Standards

O. T. #415  "Standards"
November 28, 2014
Deuteronomy 23-Part 1
For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for the night but rejoicing comes in the morning.  (Psalm 30:5 NIV)

LET IT GLOW

We set the rules for our children as they grew up. Sometimes they disobeyed them. As parents, we may not have enjoyed having to correct our children, but we wanted to learn to obey us. So it is with God. As His child, I need correcting. Sometimes it takes a hard event or lesson to learn the lesson. It sticks with me, then. God sticks to His standards and does not change them for His children.

In this chapter, Moses discusses the exclusions from one holding a civil office, such as a magistrate or judge, as well as the exclusion from gathering in the Temple for worshiping God. There are three groups listed here:

1. Eunuch were forbidden because such willful mutilation (by crushing of sexual male parts) violated or mutilated the nature of man as created by God, and was associated with idolatrous practices, which was done by pagan parents to their children so they might serve as eunuchs in the homes of the great (25:11-12).
2. Illegitimates were excluded so as to place an indelible stigma as a discouragement to shameful sexual misconduct. These people were born of an incestuous relations between Jews or of a mixed marriage between Israelite and pagan neighbors. A child born out of wedlock or incest was illegitimate and unworthy of Israelite citizenship for ten generations.
3. Ammonite and Moabite people were excluded, not because they were born out of incest (Gen. 19:30-38), but on account of their vicious hostility toward God and His people Israel. Lots two daughters got him drunk, had sexual relations with their father, and each bore him a son called Ammon and Moab as the result of their sinful act. The Ammonites and Moabites were also excluded because their treatment of Israel when Israel came out of Egypt, for they had hired Baalam ro curse God's people.

[Resources: The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Liberty Bible Commentary, Guzik Commentary]


LET IT GROW

Individuals from all three of these outcast groups are offered grace and acceptance by Isaiah upon personal faith in the true God (Is. 56:1-8). Illegitimate people can be saved and greatly used by God. His mercy and grace through Christ are sufficient for all.

Ruth the Moabitess serves as a most notable example (Ruth 1:4, 16). Ruth was married to Boaz (a Jew) and was received into full Israelite covenant relationship. She became an heir of the promise and was also in the line of the Messiah. She was in the eleventh generation descendant of Pharez (Gen. 38; Ruth 4).

In the New Testament, we read what Paul said of us in Hebrews 12:7-8: Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.

Are you glad to be God's son or daughter? Then we must endure our heavenly Father's discipline in our life. Not lovely news, but is truth. He wants us to be conformed to the image of His son, Jesus, and that is God's method of accomplishing it.

LET IT GO

Turn from my sinful ways and to God's standards.

Thank Him for grace and mercy as He disciplines me.

Learn my lessons the first time so I don't have to repeat the course.

Happy Thanksgiving Day 2014!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving Day 2014!!!!!!

We have so much to be thankful for this year, don't we!

Billy Graham wrote a devotional:
During the first long winter for the Pilgrims here, 7 times as many graves were made for the dead as homes were made for the living. Seed, imported from England, failed to grow, and a ship that was to bring food and relief, brought instead 35 more mouths to fee, but no provisions.
According to today's standards, the Pilgrims had almost nothing, but they possessed a profound and heartfelt gratitude to God for His love and mercy. Gratitude is one of the greatest Christian virtues.

1 Corinthians 29:13 says, Now, our God, we give you thanks. And praise your glorious name.

As we sit around a table flourishing with food choices, let's remember who provided each item and the workers used to produce it:

• Turkey's growers, processors, and trucking system to the store for us to buy it. (God gave the turkey food and water and caused it to grow.); guys who fry or gals who get up at 4am to bake it;
• Mashed potatoes, with butter and milk- farmers who plant, water, pick potatoes, shippers and retailers, cows and farmers daily milk and feed the cows (God made the plant and grass grow through rain and sunshine.);
• Vegetables and fruit that God caused to grow and the farmer who worked it, picked it;
• Hot rolls-wheat that God cause to grow, farmers who planted and processed it, bakeries who made the dough;
• Pecan pie-God grew the pecans through rain and sunshine; processors and packagers.
• A warm house filled with family and friends;
• A loving God who made us, saved us, and provides for us.

As we thank God for the material blessings He gives us, let us also be thankful in the midst of trials and persecution. Remembering our military people and missionaries away from home this time of year.


Ok, friends, don't eat too much today. Right! Enjoy, relax, laugh, and say a pray of thanksgiving to God for your life (He made it.).
Friday we will continue our study.

Love ya'll,
Linda

Sexual Violations

O. T. #413  "Sexual Violations"
November 26, 2014
Deuteronomy 22-Part 3
If any  man...  Deuteronomy 22:13

LET IT GLOW

Violations. Rapes. Incest. Adulterous affairs. Fornication. Homosexuality. Are these terms too common on the nightly news? Where is has the respect of women gone? Why do guys not control their urges? Are women being so seductive in their dress that they provoke such actions? What message does the media, movie,and internet give our young people? Are we failing as parents and churches to teach our children the standards God has established in His Word? (This is not a new thing, for it has always been.)

This part of the chapter is on the family life, specifically marriage violations. Moses honors the laws of chastity in marriage on the basis that marriage must be founded upon faithfulness purity. Adultery was punished by death for the two found in the act. We read of several scenarios, situations, which might occur and the handling of them.

1. If a man takes a wife and after lying with her, dislikes (hates) her and slanders her and gives her a bad name by accusing her of not being a virgin, then her parents could bring proof (blood-stained garment or bed sheet) to the towns elders at the gate. The parents display the cloth before the elders, then the elders punish the man. The man must give 100 shekels of silver as a fine paid to the girl's father because the man gave the Israelite virgin a bad name. Also, he was to be given 40 stripes with a whip for the lie. She was to continue to be his wife and he was not allowed to ever divorce her.
2. If the charges are true and there's no proof otherwise, then the girl was to be stoned to death while at her father's door. She did a promiscuous thing while still in her father's house. You must purge the evil from among you.
3. If a man is found sleeping with another man's wife, both man and woman must die. You must purge the evil from Israel.
4. If a man happens to meet in a town a virgin pledged to be married and he sleeps with her, both were to be stoned to death at the at of that town. It was due to her not screaming and his violating another man's wife. You must purge the evil from among you.
5. However, if a man rapes a girl pledged to be married while located in the country, only the man who did this dies. The girl had no punishment due to her committing no sin deserving death. There was no one to rescue her while screaming.
6. If a man rapes an unpledged virgin, he is to pay the girl's father 50 shekels of silver. He must marry the girl he violated, never divorcing her as long as he lives.
7. A man must not marry his father's wife, probably a step-mother. Incest was certainly forbidden.

Did you notice a repeating phrase "you must purge the evil among you?"
Here, God is establishing some standards for the Israelites to live by when they reach their Promised Land. They are good standards for us to live by today, but people do not take such sins seriously. How much safer would our society would be for women if it were.

LET IT GROW

God placed betrothal on a par with marriage. Hence, when the virgin Mary was betrothed to Joseph, it was a union as sacred and permanent as marriage.  (Falwell)

In Matthew 1:19, Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

However, the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream with a message to not be afraid to take Mary home as his wife because the child she conceived was from the Holy Spirit. Then he did so.

Jesus, virgin-born, had His father God, not man. This is one of the doctrine of faith we talk about. such an impossibility for this to occur naturally. Although through doctors' abilities today, they can implant an embryo into a woman without her violation. This is not the same thing as what happened to Jesus. We take this by faith, that the Bible is God's Word and the truth.

Are we encouraging young women to remain pure before their marriage? Sexual activity is becoming so common in our society, that is a shameful, sinful, and acceptable practice. Purity is a gift a virgin can give her husband on their wedding night and rightfully should be so. What has happened to the respect of guys for gals?

LET IT GO

Develop self control.

Learn God's standards for marriage and sex, then apply them in my life.

Be a faithful wife and Christian.

Teach young women the ways of a faithful woman; teach young men how to act appropriately toward women.

How is a Woman of Faith Supposed to Dress?

O. T. #413  "How is a Woman of Faith Supposed to Dress?"
November 25, 2014
Deuteronomy 22-Part 2
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.  Deuteronomy22:5

I am sending a happy anniversary wish to my wonderful husband of 42 years today! I love ya more today than ever and thank God that He has allowed us to serve Him together all this time.

LET IT GLOW

How is a woman of faith, a godly woman, supposed to dress? Well, this may be a hot topic for the internet. I wonder how many first time visitors will be curious enough to read this lesson. Will they even read its entirety with an open mind? Keep in mind, please, this is God's Word. I'll share my opinions at the end.

Here's some background I found concerning this topic:

Matthew Henry's commentary on the Whole Bible:

Some think this refers to the idolatrous custom of the Gentiles: in the worship of Venus, women appeared in armor, and men in women's clothes; this, as other such superstitious usages, is here said to be an abomination to the Lord. It forbids the confounding of the dispositions and affairs of the sexes; men must not be effeminate (feminine qualities), nor do the women's work in the house: nor must women be viragos (overbearing), pretend to teach or usurp authority, 1 Timothy 2:11,12. Probably, this confounding of garments had been used to gain opportunity of committing uncleanness, and is therefore forbidden: for those that would be kept from sin, must keep themselves from all occasions of it and approaches to it.

David Guzik's Commentary states:

God's commandment is to keep distinction between sexes in clothing. It's a command against dressing in a manner which deliberately blurs the lines between the sexes. The dramatic rise in cross-dressing, transvestitism, androgynous behavior and "gender-blender" behavior in our culture is a shocking trampling of this command. There is a terrible cultural price that's paid when it's pretended that there's no difference between men and women.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary instructs:

Found only here in the Pentateuch, this statue prohibited a man from wearing any item of feminine clothing or ornamentation, or a woman from wearing any item of masculine clothing or ornamentation. The same word translated "abomination" was used to describe God's view of homosexuality (Lev. 18:22; 20:13). This instance specifically outlawed transvestism. The creation-order distinctions between male and female were to be maintained without exception (Gen. 1;27). 

With that new information, let's look closer to the Hebrew meaning of some words used in our key verse:
pertaineth means something prepared, any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon): armor, bag, carriage, furnish, furniture, instrument; jewel; sack, stuff, thing, tool vessel, ware, weapon whatsoever;
abomination means something disgusting; an abhorrence; especially idolatry; an idol; abominable (custom, thing).

Webster's Dictionary defines abomination as extreme disgust and hatred.

Let me discuss with you what I perceive all this is saying to us in our time and culture. God has created me to be a woman to accomplish  His purposes. Therefore, His Word instructs me that I am to not dress like a man (executive suit and tie), have a job that uses those tools which a man uses (construction), nor carry weapons while dressed in military uniform. I do not want to displease my God. I want to maintain a grateful heart in His service.

Here is how I apply this verse to my life and situation. I want to honor the Lord Jesus with my life, so I want others to see Him and not me, focus on Him, not what I am wearing. Also, I do not want to cause my brother to stumble, so inspect my appearance before leaving home. Decency is a priority.
I only wear dresses and skirts to our worship services because I felt the Lord wants me to set an example as a pastor's wife and as a Christian woman.
However, I do wear jeans and elastic waisted knit pants elsewhere. Along with those types of clothing, I also try to wear a feminine top (not low cut). I watch the colors, style, and design so they are not the masculine nor floosy type. At our tire shop where I do the bookkeeping, cleaning, and scheduling, I try to maintain that look which distinguishes me as a woman, not one of the guys, even though we wear a company shirt often. A pretty blouse over that shirt helps.

I do not want to instruct you on your decision as to your clothing, for that is between you and the Lord. I just wanted to share what is on my heart and do not want to offend anyone in doing so. The main thing is honoring our God, and not drawing attention to ourselves in an unholy manner.

Feel free to share with us your convictions, opinions, likes.


LET IT GROW

Liberty Bible Commentary explains:

The word pertaineth unto (keli) in the original language is used elsewhere not only of clothes, but also of decorations or utensils used by the opposite sex. The intent of this law as to maintain the distinction between the sexes. Today, it would apply to any unisex clothing that would cloud the distinction between men and women. The New Testament recognizes such a distinction (1 Cor. 11:3) and maintains that long hair on women was a sign of that distinction (1 Cor. 11:6-14). The major difference between male and female robes was their decoration or ornamentation, not their cut. The passage does not teach against slack per se (or hats, shoes, gloves, etc.-all worn by both sexes) but against men or women wearing any item specifically ornamented for the opposite sex (a man wearing female slacks, lipstick, etc.). The wearing of slacks by ladies today is not an attempt to deceive men, although some may be immodest and improper in certain situations.

Dr. Jerry Falwell goes on to explain that the final criteria are that women look like females, that they are modest (1 Tim. 2:9-10), and that their outward appearance reflects their inner character
(1 Pet. 3:3).

Well, friends, that has been a very deep lesson for me. If you are a woman, dress and act like a woman. If you are a man, dress and act like a man. May we not rebel against what God has created us to be.

Colossians 3:17 states: and whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.

Washing dishes, changing diapers, laundry, scrubbing toilets, waitressing, serving the boss coffee, factory work, whatever you are doing today, honor our God with your work. May God bless your efforts and attitude of love.

LET IT GO

Protect myself from the world's opinion of a woman.

Strive to be a godly woman, wife, mother, and friend.

Dress and act like a Christian woman I was intended to be.

Submit to God's will and be faithful in doing it.

Thank God I am a woman, saved by His grace.


*Here are some good books on this subject:
Good Girls don't have to Dress Bad by Shari Braendel,
A Woman After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George,
For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn,
Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge,
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver,
The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace,
Ruth by Kelly Minter

When the Cows Get Out

O. T. #412  "When the Cows Get Out"
November 24, 2014
Deuteronomy 22-Part 1
If you see your brother's ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to him.  Deuteronomy 22:1a


LET IT GLOW

We have some very good neighbors. When our cows of their field, tear down a fence, they help us get them back inside where they belong. We return the favor, too. I have called my neighbor many times to inform him that his cows are out. Once another neighbor's cows got out, coming down the road, so we put them into our coral to hold them until he could come take them home. You see, we don't live too far from a busy highway, which could be dangerous for the cows. (Cows can be worth as much as $2000 each, so that would be a big loss of investment.) Pets have strayed, too and we call to inform its owner.  We all help each other out in my neighborhood. That's just how it is here. We love our neighbors. That's how Jesus wanted the Israelites to be when they settled into their new Promised Land.

Verse 6 is a law that showed God's care for the long-term provisions for His people. This is the only place it is mentioned in the Pentateuch. If a bird's nest is in a tree or on the ground beside a road, and the mother is sitting on the young or eggs, the Israeli was  to let the mother go. By letting the mother bird go, food could be acquired without killing the source of future food. The Lord assured by dong so it would go well with them and they would have a long life.

In verse 8, where the only place this law is found in the Pentateuch, too, refers to the roof of a home in ancient Israel. The roof was flat and usually reached by outside stairs. To prevent injury or death from falling, a fence was to be built around the roof. This expressed love for those who might otherwise be injured or killed.

How considerate are we when it comes to our neighbors? Do we talk with them or ignore them? Are we aware of their problems?


LET IT GROW

We know loving God is our first duty, as Jesus explained in Matthew 22. Our next duty is loving our neighbor as our self. This chapter deals primarily with the duties pertaining to one's neighbor. The law of loving one's neighbor is applied to domestic and social relationships:

• Sanctity of private property is discussed in verse 1-4. If your neighbor's animals strayed, don't ignore the situation, but take them back to him. If he doesn't live close by, take them home with you and care for them until he comes after them; give the animals back to their owner.
• This law pertained to your neighbor's ox, sheep, donkey, cloak, or anything he looses. Help your neighbor, don't ignore the need of the situation.
• If your neighbor's donkey or ox falls into the road, don't ignore it. Help him get it to its feet.

It sounds like we are to go the extra mile, show love by helping out our neighbor. We don't just limit it to our livestock or pets. If we have the wrong mail delivered in our mailbox, we take it its rightful owner.
How is your relationship with your neighbors? I wonder if city people have a harder time with this. We can show Jesus' love to others in so many ways, if we only keep our eyes and ears open to the needs of others.

LET IT GO

Love my neighbor as myself.

Care about their problems and needs.

Show Jesus love whenever possible.

Take time to visit with my neighbors.

Continuing Monday

Nov. 21, 2014
Friends,
I am sorry for not writing our Bible study yesterday and today. I have been sick and went to the doctor. I am taking medication to resolve the inflammation in my small intestine and eyes. Rest is very much needed because to the difficulty to sleep with the plain. I know God is in control and rest in Him.
I will work on Monday's lesson this weekend, so be sure and come back then.

Meanwhile, have a blessed weekend ya'll.
Be sure to thank God for all he has done, His grace and mercy.

Please pray for the Dugger family of 19 Kinds and Counting on TLC. They are being attacked by homosexuals trying to get their show off the air. They are a Christian family upholding God's principles and Word to the world located in my area. Pray for their protection and encouragement.

See you Monday.
In His Service,
Linda

He Captured My Heart

O. T. #411  "He Captured My Heart"
November 19, 2014
Deuteronomy 21-part 2
If you notice among the captives a beautiful woman and are attracted to her, you may take her as your wife.  Deuteronomy 21:9 NIV

LET IT GLOW

I still see it as plain as day, during our senior year in high school, when Roger sat in the student center, watching the ping-pong games at lunch. When his presence caught my eye, I began watching this new guy at school instead of the games. Eventually, after dating and spending time with him, as well as seeking the Lord's will, he captured my heart. His physical appearance was ordinary, but he was different from the rest of the guys I knew. In seven days, we will celebrate our 42nd anniversary. I can truthfully say, he still captures my heart.

Did you know God gave Israel instructions on this topic?

Moses is continuing to give instructions to Israel concerning their new societal order in regards to human relationships. It is this second generation of the Israelites who are going to form a new nation. They are God's chosen children. He desires them to live the right way, to be an example before the heathen nations.
Moses touches on an unusual situation-What does a man do with a beautiful captured woman that has captured his heart?

Such a woman would be from a non-Canaanite city that Israel had captured (20:4) since all the Canaanites were to be killed (20:16).
According to ancient war customs, a female captive became the servant of the victors, a prisoner of war. If this beautiful woman's conqueror desired marriage with her, there were some procedures that he must follow:

• The man was instructed to bring the woman into the Israeli man's house, giving her the rights of a daughter of Israel (Ex. 21:7).
• One month was to elapse before they married. It was a sign of cleansing (Lev. 14:8; Num. 8:7).
• This time allowed her to sorrow for the loss of her parents as she left home to marry a stranger.
• The typical signs of Jewish grief included: shaving the head, trimming the nails (signs of purification), removing her lovely, captive clothes (symbolic of passing out of the state of slavery).
• This action gave her opportunity to forget her natural affection for her people and for her father's house.
• However, if the Israelite husband found no delight in her, and decided divorce was appropriate, he could let her go; but he could not sell her as a slave. She would be set free completely.

[References: The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Liberty Bible Commentary]

We believing women are beautiful daughters of the King-King Jesus. We have captivated His heart, not by any thing we are or have done, but by His grace and love.

Ephesians 1:5 says, Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.

Is our inner countenance showing us to be a beautiful spiritual woman? Is our loving, humble spirit what draws attention to us, others to us, or is it a shallow outward beauty? Are we striving to be a Proverbs 31 woman? How will we honor our Savior today? Has Jesus captured your heart?


LET IT GROW

What were the Israelites to do when their son was stubborn and rebellious? When he would not obey his parents' chastening?

• According to the fifth commandment (Ex. 20:120, the son was to be stoned to death by the men of the town, not the parents.
• The parents were to take this rebellious son to the elders at the gate of their town.(verse 19)
• They charge the son with being a glutton and a drunkard. (verse 20) It showed he was unmanageable.

If a man would not obey his parents, he would not obey God, nor was he likely to obey civil authority. It would be punishing crime in its embryonic form. (Falwell)

Plus, rebellion could spread throughout the town. Stoning put fear into people so they would put away evil ways. Do we want our sins on display?

The last two verses in this chapter speaks about men being hung on a tree until dead for certain crimes. After his execution, the man's body was to remain on the tree as a public display of the consequences of disobedience. It was to be removed and buried before sunset.

A man hanged was accursed of God, as verse 23 tells us.
Galatians 3:13-14 NIV says, Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Thank You Jesus for redeeming us Gentiles and making us Your child. Such mercy!

LET IT GO

Take any stubbornness and rebellion to Jesus for removal.

Allow Jesus to make me into a beautiful spiritual woman.

Thank Jesus for loving us Gentiles and redeeming us.

Share the love of Jesus with someone today.