Honesty

O. T. #421 "Honesty"
December 17, 2014
Deuteronomy 25-Part 3
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?  (Micah 6:7-8)


LET IT GLOW

Honest and integrity in our business dealings. We want the exact size of material that we are paying for, a full cup of coffee or tea, the fair treatment, full value on our purchase.
We own a tire shop in a nearby town. The company has been in business for 40 years. We have a reputation of being honest with the customer, as well as not tacking on needless added expenses. As a result, we have a good clientele and other businesses use us, also. We are blessed as we strive to honor the Lord Jesus.
Moses made some references to the Jews in being honest in their business dealings. Verses 13-16 touches on it.

Deuteronomy 25:35-36 (Life Application Study Bible) states:
You must not be unfair in measurements of length, weight, or volume. You are to have honest balances, honest weights, an honest dry measure, and an honest liquid measure; I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. You must keep all My statues and all My ordinances and do them; I am Yahweh.

How are our dealings in business? Is honest our policy for life?  Do we expect others to be honest with us while we are not honest with them? Or are we honest in all our dealings?

LET IT GROW

In verses 17-19, Liberty Bible Commentary states:

God commands Israel not to forget Amalek. This nation had attacked the weary, the aged, and the children when Israel passed through its borders. God abhorred this despicable act and commanded Israel to completely blot out Amalek. Egypt typifies the world that God's people were to flee. Amalek typifies the flesh that hinders God's people from leaving this world. Baalam had prophesied that when the scepter would rise out of Israel(referring to the coming of Christ), He would have complete domination (Num. 24:20). Then Amalek would perish forever. In this way the Bible promises that when we receive our glorified bodies, we will no longer have difficulties with the flesh.

In 1 Kings 15, we read of the execution of this command. However, Saul only partially obeyed God by sparing Agag the king and the best of the spoil. That's when the Prophet Samuel confronted Saul with the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen of the spoils of the Amalekites. Saul tried to justify his disobedience by saying he spared the best of the sheep and oxen to sacrifice unto the LORD.
In 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight to burnt offerings and sacrifices as to obeying the voice of the LORD Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Does not God look upon our heart, to our motives,  looking for faith within us, to see if we will obey Him?
Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:6)

How is our obedience scale?

LET IT GO

Remain honest in all business dealings.

Obey God's voice throughout the day as He leads me on this journey of faith.

Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God.

*I am waiting for the surgeon's office to call for a consultation about my hernia surgery. Hopefully, it will be before the end of this year, since we have met our deductible on insurance. I'll keep everyone informed when I know anything.
Thank you everyone for keeping me in your prayers. I am so grateful that is all that is causing my pain and not a serious colon issue.
Have a blessed day! (Linda)

Shoe Exchange

O. T. #419  "Shoe Exchanged"
December 15, 2014
Deuteronomy 25, 2014
I know that my Redeemer liveth. (Job 19:25)


LET IT GLOW

Since my foot has always been on the small side, (size 4 1/2-5) my girlfriends did not try mine on, nor did I theirs either.
A simple shoe exchange. I don't return my shoes, for I try them on while in the store. That's all it took for a man's life to be changed forever. Read on to find out the significance and symbolism.

In verses 5-10, Moses explains about the Levirate marriages, according to David Guzik Bible Commentary:

• In ancient Israel, it was viewed as a tragic thing if a man died without leaving any descendants to carry on his name, and to give his family an inheritance.
• Therefore, if a man dies and has no son, it was the responsibility of one of his brothers to take the deceased brother's widow as a wife and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her.
• The first born son she bares would be counted as a son of the deceased brother, not the surviving brother.
• If brothers of the deceased man refused to take responsibility, they were called to open shame by the widow. The shame was compounded as they would remove his sandal and the widow would spit in his face. 

This is called the law of the kinsman-redeemer, whereas a single surviving brother was to marry his brother's widow.

Kinsman, in Hebrew, means to free, redeem.
It is found in several verses in Isaiah, as well as Job 19:25, where Job says he knows his Redeemer liveth.

Redeemer means to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, to marry his widow, etc.); deliver, purchase; ransom; redeem.

Kinsman-Redeemer. Have you heard of that term before? Looking at the story of Ruth, the Moabitess, we see that her Israelite husband died, and she married another Israelite named Boaz, her deceased husband's closest kinsman. When he applied this law and raised up a son by Ruth, he perpetuated the line of the Messiah. (Ruth 4:17-22)

Liberty bible Commentary has this to say:
 

Now if a man refused to become the kinsman-redeemer, the widow was to bring him before the town magistrates at the city gate. She was to loose his shoe from his foot, symbolic of the exchange of property. Therefore, exchanging shoes was symbolic of exchanging property. When the man refused to raise up his brother's kin, she took his shoe, which was symbolic of his losing the inheritance. He was thus deprived of a position which he ought to have had via receiving the inheritance of the deceased brother.

What can we gleam from this? Family takes care of family. Often families have conflict within it. Love should rule out above such things so divisions are not made.

LET IT GROW

Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer. He purchased our salvation by His death on the cross. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, which God required for sin. How do we respond to such love?

Isaiah 48:17 says, Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go. 

How grateful we should be that Jesus redeemed us.
I've been redeemed, by the blood of the Lamb!!

LET IT GO

Trust and obey my Redeemer.

Love my family and extended family.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Folks, I am sorry for not posting sooner. I had a colonoscopy done Tuesday, with a good report. However, I ended up dehydrating and spent the night in the hospital to replenish my fluids. I am still weak, but recuperating at home. I did find out that I have to have hernia surgery this month . That is the source of my pain, so I am rejoicing it isn't more serious an operation like I had imagined.

So I will try to get back on schedule Friday with our study. I not, then Monday is definite. Please keep me in your prayers, though.

My verse through it all is Philippians 4:13: I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me.

Meanwhile, keep praising the Lord for all His blessing and love.
Linda

Pickin' Corn

O. T. #418 "Pickin' Corn"
December 8, 2014
Deuteronomy 24-Part 2
When you are harvesting in your field and you overlook a sheaf, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the alien, the fatherless and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.  Deuteronomy 24:19 NIV

LET IT GLOW

Are you hungry? Let's go pick some corn. Nothing like eating an ear of golden, luscious corn in the summer. I used to raise a garden and enjoyed its fruit.
Jesus compassionately took care of His disciples and followers. Not only did He meet their spiritual needs, but He met their physical needs, also. Several times He even whipped up a meal in a flash. Specifically, when the disciples were hungry, they picked corn in a field with Jesus. That was the time when the Pharisees criticized them for working on the Sabbath. (Mark 2:23-28)

How did Jesus answer these guys? The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. so the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.

I wonder if those Pharisees expected the disciples to go hungry all day. Did they ever do so in order to keep the Law and go hungry all day? Pondering.
What about us? Do we get hung up on a law and not have compassion for others in need?


LET IT GROW

In the rest of this chapter we read of the various and several prohibitions in regard to life.
David Guzik's Bible Commentary on the internet gives us an outline:

• act swiftly when leprosy breaks out; (verses 8-9)
• handling a pledge rightly; (10-13)
• command to pay your workers; (verses 14-15)
• each shall bear his own sin; (verse 16)
• a command to be compassionate and fair; (verses 17-18)
• leave behind some of the harvest for the poor. (verses 19-22)

We must always deal with others remembering how much God has blessed and forgiven us. Farmers were to have a generous heart, and mad the poor to be active and work for their food. It made a way for them to provide for their own needs with dignity.  (Guzik)

Especially during this Christmas season, specifically as the year ends, we have so many opportunities to give to various organization which meet our communities needs. Are we using discernment in which to support? There are even food and clothing pantries who help those in need.
I think our society as wavered the command for the poor to work for their food. They have come to expect a free handout, instead, which is not how God intended it.

An example in the Old Testament is fond in the book of Ruth. She did not expect a free handout for her and her mother in law's food. She went through the fields picking up the gleanings of the grain. (Ruth 1:22).

LET IT GO

Share and care live and give.

Show compassion to those in need.

Thank God for meeting my needs.

Marriage vs. Divorce

O. T. #417  "Marriage vs.Divorce"
December 5, 2014
Deuteronomy 24
When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favor in he eyes, because she find no favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.  Deuteronomy 24:1

LET IT GLOW

Well, here we with a common topic, divorce. What family is not touched by divorce? It has become such a common thing in our society, that it is very saddening. The extended family is effected-parents, grandparents, children, not just the two married people involved. Chances are you can figure out my opinion on this subject. My husband and I just celebrated 42 years of marriage. Therefore, I know it is hard to keep our vows faithfully, but it is possible. It takes the Lord Jesus helping us love and forgive each other. We just have to humble ourselves to both God and our spouse.
Moses says it is because of the hardness of our heart that divorce is permitted. Why do we get a hard heart? Why can't we treat each spouse with respect and love like we do others?

So I turned to wise men who wrote Bible commentaries for their insight on this touchy subject.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary has this to say:

This passage does not command, commend, condone, or even suggest divorce. Rather it recognizes that divorce occurs and permits it, but only on restricted grounds. The case presented here is designed to convey the fact that divorce produced defilement. Notice the sequence:

1. If a man finds an uncleanness (some impurity or something vile)in his wife, other than adultery, which was punished by execution;
2. If he legally divorces her (although God hates divorce),as in Malachi 2:16 says; He has designed marriage for life, as Genesis 2;24 declares; and He allowed divorce because of hard hearts, as Matthew 19:8 reveals);
3. If she then marries another man;
4. If the new husband subsequently does or divorces her; then, that woman could not return to her first husband (verse 4).She is considered defiled.

What constitutes that defilement? Only one thing is possible-she was defiled in the remarriage because there was no ground or the divorce. So when she remarried, she became an adulteress (Matt. 5:31-32) and is thus defiles so that her former husband can't take her back. Illegitimate divorce proliferated adultery.

What's our attitude toward divorce? Is it always an option? Or is it not entering the mind?

LET IT GROW

Liberty Bible Commentary tells us:

Jesus noted hat Moses did not abolish the tradition "because of the hardness of the (people's) hearts" (Matt. 19:8). The basis for a divorce occurred when a man's wife did not find favor in his sight because he found some uncleanness in her.

The word uncleanness means shame or disgrace.

Its interpretation has been disputed among the rabbis. If the uncleanness was adultery, it would be punished by death (Ex. 20:14). Because its meaning was unclear, the Pharisee tempted Jesus by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" (Matt. 19:3) It is though that the meaning was attached to nakedness, disgrace, or some other action having to do with sexual uncleanness which would bring shame upon the family, but was short of adultery.

Loving each other as yourself is what is need in our marriages. Do we think it too convenient to have divorce as an option if things don't work out. Marriage vows are to betaken seriously because they are repeated before God. It is He to whom we are saying our vows and the spouse.

LET IT GO

Renew my commitment mad to my husband and God with marriage.

Remain a faithful wife.

Love, forgive, care, respect my husband.

Joyfully live a married life honoring God.

 

 
          
        
            

Troubles

December 4, 2014
Please excuse me for not posting our Bible study Wednesday and today. I had a death in my family and was gone. Today I am sick, so will check back Friday.

Charles Swindoll said, "I have found great help from two truths God gave me: Nothing touches me that has not passed through the hands of my heavenly Father. Everything I endure is designed to prepare me for serving others more effectively. I needed to be emptied of my own strength so I could discover that His was more than sufficient. If God is taking things away, maybe He's just making room for better things that He wants to give you."

Our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthinans 4:17.

Friends, keep the FAITH, for God is faithful and He grace is all sufficient.
 Linda

Appreciation

O. T. #416 "Appreciation"
December 2, 2014
Deuteronomy 23-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Be kind and compassionate to one another. (Ephesians 4:32)

This time of year, who doesn't need this reminder? Amidst the busy fast traffic and shoppers with carts out there, everyone's in a hurry and focusing on self.  I need reminding. Who doesn't like to receive a compliment or a thanks of appreciation? So I am trying to be more cheerful and appreciative to others. I am making a special effort to thank those checking me out, conversing with them, appreciating their help. I even thanked the lady at McDonald's for a plain Jane chicken sandwich yesterday (meat and bread only) and told her how good it was. I could tell she doesn't hear that very often. (Complaints are probably what they hear.) Seeing her big smile was worth the extra minute I took me to thank and appreciate her.

Let me challenge you to share appreciation to someone each day. God has blessed us so much in our nation and family.


LET IT GROW

The rest of the chapter deals with summary laws for Israel and the land. There are 21 listed in 23:15-25:19 to further illustrate the requirements of living under the Sinaitic covenant.
Though  unrelated, these dealt with:

• keeping the army camp pure, clean, and without idols;
• instructions against moral, ceremonial, and natural pollution of themselves;  
• no provisions of shelter for the unclean, whore, or sodomite; 
• lending brothers money without charging interest;
• lending to strangers with interest charged was allowed;
• servants which were abused and wronged by their masters;
• vows made with the Lord's name added to it obligated the person to pay it;
• eating grapes and corn in the neighbor's field was permissible to fill one, only no picking extra (not abuse the kindness); farmers produced crops for a profit.

LET IT GO

...of grumblings and complainings and be thankful;
...focusing on self and share with others;
...returning evil for evil, but give love instead.