Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Today's Blog Title: "Introduction into the Book of Zephaniah"

Today we begin number 9 of the 12 Minor Prophets. the Book of Zephaniah.  Zephaniah is a book of contrasts, and no prophet paints a brighter picture of Israel's future.  Zephaniah has been called "the orator" because of the oratorical style evident throughout the prophecy.  

Zephaniah has some literacy affinities with Isaiah, but more with Jeremiah and Joel.  Both he and Joel paint very dark pictures of the day of the Lord, but in both books beautiful rays of light penetrate the darkness.  Two recurring expressions are important: (1) "remnant," 1:4, 2:7, 9, 3:13 and (2) the "day of the Lord," 1:7-10, 14-16, 18, 2:3, 3:8, 11, 16.

The purpose of Zephaniah's prophecy is to set forth what the day of the Lord will mean to ungodly Judah, to the world powers, 1:2-3:7, and to the godly remnant, 3:8-20.  His theme is the day of the Lord, which destroys the false remnant of Baal, Chapter 1, destroys the God rejecting nations, Chapter 2, and purifies the true remnant, 3:8-20.

Beyond the prophecy that bears his name, nothing is known about Zephaniah.  His name means "Yahweh Hides."  The meaning of his name offers some clue to the characteristics of the prophecy.

OUTLINE OF ZEPHANIAH

I. The Introduction
II. The predictions of judgment in the light of the day of the Lord 1:2-3:7
     A. The warnings of judgments delivered 1:2-2:15
          1. Against Judah 1:2-2:3
          2. Against Judah's enemies 2:4-15
     B. Woe upon Jerusalem pronounced 3:1-7

III. The exhortation in the light of the day of the Lord 3:8-20
      A. To wait for the Lord 3:8-13
      B. To rejoice in the Lord 3:14-20

Jesus Reigns and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will be In Complete and Total Control!!!. May God's Peace, Love, Strength, and Grace be with you all.  May we as Christians reach to heave with one hand and with the other reach out to this lost and dying world.  May we as John at the close of the Book of Revelation say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

     

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 10 April 2014, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "A Hymn Of Faith"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 3:1-19
Today's Key Verse: Habakkuk 3:19 "The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills."

Starting in verse 2, we read the prayer of Habakkuk.  One of the most important things that we as Christians need to learn  is to PRAY wisely.  Habakkuk's request for speedy judgment seemed wise to the prophet.  After all, he knew that in WRATH God would remember MERCY.  Yet the prophet had no real conception of what divine judgment would mean for his people, or himself.  It is wiser for us to ask God to do what is best and to be GRACIOUS.  Otherwise the Lord may give us what we ask for--and later we will discover that is NOT what we wanted!!

"I have heard" in verse 2, shows that Habakkuk knew the stories of God's mighty acts as celebrated in song and in the feasts and festivals of Israel.  These mighty acts included: (1) The Exodus from Egypt (2) The Miracles by the Red Sea and (3) The conquest of the land.  As Habakkuk mediated on God's works in human affairs, he was overcome with an awe-inspiring sense of greatness of the Lord, and he prayed for God's renewed involvement in Israel.

"Teman" in verse 3, is a poetic reference to God's appearance at Sinai, Deuteronomy 3:2. The "Holy One" in verse 3, is a name associated with both forgiveness and judgment.  Here in this verse, JUDGMENT is in view, and Habakkuk is given visions of God acting in judgment.  It was best for Judah that God judge that nation soon.  These visions, however, were to prepare the prophet and the reader for what was to come.  We as Christians today, must be emotionally prepared and committed to holding tightly to God when troubles come.

The poetic visions of JUDGMENT in verse 3-15 are descriptions intended to pull away the veil of time and space and look beyond the material universe to sense God's elemental power unleashed in JUDGMENT.  While the specific incidents in which God's anger flared are only hinted at, the place references and descriptions suggest three historic incidents.  

The first picture is of God marching from Sinai along the path His people traveled after receiving the Law. The second is of God's punishment for their sins along the way, and thirdly, the idolatry at Midian.  Other word pictures suggest the Genesis flood, and the destruction of the Egyptian army after Israel's Exodus from Egypt.

In verse 16, Habakkuk was overcome with a sense of awe at God, as well as a sense of his own weakness.  The prophet encouraged the godly not to be anxious in adversity.

In verse 19, "the LORD God," or "YAHWEH" which is tied to the term "Adonai," which means, "Lord."  God will strengthen those who TRUST in Him, Psalm 18:32,39. FAITH is that wonderful capacity to TRUST God and find COMFORT in Him, when all in this world seems to crumble around us.  Habakkuk has sensed the disaster which will soon strike Judah and he has discovered that despite everything, he can still REJOICE in the Lord.  As Habakkuk concludes his book, he reminds us, that those who live by FAITH will have the same confidence that a sure footed deer has in climbing mountains.  We as who are righteous as God's Children, and with God's STRENGTH, will occupy "the high hills."

This concludes our study on the Book of Habakkuk. The next Blog Writing will take us into an introduction to the Book of Zephaniah. 

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse Writing from 1st Corinthians 6:19-20

May God's Peace, Strength, Love and Grace be with you all.  May we a Christians reach to heaven with one hand and with the other reach out to the lost and dying of this world.  May we as John at the close of the Book of Revelation say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come."   

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ for 8 April 2014, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "The Just Live By Faith"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 2:1-20
Today's Blog Key Verse: Habakkuk 2:4 "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by faith."

"I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart" in verse 1, means that Habakkuk had stationed himself as a watchman to look at the nations just as God had commanded him to do.  "What He will say to me" in verse 1, shows Habakkuk's FAITH in his anticipation of a response from God.  "When I am corrected" in verse 1, indicates the prophets submission to God.

"Write the vision..upon tablets" verse 2 refers to the common practice of writing public notices with such large characters on clay tablets  that a running man might read it.  What God is about to reveal to Habakkuk is important and everyone needs to understand the Lord's response.

In verse 4, two classes of people are contrasted:

(1) The proud, haughty Chaldeans who will be the victors in the forth coming conflict
(2) The righteous ones of Judah who will appear to be defeated in the forth coming conflict, but in reality will be the victors because of their faith in the Lord.  

"The just shall live by faith" in verse 4,  is often quoted in the New Testament in support of the Doctrine of Justification by FAITH, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38.  Thus the Old Testament prophecy anticipates the New Testament gospel which shall ultimately conquer the nations and bring them to Jesus.

In verse 5, "he is like hell and cannot be satisfied" means that however "successful" the wicked are, nothing they gain can give them rest or satisfaction.  What a terrible judgment this is. To have everything you want, except satisfaction. 

"Woe" in verse 6 is an oracle of judgment consisting of two parts: (1) a declaration of the wrong and (2) a notice of impending judgment.    The hostility that wickedness creates is additional evidence of the present judgment of God on sinful women and men.

In verses 9-11, the uneasiness and underlying insecurity felt by the wicked person is expressed in his drive to "set his nest on high" and so "escape the clutches of ruin." Living with anxiety and being driven by fear is hardly a blessed state.  God is judging the wicked even while they seem to be most prosperous.

In verses 12-14, God intends to fill the earth with knowledge of the Lord, not with monuments to murderers.  Whatever the wicked accomplish it will crumble, and the wicked person will be forgotten. The "LORD of hosts" in verse 13, speaks of God as the commander of the armies of the heavens. "The Glory of the LORD" speaks of the full manifestation of His person, significance, presence and wonder. 

"You are filled with shame instead of glory" in verse 16, means that only God's kingdom is glorious.  "The cup of the LORD'S right hand" represents the wrath of God. Isaiah 51:17, Revelation 14:10 and 16:19.

"The Lord in His Holy temple" means that the Lord is sovereign and Holy and that He looks at the nations of this earth and hold them accountable.  The call to silence in verse 20 is not an invitation to worship, but a command to reflect on the terrible;e state of all who fall into the angry hands of God.

May God's Peace, Love, Strength, and Grace be with you all.  May we as Christians reach to heaven with one hand and with the other reach out to the lost and dying of this world.  may we like John at the close of the Book of Revelation say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi




  

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 2 March 2014, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blogs Title: "The Prophet's Question and the Lord's Reply"
Today's Blogs Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 1:1-17
Today's Blogs Key Verse:  Habakkuk 1:12 "Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One?  We shall not die.  O Lord, You have appointed them for judgement; O Rock, You have marked them for correction."

The Hebrew concept "listen" means more than simply hear.  Habakkuk knows that God listens to his complaint.  What he cannot understand is why God does not act in response to his pleas.  In this case, God explains to the prophet "for our instruction."  You and I typically will not know why there seems to be no answer to our prayers.  But we as Christians can be sure that God does hear and has reasons for any apparent delay.

 When the words "violence" "injustice" and "wrong" as in the Old Testament as they are use in verse 3, without reference to some specific foreign enemy, they typically characterize conditions among God's people.  Despite Josiah's religious reforms, there had been no moral and social transformation.  Habakkuk has been driver to a conclusion that we as a child of God should remember: "Conversion with transformation is imitation." 

God's Law was locally administered by elders, who heard civil as well as as criminal cases.  To work, this system required honest judges and witnesses who would not lie.  What Habakkuk is saying in verse 4,  is that there are so many more wicked than righteous persons that justice "never prevails" in the courts.

In verses 6-11, Habakkuk describes the mighty Chaldean's who ruled Babylon from 625  to 539 B.C.  These verses graphically describe the military strategies adopted by the Babylonian forces, featuring swift, slashing cavalry attacks, verses 8-9, and sieges which featured construction of great earthen ramps that over topped the highest walls and permitted an assault on a city's forces.

In verses 13-17, Habakkuk raises the question, "Tolerating the treacherous."  If the wicked "succeed" they will exalt their power as their god.  Even worse, it will seem to all, that mankind is like a fish in the sea, with no moral governor supervising human affairs.  How can God permit the wicked to prosper and thus raise questions, not only about His moral governance of the universe, but also His very existence?

How many times have you and I wondered how God could also the wicked to prosper.  In Chapter 2 we will have an answer.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day.  Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," Listen to the Sweet, Soft, and Tender Voice of God as He WHISPERS to you, "BUT I CAN."

Jesus Reigns, and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will Be In Complete and Total Control.  May God's Peace, Love, Strength, and Grace be with you all.  May we a Christians reach to heaven with one hand and with the other reach out to this lost and dying of this planet.  May we as John at the close of the Book of Revelation say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

  

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 26 January 2014, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "Introduction to the Book of "Habakkuk"

Today we start with number 8 of the 12 Minor Prophets, with an introduction into the Book of Habakkuk. Habakkuk, who calls himself "the prophet" may have also been a Levite who eagerly participated in Josiah's reforms, but was troubled by the moral laxity that he continued to observe.  While his work is not dated, his reference to the unexpected emergence of Babylon as a great power even then taking place, Habakkuk 2:5-6, persuasively suggests he ministered reign the of Josiah. 

The prophecy of Habakkuk, is unique among all prophetic literature.  Overall, it contains a high caliber of Hebrew poetry.  The first two chapters of his book constitute a dialogue between the prophet and the Lord concerning the invasion of the Chaldeans, Habakkuk 1:1-11 and their destruction, 1:12-2:20.  Chapter 3, is a psalm with instructions given to the musicians for its rendering, 3:1,19.  In the first two chapters of this Book, the prophet contends with the Lord, and then in the third chapter he submits to the Lord, just as we as Christians should do each and every day that we live here upon this earth. 

We will note that God did not strike Habakkuk down for the two questions that he asked in Chapter 1, instead He answered.  The Lord Himself will establish His kingdom.  He will hold all people and nations accountable.  The present may be filled with wickedness and chaos, but the future belongs to the righteous, the truly righteous.  God will bring in His kingdom, give rest and salvation to His people, and judge His people's adversaries. 

OUTLINE TO THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK

I. The prophets dialogue with the Lord Habakkuk 1:1-2:20
    A. The First Cycle Habakkuk 1:1-11
         1. The Prophets First Question, Habakkuk 1:1-4
         2. The Lord's First Response, Habakkuk 1:5-11
    B. The Second Cycle Habakkuk 1:12-2:20
         1. The Prophets Second Question Habakkuk 1:12-17
         2. The Lord's Response 2:1-20
II. The prophets deference of the Lord Habakkuk 3:1-19
     A. His Prayer to God Habakkuk 3:1-2
     B. His Praise of God Habakkuk 3:3-15
     C. His trust in God Habakkuk 3:16-19

Click on this link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse from Hebrews 4:15-16.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. God in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T, Listen to the Sweet, Soft, and Tender Voice of God as He Whispers to you, "BUT I CAN."  

Jesus Reigns, and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will Be In Complete and Total Control!!!  May God's Peace, Strength, Love, and Grace be with you all.  May we as Christians reach to heaven with on hand and to the lost and dying of this world with the other.  May we like John at the end of the Book of Revelation say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come.

Your Sister in Christ
Cindi

Bible Scripture Writing

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus for 5 January 2014, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "The Woe of Nineveh."
Today's Blogs Scripture Reading: Nahum 3:1-19
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Nahum 3:5 "Behold I am against you," says the LORD of hosts, "I will life your skirts over your face, I will show the nations your nakedness, and the kingdoms your shame."   

Chapter 3 of Nahum is a woe oracle explaining the reasons for the siege and destruction of Nineveh.  Nineveh is called the "bloody city" and is pictured as a "harlot" whose "witchcraft" and "whoredoms" shall be brought down to the dust.  "Discover" means to "uncover."  Thus, Nineveh shall be exposed for what she is, "the mistress of the nations."

In verse 6 and 7 the Lord described the fate of Nineveh as comparable to a person on whom unspeakable "filth" was cast.  When Nineveh would lay in ruins, no one would "bemoan " her.  The nations would be glad that she was gone.

Nahum predicts the ultimate destruction of mighty Nineveh in the prophetic present: "Nineveh is laid waste."  Nineveh would be like a helpless drunk hoping for refuge, but finding nowhere to turn for it.  

In verse 12, Nahum satirically describes the "strongholds" of Nineveh as being so easily defeated that they would be like fruit trees that drop their "figs" into waiting mouths.  In verse 14 and 15, Nahum taunted Nineveh by telling the people to prepare for their siege.  The actual siege of Nineveh continued over two years.

Despite the great economic and military strength of Nineveh, there was nothing lasting in the cities power.  The people of Nineveh would be like nocturnal insects that disappear at daylight.  "Your shepherd slumbers" means that when shepherds are not alert, the sheep CANNOT be saved from danger.

In the concluding verse of Nahum the statement "All who hear" means,  that every nations and people that had suffered under the abusive power of Nineveh, would SHOUT and CLAP upon hearing of the city's destruction.  There would be NO mourning for Nineveh.

Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse Reading from 2nd Corinthians 1:3-4.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day.  Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today.  ALWAYS remember, that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," Listen to the Sweet, Soft, and Tender Voice of God as He WHISPERS to you, "BUT I CAN."   

Jesus Reigns, and He is, has Been and ALWAYS Will be In Complete and Total Control!!! May God's Love, Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.  May you with one hand reach toward Heaven and with the other reach out to the lost and dying of this world.  May we as John say, "Come, Lord Jesus, Come."   

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 4 January 2014, from Cindi, a daughter of the King of kings and Lord of lord."

Today's Blogs Title: "The Destruction of Nineveh"
Today's Blogs Scripture Reading: Nahum 2:1-13
Today's Blogs Key Verse: Nahum 2:13 "Behold, I am against you," says the LORD of hosts, " I will burn your chariots in smoke, and the sword shall devour your young lions; I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the voice of your messengers shall be heard no more."

"Man the fort" in verse 1, were sarcastic words to the people of Nineveh and its leaders, as if they would be able to protect themselves against the wrath of God.  Nineveh's armory of over 40 acres, contained all the weapons that had made the Assyrian Empire great: bows, arrows, spears, armor, and chariots.  Yet the Prophet Nahum's call to arms is mocking, for what ever the Assyrians may do will futile, for God has determined that the city WILL fall.

"The LORD will restore" in verse 2, means that the WRATH of God against the enemies of His people will one day be DESTROYED, and the people of God will be restored.  "Excellence," in the same verse means "majesty," "beauty," or "wonder."  Both Israel and Judah needed to be restored because both kingdoms were devastated by the massive Assyrian army. 

The passages of verses 3-13, describe the siege of Nineveh.  The fall of Nineveh that was predicted by Nahum took place only a few years after this prophecy in 612 B.C. and was followed by the final destruction of the Assyrian Empire in 609 B.C. 

The words, "red, scarlet, flaming torches," in verse 3 speak of blood, violence and warfare.  The "chariots rage" refers to the fact that the Assyrians used chariots as formidable war machines.  The proficiency of the chariot drivers underlies the imagery of this verse.  BUT as in the case of the shields and spears in verse 3, the chariots of Nineveh would not prevail no matter how fast they drove, for the people of the city would be so stunned to be under attack that they would appear helpless in their actions.

"Gates of the rivers are opened" is how it is believed the destruction of the city of Nineveh happened.  It is believed that the attackers entered the city of Nineveh through its flooded waterways.  The attack came at flood time when rivers undermined the walls and defenses of the city.    

"Take spoil of silver! Take spoil of gold!" in verse 9, is a reference that Assyria had despoiled many nations, including Samaria and the cites of Israel.  There seemed to be no end to the loot that could be found within its walls.  Nevertheless, even Nineveh, was exhausted of its treasures and at long last it was "empty."

Nineveh was the "city of lions" verse 13, yet despite all the horrors that the "lion of Nineveh" had brought to other nations, it would no longer feared by ANYONE.  Although the Babylonians had conquered the city, they were used by God to do it, for Nineveh's GREATEST FOE was the "LORD of host" himself.

Click on this link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse Writing from Psalm 17:5-8.

Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day.  Go in Peace and Serve the Lord or God with Gladness.  Love God More Today.  ALWAYS remember that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life and you yell out, "I CAN'T," Listen to the Sweet, Soft, and Tender Voice of God as He WHISPERS to you, "BUT I CAN."

Jesus Reigns, and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will Be In Complete and Total Control!!! May God's Peace, Strength, and Grace be with you all.  May you with one hand reach out to heaven and with he other reach out to the lost and dying of this world, and as John say, "Come Lord Jesus, Come."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi