18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
18For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”
22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
23and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.
26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29for our God is a consuming fire.
11 When the news of Israel's victories reached King Jabin of Hazor, he sent word to King Jobab of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph, 2 and to the kings in the hill country in the north, in the Jordan Valley south of Lake Galilee, in the foothills, and on the coast near Dor. 3 He also sent word to the Canaanites on both sides of the Jordan, to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, as well as to the Hivites who lived at the foot of Mount Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4 They came with all their soldiers—an army with as many men as there are grains of sand on the seashore. They also had many horses and chariots. 5 All of these kings joined forces and came together and set up camp at Merom Brook to fight against Israel.
6 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will have killed all of them for Israel. You are to cripple their horses and burn their chariots.” 7 So Joshua and all his men attacked them by surprise at Merom Brook. 8 The Lord gave the Israelites victory over them; the Israelites attacked and pursued them as far north as Misrephoth Maim and Sidon, and as far east as the valley of Mizpah. The fight continued until none of the enemy was left alive. 9 Joshua did to them what the Lord had commanded: he crippled their horses and burned their chariots.
10 Joshua then turned back, captured Hazor and killed its king. (At that time Hazor was the most powerful of all those kingdoms.) 11 They put everyone there to death; no one was left alive, and the city was burned.
12 Joshua captured all these cities and their kings, putting everyone to death, just as Moses, the Lord's servant, had commanded. 13 However, the Israelites did not burn any of the cities built on mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua did burn. 14 The people of Israel took all the valuables and livestock from these cities and kept them for themselves. But they put every person to death; no one was left alive. 15 The Lord had given his commands to his servant Moses, Moses had given them to Joshua, and Joshua obeyed them. He did everything that the Lord had commanded Moses.
The Territory Taken by Joshua
16 Joshua captured all the land—the hill country and foothills, both north and south, all the area of Goshen and the dry country south of it, as well as the Jordan Valley. 17-18 The territory extended from Mount Halak in the south near Edom, as far as Baalgad in the north, in the valley of Lebanon south of Mount Hermon. Joshua was at war with the kings of this territory for a long time, but he captured them all and put them to death. 19 The only city that made peace with the people of Israel was Gibeon, where some of the Hivites lived. All the others were conquered in battle. 20 The Lord had made them determined to fight the Israelites, so that they would be condemned to total destruction and all be killed without mercy. This was what the Lord had commanded Moses.
21 At this time Joshua went and destroyed the race of giants called the Anakim who lived in the hill country—in Hebron, Debir, Anab, and in all the hill country of Judah and Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them and their cities. 22 None of the Anakim were left in the land of Israel; a few, however, were left in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.
23 Joshua captured the whole land, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Joshua gave it to the Israelites as their own and divided it into portions, one for each tribe.
1. Saved to be called - birth of Moses and his early upbringing
2. Called to speak - God's call for him to go to back to Egypt so that the Children of Israel
an be released.
3. Speaking to Confront - Confronting Pharaoh and the powers behind the throne that
were holding the Children of Israel in slavery with all the suffering and cruelty it
brought.
Today:
Confronting for Victory -
Exodus 11:4-8;
Exodus 12:1-13 & 29-32
Introduction
I am leaving it to you to read the account of the plagues in full. Last week we left as the Nile
was turned to blood, we noted that the court magicians backed off at the 4th plague, that of
gnats and today we pick up at the last plague as the Lord hits hard and secures the release
of his chosen people and prepares to put them on the path to the land of promise.
We can also note now that from the 5th plague he only allows the Egyptians to be affected
and not the area where the Israelites lived.
This again shows more of the sovereignty of
God.
Egypt is being hit hard and paying a high price for the evil inflicted on the Israelites in their
enforced slavery the stubborn and hard heart of the king who just keeps changing his mind
and won't see the power of the Lord.
Let's remember the Children of Israel are God's chosen
people who are a people with a promise. They are also a nation formed through promise to
Abram.
They are also going to be called to be faithful to the promise and to sole allegiance the Lord.
Failure will then put them in trouble and more!
Perhaps Pharaoh symbolises many people through the ages right down until today whose
minds are against seeing the hand of God and not least in and through the full ministry of
Jesus. Much is said to try and destroy and rubbish the message. Christians are persecuted
harshly in many parts of the world and more subtly in others. This has gone on for centuries.
People still fail to see that the power of God, working through the gospel, moves on and
cannot be overthrown or stopped.
Don't lose heart when people accuse you, put down your Christian beliefs or belittle the
message of the cross. It is to be expected.
Exodus 11:4-8 - The Lord announces the final plague
[4] So Moses said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘About midnight I will go throughout Egypt.
[5] Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the
throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn
of the cattle as well. [6] There will be loud wailing throughout Egypt—worse than there has
ever been or ever will be again. [7] But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any
person or animal.' Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and
Israel. [8] All these officials of yours will come to me, bowing down before me and saying,
‘Go, you and all the people who follow you!' After that I will leave.” Then Moses, hot with
anger, left Pharaoh.
Consider, before we see more:
God judges sin and evil, and he rights wrongs - this is tough but how tough given what his
chosen ones were going through?
Think the cross - we shall look at it soon
Exodus 12:1-13 & 29-32 - Preparation for the Children of Israel to leave
including the Passover lamb, it's bloody and the terrible 10th plague on Egypt
[12:1] The LORD said to Moses and Aaron in Egypt, [2] “This month is to be for you the first
month, the first month of your year. [3] Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth
day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. [4] If
any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest
neighbour, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine
the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat. [5] The animals
you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep
or the goats. [6] Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the
members of the community of Israel must slaughter them at twilight. [7] Then they are to
take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses
where they eat the lambs. [8] That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the
fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast. [9] Do not eat the meat raw or
boiled in water, but roast it over a fire—with the head, legs and internal organs. [10] Do not
leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it. [11] This is how you
are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff
in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover.
[12] “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both
people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. [13]
The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I
will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
[29] At midnight the LORD struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, from the firstborn of
Pharaoh, who sat on the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner, who was in the dungeon,
and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. [30] Pharaoh and all his officials and all the
Egyptians got up during the night, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was not a
house without someone dead.
[31] During the night Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Up! Leave my people,
you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you have requested. [32] Take your flocks
and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless me.”
Observe:
We are now at the critical moment of God's rescue plan that he announced he would
accomplish when he spoke to Moses at the burning bush
Ex 3:7-8. Salvation is about to be
delivered.
It is accompanied by a solemn, and carefully planned, celebratory meal which involved a
lamb to be eaten along with bitter herbs and bread made without yeast - a hasty meal.
It is
known as The Passover and the Children of Israel are told to celebrate it annually to remind
them of the mighty way in which they were brought out of Egypt at the hand of the Lord -
those details are later in this chapter.
A serious injunction - the blood of the lambs, v7, is to be 'put on the sides and tops of the
doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs'.
Why? Look at v 13, The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and
when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I
strike Egypt
Why is the Lord striking Egypt?
The verse before, I will bring judgment on all the gods of
Egypt. I am the LORD.
The clear teaching of scripture is that there is but one true and living God - the Lord and all
other so-called god's are nothing. As such they are powerless and unable to do anything -
the Lord is showing what he can do, and, he hasn't finished yet!
A matter of note too about the use of the blood - they are told / invited to do it, not made
to. Not to do this would have had serious consequences in that they would suffer the same
fate as the rest of Egypt!
See also in the record of this terrible plague, vv 29-30, there is no gloating only a straight
record of the horror of what happened!
Finally, on this hear again the words of Pharaoh to Moses and Aaron having summoned
their presence, “Up! Leave my people, you and the Israelites! Go, worship the LORD as you
have requested. [32] Take your flocks and herds, as you have said, and go. And also bless
me.”
And yes, the people up and off they go. There is a victory over the gods of Egypt and after
this they are able to set off on the road to freedom - but Pharaoh isn't done yet but that's
next week.
I now hasten to remind us that Salvation, victory and the way to freedom comes at a high
price and so we pass to our next, but not final, reading.
Mark 15:15 & 33-39 - the agony of the cross
[15] Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged,
and handed him over to be crucified.
[33] At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. [34] And at
three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which
means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
[35] When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he's calling Elijah.”
[36] Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus
to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.
[37] With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.
[38] The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. [39] And when the
centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was
the Son of God!”
The Price of Salvation, Victory and Freedom
Very few details of the Passion of Jesus are given, they weren't needed, and again what we
read includes extreme and cruel treatment.
Flogging - this was the scourge and multi tailed whip with bone and metal on the flails. It
could kill! Jesus was also mocked and spat upon as we see in other parts of the account.
Crucifixion - one of the cruellest forms of execution. Anyone in the ancient Roman world
would know what it was like because it was a common and public event aimed at creating
fear.
Jesus went through that out of God's love to rescue us from sin and death and it is
guaranteed but, as the Israelites had to put the blood on their doorposts - they had to
respond or suffer the same consequences as the Egyptians, each of us, and others who want
the benefits of the cross, have to respond as it is not automatic.
The benefits are being part of the Kingdom of God. His kingdom is breaking in, and, as part
of it, we live under the sovereignty of God being surrounded by His saving love and being his
servants to foster the growth and presence of that self-same kingdom.
We are also headed
for the promised land - more next week.
I hope we understand that Jesus is not just the Good Shepherd but also the lamb of God
who takes away the sin of the world because that was laid on him and we hear that in his
cry of dereliction - v 34, where he was totally abandoned by God.
It is a quote from the
opening of Psalm 22 and when you read, or reread it, it is amazing.
Isaiah 53 is also worth reading again, written centuries before Jesus, and I am limiting myself
to sharing 2 verses- vv 4-5
[4] Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
[5] But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
And because I mentioned lamb of God, I realised I ought to include v 7 as well:
[7] He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
So I want us to pause and reflect on our, yours and mine, encounter with Jesus at the cross.
I want us to reflect on our response to it and so our personal commitment to the Lord Jesus
- the personal relationship we have with him.
Of course, the Passover was a shared meal because God's people belong together and in
Christ, we are his body which is a corporate entity, so, we now look at the narrative of
Luke 22:14-20 - the events of the night before the cross as Jesus celebrated
the Passover with the 12
[14]
When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. [15] And he said to
them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. [16] For I tell you,
I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
[17] After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. [18]
For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God
comes.”
[19] And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my
body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
[20] In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new
covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
All Change, All New
Remember, when Jesus has told his disciples he was to suffer, die and rise again, they really
struggled. It didn't fit in with what they expected.
In what Jesus says here, well, they must have been even more bewildered and as far as I can
see this is the only place where Jesus spells out in some detail the significance of his
suffering and the cross, which we have just looked at.
There is something briefer in Mark
10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a
ransom for many.”
But that's about it and here the significance of what he says is that the cross, next day, is the
new and definitive rescue leading to salvation, victory and freedom. The start to the new
exodus, the start to the road to the promised land, that is, the new heaven and earth which
is the restoration after the fall, Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve said 'no' to God's only
command and rejected him. Jesus is the second Adam who says 'yes' to God in the garden of
Gethsemane just before he was betrayed and 'handed over' to the arresting party and so
accepted the way to salvation, victory, freedom and life etc.
When we share bread and wine, we participate in all of this . . . .
And more! It is the meal
where we recall, with deep thanksgiving, our salvation and recreation in the here and now
which is finalised completely when Jesus returns.
Again, a brief quiet to reflect as we come to share bread and wine in our Agape.
A little bit of a different track today and I am going to start with some pointers to refresh
our understanding of what is going on in the road out of Egypt (the Exodus).
Matters which
remain relevant though the OT and in not to dissimilar ways today! so
A foundation - this is God's world, he created it and loves it and through Jesus has opened
the only way for salvation and redemption of people and creation.
Personal response to
that love shown on the cross and commitment to live as part of God's plan and within his
kingdom are essential.
I also remind us that God judges sin and evil and the total victory over them is complete.
For
those in Christ there is no condemnation only salvation.
For those not in him there is danger
of condemnation. Thankfully neither you nor I have any say in the latter!!
Some 3500 years ago as God prepared to rescue the Children of Israel from Egypt where
they had become slaves over a good 400 year period he 'worked' in that world as he had to.
Let's also remember that although between then and now many things have changed in
unrecognisable ways, others remain very similar.
The ancient world of the middle east, and I am going nowhere else as that is the setting in
OT times, was full of spiritualities, deities and religions with all sorts of practices some /
many of which are around today! Included in those practices were human sacrifice and
fertility rites with prostitutes at the local shrine!
I also note, many in the modern western world do not take the forces of spiritual powers
seriously and dismiss evil spirits, demons and Satan - the Accuser. I am quick to add there is
a rise in a whole host of spiritualities and so called new age practices that take spiritual
power seriously and as such they should come with a spiritual health warning because there
is only one spirit who we should want influencing, guiding, healing us etc and that is the
Holy Spiritfrom God the Father sent in the name of Jesus.
Last week I read the first 4 of the 10 commandments about our relationship with God. These
were given months after leaving Egypt and are explicit in ruling out any and all other deities
or gods or graven images!
Considering this will, I hope, enable us to understand a little better what is going on as God
takes Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh with the statement - 'let my people go'.
1. Exodus 4:27-31 - The Lord keeps his word
[27] The LORD said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he met Moses at
the mountain of God and kissed him. [28] Then Moses told Aaron everything the LORD
had sent him to say, and also about all the signs he had commanded him to perform.
[29] Moses and Aaron brought together all the elders of the Israelites, [30] and Aaron told
them everything the LORD had said to Moses. He also performed the signs before the
people, [31] and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about
them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped.
2. Exodus 5:1-9 - Confrontation begins and life is made tougher
[5:1] Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the
God of Israel, says: ‘Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the
wilderness.' ”
[2] Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not
know the LORD and I will not let Israel go.”
[3] Then they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day
journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us
with plagues or with the sword.”
[4] But the king of Egypt said, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away
from their labour? Get back to your work!” [5] Then Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of
the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working.”
[6] That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of
the people: [7] “You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let
them go and gather their own straw. [8] But require them to make the same number of
bricks as before; don't reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out,
‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' [9] Make the work harder for the people so that they
keep working and pay no attention to lies.”
3. Exodus 5:22-6:11 - The Lord reiterates his words of promise again
[22] Moses returned to the LORD and said, “Why, Lord, why have you brought trouble on
this people? Is this why you sent me? [23] Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your
name, he has brought trouble on this people, and you have not rescued your people at
all.”
[6:1] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh: Because
of my mighty hand he will let them go; because of my mighty hand he will drive them out
of his country.”
[2] God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. [3] I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to
Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to
them. [4] I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan,
where they resided as foreigners. [5] Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the
Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant.
[6] “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under
the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you
with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. [7] I will take you as my own
people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who
brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. [8] And I will bring you to the land I
swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as
a possession. I am the LORD.' ”
[9] Moses reported this to the Israelites, but they did not listen to him because of their
discouragement and harsh labour.
[10] Then the LORD said to Moses, [11] “Go, tell Pharaoh king of Egypt to let the Israelites
go out of his country.”
4. Exodus 7:8-18 - The Lord starts to fulfil his word
[8] The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, [9] “When Pharaoh says to you, ‘Perform a
miracle,' then say to Aaron, ‘Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh,' and it will
become a snake.”
[10] So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron
threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. [11]
Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the
same things by their secret arts: [12] Each one threw down his staff and it became a
snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. [13] Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard
and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
[14] Then the LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh's heart is unyielding; he refuses to let the
people go. [15] Go to Pharaoh in the morning as he goes out to the river. Confront him on
the bank of the Nile, and take in your hand the staff that was changed into a snake. [16]
Then say to him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to say to you: Let my
people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. But until now you have not
listened. [17] This is what the LORD says: By this you will know that I am the LORD: With
the staff that is in my hand I will strike the water of the Nile, and it will be changed into
blood. [18] The fish in the Nile will die, and the river will stink; the Egyptians will not be
able to drink its water.' ”
5. Observations
Moses returned to Egypt with two massive revelations from God:
That he will set the suffering children of Israel free from Egypt - 3:7-8
His name YHWH, I am who I am - 3:14
A key trait with Pharaoh, like many, is he is stubborn and has a hard heart which will not
soften despite all that happens.
Pharaohs thought they were gods but this one is encountering the one true and eternal God
- the great I am - YHWH
Egypt, as with many other nations, had more gods than you could count!
As such much of Egyptian life was dominated by sorcery, astronomy, magic and many practices
which we would describe as occult - belonging to the darkness. New age may be apt
description except nothing is new.
Egyptology may be fascinating and their knowledge and skill astounding but every aspect of
life was dominated by the gods, superstition and the other things I have just mentioned.
The plagues which are not pleasant or comfortable reading, demonstrate that the Lord is
revealing the total impotence of the Egyptian gods, were unable to do anything, and the last
part of Numbers 33:4 says it was against them:
for the LORD had brought judgment on their gods.
A little detour is needed:
• Remember - God judges sin and evil - think the cross!
• We may not like what we see or read in this account and it isn't easy -think the cross!
• All the evil we see in the world now - think the cross!
Also, Pharaoh is being shown unable to do anything other than keep changing his mind - go -
you can't go!
At plague 4, gnats, the court magicians back off and tell Pharaoh, Exodus 8:19
“This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart was hard and he would not listen, just as
the LORD had said.
He is then left alone in his own stubbornness and hardness of heart for another 6 plagues
which cause misery and devastation!
When God says he will act, he does and the God who loves and cares is also one who judges
evil and sin - more of that next week with the final plague and the Passover.
It is clear here, and in the rest of scripture, that the powers of darkness cannot overcome
the Lord and on the cross they are finally and utterly defeated and what we see now is their
final death throws.
Through this and on into the wilderness God is showing to the Israelites, step by step, who
he is and His power and authority. They see and they don't see!
Jesus had a similar journey with the 12 where they couldn't see where he was guiding them
and kept going off with their own ideas even though they could see his power and
authority! Take heart.
6. Considerations
There is a rise in the use of astrology, tarot cards and involvement in new age spirituality
and some of it is seen as fun or means for healing, guidance and the like.
Think - If God
through his word and Holy Spirit is not pulling our strings then what or who is?
We must look to see what comes between us and God in all aspects of life: guidance /
wisdom / world-view / hopes and aspirations. The word of God is to be our lamp and light
for guidance, wisdom, our source of hope and encouragement.
What are we being 'sold and told' be it in the press, TV, adverts or social media.
We need
questioning and discerning lives and minds. The gods of this age?
Question me and others who deliver messages on the word of God - there is no infallibility -
I, and others, will get it wrong but . . .
Be careful in weighing up scripture as we have to be
or should be.
In all this is a warning not to automatically except the mind and status quo of the day - it
keeps changing and can be far from right.
Scripture brings us a consistent approach to life
and in calling a man, Abraham, and in forming a nation with a land and his word, all suggests
God was moulding and trying to model a way of life which would be the best. Sin and
wandering away kept interfering, so ultimately and at the right time, God, through the true
and faithful one acted to change it all -think the cross!
The overall heading, Evil Confronts God's Salvation and Deliverance,
7. Mark 3:22-30 - Jesus Spells it out
[22] And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by
Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
[23] So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can
Satan drive out Satan? [24] If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot
stand. [25] If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. [26] And if Satan
opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. [27] In fact, no one can
enter a strong man's house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong
man's house. [28] Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander
they utter, [29] but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven;
they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
[30] He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
This is a salutary passage.
Jesus who on the cross will pay the price of sin, defeat death and accomplish the defeat of
evil and all spiritually powers and dominions is accused of being the head devil by the
official religious leaders from Jerusalem.
His tone is strict and belies the ultimate insult they have given. Later at his trial he is accused
of blasphemy which is not much different.
Jesus' claim here is that he is the strong man and is going to demonstrate that, by way of the
cross although he doesn't state that.
When they crucified him they thought they were doing God's work by getting rid of him.
When he rose from the dead, he shows that he has done God's work of dealing with sin and
death.
Evil cannot, could not and will not stand in the way of God's salvation and deliverance!
Conclusion
I realise I have fed out complex and intertwined thoughts - ring me for clarification if needed.
Also, pray, look again - notes on line - and ask the Lord to show you the things I might have
left hazy! He's better at it than me!
I add, I have been looking at these matters for years and still struggle, I guess others would
say the same, fine and no problem.
See that God works with consistency and we need to
live in honesty before him.
In and through all we see God is sovereign and he will complete what he has begun, sorry,
which he began at creation. It will all pan out under his good and perfect plan of salvation.
Trust him and walk in faith in what you know and understand, reshape it as needed. All that
our heavenly Father asks is that we live in faith with him. Faithfulness, not success or
perfection of understanding
Canticle - We praise you, O God. Click to view and download Luke 1:68-79 Mark 1:9-12 Exodus 3:1-4:17 Philippians 1:3-11 - before the prayers Psalm 16:1-11 - at the end
Talk
Representing God to bring Salvation - Exodus 3:1-4:17 & Mark 1:9-12
Introduction
This Old Testament passage is long and given that the flow and account is fairly self explanatory I am going to look at 4 things but not in the order as they appear in the text. The second point will be an attempt to highlight the whole passage with its almost ironic humour as well as its seriousness.
Last week the heading was - Saved to be Called, today:
Exodus 3:1-4:17 - Called to Speak
1. Who is in the Bush? 3:2 & 5-7
The angel of the Lord - v 2, or God and the Lord himself vv 3 & 5, and the rest of the passage?
Ask the simple question - who is the ultimate angel of the Lord given angel = messenger in both Hebrew and Greek? The son of God who we know since he was born as Jesus. I suggest, and I am going no further, we have another OT appearance of the eternal son of God, the true and ultimate messenger of the Lord.
God is unchanging and here, in these verses, is a glimpse of that.
2. Arguing with God! 3:11-4:17
Coleman's - the mustard people - once produced a little and amusing book of excuses. As we listen to Moses he really is mustard!
In Isaiah when God is looking for someone to send to the people - Isaiah, effectively, puts his hand up to volunteer.
Moses puts his hands up and says - no way! What's more, he keeps it up until God is getting angry with him having answered it all and demonstrated his power, and given Moses, the authority to perform these signs and wonders.
The most hilarious bit is v [10]
Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.” What goes before suggests this isn't quite the case and certainly later on, with Pharaoh, it appears that he is the key spokesperson although Aaron seems to take that role earlier on.
Who has he to go and speak to? Pharaoh. Who is Pharaoh? The King of Egypt and the most powerful man around, but, who else is he in all likelihood? Moses stepbrother who he sat next to having lessons with in the king's place and lived with until he fled aged 40, 40 years before.
They played scrabble as kids - ever tried that with tiles with hieroglyphics on - what he face is now is something that will end up as a master chess situation and certainly no game with high odds and thousands of lives and livelihoods at stake. For Moses all this may be deeply buried in his mind but maybe not!
Nope, says Moses, that's the wrong call. Yep, says the Lord, it's the call and off you go! 4:11-17.
Do we argue with what God wants of us or even hide behind excuses? Do we try and neglect our God given gifts or fail to accept, which is part of what he says here to Moses in v 11, that he gives what is needed to do what he asks. When God truly calls he will always equip so we can do what he wants of us - not necessarily what others in a similar role may do.
As pride and arrogance about our abilities is no good so also is hiding them and being unduly modest! Many are called to be evangelists but only one was called to the sort of ministry Billy Graham exercised.
Many are called to be bible teachers but few are called to be academics. We could go on. What does God want of you and your life be you younger or older? And I recall telling many an older saint who has worried about being physically inactive in service for the Lord that prayer is vital, use your time for prayer for the kingdom. Prayer against the darkness of evil in the world and the streets of it.
3. The name of the LORD 3:13-15
What's in a name - nowadays not often a lot. Nicknames can carry significant meanings and descriptions but sadly may of those were unkind and destructive to the person concerned.
Abram = exalted father
Abraham = father of many
Isaac = he laughs
Malachi = my messenger ; Malach = angel = messenger
Two births - Moses and Jesus, separated by centuries but overlapping in the purposes of
God in the deliverance and salvation of his people.
This month we are going to follow the early chapters of Exodus up to the crossing of the Red
Sea using 'selected' passages to trace this journey of deliverance and I will seek to fill in
some of the details as we go. As often I would encourage you to read, not only along, but
the first 15 chapters. I am still working on the passages I shall use.
I also intend to include some contrasting and complementary passages from the life of Jesus
as I am doing today.
One big thing we will see, at least, is that as the children of Israel leave Egypt God institutes
and tells them to celebrate the Passover. Part of that was that they are to save from death
by the blood of lambs on their doorposts as the angel of death goes over killing firstborn
males, human and animal, across the whole land of Egypt. On the night before the cross,
Jesus the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and delivering all who repent
and believe in him from death, celebrated the Passover meal and gave it a transformed
1. Changing Circumstances - a 400 year synopsis! Ex 1:1-14
[1:1] These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with
his family: [2] Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; [3] Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; [4]
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. [5] The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all;
Joseph was already in Egypt.
[6] Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, [7] but the Israelites were
exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so
numerous that the land was filled with them.
[8] Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. [9] “Look,”
he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. [10] Come, we
must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war
breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
[11] So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they
built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. [12] But the more they were
oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the
Israelites [13] and worked them ruthlessly. [14] They made their lives bitter with harsh
labour in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labour
the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.
Four hundred - round figures at this stage, as in total, when they leave, the children of Israel
had been in Egypt for 430 years (Ex 12:40) and at that stage Moses is 80 years old according
to Stephen's speech in Acts 7: 23 & 30 and that he was 40 when he fled Egypt and 80 when
he returns to 'confront' Pharaoh.
When Joseph brought his family to Egypt at the time of severe famine he was, as you may
recall, 2nd in command to Pharaoh so an extremely high-ranking person. Times radically
changed and from privilege the people of Israel have been reduced to extreme servitude
and indeed growing cruelty. They were also rapidly growing in numbers and the Egyptians
were getting fearful of the ethnic minority!
Sounds to familiar in the history of the world through the ages and indeed today - we need
to pray for, and act as we can, those in similar circumstances who are subjected to abuse,
misunderstanding and cruelty.
Fear, we see, leads to worse.
2. Extreme measures and disobedience borne out of fear! Ex 1:15-21
[15] The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and
Puah, [16] “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery
stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” [17] The 1. Changing Circumstances - a 400 year synopsis! Ex 1:1-14
[1:1] These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with
his family: [2] Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; [3] Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; [4]
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. [5] The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all;
Joseph was already in Egypt.
[6] Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, [7] but the Israelites were
exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so
numerous that the land was filled with them.
[8] Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. [9] “Look,”
he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. [10] Come, we
must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war
breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
[11] So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they
built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. [12] But the more they were
oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the
Israelites [13] and worked them ruthlessly. [14] They made their lives bitter with harsh
labour in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labour
the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.
Four hundred - round figures at this stage, as in total, when they leave, the children of Israel
had been in Egypt for 430 years (Ex 12:40) and at that stage Moses is 80 years old according
to Stephen's speech in Acts 7: 23 & 30 and that he was 40 when he fled Egypt and 80 when
he returns to 'confront' Pharaoh.
When Joseph brought his family to Egypt at the time of severe famine he was, as you may
recall, 2nd in command to Pharaoh so an extremely high-ranking person. Times radically
changed and from privilege the people of Israel have been reduced to extreme servitude
and indeed growing cruelty. They were also rapidly growing in numbers and the Egyptians
were getting fearful of the ethnic minority!
Sounds to familiar in the history of the world through the ages and indeed today - we need
to pray for, and act as we can, those in similar circumstances who are subjected to abuse,
misunderstanding and cruelty.
Fear, we see, leads to worse.
2. Extreme measures and disobedience borne out of fear! Ex 1:15-21
[15] The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and
Puah, [16] “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery
stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” [17] The
1. Changing Circumstances - a 400 year synopsis! Ex 1:1-14
[1:1] These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with
his family: [2] Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; [3] Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; [4]
Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher. [5] The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all;
Joseph was already in Egypt.
[6] Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died, [7] but the Israelites were
exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so
numerous that the land was filled with them.
[8] Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. [9] “Look,”
he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. [10] Come, we
must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war
breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
[11] So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labour, and they
built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. [12] But the more they were
oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the
Israelites [13] and worked them ruthlessly. [14] They made their lives bitter with harsh
labour in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labour
the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly.
Four hundred - round figures at this stage, as in total, when they leave, the children of Israel
had been in Egypt for 430 years (Ex 12:40) and at that stage Moses is 80 years old according
to Stephen's speech in Acts 7: 23 & 30 and that he was 40 when he fled Egypt and 80 when
he returns to 'confront' Pharaoh.
When Joseph brought his family to Egypt at the time of severe famine he was, as you may
recall, 2nd in command to Pharaoh so an extremely high-ranking person. Times radically
changed and from privilege the people of Israel have been reduced to extreme servitude
and indeed growing cruelty. They were also rapidly growing in numbers and the Egyptians
were getting fearful of the ethnic minority!
Sounds to familiar in the history of the world through the ages and indeed today - we need
to pray for, and act as we can, those in similar circumstances who are subjected to abuse,
misunderstanding and cruelty.
Fear, we see, leads to worse.
2. Extreme measures and disobedience borne out of fear! Ex 1:15-21
[15] The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and
Puah, [16] “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery
stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.” [17] The
Psalm 119:33-40 Psalm 149:1-9 Psalm 108:1-13 Luke 1:26-38 Exodus 1:1-2:8 Luke 1:39-56 - at the end
Note - this month we are looking at key passages from Exodus following the journey to the crossing of the Red Sea.
Exodus 1 - 1These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah;3 Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin;4 Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.5 The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy[a] in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.6 Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,7 but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.8 Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.9 “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us.10 Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”11 So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.12 But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites13 and worked them ruthlessly.14 They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. 15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah,16 “When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live.18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
22 Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.”
It is such a delight to read the Word of God, why don't you join me!
Ezra Reads the Law
When the seventh month came and the Israelites had settled in their towns,
Nehemiah 8
1 all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
2 So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
4 Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.
5 Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up. 6 Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
7 The Levites—Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah—instructed the people in the Law while the people were standing there. 8 They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
11 The Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve.”
12 Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them.
13 On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the teacher to give attention to the words of the Law. 14 They found written in the Law, which the LORD had commanded through Moses, that the Israelites were to live in temporary shelters during the festival of the seventh month 15 and that they should proclaim this word and spread it throughout their towns and in Jerusalem: “Go out into the hill country and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtles, palms and shade trees, to make temporary shelters”—as it is written.[b]
16 So the people went out and brought back branches and built themselves temporary shelters on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God and in the square by the Water Gate and the one by the Gate of Ephraim. 17 The whole company that had returned from exile built temporary shelters and lived in them. From the days of Joshua son of Nun until that day, the Israelites had not celebrated it like this. And their joy was very great.
18 Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the festival for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.
Nehemiah 9
The Israelites Confess Their Sins
1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. 2Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 3 They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the LORD their God. 4 Standing on the stairs of the Levites were Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani. They cried out with loud voices to the LORD their God. 5 And the Levites—Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah—said: “Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting.[c]”
“Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.
7 “You are the LORD God, who chose Abram and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans and named him Abraham. 8 You found his heart faithful to you, and you made a covenant with him to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.
9 “You saw the suffering of our ancestors in Egypt; you heard their cry at the Red Sea.[d]10 You sent signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his officials and all the people of his land, for you knew how arrogantly the Egyptians treated them. You made a name for yourself, which remains to this day. 11 You divided the sea before them, so that they passed through it on dry ground, but you hurled their pursuers into the depths, like a stone into mighty waters. 12 By day you led them with a pillar of cloud, and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light on the way they were to take.
13 “You came down on Mount Sinai; you spoke to them from heaven. You gave them regulations and laws that are just and right, and decrees and commands that are good. 14 You made known to them your holy Sabbath and gave them commands, decrees and laws through your servant Moses.15 In their hunger you gave them bread from heaven and in their thirst you brought them water from the rock; you told them to go in and take possession of the land you had sworn with uplifted hand to give them.
16 “But they, our ancestors, became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey your commands. 17 They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them, 18 even when they cast for themselves an image of a calf and said, ‘This is your god, who brought you up out of Egypt,’ or when they committed awful blasphemies.
19 “Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the wilderness. By day the pillar of cloud did not fail to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. 20 You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. 21 For forty years you sustained them in the wilderness; they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen.
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord? 2 Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 This is my defense to those who sit in judgment on me. 4 Don’t we have the right to food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas[a]? 6 Or is it only I and Barnabas who lack the right to not work for a living?
7 Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its grapes? Who tends a flock and does not drink the milk?8 Do I say this merely on human authority? Doesn’t the Law say the same thing? 9 For it is written in the Law of Moses: “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.”[b] Is it about oxen that God is concerned? 10 Surely he says this for us, doesn’t he? Yes, this was written for us, because whoever plows and threshes should be able to do so in the hope of sharing in the harvest. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others have this right of support from you, shouldn’t we have it all the more?
But we did not use this right. On the contrary, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve in the temple get their food from the temple, and that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? 14 In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will do such things for me, for I would rather die than allow anyone to deprive me of this boast. 16 For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17 If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me. 18 What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights as a preacher of the gospel.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people he chose for his inheritance. 13 From heaven the LORD looks down and sees all mankind; 14 from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth— 15 he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. 16 No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. 17 A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save. 18 But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine. 20 We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. 21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. 22 May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
