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RecentComments:kjv@Numbers:23-24
kjv@Numbers:23-24 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Balak repeatedly sought to have the object of his fear cursed or put down rather than himself put right with God.
RecentComments:kjv@Numbers:25
kjv@Numbers:25 @ @ RandyP comments: How often we are offended and wait expecting God to do His thing when in reality it is God that is offended and we need to oppose those doing the offending.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:8:1-21
kjv@Mark:8:1-21 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - 2 more contrasting examples, the critic seeking signs when signs were present everywhere Jesus went, and the loyal misinterpretating signs.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:8:1-21
kjv@Mark:8:1-21 @ @ RandyP comments: The quantity begun with in these two miracles has no bearing on the quantity left over. The first 12 baskets from 5000 seems more miraculous.
RecentComments:kjv@Numbers:23:19
kjv@Numbers:23:19 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Out of context this verse is frequently used in claiming His promises under our own pretense. The context here suggests that God's promise is much larger in scope than to what we often selfishly apply it.
RecentComments:kjv@Numbers:28-29
kjv@Numbers:28-29 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - These solemn yearly observances were to be performed for and as a nation. We tend to reduce sin and atonement and a pleasant aroma to the Lord as strictly individual. Not in God's eye.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:9:1-29
kjv@Mark:9:1-29 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - the faithless generation seems to include His own disciples who had not prepared for exercism with prayer and fasting and a group of scribes that were using one mans plight to provoke a crowd of seekers. Only one man is depicted as seeking the Lord to help him with his unbelief.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:9:13
kjv@Mark:9:13 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Whatever they listed, this is how they treated a prophet, and they felt fully justified in doing so. The Baptists head delivered on a plater as a token of appreciation for a party dance?
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:9:30-50
kjv@Mark:9:30-50 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - The top down view death and resurrection, sacrifice and service, accepting the service of those outside that bring honour to the Lord, receiving and not offending the small, purging self from offending actions. Bottom up, not understanding, being afraid to ask, needless debate, self exaltation, factionalism, offense, losing saltiness.
RecentComments:kjv@Numbers:32-33
kjv@Numbers:32-33 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - We see the sin of establishing your position now outside of the position of the group future, becoming a discouragement to those continuing on the divine course.
RecentComments:kjv@Numbers:32-33
kjv@Numbers:32-33 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - All of this time and effort, trial and frustration, plague and cursing, all because of the group's untrusting reaction to the discouraging report of 10 of 12 spies
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:10:1-31
kjv@Mark:10:1-31 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - the mind tends to reduce a passage like this to its most palatable speck. Here we find as the diciple's minds were being opened up they were "astonished" frequently at Jesus's fuller revelations. Doesn't mean that they understood or agreed yet, only that they were seeing how deep things really were becoming.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:10:1-31
kjv@Mark:10:1-31 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - we see that at least in the case of divorce a legalized leniency was granted because of the hardness of mens hearts. Perhaps better stated as a civil protection for the offended party. God's better intention is that their softer hearts would not cause this course of action.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:10:32-52
kjv@Mark:10:32-52 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Jesus just revealed something very deep about the inter-workings between the Father and himself; the limits of the Son's power. The disciples are consumed though in the inter-working amongst themselves.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:1-2
kjv@Deuteronomy:1-2 @ @ RandyP comments: Israel was not the first nor the last to go into another's land and possess it. Here we are re-familiarized with our old acquaintances the children of Esau and the children of Lot. Giants had been little problem for them.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:1-2
kjv@Deuteronomy:1-2 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - A brief summary of the past forty years of Israel from God's perspective shows how different the reprobate mind see's things than from God. No doubt as they heard this rehash, they had concocted an entirely different storyline. The same would be true I'm sure in our modern lives as well.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:11:1-19
kjv@Mark:11:1-19 @ @ RandyP comments: If we don't separate the three events in this passage, the middle fig tree account becomes a symbol of how Jesus viewed the fruit of the temple. There was no fruit only leaves. Being out of season (coming new covenant) shows that it in no way could be expected to bare fruit either.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:3:11
kjv@Deuteronomy:3:11 @ @ RandyP comments: There seems to be quite an emphasis in the past couple chapters on giants being removed by the children of Esau and then children of Lot and now by children of Israel. God's hand is always at work in ways larger and all encompassing than we see from within our smaller circle of personal needs and situations.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:3:24
kjv@Deuteronomy:3:24 @ @ RandyP comments: A view worth keeping placed in the center of our minds eye.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:3-4
kjv@Deuteronomy:3-4 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - How easily Israel forgets the voice from the fire on the mount, the shapeless form, the cloud by day, the flame by night, the bringing out, the moving about, the enemies they had already miraculously defeated, things that they had all heard and seen and been apart of to focus strictly on themselves and their self serving gods. Self is often too strong for just reason.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:12:1-27
kjv@Mark:12:1-27 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Is of the mind that it is in control even when it is not. Here we see the intent revealed by parable, we see the attempt to trap Jesus in words being foiled, and the fear of what the people would think holding them back. And yet they will soon do exactly what the parable says that they will do. What control does it actually have?
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:8-9
kjv@Deuteronomy:8-9 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - If the forty wilderness years were designed to show and prove Israel's heart for God, what did it prove? Rebellious/Stiff-necked/Everyday. That it was not because of their righteousness, but because of God's promise. How differently they must have thought.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:10:16
kjv@Deuteronomy:10:16 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - The heart here is pictured as having a foreskin needing to be circumcised. This appears then to be it's natural state. Circumcision appears to be the symbolic token of the covenant.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:12:40
kjv@Mark:12:40 @ @ RandyP comments: Are there then levels of damnation?
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:12:28-44
kjv@Mark:12:28-44 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Interesting how two sides can completely agree on the verbiage of the greatest commandment but see it's daily implementation as opposites.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:11-12
kjv@Deuteronomy:11-12 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Two book ends, what is right in ones own eye, what is good and right in God's eye. Two people, the former being chased out because of their idolatry, a a rebellious/stiff-necked people who were not a people now partakers in a promise made long ago. All that they have to do is love and obey. Can they? Why?
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:13:3
kjv@Deuteronomy:13:3 @ @ RandyP comments: Loving the Lord God is described here as a singular devotion to one specific singular God. All paths do not lead to God, they lead to adulterated idolatry which the one God will in no way tolerate. This idolatry seems to be the norm and a nearly irresistible force that must be combated individually and collectively daily.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:13
kjv@Deuteronomy:13 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Many academics critics would see this as a harsh immoral passage. Muslims and others who see Judeo-Christian religions as soft and emasculated, say that this and other passages are where we've defiled God's name. Would God have said this to Israel had he not intended their compliance at that time? Having not followed through on this, history would record Israel as constantly being pulled away and apart just as promised. Our minds today still seek to rationalize this out. Tolerance versus its effect on the course of events, obedience and it's effect on public perception.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:13:9-11
kjv@Mark:13:9-11 @ @ RandyP comments: Interesting that the publishing of the gospel to all the nations is sandwiched between 2 versus depicting the being brought before counsels and kings for a testimony against them and how we are to proceed into these trials.
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:13:30
kjv@Mark:13:30 @ @ RandyP comments: Generation may have been better translated "Age". The Greek conveys both meanings and it is obvious that the Son of Man did not return on clouds of glory in the Romans' temple destruction in 70 a.d.
RecentComments:kjv@test
kjv@test @ @ RandyP comments: Test examplej
RecentComments:kjv@test
kjv@test @ @ RandyP comments: test2 exj
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:22
kjv@Deuteronomy:22 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - While these punishments for sexual immorality seem harsh, it should be noticed that never once were the punishments so harsh so as to to a stop to the sin. People will sin no matter the penalty.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:21:9
kjv@Deuteronomy:21:9 @ @ RandyP comments: This is a concept not considered now days: the guilt of innocent blood and it's effect upon all the nation.
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:21:19
kjv@Deuteronomy:21:19 @ @ RandyP comments: Makes one wonder how many parents would actually follow through on this knowing the punishment. What level of rebellion would constitute this penalty.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:24:1
kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:24:1 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Jesus would later declare that this divorce was given by Moses because of the hardness of our hearts. If this code than how many others for the same reason.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:24:4
kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:24:4 @ @ RandyP comments: Divorce - Taking her back to be his wife after she had divorced her most recent was not allowed.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:24:4
kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:24:4 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Causing the land inherited to sin? The land has also been mentioned spewing the sinful canannites out.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:25:2
kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:25:2 @ @ RandyP comments: The judge could not just judge and then be gone, he had to remain to witness the punishment.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Mark:14:63
kjv@kjv@Mark:14:63 @ @ RandyP comments: Should a man's own testimony be used against him if the testimony of other witnesses not agree?
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Mark:14:72
kjv@kjv@Mark:14:72 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Was it only then that Peter thought about Jesus's words. The phrase "Calling to mind" projects the notion of items being on screen and off screen and that somehow we are in control as to which is which.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:26
kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:26 @ @ RandyP comments: Remnants of the greatness of Egypt are still visible and academically curious today. One must not lose sight however that for all her greatness as a world empire, she was built upon the backs and innocent blood of peoples in bondage to her, an odd greatness given to a certain few. In Israel, God sought a greater nation, a people keenly concerned about from where it came and who had delivered it out with a strong miraculous hand.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:27
kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:27 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - This section of "cursed be" makes it pretty clear the type of morality sought from Israel. The fact that they were so frequently cursed should show us the true nature of our reprobate mind, the nature to somehow justify and allow that which is clearly set out as sinful bringing about curse as if to tempt and test God's own patience and resolve.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Mark:15:7
kjv@kjv@Mark:15:7 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - A murdering insurrectionist considered in the same judgment as our Lord and savior and winning out in pardon? That is often a clue to just how un comfortable and threatened people are by the revelation of their own conscience.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Mark:15:14
kjv@kjv@Mark:15:14 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Pilate's question was never adequately answered, justice even in human terms did not matter in the least. The mob mentality and possible threat of their riotous reaction if action was done to the contrary was solely sufficient.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Mark:15:16-20
kjv@kjv@Mark:15:16-20 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate - Mind, where else would this behavior be justified? How does the mind go from duty and responsibility to this as it often does. This is not just the behavior of a few distant Roman soldiers long ago, this is the mind set of many intellectuals and activist on our college campuses today, this is the direction of much political discourse. Slander, mocking, humiliation, for no other reason than self and mob exaltation.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Mark:15:21
kjv@kjv@Mark:15:21 @ @ RandyP comments: Anyone that knew Alexander and or Rufus in that day could have asked to verify the accuracy of this account. The mention of them in scripture was deliberate and most impactful if we knew the context.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:28
kjv@kjv@Deuteronomy:28 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - The choice was theirs as a nation, blessing or curse, but, He knew the choice that was to be made beforehand; the answer here is always the same product of the reprobate mind, the mind will of course find a way to reduce and justify this to something other than what it is. It was clearly stated that they were to be an example to all the nations good or bad; so what would the national mind choose?
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@Mark:15:27-47
kjv@kjv@Mark:15:27-47 @ @ RandyP comments: Just a few chapters ago we read Jesus parable about the vineyard that was stole away from the distant master by the employees thereof. Jesus deliberately stated that the servants knew that the true heir had been sent yet put the son to death in order to retain possession of the vineyard. We would suppose that these mocking men now talked about were somehow blinded and just didn't know who Jesus was. The parable suggests something much different. Or why else would have Jesus said it as so?
RecentComments:kjv@Deuteronomy:29-30
kjv@Deuteronomy:29-30 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Two very clear cut choices given here. Every reason past present and future to choose the one, every blessing and reward. The difference between them are simply the choice of which God to serve. Which choice do you think that they collectively chose and why? Was it because this God is too hard? Unjust? unrewarding? unpredictable and rash?
RecentComments:kjv@Mark:16
kjv@Mark:16 @ @ RandyP comments: There are many way Jesus could have chose to reveal himself after the resurrection. To whom, to how many, in what way, all a series of choices deliberately made to cause the best effect. He chose to unwrap this like a much anticipated and extremely valuable birthday gift one corner at a time.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:7-8
kjv@Joshua:7-8 @ @ RandyP comments: One man amongst the group can severely affect the battle at hand. The spoils of the first battle were the Lords, yet one man hid away a share for himself. The second battle became an embarrassment and turned deadly, the man was found out. The people must santify themselves against to morrow and best obey God's stated design and command.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:2:25-52
kjv@Luke:2:25-52 @ @ RandyP comments: It would be interesting to look at the remaining gospels in the same light as Simeons prophecy, the revealing of many a heart. To watch how the heart minimizes and compartmentalizes and justifies and schemes.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:2:52
kjv@Luke:2:52 @ @ RandyP comments: This is now the second time that this increasing is stated, detailed by His gaining favour amongst men and God.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:2:25-52
kjv@Luke:2:25-52 @ @ RandyP comments: The first intents revealed would be those of His parents who apparently did not know where the 12 year old Jesus would be found; the temple.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:2:25-52
kjv@Luke:2:25-52 @ @ RandyP comments: Joseph may not have lived to see the Jesus we've come to know. He is not spoken of after this event in Jesus' 12th year. Thus the Simeon prophecy of Mary's heart later being pierced at the crucifiction takes on an interesting light of completion.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:9-10
kjv@Joshua:9-10 @ @ RandyP comments: God had to make it clear that it was He that was delivering these amazing victories, therefore the hail and the sun not going down one day. This also ponts out one of the greatest/rare times of Israel's solid obedience with only a few ill advised glitches.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:3
kjv@Luke:3 @ @ RandyP comments: The preaching and baptism of true repentence by John was the preparation of the way for Jesus.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:3
kjv@Luke:3 @ @ RandyP comments: Message outline = Fleeing Wrath to come, bringing fruit worthy of repentence, the truer children of Abraham, present judgement, probing examples of what rather to do, position of John, many other things exhorted, critic of public leaders, baptism.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:11:20
kjv@Joshua:11:20 @ @ RandyP comments: It is not clear as to what the mechanism God uses to harden hearts is; allowing such or in someway forcing such. It would be easy not knowing why God would want such for us to have difficaulty with this passage. With such passages it is best to give God the bennefit of our doubt and seek through for a more understandable why.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:11:20
kjv@Joshua:11:20 @ @ RandyP comments: Why? Hearts tend to harden or soften on their own given situations whether reasonably our unreasonably. These peoples hearts had been hard and continue to be unreasonably hard to this day. Perhaps God knowing that their hearts would not soften (or only temporarily) set in motion the final hardening (atleast for this time). Neither do we know the demonic warfare occurring behind the scenes that God may have been cleansing out of the area.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:11-12
kjv@Joshua:11-12 @ @ RandyP comments: Hopefully we can sense what a thurrough route God caused in this land of Canaan given the numbers and armourment and alliances against Israel. One loss only is reported and that caused by a covetous foot soilder in Ai. There should be no doubt at that time nor this that the one real and true living God is in action and wants this to occur.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:13
kjv@Joshua:13 @ @ RandyP comments: Not only do we have the miraculous victory of God over the previous inhabitants of this land, we have the miraculous sustaining of the Israelites in this land for several centuries despite their frequent bends toward idolotry and corruption. Gods work is spotlighted throughout on the center of the world's stage.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:13
kjv@Joshua:13 @ @ RandyP comments: Dare we say that the Israelites never fully pursued possesing the remainder of the promised land once they had recieved their own private allotments.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:4:1-32
kjv@Luke:4:1-32 @ @ RandyP comments: Jesus clearly knows who he is and what has been set before him to accomplish, this test is not to prove something more to himself, this test is for our benefit to prove to us that he is divine and sinless. From this fact we must assume that Satan's intention here as well was/is towards our misunderstanding of the scriptures that he is quoting.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:4:1-32
kjv@Luke:4:1-32 @ @ RandyP comments: I can't imagine the horror of being dead set against Jesus, determining to forcably cast him out and he supernaturally escapes your grip. Especially after the obvious conjunctions to his historical points about Ellias.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:4:22
kjv@Luke:4:22 @ @ RandyP comments: Gracious words one moment, seeking to toss him headlong down a cliff the next. The teetering point for them seemed to be Jesus's hometown.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:4:32
kjv@Luke:4:32 @ @ RandyP comments: Astonished were they in an age nearly 400 years long without God speaking. Astonishing today in an age many consider scripture as being irrelevant. The power is still there for those who seek/receive it.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:14:10
kjv@Joshua:14:10 @ @ RandyP comments: The spys were sent early just weeks after the red sea. Caleb was forty then. The wilderness to Jordan crossing 38 or so years. By my count the taking of Canann was approximately 7 years by Calebs math.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:14:15
kjv@Joshua:14:15 @ @ RandyP comments: Hebron is where Abraham once pitched his tent, where Sarah died, where David had his his first royal residence. It is one of the most ancient cities existing even to this day.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:14-15
kjv@Joshua:14-15 @ @ RandyP comments: Divided by tribe by lot. The levites having cities but not land. An early form of seperation of church and state? An early attempt to sanctify the priesthood from the corruption and entanglements of state?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:4:39
kjv@Luke:4:39 @ @ RandyP comments: This may have been more than a typical fever being that it had to be rebuked. Many others had been remedied with the laying on of hands.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:4:33-44
kjv@Luke:4:33-44 @ @ RandyP comments: Interesting that there was a consious effort by Jesus to quiet the testimony of those who had been healed or depossesed. Often they were directed merely to go tell their priest in submission/accordance to the Levitical Law.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:16-18
kjv@Joshua:16-18 @ @ RandyP comments: The immediate thing that stands out in these passages is that not all the Canaanites were driven out as had been commanded, some were subjegated. We also see that there were still battles to be waged individually by some of the tribes in order to secure their allotment.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:5:8
kjv@Luke:5:8 @ @ RandyP comments: This particular miracle was done for the Disciples benefit. I was done in terms that a long time fisherman like Peter could most understand, that there is no other way than supernatural for this to have been done. The immediate effect on Peter was that he realized his sinful nature.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:5:16
kjv@Luke:5:16 @ @ RandyP comments: If good for Jesus, how much better for us to do so at times?
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:19-20
kjv@Joshua:19-20 @ @ RandyP comments: And so begins a completely new stage in each of their lives. They have never known there own land and for the past forty plus years been provided for miraculously in the wilderness. Frame of mind and attitudes can quickly change as some squander their inheritance or become in indebted. Some would even have to flee to cities of refuge as setup here.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:5:17-39
kjv@Luke:5:17-39 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - One man sees a miracle and suddenly sees his sinful nature before God. Other men see a miracle and become defensive and increasingly antagonistic. These men have constructed an expectation of a Messiah that helps them justify their growing hatred.
RecentComments:kjv@Joshua:22:10-34
kjv@Joshua:22:10-34 @ @ RandyP comments: Though this incident appears to resolve itself, doesn't at least appear that there is much friction between those tribes on the other side of Jordan and those on the Canaan? A decision is made to build a curious alter without announcing their intent, and the others would gather in a warlike stance without first determining the intent. Perhaps it is the english translanslation here but, building a testimony to stand between us and you for future generations seems to me biased and perhaps prejudicial and anticipating division and rift.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:6:8
kjv@Luke:6:8 @ @ RandyP comments: This knowing their thoughts may not be as supernatural as we'd first consider, it may have been quiet apparent. Their thoughts were not what is being said or how could this be true or to what extent does this mean, they were what we might do to this man. So much for logic and analytic deduction.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:6:12
kjv@Luke:6:12 @ @ RandyP comments: All night prayer? If prayer were simply petition we would wonder what the Son of God would have needing so much petition but, if it were to worship and commune and be in the presence of the Father and Spirit then to someone who was accustomed to praying forty days in a wilderness this would seem quiet brief. Prayer very well could be more important than even sleep.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:1:19
kjv@Judges:1:19 @ @ RandyP comments: Odd! Is He with them with them once and not with them in another. Makes me wonder if they themselves did not pursue this because of the iron chariots instead.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:1:21
kjv@Judges:1:21 @ @ RandyP comments: What was the criteria used here? Once you begin allowing for some foreigners don't you have to allow for the rest? Doesn't this contradict what you were told by God to do? What your other brethren are also attempting to perform? Doesn't this begin a snowball process of rationalized disobedience?
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:2:10
kjv@Judges:2:10 @ @ RandyP comments: Reprobate Mind - Look at how quick they forget God. All of the battles. All of the victories under impossible odds. All of the miracles. So much for rational thought, the heart instead does what it wants and from that proceeds to rationalize it. The heart certainly has it's problems with God.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:2:15-16
kjv@Judges:2:15-16 @ @ RandyP comments: Here we see both the anger and mercy of the Lord. He had sworn His covenant to them both in blessings and in reproof should they disobeyed.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:2:17
kjv@Judges:2:17 @ @ RandyP comments: Do you remember how they swore upon the rock just two chapters ago at the end of Joshua? One generation should not make oaths for the children of the next. Did they not take into account that Joshua may well have brought all this up because of something he knew all to well? There were already foriegn gods in their possession for them to have to put away.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:2:22
kjv@Judges:2:22 @ @ RandyP comments: They chose this course. God chose to use it to prove them yea or nay.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:7:2-3
kjv@Luke:7:2-3 @ @ RandyP comments: Jesus knows the man and he is dear to Him and then the man hears of Him? The man sends Jewish elders in his place? The realness and grittiness of the lesser details is what is so engaging.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:7:17
kjv@Luke:7:17 @ @ RandyP comments: Notice here the importance of the power behind and with and in front of God's word. His teaching and revelation and sermons may have taken years to make their way out into the whole of Judea but, one miracle and the word spreads in days. Unfortunately, one miracle wont satisfy them for long as they will ask for more and more.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:7:23
kjv@Luke:7:23 @ @ RandyP comments: What a great verse to exhort others by in evangelism.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:7:30
kjv@Luke:7:30 @ @ RandyP comments: What was it that needed to be prepared ahead of the Lord? Here we see that publicans and general public were willingly baptized with the baptism of John, Phasies and Sadducee not. Having repented and been baptised the people were closer to seeing who Messiah was to be, those that had not done so were further and further from seeing being caught into the jealously of Jesus's astonishing popularity and buzz.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:3:1-4
kjv@Judges:3:1-4 @ @ RandyP comments: How many times we think that God's intent is to completely drive out all the bad things in our lives so that we can live peaceably and prosperously and without trial; that we could live our lives as we see fit. It is of course a vain imagination. The proving that God required here of Israel may not have been for His own satisfaction but, for they themselves to see and learn of. He knows our heart, that we will only call to Him when there is no other way out of our self induced troubles. It would be wise for us to know that and thus the proving.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:7:31-50
kjv@Luke:7:31-50 @ @ RandyP comments: A generation of men who find fault in God's anointed no matter what they do or don't do. A room of diner guests shown by a warm intimate living example the profound meanings of forgiveness criticizing the teacher for assuming the power to forgive. You see the course of our hearts and authority our heart confiscates. We ourselves should not justify wisdom....Wisdom shall instead justify us. Or not!
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:7:35
kjv@Luke:7:35 @ @ RandyP comments: "Wisdom is justified by her children" - Reminder: The next time you invite a potential Messiah to your house for diner... don't criticize his epic discourse on love and forgiveness without sleeping on it a day or two first.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:6:13
kjv@Judges:6:13 @ @ RandyP comments: Why then has this befallen us? Because we did evil in the sight of the Lord. Because we did not obey His voice. Because within even his fathers household and local community they were worshiping Baal. Because God put these things in place to prove Israel whether they would obey His voice. Next question!
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:7:2
kjv@Judges:7:2 @ @ RandyP comments: So often we read and study the Bible searching for our own personal needs and problems. Our eye is singular. Other times we think in terms that everyone needs to become involved or to be doing this. Occasions like this we think that if not everyone is doing this then there is no reason for us to continue. Instead we should see things more like God sees it, who will claim the glory? how many people does it actually take? has not God gone ahead of us to deliver the victory anyway?
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:7:13
kjv@Judges:7:13 @ @ RandyP comments: The tendency is for us to limit God down to what we ourselves are able to do for Him (individually mainly as our expectation of the collective suffers). It must have been astonishing for Gideon to peek in the enemies camp by night and hear what God was in the process of doing for Israel.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:6-7
kjv@Judges:6-7 @ @ RandyP comments: Interesting to note that as much as God did in preparing this victory, He still required them to be of strong courage and to obey His specific directions to the tee in order to complete this deliverence. God made sure from the start that this was not a victory that they could glory in for themselves by limiting the participants down to the size of the average highschool graduation class.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:8:3
kjv@Luke:8:3 @ @ RandyP comments: Do you think that Herod was not aware of Jesus's devoted/fanatical following?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:8:10
kjv@Luke:8:10 @ @ RandyP comments: I have often felt of myself that if I just said the right words, or explained Jesus in just the right way that others would come logically and simply to the understanding of His salvation. The parable of the sower discusses the conditions present within the heart of man that keep men from being able to come to that conclussion, very little of it has to do with intellect. Jesus I feel is stating that until the heart is properly conditioned to receive it is not for them to understand. I further believe that these poorer conditions can re-enter our lives even as believers and that multiple conditions can co-exist. It might be perhaps better to say that we are each a composite of these conditions in one respect or another.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:8:15-16
kjv@Luke:8:15-16 @ @ RandyP comments: Notice how the two seemingly different parables are butted up against each other? They may not be as different as determined first glance. The sower ends with the fruitful keeping or doing of the word. The candlestick begins with the ludicrousy of attempting to hide the light one just lit.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:8:33
kjv@Judges:8:33 @ @ RandyP comments: Did Gileods downfall make it easier for Israel to run a whoring after his death? Was it bound to happen anyway? Could we say that at the very least his downfall prepared his family for the calamity about to befall them?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:8:22-56
kjv@Luke:8:22-56 @ @ RandyP comments: Our lite and fluffy modern version of Jesus doesn't seem to account much for the fear people had regarding Jesus. An entire region of people because of the healing of a man demonically possed, a legion of demons whose fear of what He might do was a torment to them, even His disciples upon the boat at the rebuking of the wind and sea. Some were first glad to see Him thinking that He could help them but, once miraculous things began to happen people became markably uncomfortable near His presence.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:10-11
kjv@Judges:10-11 @ @ RandyP comments: It would e interesting to know more about the mechanic of how Israel pleaded to God. Was this unanimous? How long would it take to bring everyone into a unanimous agreement? Was it a majority? If we were to do this nationaly today how large of a coilition would have to be built?
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:10-11
kjv@Judges:10-11 @ @ RandyP comments: Obviously, some men just make better warior leaders than other. The residents here had to swallow in their pride and previous exilement to gain the expertiese of this judge. It does not specifically say that they consulted God for this. It does appear that God however blessed the action.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:9:6
kjv@Luke:9:6 @ @ RandyP comments: Could this be a modified version of the gospel from what we now recite? Jesus had yet to die for the sins of the world, the disciples were unclear as to the reality of His approaching death, and as we see a few verses from here the disciples were directed not to reveal that Jesus was the Christ. If so, what did this gospel look like? Perhaps as Jesus had been teaching "The kingdom of God is like unto...."
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:9:11
kjv@Luke:9:11 @ @ RandyP comments: The discples were sent to preach the Gospel, Jesus is here speaking of the Kingdom. Healing was partnered with both.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:15-16
kjv@Judges:15-16 @ @ RandyP comments: The story of Samson is a hard one to figure; not the best of role models for sure. Israel is controlled by the Philistines so they are not in God's favor. Samson is God's anointed judge for that time yet he almost seems to flaunt the fact that nothing bad can happen to him; he pushes and crosses the line often. Not even Israel can be too pleased with his example. Given the chance to better their situation with their captors, they capture and turn Samson in. He is still God's anointed, they are still on God's bad side. Samson is then filled with might from the Holy Spirit and avenges his captors convincingly. He eventually meets his flaunting demise, but, for Israel you don't mess with God's anointed no matter.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:18-19
kjv@Judges:18-19 @ @ RandyP comments: An interesting look into the lives of the peoples of this time. When it is said that they "did what was right in their own eyes" that's just what they did. One man made him idols and made him his own personal levite priest to go along side. Another was a priest who was sold out to the highest bidder. Another is a well intending hospitable man who attempts to protect his guests from the townsfolk mob giving his concubine over to the ritual lusts of the men of his town. Then he sends pieces of her body to the leaders of the eleven other tribes inciting a civil war. Everyone involved surely found a way to justify themselves and their despicable actions no doubt.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:10:25-42
kjv@Luke:10:25-42 @ @ RandyP comments: Contrasted today are two individuals, a young man attempting to justify himself by debating the good teacher Jesus on a point of Law, a woman graciously but busily hosting a gathering Jesus and His disciples justifying herself by shaming her spiritually inquisitive sister. How easy it is for us to be both of these persons unintentionally. To tell Jesus on the one hand how things must be intellectually and to tell others how things must be practically/domestically/culturally.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:20-21
kjv@Judges:20-21 @ @ RandyP comments: Every man did what was right in his own eyes? Apparently the tribe of Benjamin thought it right to defend a clan of ritualistic rapists and murderers. Better to go to war with the eleven other tribes than deal justly with the evil in their own midst.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:20-21
kjv@Judges:20-21 @ @ RandyP comments: Israel had the permission of God, they had the numerical advantage, they had done the prayer and fasting and worship and their cause was just and yet they lost convincingly these first few attempts. Who knows the reasoning that God pursued the eventual victory in this way, but, no doubt His purpose holy and just even if unknown to us. Given Israel's response post victory to the desperate need of their making to continue observing Benjamin's right to inheritance with new wives, they must have felt that God reasoning must have included the future ability of the twelve tribes to resume as one nation. We too must be aware that not every victory, even by God's direct blessing protects us from initial defeat or partial culpability. Victory may come at great sacrifice and frustration.
RecentComments:kjv@Judges:20-21
kjv@Judges:20-21 @ @ RandyP comments: Every man doing what is right in his own eye? One city chose not to engage this civil war at all. They hid themselves from the ranks of Israel. In the end they paid the price of restoration by the blood of there own citizens and the servitude of their female virgins. The responsibilities of a nation are all mens. Pacifism, not standing against the blatant injustice of others, not standing for the effort toward restoration of justice whatever the cost, hiding behind some supposed morality free from the greater morality of other people's rights and just penalties afforded has unforeseen longterm consequences.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:11:23
kjv@Luke:11:23 @ @ RandyP comments: So much for "all paths lead to God".
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:11:27-28
kjv@Luke:11:27-28 @ @ RandyP comments: Possibly a prediction of a future rift in the church body? And which side He would rather choose?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:11:1-13
kjv@Luke:11:1-13 @ @ RandyP comments: The idea that the author here put these two teachings so closely together brings up some interesting thoughts. The first teaching is not to shut out a needing neighbor no matter how inopportune the moment. The second to ask and knock no matter how inopportune the need. We assume that this asking is just of God given the concluding verses, but it is also true asking of man. How many of us will ask of God, knowing that God will provide, but, not ask of man through God may well intend to do His providing, and then reason that God doesn't want to answer because He hasn't provided. It is an odd logic on our part when considered this way. God does implore the first neighbor to give; right?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:11:17-18
kjv@Luke:11:17-18 @ @ RandyP comments: This statement from Jesus may well be just as much about Satan's tight control over his host and methods and means and pressures he must use as it is about the goodly kingdom we casually assume He is talking about by hurriedly reading through. How hard it must be to keep the loyalty of his scandalous permissive and yet ultimately defeated troops.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:3:13
kjv@1Samuel:3:13 @ @ RandyP comments: Some of the greatest sins for which we are judged are not in us performing the acts ourselves but in us not restraining those we know who are performing them. The judgment is the same. So the next time you think "I have not sinned" think back on whom it is your responsibility to restrain and have not.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:3:17
kjv@1Samuel:3:17 @ @ RandyP comments: kjv@1Samuel:3:13 extends sin to include those knowingly do not restrain others from sin. Here in kjv@1Samuel:3:17 we perceive a further guilt to those who have been given a special revelation of knowledge from the LORD and withhold it.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:12:1-34
kjv@Luke:12:1-34 @ @ RandyP comments: Interesting that religious hypocrisy is addressed so closely to the fear of others, the covetousness of brothers and dispute over inheritance, mis-appropriation of riches and insecurity over God's provisions. We could take the course of interpretation that these are separate unrelated items or we could consider more deeply the possible connections. I find the fear and insecurity angles possible indications that all items might be connected.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@1Samuel:4-5
kjv@kjv@1Samuel:4-5 @ @ RandyP comments: Often times we use the articles of God for our own constructs thinking His power is for us to use however we see fit, that God will just empower us wanting us to succeed in every endeavor. Maybe not the Ark but, our church membership or a cherry picked passage of scripture or oils and incense or (fill in the blank). God was not behind this use of the Ark nor was He consulted, the people simply assumed it so and thus paid the price.
RecentComments:kjv@kjv@1Samuel:6
kjv@kjv@1Samuel:6 @ @ RandyP comments: The Philistines, even at this later point were remarkably aware of the Exodus accounts particularly the hardening of Pharaoh's heart. It is somewhat amusing that they still kept to their gods thinking that if they just sent the Ark back with golden mice and hemorrhoids The God would leave their gods alone.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:12:48
kjv@Luke:12:48 @ @ RandyP comments: This passage refutes the liberal notion that the second coming is is not literal if the wise servant is accountable for watching and being prepared.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:12:48
kjv@Luke:12:48 @ @ RandyP comments: The later part of this verse was recently used by an American President to argue raising taxes on the rich. What riches have to do with being watchful and prepared for the second Lords coming knowing the marital will of the Lord, I am not sure.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:12:56
kjv@Luke:12:56 @ @ RandyP comments: It is thought that no one can know the time and they leave it at that. Here we see that the indications will be discern-able just as a shift in the weather.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:12:57-59
kjv@Luke:12:57-59 @ @ RandyP comments: That this teaching about settling up with ones adversaries before going to the judge is so close to the earlier talk of being watchful and prepared for the Lord's return indicates the urgency and type of preparations to be made.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:7:13
kjv@1Samuel:7:13 @ @ RandyP comments: Is this Hand against the Philistines evidence of the effect of one holy man or just coincidence that the amount of time was similar to the time of Samuel?
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:8:1-8
kjv@1Samuel:8:1-8 @ @ RandyP comments: This problem with the children of great men seems to be frequent in the Bible accounts. We just read about Eli. Interesting though that God was ready to continue working through with that until the people spoke up to Samuel. God saw moving from a system of His judges into a monarchy as a rebellion against His direct rule; even though the next two judges were deceitful brats. His rule was not intended to be perfect in our eyes, our rule though was even less perfect and out right rebellious. He allowed the transition being capable of working even with that, but, which rule serves His needs best?
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:8:9-22
kjv@1Samuel:8:9-22 @ @ RandyP comments: This was Samuel's protest, this is what bad would happen by having a king over Israel. It may not seem all that bad of a deal to us now who live under a 30% tax rate (45% corporate) and have lost a good deal of our liberties to social engineering projects and entitlements and elites notions of a one world economy. What does sound bad is that God would no longer hear Israels voice which should have brought them second thoughts. Doesn't sound like it was even a consideration; they just wanted to be like everyone else.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:9:16
kjv@1Samuel:9:16 @ @ RandyP comments: Though He is sorely displeased with Israel seeking a king, God is unchanged about doing what He was all along going to do about fulfilling of the covenant and prophecies. This is not a set back or a plan "b". This is another in a long series of Israel's reprobate actions "doing what is right in their own eyes" which God is well aware of. He works His will regardless. It is important for us to see this in our lives and our nations as well.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:13:1-5
kjv@Luke:13:1-5 @ @ RandyP comments: I take this to mean not that bad things won't happen to repentant believers, clearly we see that they do, but, that they will not be without salvation and God's hand. For Jesus suggests that it is not because of their sin that these two calamities happened, yet, repentance would have still been in order; it is always in order.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:13:6-9
kjv@Luke:13:6-9 @ @ RandyP comments: Because of proximity, does this relate to the previous discussion about calamity and repentance? How does our spiritual caregiver dig around the tree and feed it? Are there not the fruits of repentance?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:13:12-17
kjv@Luke:13:12-17 @ @ RandyP comments: This peculiar passage does not quote Jesus as saying "your sins are forgiven" as He does so many times. In fact it says that she is loosened from the bounds of Satan. Not all illnesses nor healings are presented this way. We should not assume, we should approach from a preparatory base of prayer and fasting. Many say "why pray" or "why fast". It is precisely because we don't know what is ahead of us and we just can't simply assume that we know.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:13:17-21
kjv@Luke:13:17-21 @ @ RandyP comments: If connected in context to the rest of the remainder of the chapter we'd see that this astounding kingdom growth is a result of a caregivers' nurturing care towards repentance (even by calamity), the bounds of Satan being identified and loosed, legalism and tradition and religious expectation being loosed, certain adversaries being shamed in their confrontation, and praise of the multitude for what He has done. Not a bad summation of the Gospel...eh?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:13:23-30
kjv@Luke:13:23-30 @ @ RandyP comments: Instead of just being critical of the concept of "How could a loving God judge" one should at least consider the mechanisms of His judgment to perhaps see why that He might. In this account kjv@Luke:13:25 the master of the house simply shuts the door; the window of opportunity is closed. For how long a time must the master be expected to leave His door open? Is it not His to open and close as He sees fit? Has he not said to strive to enter the straight gate? And yet many have not made the effort, have rather chosen to enter however they wished whenever they wish just expecting to enter His house to do whatever they wish? What kind of master would he be towards His other more considerate guests? Are the outsiders right then to criticize His judgment and not there own judgment instead?
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:14:6
kjv@1Samuel:14:6 @ @ RandyP comments: How true! Where often our Reprobate Mind reduces matters down to where it feels more in control, Where when that level of control is outside our grasp we limit God's control down to levels that we are more comfortable with, we like Jonathan need to allow God to be the truer image - the much larger God that He needs to be.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:14:52
kjv@1Samuel:14:52 @ @ RandyP comments: Wasn't it that when Samuel protested there being a king over Israel initially that this very thing was part of his argument? The taking of Israel's sons and daughters for whatever the king saw fit?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:14:7
kjv@Luke:14:7 @ @ RandyP comments: Surely this parable has larger application than just weddings or feasts. How about ministry? Where it is often our intention to serve the Lord by becoming a pastor, worship leader, elder, licensed counselor; it may be God's will for us do something less attention and honor grabbing as investing ourselves and our free time in the lives of others.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:14:12-15
kjv@Luke:14:12-15 @ @ RandyP comments: The term social networking comes to mind here as we've all been to gatherings where we are there basically to derive some benefit for ourselves. Contacts are made, business cards shared, you can help me and I can help you, possible resources and referrals are gathered.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:14:12-24
kjv@Luke:14:12-24 @ @ RandyP comments: The two teachings here really should be taken together. The feast that God has invited us to we surely cannot recompense back to Him. The feast that we invite others to should be similar. In a greater context the feast that we are inviting others to as Christians is the Lord's feast, it should not our inspiration to host such an effort in order to derive personal benefit.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:14:12-24
kjv@Luke:14:12-24 @ @ RandyP comments: Nor should we excuse our not participating in joining the Lord's feast for any of our many personal reasons.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:14:1-24
kjv@Luke:14:1-24 @ @ RandyP comments: Three seemingly unrelated stories that may have a common thread: presumed positions at a feast. There is the man that presumes that he is a much honored guest. There is the man that presumes that he'll receive recompense from his own guests. There are many men that do not accept the lord's invitation presuming that there are more urgent priorities yet awaiting. I doubt if the Lord is just discussing diner etiquette. The feast in this case is His triumphant wedding feast. The thread of teaching is the presumption of who is there, why they are there, the presumptions they make going into it, who is willing to accept their truthful position.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:15:35
kjv@1Samuel:15:35 @ @ RandyP comments: Repented God? When there is an apparent contradiction (see: kjv@1Samuel:15:29) the Spirit is not hiding the truth of the matter from us, He is beckoning us to consider how that the two things might be mutually and emphatically true at the same time. These are underlined highlights meant to foster a deeper searching/understanding. If we trust that there is an spiritual answer from the start, diligence will eventually prove to be much more fruitful than if we let it slip by.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:15:20
kjv@1Samuel:15:20 @ @ RandyP comments: Doing what is right is not simply performing the action, it is also in performing it in the right manner. Saul did obtain what he saw to be the objective; defeat the Amalekites. God's objective was further into proving the obedience of Israel; Saul being chief.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:15-16
kjv@1Samuel:15-16 @ @ RandyP comments: Old Testament accounts such as these are hard for modern audiences to fathom. Our image of God's nature and God's intentions are much more docile. We must remember that God is establishing a key peace in His argument; the depiction of man's sinful nature and His case for a incarnate/redemptive Christ. What is spirit is spirit, what is flesh is flesh, and the two minds are at complete enmity with each other. Spiritual God is having to use fleshly matters to convince the fleshy mind of the accuracy of a hated spiritual message; not only for the Israel of that time but, also us who are reading this now as well.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:15-16
kjv@1Samuel:15-16 @ @ RandyP comments: The awkwardness of these difficult passages may also arise from the fact that modern readers are trying the Bible from a self help viewpoint. One then must ask how does this difficult portrayal of God's nature help me? We thereby exclude the grander contexts of what God had to get us to a point where He could help us, what He had to stick to, what He had to insist upon, what He had to battle through to get us to a point of realizing our truly reprobate sinful nature. Difficulty here does not reveal so much about difficulty with God as it reveals difficulty with us.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:14:25-35
kjv@Luke:14:25-35 @ @ RandyP comments: Others often portray Jesus as divine Prophet in the line of a few others that come and go every several hundred years or so. Jesus never once hinted toward any before Him nor after other than Moses. In fact as written here, He insisted on complete and sole devotion to Himself and Himself only. Anyone who attempts to include Him in the succession of messianic figures has much re-explaining of His words to do.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:14:25-35
kjv@Luke:14:25-35 @ @ RandyP comments: Again, there seems to be contradiction here between loving all and hating father and mother. As we've seen before, there is something more that the Spirit wants us to search out. The truth of His teaching here must first come in the form of a kjv@Proverbs:1:7 kjv@Proverbs:1:22-23 approach. Clear the heart, clear the mind, honestly seek the Lord, you'll be shown the answer. How different might it be from we first considered?
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:17-18
kjv@1Samuel:17-18 @ @ RandyP comments: The Lord was with David and had gone ahead of Him in the battle, but, David knew that he would have to go out and in obedience and adaptability physically claim the victory. We don't see that the Lord had spoken to him directly, but, that His anointing had emboldened the lad along with the prior experience fighting lion and bear. Others had tried to outfit him as they saw fit to protect him, in this particular case their armor was a hinderence.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:15:1-10
kjv@Luke:15:1-10 @ @ RandyP comments: Notice that in both examples the treasure is lost and the shepherd/woman put aside all else to find it. In order to bring the treasure back though the treasure must repent. There is a rejoicing for each finding/repentance. The intellectual process of somehow figuring God out and finding our way back to Him is not at all discussed.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:21
kjv@1Samuel:21 @ @ RandyP comments: Curious to know whether this is David working God's plan or David spilling out from under God's plan working his own plan. Samuel seems to be the one who has not quiet committed to David here. Where is his taking David under his wing? Where is his counsel not to fear Saul but to fear God instead? Where is his reproof against all these lies and secretive coalitions? Sure they have a nice spiritual retreat together but, to what result? God's anointed pretending to have gone mad?
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:19-20
kjv@1Samuel:19-20 @ @ RandyP comments: Surely, God could have removed Saul at anytime; that is not the question. Did God not pull the trigger yet because David was not yet ready? Israel? Saul's obtaining the throne was nearly immediate; it was new, it was the first of it's kind in Israel. Now however, allegiances have been made, deals struck, coalitions working behind the scenes towards their own interest and gain. The next king would have to be well prepared and established to be ahead of this game. David is obviously not at that point right now. It does not appear that his eye is solely on the Lord.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:15:11-32
kjv@Luke:15:11-32 @ @ RandyP comments: This is a very well known scripture. Many a sermon has been delivered on the prodigal son, the prodigal son's forgiving father, only brief mention of the son's brother. Who is being portrayed here as the son's brother however? One that did not leave, one who did what was expected, who had a poor reaction to the father's jubilant behavior, that receives a full inheritance in the end. I have thought perhaps the Angels, the Jews, those Christians raised un-rebelliously in religious homes. Who do you think?
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:22-23
kjv@1Samuel:22-23 @ @ RandyP comments: What a sorry state of affairs for Saul, the murder of godly priests, the public accusation of his son, chasing David around the region while the Philistines are invading, disloyal subjects that wont obey his command to kill David. Worst yet he still attempts to bless his allies with the blessing of the LORD.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:24
kjv@1Samuel:24 @ @ RandyP comments: David is being told by his men. Saul is being told by his men. There is a whole lot of information being told that has other mens hands written all over it. The mark of a leader is to sort through the clutter and do the right thing. David has recently at least has been seeking the Lord and perhaps been searching through the ancient parables. Saul is delivered into his hands and he does the unexpected. His goodness has but a momentary effect on Saul however, but, people on both sides of the camp are beginning to see the truer heart of a future leader.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:16:16
kjv@Luke:16:16 @ @ RandyP comments: Many criticize Paul for his insistence that in Christ the Law has past having been fulfilled in Christ. How is what Jesus said here any different?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:16:8
kjv@Luke:16:8 @ @ RandyP comments: Not commending the unjust for being unjust, commending for at least being shrewd. The optimum would seem to be in being just and shrewd.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:16:1-18
kjv@Luke:16:1-18 @ @ RandyP comments: If I understand the illustration enough, debts are being settled with God which is good. Debts up till now have not been settled because of the mis-deeds of the steward. Now that the matter has been called out by the master, the steward feels more urgently that it is in his best future interest with others to settle all the accounts given him. The accounts were of course valued much higher, higher than anyone could pay, but, they were settled none the less. When concerning mens debts to God that is a very good thing even if done for the stewards selfish reasons. Who then have you been set to steward over? Have those peoples account with God been settled? What would be wise for you to do right away?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:16:1-18
kjv@Luke:16:1-18 @ @ RandyP comments: Let's take this unjust steward up a level further. What makes the unjust steward unjust? I would suggest un-forgiveness. The Lord has forgiven him his debt and yet he holds others accountable for what they owe him in full. Why does the Lord's cutting him off make him feel that he must suddenly settle with the others? He is put back down on their level to fend for himself. Therefore he is shrewd in meeting the others halfway or more (all the way if need be). Why doesn't the Lord take offense to this exchange? Because it is closer to what He has called for all along. Does the Lord actually cut off the suddenly not so unjust steward off? You be the judge.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:25
kjv@1Samuel:25 @ @ RandyP comments: Nabal acted as if he did not know who David was and acted disrespectfully within the parameters of that culture. Who didn't know who David was. Abigail risked her life by going secretly to David; more so returning back to Nabal. His heart turned like stone. There are plenty of men like him that are simply harsh and foolish to their wives even though their wives have saved them from tribulation and sword. Good deeds are rewarded with scorn and brutality for no other reason than that is just who they are; Son's of Belial, worthless/destruction.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:25-26
kjv@1Samuel:25-26 @ @ RandyP comments: I think that David knows even as the words fall from his lips that Saul will not be even minded for long. For Saul, every step he takes against David becomes more and more an embarrassment but, he is the last to admit that he himself is the cause. We see two men today very much the cause of their own problems. David in turn leaves while pondering the possibilities chooses to reserve retribution to God's hand in both cases.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:26:9
kjv@1Samuel:26:9 @ @ RandyP comments: In more practical terms for us here today, we should consider the similar office of the President anointed no matter who it is that fills that office. What business is it of ours to disrespect that office by slander or any other means even if the man fulfilling that office does so himself. Not even the next President in succession would profit against the Lord by such a foolish course of action.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:16:19-31
kjv@Luke:16:19-31 @ @ RandyP comments: What on earth would properly persuade men of Heaven? Isn't their mind already made up? The question then is: what is it that has made their mind up? We would like to think that we have with reason and deduction concluded the answer from the facts. While they blame believers of being lead by our hearts, the critic's case is no different than ours. Intellect follows the heart. Reasoning and deduction are being employed by both of us to substantiate and justify it's desire. Not even the dead returned to warn us could sway either of us, for there is always enough other evidence to keep us where we are most comfortable desirously/logically.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:28:10
kjv@1Samuel:28:10 @ @ RandyP comments: Now really? Swear by the Lord in a covenant with the witch of Endor? What is he thinking?
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:27-28
kjv@1Samuel:27-28 @ @ RandyP comments: Why Saul thought that the departed spirit of Samuel would answer him when God would not shows just how deranged his mind has become. Everything that he is thinking and doing is confused and turning against him. The question is whether the witch was speaking God's truth or a demons truth the Saul believed so whole heartedly that he carried it out to it's fulfillment. Honestly, why would God speak to him in this manner when God had not spoken to Saul in any other manner. Why would the witch tell Saul any thing other than this, Saul having killed a great many of her demonic persuasion? It was quiet a show she and her demon put on!
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:28:13
kjv@1Samuel:28:13 @ @ RandyP comments: This message cannot be from Jehovah so neither can the remainder.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:29
kjv@1Samuel:29 @ @ RandyP comments: Here we see David in the awkward position that I doubt he should have been in to begin with. Would he of really attacked Saul alongside the Philistines when he wouldn't have on his own previously? My thought is that David had been buying time by means of his own contorted resources in Philistine and God is now flushing him out of his safe hole via the princes of Philistine.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:17:4
kjv@Luke:17:4 @ @ RandyP comments: There is always the question asked whether it is appropriate to forgive a person if they just keep going back doing the sinful things against you making their repentance almost as usury. I think of the troubles I've seen with addicts and compulsive liars/thieves. Jesus says yes. That doesn't mean that you have to hand them the knife with which they'll stab you in the back. By all means protect yourself and your possessions. Limit their opportunity. The forgiveness is as much for your sake as it is for theirs. A great many are suddenly controlled by both their lack of unforgiveness and feelings of violation.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:17:1-2
kjv@Luke:17:1-2 @ @ RandyP comments: The child abuser or molester certainly knows his fate. Why is it then that they continue? One could ask that of the whole host of sins. Escaping our sinful destructive natures is never so much a rational deductive decision. We like to see the nature separate from the person, a steal trap tight into the bone of the rabbit's hind leg; if he pulled hard enough or if we opened the claws he could pull his leg out. It may well be instead that the nature is the rabbit's and the trap was set by the good master to protect his crops.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:17:5-10
kjv@Luke:17:5-10 @ @ RandyP comments: God gives us our faith and He increases it. By this faith we could move a tree far from it's nest but, in the end we had only done as He commanded. Where of then can we boast or take leave of duty. We are yet unprofitable servants. "Prosperity" and "God Within" teachers should be ware. Paul later combines this type teaching, faith as to move mountains but having not love for one another as being futile.
RecentComments:kjv@1Samuel:30-31
kjv@1Samuel:30-31 @ @ RandyP comments: So few characters in the bible are portrayed in a favorable light; odds are that we wouldn't be either. Even the few we look up to are as human and mistake prone and sinful as anyone else. What is it then that separates a Saul from a David? We could say that Saul fought honorably for the country he loved. We could say that he wanted everything to be passed down to his sons. We can say that he tried many times to show us that he was religious. We could say that he had to make hard political decisions in a time of tremendous up evil and national transition. We could say that David was an adulterous murderer, a divisive political figure, a poor husband, a poor father, handled his daughter's rape poorly, even lacked the political alliances to keep himself being forced back into exile later by his own son. Yet these two men's eulogies in the end greatly differ. I think I know the answer. I am banking on that answer in my own mixed up life. I will leave it to the reader to conclude for themselves.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:17:20-37
kjv@Luke:17:20-37 @ @ RandyP comments: There are two things the Lord is revealing here to keep separated I believe, the Kingdom of God and the Day of the Lord. The kingdom is within us. It is unseen by eye. It is not a place as we would know the word place. It is at hand. The Day is coming, only the Father knows when, as a thief in the night, the five bridesmaid lamps run out of oil, Daniel Ezekiel and Revelations end of the world kind of stuff. The Pharisees were so wrapped up in the notion that the Kingdom was earthly, that the Messiah was going to establish the earthly Kingdom first and upon doing that His Day would come. How then could two people be working in the field together and one be snatched away to the Kingdom? No the Kingdom is spiritual, the Day is day of final judgment, then there will be a millennium of earthly rule, then there will be an eternity in the new earth/heaven/Jerusalem.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:2:4
kjv@2Samuel:2:4 @ @ RandyP comments: Keep in mind that we are beginning to see signs of a split in the nation between Israel and Judah. A split that will physically divide them in the next generation at the death of David's son King Solomon.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:2
kjv@2Samuel:2 @ @ RandyP comments: As you would expect, things get out of control in a hurry amongst the prime players of the nation. Abner seems to be positioned as the one key player whose power and influence comes forth early, even more than David. He is never portrayed as a man of God that I am aware of, but, a force to be reckoned with to be sure. David must now become wise and politically shrewed.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:3
kjv@2Samuel:3 @ @ RandyP comments: And so the fate of a nation in civil war turns on one generals desire for a woman and one leaders refusal to grant her. Abner knew of David's anointing all along; he later recited it verbatim. So then what was this horrid era in Israel all about? His power? His influence? Or was it Israel's deeper desire to split from Judah? Both?
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:1-3
kjv@2Samuel:1-3 @ @ RandyP comments: We need to see that we are at the end of one period of David from young shepherd boy to middle aged exile transitioning abruptly into the first of his king periods. Reflecting back on this period we see an odd collection of stories from which we form an initial opinion of David; not every thing is as we would expect from a man after God's own heart. Isn't that more because of our lofty expectations though? Really... what does a man after God's heart look like? I suggest that he looks a lot like David; for all of his faults, all of his meanderings, all of his awkward self imposed situations and reactions, he did realize his shortcomings and frailty and sins, confessed and repented and sought after the truest image of God.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:18:17
kjv@Luke:18:17 @ @ RandyP comments: In the past two readings we have found out that the Kingdom is not seen but within us and now that the Kingdom is entered in a fashion similar to a child. It can be there within us but still we have to enter it. How many is it within that don't enter it?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:18:1-17
kjv@Luke:18:1-17 @ @ RandyP comments: The judge avenges speedily but does he find faith? The Pharisee prayed considering himself righteous but is not justified and becomes abased. What is the context between the two parables? Faith. Not in who you are, but, in who Jesus is. He avenges many. He justifies only the faithful in Him. Add the third parable and we have like the faith of a child.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:4
kjv@2Samuel:4 @ @ RandyP comments: It is a frequent matter in the transitions of power that those falling from power are dealt with with death or exile or imprisonment so that they don't attempt to resume any form of power/division. It is just as frequent that ambitious loyalist take opportunity into their own hands as the two men today have. The new leader David had no such desire and saw through the career climbing initiative of the two plus he had an oath with his now deceased friend Jonathan to spare him and his family.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:5:8
kjv@2Samuel:5:8 @ @ RandyP comments: This is one of those curious passages that calls for further examination. We might be too quick to judge here without knowing the fuller context. Is it something about these particular lame and blind? Is it that the Jebusites were using them as a defensive shield? Was this sanctioned by God? We are not told of David loathing lame and blind anywhere else in fact we see David going beyond the call for Jonathan's lame son.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:5:13-16
kjv@2Samuel:5:13-16 @ @ RandyP comments: I do not believe these to be in any chronological order. We know that Solomon was born to wife Bathsheba who has not entered our storyline yet. They may have all been mentioned together just to have them all recited in one place.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:5
kjv@2Samuel:5 @ @ RandyP comments: David as king of united Israel is shown going to God for counsel on who and when to attack. That does not mean that this is all that he goes before the Lord for. No doubt he petitions God concerning a great many things of national and personal importance. No doubt God is answering him in a similar fashion but, we are not privy to these prayers.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:6
kjv@2Samuel:6 @ @ RandyP comments: Oh ya The Ark I almost forgot about it. David had it on the top of his list after securing Jerusalem. This was his first dealing with the ark and he wasn't quiet sure how and if to go about fetching it. During a mishap God communicated strongly the need for complete/unfailing reverence. Uzzahs reaction was natural, you see something tipping, you reach over to steady it. This is God's ark however and accidents don't happen, commands are not to be broken regardless, realization must be made that this object is supernatural and of the supreme sovereign God. The fact of Obededom house being blessed was a sign to David that he had over reacted to the occurrence of Uzzah, that it was now time to continue the retrieval.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:6
kjv@2Samuel:6 @ @ RandyP comments: Michal's reaction to David may reveal much about her. Understand that she is no longer David's only wife. This is her second time married to David, her third marriage total. She is likely unhappy about a great many things. Add to this that she sees David's keeping a dignified public image differently than he does. It may not be her image of what a king should be that hurts her as much as her image of herself in the kingdom as a whole and in their royal bedroom privately. David see his jubilant behavior as "dance"/"play" before the Lord.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:4-6
kjv@2Samuel:4-6 @ @ RandyP comments: Again it must be noted, the context of the Bible must be judged also in the context of the times. Modern readers judge David and Israel as being war hungry and blood thirsty. We have this notion that offensive military maneuvers are unjust. David praying to the Lord "shall we attack" and the Lord being for and ahead of that battle seems to us harsh and alien. The context of the time suggests rather that this offensive battle tactic was quiet common in the time, it can be described as attack or be attacked. Add to this that Israel is a land that has been taken from other peoples, people much greater in number than the Jews and that the Jews are riddled with divisions and idolatries, signs of weakness to any other aggressor. The question others might have is more on the lines of God has been with Israel undoubtedly but for how long? God is using this type of natural inquiry to test Israel's resolve and trust.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:18:18-43
kjv@Luke:18:18-43 @ @ RandyP comments: There is a point in each of us where what we think that we are able to do for the Lord is tested. Jesus knows this point well. For some it may be riches, for others it may be personally objectionable deeds like helping a stranded Samaritan, for others it is just letting go and trusting the Lord in the most desperate of situations. Much of the difficulty is in our conception of "doing for th Lord". What can we actually do that He has not done rather for us? We each have this point I believe; it is all in how we look at things, who is doing what for whom.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:18:43
kjv@Luke:18:43 @ @ RandyP comments: This healed man is allowed to follow Jesus further. Most others that I can recall were told to go present themselves according to the Law to the priests. They had also been advised not to tell anyone.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:7
kjv@2Samuel:7 @ @ RandyP comments: For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart... Theology wrapped up in a nut shell. If we were to approach all things with this frame of mind we would be the better. This is the "why" in "why does He do this" or "why does He allow this" or "why has He been so good". Righteous and just, merciful and long suffering, His ways each and every one are perfect and unchanging. He knows the beginning, He knows our end. He makes His promises, He fulfills each and every one. He brings us through and sets us apart as His own. For thy word's sake, and according to thine own heart...
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:7:10
kjv@2Samuel:7:10 @ @ RandyP comments: Before you feel bad for these enemies of Israel understand that there is something much bigger going on between them and God. These people have done or are doing something most likely in the religious/spiritual realm that God thoroughly rejects. Wickedness is not a term used lightly. We gather that from the time after the flood through the time of the wilderness God had been working to change the inhabitants ways to the point of the ground spewing them out. We know that Israel was commanded to put them completely down but had not. We know that God was displeased then with Israel and allowed these wicked peoples to remain in order to test Israel. Well the are certainly testing Israel now. What, we must ask, is this wickedness God is so against?
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:8
kjv@2Samuel:8 @ @ RandyP comments: These days then begin the glory days of the Israel like no other. What we tend to miss is the seemingly impossible odds of this even happening. Israel in comparison is so small to nations God is making to bow before it. We know of no special battle tactic or battle technology that is allowing them to do this. It is by God's hand and is meant to shown exactly as such.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:9
kjv@2Samuel:9 @ @ RandyP comments: I am sure that the holdings David kept of Saul's properties were considerable. His giving was of great personal expense. His personal generosity to Jonathan's son heartfelt as well as if to Jonathan himself.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:12:14
kjv@2Samuel:12:14 @ @ RandyP comments: Enemies of the Lord use this occasion against us to this day. It is presented by them that Israel was apostate and rejected of God long before this event and that God's effort had long since been with them and their religion. This would mean too that the blood line to the Messiah was no longer through David which would eliminate the rightful claims of Christianity.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:11-12
kjv@2Samuel:11-12 @ @ RandyP comments: David's true remorse and repentance to God are evident. So is the fact that consequences were still to be had. Things were not going to be the same. We must consider our own lives in this manner as well. One does not simply get away with sin by confessing and repenting. Repentance/Confession could possibly even make matters on the ground worse on the outset. That is not why we do it though. We do it because we must and if we don't surely things will be much worse in the long run after our soul hardens. It is owed to God and to all those affected.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:19:37-38
kjv@Luke:19:37-38 @ @ RandyP comments: Makes you wonder what the multitude of disciples thought they were being part of. Surely many thought along the lines of an earthly ruler come to make His earthly kingdom. Few if any would have thought that in the next four days He would be dead.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:19:39
kjv@Luke:19:39 @ @ RandyP comments: Interesting that they would approach Him this way. It is almost like that thought that He would agree that the multitudes were going over the top with this.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:19:48
kjv@Luke:19:48 @ @ RandyP comments: The priests and scribes now have a big problem on their hands. Where to go from here? They have been called out, flushed out of their religious holes and now must commit themselves one way or another. Watch how quick once they do commit it takes to turn the crowd back on their side. The right pressure exerted in the right fashion, the right encitement and the mob's true nature will be flushed out as well.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:17-18
kjv@2Samuel:17-18 @ @ RandyP comments: Absalom may have sold himself successfully to the people as a much needed judge but, he proved to be to be a poor military leader pursuing into a unfamiliar thicket of oaks. He did not have the counsel of the Lord to rely upon and thus was left to the sorted advice of diverse causes and his own brash desires.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:21:19
kjv@Luke:21:19 @ @ RandyP comments: Great and terrible things shall come. He could have said be strong or be prayerful etc... but He says to be patient. It is not that these other things are not each important, it is that they all come as a result of patience. Therefore posses your soul in patients.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:21:1-19
kjv@Luke:21:1-19 @ @ RandyP comments: This prophecy was fulfilled near AD 70 at the destruction of the temple by the Romans. It is said by critics that Jesus cannot be classified as a prophet because none of His prophecies have come true. Well what is this prophecy, chopped liver?
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:19:41-42
kjv@2Samuel:19:41-42 @ @ RandyP comments: It would again be right to mark this passage for future use regarding the coming division of Judah and Israel. When the time comes the thought should not have sneaked up on us. We are now seeing a steady rise in the animosity between the two.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:19-20
kjv@2Samuel:19-20 @ @ RandyP comments: An illustration of how easy it is to remove a leader on the one hand and how much house cleaning it takes to restore him back. Notice that we haven't heard the Lord's voice for some time now? There is a marked shift of storyline. David I believe is more and more a shell of his former self; probably since the time of the scandal Bathsheba. David is bringing much of this upon himself. He is like a wobbling top knocking into all the objects surrounding him. The same indecisiveness that plagued his patriarchy is affecting his monarchy.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:21:20-28
kjv@Luke:21:20-28 @ @ RandyP comments: Many believe that since the temple destruction AD70 and resultant worldwide dispersion of the Jews that we have now lived in an "time of the gentiles" era. With drawing of the Jews back to Jerusalem since 1948 we now see a signal of the closing of the age and the drawing near of our redemption; The Lord's second coming. There are others that say that this all happened AD70 and that the Lord has already returned. Some believe that none of this happens until the end of the world. I believe that kjv@Luke:21:24 is the key verse suggesting the dispersion/age interpretation, "be led away captive" I have yet to find evidence of in other end time prophecy.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:21:32
kjv@Luke:21:32 @ @ RandyP comments: Three ways I can think of for this to have been fulfilled even though we are now 1990+ years down the time line. 1. "Generation" can just as easily be translated "period" thus within this age/period of time this will be fulfilled. 2. The specific of the prophecy can be interrupted as having been fulfilled in AD70 and the actual Lord's latter return fulfillment of a greater prophecy in whole. 3. There are also the considerations of God's eternal perceptions of time (thousand years as a day) (time relativity) (the possibility that time is not sequentially serial but rather sequentially parallel). How deep do you want to go with it?
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:21
kjv@2Samuel:21 @ @ RandyP comments: Even after all of this time we are still dealing with the fall out from Saul. Israel had made a covenant with the Gibeonites (ill advised as it was) that God expected Israel to keep. Saul did not. So He expects of us as well. Another thing to notice is that we are still dealing with giants or the son's of.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:22
kjv@2Samuel:22 @ @ RandyP comments: This passage is a psalm (a worship song) written by David. In it he attempts to reveal his deepest heart by declaring what he himself has seen God do, the character God reveals by performing these actions, the praise David offers to God for the real life/real situation/real people engagement God has had. David as king has been out on the very edge of the dangerous currents and momentums. He has observed many events with a military eye when situations were beyond his human control. We may not know this kind of danger nor this type of eye, but, God moves for us just as well. This psalm could have been written through a bakers eye and revealed just as much about God's mighty hand.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:3
kjv@Luke:22:3 @ @ RandyP comments: If Satan truly had free reign and will, he could have attempted this attack long ago, perhaps before the possibility of Jesus having world wide ministry and impact. We know that there have been other chances. We know that the religious have been planning as well. We also know that the prophecies and Jesus have spelled the coming events out well so that Satan would know how not to go about this. And yet he does. God plays him like a fiddle.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:3
kjv@Luke:22:3 @ @ RandyP comments: Isn't it funny that people from most every culture believe in satanic possession of some sort but not the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:5
kjv@Luke:22:5 @ @ RandyP comments: Satan had entered, but, curiously Judas was still intact enough in the decision process to have negotiated certain agreeable terms and reward.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:23-24
kjv@Luke:22:23-24 @ @ RandyP comments: Not sure if this discourse amongst the Disciples is given full justice by the text. I imagine this to have occurred much more organically over the course of the evening than presented. If our own dinner conversations where condensed down to two sentences, we'd look pretty foolish as well. What we are told is simply what we most need to know. Surely there was much discussed that night, all with sincere and honest and devoted intentions; just as much as that not discussed and reserved in fear and uncertainty. In other words, they were being human. It must have been a painfully haunting and surreal meal for Judas.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22
kjv@Luke:22 @ @ RandyP comments: If not for it's profound sense of personal moral conviction, this passage of scripture would be viewed universally with no doubt as the greatest written literary work of all time. I can think of no other author's development of story and character and description, no other pull on the heart strings of the observant audience greater than this. Even Shakespeare (who is said to have had a small hand in the early translation of the King James Version) would have been humbled by this master piece for the accomplishment of prose and stark contrasts of light and dark put forth here. To have this profound and rich of a thematic idea is a writers never fulfilled dream, to be able to fulfill it's potential with it's deserved lyrical craft a writer's eternal curse. And yet it is written so simply. If not for the set up of this particular passage, the following climatic passion and crucification have not the same effect. Why this passage is not intellectually considered as such (even if as merely fiction) speaks volumes of the truer heart of man.
RecentComments:kjv@2Samuel:23-24
kjv@2Samuel:23-24 @ @ RandyP comments: There are certain things expected of a king kjv@2Samuel:23:3. We see the many valiant men of the king that would do anything for him even risk their own blood for a sip of water from an occupied well. The king therefore has such a greater responsibility and therefore has so much greater consequences. These things may seem strange to us for we are not kings. It may seem improbable to us for we are not of that age nor of that election. We tend to critic the oddity of the consequence rather than horridness of the sin was that God was addressing amongst the people. David's sin was ordering the census, the people's sin we must assume is idolatry.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:31-32
kjv@Luke:22:31-32 @ @ RandyP comments: Notice that Jesus did not pray that Peter be removed from the sifting or that Satan flee, but, that his faith not fail.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:38
kjv@Luke:22:38 @ @ RandyP comments: Could one of these be the sword that Peter used against the guard?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:40
kjv@Luke:22:40 @ @ RandyP comments: Some ask "why pray"? Here is as good a reason as any.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:42
kjv@Luke:22:42 @ @ RandyP comments: We find that Jesus prayed most all of the time. We are not privy to the contents of those prayers. Here we are privy and we must wonder both why and by whom? The disciples are in the distance sleeping. The Holy Spirit is telling us something very important here. This prayer is for our benefit as much as His. The cup cannot be taken away. This IS God's will.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:44
kjv@Luke:22:44 @ @ RandyP comments: Lest we think that this was such a simple thing for the Son of Man to do for us, try sweating blood.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:45
kjv@Luke:22:45 @ @ RandyP comments: "sleeping for sorrow". They knew something was about to happen. Mentally no doubt they had tried to work all the possibilities toward their favor. Jesus seemed to be taking this course regardless. This was there way of dealing with the sorrow and resultant mental fatigue.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:53
kjv@Luke:22:53 @ @ RandyP comments: These must be temple guards that have been sent to apprehend Him. There had been times when others had sought to lay hands against Him.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:52
kjv@Luke:22:52 @ @ RandyP comments: Perhaps a larger crowd than portrayed in the movies.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:1-2
kjv@1Kings:1-2 @ @ RandyP comments: So we see the type of behind the scene alliances and confederacies that go into the making of a king. Transitions of such power rarely are smooth. Not only is there old blood but new blood that must be settled. The juvenile Solomon must make some king like decisions from the start. Remember that it was the people who wanted a king over them in the first place. Here they have it.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:1-2
kjv@1Kings:1-2 @ @ RandyP comments: The life and reign of David now comes to an end. It is not all that we will learn about him however, David penned a great many of the Psalms and had an influence in Solomon's collection of Proverbs. There we will hear his inner thoughts from his perspective and find why he is called a man after God's heart. David had many great strengths and a few serious faults. He is portrayed in both as being human. Judging him is like judging ourselves in some respects but, we too easily forget that he also was under the pressures of being king. The history of Israel/Judah is overwhelmed with unrighteous kings. David like no other stands out as good.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:57
kjv@Luke:22:57 @ @ RandyP comments: I think that it is too easy for us here to judge Peter. He is not reborn yet. He is still trying to approach his relationship to the Savior Christ in intellectual rather than spiritual terms much like us. The fact is that none of us truly know how we would have reacted ourselves faced with this hostile and surreal situation. Rationally, if denial meant being able to continue observing the nights events without having been set out and/or beaten it may have been well worth it in a more practical way. None of the other twelve after all were risking the effort to witness the events unfolding; only the two Marys and doubting half brother James were also watching on.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:22:63
kjv@Luke:22:63 @ @ RandyP comments: The mob mentality begins. Perhaps you have witnessed or been part of this overwhelming dynamic yourselves. It is the most unexplainable force of humankind; what mobs of people will allow themselves to do when swept over by this force. Ration and reasoning, temperance and justice disappear. Captors assume license that in no other way would be granted. The strange, the ma-cab, the grotesque, the venomous comes out of men. The sin nature within us all becomes paramount like at no other time.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:3:9
kjv@1Kings:3:9 @ @ RandyP comments: Solomon is asking for a very specific form of wisdom; the understanding toward judgment and discernment. It is one thing to know everything that there is to know and another to know how to discern right from wrong, especially when you are king.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:3:27
kjv@1Kings:3:27 @ @ RandyP comments: This exhibits a situational or adaptive wisdom, it would not work in all situations, it sought a particular character flaw from one of the women. There is a good part of wisdom that changes to the situation as well as a part the does not. There is a discernment needed between the two.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:4:33
kjv@1Kings:4:33 @ @ RandyP comments: Knowledge of the natural sciences differs from the discerning wisdom that he had asked for. It may result as a offshoot or it may coexist along with. The two would have some use of each other.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:5:7
kjv@1Kings:5:7 @ @ RandyP comments: David's other sons as leaders would not have had such a discerning approach. Solomon has kept and honored the long time acquaintances and established networks of his father.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:5
kjv@1Kings:5 @ @ RandyP comments: On thing to consider is the depth and width of the peace that existed for Israel at this time to conduct the building of the temple in this way. To commit this many men and resources to this one project that otherwise would be fighting wars or protecting borders. Compare this effort to the second temple in Ezra and Nehemiah time.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:2
kjv@Luke:23:2 @ @ RandyP comments: This taxation accusation is completely false. Jesus taught to the contrary.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:8
kjv@Luke:23:8 @ @ RandyP comments: We know of an account that one of Herod's daughters had been a follower of Jesus.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:12
kjv@Luke:23:12 @ @ RandyP comments: Made friends by passing the riotous crowd back and forth and ducking judgment?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:14
kjv@Luke:23:14 @ @ RandyP comments: This is a civil court. What evidence could ever be presented in civil court that a perversion of Jewish tradition had been made? Why didn't the trial then end here?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:15
kjv@Luke:23:15 @ @ RandyP comments: By saying this, he incriminates himself by proceeding any further. Anything further than this is to placate the mob.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:22
kjv@Luke:23:22 @ @ RandyP comments: Chastise him for what? Why is he even pursuing this?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:23
kjv@Luke:23:23 @ @ RandyP comments: Crucified by a Roman civil court for the unsubstantiated claim of perverting the traditions of a religious court?
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:26
kjv@Luke:23:26 @ @ RandyP comments: This story now is moving much quicker than told in the other three gospel. We've skipped the scourging and the guard's harassments.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:6:12
kjv@1Kings:6:12 @ @ RandyP comments: It is much easier to do what is right In a purely academic setting where nothing has to be acted on. Once put into motion however with every decision comes opportunity for right and wrong, obedience. Or disobedience.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:6:12
kjv@1Kings:6:12 @ @ RandyP comments: It is much easier to do what is right In a purely academic setting where nothing has to be acted on. Once put into motion however with every decision comes opportunity for right and wrong, obedience. Or disobedience.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:35
kjv@Luke:23:35 @ @ RandyP comments: Can't help but think of the parable Jesus gave on the distant vineyard owner that sent envoys to gather it's produce only to be rejected by the hired hands. Jesus hints that there were those who knew who the Son was and yet killed Him to steal away His inheritance kjv@Mark:12:1-12. Who in this crowd would He be talking about?
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:6-7
kjv@1Kings:6-7 @ @ RandyP comments: The Temple is not just a symbol of the nation, not just the hopeful dwelling place of the presence of God, not just a place for worship and ritual and ceremony and sacrifice, it is also a target for the Lord's enemies. It is almost as an extra burden and responsibility for it's devout. If this place is going to be called by the name of God it's attendants better well represent the God for which it represents. The poor overall historical context of Israel's attempt to do this is a warning and ensample for us today with our "Temple of the Holy Spirit" kjv@1Corinthians:3:16-17.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:8:9
kjv@1Kings:8:9 @ @ RandyP comments: If memory serves me, at one time there were the rod of Moses and something else kept in the Ark also. I will have to go back and look. I wonder if this point here is being made because now these items are not there?
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:8:46
kjv@1Kings:8:46 @ @ RandyP comments: The doctrine of the universal depravity of sin is by no means exclusive to the New Testament. Here we see Solomon declaring essentially what the Apostle Paul declared "that all have sinned and fall short of the glory...". It also states here that certain times all men are delivered into the hands of their enemies.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:8:58
kjv@1Kings:8:58 @ @ RandyP comments: We can easily get caught in the evangelical trap that our words must be convincing, our actions conveying. Don't get me wrong, these things do have an importance but, perhaps not in the ways we would think matter. The Lord will surely use our words and actions in conjunction with everything else He has implemented to incline hearts unto Himself. We are told in the NT "where He is lifted up, He will draw others unto Himself".
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:8
kjv@1Kings:8 @ @ RandyP comments: The Temple cannot house God, that is not it's purpose, but, it can be a place for His name to reside and His glory to show forth. Prayers are made to it concerning the return of His people from their sins, the furtherance of justice and judgment, and it's testimony to the rest of the world and the to stranger from afar. God did use it on several occasions for these purposes. The Temple is a symbolic type, Jesus Christ is the true Temple being the person of it's fulfillment and not just the place.
RecentComments:kjv@1Kings:9:6
kjv@1Kings:9:6 @ @ RandyP comments: Notice that it is the serving of other gods that God is primarily concerned with. People often say "I haven't sinned". I'd ask what other gods have you served. The trick is not to "believe in a god" it is to "believe the God" and to serve Him alone.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:43
kjv@Luke:23:43 @ @ RandyP comments: Paradise could be what the Jews knew as Abrahams Bosom a holding place for the righteous dead prior to Jesus resurrection into the real Heaven.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:43
kjv@Luke:23:43 @ @ RandyP comments: Paradise could be what the Jews knew as Abrahams Bosom a holding place for the righteous dead prior to Jesus resurrection into the real Heaven.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:49
kjv@Luke:23:49 @ @ RandyP comments: I gather that these are not disciples. I know of no other testimony suggesting such.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:49
kjv@Luke:23:49 @ @ RandyP comments: I gather that these are not disciples. I know of no other testimony suggesting such.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:46
kjv@Luke:23:46 @ @ RandyP comments: Crucifixion deprives a man of his breath. The fact that jesus shouts in a loud voice testifies to a non-physical strength present even in His dying breath.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:46
kjv@Luke:23:46 @ @ RandyP comments: Crucifixion deprives a man of his breath. The fact that jesus shouts in a loud voice testifies to a non-physical strength present even in His dying breath.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:49
kjv@Luke:23:49 @ @ RandyP comments: We should not jump to conclusions concerning the Disciples. The tendency might be to think that they were afraid or ashamed or confused in hiding. The fact that they were unanimously absent might suggest that they were told to or couched to stay away perhaps due to safety, perhaps due to the type of unbiased testimony the Spirit wanted to collect. We just can't be sure.
RecentComments:kjv@Luke:23:39-56
kjv@Luke:23:39-56 @ @ 