Day 218-11 through 220-11

Not that I haven't had lots and lots of ponderables...just too little time...and sadly not enough to study through as thoroughly as I would like.  :-(

Day 218

Day 219

Day 220

Be still...

Psa 46:10  Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Be still...went looking for the above verse, searching for the exact phrase and was surprised by the number of instances that phrase is used in the Word.

Out of the 7 verses...sharing a few:

Psa 4:4  Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Psa 84:4  Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Mar 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

As used in Psalm 46:10 - H7503 - A primitive root; to slacken (in many applications, literally or figuratively.

(Psalm 4:4) H1826 - A primitive root (compare H1724, H1820); to be dumb; by implication to be astonished, to stop; also to perish.

(Psalm 84:4) From H5749; properly iteration or continuance; used only adverbially (with or without preposition), again, repeatedly, still, more.

(Mark 4:39) G5392 - From φιμός phimos (a muzzle); to muzzle.

Just a quick, few thoughts about what is and/or can be attained by being still.  Know HIM.  Stand in awe, sin not.  Blessed, praising.

O Lord, help me to be still and wait upon You.  You are the master gardener of my soul.  Let my refreshment come in, through and by You.  O Lord cause Your Bride to sit eagerly at Your feet, ever desiring to know and be taught by You.

Which made me think of this verse:

Luk 10:39  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

Beloved of the Lord, have you sat at the feet of the Master today?  Partaken of HIS word?  Delighted Your soul in learning more about the one who loves You and gave HIS life for you?

Day 217-11

2Ki 20:19  Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days? 

My notes beside this verse ask the question, was Hezekiah being selfish?  Is wanting peace during his time on earth while knowing that perilous times would befall his descendants how the Lord would have him to think?

And the companion verse...

Isa 39:8  Then said Hezekiah to Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. He said moreover, For there shall be peace and truth in my days.

Gill's take:  he said moreover, for there shall be peace and truth in my days; or a confirmed peace, lasting prosperity, peace in the state, and truth in the church, plenty of temporal mercies, and the truth of doctrine and worship, which he understood by the prophet would continue in his days, and for which he was thankful; not that he was unconcerned about posterity, but inasmuch as it must be, what was foretold, and which he could not object to as unjust, he looked upon it as a mercy to him that there was a delay of it to future times; or it may be considered as a wish, "O that there were peace" (g), &c. 

What a battle...not desiring evil to befall the coming generations, but desiring peace for oneself.  Truth in my generation...how fervently do I pray for it?  Am I more focused on self versus the glorification of God?  O Lord, help Your people to pray with fervent hearts, poured out to You.  Seeking and calling upon Your name.  Asking for Your mercies, Your guidance and Wisdom.  Praying for peace and truth to prevail in this season of time.  O Lord, awaken Your Bride, stir her to be ever watchful and diligent to proclaim Your truth, to speak Your Word.

O Father, raise up godly men and women to boldly stand for Your truth, to press into the throne room of Grace, petitioning for Your wisdom and power, might and mercy.  O Lord, raise up bold warriors for Your kingdom.  God help us to want to know Your heart, to proclaim it with fervency and boldness.  Cleanse Your bride and prepare her for the work that lies before us.

Just one more God among those whose lands they had already conquered...

2Ki 17:27  Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, Carry thither one of the priests whom ye brought from thence; and let them go and dwell there, and let him teach them the manner of the God of the land. 

Pray to all of them...keep *them* happy...the gods of those lands you have conquered...how wrapped up in our *gods* are we?  Where are we allowing competition, favor, desire, passion for something, or someone, to turn our attention away from the Sovereign?

2Ki 17:30  And the men of Babylon made Succothbenoth, and the men of Cuth made Nergal, and the men of Hamath made Ashima, 

2Ki 17:31  And the Avites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burnt their children in fire to Adrammelech and Anammelech, the gods of Sepharvaim. 

2Ki 17:32  So they feared the LORD, and made unto themselves of the lowest of them priests of the high places, which sacrificed for them in the houses of the high places. 

2Ki 17:33  They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence. 

Feared?  H3372 - A primitive root; to fear; morally to revere; causatively to frighten.

They were afraid of the LORD, so they served their own gods?  Gill's commentary on 32 and 33 is good.  The gist of what I took from it...they worshipped as they had learned.  So what have we learned?  Do we take at face value all the rites and rituals of religion?  Do we examine them against Scripture?  Can we substantiate by the Word why we do or believe something?

Day 216-11

Psa 75:1  To the chief Musician, Altaschith, A Psalm or Song of Asaph. Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.

Psa 75:2  When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.

Psa 75:3  The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.

Psa 75:4  I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:

Psa 75:5  Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

Psa 75:6  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

Psa 75:7  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Psa 75:8  For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

Psa 75:9  But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

Psa 75:10  All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Beautiful song...if you have never availed yourself of the opportunity to hear the Psalms sung, please explore.  When I have links to share I will.

Day 215-11

2Ki 19:6  And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words which thou hast heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed (H1442) me. 

I have always been intrigued by that word, blasphemed, so chasing...

Lev 24:11  And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed (H5344) the name of the LORD, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) 

2Ki 19:22  Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? (H1442) and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel. 

Psa 74:18  Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed (H5006) thy name. 

Isa 37:6  And Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed (H1442) me. 

Isa 37:23  Whom hast thou reproached and blasphemed? (H1442) and against whom hast thou exalted thy voice, and lifted up thine eyes on high? even against the Holy One of Israel.

Isa 52:5  Now therefore, what have I here, saith the LORD, that my people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the LORD; and my name continually every day is blasphemed. (H5006)

Isa 65:7  Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the LORD, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed (H2778) me upon the hills: therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom.

Eze 20:27  Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed (H1442) me, in that they have committed a trespass against me.

Act 18:6  And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, (G987) he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles. 

Rom 2:24  For the name of God is blasphemed (G987) among the Gentiles through you, as it is written. 

1Ti 6:1  Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. (G987)

Tit 2:5  To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. (G987)

Rev 16:9  And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed (G987) the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. 

Rev 16:11  And blasphemed (G987) the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds. 

Rev 16:21  And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent: and men blasphemed (G987) God because of the plague of the hail; for the plague thereof was exceeding great.

Am I causing His name to be blasphemed...do I stop to think about how my words and actions may reflect upon Him in a negative fashion?  O Lord...cause me to be a better reflection of You more and more daily.  Stir a passionate desire to know and grow more deeper and intimate with and for You with each passing moment.

May these words continually be resonating with in me and reflecting outward:

Psa 73:25  Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 

Psa 73:26  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 

Day 214-11

Isa 30:14  And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

sherd - H2789 - A collateral form mediating between H2775 and H2791; a piece of pottery.

• H2775 - From an unused root meaning to scrape; the itch; also (perhaps from the mediating idea of H2777) the sun.
• H2791 - From H2790; magical craft; also silence.

Used 17 times in 16 verses - earthen vessel or vessel of earth (Leviticus 6:28, 11:23, 14:5, 14:50, 15:12, Numbers 5:17).  Job used a potsherd to scrape himself (Job 2:8).  Sharp stone in Job 41:30.  Psalm 22:15 - strength is dried up like a potsherd.  This one is thought provoking:

Pro 26:23  Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

And these:

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? (Isaiah 45:9)

Thus saith the LORD, Go and get a potter's earthen bottle, and take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the priests; (Jeremiah 19:1)

Which call one to account of who made who...to whom is allegiance owed?

These verses all have a word which repeats:

Isa 32:5  The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful. 

Isa 32:8  But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand.

liberal - H5081 - From H5068; properly voluntary, that is, generous; hence, magnanimous; as noun, a grandee (sometimes a tyrant).

• H5068 - A primitive root; to impel; hence to volunteer (as a soldier), to present spontaneously.

Used 28 times in 25 verses - translated as willing heart in Exodus 35:5, princes in 1 Samuel 2:8, nobles in Psalm 83:11.

Liberal, in my understanding...had a political edge to it...liberals, they take what is not theirs to give to others who will not work and/or provide for their own.  I obviously need to saturate my mind with how the Lord views someone who is liberal or willing. Though I wonder if princes were not similar in their conduct as some politicians.  Definitely something to ponder further upon.

Last verse:

Rise up, ye women that are at ease; hear my voice, ye careless daughters; give ear unto my speech.  (Isaiah 32:9)

Ease and carelessness...rampant then, as well as today.  Are we diligently to let not one drop of HIS Word fall to the ground?  Teaching our children and/or the younger women?  Father, forgive us for our lack of diligence, our laziness, for allowing the things of this world, the entertainment and amusements of this generation to capture our attention and draw us away from time with You and Your Word.  Cleanse us, help us to be daughters of the King and give a proper estimate of You in the use of our time and other resources.

Day 213-11

2Ki 18:27  But Rabshakeh said unto them, Hath my master sent me to thy master, and to thee, to speak these words? hath he not sent me to the men which sit on the wall, that they may eat their own dung, and drink their own piss with you? 

That is so absolutely gross...gross is not even an adequate verb.  Disgusting does not quite give it the full flavor of repugnant and disgusting that it warrants.

dung - H6675 - Feminine of H6674; excrement; generally dirt; figuratively pollution.

• H6674 - From an unused root meaning to issue; soiled (as if excrementitious)

H6675 is only used 5 times in Scripture - 1 of which is the verse above and its companion verse in Isaiah 36:12.

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.  (Psalm 30:12)

I seriously doubt that most people see themselves as God sees them...filthy, disgusting.  Our current cultural system wants to paint everyone as somewhat good...seeking to be good, better, choosing God.  We are so rotten and deceived, blind and deaf, if it were not for HIS mercies we would all continue on the path of destruction.

piss - H4325 - Dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively juice; by euphemism urine, semen.

I had to chuckle - this word is used 581 times in 524 verses....the first usage:

Gen 1:2 - of God moving upon the face of the waters.  In Exodus 2:10 of Moses being drawn out of water.  In Joshua 2:10 of God drying up the waters of the Red Sea. 2 Kings 2:8 of Elijah using his mantle to smite the water.  Nehemiah 4:23 - clothes not washed.

Job 15:16 - How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh inquity like water?

Some of Rashakeh's boastings:

2Ch 32:15  Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: how much less shall your God deliver you out of mine hand? 

2Ch 32:19  And they spake against the God of Jerusalem, as against the gods of the people of the earth, which were the work of the hands of man. 

Isa 36:14  Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you. 

Isa 36:15  Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the LORD, saying, The LORD will surely deliver us: this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

And...what was his end?  It is a terrible thing to defy the living God.