Monday, January 4, 2021

MORE BLESSINGS

Today’s Reading: Deuteronomy 33-34

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

 

Here you can see what the breastplate would have looked like on the High Priest in Moses’ time. Each of the twelve tribes is represented before God by a precious stone. The Thummin and the Urim mentioned in today’s reading were there somewhere, but they remain mysterious objects of which we know very little. Perhaps they were instruments for testing God’s will such as casting lots (Deuteronomy 33:8).

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Deuteronomy 33:27a

The eternal God is your refuge,
And underneath are the everlasting arms…

 

Our reading begins with praise to God and then blessings on all the tribes except one, Simeon. In Genesis 49:5-7 both Simeon and Levi are cursed by their father, Jacob. All the other brothers are blessed. Moses and Aaron came from Levi, the tribe that became Israel’s priests. It remains a mystery why Levi was chosen for special service and Simeon was not. Perhaps Levi repented of the sins Jacob mentioned and Simeon did not. God always responds to a godly sorrow for sin, followed by a turning away from sin. Restoring our relationship with God is absolutely essential to experiencing the powerful promise found in our key verse. God blessed Moses. Jesus, Peter, James and John would later meet him on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-8).

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, I search my heart, confess my sin, and trust You for the gift of genuine repentance. Levi became the recipient of Your blessings, and his brother, Simeon, did not. I’m desperate for Your everlasting arms under me. I lean on Your arms today and every day. Thank You for Your promise of strong support. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

Often over the years I have visited the modern expression of “The Promised Land”…Israel. Bible prophecy indicates the establishment of a nation state in the end times called “Israel.” The olive tree symbolizes the spiritual life of Israel; the fig tree symbolizes political Israel (Luke 21:29-31). I, as a Gentile believer in the King of the Jews, Jesus, have been grafted into the olive tree. Jews who believe in Jesus as Messiah, Saviour and Lord (there are thousands in Israel in many congregations) continue an expression of the original olive tree. Following the birth of Jesus’ Church (Acts 2), many thousands of Jews formed the first congregations of believers in Jesus. A non-Jew, Cornelius, was the first Gentile grafted into the olive tree (Acts 10). While modern Israel has come into being, let’s not forget that the modern state of Israel is not gathered in righteousness. For example, I’m told that in Israel abortion is legal and huge numbers of little ones are being torn apart in the wombs of Jewish mothers. Jesus’ last prophecy was about this (check out Luke 23:27-31). Let us never forget that God loves all people equally; Arabs and Jews all need to receive Jesus in order to be saved. We all need to come to Him and trust His promises (e.g. John 6:37). Tomorrow, God willing, I’ll do my blog from the book of Romans. I’ve just had a head-start by reading about the “olive tree.” It’s found in Romans 11:17-24 (click here to read with me).

Yours for God at work today with Jews, Arabs, and all the rest of us…and for the growth of the “olive tree” and its grafted-in branches, of which I believe I’m a little twig,

David

P.S. Yesterday I linked you to my Uncle’s book, Pebbles From The Brink, which gives the last words of the dying at a time before modern sedatives (If you missed it, here is the link again). Most people today are not conscious when they pass away. Many of the last sayings were from a time when believers, both Roman Catholic and Protestant, were persecuted and martyred by wicked leaders from both sides (e.g. Henry VIII). My Uncle featured Heaven and Hell statements from both sides of that great divide.  I hope we don’t automatically presume we are reading of only one side or the other. Below is a picture of my uncle, Rev. Manley C. Pritchard. He edited a weekly and also a monthly publication beginning approximately in 1910.

12 thoughts on “Monday, January 4, 2021

  1. Amen to today’s key verse: The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. We cling to You Lord Jesus. We are ever steady in Your gaze and give You all the glory and praise. May you be safe and protected through any storms, today, fellow saints in the Lord. His love, peace and joy be with you. Amen.

    Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
    For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.
    Psalm 47:1-2 NIV

    Elevation Worship – The Blessing (Lyrics) ft. Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ55mDL7dA0

  2. Thank You, Lord God, for Your faithful love. Thank You for those who knew You and passed on that knowledge. Thank You for those who know You, who love You and follow You. Bless them and their work for and in You. Thank You for those who will come to know You. May Your Word go out to them now so they hear You calling them. Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness. In Jesus’s name, amen

  3. Thank you Lord for all the Mainse family who have been and are a blessing to us over the years. Was invited out yesterday to a friend’s house but thought of you fellow bloggers. Would you please pray for neuropathy in my right leg and varicose veins in the left one saints. Right now I have big piles of snow to scoop or snowblow in front of my shed which I raked off the roof. Thank you so much as it is great to have this prayer support. God bless you!

    • Heavenly Father, our precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and to the sanctity of the Holy Spirit, we pray for Ger. Please bring wisdom to her Doctor to treat the neuropathy in her right leg and varicose veins in her left, whereby her pain be alleviated. Give her strength, comfort and rest in knowing You are with her and that her doctor will come up with a treatment plan. Fill her with the hope and love from the prayers of her fellow saints. In Jesus’ mighty Name, we pray. Amen, amen, and amen. ✝️

  4. Thank you dear Beverlee for that encouraging prayer. I felt the effect of your prayer immediately which I appreciate. A niece of mine talked about brushing your limbs with a soft brush which helps the flow in one’s lymphatic system which I did and was part of the answer to your prayer as well. Was able to go outside and remove the piles of snow. God bless you.

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