The New Testament; God’s promise fulfilled; Forgiveness of sins granted; Result of Paul’s discourse; Paul and Barnabas persecuted.

Now in the Church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers, among whom were Barnabas and Simon… and Manahen… and Saul. And as they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Saul and Barnabas unto the work to which I have called them.” Then having fasted and prayed and laid their hands upon them, they let them go.

So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus.

…began to preach the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews… they also had John as assistant… there they came across a Jewish magician and false prophet named Bar-Jesus… Elymas, the sorcerer (for his name is so translated)… Saul (also called Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit… will thou not cease to make crooked the straight ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time. And instantly there fell upon him a mist of darkness… then the proconsul, seeing what had happened, believed and was astonished at the Lord’s teaching.

…but John left them and returned to Jerusalem…

After the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them (Paul and his companions), saying, “Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”

Israelites and you who fear God, hearken… sojourners in the land of Egypt… forty years… after about four hundred and fifty years. After that he gave them judges, until the time of Samuel the prophet. Then they demanded a king, and God gave them Saul, the son of Cis… for forty years… And removing him, he raised up David to be their king… (Paul’s discourse on the Old Testament).

God: “I have found in David, the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all that I desire.”

Paul continued with his discourse on the New Testament: “From his offspring, God according to promise brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus… John the Baptist: ‘I am not he whom you suppose me to be, but behold, there comes one after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose’… and all among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent… and the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath… But God raised him from the dead on the third day; and he was seen during many days by those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem; and they are now witnesses for him to the people.”

“So we now bring you the good news that the promise made to our fathers, God has fulfilled to our children, in raising up Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, ‘Thou art my son, this day I have begotten thee’… never again to return to decay, he has said thus, ‘I will give you the holy and sure promises of David.’ Because he says also in another Psalm, ‘Thou will not let thy Holy One undergo decay.’ For David… fell asleep and was laid among his fathers and did undergo decay; but he whom God raised to life did not undergo it.”

Paul: “Be it known therefore to you, brethren, that through him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and in Him everyone who believes is acquitted of all the things of which you could not be acquitted by the Law of Moses.”

The people asked to have all of this said to them on the following Sabbath. Repetition was working even back them!

Many of the Jews and the worshipping converts went away with Paul and Barnabas, and they (Paul and Barnabas) talked with them and urged them to hold fast to the grace of God.

The Jews were filled with jealousy and contradicted what was said by Paul, and blasphemed. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out plainly: “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have set thee for a light to the Gentiles, to be a means of salvation to the very ends of the earth.’”

But the Jews… stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drive them from their district… but they (Paul and Barnabas) shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them… and the disciples continued to be filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Acts Chapter 14:  At Iconium many believe; At Lystra a cripple is cured; Paul refuses divine honors; Paul is stoned; Derbe; the return to Antioch.

Now it came to pass at Iconium… and so spoke that a great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed. But the disbelieving Jews stirred up and poisoned the minds of the Gentiles against the brethren. They (Paul and Barnabas) stayed a long time, therefore, acting fearlessly in the Lord, who gave testimony to the word of his grace by permitting signs and wonders to be done by their hands… But when there was a movement on the part of the Gentiles and of the Jews with their rulers to insult and stone them, hearing of it, they escaped to the Lycaonian cities Lystra and Derbe… and there they went on preaching the gospel.

And in Lystra… a certain man… lame from his very birth… He listened to Paul as he spoke; when Paul, gazing at him and seeing that he had faith to be cured, said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on thy feet.” And he sprang up and began to walk.

Then the crowds, seeing what Paul had done, saying “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men.” And they called Barnabas Jupiter, and Paul Mercury… and with the people would have offered sacrifice… But upon hearing this, the apostles Barnabas and Paul rushed into the crowd, tearing their clothes, and shouting, “Men, why are you doing this? We also are mortals, human beings like you, bringing to you the good news that you should turn from these vain things to the living God… And even with these words they could hardly restrain the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.

But some Jews arrived from Antioch and Iconium; and after winning over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking that he was dead. But the disciples gathered round him and he got up and re-entered the city.

After preaching the gospel… reassuring the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and reminding them that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. And when they had appointed presbyters for them in each church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

…And from there they sailed back to Antioch, where they had first been entrusted to the grace of God for the work which they had now finished. On their arrival they called the church together and reported all that God had done with them, and how he had opened up to the Gentiles a door of faith.

 

Elias prophesied that “there shall not be dew nor rain these years.”

And the word of the Lord came to him and told him to “go towards the east, and hide thyself by the torrent of Carith, which is over against the Jordan, and there thou shalt drink of the torrent: and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the torrent.

But after some time the torrent was dried up…

God to Elias: Arise, and go to Sarephta of the Sidonians, and dwell there: for I have commanded a widow woman there to feed thee.

The widow and her son were starving to death and had but one final meal to eat.

Elias to the widow: Fear not… For thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: The pot of meal shall not waste, nor the cruse of oil be diminished, until the day wherein the Lord will give rain upon the face of the earth… the pot of meal wasted not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord.

The son of the widow… fell sick… and the sickness was very grievous, so that there was no breath left in him.

Elias: O Lord my God, let the soul of this child, I beseech thee, return into his body. And the Lord heard the voice of Elias: and the soul of the child returned into him, and he revived.

Widow to Elias: Now, by this I know that thou art a man of God, and the word of the Lord in thy mouth is true.

What true faith that Elias and the widow had. Not only does God feed and take care of the birds but in this biblical account had the birds feeding Elias. And then a widow who had no more food to eat believed in God and Elias and shared when most of us, including me, would have become territorial and tried to save our own families first. But her faith brought her son back to life. Another true miracle of the Old Testament.

Continuing the story……in the third year… there was a grievous famine in Samaria.

Elias to the people: I only remain a prophet of the Lord… and the God that shall answer by fire, let him be God… Come ye unto me… Elias the Prophet…

Elias: Lord God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel, and I thy servant, and that according to thy commandment I have done all these things. Hear me, O Lord, hear me that this people may learn, that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart again.

Then the fire of the Lord fell… And when all the people saw this, they fell on their faces, and they said: The Lord he is God, the Lord he is God.

Elias to the people” Take the prophets of Baal, and let not one of them escape.

And when they had taken them, Elias brought them down to the torrent Cison, and killed them there.

And Elias said to Achab: Go up, eat, and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain… behold the heavens grew dark, with clouds, and wind, and there fell a great rain.

…and behold the word of the Lord came unto him (Elias)… Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord: and behold the Lord passeth, and a great and strong wind… the Lord is not in the wind… an earthquake… the Lord is not in the earthquake… a fire… the Lord is not in the fire… a whistling of a gentle air… and the Lord said to him: Go and return on thy way through the desert to Damascus: and when though art come thither, thou shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria…. And thou shall anoint Jehu… to be king over Israel… and Eliseus… thou shalt anoint to be prophet of thy room… And I will leave me seven thousand men in Israel, whose knees have not been bowed before Baal.

So we listen for the Lord in the whistling of a gentle air (wind)… we denounce idols… we live out our seasons of a day, a lifetime and become our Splendid Spiritual Self for all of eternity.

Like and with the true faith of Elias and the Widow we are destined to be a miracle of The Old, The New and the Third Testaments.

Amen. Al-le-lu-ia!

Day 121: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Faith of Elias & Widow destine a Miracle of the Old Testament!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Third Book of Kings Chapters 17-20

Bible Notes:

This Book opens with the death of King David. Solomon, his son, succeeded him. King Solomon ruled wisely, beautified Jerusalem, and built the Temple. But later he encouraged idolatry. After his death his kingdom split into two hostile sections, Israel in the North and Juda in the South.

3 Kings Chapter 17: Elias predicts drought; Elias is fed by ravens; Elias visits a widow of Sarephta; Elias feeds the widow’s household; Elias restores life to the widow’s son.

Elias to Achab: …there shall not be dew nor rain these years…

And the word of the Lord came to him (Elias)…

God to Elias: …and go towards the east, and hide thyself by the torrent of Carith, which is over against the Jordan, and there thou shalt drink of the torrent: and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening, and he drank of the torrent.

But after some time the torrent was dried up…

God to Elias: Arise, and go to Sarephta of the Sidonians, and dwell there: for I have commanded a widow woman there to feed thee.

Widow to Elias: …behold I am gathering two sticks that I may go in and dress it, for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

Elias to the widow: Fear not… For thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: The pot of meal shall not waste, nor the cruse of oil be diminished, until the day wherein the Lord will give rain upon the face of the earth… the pot of meal wasted not, and the cruse of oil was not diminished, according to the word of the Lord.

The son of the widow… fell sick… and the sickness was very grievous, so that there was no breath left in him.

Elias: O Lord my God, let the soul of this child, I beseech thee, return into his body. And the Lord heard the voice of Elias: and the soul of the child returned into him, and he revived.

Widow to Elias: Now, by this I know that thou art a man of God, and the word of the Lord in thy mouth is true.

3 Kings Chapter 18: Elias goes to Achab; Achab and Abdias seek feed for the cattle; Elias meets Abdias; Elias meets Achab; The prophets of Baal fail; Elias prepares a sacrifice; Elias brings down fire from heaven; The prophets of Baal are executed; The prayers of Elias bring rain.

…in the third year… there was a grievous famine in Samaria

God to Elias: Go and show thyself to Achab (king over Israel), that I may give rain upon the face of the earth.

Achab called Abdias the governor of his house… to see if we can find grass, and save the horses and mules… Achab went one way, and Abdias another way by himself.

Abdias feared the Lord very much. For when Jezabel killed the prophets of the Lord, he took one hundred prophets and hid them by fifty and fifty in caves, and fed them with bread and water.

Abdias to Elias: Art thou my lord Elias?

Elias to Abdias: I am. Go, and tell thy master: Elias is here… this day I will show myself unto him.

Elias to Achab: thou… have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and have followed Baalim… nevertheless… gather unto me all Israel, unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred and fifty..

Elias to the people: I only remain a prophet of the Lord… and the God that shall answer by fire, let him be God… Come ye unto me… Elias the Prophet…

Elias: Lord God of Abraham, and Isaac, and Israel, and I thy servant, and that according to thy commandment I have done all these things. Hear me, O Lord, hear me that this people may learn, that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their heart again.

Then the fire of the Lord fell… And when all the people saw this, they fell on their faces, and they said: The Lord he is God, the Lord he is God.

Elias to the people” Take the prophets of Baal, and let not one of them escape.

And when they had taken them, Elias brought them down to the torrent Cison, and killed them there.

And Elias said to Achab: Go up, eat, and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain… behold the heavens grew dark, with clouds, and wind, and there fell a great rain.

3 Kings Chapter 19: Elias flees from Jezabel; An angel feeds Elias; Elias to anoint Hazael, Jehu, and Eliseus; Eliseus follows Elias.

Where did the name Dr. Seus come from? Only other place I have seen these four letters so arranged. Dr. Eli Seus?

And Achab told Jezabel all that Elias had done, and how he had slain all the prophets with the sword. And Jezabel sent a messenger to Elias, saying: Such and such things may the gods do to me, and add still more, if by this hour to morrow I make not thy life as the life of one of them.

Then Elias was afraid, and rising up he went withersoever he had a mind…

Elias… went forward… one day’s journey into the desert… he requested for his soul that he might die… slept in the shadow of a juniper tree… an angel of the Lord touched him… Arise and eat… and he ate and drank and fell asleep again… the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him… Arise, eat: for thou hast yet a great way to go. And he arose, and at, and drank, and walked in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights, unto the mount of God, Horeb.

…and behold the word of the Lord came unto him (Elias)… Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord: and behold the Lord passeth, and a great and strong wind… the Lord is not in the wind… an earthquake… the Lord is not in the earthquake… a fire… the Lord is not in the fire… a whistling of a gentle air… and the Lord said to him: Go and return on thy way through the desert to Damascus: and when though art come thither, thou shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria…. And thou shall anoint Jehu… to be king over Israel… and Eliseus… thou shalt anoint to be prophet of thy room… And I will leave me seven thousand men in Israel, whose knees have not been bowed before Baal.

3 Kings Chapter 20: The Syrians besiege Samaria; Achab refuses to meet Benadad’s terms; Achab defeats the Syrians; The Syrians again invade Israel; Achab again defeats the Syrians; Achab gives Benadad his freedom; A prophet reprehends Achab.

Benadad, king of Spain said to Achab, king of Israel: Thy silver, and thy gold is mine: and thy wives, and thy goodliest children are mine…

Achab: To morrow…

Ancients of Israel:  Hearken not to him, nor consent to him.

Achab to Benadad: Let not the girded boast himself as the ungirded…

Benadad… and the kings were drinking in pavilions…

And behold a prophet coming to Achab… said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Hast thou seen all this exceeding great multitude? Behold I will deliver them into thy hand this day: that thou mayest know that I am the Lord…

…he found the number of… seven thousand and they went out at noon…

But Benadad was drinking himself drunk in his pavilion…

Servants to Benadad… There are men coming out of Samaria…

Benadad to servants: Whether they come for peace, take them alive: or whether they come to fight take them alive…

So everyone (Israelites) slew the man that against him… the Syrians fled, and Israel pursued after them. And Benadad king of Syria fled away on horseback with his horsemen…

…the king of Israel going out… and slew the Syrians with a great slaughter.

Servants to Benadad: Their gods are the gods of the hills, therefore they have overcome us: but it is better that we should fight against them in the plains, and we shall overcome them…

Lord to Achab: Because the Syrians have said: The Lord is God of the hills, but he is not God of the valleys: I will deliver all this great multitude into thy hand and you shall know that I am the Lord.

…And the Children of Israel slew of the Syrians a hundred thousand footmen in one day.

And Benadad fleeing went into the city, into a chamber that was within a chamber…

Behold, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful: so let us put sackcloth on our loins, and ropes on our hands, and go to the king of Israel: perhaps he will save our lives…

So he (Achab) made a league with him (Benadad), and let him go…

Prophet to Achab: Because thou hast let go out of thy hand a man worthy of death, thy life shall be for his life, and thy people for his people…

Decisions made by a committee and a written letter to followers in Antioch; appears to definitely be a church organization in place by this time in history.

And within organizations, there are rules and when people do not follow the rules there are more rules to address the situation.

But with God, Jesus’ love and The Holy Spirit the questions and the answers come from within.

It seems circumcision is more of a health, than a religious decision today. Here circumcision becomes an issue in the early Church.

But some came down from Judea and began to teach the brethren, saying, “Unless you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

Some of the Pharisees sect, who had accepted the faith, got up and said, “They must be circumcised and also told to observe the Law of Moses.”

Peter: “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among us, that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Why then do you now try to test God by putting on the neck of the disciples a yoke (the Law of Moses?) which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”

James: “Brethren, listen to me. Simon has told how God first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people to hear his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, ‘After these things I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen down, and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up; that the rest of mankind may seek after the Lord, who does these things.’ ‘To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.’ Therefore my judgment is not to disquiet those who from among the Gentiles are turning to the Lord; but to send them written instructions to abstain from anything that has been contaminated by idols and from immorality and from anything strangled and from blood.

Then the apostles and the Presbyterians… decided to select representatives (Judas, surnamed Barsabbas and Silas) to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas… They were bearers of the following letter:

…”For the Holy Spirit and we have decided to lay no further burden upon you but this indispensable one, that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangles and from immorality; keep yourselves from these things, and you will get on well. Farewell.”

‘God made choice among us’ meaning he choose one versus another to be a disciple or gave us free will? Probably too early in the Church to address free will although it was present from the moment Jesus selected Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew as his first disciples.

The Acts of the Apostles Paul and Silas continues with the addition of Timothy…

And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, son of a believing Jewess, but of a Gentile father… This man Paul wished to go forth with him, and he took and circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Gentile… So the churches grew stronger and stronger in the faith and increased in numbers daily.

They (Paul, Silas, and Timothy?) were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in the province of Asia… they tried to get into Bithynia, bit the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them… set out for Macedonia, being sure that God had called us to preach the gospel to them… and thence to Philippi, the principal (versus principle?) city of a part of Macedonia, a Roman colony.

Then there was an insistent woman and a girl that Paul saved from soothsaying prostitution which imprisons Paul and Silas.

And a certain woman named Lydia… who worshipped the Lord touched her heart to give heed to what was being said by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she appealed to us and said, “If you have judged me to be a believer in the Lord, come into my house and stay there.” And she insisted upon our coming.

…a girl met us who possessed a divining spirit and brought her masters much profit by soothsaying… she kept crying out, saying, “These men are servants of the most high God and they proclaim to you a way of salvation.”

Paul, being very much grieved, turned and said to the spirit, “I order thee in the name of Jesus Christ to go out of her.” And it went out that very moment.

Her masters seized Paul and Silas… bringing them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are making a great disturbance in our city; they are Jews, and are advocating practices which it is against the law for us to adopt or observe, since we are Romans.”

But even a time in prison was an opportunity to convert another to Christ:

…and after inflicting many lashes upon them they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely…But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying, singing the praises of God… and suddenly there was such a great earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And at once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains were unfastened. And the jailer, roused out of sleep and seeing that the doors of the prison were open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.”

The jailer… ran in, and trembling for fear fell down before Paul and Silas… he said, “Sirs what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy household.”

No acts, no ceremony, just belief in the Lord Jesus!

Magistrates: “let these men go.”

Jailer to Paul: “The magistrates have sent word that you are to be released; now therefore come forth and go in peace.”

Paul to the jailer: “They have beaten us publicly and without trial, although we are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now are they going to put us out secretly? By no means, but let them come themselves and take us out.”

The magistrates… came and appealed to them; and taking them out, besought them to leave the city… they departed.

In other words let all things done in darkness be brought to the light… silly questions of Christian Law, whether to circumcise or not are meaningless. Let The Holy Spirit give us the answer from the inside-out and set us free at the same time too!

Day 122: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; To Circumcise or Not? The Holy Spirit Gives Us the Answer & Frees too!

Read and inspired by the New Testament, The Acts of The Apostles Chapters 15-16.

Bible Notes:

Saint Luke, the author of the third Gospel, wrote also this history of the primitive Church. Opening with the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, this book records the important events of the early Church: the mass conversions after Pentecost; the persecution by Herod; the conversion of Saint Paul; his three missionary journeys; his arrest and final trip to Rome

Acts Chapter 15:  Dissension at Antioch; journey to Jerusalem; Peter’s decision; Advice from James; Two representatives sent to Antioch; The letter containing the decision; Promulgation of the letter; Paul sets out on his second journey.

But some came down from Judea and began to teach the brethren, saying, “Unless you be circumcised after the manner of Moses, you cannot be saved.”

…relating the conversion of the Gentiles, and they caused great rejoicing among all the brethren.

But some of the Pharisees sect, who had accepted the faith, got up and said, “They must be circumcised and also told to observe the Law of Moses.”

Peter: “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among us, that through my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Why then do you now try to test God by putting on the neck of the disciples a yoke (the Law of Moses?) which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”

James: “Brethren, listen to me. Simon has told how God first visited the Gentiles to take from among them a people to hear his name. And with this the words of the prophets agree, as it is written, ‘After these things I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen down, and the ruins thereof I will rebuild, and I will set it up; that the rest of mankind may seek after the Lord, who does these things.’ ‘To the Lord was his own work known from the beginning of the world.’ Therefore my judgment is not to disquiet those who from among the Gentiles are turning to the Lord; but to send them written instructions to abstain from anything that has been contaminated by idols and from immorality and from anything strangled and from blood.

Then the apostles and the Presbyterians… decided to select representatives (Judas, surnamed Barsabbas and Silas) to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas… They were bearers of the following letter:

…”For the Holy Spirit and we have decided to lay no further burden upon you but this indispensable one, that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangles and from immorality; keep yourselves from these things, and you will get on well. Farewell.”

Now some time after Paul said to Barnabas. “Let us return and visit the brethren in all the cities where we have preached the word of the Lord, to see how they are doing.”

And a sharp contention sprang up so that they (Paul and Barnabas) separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus. But Paul chose Silas and set out, the brethren commending him to the grace of the Lord.

Acts Chapter 16:  Timothy; Departure for Macedonia; Preaching at Philippi; A possessed girl is cured; Paul and Silas beaten and jailed; The jailer is converted; Freedom.

And behold, a certain disciple was there named Timothy, son of a believing Jewess, but of a Gentile father… This man Paul wished to go forth with him, and he took and circumcised him on account of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Gentile… So the churches grew stronger and stronger in the faith and increased in numbers daily.

They (Paul, Silas, and Timothy?) were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in the province of Asia… they tried to get into Bithynia, bit the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them… set out for Macedonia, being sure that God had called us to preach the gospel to them… and thence to Philippi, the principal (versus principle?) city of a part of Macedonia, a Roman colony.

And a certain woman named Lydia… who worshipped the Lord touched her heart to give heed to what was being said by Paul. And when she and her household had been baptized, she appealed to us and said, “If you have judged me to be a believer in the Lord, come into my house and stay there.” And she insisted upon out coming.

…a girl met us who possessed a divining spirit and brought her masters much profit by soothsaying… she kept crying out, saying, “These men are servants of the most high God and they proclaim to you a way of salvation.”

Paul, being very much grieved, turned and said to the spirit, “I order thee in the name of Jesus Christ to go out of her.” And it went out that very moment.

Her masters seized Paul and Silas… bringing them to the magistrates, they said, “These men are making a great disturbance in our city; they are Jews, and are advocating practices which it is against the law for us to adopt or observe, since we are Romans.”

…and after inflicting many lashes upon them they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely…But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying, singing the praises of God… and suddenly there was such a great earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And at once all the doors flew open, and everyone’s chains were unfastened. And the jailer, roused out of sleep and seeing that the doors of the prison were open, drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Do thyself no harm, for we are all here.”

The jailer… ran in, and trembling for fear fell down before Paul and Silas… he said, “Sirs what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, and thy household.”

Magistrates: “let these men go.”

Jailer to Paul: “The magistrates have sent word that you are to be released; now therefore come forth and go in peace.”

Paul to the jailer: “They have beaten us publicly and without trial, although we are Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now are they going to put us out secretly? By no means, but let them come themselves and take us out.”

The magistrates… came and appealed to them; and taking them out, besought them to leave the city… they departed.

The message of this part of the Bible is that no king, or in today’s world, a president or dictator of a country, is above God and the wrath of God through prophets or other people.

Eminent domain of the Old Testament was such that if the king wanted your vineyard next door and you were not willing to sell it, then his wife would devise a plan resulting in you being stoned and left to die.

Naboth… had at that time a vineyard near the palace of Achab king of Samaria…

Achab to Naboth: Give me thy vineyard, that I may make me a garden of herbs, because it is nigh (near in space, time, or relation), and adjoining to my house, and I will give thee for it a better vineyard: or if thou think it more convenient for thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

Naboth to Achab: The Lord be merciful to me, and not let me give thee the inheritance of my fathers.

Achab came to his house angry and fretting… And casting himself upon his bed, he turned away his face to the wall, and would eat no bread.

And Jezabel his wife… Thou art of great authority indeed, and governest well the kingdom of Israel. Arise, and eat bread, and be of good cheer, I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth…

So she wrote letters in Achab’s name and sealed them with his ring: and sent them to the ancients, and the chief men that were in his city, and that dwelt with Naboth. And this was the tenor of the letters: Proclaim a fast, and make Naboth sit among the chief of the people, and suborn (to bribe or induce (someone) unlawfully or secretly to perform some misdeed or to commit a crime) two men, sons of Belial against him, and let them bear false witness that he hath blasphemed God and the king: and let them carry him out, and stone him, and so let him die.

And bringing two men, sons of the devil, they made them sit against him: and they, like men of the devil, bore witness against him before the people… Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

But God was watching and worked through Elias to make His judgment. Athough Achab was remorseful and humbled himself there was a penalty to be paid and unfortunately this penalty fell upon his son and future generation.

The sins of our fathers…

And the word of the Lord came to Elias, the Thesbite, saying: Arise and go down to meet Achab king of Israel, who is in Samaria… saying: Thus saith the Lord: Thou hast slain, moreover also thou hast taken possession… In this place, wherein the dogs have licked the blood of Naboth, they shall lick thy blood also…

Achab to Elias: Hast thou found me thy enemy?

Elias to Achab: I have found thee, because thou are sold, to do evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold I will bring evil upon thee, and I will cut down thy posterity (all descendants of one person; succeeding or future generations collectively)… for what thou hast done, to provoke me to anger, and for making Israel to sin.

And of Jezabel also the Lord spoke, saying: The dogs shall eat Jezabel in the field of Jezabel. If Achab die in the city, the dogs shall eat him: but if he die in the field, the birds of the air shall eat him. 

Interesting that is Jezabel and Achab were to die in the field, the dogs would eat Jezabel but the birds would eat Achab, but if Achab died in the city the dogs would eat him.

Now there was not such another as Achab, who was sold to do evil in the sight of the Lord: for his wife Jezabel set him on, and he became abominable, insomuch that he followed the idols which the Amorrhites had made, whom the Lord destroyed before the face of the children of Israel. And when Achab had heard these words, he rent his garments, and put haircloth upon his flesh, and fasted and slept in sackcloth, and walked with his head cast down. And the word of the word of the Lord came to Elias the Thesbite, saying: Hast thou seen Achab humbled before me? Therefore, because he hath humbled himself for my sake, I will not bring the evil in his days, but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

And the Third Book of Kings ends with a chapter about how Achab and Joaphat king of Juda listened to false prophets and invaded Ramoth Galaad. They were defeated and Achab was killed in battle.

This is a testimony to how God can utilize deceiving spirits and lying spirts to present false guidance to powerful people that results in their own demise:

And there passed three years without war between Syria and Israel.

Achab: Know ye not that Ramoth Galaad (a Levitical city and city of refuge east of the Jordan River) is ours, and we neglect to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria.

Josaphat king of Juda said to Achab king of Israel: As I am, so art thou: my people and thy people are one: and my horseman, thy horseman… Inquire, I beseech thee, this day, the word of the Lord.

 

There is only one man left, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: Micheas… but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good to me, but evil.

Then the king of Israel, and Josaphat king of Juda, sat each on his throne clothed with royal robes, in a court by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them… And all the prophets prophesized in like manner, saying: Go up to Ramoth Galaad, and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hands.

Micheas the only prophet? Who were all these other prophets? False prophets.

Micheas: As the Lord liveth, whatsoever the Lord shall say to me, that will I speak.

Micheas: I saw Israel scattered upon the hills, like sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said: These have no master: let every man of them return to his house in peace.

Micheas: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne… And the Lord said: who shall deceive Achab… that he may go up, and fall at Ramoth Galaad? And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will deceive him… I will go forth, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.

Achab: Put this man (Miicheas) in prison, and fee him with bread of affliction, and water of distress, till I return in peace.

Micheas to Achab: If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me… Hear, all ye people.

The battle at Ramoth Galaad:

And a certain man bent his bow, shooting at a venture, and chanced to strike the king of Israel between the lungs and the stomach..

Achab: for I am grievously wounded…

And the king of Israel stood in his chariot against the Syrians, and he died in the evening: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot… according to the word of the Lord which he (Micheas) had spoken.

How do we find our true prophets like Micheas in our own lives?

…are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?

So Achab slept with his fathers, and Ochozias his son reigned in his steed.

Josaphat… began to reign over Juda in the fourth year of Achab king of Israel… and he reigned five and twenty years in Jerusalem… And he walked in all the way of Asa his father, and he declined not from it: and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.

…are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda?

And Josaphat slept with his fathers… and Joram his son reigned in his steed.

Ochozias… reigned over Israel two years, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord… made Israel to sin, he served also Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked the Lord the God of Israel, according to all that his father (Achab) had done.

What will be written in the book of words of the days of our lives?

In the end of The Third Book of Kings the word of the Lord reigned as Ochozias paid the debt of his father Achab as the word of the Lord always reigns…

The Word of the Lord Reigns Eternally; to Our Generation and Future Generations!

Day 123: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; The Word of the Lord Reigns Eternally; to Our Generation and Future Generations!

Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Third Book of Kings Chapters 21-22

Bible Notes:

This Book opens with the death of King David. Solomon, his son, succeeded him. King Solomon ruled wisely, beautified Jerusalem, and built the Temple. But later he encouraged idolatry. After his death his kingdom split into two hostile sections, Israel in the North and Juda in the South.

3 Kings Chapter 21: Naboth refuses to sell his vineyard; Jezabel’s plot against Naboth; Naboth is treacherously slain; Achab acquires Naboth’s vineyard; God’s judgment on Achab and Jezabel; Achab humbles himself before God.

Naboth… had at that time a vineyard near the palace of Achab king of Samaria…

Achab to Naboth: Give me thy vineyard, that I may make me a garden of herbs, because it is nigh (near in space, time, or relation), and adjoining to my house, and I will give thee for it a better vineyard: or if thou think it more convenient for thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

Naboth to Achab: The Lord be merciful to me, and not let me give thee the inheritance of my fathers.

Achab came to his house angry and fretting… And casting himself upon his bed, he turned away his face to the wall, and would eat no bread.

And Jezabel his wife… Thou art of great authority indeed, and governest well the kingdom of Israel. Arise, and eat bread, and be of good cheer, I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth…

So she wrote letters in Achab’s name and sealed them with his ring: and sent them to the ancients, and the chief men that were in his city, and that dwelt with Naboth. And this was the tenor of the letters: Proclaim a fast, and make Naboth sit among the chief of the people, and suborn (to bribe or induce (someone) unlawfully or secretly to perform some misdeed or to commit a crime) two men, sons of Belial against him, and let them bear false witness that he hath blasphemed God and the king: and let them carry him out, and stone him, and so let him die.

And bringing two men, sons of the devil, they made them sit against him: and they, like men of the devil, bore witness against him before the people… Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

Interesting that Jezabel and Achab was not part of the fast or the ceremony?

Jezabel to Achab: Arise and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth… for Naboth is not alive, but dead…

And the word of the Lord came to Elias, the Thesbite, saying: Arise and go down to meet Achab king of Israel, who is in Samaria… saying: Thus saith the Lord: Thou hast slain, moreover also thou hast taken possession… In this place, wherein the dogs have licked the blood of Naboth, they shall lick thy blood also…

Achab to Elias: Hast thou found me thy enemy?

Elias to Achab: I have found thee, because thou are sold, to do evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold I will bring evil upon thee, and I will cut down thy posterity (all descendants of one person; succeeding or future generations collectively)… for what thou hast done, to provoke me to anger, and for making Israel to sin.

And of Jezabel also the Lord spoke, saying: The dogs shall eat Jezabel in the field of Jezabel. If Achab die in the city, the dogs shall eat him: but if he die in the field, the birds of the air shall eat him. 

Interesting that is Jezabel and Achab were to die in the field, the dogs would eat Jezabel but the birds would eat Achab, but if Achab died in the city the dogs would eat him.

Now there was not such another as Achab, who was sold to do evil in the sight of the Lord: for his wife Jezabel set him on, and he became abominable, insomuch that he followed the idols which the Amorrhites had made, whom the Lord destroyed before the face of the children of Israel. And when Achab had heard these words, he rent his garments, and put haircloth upon his flesh, and fasted and slept in sackcloth, and walked with his head cast down. And the word of the word of the Lord came to Elias the Thesbite, saying: Hast thou seen Achab humbled before me? Therefor, because he hath humbled himself for my sake, I will not bring the evil in his days, but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.

3 Kings Chapter 22: Alliance of Achab and Jesaphat; Achab and Jesaphat hear false prophets; Achab throws Micheas in prison; Achab is killed in battle; Ochozias succeeds Achab; Josaphat’s good reign over Juda; Joram succeeds Josphat; Ochozias’ wicked reign over Israel.

And there passed three years without war between Syria and Israel.

Achab: Know ye not that Ramoth Galaad (a Levitical city and city of refuge east of the Jordan River) is ours, and we neglect to take it out of the hand of the king of Syria.

Josaphat king of Juda said to Achab king of Israel: As I am, so art thou: my people and thy people are one: and my horseman, thy horseman… Inquire, I beseech thee, this day, the word of the Lord.

There is only one man left, by whom we may inquire of the Lord: Micheas… but I hate him, for he doth not prophesy good to me, but evil.

Then the king of Israel, and Josaphat king of Juda, sat each on his throne clothed with royal robes, in a court by the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets prophesied before them… And all the prophets prophesized in like manner, saying: Go up to Ramoth Galaad, and prosper, for the Lord will deliver it into the king’s hands.

Micheas the only prophet? Who were all these other prophets? False prophets.

Micheas: As the Lord liveth, whatsoever the Lord shall say to me, that will I speak.

Micheas: I saw Israel scattered upon the hills, like sheep that have no shepherd: and the Lord said: These have no master: let every man of them return to his house in peace.

Micheas: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne… And the Lord said: who shall deceive Achab… that he may go up, and fall at Ramoth Galaad? And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the Lord, and said: I will deceive him… I will go forth, and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.

Achab: Put this man (Miicheas) in prison, and fee him with bread of affliction, and water of distress, till I return in peace.

Micheas to Achab: If thou return in peace, the Lord hath not spoken by me… Hear, all ye people.

The battle at Ramoth Galaad:

And a certain man bent his bow, shooting at a venture, and chanced to strike the king of Israel between the lungs and the stomach..

Achab: for I am grievously wounded…

And the king of Israel stood in his chariot against the Syrians, and he died in the evening: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot… according to the word of the Lord which he (Micheas) had spoken.

…are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Israel?

So Achab slept with his fathers, and Ochozias his son reigned in his steed.

Josaphat… began to reign over Juda in the fourth year of Achab king of Israel… and he reigned five and twenty years in Jerusalem… And he walked in all the way of Asa his father, and he declined not from it: and he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.

…are they not written in the book of the words of the days of the kings of Juda?

And Josaphat slept with his fathers… and Joram his son reigned in his steed.

Ochozias… reigned over Israel two years, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord… made Israel to sin, he served also Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked the Lord the God of Israel, according to all that his father (Achab) had done.

END of The Third Book of Kings