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Had to share this somewhere with people, thought blog was good place to start.
Last week we noticed Hannah had grown an extra tooth behind her two top front teeth. Her dad again was beating himself up because he cant shake this 'blame' sentiment whenever something new comes along with her. He blames himself because it is from him she has this Van De Woude Syndrome. So began stressing at the possibility of an extra operation.
We was told that this could happen by the cleft nurse when she was born. Babies with clefts can get extra teeth, or tooth 'shells'. These teeth are often weaker than regular teeth. This is why i arranged for her cleft nurse to come see us today.
Now she went to see the Orthodontist for first time wednesday just gone, so on the tuesday i thought would take a look at this tooth and see if there was anymore come out. Okay i looked and i looked and i couldn't see this tooth. I was like umm it was definately there, not only did i see it, dad did and her Godparents did, so it wasn't just me seeing things.
The Orthodontist said it would no doubt have been a tooth, probably a tooth shell, but she also said she couldn't see where it had been. There was no mark, no redness, no hole, no nothing where this tooth was.
So you decide, was it 'supernatural' in its disappearance, and God removed that worry. Or was it Hannah deciding she getting rid, or the tooth took its course and came out.
The complete absence of evidence it even existed has me thinking the first.
I just gonna rant ere, need to rant, i feel floored tonight. Like 20 people i worked with for 10 yrs all gone, poof. I wont get to see these people again due to the relocation of the business. So i feel blah and annoyed n pretty lost right now as to where the hell my life is going now!! Tell ya God definately has me on my toes these last few years. Rant finished :D
This is Hannah today. I was sorting through her clothes with her Godmother, and this was the hairband she wore at her Baptism last year. It's nearly 1 year since her Baptism, July 26th. Coming across it today, reminded me of what we was going through this time last year. Preparing for her first operation, mentally and physically, preparing for it spiritually too by ensuring she was Baptised before her first operation, this i felt was really important and strongly about, a conviction, i couldn't let them operate until we did that.
Then i think where we are now, just 12 months down the line. Three operations out of the way, her nose and mouth formed along with her palate. She eats me out of house and home, incredible to say we was worried she may not eat properly. She has taken her first steps, says a few words, which again i was so worried about, with all the mouth issues.
So suppose felt like we was in the storm this time last year where Hannah and her operations and progression was concerned, to now the calm after the storm rather than before the storm.
Psalm 89:9 You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.
T R E A S U R E... S E E K E R S ... I N ... T H E ... O L D ... T E S T A M E N T - SAMUEL 'Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path......Where your treasure is there is your heart also'
TREASURE SEEKERS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT - 1 & 2 SAMUEL
Right both 1 & 2 Samuel are named after the person God used to establish kingship in Israel. Samuel not only anointed both Saul and Daved, Israel's first 2 kings, but he also gave definition to the new order of Gods rule over Israel that began with the incorporation of kingship into its structure....which up until then it had not had.
Samuels importance as God's representative in this period of Israel's history is close to that of Moses, since he, more than any other person, provided for covenant continuity in the transition from the rule of judges to that of monarchy.
So this is the point that rule moved from Judges as discussed in previous studies, to the rule of Kings....Saul and David being the first 2 appointed.
Both books were originally 1 book....It was divided into 2 parts by the translators of the Septuagint ( Greek translation of the Old Testament.
Was written circa (around) 930 B.C, soon after David's reign, 1050-970 B.C....the setting is the Land of Israel under David's rule. The book was named after the prophet who anointed David and guided him in godly living.
You have David's successes and his struggles, but how through these the kingdom grew....
however much growth or how many changes we experience, God provides for us if we love him and highly regard his principles, Gods work done in Gods way never lacks Gods supply of wisdom, energy and strength!
On reading the end of the first and beginning of second,the 1st book about Saul til his life end, and the 2nd book from the beginning of Davids reign....so thats probably why on translation the book was divided where it was, to separate the 2 kings and their paths...also another half way to point out, is that David was born halfway between Abraham and Jesus!
David grew popular, he realised that God was behind his success...God pours out His blessings on us because of what Christ has done...God doesnt see personal greatness as something to be used selfishly, its to be shared and shone out! to be an instrument for God.......loving others as God loves us!
Have yourself ready for God's service, be faithful, trust and be obediant, Gods provision meets every need, the provision sometimes needs serving out to others!
Now David never mentions his father, and yet to his father he was the lad that kept the sheep, who wasnt worthy to go to the religious feast...
This had me thinking of Jesus, whom to his father on earth, He was a carpenter and Jesus does He ever mention Joseph? And yet both embrace, address and turn to God the Father!!
Jesus always followed His Fathers will, was tempted and in the desert for 40 days and is the King of kings, He was without sin, a willing vessel....
David also followed the Fathers will, and when His sin was revealed to him, he repented, there was still consequences, reigned for 40 years as king...in the promised land. He was a willing vessel too...
I find it interesting that Moses led the Israelites in the desert for 40 years....he too was imperfect, and had consequences to sin, one of which was he would not reach the promised land...then you have David who reigned for 40 years as king...
Faithfulness, patience, courage, generosity, commitment, honesty..as well as other God honouring characteristics such as modesty and repentance
I'm picking up on David's character that he always wanted to do what God did, and instantly repented of what he did wrong when it was pointed out it just needed pointing out sometimes, but because of his perseverance, he too received the crown of life...or the crown as king.....
which then has me think of Jesus who is King of kings who was in the desert for 40 days.....and how we too are told in James 1, that perseverance brings its own reward of the crown of life!
Moses was to do with the Old Covenant and bringing in the laws of God, but wouldnt see the fruit of that, and yet David lived in the fruit of that AND was the beginning of something new with the monarchy....also God said to both Moses and David that they would be famous....and that they have become!!
Reminds me of the passing over of the Old to the New with John the baptist and Jesus ....like a shadow, first Judges rule...then monarchy rule, first ruled by the law, then Jesus came to fulfill the law, there can be no king after Jesus unlike there was back in Saul and David's day, Jesus is the KING OF KINGS!
Begins with the anointing of David to be king over Judah...covers 7 years 6 months reign as king of Judah and 33 years of king of Israel and Judah from Jerusalem...united, this too had me think of the Gentiles and Jews and how we are told that there is 1 Lord 1 Truth etc..and also how Jesus was on this earth 33 years also.
David was the greatest king of Israel....Jesus is the King of kings
2Samuel really is divided into 2 halves again, chapter 11 forming the dividing line between the 2 parts, where it also comes to the end of the 20th year of his reign...
Up to this point everything had gone great for David, but after this we find tragic things happened as the outcome of the success and victories which ended in him being exposed to temptations....seems the more triumphant he was the more temptations came his way.....remind you of anything?
Through faith you will always triumph, Hebrews 11 is a good example of faith and prophets, and faith has its fruits, you will know them by their fruits......sin always bears its bitter fruit of suffering and one sin can lead to another
David reigned over Judah for 7 years 6months because other tribes refused to accept him as Saul's successor as king of Israel...Saul's son Ishbosheth was proclaimed king by Abner, Saul's captain of the army in opposition to David, and all the tribes except Judah accepted it.
His actions in this position was right, just and in walking with Gods will....His experiences through the past 7 perfect years of preparation and discipline had taught him wisdom of waiting for Gods time, guidance and will!
2Sam1...David waxed stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker...the Israelites saw the difference between the weak character of Ishbosheth and the brilliant bold character of David, his success and victories, and they loved him.
Also worth pointing out again how David always looked to do what was right and just and also what God wanted...when the 2 men returned with the head of Ishbosheth having killed him in his bed, David had them killed, they were not instructed to go and do this, and do it with such shame...an example of loving the enemy?
King David showed justice, mercy, and fairness to Saul's family, enemies, rebels, allies, and close friends alike...his just rule was grounded in his faith in and knowledge of God, his use of justice offered hope for a heavenly, ideal kingdom. This hope will never be satisfied in the heart of man until Christ returns to rule perfectly
Saul's son should never have been crowned,it was very wrong because they knew that David has been appointed as Saul's successor by God!!
Davids right to kingship.......1) His human right - "We are thy bone and thy flesh"...2) His proven right "thou leddest out and broughtest in Israel".....3)His Divine right...."The LORD said thou shall be captain of..."
It speaks to us of Christ.....His 'right'to be King of our lives!
So david moved on to Jerusalem or as it was known at the time 'Jebus'. The Jebusites still ruled over it...they challenged David and mocked him......
When the heathen cities were attacked they carried their gods out and place them on the walls superstitiously, believing they would defend them....having heard that the Jews had described these gods as being the blind and the lame.....they mocked the Jews
Jesus, crowned King of the Jews, King of kings too was mocked....
David hated the heathen idols, conquered the city and it was renamed David's City, Jerusalem, the foundation of peace, when Jesus returns there will be a new Jerusalem!
God made a Covenant of David, not just with him....."I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever and ever" 2Samuel7 covers the Covenant, it affects the whole history and future of mankind!
3 things are made sure to David, with Divine confirmation of the Throne of David...1) ... Posterity (all future generations).....2) Throne.....3) Kingdom!.... all of which promised forever and ever!
2 Sam. 8-10 - Here we see David's reign at its Zenith. Everywhere he was a victorious warrior. Never before had Israel been such a power among the nations!!
He conquered seven surrounding powers - the Philistines in the West, Syrians and Hadadesers in die North; the Ammonites and the Moabites in the East; the Edomites and the Amalekites in the South.
The secret of David's successive conquests is found in 2 Sam. 8:14, "and the LORD gave David victory"....David was a skillful general and a virtuous ruler.
People have criticised David's ways but actually he was far more generous and leniant that was usual to the prisoners of war...and if you think about it, far less barbaric than we are with the canons, bombs and aeroplanes that kill indiscriminately...think of the atom bomb!
Remember the state Israel was in when he took over and that when he died he left to Solomon, his son, a united nation that enxtended from the River of Egypt to the Euphrates, and from the red sea to Lebanon.....the nation of Israel conducted themselves with religious principles
Its the principle of the matter that counts, you ever heard that saying? the principles were good, trusting God, following God, being obediant to God, and repentance, again David was a great example to the people, of all this, just like the people were to follow his guidance, so he followed the Ultimate Guidance
David was very sad when Saul died, and throughout his reign, he made it a point of looking after any descendants of Saul, had one eat at his table always
See how David was a great man of God and yet stumbled like we can and do, ordinary person started off a shepherd boy....'he was the lad that kept the sheep, who of which was not worthwhile to the religious feast'... no one is worthy, but through Jesus, His love, the banner over us, brings us to the banqueting table!
We sometimes think that sinful pleasures and freedom from God's restraint will bring us a feeling of freedom, but sin creates a cycle of suffering that is not worth the fleeting pleasures it offers...we shouldnt excuse sin in our lives, just because we are in a time of success.
He fell as soon as he took his eyes off God, got distracted with the 'world' and all it had to offer....take your eyes out of the pit and focus them on the heavens, we need to look to and respond to that drawing into a deeper relationship with God...David's life showed that relationship with God....draw close to Him and He will draw close to you...
David sinned with Bath-sheba, he experienced the consequences of his sin which ruined both his family and the nation...he got complacent in his prosperity and ease led from triumph to trouble...
We see how repentance shows this in his life, when his sin was shown to him he was mortified, guilt ridden and repentant. Psalm 51 shows this, his self condemnation and deep repentance.....you need to read the whole psalm really, hard to pick out bits, so take some from beginning and end...
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
17 The sacrifices of God are [c] a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
His inner life is revealed in the psalms really, its a total expression of his inner self, his expression from the heart, he had moved from his head and into his heart, both good and bad feelings and times, he expressed them, he kept no wall between himself and God, he hid nothing...
David's repentance is what separated him from the other king Saul....both sinned, both were sorry, but David was utterly 'contrite' because he had sinned against God, and turned from his sin....Saul was sorry, but not because he had sinned against God, but because through his sin he had lost the throne....he didnt repent and turn away from the sin.
If you want God to be pleased with you, you should do what pleases God?
Colossians 3...1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.
One person can make all the difference, and that person can be you, with you family, your neighbour, your work colleagues, your associates...you can make all the difference as David did!
*********************************************************************************************** STUDY ON - THE BOOK OF NUMBERS T R E A S U R E... S E E K E R S ... I N ... T H E ... O L D ... T E S T A M E N T - NUMBERS 'Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path......Where your treasure is there is your heart also'
Hello and welcome to this weeks treasure seekers..... :)
Lets open with prayer....
Lord pray that people learn about the fruits of obediance.....that trusting and listening out for You, learning to be still and hear that still voice of Yours...to learn Your Truth and Your directing....
Pray that in not only looking out or seeing or hearing Your Truth, that we all have the courage to take those steps of Faith and Trusting You in that.....knowing that You have already prepared a way as a way of providence for all Your children
Pray that only Your Truth be layed on peoples hearts tonight, and that anything not of You be wiped from their hearts and minds....ask this in Your name Jesus.....Amen
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To say the book of Numbers is complicated and complex to understand for me is an understatement!
In researching for this weeks study, i have to say i have learnt an incredible amount...
Complex as it is, i will try to break it down a little, and maybe try and put it in an understandable way....
It is the story about the journey of the Israelites from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land
How they sinned and were punished, and then how they prepare to try again.
It reflects and shows what happens when you do not place your trust in Gods Power, but that God plans to be good to His people.
You even get about the first equal rights for women, you can find that in ...
chapter 27
8 "Say to the Israelites, 'If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance over to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers. 10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers. 11 If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to be a legal requirement for the Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.' "
The Israelites had been led from slavery in Egypt and were on their way to the Promised Land...from Mount Sinai to the plains of Moab.
Those that God had set free from captivity in Egypt, had made a covenant at Mount Sinai responded not with faith, thankfulness or obediance.....
But with unbelief, ingratitude and repeated acts of rebellion, which cameto a head when they refused to battle the battle at Canaan...which resulted in their part in the Promised Land...were condemned to live out their lives in the desert ... wandering the wildnerness for 40 years!
Only their children would enjoy the fulfilment of the promise that had originally been theirs.
Illustrates the importance of obediance to God with all of our heart, and trusting and having faith in His leading...
We are shown in Isaiah 42, that He leads His people from darkness to Light, makes the rough smooth, but for that to happen we have to be obediant to Him leading us down those roads or paths, even when they are proving difficult to do so....
Remember also that perseverance has its own rewards, and when we ask we are to ask without doubting.
Also shows Gods Patience with His people, patiently and persistently discipling them in their stubborness....remember He is not slow as you understand slowness in keeping His Promises....He is patient, not wanting any to perish...
Are you picking up yet on some biblical themes that run through more than 1 book of the bible?
The Book of Numbers gets its name really from the Census taken at the beginning and at the end of the book, but its translation of the Hebrew... bemidbar 'In the Desert' is more accurate!
Again the author of the book of Numbers is reputed to be Moses, it was directed to the people of Israel.
It is 36 Chapters long, and was wrote circa (around) 1450-1410 B.C.
Moses was head, the leader.....then Aaron and his sons the priesthood.
God commanded them to take a census first of all the Israelites minus the Levites family, of men 20 and above who would form the army of Israel......which numbered in total 603,550...........
The Levites were set aside for Gods work alone with the Tabernacle, as the firstborn males of Israelite women........
After the initial countup God then ordered the countup of the Levites firstborn, which was 22000 in total...........
When God wanted Aaron to know something, He would speak to Moses who then spoke to Aaron, any instructions for the Israelites went through Moses and passed down from the 'head' that way.
The total of the Israelites first born being 22,273 so the difference of 273 firstborns, there was paid 5 pieces of silver for each one to the priests...Aaron and his sons, for their work with the Tabernacle.
If there were 603,550 men, there must have been a total population of more than two million Israelites. This population grew from Jacob's family which consisted of 70 people. Isnt that amazing? The record tells us that the Israelites who descended from Jacob's family had a population explosion!
That is like the entire population of Wales more than two million people...marching into London!
So during that time it was Aaron and Moses responsibility to maintain order, can you think of that, the multitude spread over about 12 square miles!
Since they remained in Egypt more than 400 years they had enough time to grow into a huge population. God provided for them all in the desert, not one was lost there, except for natural deaths.
How much more can He not feed the current earths population?
All the bad habits were put to death in that desert, and by the time, the old had all died off, the new were already living in the faith necessary to cross over...
You are a new creation, the old has gone the new has come!
Each Tribe and their respective clans, had specific directing of what their role in the desert/army was. God directed what side of the tent they would set up camp, and they always camped in the same places, marching out in the same order and camping in the same order...
Working together as a body, each having their own roles....
For example Aaron and his sons were the only ones permitted to see let alone touch the Holy things from within the inner chamber beyond the veil....all things Holy had to be covered up first....because if anyone entered who should not have been there, and they saw these Holy things, they would have died!
Jesus on the cross said 'it is finished' and the veil was torn in two, He became the ultimate sacrifice, Sacrificial Lamb, there is no need for any more burnt offerings...
Jesus came to fulfill the law and not abolish it, and this is how it is fulfilled, no need for anymore burnt offerings...
All have access to the inner chamber now without the need for anything to be covered up first, all can see what is 'within' whereas before, unless Aaron and his children, ie the priests covered up everything holy first, then those that entered wouldnt die..........but the veil was torn....it is finished!
So, we all now have access to the inner room, does that mean that we are now a part of the priesthood?
One Priesthood, and now Jesus seated in Heavenly places is maintaing that order for the current population!
look to [b]Ephesians 2...
4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.[/b]
God has already prepared your providence, before you step out! Remember that even when you are suffering a trial or feel like you are in the desert, that God has prepared you a way, prepare yourself for the Lord...prepare ye a way for the Lord!
So they are heading towards the Promised Land, they are placed and marching in the exact sequence God would have them do it, they are directed when to move and when to stay...
When the cloud lifted off the tent, they knew to move, and when it rested on the tent, they knew not to move
tabernacle.jpg The picture illustrates both how they camped and the cloud
See how that compares to God in Isaiah when He never leaves His place from in front of you, you are guided by a pillar of cloud by day
He will never leave you nor forsake you, and the battle belongs to the Lord, so put your trust in Him, and be obediant to His directing, even if it takes you out of your comfort zones!
Did you know it took 40 years to rid Israel of the rebellious people, and lead in the new generations? they were the ones that obeyed and were led in....
The children that were born during those 40 years in the wilderness, were the heart of Israel, and the ones that saw the importance of obedience, by then the older ones had all died
It took 40 years for old customs and things to die off, and thats very relevant in our lives today in our walk with Jesus
Our walk can take us 40 years, shorter or longer, depends if we listen to God and trust Him in all things, for the whole part of our old nature to die off, so we can truly know and understand His peace....peace that surpasses all understanding....
Also it is good to use those 40 years that we have in walking and giving over of self, to train up the new generations
Being lights of Christ, shining out, guiding in all Truth, working in the fruits, for His good and purpose God provided their substenance with manna....
Numbers 11...
7 The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. 8 The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil. 9 When the dew settled on the camp at night, the manna also came down.
There came a point after eating manna everyday from God, that the Israelites started moaning about this, they wanted meat.
Moses went to God exasperated, what am i to do Lord, this is too much for me.......so God provided....He provided with 70 Elders.
They want to go back, they are not satisfied with the same taste everyday, because they have no clue about the substanance it was giving them...
16 The LORD said to Moses: "Bring me seventy of Israel's elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take of the Spirit that is on you and put the Spirit on them. They will help you carry the burden of the people so that you will not have to carry it alone.
Remember God would never give you anything you cannot handle, and you can do all things through Him who strengthens you! His burden is light!
So God told moses He would provide that.......and He sent more than enough, and people were taking in more than their share of meat....God gets angry...
31 Now a wind went out from the LORD and drove quail in from the sea. It brought them [c] down all around the camp to about three feet [d] above the ground, as far as a day's walk in any direction. 32 All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. [e] Then they spread them out all around the camp. 33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. 34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, [f] because there they buried the people who had craved other food.[/b]
The desert was not a punishment but a training ground, the Lord cannot and wont have disruption, and so he weaned them in the desert off the idols, and the bad habits.
So it is in our lives today, He weans us, trials and tribulations, even if we not aware at the time, to grow....teaches us perseverance....self control...look at the attributes of love...teaches you many of these...as a Loving Father would....
[b]1Cor13...
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.
The Israelites at some point in their journey in Numbers experienced the opposite of the above, God is Love and in this journey they had to endure, because they was coming out of Egypt, and so God also used the opportunity, in His Fatherly guiding way, to teach them about the varying aspects of Love, in experiencing the opposite, they learnt the Truth...Fruits in the Old Testament? maybe...for you to interpret!
But you shall know them by their fruit, and love is a fruit, and God prepared in them as He prepares in you today, the Holy Spirit teaches you and lays on your heart Gods Truths....
Through obediance to His Truths and directing, guidance and instructions, your path from darkness to light, from Egypt to the Promised Land is made straighter.....submit to Him in all of your ways and He will make straight your paths.
Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
Hebrews 12:9
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!
You also have the accounts of Balaam in Numbers, the more renowned one for the talking donkey/ass
I would say if your pet talked you would listen up and sit up straight and quick....at least Balaam listened when his pet talked......because that advice kept him out of some serious trouble....even tho later on he led the Israelites into sin...but the time he listened?...
The veil is torn we can enter the Promised Land today...if He sets you free you are free indeed!
There is other things in Numbers we could have looked at, like Balaam for example, but tonight the direction seemed to be more in opening peoples eyes to obediance, and through listening, hearing, seeing, applying, actioning, your paths are made straighter, that even if that takes you out of your comfort zones, know that God has already prepared a way for you in advance!
Okay that finishes a look at the book of Numbers and how it relates to you today, and how Gods message is the same throughout the bible, it is just portrayed in a different way, the Old Testament explains the New
