"The Explanation For Our Difficulties" by Oswald Chambers
If you are going through a time of isolation, seemingly all alone, read John 17 . It will explain exactly why you are where you are— because Jesus has prayed that you “may be one” with the Father as He is. Are you helping God to answer that prayer, or do you have some other goal for your life? Since you became a disciple, you cannot be as independent as you used to be.
God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. Yet there is one prayer which God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus— “…that they may be one just as We are one…” (John 17:22). Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?
God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?” No, He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way. The things that happen either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on our relationship with God and its level of intimacy. If we will pray, regarding our own lives, “Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best. When we understand God’s purpose, we will not become small-minded and cynical. Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself, just as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far from this oneness; yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him— because Jesus prayed, “…that they all may be one….”
God reveals in John 17 that His purpose is not just to answer our prayers, but that through prayer we might come to discern His mind. Yet there is one prayer which God must answer, and that is the prayer of Jesus— “…that they may be one just as We are one…” (John 17:22). Are we as close to Jesus Christ as that?
God is not concerned about our plans; He doesn’t ask, “Do you want to go through this loss of a loved one, this difficulty, or this defeat?” No, He allows these things for His own purpose. The things we are going through are either making us sweeter, better, and nobler men and women, or they are making us more critical and fault-finding, and more insistent on our own way. The things that happen either make us evil, or they make us more saintly, depending entirely on our relationship with God and its level of intimacy. If we will pray, regarding our own lives, “Your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), then we will be encouraged and comforted by John 17, knowing that our Father is working according to His own wisdom, accomplishing what is best. When we understand God’s purpose, we will not become small-minded and cynical. Jesus prayed nothing less for us than absolute oneness with Himself, just as He was one with the Father. Some of us are far from this oneness; yet God will not leave us alone until we are one with Him— because Jesus prayed, “…that they all may be one….”
Wisdom From Oswald Chambers
Always keep in contact with those books and those people that enlarge your horizon and make it possible for you to stretch yourself mentally.[The Moral Foundations of Life, 721 R]
1 Chronicles 16:1 They brought the ark of God in and put it in the tent that David had set up for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Adonai. 3 Then he distributed to everyone in Isra’el, to everyone there, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a portion of meat and a raisin cake.
4 He appointed certain L’vi’im to serve in front of the ark of Adonai, to celebrate, and to thank and praise Adonai the God of Isra’el: 5 Asaf, the leader; assisting him, Z’kharyah; then Ye‘i’el, Sh’miramot, Yechi’el, Mattityahu, Eli’av, B’nayahu, ‘Oved-Edom and Ye‘i’el playing lutes and lyres, while Asaf played cymbals. 6 B’nayah and Yachzi’el the cohanim blew the trumpets continually before the ark for the covenant of God. 7 It was on that same day that David first ordered that thanks be given to Adonai through Asaf and his kinsmen:
8 Give thanks to Adonai! Call on his name!
Make his deeds known among the peoples.
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him!
Talk about all his wonders.
10 Glory in his holy name;
let those seeking Adonai have joyful hearts.
11 Seek Adonai and his strength;
always seek his presence.
12 Remember the wonders he has done,
his signs and his spoken judgments.
13 You descendants of Isra’el his servant,
you offspring of Ya‘akov, his chosen ones:
14 he is Adonai our God,
His judgments are everywhere on earth.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
the word he commanded to a thousand generations,
16 the covenant he made with Avraham;
the oath he swore to Yitz’chak
17 and established as a law for Ya‘akov,
for Isra’el as an everlasting covenant:
18 “To you I will give the land of Kena‘an
as your allotted heritage.”
19 When you were but few in number,
and not only few, but aliens there too,
20 wandering from nation to nation,
from this kingdom to that people,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them.
Yes, for their sakes he rebuked even kings:
22 “Don’t touch my anointed ones
or do my prophets harm!”
23 Sing to Adonai, all the earth!
Proclaim his victory day after day!
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his wonders among all peoples!
25 For Adonai is great, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared more than all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are nothing,
but Adonai made the heavens.
27 In his presence are honor and majesty;
in his place, strength and joy.
28 Give Adonai his due, you families from the peoples,
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
29 give Adonai the glory due to his name;
bring an offering, and come into his presence.
Worship Adonai in splendid, holy attire.
30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established, immovable.
31 Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “Adonai is king!”
32 Let the sea roar, and everything in it;
let the fields exult, and all that is in them.
33 Then the trees in the forest will sing before Adonai,
because he has come to judge the earth.
34 Give thanks to Adonai; for he is good,
for his grace continues forever.
35 Say: “Save us, God who can save us!
Gather and rescue us from the nations;
so that we can thank your holy name
and glory in praising you.
36 Blessed be Adonai, the God of Isra’el,
from eternity past to eternity future!”
All the people said, “Amen!” and praised Adonai.
37 So, there before the ark for the covenant of Adonai, David left Asaf and his kinsmen to perform the service regularly before the ark, as each day’s work required; 38 also ‘Oved-Edom with their kinsmen, sixty-eight of them — ‘Oved-Edom the son of Y’dutun and Hosah were gatekeepers.
39 He left Tzadok the cohen with his kinsmen before the tabernacle of Adonai at the high place in Giv‘on 40 to offer burnt offerings to Adonai every morning and evening on the altar for burnt offerings, according to everything written in the Torah of Adonai, which he gave to Isra’el. 41 With them were Heman and Y’dutun and the rest who were chosen and assigned by name to give thanks to Adonai, because his grace continues forever. 42 With them were Heman and Y’dutun to play trumpets and cymbals, also instruments for the songs about God; while the sons of Y’dutun were assigned to the gate.
43 Then the people all left for their homes, and David returned to bless his household.17:1 After David had been living in his palace awhile, he said to Natan the prophet, “Here, I’m living in a cedar-wood palace; but the ark for the covenant of Adonai is kept under a tent!” 2 Natan said to David, “Go, do everything that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
3 But that same night the word of God came to Natan: 4 “Go, and tell David my servant that this is what Adonai says: ‘You are not to build me a house to live in, 5 because from the day I brought up Isra’el until today, I never lived in a house; rather, I’ve gone from tent to tent and from one tabernacle to another. 6 Everywhere I traveled with all Isra’el, did I ever speak a word to any of the judges of Isra’el, whom I ordered to shepherd my people Isra’el, asking, “Why haven’t you built me a cedar-wood house?”’
7 “Therefore say to my servant David that this is what Adonai-Tzva’ot says: ‘I took you from the sheep-yards, from following the sheep, to make you chief over my people Isra’el. 8 I have been with you wherever you went, I have destroyed all your enemies ahead of you; and I am making your reputation like the reputations of the greatest people on earth. 9 I will assign a place to my people Isra’el; I will plant them there, so that they can live in their own place without being disturbed any more. The wicked will no longer devastate them, as they did at the beginning, 10 and as they did from the time I ordered judges to be over my people Isra’el; instead, I will subdue all your enemies.
“‘Moreover, I tell you that Adonai will make you a house. 11 When your days come to an end and you go to be with your ancestors, I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your own sons; and I will set up his rulership. 12 He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be a father for him, and he will be a son for me; I will not take my grace away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 Rather, I will maintain him in my house and in my kingdom forever; and his throne will be set up forever.’” 15 Natan told David all of these words and described this entire vision.
16 Then David went in, sat before Adonai and said, “Who am I, Adonai, God, and what is my family, that has caused you to bring me this far? 17 Yet in your view, God, even this was but a small thing; so you have said that your servant’s dynasty will continue on into the distant future. You have regarded me, Adonai, God, as a man of high rank. 18 What more can David say to you about the honor you are bestowing on your servant? For you know your servant intimately. 19 Adonai, it is for your servant’s sake and in accordance with your own heart that you have done all this greatness and revealed all these great things. 20 Adonai, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you — everything we have heard confirms that. 21 Who can be compared with your people Isra’el? What other nation on earth did God set out to redeem and turn into a people for himself? You made yourself a reputation by doing great and terrifying things, as you drove out the nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt. 22 For you made your people Isra’el your people forever; and you, Adonai, became their God. 23 So now, Adonai, let the word that you spoke concerning your servant and his house be confirmed forever; do what you have promised. 24 May your name be confirmed and magnified forever; so that it will be said, ‘Adonai-Tzva’ot is the God of Isra’el and the God for Isra’el, and the dynasty of David your servant will be set up in your presence.’ 25 For you, my God, have disclosed to your servant that you will build him a house. This is why your servant has the courage to pray to you. 26 Now, Adonai, you are God; and you have made this wonderful promise to your servant; 27 and now it has pleased you to bless the family of your servant and thereby cause it to continue forever in your presence. For you, Adonai, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”18:1 Some time afterwards, David attacked the P’lishtim and subdued them; David took Gat and its villages out of the hands of the P’lishtim. 2 He also defeated Mo’av, so that the people of Mo’av became subjects of David and paid tribute.
3 David, on his way to establish his dominion as far as the Euphrates River, also defeated Hadar‘ezer king of Tzovah near Hamat. 4 David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. He reserved enough horses for 100 chariots and disabled the rest. 5 When the people of Aram from Dammesek came to the aid of Hadar‘ezer king of Tzovah, David killed 22,000 men of Aram. 6 Then David put [garrisons] among the people of Aram in Dammesek; Aram became subject to David and paid tribute. Adonai gave victory to David wherever he went.
7 David took the gold shields which Hadar‘ezer’s servants were wearing and brought them to Yerushalayim. 8 From Tivchat and Kun, cities of Hadar‘ezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze, which Shlomo used to make the bronze “Sea,” the columns and various bronze articles.
9 When To‘u king of Hamat heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadar‘ezer king of Tzovah, 10 he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet and congratulate him on fighting and defeating Hadar‘ezer — for Hadar‘ezer had been at war with To‘u — and [he sent] all kinds of articles made of silver, gold and bronze, 11 which King David dedicated to Adonai, along with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations — from Edom, Mo’av, the people of ‘Amon, the P’lishtim and ‘Amalek. 12 Moreover, Avishai the son of Tz’ruyah killed 18,000 men from Edom in the Salt Valley. 13 David stationed garrisons in Edom, and all the people of Edom became subject to him. Adonai gave victory to David wherever he went.
14 David ruled over all Isra’el; he administered law and justice for all his people. 15 Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah was commander of the army, Y’hoshafat the son of Achilud was chief adviser, 16 Tzadok the son of Achituv and Avimelekh the son of Evyatar were cohanim, Shavsha was secretary, 17 B’nayahu the son of Y’hoyada was in charge of the K’reti and P’leti [serving as the king’s bodyguards], and David’s sons were the king’s chief personal advisers.
4 He appointed certain L’vi’im to serve in front of the ark of Adonai, to celebrate, and to thank and praise Adonai the God of Isra’el: 5 Asaf, the leader; assisting him, Z’kharyah; then Ye‘i’el, Sh’miramot, Yechi’el, Mattityahu, Eli’av, B’nayahu, ‘Oved-Edom and Ye‘i’el playing lutes and lyres, while Asaf played cymbals. 6 B’nayah and Yachzi’el the cohanim blew the trumpets continually before the ark for the covenant of God. 7 It was on that same day that David first ordered that thanks be given to Adonai through Asaf and his kinsmen:
8 Give thanks to Adonai! Call on his name!
Make his deeds known among the peoples.
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him!
Talk about all his wonders.
10 Glory in his holy name;
let those seeking Adonai have joyful hearts.
11 Seek Adonai and his strength;
always seek his presence.
12 Remember the wonders he has done,
his signs and his spoken judgments.
13 You descendants of Isra’el his servant,
you offspring of Ya‘akov, his chosen ones:
14 he is Adonai our God,
His judgments are everywhere on earth.
15 Remember his covenant forever,
the word he commanded to a thousand generations,
16 the covenant he made with Avraham;
the oath he swore to Yitz’chak
17 and established as a law for Ya‘akov,
for Isra’el as an everlasting covenant:
18 “To you I will give the land of Kena‘an
as your allotted heritage.”
19 When you were but few in number,
and not only few, but aliens there too,
20 wandering from nation to nation,
from this kingdom to that people,
21 he allowed no one to oppress them.
Yes, for their sakes he rebuked even kings:
22 “Don’t touch my anointed ones
or do my prophets harm!”
23 Sing to Adonai, all the earth!
Proclaim his victory day after day!
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his wonders among all peoples!
25 For Adonai is great, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared more than all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are nothing,
but Adonai made the heavens.
27 In his presence are honor and majesty;
in his place, strength and joy.
28 Give Adonai his due, you families from the peoples,
give Adonai his due of glory and strength;
29 give Adonai the glory due to his name;
bring an offering, and come into his presence.
Worship Adonai in splendid, holy attire.
30 Tremble before him, all the earth!
The world is firmly established, immovable.
31 Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad;
let them say among the nations, “Adonai is king!”
32 Let the sea roar, and everything in it;
let the fields exult, and all that is in them.
33 Then the trees in the forest will sing before Adonai,
because he has come to judge the earth.
34 Give thanks to Adonai; for he is good,
for his grace continues forever.
35 Say: “Save us, God who can save us!
Gather and rescue us from the nations;
so that we can thank your holy name
and glory in praising you.
36 Blessed be Adonai, the God of Isra’el,
from eternity past to eternity future!”
All the people said, “Amen!” and praised Adonai.
37 So, there before the ark for the covenant of Adonai, David left Asaf and his kinsmen to perform the service regularly before the ark, as each day’s work required; 38 also ‘Oved-Edom with their kinsmen, sixty-eight of them — ‘Oved-Edom the son of Y’dutun and Hosah were gatekeepers.
39 He left Tzadok the cohen with his kinsmen before the tabernacle of Adonai at the high place in Giv‘on 40 to offer burnt offerings to Adonai every morning and evening on the altar for burnt offerings, according to everything written in the Torah of Adonai, which he gave to Isra’el. 41 With them were Heman and Y’dutun and the rest who were chosen and assigned by name to give thanks to Adonai, because his grace continues forever. 42 With them were Heman and Y’dutun to play trumpets and cymbals, also instruments for the songs about God; while the sons of Y’dutun were assigned to the gate.
43 Then the people all left for their homes, and David returned to bless his household.17:1 After David had been living in his palace awhile, he said to Natan the prophet, “Here, I’m living in a cedar-wood palace; but the ark for the covenant of Adonai is kept under a tent!” 2 Natan said to David, “Go, do everything that is in your heart, for God is with you.”
3 But that same night the word of God came to Natan: 4 “Go, and tell David my servant that this is what Adonai says: ‘You are not to build me a house to live in, 5 because from the day I brought up Isra’el until today, I never lived in a house; rather, I’ve gone from tent to tent and from one tabernacle to another. 6 Everywhere I traveled with all Isra’el, did I ever speak a word to any of the judges of Isra’el, whom I ordered to shepherd my people Isra’el, asking, “Why haven’t you built me a cedar-wood house?”’
7 “Therefore say to my servant David that this is what Adonai-Tzva’ot says: ‘I took you from the sheep-yards, from following the sheep, to make you chief over my people Isra’el. 8 I have been with you wherever you went, I have destroyed all your enemies ahead of you; and I am making your reputation like the reputations of the greatest people on earth. 9 I will assign a place to my people Isra’el; I will plant them there, so that they can live in their own place without being disturbed any more. The wicked will no longer devastate them, as they did at the beginning, 10 and as they did from the time I ordered judges to be over my people Isra’el; instead, I will subdue all your enemies.
“‘Moreover, I tell you that Adonai will make you a house. 11 When your days come to an end and you go to be with your ancestors, I will establish one of your descendants to succeed you, one of your own sons; and I will set up his rulership. 12 He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be a father for him, and he will be a son for me; I will not take my grace away from him, as I took it away from your predecessor. 14 Rather, I will maintain him in my house and in my kingdom forever; and his throne will be set up forever.’” 15 Natan told David all of these words and described this entire vision.
16 Then David went in, sat before Adonai and said, “Who am I, Adonai, God, and what is my family, that has caused you to bring me this far? 17 Yet in your view, God, even this was but a small thing; so you have said that your servant’s dynasty will continue on into the distant future. You have regarded me, Adonai, God, as a man of high rank. 18 What more can David say to you about the honor you are bestowing on your servant? For you know your servant intimately. 19 Adonai, it is for your servant’s sake and in accordance with your own heart that you have done all this greatness and revealed all these great things. 20 Adonai, there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you — everything we have heard confirms that. 21 Who can be compared with your people Isra’el? What other nation on earth did God set out to redeem and turn into a people for himself? You made yourself a reputation by doing great and terrifying things, as you drove out the nations from before your people, whom you redeemed from Egypt. 22 For you made your people Isra’el your people forever; and you, Adonai, became their God. 23 So now, Adonai, let the word that you spoke concerning your servant and his house be confirmed forever; do what you have promised. 24 May your name be confirmed and magnified forever; so that it will be said, ‘Adonai-Tzva’ot is the God of Isra’el and the God for Isra’el, and the dynasty of David your servant will be set up in your presence.’ 25 For you, my God, have disclosed to your servant that you will build him a house. This is why your servant has the courage to pray to you. 26 Now, Adonai, you are God; and you have made this wonderful promise to your servant; 27 and now it has pleased you to bless the family of your servant and thereby cause it to continue forever in your presence. For you, Adonai, have blessed, and it is blessed forever.”18:1 Some time afterwards, David attacked the P’lishtim and subdued them; David took Gat and its villages out of the hands of the P’lishtim. 2 He also defeated Mo’av, so that the people of Mo’av became subjects of David and paid tribute.
3 David, on his way to establish his dominion as far as the Euphrates River, also defeated Hadar‘ezer king of Tzovah near Hamat. 4 David captured 1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers. He reserved enough horses for 100 chariots and disabled the rest. 5 When the people of Aram from Dammesek came to the aid of Hadar‘ezer king of Tzovah, David killed 22,000 men of Aram. 6 Then David put [garrisons] among the people of Aram in Dammesek; Aram became subject to David and paid tribute. Adonai gave victory to David wherever he went.
7 David took the gold shields which Hadar‘ezer’s servants were wearing and brought them to Yerushalayim. 8 From Tivchat and Kun, cities of Hadar‘ezer, King David took a great quantity of bronze, which Shlomo used to make the bronze “Sea,” the columns and various bronze articles.
9 When To‘u king of Hamat heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadar‘ezer king of Tzovah, 10 he sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet and congratulate him on fighting and defeating Hadar‘ezer — for Hadar‘ezer had been at war with To‘u — and [he sent] all kinds of articles made of silver, gold and bronze, 11 which King David dedicated to Adonai, along with the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations — from Edom, Mo’av, the people of ‘Amon, the P’lishtim and ‘Amalek. 12 Moreover, Avishai the son of Tz’ruyah killed 18,000 men from Edom in the Salt Valley. 13 David stationed garrisons in Edom, and all the people of Edom became subject to him. Adonai gave victory to David wherever he went.
14 David ruled over all Isra’el; he administered law and justice for all his people. 15 Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah was commander of the army, Y’hoshafat the son of Achilud was chief adviser, 16 Tzadok the son of Achituv and Avimelekh the son of Evyatar were cohanim, Shavsha was secretary, 17 B’nayahu the son of Y’hoyada was in charge of the K’reti and P’leti [serving as the king’s bodyguards], and David’s sons were the king’s chief personal advisers.
John 7:28 Whereupon Yeshua, continuing to teach in the Temple courts, cried out, “Indeed you do know me! And you know where I’m from! And I have not come on my own! The One who sent me is real. But him you don’t know! 29 I do know him, because I am with him, and he sent me!”
30 At this, they tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him; because his time had not yet come. 31 However, many in the crowd put their trust in him and said, “When the Messiah comes, will he do more miracles than this man has done?”
32 The P’rushim heard the crowd whispering these things about Yeshua; so the head cohanim and the P’rushim sent some of the Temple guards to arrest him. 33 Yeshua said, “I will be with you only a little while longer; then I will go away to the One who sent me. 34 You will look for me and not find me; indeed, where I am, you cannot come.” 35 The Judeans said to themselves, “Where is this man about to go, that we won’t find him? Does he intend to go to the Greek Diaspora and teach the Greek-speaking Jews? 36 And when he says, ‘You will look for me and not find me; indeed, where I am, you cannot come’ — what does he mean?”
37 Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! 38 Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!” 39 (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who trusted in him were to receive later — the Spirit had not yet been given, because Yeshua had not yet been glorified.)
40 On hearing his words, some people in the crowd said, “Surely this man is ‘the prophet’”; 41 others said, “This is the Messiah.” But others said, “How can the Messiah come from the Galil? 42 Doesn’t the Tanakh say that the Messiah is from the seed of David[John 7:42 2 Samuel 7:12] and comes from Beit-Lechem,[John 7:42 Micah 5:1(2)] the village where David lived?” 43 So the people were divided because of him. 44 Some wanted to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him.
45 The guards came back to the head cohanim and the P’rushim, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” 46 The guards replied, “No one ever spoke the way this man speaks!” 47 “You mean you’ve been taken in as well?” the P’rushim retorted. 48 “Has any of the authorities trusted him? Or any of the P’rushim? No! 49 True, these ‘am-ha’aretz do, but they know nothing about the Torah, they are under a curse!”
50 Nakdimon, the man who had gone to Yeshua before and was one of them, said to them, 51 “Our Torah doesn’t condemn a man — does it? — until after hearing from him and finding out what he’s doing.” 52 They replied, “You aren’t from the Galil too, are you? Study the Tanakh, and see for yourself that no prophet comes from the Galil!” [John 7:52 Most scholars believe that 7:53–8:11 is not from the pen of Yochanan. Many are of the opinion that it is a true story about Yeshua written by another of his talmidim.] 53 Then they all left, each one to his own home.
30 At this, they tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him; because his time had not yet come. 31 However, many in the crowd put their trust in him and said, “When the Messiah comes, will he do more miracles than this man has done?”
32 The P’rushim heard the crowd whispering these things about Yeshua; so the head cohanim and the P’rushim sent some of the Temple guards to arrest him. 33 Yeshua said, “I will be with you only a little while longer; then I will go away to the One who sent me. 34 You will look for me and not find me; indeed, where I am, you cannot come.” 35 The Judeans said to themselves, “Where is this man about to go, that we won’t find him? Does he intend to go to the Greek Diaspora and teach the Greek-speaking Jews? 36 And when he says, ‘You will look for me and not find me; indeed, where I am, you cannot come’ — what does he mean?”
37 Now on the last day of the festival, Hoshana Rabbah, Yeshua stood and cried out, “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drinking! 38 Whoever puts his trust in me, as the Scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being!” 39 (Now he said this about the Spirit, whom those who trusted in him were to receive later — the Spirit had not yet been given, because Yeshua had not yet been glorified.)
40 On hearing his words, some people in the crowd said, “Surely this man is ‘the prophet’”; 41 others said, “This is the Messiah.” But others said, “How can the Messiah come from the Galil? 42 Doesn’t the Tanakh say that the Messiah is from the seed of David[John 7:42 2 Samuel 7:12] and comes from Beit-Lechem,[John 7:42 Micah 5:1(2)] the village where David lived?” 43 So the people were divided because of him. 44 Some wanted to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him.
45 The guards came back to the head cohanim and the P’rushim, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?” 46 The guards replied, “No one ever spoke the way this man speaks!” 47 “You mean you’ve been taken in as well?” the P’rushim retorted. 48 “Has any of the authorities trusted him? Or any of the P’rushim? No! 49 True, these ‘am-ha’aretz do, but they know nothing about the Torah, they are under a curse!”
50 Nakdimon, the man who had gone to Yeshua before and was one of them, said to them, 51 “Our Torah doesn’t condemn a man — does it? — until after hearing from him and finding out what he’s doing.” 52 They replied, “You aren’t from the Galil too, are you? Study the Tanakh, and see for yourself that no prophet comes from the Galil!” [John 7:52 Most scholars believe that 7:53–8:11 is not from the pen of Yochanan. Many are of the opinion that it is a true story about Yeshua written by another of his talmidim.] 53 Then they all left, each one to his own home.
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My Utmost for His Highest © 1927 in the U.K. by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. © 1935 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. Copyright renewed 1963 by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. All rights reserved. United States publication rights are held by Discovery House, which is affiliated with Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Special offers are valid only for orders placed online and may not be combined with any other offers or coupons.
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My Utmost for His Highest © 1927 in the U.K. by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. © 1935 by Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc. Copyright renewed 1963 by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. All rights reserved. United States publication rights are held by Discovery House, which is affiliated with Our Daily Bread Ministries.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Special offers are valid only for orders placed online and may not be combined with any other offers or coupons.
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