BESIEGED
Suggested Reading: 2 Kings 25
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
The Dung Gate is one of the gates in the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. The gate is situated near the southeast corner of the Old City, southwest of the Temple Mount.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: 2 Kings 25:10
And all the army of the Chaldeans, who were with the captain of the guard, broke down the walls of Jerusalem all around.
This was a day of judgement! The capital city, the symbol of the nation, was destroyed by Babylon (modern Iraq). Things had never looked worse for God’s chosen people. Earlier they had been forcefully removed from the northern areas, and now from Judah and the city of Jerusalem. What of God’s promises now? What of the prophecies of the great future ruler who would reign forever, the Messiah, the Son of David?
Look ahead! Israel was restored under leaders such as Ezra and Nehemiah. The Temple and the walls were built again. The people of God came to know a long period of peace and prosperity. Greatest of all is that in the course of time, just five miles south of Jerusalem, in the city of David, Bethlehem, Jesus was born.
We move in our reading for tomorrow into the book of Ephesians. After reading Kings, I think we need the encouragement we will receive from the Holy Spirit-inspired letter to the Church at Ephesus!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, fill me each day with the joy that comes from knowing that the darkness and despair that may seem to be all around is only temporary. Please help me to look to the eternal reality of Your plans for my future. Plans that are greater than anything I could imagine. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen!!!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I’m taking the time today to read at one sitting the entire book of Ephesians. We’ll consider over the next six days, God willing, the life-enriching and life-changing truths which Paul writes to the people of Ephesus, the largest city of what was then known as Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Paul spent two years there sharing the Good News of Jesus and establishing the church. Now he writes back to these people who are so precious to him. What joyful assurance he brings his loved ones! This is powerful teaching! Perhaps it’s obvious that I’m excited about the week ahead before we move back again into the books of Chronicles, which present more of a spiritual history of the dynasty of King David. The books of 2 Samuel and 1st and 2nd Kings, which we’ve just completed, are more of a political history. I hope and pray for staying power for each reader. I call it sanctified stubbornness! Never give up!! I pray that there will be steel up each backbone which will never bend to the pressures of daily life that might steal away the great blessings which God has for us. Amen!!!
Yours for consistency…as Shakespeare wrote, “Consistency, thou art a rare jewel.”
David
P.S. Today we are heading for the Ben Gurion airport here in Israel for the flight back to Toronto. Yesterday we travelled from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea. 2500 feet above sea level to the lowest spot on earth, 1300 feet below sea level. At the Dead Sea the temperature was 48 celsius or 118 fahrenheit!
Norma-Jean and I are enjoying our last full day of touring Israel with a wonderful group of brothers and sisters. We talked last evening about leading another tour in November. This is such a blessing! How about joining us next time, God willing!
I don’t recommend tattoos, but if you must, do as Allyn, one of our tour group members, did in the old city of Jerusalem this past Tuesday. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” The theme “10,000 Reasons” is our Crossroads slogan during this year for celebrating the upcoming telecast #10,000 of 100 Huntley Street.
Dear Lord we pray for the peace of Jerusalem and bless David and Norma Jean and all the brothers and sisters a safe flight home in Jesus name Amen
Amen.
And amen!
Amen Lilly. Does anyone know what a “bronze Sea” is? Have a great trip folks.
Amen
Looking forward to our new study tomorrow. The good Lord willing, I’ll never give up on my bible studying.
Praying for a safe and happy journey for you and your blessed group Rev. M. et al, back to our beautiful country.
Love words of wisdom (and poems:-)).
A. J. Gordon observed, “You can do more than pray after you have prayed; but you can never do more than pray until you have prayed.” John Wesley believed that “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” E. M. Bounds added, “God shapes the world by prayer.” And he noted, “Talking to men for God is a great thing, but talking to God for men is greater still.”
Blessings fellow saints.
Thank you Lynda, and blessings back to you!
Have a blessed day everyone!
and music:-)
Take my hand, precious Lord.
https://youtu.be/RaF16IlysQc
Bless you, Lynda! Thanks for posting the poems and incredible music–lift us up–amen!
Amen!
Thank you for your encouragement today David. I really needed to be reminded to never give up, and to have sanctified stubbornness in my walk with Jesus. I pray for your safe return home. One important item that I have on my “bucket list” is to visit Israel with you and Norma-Jean!
Blessed prayer and scripture, David–thank you. Praying for your safe journey home with the group and eagerly awaiting to embrace Ephesians with the saints. “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zeph 3:17
May the Lord bring you all safely home God bless you all …R…
Dear David l can’t thank you enough for being faithful to God in doing this blog. I look forward with excitement each day to read the scriptures and your comments. It is amazing knowing that brothers and sisters l have never met are reading along with me. We are being changed and transformed by the Word. We are being empowered to rise as a mighty army of the Lord to share His love with a hurting world.
I love the picture of you with your great grandson Myles. I am a grandmother of 2 grandsons and a 3rd to arrive in October. It gives me great joy to take them to church and to introduce them to Jesus. They are growing to love know Him and love Him at ages 6 and 7.
Again thank you David for leading us so well.
Amen! to everyone’s comments.
Thank you for the picture of you and Norma-Jean…you make a lovely couple.!!! very youthful looking…
Zephaniah 3:17 is one of my favorite scriptures…Just to think…the Lord rejoices over us with singing…how awesome!!! Is this Allyn who was with us on the Journey of Hope in 2001, if so he was the host of my bus.
Looking forward to “Ephesians” daily blog.
thank you Lynda for the link “Take my hand Precious Lord”…I took the liberty of listening to Lynda Randle sing “God on the Mountain”…was blessed!!
research Scripture about tatoos, piercing..
.the only marks that mean anything to the world are the scars on the hands of Jesus Christ, talk about cutting through the skin, they nailed Him to the Cross! For YOU AND FOR ME! Imagine!
They put a crown of thorns on His head, it was very prickly, they pushed it on His head, He bled, For YOU AND FOR ME! Imagine!
everyone needs to get down on their knees and give thanks,
Jesus Christ prayed “Father if there be any other way; may THY WILL BE DONE and not my will!” He chose the Cross for YOU AND ME! Imagine!
His last words ‘IT IS FINISHED” which meant that OUR SINS WERE COMPLETELY WIPED OUT! TOTALLY FORGIVEN AND FORGOTTEN! He did that for YOU AND ME! Imagine!
Lord thank you for dying for us! Thank you for Your resurrection! Help us to engrave that message on our hearts! And Lord God thank you all the Scriptures that tell us “You WILL NOT LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US!
Yes, Sah…He did it all for you and form…Praise His Holy Name!!!
What a blessing it was to see our own Davis Mainse on live T.V. with Marcus & Joni Lamb from Jerusalem. David and 100 Huntley st. have been almost daily in my home for more than 30 years,We are truly blessed to have this ministry coming into our homes. We pray that GOD will continue to use this ministry, and this 100 Word bible study. Thank you . from beautiful Vancouver Island.