"The Secret Of The Lord" by Oswald Chambers
The secret ["friendship," rv] of the Lord is with them that fear Him. (PSALM 25:14)What is the sign of a friend? That he tells you secret sorrows? No, that he tells you secret joys. Many will confide to you their secret sorrows, but the last mark of intimacy is to confide secret joys. Have we ever let God tell us any of His joys, or are we telling God our secrets so continually that we leave no room for Him to talk to us? At the beginning of our Christian life we are full of requests to God, then we find that God wants to get us into relationship with Himself, to get us in touch with His purposes. Are we so wedded to Jesus Christ’s idea of prayer — “Thy will be done” — that we catch the secrets of God? The things that make God dear to us are not so much His great big blessings as the tiny things, because they show His amazing intimacy with us; He knows every detail of our individual lives.
“…him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose.” At first we want the consciousness of being guided by God, then as we go on we live so much in the consciousness of God that we do not need to ask what His will is, because the thought of choosing any other will never occur to us. If we are saved and sanctified God guides us by our ordinary choices, and if we are going to choose what He does not want, He will check, and we must heed. Whenever there is doubt, stop at once. Never reason it out and say — “I wonder why I shouldn’t?” God instructs us in what we choose, that is, He guides our common sense, and we no longer hinder His Spirit by continually saying — “Now, Lord, what is Thy will?” (From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition)
Bible in One Year: 2 Chronicles 19-20; John 13:21-38
2 Chronicles 19:1 Then Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah returned home to Yerushalayim in peace. 2 Yehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to King Y’hoshafat, “Should you help the wicked and befriend those who hate Adonai? Because of this, Adonai’s anger is upon you. 3 Still, there is some good in you, in that you have removed the sacred poles from the land and have set your heart on seeking God.”
4 So Y’hoshafat lived in Yerushalayim and again circulated among the people from Be’er-Sheva to the hills of Efrayim, bringing them back to Adonai, the God of their ancestors.
5 He appointed judges throughout the land in all the fortified cities of Y’hudah, city by city, 6 and instructed the judges, “Think about what you are doing: you are not dispensing justice by merely human standards but on behalf of Adonai; he is with you when you deliver a verdict. 7 Therefore, let the fear of Adonai be upon you; be careful what you do; for Adonai our God does not allow dishonesty, partiality or bribe-taking.”
8 In Yerushalayim Y’hoshafat appointed some of the L’vi’im, cohanim and clan heads of Isra’el to judge in matters concerning Adonai and in civil cases. After they had returned to Yerushalayim, 9 he charged them, “Here is what you are to do faithfully and wholeheartedly, in fear of Adonai: 10 when an issue comes before you from your brothers who live in their cities, whether it’s a case involving bloodshed or a question as to which teaching, mitzvah, law or ruling applies, you must warn them; so that they won’t incur guilt toward Adonai and thereby bring anger on both you and your kinsmen. Do this, and you won’t incur guilt. 11 Amaryahu the chief cohen is over you in all matters concerning Adonai, and Z’vadyahu the son of Yishma‘el, chief of the house of Y’hudah, in all the king’s matters. The officers of the L’vi’im are at your service. Be strong, and act, and may Adonai be with the good.”
20:1 Some time later, the people of Mo’av and the people of ‘Amon with other ‘Amonim came up to fight Y’hoshafat. 2 Y’hoshafat was told, “A huge army from beyond the [Dead] Sea, from Aram, is on its way to fight you; right now they are in Hatzatzon-Tamar” (that is, ‘Ein-Gedi). 3 Y’hoshafat was frightened, so he determined to seek Adonai. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Y’hudah, 4 and Y’hudah assembled to seek help from Adonai; they came from all the cities of Y’hudah to seek Adonai.
5 Standing in front of the new courtyard in the house of Adonai, among those assembled from Y’hudah and Yerushalayim, 6 he said: “Adonai, God of our ancestors, you alone are God in heaven. You rule all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and strength, so that no one can withstand you. 7 You, our God, drove out those living in the land ahead of your people Isra’el and gave it forever to the descendants of Avraham your friend. 8 They lived in it, built you a sanctuary in it for your name, and said, 9 ‘If calamity strikes us, such as war, judgment, disease or famine, we will stand before this house — that is, before you, since your name is in this house — and cry to you in our distress; and you will hear us and rescue us.’
10 “So now, see: the people of ‘Amon, Mo’av and Mount Se‘ir, whom you would not let Isra’el invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, so that they turned away from them and did not destroy them, 11 are now repaying us [evil]; they have come to throw us out of your possession, which you gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God! Won’t you execute judgment against them? For we haven’t strength enough to defeat this huge horde coming against us, and we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
13 All Y’hudah stood before Adonai with their little ones, their wives and their children. 14 Then, in the middle of the assembly, the Spirit of Adonai came upon Yachzi’el the son of Z’kharyahu, the son of B’nayah, the son of Ye‘i’el, the son of Matanyah the Levi, from the descendants of Asaf. 15 He said, “Listen, all Y’hudah, you who live in Yerushalayim and King Y’hoshafat: here is what Adonai is saying to you: ‘Don’t be afraid or distressed by this great horde; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 Tomorrow, go down against them. They will be coming up by the ascent of Tzitz, and you will find them at the end of the vadi, before the Yeru’el Desert. 17 You won’t even need to fight this battle! Just take your positions, Y’hudah and Yerushalayim, stand still, and watch how Adonai will deliver you! Don’t be afraid or distressed; tomorrow, go out against them; for Adonai is with you.’”
18 Y’hoshafat bowed his head with his face to the ground; while all Y’hudah and the inhabitants of Yerushalayim fell down before Adonai, worshipping Adonai; 19 and the L’vi’im from the descendants of the K’hati and the descendants of the Korchi, stood up and praised Adonai the God of Isra’el at the top of their voices.
20 The next morning, they rose early and went out into the T’koa Desert. As they left, Y’hoshafat stood and said, “Listen to me, Y’hudah and you inhabitants of Yerushalayim!
“Trust in Adonai your God,
and you will be safe.
Trust in his prophets,
and you will succeed.”
21 After consulting with the people, he appointed those who would sing to Adonai and praise the splendor of his holiness as they went out ahead of the army, saying, “Give thanks to Adonai, for his grace continues forever.” 22 Then, during the time when they were singing and praising, Adonai brought a surprise attack against the people of ‘Amon, Mo’av and Mount Se‘ir who had come to fight Y’hudah; and they were defeated. 23 What happened was that the people of ‘Amon and Mo’av began attacking those people who lived by Mount Se‘ir, to kill and destroy them completely; and when they had finished off the people from Se‘ir, they set to work slaughtering one another. 24 So when Y’hudah reached the watchtower overlooking the desert, they looked toward the horde; and there in front of them were corpses fallen to the ground; none had escaped. 25 Y’hoshafat and his army came to take the spoil from them and found among them personal property in abundance and corpses with precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves until they couldn’t carry any more. They took three days just to collect the spoil, there was so much. 26 On the fourth day, they assembled in the Valley of B’rakhah [blessing], where they blessed Adonai; hence that place is called the Valley of B’rakhah to this day.
27 Then they returned, everyone from Y’hudah and Yerushalayim, with Y’hoshafat leading them joyfully back to Yerushalayim; for Adonai had caused them to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Yerushalayim with lyres, lutes and trumpets and went to the house of Adonai. 29 A panic from God was on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that Adonai had fought against the enemies of Isra’el. 30 So Y’hoshafat’s rule was a quiet one, because his God gave him rest all around.
31 Y’hoshafat ruled over Y’hudah; he was thirty-five years old when he began his reign, and he ruled twenty-five years in Yerushalayim. His mother’s name was ‘Azuvah the daughter of Shilchi. 32 He lived in the manner of Asa his father and did not turn away from it, doing what was right from Adonai’s perspective; 33 although the high places were not taken away, and the people had not yet set their hearts toward the God of their ancestors. 34 Other activities of Y’hoshafat, from beginning to end, are written in the records of Yehu the son of Hanani, which have been inserted in the Annals of the Kings of Isra’el.
35 It was after this that Y’hoshafat joined up with Achazyah king of Isra’el, who was acting very wickedly. 36 He joined together with him to build large ships capable of going to Tarshish; they made the ships in ‘Etzyon-Gever. 37 Then Eli‘ezer the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah prophesied against Y’hoshafat: “Because you joined yourself with Achazyah, Adonai is wrecking your project.” And the ships were wrecked, so that they couldn’t go to Tarshish.
John 13:21 After saying this, Yeshua, in deep anguish of spirit, declared, “Yes, indeed! I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22 The talmidim stared at one another, totally mystified — whom could he mean? 23 One of his talmidim, the one Yeshua particularly loved, was reclining close beside him. 24 So Shim‘on Kefa motioned to him and said, “Ask which one he’s talking about.” 25 Leaning against Yeshua’s chest, he asked Yeshua, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Yeshua answered, “It’s the one to whom I give this piece of matzah after I dip it in the dish.” So he dipped the piece of matzahand gave it to Y’hudah Ben-Shim‘on from K’riot. 27 As soon as Y’hudah took the piece of matzah, the Adversary went into him. “What you are doing, do quickly!” Yeshua said to him. 28 But no one at the table understood why he had said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Y’hudah was in charge of the common purse, Yeshua was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or telling him to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as he had taken the piece of matzah, Y’hudah went out, and it was night.
31 After Y’hudah had left, Yeshua said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32 If the Son has glorified God, God will himself glorify the Son, and will do so without delay. 33 Little children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and, as I said to the Judeans, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come,’ now I say it to you as well.
34 “I am giving you a new command: that you keep on loving each other. In the same way that I have loved you, you are also to keep on loving each other. 35 Everyone will know that you are my talmidim by the fact that you have love for each other.”
36 Shim‘on Kefa said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Yeshua answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow later.” 37 “Lord,” Kefa said to him, “why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you!” 38 Yeshua answered, “You will lay down your life for me? Yes, indeed! I tell you, before the rooster crows you will disown me three times. (Complete Jewish Bible).
***
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Our danger is to water down God’s word to suit ourselves. God never fits His word to suit me; He fits me to suit His word. (from Not Knowing Whither, 901 R)
"What Are You Haunted By?" by Oswald Chambers from My Utmost for His Highest for Saturday, 2 June 2018 Daily Devotional
"What Are You Haunted By?" by Oswald Chambers
What man is he that feareth the Lord? (PSALM 25:12)What are you haunted by? You will say — “By nothing,” but we are all haunted by something, generally by ourselves, or, if we are Christians, by our experience. The Psalmist says we are to be haunted by God. The abiding consciousness of the life is to be God, not thinking about Him. The whole of our life inside and out is to be absolutely haunted by the presence of God. A child’s consciousness is so mother-haunted that although the child is not consciously thinking of its mother, yet when calamity arises, the relationship that abides is that of the mother. So we are to live and move and have our being in God, to look at everything in relation to God, because the abiding consciousness of God pushes itself to the front all the time.
If we are haunted by God, nothing else can get in, no cares, no tribulation, no anxieties. We see now why Our Lord so emphasized the sin of worry. How can we dare be so utterly unbelieving when God is round about us? To be haunted by God is to have an effective barricade against all the onslaughts of the enemy.
“His soul shall dwell at ease.” In tribulation, misunderstanding, slander, in the midst of all these things, if our life is hid with Christ in God, He will keep us at ease. We rob ourselves of the marvellous revelation of this abiding companionship of God. “God is our Refuge” — nothing can come through that shelter. (From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition)
Bible in One Year: 2 Chronicles 17-18; John 13:1-20
2 Chronicles 17:1 Then Y’hoshafat his son became king in his place. He strengthened his position against Isra’el 2 by placing forces in all the fortified cities of Y’hudah, and by garrisoning troops in the territory of Y’hudah and in the cities of Efrayim that Asa his father had captured. 3 Adonai was with Y’hoshafat, because he lived according to the first ways of his ancestor David, not seeking the ba‘alim, 4 but seeking the God of his father and living by his mitzvot, not by what Isra’el did. 5 Therefore Adonai consolidated his rulership; all Y’hudah brought presents to Y’hoshafat, so that he had wealth and honor in abundance. 6 In his heart he highly regarded Adonai’s ways; moreover, he removed the high places and sacred poles from Y’hudah.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men Ben-Chayil, ‘Ovadyah, Z’kharyah, N’tan’el and Mikhayahu to teach in the cities of Y’hudah; 8 with them were the L’vi’im Sh’ma‘yahu, N’tanyahu, Z’vadyahu, ‘Asah’el, Sh’miramot, Y’honatan, Adoniyahu, Tuviyahu and Tov-Adoniyah, the L’vi’im; and with them Elishama and Y’horam the cohanim. 9 They taught in Y’hudah, having a scroll of the Torah of Adonai with them; they circulated through all the cities of Y’hudah, teaching among the people.
10 A panic from Adonai seized all the kingdoms in the lands surrounding Y’hudah, so that they did not make war against Y’hoshafat. 11 Some of the P’lishtim brought Y’hoshafat gifts and silver as tribute; the Arabs too brought him flocks — 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
12 So Y’hoshafat grew increasingly powerful. In Y’hudah he built fortresses and storage cities. 13 He had many projects in the cities of Y’hudah; and in Yerushalayim he had warriors, strong brave men. 14 Here is a listing of them by clans: from Y’hudah, the captains of thousands: ‘Adnah the leader, and with him 300,000 strong, brave men; 15 next to him Y’hochanan the leader, and with him 280,000; 16 next to him ‘Amasyah the son of Zikhri, who volunteered to serve Adonai, and with him 200,000 strong, brave men. 17 From Binyamin: Elyada, a strong, brave man, and with him 200,000 equipped with bows and shields; 18 next to him Y’hozavad, and with him 180,000 prepared for war. 19 These served the king, in addition to those the king assigned to the fortified cities throughout all Y’hudah.
18:1 Y’hoshafat had wealth and honor in abundance, and by marriage he allied himself with Ach’av. 2 After some years he went down to Ach’av in Shomron. Ach’av slaughtered sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramot-Gil‘ad. 3 Ach’av king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat king of Y’hudah, “Will you go with me to Ramot-Gil‘ad?” He answered him, “I’m with you all the way; think of my troops as yours; we will join you in this war.” 4 But Y’hoshafat said to the king of Isra’el, “First, we should seek the word of Adonai.”
5 So the king of Isra’el assembled the prophets, 400 men. “Should we attack Ramot-Gil‘ad?” he asked them, “Or should I hold off?” They said, “Attack. God will hand it over to the king.” 6 But Y’hoshafat said, “Besides these, isn’t there a prophet of Adonaihere that we can consult?” 7 The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “Yes, there is still one man through whom we can consult Adonai; but I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good for me, only bad! It’s Mikhay’hu the son of Yimlah.” Y’hoshafat replied, “The king shouldn’t say such a thing.”
8 Then the king called an officer and said, “Quickly! Bring Mikhay’hu the son of Yimlah.” 9 Now the king of Isra’el and Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their royal robes; they were sitting in a threshing-floor at the entrance to the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were there, prophesying in their presence. 10 Tzidkiyah the son of Kena‘anah had made himself some horns out of iron and said, “This is what Adonai says: ‘With these you will gore Aram until they are destroyed.’” 11 All the prophets prophesied the same thing: “Go up and attack Ramot-Gil‘ad. You will succeed, because Adonai will hand it over to the king.”
12 The messenger who had gone to call Mikhay’hu said to him, “Here, now, the prophets are unanimously predicting success for the king. Please let your word be like one of theirs — say something good.” 13 But Mikhay’hu answered, “As Adonai lives, whatever my God says is what I will say.”
14 When he reached the king, the king asked him, “Mikhay’hu, should we go up and attack Ramot-Gil‘ad, or should we hold off?” He answered, “Go up, you will succeed, they will be handed over to you.” 15 The king said to him, “How many times do I have to warn you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Adonai?” 16 Then he said, “I saw all Isra’el scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and Adonai said, ‘These men have no leader; let everyone go home in peace.’” 17 The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “Didn’t I tell you that he wouldn’t prophesy good things about me, but bad?”
18 Mikhay’hu continued: “Therefore, hear the word of Adonai. I saw Adonai sitting on his throne with the whole army of heaven standing on his right and on his left. 19 Adonai asked, ‘Who will entice Ach’av king of Isra’el to go up to his death at Ramot-Gil‘ad?’ One of them said, ‘Do it this way,’ and another, ‘Do it that way.’ 20 Then a spirit stepped up, stood in front of Adonai and said, ‘I will entice him.’ Adonai asked, ‘How?’ 21 He answered, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Adonaisaid, ‘You will succeed in enticing him. Go, and do it.’ 22 So now Adonai has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours; meanwhile, Adonai has ordained disaster for you.”
23 Then Tzidkiyah the son of Kena‘anah came up, slapped Mikhay’hu in the face and said, “And how did the Spirit of Adonaileave me to speak to you?” 24 Mikhay’hu said, “You’ll find out the day you go into an inside room, trying to hide.”
25 The king of Isra’el said, “Seize Mikhay’hu, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and Yo’ash the king’s son. 26 Say, ‘The king says to put this man in prison; and feed him only bread and water, and not much of that, until I come back in peace.’” 27 Mikhay’hu said, “If you return in peace at all, Adonai has not spoken through me!” Then he added, “Did you hear me, you peoples, all of you?”
28 So the king of Isra’el and Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah went up to Ramot-Gil‘ad. 29 The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you, put on your robes.” So the king of Isra’el disguised himself and went into battle. 30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Don’t attack anyone of either high or low rank, only the king of Isra’el.” 31 So when the chariot commanders saw Y’hoshafat they said, “This is the king of Isra’el,” and turned to attack him. But Y’hoshafat called out, and Adonai came to his aid — God moved them to leave him alone, 32 so that when the chariot commanders saw that he wasn’t the king of Isra’el, they stopped pursuing him. 33 However, one soldier shot an arrow at random and struck the king of Isra’el between his lower armor and the breastplate. The king said to his chariot-driver, “Turn the reins and take me out of the fighting; I’m collapsing from my wounds.” 34 But the fighting grew fiercer that day; and although the king of Isra’el propped himself upright in his chariot facing Aram until evening, around sunset he died.
7 In the third year of his reign he sent his leading men Ben-Chayil, ‘Ovadyah, Z’kharyah, N’tan’el and Mikhayahu to teach in the cities of Y’hudah; 8 with them were the L’vi’im Sh’ma‘yahu, N’tanyahu, Z’vadyahu, ‘Asah’el, Sh’miramot, Y’honatan, Adoniyahu, Tuviyahu and Tov-Adoniyah, the L’vi’im; and with them Elishama and Y’horam the cohanim. 9 They taught in Y’hudah, having a scroll of the Torah of Adonai with them; they circulated through all the cities of Y’hudah, teaching among the people.
10 A panic from Adonai seized all the kingdoms in the lands surrounding Y’hudah, so that they did not make war against Y’hoshafat. 11 Some of the P’lishtim brought Y’hoshafat gifts and silver as tribute; the Arabs too brought him flocks — 7,700 rams and 7,700 male goats.
12 So Y’hoshafat grew increasingly powerful. In Y’hudah he built fortresses and storage cities. 13 He had many projects in the cities of Y’hudah; and in Yerushalayim he had warriors, strong brave men. 14 Here is a listing of them by clans: from Y’hudah, the captains of thousands: ‘Adnah the leader, and with him 300,000 strong, brave men; 15 next to him Y’hochanan the leader, and with him 280,000; 16 next to him ‘Amasyah the son of Zikhri, who volunteered to serve Adonai, and with him 200,000 strong, brave men. 17 From Binyamin: Elyada, a strong, brave man, and with him 200,000 equipped with bows and shields; 18 next to him Y’hozavad, and with him 180,000 prepared for war. 19 These served the king, in addition to those the king assigned to the fortified cities throughout all Y’hudah.
18:1 Y’hoshafat had wealth and honor in abundance, and by marriage he allied himself with Ach’av. 2 After some years he went down to Ach’av in Shomron. Ach’av slaughtered sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramot-Gil‘ad. 3 Ach’av king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat king of Y’hudah, “Will you go with me to Ramot-Gil‘ad?” He answered him, “I’m with you all the way; think of my troops as yours; we will join you in this war.” 4 But Y’hoshafat said to the king of Isra’el, “First, we should seek the word of Adonai.”
5 So the king of Isra’el assembled the prophets, 400 men. “Should we attack Ramot-Gil‘ad?” he asked them, “Or should I hold off?” They said, “Attack. God will hand it over to the king.” 6 But Y’hoshafat said, “Besides these, isn’t there a prophet of Adonaihere that we can consult?” 7 The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “Yes, there is still one man through whom we can consult Adonai; but I hate him, because he never prophesies anything good for me, only bad! It’s Mikhay’hu the son of Yimlah.” Y’hoshafat replied, “The king shouldn’t say such a thing.”
8 Then the king called an officer and said, “Quickly! Bring Mikhay’hu the son of Yimlah.” 9 Now the king of Isra’el and Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah were each sitting on his throne, dressed in their royal robes; they were sitting in a threshing-floor at the entrance to the gate of Shomron; and all the prophets were there, prophesying in their presence. 10 Tzidkiyah the son of Kena‘anah had made himself some horns out of iron and said, “This is what Adonai says: ‘With these you will gore Aram until they are destroyed.’” 11 All the prophets prophesied the same thing: “Go up and attack Ramot-Gil‘ad. You will succeed, because Adonai will hand it over to the king.”
12 The messenger who had gone to call Mikhay’hu said to him, “Here, now, the prophets are unanimously predicting success for the king. Please let your word be like one of theirs — say something good.” 13 But Mikhay’hu answered, “As Adonai lives, whatever my God says is what I will say.”
14 When he reached the king, the king asked him, “Mikhay’hu, should we go up and attack Ramot-Gil‘ad, or should we hold off?” He answered, “Go up, you will succeed, they will be handed over to you.” 15 The king said to him, “How many times do I have to warn you to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Adonai?” 16 Then he said, “I saw all Isra’el scattered over the hills like sheep without a shepherd; and Adonai said, ‘These men have no leader; let everyone go home in peace.’” 17 The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “Didn’t I tell you that he wouldn’t prophesy good things about me, but bad?”
18 Mikhay’hu continued: “Therefore, hear the word of Adonai. I saw Adonai sitting on his throne with the whole army of heaven standing on his right and on his left. 19 Adonai asked, ‘Who will entice Ach’av king of Isra’el to go up to his death at Ramot-Gil‘ad?’ One of them said, ‘Do it this way,’ and another, ‘Do it that way.’ 20 Then a spirit stepped up, stood in front of Adonai and said, ‘I will entice him.’ Adonai asked, ‘How?’ 21 He answered, ‘I will go and be a deceiving spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ Adonaisaid, ‘You will succeed in enticing him. Go, and do it.’ 22 So now Adonai has put a deceiving spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours; meanwhile, Adonai has ordained disaster for you.”
23 Then Tzidkiyah the son of Kena‘anah came up, slapped Mikhay’hu in the face and said, “And how did the Spirit of Adonaileave me to speak to you?” 24 Mikhay’hu said, “You’ll find out the day you go into an inside room, trying to hide.”
25 The king of Isra’el said, “Seize Mikhay’hu, and take him back to Amon the governor of the city and Yo’ash the king’s son. 26 Say, ‘The king says to put this man in prison; and feed him only bread and water, and not much of that, until I come back in peace.’” 27 Mikhay’hu said, “If you return in peace at all, Adonai has not spoken through me!” Then he added, “Did you hear me, you peoples, all of you?”
28 So the king of Isra’el and Y’hoshafat the king of Y’hudah went up to Ramot-Gil‘ad. 29 The king of Isra’el said to Y’hoshafat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle; but you, put on your robes.” So the king of Isra’el disguised himself and went into battle. 30 Now the king of Aram had ordered his chariot commanders, “Don’t attack anyone of either high or low rank, only the king of Isra’el.” 31 So when the chariot commanders saw Y’hoshafat they said, “This is the king of Isra’el,” and turned to attack him. But Y’hoshafat called out, and Adonai came to his aid — God moved them to leave him alone, 32 so that when the chariot commanders saw that he wasn’t the king of Isra’el, they stopped pursuing him. 33 However, one soldier shot an arrow at random and struck the king of Isra’el between his lower armor and the breastplate. The king said to his chariot-driver, “Turn the reins and take me out of the fighting; I’m collapsing from my wounds.” 34 But the fighting grew fiercer that day; and although the king of Isra’el propped himself upright in his chariot facing Aram until evening, around sunset he died.
John 13:1 It was just before the festival of Pesach, and Yeshua knew that the time had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. Having loved his own people in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 They were at supper, and the Adversary had already put the desire to betray him into the heart of Y’hudah Ben-Shim‘on from K’riot. 3 Yeshua was aware that the Father had put everything in his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God. 4 So he rose from the table, removed his outer garments and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 Then he poured some water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the talmidim and wipe them off with the towel wrapped around him.
6 He came to Shim‘on Kefa, who said to him, “Lord! You are washing my feet?” 7 Yeshua answered him, “You don’t understand yet what I am doing, but in time you will understand.” 8 “No!” said Kefa, “You will never wash my feet!” Yeshua answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 “Lord,” Shim‘on Kefa replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and head too!” 10 Yeshua said to him, “A man who has had a bath doesn’t need to wash, except his feet — his body is already clean. And you people are clean, but not all of you.” 11 (He knew who was betraying him; this is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”)
12 After he had washed their feet, taken back his clothes and returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because I am. 14 Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you. 16 Yes, indeed! I tell you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is an emissary greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
18 “I’m not talking to all of you — I know which ones I have chosen. But the words of the Tanakh must be fulfilled that say, ‘The one eating my bread has turned against me.’[John 13:18 Psalm 41:10(9)] 19 I’m telling you now, before it happens; so that when it does happen, you may believe that I AM [who I say I am]. 20 Yes, indeed! I tell you that a person who receives someone I send receives me, and that anyone who receives me receives the One who sent me.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
***WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
6 He came to Shim‘on Kefa, who said to him, “Lord! You are washing my feet?” 7 Yeshua answered him, “You don’t understand yet what I am doing, but in time you will understand.” 8 “No!” said Kefa, “You will never wash my feet!” Yeshua answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 “Lord,” Shim‘on Kefa replied, “not only my feet, but my hands and head too!” 10 Yeshua said to him, “A man who has had a bath doesn’t need to wash, except his feet — his body is already clean. And you people are clean, but not all of you.” 11 (He knew who was betraying him; this is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”)
12 After he had washed their feet, taken back his clothes and returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me ‘Rabbi’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because I am. 14 Now if I, the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. 15 For I have set you an example, so that you may do as I have done to you. 16 Yes, indeed! I tell you, a slave is not greater than his master, nor is an emissary greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
18 “I’m not talking to all of you — I know which ones I have chosen. But the words of the Tanakh must be fulfilled that say, ‘The one eating my bread has turned against me.’[John 13:18 Psalm 41:10(9)] 19 I’m telling you now, before it happens; so that when it does happen, you may believe that I AM [who I say I am]. 20 Yes, indeed! I tell you that a person who receives someone I send receives me, and that anyone who receives me receives the One who sent me.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
***WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. We have to learn to abide in Him wherever we are placed. (from Our Brilliant Heritage)
My Utmost for His Highest © 1992 by Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd. Original edition © 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.
***
No comments:
Post a Comment