THE OLIVE, THE FIG, THE VINE, THE BRAMBLE
Today’s Reading: Judges 9
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Mount Gerizim is one of the two mountains in the immediate vicinity of the West Bank city of Nablus (near the ancient city of Shechem), and forms the southern side of the valley in which Nablus is situated, the northern side being formed by Mount Ebal. Gerizim is sacred to the Samaritans who regard it, rather than Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, as having been the location chosen by Yahweh for a holy temple. The mountain continues to be the centre of Samaritan religion to this day, and over 90% of the worldwide population of Samaritans live in very close proximity to Gerizim, mostly in Kiryat Luza, the main village.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verse: Judges 9:21
And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Jotham’s parable shows wisdom. He may have been able to become a judge of Israel, replacing his father Gideon, but he chose to run away because of fear. His power-hungry brother had no such fear. Abimelech became the first Israelite to claim the title “King.” How sad that the people chose the bramble to rule over them. Jotham’s prophecy came to pass in the fires, the millstone, and the sword of the armour-bearer. We should encourage the best leaders, people of integrity and wisdom, to step up for leadership in the church, the government, and in every field of human endeavour.
The Gospel says of Jesus in John 4, “He needed to go through Samaria” (read John 4:1-42). The woman at Jacob’s Well pointed to Gerizim and said, “Our fathers worshipped on this mountain.” The Samaritan religion still flourishes. An annual sacrifice is led by their high priest on the top of Gerizim. Jesus did not run away from His destiny like Jotham. He stepped up to the Cross. He is our fearless Judge, Prophet, Priest, and King.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, You are my King! Your rulership is one of complete authority. I yield to You! Please grant me constant willingness to follow Your leadership in all things. In Your Name I pray, Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
I shared a taxi some years ago with the Samaritan High Priest as I travelled from Amman, Jordan, to Jerusalem. He was dressed in an impressive robe and turban. His religion seemed to be a mixture of modern Judaism and an ancient form of Israelite worship. It seemed to be a very general approach to God, with a great deal of superstition. He was well aware of the story of Jesus at the well at the foot of Gerizim. The Samaritan religious leader, who lived in Jordan, was on his way to make the annual sacrifice on the top of Gerizim. How thankful I am for the final, once and for all Sacrifice of Jesus, and for the Living Water, which is not in the well at the foot of the mountain, from which I drink deeply every morning before doing this blog.
In the matter of leadership, I knew God called me to His cause. Some people around me encouraged me, but I had to step up and lead in the direction God was leading me. I am not one to run away like Jotham did. I may be 80 years old, but I still have the strong conviction that I can do much as long as I move boldly forward, and I’m confident that the task ahead is God’s will for me. Amen!
Yours for all that God purposes to accomplish through those who serve Him,
David
Thank you for all your teachings!
Yes. Thank you from me too!
I like how you draw Jesus into the picture so often when commenting on old testament passages.
Yes, prayed your prayer, this morning, David, and prayed on hands and knees for you, as well as political leaders in the world. Lord God, hear our prayer granting strength and wisdom to Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his leadership of our country. May there be peace and calm for Canadians, today. Wishing all saints a blessed day in the Lord.
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be sweet to Him;
I will be glad in the LORD.
Ps 104:33-34 NKJV
Jesus I Come (Acoustic Version), Elevation Worship
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-Af0DqZrSw
Amen Beverlee…the chorus of that song is:
you may already know it, in case not, here it is:
Blessed be the Lord Oh my soul,
Praise Ye the Lord , Blessed be my soul
Praise Ye the Lord!!
Sorry I should probably explain…I meant the chorus to Psalm 104 when it is being sung.
From Streams in the Desert, February 11th:
What a lesson Columbus gave to the world of perseverance in the face of tremendous difficulties!
“Behind him lay the gray Azores,
Behind the gates of Hercules;
Before him not the ghost of shores,
Before him only shoreless seas.
The good Mate said: “Now we must pray,
For lo! the very stars are gone.
Brave Admiral, speak, what shall I say?”
“Why, say, ‘Sail on! sail on! and on!'”
“My men grow mutinous day by day;
My men grow ghastly wan and weak!”
The stout Mate thought of home; a spray
Of salt wave washed his swarthy cheek.
“What shall I say, brave Admiral, say,
If we sight naught but seas at dawn?”
“Why, you shall say at break of day,
‘Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!'”
They sailed. They sailed. Then spake the Mate:
“This mad sea shows its teeth tonight.
He curls his lip, he lies in wait,
With lifted teeth, as if to bite!
Brave Admiral, say but one good word;
What shall we do when hope is gone?”
The words leapt like a leaping sword:
“Sail on! sail on! sail on! and on!”
Then, pale and worn, he kept his deck
And peered through darkness. Ah! that night
Of all dark nights! And then a speck–
A light! A light! A light! A light!
It grew, a starlit flag unfurled!
It grew to be Time’s burst of dawn.
He gained a world; he gave that world
Its grandest lesson: “On! sail on!””
–Joaquin Miller
Faith that goes forward triumphs.
Thank you Beverlee…I also meditated on those words this morning in “Streams in the Dessert” Yes, “sail on!!
Thank you pastor for your never giving up because of health issues or age,you are an inspiration to me !Blessings. My bible verse that has inspired me, Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengths me.
Thank you Pastor David, I love your teachings and your spunk to carry on. It is an incentive to all of us, while we have breath we must keep serving the Lord. We can pray for others if we can’t do much else. I am at the moment involved in a 28 day of pray for Turkey. Things are so bad over there that missionaries have been expelled and Pastors have been imprisoned because of trumped up charges. I know that other areas in the world need our prayers as well, I am glad I am able to pray more since I have been laid up. I am getting better with the therapy, Praise God from Whom ALL Blessings Flow. Blessings to all and prayers for Mary’s husband for complete healing. Eleanor M.
Continuing to pray for Mary and her husband. May God’s Perfect Love cover them completely and release His Blessings upon them. Thanks, Eleanor for your “standing in the gap” for this needy world. Thank you, Beverlee, for the anointed music. God bless all who make the blog possible and especially David for his faithfulness. Today is my birthday but I’m not saying how old I am! I am deducting the year now instead of adding it on! Then I tell my friends that it is great to have older friends to look up to!
Happy Birthday dear Doreen hope you have a lovely day.
Happiest Birthdays to you, dear Doreen! Wishing you a wonderful day, week-end, and year ahead. With God’s continued blessings to you, dear sister-in-Christ!
Happy Birthday Doreen and God bless you !
Blessings on your Birthday Doreen!!! and many more, even if they are going backward:)
Much to meditate on today. Pray also for your husband Mary that he will have a successful recovery. Receiving your message today Pastor David about leadership and not running away. Was also going to post some of the same devotion Beverlee did about Colombus in “The Streams in the Desert” as it seems to confirm today’s message. Sharing the same concerns for our country and world saints. God bless.
Amen, Ger.
Happy Birthday Doreen !
Al my favorite verse is the same Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthen me
You truly are an inspiration to us all, Pastor David!!! what comes to me are the words you often quote “Never give up”!!
Join in prayer with you this morning. Yes, Jesus is my King, and I yield to Him.
In all my ways I acknowledge Him, and He will direct my path.
Praise God for this Nation of Canada…we truly do need to pray for its leaders, that they turn to the Lord for wisdom and leadership in all their ways. That this Nation would be a Nation under God!!! The our freedom of speech would not be snuffed out, in Jesus name I pray!!!
Happy Birthday Doreen and may The Lord bless you in the coming year.
Truly inspired today by our blog and keeping in prayer those in need Eleanor and Mary and her dear husband and especially you Pastor David for your strength to go on. Blessings to all.
About 3 weeks ago your excellent blog stopped coming into my inbox every morning. I really miss it. Would you check to see why it stopped? Thank you and please keep doing this blog which is such a blessing to so many.