#the most holy and Correct murder is revelled in; it is pleasurable

[victo1re-arc]

pre-tadpole victoria with every SINGLE feat dumped into cha/wis score increases using her powers for (sexy) evil. victoria analysing every little tell and knowing exactly what turns people on, sometimes before they do. victoria, a surprisingly giving lover, an at-times gentle domme. trust her; love her; need her. prime yourself to do it with a smile when she tells you to take her knife and run it through your own chest.

[garden-of-islam]

How Islam differs from Christianity

Good afternoon, I hope you're all taking care of yourself. Let's talk about Christianity. I am not here to insult the faith tradition of our brothers and sisters. This is merely a short essay describing how Islam is different than Christianity from the perspective of a Christian dominant culture. I grew up in America, I know what's in our cultural background noise and what isn't, and I simply want to fill in a few gaps. Insha'Allah, I will do this with as many faith traditions as I can, including polytheistic traditions as well as the history of symbols that have become culturally corrupted. I will probably fumble some of it due to being American, but I'll do my best.

If you get the feeling that I'm writing this entire project with equal parts disappointed-but-not-surprised, exhaustion, disdain, and hope, it's because I am. I can't take anything seriously, I know too much, my brain is exploding, and the only thing I care about is living for the pleasure of God SWT but I'm somehow still pretty bad at it. That is the byproduct of being Autistic and having God as your life-long, special interest. I could tell you the tale of how that came to be, but most people assume I'm lying or that I was dreaming when I say I saw an angel when I was 3 years old, and that gets tiresome so I don't wanna. Maybe later.

Islam is a monotheistic tradition that recognizes all the prophets that Christianity recognizes as well as many others, both named and unnamed. We believe that prophets were sent to all peoples so that they could be warned of the truth and correct their evil ways. Those ways, of course, are worshiping the creation instead of the creator. Idols made by the hands of men that usually represented ancestors who came to be idealized, animals or plants of the Earth's ecosystem, celestial bodies including the Earth itself, or even Jinn disguised as "demi-gods," "ghosts," "powerful spirits," "aliens," or in other ways are all parts of the creation that humans have placed their trust in instead of the Creator Himself. On that note, God is not gendered. There isn't a neuter way to refer to Him in Arabic but using the male pronoun allows differentiation from the goddess-heavy pagan traditions. Before I converted, I used to refer to God as, "It" because I rejected the Christian idea of the "Father" as a Man in the sky.

There is no Trinity concept in Islam, though not all modern Christians believe in the Trinity. We do not refer to Him as Father and we do not believe that Jesus or rather, Isa AS is God incarnate. We DO believe that Jesus is the messiah, but we believe that the crucifixion was a hoax. We DO believe he ascended to Heaven by the will of God and the help of the angels and that he will descend from the Heavens the same way at the end of time to help the people of that time survive the horrific trials that are to come. For those waiting on Christ to be reborn, well, we just don't jive with that. As for the third piece of the trinity, the Holy Spirit, we believe the counselor that came after Isa AS was actually Muhammad ﷺ, and that we've been able to access God through prayer and repentance all along. Unlike every prophet that came before him who were each sent each to their own people with a specific message, Muhammad ﷺ was sent to all mankind with the final revelation meant to be preserved for the rest of human history - the Qur'an. This is because other scriptures have been edited and corrupted, including the Bible. (Like, Paul just decided his letters were as good as gospel? The audacity. And don't even get me started on the rest of it.)

We believe that sins fall only on the doer of the sin. None of humanity bears the weight of the sins of Adam or anyone else and therefore, no great sacrifice was needed to free us in order to serve our Lord or have our repentance accepted. (The only exception to this rule is that Cain or Qabil bears some of the blood of every murder for having been the first to commit this crime.) Instead of original sin, we champion the concept of the fitra and believe that all babies are born Muslim - in submission to the will of God. For this reason, we more often refer to converts to Islam as reverts. This means they are reverting back to the truth. But this sounds scary to the western ear if they've never heard of it before, so I will continue to use the more generic term for changing religions. We believe that Adam was tricked by Satan first, and then shared the fruit with Eve. They both bore the sin equally, and Eve is not blamed for the fall of Man the way she is under the Christian framework.

As for Satan himself, he was not an Angel. Angels are incapable of disobeying God. Satan, or Iblis as he is named, was actually from among the Jinn. He worshiped so fervently that his status was elevated to be allowed to worship among the angels. However, when God created Adam, he commanded the Angels to prostrate to this creation in respect. Iblis refused out of pride and was promised punishment on the day of Judgement. He asked for respite until that day, and God rewarded him with what he asked for. His response was to promise that he would lead as many humans astray as he could with the time he was allotted. He then tricked Adam into eating the fruit and when he and his wife were in turn punished, they asked for forgiveness. God rewarded them with what they asked for.

Jinn and Man alike have free will. All other created beings are considered to be in a constant state of worship. Those of us with freewill volunteered for this test we call life before we were born, hoping to reap the reward of paradise. Those who fail will follow in the footsteps of the Shayatin who serve Iblis and will fall into the Hellfire after Judgement. There are Jinn of all religions just as there are humans of all religions. But just because there are Muslim Jinn does not mean we should seek to mingle or partner with them, as this constitutes a severe form of shirk called, "magic." The animals and plants are smarter than us because they didn't throw their akhira on the line just to experience the dunya.

As for Judgement Day, it only happens once. Not once for each person, but rather, once. After passing, we wait in our graves until the appointed hour and we all go through it together. Even after it comes to a close, we still have the final test before entering heaven: crossing the bridge of Sirat. Christianity has no concept of Sirat, but some other religions do. We don't believe in the rapture and we have very clear descriptions of the signs of the end times so that we don't confuse the Anti-Christ or the Dajjal with Isa. In fact, the pervasive belief that Isa is to be reborn seems to be just one more hazy idea that will allow many people to fall into the trap of wrongly believing the Dajjal is the Messiah.

Most of us do not believe that martyrs will receive 72 virgins in heaven. It's a weak hadith and only became popularized after the western world used it as an excuse to explain its concept of "Islamic t*****ism." We DO believe that men and women alike will be given heavenly spouses along with their earthly spouses, if they had one. This is often misunderstood because of how Arabic is gendered and this can make the translation difficult. Translation errors also account for misunderstanding the hijab. The verse is often translated using the words, "outer garments" to mean, "Jilbabs" which obfuscates the discussion around the veil and the barrier it provides. Even if we are uncovered and casual in our daily lives, we are still required to veil for worship in order to have our prayers accepted. Some modern Christians are beginning to readopt this practice. It was abandoned in the mainstream decades ago with changing fashions. I applaud those who have decided to go the extra mile in returning to this practice.

No dessert today, go eat a vegetable.

[dfroza]

Today’s reading from the ancient book of Proverbs and book of Psalms

for September 21 of 2021 with Proverbs 21 and Psalm 21, accompanied by Psalm 94 for the 94th and last day of Astronomical Summer and Psalm 114 for day 264 of the year (now with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 2nd revolution this year)

[Proverbs 21]

The king’s heart is like a channel of water directed by the Eternal:

He chooses which way He bends it.

Everyone may think his own way of living is right,

but the Eternal examines our hearts.

To do what is right and to seek justice—

these please Him more than sacrifice.

The lamp of the wicked lights his way;

a proud look, an arrogant heart—all sin.

A well-thought-out plan will work to your advantage,

but hasty actions will cost you dearly.

The fortune made by a swindler

is a fast-burning fog and a recipe for death.

Wicked people will be swept up in their own violence

because they refuse to seek justice.

Dishonest people walk along the crooked path they have made,

but the innocent travel the straight course they have laid.

It is better to dwell outside on the corner of your roof

than to live inside your house with a badgering wife.

Wicked people delight in doing bad things;

their neighbors never see even a hint of compassion.

A naive person wises up when he sees a mocker punished.

A wise person becomes even wiser just by being instructed.

The right-living understands how evildoers operate;

he subverts them and ruins their plans.

If you ignore the groans of the poor,

one day your own cries for help will go unanswered.

A gift given in secret soothes anger,

and a present offered privately calms fierce rage.

When justice is done, those who are in the right celebrate,

but those who make trouble are terrified.

People who wander from the way of wise living

will lie down in the company of corpses.

Those who live to party, who pursue pleasure, will end up penniless;

those who enjoy lots of wine and rich food will never have money.

The wicked become a ransom for those who live right,

and the faithless pay the penalty for their treachery against the upright.

You would be better off living in the middle of the desert

than with an angry and argumentative wife.

The wise have a generous supply of fine food and oil in their homes,

but fools are wasteful, consuming every last drop.

Whoever pursues justice and treats others with kindness

discovers true life marked by integrity and respect.

One wise person can rise against a city of mighty men

and cause the citadel they trust to collapse.

Guard your words, mind what you say,

and you will keep yourself out of trouble.

The name “mocker” applies to one who is proud and pompous

because he is defiantly arrogant.

What slackers crave will surely kill them

because they refuse to work.

All day, every day the greedy want more,

while those who live right give generously.

The offerings of wrongdoers are despicable to God;

it’s even worse when they bring them with evil motives.

The testimony of a false witness is eventually impeached,

but the person who truly listens will have the last word.

The wicked wears a defiant face,

but the right-living plans his path.

No one is wise enough or smart enough,

and no plan is good enough to stand up to the Eternal.

No matter how well you arm for battle,

victory is determined by Him.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 21 (The Voice)

[Psalm 21]

For the worship leader. A song of David.

The king is glad because You, O Eternal, are strong.

In light of Your salvation, he is singing Your name.

You have given him all he could wish for.

After hearing his prayer, You withheld nothing.

[pause]

True blessings You lavished upon the king;

a crown of precious gold You placed upon his head.

His prayer was to live fully. You responded with even more—

a never-ending life to enjoy.

With Your help, his fame and glory have grown;

You raise him high and cover him in majesty.

You shower him with blessings that last forever;

he finds joy in knowing Your presence and loving You.

For the king puts his trust in the Eternal,

so he will not be shaken

because of the persistent love of the Most High God.

King, your hand will reach for all your enemies;

your right hand will seize all who hate you.

When you arrive at the battle’s edge,

you will seem to them a furnace.

For the fire of the Eternal’s anger, the heat of His wrath

will burn and consume them.

You will cut off their children,

lop off the branches of their family tree.

The earth will never know them,

nor will they ever be numbered among Adam’s kin.

When they scheme against you,

when they conspire their mischief, such efforts will be in vain.

At the sight of you, they will sound the retreat;

your bows, drawn back, will aim directly at their faces.

Put Your strength, Eternal One, on display for all to see;

we will sing and make music of Your mighty power.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 21 (The Voice)

[Psalm 94]

God of Vengeance

A Wednesday song composed by King David

Lord God Almighty, you are the God

who takes vengeance on your enemies.

It’s time for you to punish evil!

Let your rays of revelation-light shine from your people and

pierce the conscience of the wicked and punish them.

It’s time to arise as judge of all the earth;

arise to punish the proud with the penalty they deserve!

How much longer will you sit back and watch the wicked

triumph in their evil, boasting in all that is wrong?

Listen to them bragging among themselves,

big in their own eyes, all because of the crimes

they’ve committed against your people!

See how they’re crushing those who love you, God,

cruelly oppressing those who belong to you.

Heartlessly they murder the widows, the foreigners,

and even the orphaned children.

They say to themselves, “The Lord God doesn’t see this.

Their God, the God of Jacob, he doesn’t even care!”

But you’d better watch out, you stupid fools!

You’d better wise up! Why would you act like God doesn’t exist?

Do you really think that God can’t hear their cries?

God isn’t hard of hearing; he’ll hear all their cries.

God isn’t blind. He who made the eye has superb vision,

and he’s watching all you do.

Won’t the God who knows all things know what you’ve done?

The God who punishes nations will surely punish you!

The Lord has fully examined every thought of man

and found them all to be empty and futile.

Lord Yah, there’s such a blessing that comes

when you teach us your Word and your ways.

Even the sting of your correction can be sweet.

It rescues us from our days of trouble

until you are ready to punish the wicked.

For the Lord will never walk away from his cherished ones,

nor would he forsake his chosen ones who belong to him.

Whenever you pronounce judgments, they reveal righteousness.

All your devoted lovers will be pleased.

Lord, who will protect me from these wicked ones?

If you don’t stand to defend me, who will? I have no one but you!

I would have been killed so many times

if you had not been there for me.

When I screamed out, “Lord, I’m doomed!”

your fiery love was stirred, and you raced to my rescue.

Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control,

the soothing comfort of your presence

calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight.

It’s obvious to all; you will have nothing to do

with corrupt rulers who pass laws that empower evil

and defeat what is right.

For they gang up against the lovers of righteousness

and condemn the innocent to death.

But I know that all their evil plans will boomerang back onto them.

Every plot they hatch will simply seal their own doom.

For you, my God, you will destroy them,

giving them what they deserve.

For you are my true tower of strength,

my safe place, my hideout, and my true shelter.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 94 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 114]

A Song for Passover

Many years ago the Jewish people escaped Egypt’s tyranny,

so that Israel, God’s people of praise,

would become his holy sanctuary,

his kingdom on the earth.

The Red Sea waters saw them coming and ran the other way!

Then later, the Jordan River too

moved aside so that they could all pass through.

The land shuddered with fear.

Mountains and hills shook with dread.

O sea, what happened to you to make you flee?

O Jordan, what was it that made you turn and run?

O mountains, what frightened you so?

And you hills, what made you shiver?

Tremble, O earth, for you are in the presence of the Lord,

the presence of the God of Jacob.

He splits open boulders and brings up bubbling water.

Gushing streams burst forth when he is near!

The Book of Psalms, Poem 114 (The Passion Translation)

[z3norear]

12 Oct 2005 - 'OBSECRO TE' 'O INTIMERATA'

I BESEECH YOU O IMMACULATE VIRGIN

I beseech you, BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, HOLY LADY, MOTHER OF GOD,most full of piety, daughter of the greatest King, most glorious mother, mother of orphans, consolation of the desolate, the way for those who stray, salvation for those who hope in you, VIRGIN before giving birth, VIRGIN while giving Birth,VIRGIN after giving Birth,fountain of pity,fountain of salvation and GRACE,fountain of PIETY and JOY, fountain of consolation and kindness,

THE PRAYER THEN INVOKES THE VIRGIN'S HELP BY REMINDING HER OF THE JOYFUL ROLE SHE PLAYED IN THE INCARNATION;

through that HOLY, unutterable joy with which your spirit rejoiced in that hour when the SON of GOD was announced to you by the ARCHANGEL GABRIEL and was concieved, and through that DIVINE MYSTERY, that was then worked by the HOLY SPIRIT; and through that HOLY unutterable PIETY, GRACE, MERCY, LOVE and HUMILITY through which your SON descended to accept human flesh in your most venerable womb and which he saw in you when he commended you to STJOHN THE APOSTLE and Evangelist and when he exalted you over the ANGELS and ARCHANGEL; and through that HOLY inestimable humility in which you responded to the ARCHANGEL GABRIEL,' Behold the handmaiden of the LORD, Be it done unto me according to thy word'and through those most HOLY fifteen joys that you had in your SON. Our LORD JESUS CHRIST;

THE PRAYER THEN MOVES ON TO THE VIRGIN'S SORROWS AND THE ROLE SHE PLAYED IN CHRIST PASSION;

And through that HOLY, GREAT compassion and that most bitter sorrow in your heart that you had when you saw your SON,our LORD JESUS CHRIST; nude and lifted up on the cross, hanging, crucified, wounded, thirsty

but served gall and vinegar, and you heard him cry 'ELI' and you saw HIM dying; and through the five wounds; and through the sorrow that you had when you saw HIM wounded; and through the fountains with all the saints and elect of GOD, come and hasten to my aid and counsel, in all my prayers and requests, in all my will say, that i will think, in everyday, night , hour,and moment of my life. And secure for me, your servant' from your esteemed SON the fulness of all MERCY AND CONSOLATION, ALL COUNSEL AND AID, all help, all blessings and sanctification, all salvation, PEACE,and PROSPERITY, all joy and gladness, and an abundance of everythinggood for the SPIRIT and the body, and the GRACE of yhe HOLY SPIRIT, so that he might set all things in good order for me, guard my soul, rule and protect my body, lift up my mind, direct my course, preserve my senses, control my ways, approve my actions, fulfill my wishes and desire, instill HOLY thoughts, FORGIVE THE EVILS I HAVE DONE IN THE PAST,correct those of the present, temper those of the future, grant me an honest and honorable life, and grant me victory over all the adversities of this world, and true peace for my SPIRIT and body, good hope, charity, and faith, chastity, humility, and patience, rule and protect my five bodily senses, make me fulfill THE SEVEN WORKS OF MERCY; TO FEED THE HUNGRY, TO GIVE DRINKS TO THE THIRSTY, TO CLOTHE THE NAKED, TO HARBOR THE STRANGER, TO VISIT THE SICK, TO MINISTER TO PRISONER,,AND TO BURY THE DEAD,make me firmly beleive in and hold to THE TWELVE ARTICLES OF FAITH; 1~I BELIEVE IN GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY CREATOR OF HEAVEN AND EARTH 11~AND IN JESUS CHRIST HIS ONLY SON OUR LORD 111~WHO WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT,BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY 1V~SUFFERED UNDER PONTIOUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED DIED AND WAS BURIED V~HE DESCENDED INTO HELL; THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD V1~HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN; SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD THE FATHER ALMIGHTY V11~FROM THENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD V111~ I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT 1X~THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS X~THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS X1~THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY X11~LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.,AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF THE LAW, 1 I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, YOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. 2~YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD YOUR GOD IN VAIN. 3~REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY, TO KEEP IT HOLY. 4~HONOR YOUR FATHER AND YOUR MOTHER. 5~ YOU SHALL NOT KILL. 6~ YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY. 7~ YOU SHALL NOT STEAL. 8~YOU SHALL NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINTS YOUR NEIGHBOR. 9~ YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBORS WIFE. 10~YOU SHALL NOT COVET YOUR NEIGHBORS GOODS., and from THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS; 1 PRIDE; an exaggerated opinion of ones own worth. 2 AVARICE; an immoderate desire for earthly goods. 3 LUST; a desire for impure pleasures. 4 ANGER; an inordinate feeling or expression of displeasure, resentment over anothers superior attainments, endowments or possessions. 7 SLOTH; laziness or carelessness in doing right and in practicing virtue, because of the necessary efforts attached to it.,keep me free and defend me until my end. THE PRAYER ENDS WITH ITS MOST MOVING REQUEST; And at the end of my life show me your face, and reveal to me the day and hour of my death. PLEASE HEAR AND RECEIVE THIS HUMBLE PRAYER AND GRANT ME ETERNAL LIFE. LISTEN AND HEAR ME BLESSED IMMACULATE VIRGIN MARY, SWEETEST VIRGIN, MOTHER OF GOD AND OF MERCY. AMEN.

SINS AGAINTS THE HOLY SPIRIT

1. Presumption of saving oneself without merit.

2. Despair of ones salvation (of GOD'S MERCY)

3. Resisting truths which have been made known to us.

4 Envy of anothers spiritual good.

5. Obstinacy in sin

6. Final impenitence

PRAYERS; THE RAISING OF OUR MINDS AND HEARTS TO GOD.

1. TO ADORE HIM

2. TO THANK HIM

3. TO ASK HIS PARDON FOR OUR SINS

4. TO ASK HIM FOR GRACES FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS

THE CHRISTIAN IS INDEED CALLED TO PRAY WITH OTHERS, BUT HE MUST ALSO ENTER INTO HIS BEDROOM TO PRAY TO HIS FATHER IN SECRET; FURTHERMORE, ACCORDING TO THE TEACHING OF THE APOSTLE, HE MUST PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. (CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY, 12)

SINS CRYING TO HEAVEN FOR VENGEANCE

1. ABORTION~SUPPORT FATHER FRANK PAVONES OF THE PRIESTS FOR LIFE PRO~LIFE MOVEMENT.

2. WILLFUL MURDER.

4.OPPRESSION OF THE POOR.

5.DISHONESTY IN WAGE PAYMENTS TO WORKERS.

NINE WAYS OF AIDING ANOTHER IN SIN

1. COUNSELLING OR ADVISING ANOTHER TO SIN.

2. COMMANDING ANOTHER TO SIN.

3.PROVOKING ANOTHER TO SIN.

4. CONSENTING TO ANOTHERS SIN.

5. SHOWING ANOTHER HOW TO SIN.

6. PRAISING ANOTHERS SIN

7. CONCEALING, REMAINING SILENT ABOUT, DOING NOTHING TO PREVENT ANOTHERS SIN.

8. TAKING PART IN, OR ENJOYING THE RESULTS OF, ANOTHERS SIN,

9. DEFENDING ANOTHERS SIN.

REVELATION 7:17

THE ANGEL SAID,"DO NOT HARM THE EARTH, THE SEA OR THE TREES, UNTIL WE MARKED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD WITH A SEAL ON THEIR FOREHEADS"4 AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE NUMBER OF THOSE WHO WERE MARKED WITH GOD'S SEAL ON THEIR FOREHEADS WAS 144,000.

REVELATION 8:13

THEN I SAW THE SEVEN ANGELS WHO STAND BEFORE GOD, AND THEY WERE GIVEN SEVEN TRUMPHETS.3 ANOTHER ANGEL, WHO HAD A GOLD INCENSE CONTAINER, CAME AND STOOD AT THE ALTAR. HE WAS GIVEN A LOT OF INCENSE TO ADD TO THE PRAYERS OF ALL GOD'S PEOPLE AND TO OFER IT ON THE GOLD ALTAR THAT STANDS BEFORE THE THRONE. 4 THE SMOKE OF THE BURNING INCENSE WENT UP WITH THE PRAYERS OF GOD'S PEOPLE FROM THE HANDS OF THE ANGEL STANDING BEFORE GOD. THEN THE ANGEL TOOK THE INCENSE CONTAINER , FILLED IT WITH FIRE FROM THE ALTAR AND THREW IT ON THE EARTH. THERE WERE RUMBLINGS AND PEALS OF THUNDER, FLASHES OF LIGHTNING AND AN EARTHQUAKE

REVELATION 14;20

HONOR GOD AND PRAISE HIS GREATNESS!!!!!!! FOR THE TIME HAS COME FOR HIM TO JUDGE ALL PEOPLE.

REVELATION 7:12

WORSHIP HIM WHO MADE HEAVEN, EARTH, SEA, AND THE SPRING OF WATER!

PRAISE, GLORY, WISDOM, THANKSGIVING, HONOR, POWER AND MIGHT BELONG TO OUR GOD FOREVER AND EVER!!!AMEN.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE; IN THE ESSENCE OF TIME; THIS IS THE TIME OF FULFILLMENT.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND.

MAY THE GOD OF PEACE LIFT UP OUR HEARTS, NOURISH OUR HOPE AND GUIDE OUR STEPS ON THE PATHS OF THE WORLD

O BLESSED VIRGIN MARY PRAY FOR US , THAT WE MAY RECEIVE JESUS WORTHILY INTO OUR HEARTS!!!

~ZEN~

[ilovearticlesoffaith-blog]

Read Your Bible: What is the Bible?

The Bible is the written Word of God. You must develop Confidence in the Greatest Book of All Time – the Bible.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:20, 21

1. The Bible is a prophetic revelation.  

The Bible reveals the nature of God to man.  It explains the origin of man.  It gives meaning to man’s existence on earth.  

It reveals the future destiny of all creation.  Above all, it reveals God’s merciful plan of redemption to us.

Knowing this first, that NO PROPHECY OF THE SCRIPTURE is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2 Peter 1:20, 21

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners SPAKE IN TIME PAST UNTO THE FATHERS BY THE PROPHETS, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Hebrews 1:1, 2

2. The Bible is the good news of salvation.

The gospel is the good news of Christ’s saving power for us.  The Bible is the only book that shows how man can be saved. The Bible contains His message of eternal salvation for all who believe in Christ, and eternal damnation for all who rebel against the gospel.

For I am not ashamed of THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Romans 1:16

3. The Bible is God’s warning to us.    

The Bible is not a discussion of ideas and theories.  It is an authoritative declaration of the facts.  The truths that are expounded are awesome and non-negotiable.  The aura surrounding the Bible is partly due to its authoritative and irrevocable truths.

Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.  For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward;  HOW SHALL WE ESCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Hebrews 2:1-4

4. The Bible is full of words of inspiration.

This is what differentiates the Bible from every other book.  The Bible claims to have inspiration and motivation from God.  In other words, it was virtually written by God through the hands of mortal men.

All SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 3:16

5. The Bible is a direct cutting message from God.

Thousands of people are converted when the simple truths of the Bible are shared.  I was changed by the Word of God when I encountered it.

For THE WORD OF GOD IS QUICK, AND POWERFUL, AND SHARPER than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12

6. The Bible is God’s wisdom for our prosperity.  

God’s method for prosperity is not by clever ideas and human tricks.  It is through His Word.

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: FOR THEN THOU SHALT MAKE THY WAY PROSPEROUS, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Proverbs 4:20-22

7. The Bible is the explanation for the origin of the creation, the earth, the sun, the moon, the stars  and the planets.  

In the beginning GOD CREATED THE HEAVEN and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters

Genesis 1:1-2

8. The Bible gives the truth about the future, heaven, hell and eternity.    

And I SAW THE DEAD, SMALL AND GREAT, STAND BEFORE GOD; and the books were opened:and another book was opened, which is the book of life:and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them:and they were judged every man according to their works.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:12-15

9. The Bible is the explanation for the origin of the human race.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 2:7

10. The Bible is the instruction manual for marriage.

WIVES, SUBMIT YOURSELVES unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

Ephesians 5:22-25

11. The Bible is the good news about Jesus Christ.  

The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of ALL THAT JESUS BEGAN BOTH TO DO AND TEACH, until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

Acts 1:1-2

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees. And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

John 1:24-25

Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Revelation 1:19

12. The Bible is the greatest book ever written.  It contains history, biography, poetry, proverbial sayings, hymns, letters, rules, laws, parables, riddles, allegories, prophecies, making it the most remarkable book ever written.

13. The Bible has 66 different books. Some of these books are considerably large whilst others are very short.  

14. The Bible points out the sins of mankind.  

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them

Romans 1:28-32

15. The Bible is a wisdom book for life under the sun.

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 1:9

I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

Ecclesiastes 1:14

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;

Ecclesiastes 12:1

16. The Bible is used and is relevant in every country of the world.  

It is a book which all races, nations, tribes, countries can relate to. It is not material which is adapted to any one nation or group of people.  

And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many PEOPLES, AND NATIONS, AND TONGUES, AND KINGS.

Revelation 10:10-11

17. The Bible is used and has been relevant throughout the centuries.

Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Luke 21:33

18. The Bible is a powerful and life-changing book.

The Bible is not an amulet, a charm, a fetish, or anything to work wonders by its very presence alone.  It does not claim to be such; it does claim that if one will study and practice its teachings he will see wonders worked in his life both now and in the hereafter.

19. The Bible was not written chronologically and yet fits together perfectly.   It was given, here a little and there a little, to many men through eighteen centuries (Isaiah 28:9-11): but regardless of this it, forms a perfect unity.

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; HERE A LITTLE, AND THERE A LITTLE:

For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

Isaiah 28:9-11

by Dag Heward-Mills

[tj-van-heerden]

Repentance, in the New Testament

Matt 3:1-2 [WEB] 1 In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

Matt 3:8 Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!

Matt 3:11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.

Matt 4:17 From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

Matt 11:20-24 20 Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent. 21  “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22  But I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23  You, Capernaum, who are exalted to heaven, you will go down to Hades [or Hell]. For if the mighty works had been done in Sodom which were done in you, it would have remained until today. 24  But I tell you that it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, on the day of judgment, than for you.”

Matt 21:32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. When you saw it, you didn’t even repent afterward, that you might believe him.

Mark 1:4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching the baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

Mark 1:14-15 14 Now after John was taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Good News of God’s Kingdom, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”

Mark 6:7-12 7 He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, 9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11  Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!�� 12 They went out and preached that people should repent.

Luke 1:75 in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.

Luke 3:3 He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins.

Luke 11:32 The men of Nineveh will stand up in the judgment with this generation, and will condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, one greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 13:2-3 2 Jesus answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3  I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all perish in the same way.

Luke 15:7 I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

Luke 15:10 Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

Luke 24:46-47 46 He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47  and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19 “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, so that there may come times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord,

Acts 5:31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins.

Acts 11:18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, “Then God has also granted to the Gentiles repentance to life!”

Acts 17:30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,

Acts 20:21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus.

Acts 26:20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.

Rom 2:4-5 4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God;

Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.

1Cor 1:8 who will also confirm you until the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Cor 7:1 Having therefore these promises, beloved, let’s cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

2Cor 7:9-10 9 I now rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to repentance. For you were grieved in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. 10 For godly sorrow produces repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world produces death.

2Cor 12:21 that again when I come my God would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, sexual immorality, and lustfulness which they committed.

Eph 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love,

Eph 2:21 in whom the whole building, fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord;

Eph 4:24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Eph 4:30 Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Eph 5:27 that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without defect.

Phil 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without defect in the middle of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world,

Col 1:22 yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without defect and blameless before him,

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

1Thess 3:13 to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

1Thess 5:23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Tim 1:9-11 9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine, 11 according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

1Tim 2:8 I desire therefore that the men in every place pray, lifting up holy hands without anger and doubting.

1Tim 6:14 that you keep the commandment without spot, blameless, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,

2Tim 2:25 in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth,

2Tim 3:2-5 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, not lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.

Titus 1:6-9 if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior. 7 For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward, not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; 8 but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

Heb 6:1-2 1 Therefore leaving the teaching of the first principles of Christ, let’s press on to perfection—not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, of faith toward God, 2 of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

Heb 6:4-6 4 For concerning those who were once enlightened and tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then fell away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify the Son of God for themselves again, and put him to open shame.

Heb 12:10 For they indeed, for a few days, punished us as seemed good to them; but he for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.

1Pet 1:15-16 15 but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy; for I am holy.”

1Pet 2:5 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1Pet 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1Pet 3:5 For this is how in the past, the holy women who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands.

2Pet 2:21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

2Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

2Pet 3:11 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,

2Pet 3:14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without defect and blameless in his sight.

Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen, and repent and do the first works; or else I am coming to you swiftly, and will move your lamp stand out of its place, unless you repent.

Rev 2:16 Repent therefore, or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of my mouth.

Rev 3:3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I reprove and chasten. Be zealous therefore, and repent.

Rev 9:20-21 20 The rest of mankind, who were not killed with these plagues, didn’t repent of the works of their hands, that they wouldn’t worship demons, and the idols of gold, and of silver, and of brass, and of stone, and of wood; which can’t see, hear, or walk. 21 They didn’t repent of their murders, their sorceries, their sexual immorality, or their thefts.

Rev 14:4-5 4 These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. 5 In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

Rev 16:9 People were scorched with great heat, and people blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues. They didn’t repent and give him glory.

Rev 16:11 and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn’t repent of their works.

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years.

Rev 22:11-15 11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12  “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work. 13  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14  Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city. 15  Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

[epistolizer]

Sloppy Exegesis A Gift That Ought To Be Returned

The trick (or perhaps better stated skill as some theological nitpickers might associate the first term with the work of the Devil) in exegeting a Biblical text is deciphering if a particular narrative the circumstances that are of an historical nature pertaining only to that unique incident from those which are a prescription binding upon everyone irrespective of time or geography.

It has been observed that the accounts of the Advent and Nativity stand in stark contrast to the gospel of abortion as advocated by infanticide front groups such Planned Parenthood.

Southern Baptist theologian Russell Moore in his column titled “Joseph of Nazareth vs. Planned Parenthood” attempts to formulate a number of suggestions and proposals for the Christian wanting to apply the spirit of the Christmas story in their own lives.

This effort in itself is not necessarily without merit. For example, Moore suggests adoption as an alternative to the pervasiveness of abortion.

However, where Dr. Moore goes a hair too far is his suggestion insinuating that adoption is somehow an obligation on the part of the believer rather than one way particular families might decide for themselves to live out the implications of the Biblical message in their specific lives. Even more debatable is the invocation of Joseph as a pretext to shame the individual Christian into compliance.

Of particular interest is how the onus of sin is placed upon Christians deciding that taking on the responsibility of someone else's unwanted child is not necessarily for them rather than the ones despising a child to the extent that they are willing to see the child in question murdered.

In his exposition, Dr. Moore rips entire Scriptures from their particular contexts. For example, Moore writes, “In his obedience, Joseph demonstrated what his other son would later call 'pure' and undefiled religion', the kind that cares for the fatherless and abandoned (James 1:27).”

Regarding the children threatened by abortion today as well as the single mother households that Moore's kind of rant invokes in order to coerce all sorts of handouts, technically these children are not necessarily orphans and these WOMENNNN (said with the politically correct emphatic pronunciation often extended to this gender category) are not widows.

These children still have mothers to provide for them and, in most cases, their fathers are still alive and are simply deadbeats that refuse to take care of the lifetime consequence resulting from a few fleeting moments of pleasure. Likewise, to enjoy the sympathy, honor, and protection of which a widow is deserving, a woman needs to have had first been married, a criteria many these days finding themselves already with children have yet to fulfill.

As such, how about first casting blame at those that have actually done something wrong? For when was the last time you heard a good old fashioned hellfire and brimstone sermon directed at both unfit parents?

Criticisms of inept and negligent fatherhood are not all that uncommon. They are in fact the homiletical staple of Father's Day. However, rarely will you hear condemnation of the unfit mother often so enamored with her carefree lifestyle that she is willing to allow the murder of her unborn child.

In the noble endeavor to save as many children as possible from pre-natal human butchery as possible, like hostage negotiation at times it might be necessary to sweet talk and stroke the egos of these women threatening infanticide until the child can be rescued from their clutches. However, one is in danger of approaching a conceptual state bordering heresy if one's systematic theology is compromised while engaged in such a tactic.

In his application of Biblical texts, Dr. Moore glosses over where shortcomings of character and behavior ought to be called out at least in generalized terms and cries out he has found these kinds of deficiencies where none in fact actually exist.

For example, the crux of Moore's argument centers around Joseph not abandoning Mary after she was found with child and this humble carpenter taking Mary as his wife and in essence raising Jesus as his own despite Him not being such. However, the invocation of Mary as a categorical imperative to be applied in the case of every other woman in the world does not hold up to closer scrutiny.

Foremost, God appeared to Joseph in a dream to dispel any notions Joseph might have had that Mary found herself in these circumstances as a result of sin. In fact, in regards to this aspect of her virtue, she was far from such blemish and actually selected because of her status as a righteous virgin.

In this day of radical non-judgmentalism, it will be snapped let he that is without sin cast the first stone. That is usually Biblically sound advice. However, nowhere in not casting the first stone is one man obligated to surrender to the humiliation of having to pick up the tab for a baby conceived through the normal carnal means between his fiancée or betrothed and another dude.

Furthermore, why does this non-judgmentalism only apply to those living in outright sin? Dr. Moore certainly doesn't mind getting up in the grill of those that haven't emptied their bank accounts so the libertines can continue to breed wantonly without the consideration of their actions.

If Mary had conceived in such a fashion, Joseph should have kicked her to the curb. Russell Moore writes, “With full legal rights to abandon Mary and her unborn child --- perhaps to a fate worse than death --- Joseph obeyed the Father in becoming a father.” But, to reemphasize, that is because in this instance Mary had done nothing wrong.

From the way that Moore writes, had Joseph followed legal procedure, he would have been exceedingly cruel. But wasn't it because of the seemingly harsh nature of this prospective penalty that in all likelihood that the out of wedlock birthrate among the ancient Israelites in times when that people were living for the most part righteously was nothing in comparison to what it is today?

It must also be asked who was it that set up what looks to early twenty-first century eyes as an excessively judgmental social system. You can't really get all bent out of shape at the ancient Israelites because in many instances they were merely implementing what God had ordered them to under threats of calamity and damnation if they failed to do so until instructed otherwise.

This matter of whether Joseph would keep Mary or set her aside is not the only matter in which Russell Moore has not thought out the implications of what he has said in regards to these issues at hand.

Moore writes, “In a culture captivated by the spirit of Herod, could it be that God is calling our churches to follow the example of Joseph?” In that remark, Dr. Moore articulates the typical anti-male animus that has come to increasingly characterize Christian Evangelicalism.

For those that might not recall, following the visitation of the Magi, Herod flew into a rampage ordering the murder of male children below two years of age. As a result, Joseph was instructed in a dream to escape with Mary and the Christ Child into the land of Egypt.

From the way Moore flippantly handles the allusion to the narrative, one could come away with the impression that Joseph was the only father or designated male provider to care in all of Bethlehem. Don't you think the other fathers loved their children enough that if they were accustomed to receiving messages via dreams that they would have also packed up their bags and gotten out of town if they had been extended such an opportunity? One cannot very well accuse these fathers of any wrongdoing in regard to Herod's slaughter of the innocents if the general population was extended no warning of the pending assault.

The war against human life throughout the contemporary world is pervasive. Those taking principled stands of whatever form grand or small will be commended by their Father in Heaven. However, in our own zeal for what is right, caution must be taken not to pull the facts of divine revelation from their holy context to create binding parallels that can only be deduced as a result of strained analogies such narratives never intended.

By Frederick Meekins

[dfroza]

Today’s reading from the ancient book of Proverbs and book of Psalms

for September 5 of 2021 with Proverbs 5 and Psalm 5, accompanied by Psalm 78 for the 78th day of Astronomical Summer and Psalm 98 for day 248 of the year (now with the consummate book of 150 Psalms in its 2nd revolution this year)

[Proverbs 5]

My son, stay focused; listen to the wisdom I have gained;

give attention to what I have learned about life

So you may be able to make sensible judgments

and speak with knowledge.

You see, the lips of a seductive woman speak honey-sweet words;

they are smooth like oil and enticing.

But in the end, she is bitter,

turning the stomach and rotting the soul;

she cuts as deep as a double-edged sword.

She leads you down a path that can only end in death;

her steps lead eventually to the grave.

She does not travel the road to life and truth.

She follows a wandering path—

a rocky, pit-filled road that twists and turns—and she doesn’t even know it.

So, my children, listen to me.

Do not stray from my advice.

Stay away from her, far away from her path;

don’t even go near her door

Unless you are ready to hand over your reputation to someone else,

unless you want to spend the rest of your years at the mercy of some cruel person.

If you do, strangers will help themselves to your wealth,

and everything you have worked hard to acquire will end up in someone else’s hands.

Your life will end with groanings of remorse, of opportunities missed,

and your flesh and bones will be eaten up with sorrow, regret for worthless efforts.

Then you’ll say, “Why did I hate being taught?

Why did I turn my back on correction?

I disregarded all that my teachers said to me;

I turned my ear away from my instructors!

Now I am on the edge of complete and utter ruin

in the midst of the community.”

Here’s what you should do to be satisfied:

go home and drink in the pleasures of your own cistern, your wife;

enjoy the sweet, fresh water that has been there all along, flowing from your own well.

Take care. Should your own springs, your body, be freely shared?

Should your streams of water satisfy anyone in the streets? Absolutely not!

They should be kept pure for you and you alone,

not for sharing with strangers.

May your fountain, your sex life, be blessed by God;

may you know true joy with the wife of your youth.

She who is lovely as a deer and graceful as a doe—

as you drink in her love,

may her breasts satisfy you at all times.

My son, why get caught up in some other woman

and embrace the breast of a stranger?

You see, the Eternal sees our ways before Him.

He watches every move we make and knows where those paths lead.

The wicked will be snared by their own wrongdoing.

Their flaws will tie their own hands, and they will be dragged through life by the cords of their sins.

Because they have no discipline, their spirits die and their bodies will soon follow;

because they are immensely foolish, they wander lost and confused.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 5 (The Voice)

[Psalm 5]

For the worship leader. A song of David accompanied by flutes.

Bend Your ear to me and listen to my words, O Eternal One;

hear the deep cry of my heart.

Listen to my call for help,

my King, my True God;

to You alone I pray.

In the morning, O Eternal One, listen for my voice;

in the day’s first light, I will offer my prayer to You and watch expectantly for Your answer.

You’re not a God who smiles at sin;

You cannot abide with evil.

The proud wither in Your presence;

You hate all who pervert and destroy what is good.

You destroy those with lying lips;

the Eternal detests those who murder and deceive.

Yet I, by Your loving grace,

am welcomed into Your house;

I will turn my face toward Your holy place

and fall on my knees in reverence before You.

O Eternal One, lead me in the path of Your righteousness

amidst those who wish me harm;

make Your way clear to me.

Their words cannot be trusted;

they are destructive to their cores.

What comes out of their mouths is as foul as a rotting corpse;

their words stink of flattery.

Find them guilty, O True God;

let their own devices bring them ruin.

Throw them out, and let them drown in the deluge of their sin,

for in revolt they brazenly spit in Your face.

But let those who run to You for safety be glad they did;

let them break out in joyful song.

May You keep them safe—

their love for You resounding in their hearts.

You, O Eternal, are the One who lays all good things in the laps of the right-hearted.

Your blessings surround them like a shield.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 5 (The Voice)

[Psalm 78]

Lessons from History

Asaph’s poetic song of instruction

Beloved ones, listen to this instruction.

Open your heart to the revelation

of this mystery that I share with you.

A parable and a proverb are hidden in what I say—

an intriguing riddle from the past.

We’ve heard true stories from our fathers about our rich heritage.

We will continue to tell our children

and not hide from the rising generation

the great marvels of our God—

his miracles and power that have brought us all this far.

The story of Israel is a lesson in God’s ways.

He established decrees for Jacob and established the law in Israel,

and he commanded our forefathers to teach them to their children.

For perpetuity God’s ways will be passed down

from one generation to the next, even to those not yet born.

In this way, every generation will set its hope in God

and not forget his wonderful works but keep his commandments.

By following his ways they will break the past bondage

of their fickle fathers, who were a stubborn, rebellious generation

and whose spirits strayed from the eternal God.

They refused to love him with all their hearts.

Take, for example, the sons of Ephraim.

Though they were all equipped warriors, each with weapons,

when the battle began they retreated and ran away in fear.

They didn’t really believe the promises of God;

they refused to trust him and move forward in faith.

They forgot his wonderful works and the miracles of the past,

even their exodus from Egypt, the epic miracle of his might.

They forgot the glories of his power at the place of passing over.

God split the sea wide open, and

the waters stood at attention on either side

as the people passed on through!

By day the moving glory-cloud led them forward.

And all through the night the fire-cloud stood as a sentry of light.

In the days of desert dryness, he split open the mighty rock,

and the waters flowed like a river before their very eyes.

He gave them all they wanted to drink from his living springs.

Yet they kept their rebellion alive against God Most High,

and their sins against God continued to be counted.

In their hearts they tested God just to get what they wanted,

asking for the food their hearts craved.

Like spoiled children they grumbled against God,

demanding he prove his love by saying,

“Can’t God provide for us in this barren wilderness?

Will he give us food, or will he only give us water?

Where’s our meal?”

Then God heard all their complaining and was furious!

His anger flared up against his people.

For they turned away from faith and walked away in fear;

they failed to trust in his power to save them when he was near.

Still he spoke on their behalf, and the skies opened up;

the windows of heaven poured out food,

the mercy bread-manna.

The grain of grace fell from the clouds.

Humans ate angels’ food—the meal of the mighty ones.

His grace gave them more than enough!

The heavenly winds of miracle power blew in their favor,

and food rained down upon them;

succulent quail quieted their hunger as they ate all they wanted.

Food fell from the skies, thick as clouds;

their provision floated down right in front of their eyes!

He gave them all they desired, and they ate to their fill.

But before they had even finished,

even with their food still in their mouths,

God’s fiery anger arose against them,

killing the finest of their mighty men.

Yet in spite of all this, they kept right on sinning.

Even when they saw God’s marvels,

they refused to believe God could care for them.

So God cut their lives short with sudden disaster,

with nothing to show for their lives but fear and failure.

When he cared for them they ignored him,

but when he began to kill them, ending their lives in a moment,

they came running back to God, pleading for mercy.

They remembered that God, the Mighty One,

was their strong protector,

the Hero-God who would come to their rescue.

But their repentance lasted only as long as they were in danger;

they lied through their teeth to the true God of the Covenant.

So quickly they wandered away from his promises,

following God with their words and not their hearts!

Their worship was only flattery.

But amazingly, God—so full of compassion—still forgave them.

He covered over their sins with his love,

refusing to destroy them all.

Over and over he held back his anger,

restraining wrath to show them mercy.

He knew that they were made from mere dust—

frail, fragile, and short-lived, here today and gone tomorrow.

How many times they rebelled in their desert days!

How they grieved him with their grumblings.

Again and again they limited God, preventing him from blessing them.

Continually they turned back from him

and provoked the Holy One of Israel!

They forgot his great love, how he took them by his hand,

and with redemption’s kiss he delivered them from their enemies.

They disregarded all the epic signs and marvels they saw

when they escaped from Egypt’s bondage.

They forgot the judgment of the plagues that set them free.

God turned their rivers into blood, leaving the people thirsty.

He sent them vast swarms of filthy flies that sucked their blood.

He sent hordes of frogs, ruining their lives.

Grasshoppers consumed all their crops.

Every garden and every orchard

was flattened with blasts of hailstones,

their fruit trees ruined by a killing frost.

Even their cattle fell prey, pounded by the falling hail;

their livestock were struck with bolts of lightning.

Finally, he unleashed upon them the fierceness of his anger.

Such fury!

He sent them sorrow and devastating trouble

by his mighty band of destroying angels;

messengers of death were dispatched against them.

He lifted his mercy and let loose his fearful anger

and did not spare their lives.

He released the judgment-plagues to rage through their land.

God struck down in death all the firstborn sons of Egypt—

the pride and joy of each family.

Then, like a shepherd leading his sheep, God led his people

out of tyranny, guiding them through the wilderness like a flock.

Safely and carefully God led them out, with nothing to fear.

But their enemies he led into the sea.

He took care of them there once and for all!

Eventually God brought his people to the Holy Land,

to a land of hills that he had prepared for them.

He drove out and scattered all the peoples occupying the land,

staking out an inheritance, a portion for each of Israel’s tribes.

Yet for all of this, they still rebelled and refused to follow his ways,

provoking to anger the God Most High.

Like traitors turning back, they forsook him.

They were even worse than their fathers!

They became treacherous deceivers, crooked and corrupt,

and worshiped false gods in the high places,

bringing low the name of God with every idol they erected.

No wonder he was filled with jealousy and furious with anger!

Enraged with anger, God turned his wrath on them,

and he rejected his people with disgust.

God walked away from them and left his dwelling place at Shiloh,

abandoning the place where he had lived among them,

allowing his emblem of strength, his glory-ark, to be captured.

Enemies stole the very source of Israel’s power.

God vented his rage, allowing his people to be butchered

when they went out to battle,

for his anger was intense against his very own.

Their young men fell on the battlefield and never came back.

Their daughters never heard their wedding songs,

since there was no one left to marry!

Their priests were slaughtered and their widows were killed

before they had time to weep.

Then all at once the Almighty awakened

as though he had been asleep.

Like a mighty man he arose, roaring into action!

He blasted into battle, driving back every foe,

defeating them and disgracing them for time and eternity.

He rejected Joseph’s family, the tribe of Ephraim.

He chose instead the tribe of Judah

and Mount Zion, which he loves.

There he built his towering temple,

strong and enduring as the earth itself.

God also chose his beloved one, David.

He promoted him from caring for sheep

and made him his prophetic servant.

God prepared David and took this gentle shepherd-king

and presented him before the people

as the one who would love and care for them

with integrity, a pure heart, and the anointing

to lead Israel, his holy inheritance.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 78 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 98]

A song.

Compose a new song, and sing it to the Eternal

because of the unbelievable things He has done;

He has won the victory

with the skill of His right hand and strength of His holy arm.

The Eternal has made it clear that He saves,

and He has shown the nations that He does what is right.

He has been true to His promises;

fresh in His mind is His unfailing love

for all of Israel.

Even the ends of the earth have witnessed how our God saves.

Raise your voices; make a beautiful noise to the Eternal, all the earth.

Let your joy explode into song and praise;

Make music to the Eternal with the harp;

sing a beautiful melody with the harp and chorus.

With trumpets and horns,

fill the air with joyful sounds to the King, the Eternal.

Let the sea rumble and roar, and all the creatures it holds shout praise;

let the whole world and all those who live in it join the celebration.

Let the rivers applaud

and the mountains join in joyful song

In the presence of the Eternal because He is coming

to judge the earth.

He is coming,

and His judgment will be what is right for the world

and just to all people.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 98 (The Voice)

[dfroza]

Today’s reading in the ancient book of Proverbs and Psalms

for Sunday, August 16 of 2020 with Proverbs 16 and Psalm 16 accompanied by Psalm 58 for the 58th day of Summer and Psalm 79 for day 229 of the year

[Proverbs 16]

People go about making their plans,

but the Eternal has the final word.

Even when you think you have good intentions,

He knows your real motives.

Whatever you do, do it as service to Him,

and He will guarantee your success.

The Eternal made everything for a reason.

Even wrongdoers fit in His plans; troubled times await them.

He abhors arrogant people.

Make no mistake about it! They will be punished!

The penalty of sin is removed by love and loyalty;

and by devotion to the Eternal, evil is avoided.

When people make good choices, He is pleased;

He even causes their enemies to live peacefully near them.

Better to have little and stand for what is right

than to become rich by doing what is wrong.

People do their best making plans for their lives,

but the Eternal guides each step.

The king makes a decision under divine inspiration,

but he must never render an unfair judgment.

The Eternal requires that business be conducted honestly;

He wants fairness in all your dealings.

When kings commit evil, it is despicable,

because their thrones should be built on justice.

Kings admire those who tell the truth;

they adore those who set the record straight.

A king’s rage signals that people will die,

but whoever is wise will pacify him.

If a king is smiling brightly, life will be granted;

his favor is like a cloud swelled with the first spring rain.

How much better it is to receive wisdom than the riches of gold

and to gain understanding over some silver prize!

The highway of the just bypasses evil;

those who watch where they’re going protect their lives from sin.

Pride precedes destruction;

an arrogant spirit gives way to a nasty fall.

It is better to be humble and live among the poor,

than to divide up stolen property with the proud.

Those devoted to instruction will prosper in goodness;

those who trust in the Eternal will experience His favor.

The wise at heart have a reputation for understanding;

pleasant words make the lips more persuasive.

Understanding for those who have it is a spring of life,

but it is pointless to try and instruct a fool.

From a wise heart flow careful words;

wise words make the lips more persuasive.

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb:

they drip sweet food for life and bring health to the body.

Before every person lies a road that seems to be right,

but at the end of that road death and destruction wait.

People work to stay alive,

pressed daily by their need to eat.

Good-for-nothings conjure up evil ideas;

their conversations fuel destructive fires.

Perverse people stir up contention;

gossip makes best friends into enemies.

Violent people try to recruit their neighbors,

wanting to lead them down the vile path of evil they have chosen.

Body language can expose a person’s intentions:

whoever winks the eye is planning perversity;

whoever purses his lips is intent on evil.

Gray hair is a crown of honor,

earned by living the right kind of life.

It is better to be a patient man than a mighty warrior,

better to be someone who controls his temper than someone who conquers a city.

We may try to control the roll of the dice,

but actually, the Eternal decides what they will determine.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 16 (The Voice)

[Psalm 16]

The Golden Secret

A precious song, engraved in gold, by King David

Keep me safe, O mighty God.

I run for dear life to you, my safe place.

So I said to the Lord God,

“You are my Maker, my Mediator, and my Master.

Any good thing you find in me has come from you.”

And he said to me, “My holy lovers are wonderful,

my majestic ones, my glorious ones,

fulfilling all my desires.”

Yet there are those who yield to their weakness,

and they will have troubles and sorrows unending.

I never gather with such ones,

nor give them honor in any way.

Lord, I have chosen you alone as my inheritance.

You are my prize, my pleasure, and my portion.

I leave my destiny and its timing in your hands.

Your pleasant path leads me to pleasant places.

I’m overwhelmed by the privileges

that come with following you,

for you have given me the best!

The way you counsel and correct me makes me praise you more,

for your whispers in the night give me wisdom,

showing me what to do next.

Because you are close to me and always available,

my confidence will never be shaken,

for I experience your wrap-around presence every moment.

My heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory!

Even my body will rest confident and secure.

For you will not abandon me to the realm of death,

nor will you allow your Holy One to experience corruption.

For you bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life,

the path to the bliss that brings me face-to-face with you.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 16 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 58]

Judge of the Judges

For the Pure and Shining One

King David’s golden song of instruction

To the tune of “Do Not Destroy”

God’s justice? You high and mighty politicians

know nothing about it!

Which one of you has walked in justice toward others?

Which one of you has treated everyone right and fair?

Not one! You only give “justice” in exchange for a bribe.

For the right price you let others get away with murder.

Wicked wanderers even from the womb, that’s who you are!

Lying with your words, your teaching is poison.

Like cobras closing their ears to the most expert of the charmers,

you strike out against all who are near.

O God, break their fangs;

shatter the teeth of these ravenous lions!

Let them disappear like water falling on thirsty ground.

Let all their weapons be useless.

Let them be like snails dissolving into the slime.

Let them be cut off, never seeing the light of day!

God will sweep them away so fast

that they’ll never know what hit them.

The godly will celebrate in the triumph of good over evil.

And the lovers of God will trample

the wickedness of the wicked under their feet!

Then everyone will say, “There is a God who judges the judges”

and “There is a great reward in loving God!”

The Book of Psalms, Poem 58 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 79]

A song of Asaph.

O God, the nations around us have raided the land that belongs to You;

they have defiled Your holy house

and crushed Jerusalem to a heap of ruins.

Your servants are dead;

birds of the air swoop down to pick at their remains.

Scavengers of the earth eat what is left of Your saints.

The enemy poured out their blood;

it flowed like water

all over Jerusalem,

and there is no one left, no one to bury what remains of them.

The surrounding peoples taunt us.

We are nothing but a joke to them, people to be ridiculed.

How long can this go on, O Eternal One?

Will You stay angry at us forever?

Your jealousy burning like wildfire?

Flood these outsiders with Your wrath—

they have no knowledge of You!

Drown the kingdoms of this world

that call on false gods and not on Your name.

For these nations devoured Jacob, consumed him,

and turned his home into a wasteland.

Do not hold the sins of our ancestors against us,

but send Your compassion to meet us quickly, God.

We are in deep despair.

Help us, O God who saves us,

to the honor and glory of Your name.

Pull us up, deliver us, and forgive our sins,

for Your name’s sake.

Don’t give these people any reason to ask,

“Where is their God?”

Avenge the blood spilled by Your servants.

Put it on display among the nations before our very eyes.

May the deep groans and wistful sighs of the prisoners reach You,

and by Your great power, save those condemned to die.

Pay back each of our invaders personally, seven times

for the shame they heaped on You, O Lord!

Then we, Your people, the sheep of Your pasture,

will pause and give You thanks forever;

Your praise will be told by our generation to the next.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 79 (The Voice)

[dfroza]

Today’s reading in the ancient book of Psalms and Proverbs

for Sunday, february 16 of 2020 with Psalm 16 and Proverbs 16, accompanied by Psalm 58 for the 58th day of Winter and Psalm 47 for day 47 of the year

[Psalm 16]

A prayer of David.

Protect me, God, for the only safety I know is found in the moments I seek You.

I told You, Eternal One, “You are my Lord,

for the only good I know in this world is found in You alone.”

The beauty of faith-filled people encompasses me.

They are true, and my heart is thrilled beyond measure.

All the while the despair of many,

who abandoned Your goodness for the empty promises of false gods, increases day by day.

I refuse to pour out blood offerings,

to utter their names from my lips.

You, Eternal One, are my sustenance and my life-giving cup.

In that cup, You hold my future and my eternal riches.

My home is surrounded in beauty;

You have gifted me with abundance and a rich legacy.

I will bless the Eternal, whose wise teaching orchestrates my days

and centers my mind at night.

He is ever present with me;

at all times He goes before me.

I will not live in fear or abandon my calling

because He stands at my right hand.

This is a good life—my heart is glad, my soul is full of joy,

and my body is at rest.

Who could want for more?

You will not abandon me to experience death and the grave

or leave me to rot alone.

Instead, You direct me on the path that leads to a beautiful life.

As I walk with You, the pleasures are never-ending,

and I know true joy and contentment.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 16 (The Voice)

and mirrored in The Passion Translation:

[Psalm 16]

The Golden Secret

A precious song, engraved in gold, by King David

Keep me safe, O mighty God.

I run for dear life to you, my safe place.

So I said to the Lord God,

“You are my Maker, my Mediator, and my Master.

Any good thing you find in me has come from you.”

And he said to me, “My holy lovers are wonderful,

my majestic ones, my glorious ones,

fulfilling all my desires.”

Yet there are those who yield to their weakness,

and they will have troubles and sorrows unending.

I never gather with such ones,

nor give them honor in any way.

Lord, I have chosen you alone as my inheritance.

You are my prize, my pleasure, and my portion.

I leave my destiny and its timing in your hands.

Your pleasant path leads me to pleasant places.

I’m overwhelmed by the privileges

that come with following you,

for you have given me the best!

The way you counsel and correct me makes me praise you more,

for your whispers in the night give me wisdom,

showing me what to do next.

Because you are close to me and always available,

my confidence will never be shaken,

for I experience your wrap-around presence every moment.

My heart and soul explode with joy—full of glory!

Even my body will rest confident and secure.

For you will not abandon me to the realm of death,

nor will you allow your Holy One to experience corruption.

For you bring me a continual revelation of resurrection life,

the path to the bliss that brings me face-to-face with you.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 16 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 58]

Judge of the Judges

For the Pure and Shining One

King David’s golden song of instruction

To the tune of “Do Not Destroy”

God’s justice? You high and mighty politicians

know nothing about it!

Which one of you has walked in justice toward others?

Which one of you has treated everyone right and fair?

Not one! You only give “justice” in exchange for a bribe.

For the right price you let others get away with murder.

Wicked wanderers even from the womb, that’s who you are!

Lying with your words, your teaching is poison.

Like cobras closing their ears to the most expert of the charmers,

you strike out against all who are near.

O God, break their fangs;

shatter the teeth of these ravenous lions!

Let them disappear like water falling on thirsty ground.

Let all their weapons be useless.

Let them be like snails dissolving into the slime.

Let them be cut off, never seeing the light of day!

God will sweep them away so fast

that they’ll never know what hit them.

The godly will celebrate in the triumph of good over evil.

And the lovers of God will trample

the wickedness of the wicked under their feet!

Then everyone will say, “There is a God who judges the judges”

and “There is a great reward in loving God!”

The Book of Psalms, Poem 58 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 47]

For the worship leader. A song of the sons of Korah.

Clap your hands, all of you;

raise your voices joyfully and loudly.

Give honor for the True God of the universe;

Here’s why: The Eternal, the Most High, is awesome and deserves our great respect.

He is the great King over everything in this world.

He’s helped us win wars, suppressed our enemies,

and made nations bow at our feet.

He decides the extent of our inheritance and selects the land where we and our children will live,

for we are the pride of Jacob, the ones He loves.

[pause]

The True God ascends the throne acclaimed by shouts of the people.

The Eternal is announced by the blast of a trumpet.

Sing! Shout! Play instruments!

Praise our God and King; sing praises to Him who is worthy.

For He is the King of all the earth. Sing praise, all who can.

Put words to music, and then sing praises

At the feet of the God who sits on His holy throne,

ruling over all the nations.

All those with influence in this world—princes, kings, and satraps—

gather with those who follow Abraham’s God.

For these defenders belong to God

who reigns over the nations!

The Book of Psalms, Poem 47 (The Voice)

and mirrored in The Message:

[Psalm 47]

A Psalm of the Sons of Korah

Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo!

Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs!

God Most High is stunning,

astride land and ocean.

He crushes hostile people,

puts nations at our feet.

He set us at the head of the line,

prize-winning Jacob, his favorite.

Loud cheers as God climbs the mountain,

a ram’s horn blast at the summit.

Sing songs to God, sing out!

Sing to our King, sing praise!

He’s Lord over earth,

so sing your best songs to God.

God is Lord of godless nations—

sovereign, he’s King of the mountain.

Princes from all over are gathered,

people of Abraham’s God.

The powers of earth are God’s—

he soars over all.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 47 (The Message)

[Provebs 16]

Go ahead and make all the plans you want,

but it’s the Lord who will ultimately direct your steps.

We are all in love with our own opinions,

convinced they’re correct.

But the Lord is in the midst of us,

testing and probing our every motive.

Before you do anything,

put your trust totally in God and not in yourself.

Then every plan you make will succeed.

The Lord works everything together to accomplish his purpose.

Even the wicked are included in his plans—

he sets them aside for the day of disaster.

Exalting yourself is disgusting to the Lord,

for pride attracts his punishment—

and you can count on that!

You can avoid evil through surrendered worship

and the fear of God,

for the power of his faithful love

removes sin’s guilt and grip over you.

When the Lord is pleased with the decisions you’ve made,

he activates grace to turn enemies into friends.

It is better to have little with a heart that loves justice

than to be rich and not have God on your side.

Within your heart you can make plans for your future,

but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.

[Living like a King]

A king speaks the revelation of truth,

so he must be extraordinarily careful in the decrees that he makes.

The Lord expects you to be fair in every business deal,

for he is the one who sets the standards for righteousness.

Kings and leaders despise wrongdoing,

for the true authority to rule and reign

is built on a foundation of righteousness.

Kings and leaders love to hear godly counsel,

and they love those who tell them the truth.

The anger of a king releases the messenger of death,

but a wise person will know how to pacify his wrath.

Life-giving light streams from the presence of a king,

and his favor is showered upon those who please him.

Everyone wants gold, but wisdom’s worth is far greater.

Silver is sought after,

but a heart of understanding yields a greater return.

Repenting from evil places you on the highway of holiness.

Protect purity and you protect your life.

Your boast becomes a prophecy of a future failure.

The higher you lift up yourself in pride,

the harder you’ll fall in disgrace.

It’s better to be meek and lowly and live among the poor

than to live high and mighty among the rich and famous.

One skilled in business discovers prosperity,

but the one who trusts in God is blessed beyond belief!

[Walking with Wisdom]

The one with a wise heart is called “discerning,”

and speaking sweetly to others

makes your teaching even more convincing.

Wisdom is a deep well of understanding

opened up within you as a fountain of life for others,

but it’s senseless to try to instruct a fool.

Winsome words pour from a heart of wisdom,

adding value to all you teach.

Nothing is more appealing

than speaking beautiful, life-giving words.

For they release sweetness to our souls

and inner healing to our spirits.

Before every person there is a path

that seems like the right one to take,

but it leads straight to hell!

Life motivation comes from the deep longings of the heart,

and the passion to see them fulfilled urges you onward.

A wicked scoundrel wants to dig up dirt on others,

only to spread slander and shred their reputation.

A twisted person spreads rumors;

a whispering gossip ruins good friendships.

A vicious criminal can be persuasive,

enticing others to join him as partners in crime,

but he leads them all down a despicable path.

It’s easy to tell when a wicked man

is hatching some crooked scheme—

it’s written all over his face.

His looks betray him as he gives birth to his sin.

Old age with wisdom will crown you with dignity and honor,

for it takes a lifetime of righteousness to acquire it.

Do you want to be a mighty warrior?

It’s better to be known as one who is patient and slow to anger.

Do you want to conquer a city?

Rule over your temper before you attempt to rule a city.

We may toss the coin and roll the dice,

but God’s will is greater than luck.

The Book of Proverbs, Chapter 16 (The Passion Translation)

[dfroza]

Today’s reading in the ancient book of Psalms

for Saturday, june 20 of 2020 with Psalm 20 accompanied by Psalm 94 for the transition of Spring into the first day of Summer at the point of its solstice with Psalm 1, and then Psalm 22 for day 172 of the year

[Psalm 20]

For the worship leader. A song of David.

May the Eternal’s answer find you, come to rescue you,

when you desperately cling to the end of your rope.

May the name of the True God of Jacob be your shelter.

May He extend hope and help to you from His holy sanctuary

and support you from His sacred city of Zion.

May He remember all that you have offered Him;

may your burnt sacrifices serve as a prelude to His mercy.

[pause]

May He grant the dreams of your heart

and see your plans through to the end.

When you win, we will not be silent! We will shout

and raise high our banners in the great name of our God!

May the Eternal say yes to all your requests.

I don’t fear; I’m confident that help will come to the one anointed by the Eternal:

heaven will respond to his plea;

His mighty right hand will win the battle.

Many put their hope in chariots, others in horses,

but we place our trust in the name of the Eternal One, our True God.

Soon our enemies will collapse and fall, never to return home;

all the while, we will rise and stand firm.

Eternal One, grant victory to our king!

Answer our plea for help.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 20 (The Voice)

[Psalm 94]

God, put an end to evil;

avenging God, show your colors!

Judge of the earth, take your stand;

throw the book at the arrogant.

God, the wicked get away with murder—

how long will you let this go on?

They brag and boast

and crow about their crimes!

They walk all over your people, God,

exploit and abuse your precious people.

They take out anyone who gets in their way;

if they can’t use them, they kill them.

They think, “God isn’t looking,

Jacob’s God is out to lunch.”

Well, think again, you idiots,

fools—how long before you get smart?

Do you think Ear-Maker doesn’t hear,

Eye-Shaper doesn’t see?

Do you think the trainer of nations doesn’t correct,

the teacher of Adam doesn’t know?

God knows, all right—

knows your stupidity,

sees your shallowness.

How blessed the man you train, God,

the woman you instruct in your Word,

Providing a circle of quiet within the clamor of evil,

while a jail is being built for the wicked.

God will never walk away from his people,

never desert his precious people.

Rest assured that justice is on its way

and every good heart put right.

Who stood up for me against the wicked?

Who took my side against evil workers?

If God hadn’t been there for me,

I never would have made it.

The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,”

your love, God, took hold and held me fast.

When I was upset and beside myself,

you calmed me down and cheered me up.

Can Misrule have anything in common with you?

Can Troublemaker pretend to be on your side?

They ganged up on good people,

plotted behind the backs of the innocent.

But God became my hideout,

God was my high mountain retreat,

Then boomeranged their evil back on them:

for their evil ways he wiped them out,

our God cleaned them out for good.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 94 (The Message)

[Psalm 1]

Book 1

The Genesis Psalms

Psalms of man and creation

The Tree of Life

What delight comes to the one who follows God’s ways!

He won’t walk in step with the wicked,

nor share the sinner’s way,

nor be found sitting in the scorner’s seat.

His pleasure and passion is remaining true to the Word of “I Am,”

meditating day and night in the true revelation of light.

He will be standing firm like a flourishing tree

planted by God’s design,

deeply rooted by the brooks of bliss,

bearing fruit in every season of his life.

He is never dry, never fainting,

ever blessed, ever prosperous.

But how different are the wicked.

All they are is dust in the wind—

driven away to destruction!

The wicked will not endure the day of judgment,

for God will not defend them.

Nothing they do will succeed or endure for long,

for they have no part with those who walk in truth.

But how different it is for the righteous!

The Lord embraces their paths as they move forward

while the way of the wicked leads only to doom.

The Book of Psalms, Poem 1 (The Passion Translation)

[Psalm 22]

A Prophetic Portrait of the Cross

For the Pure and Shining One

King David’s song of anguish

To the tune of “The Deer at the Dawning of the Day”

God, my God!

Why would you abandon me now?

Why do you remain distant,

refusing to answer my tearful cries in the day

and my desperate cries for your help in the night?

I can’t stop sobbing.

Where are you, my God?

Yet I know that you are most holy; it’s indisputable.

You are God-Enthroned, surrounded with songs,

living among the shouts of praise of your princely people.

Our fathers’ faith was in you—

through the generations they trusted and believed in you

and you came through.

Every time they cried out to you in their despair,

you were faithful to deliver them;

you didn’t disappoint them.

But look at me now; I am like a woeful worm,

crushed, and I’m bleeding crimson.

I don’t even look like a man anymore.

I’ve been abused, despised, and scorned by everyone!

Mocked by their jeers, despised with their sneers,

as all the people poke fun at me, spitting their insults,

saying, “Is this the one who trusted in God?

Is this the one who claims God is pleased with him?

Now let’s see if your God will come to your rescue!

We’ll just see how much he delights in you!”

Lord, you delivered me safely from my mother’s womb.

You are the one who cared for me ever since I was a baby.

Since the day I was born, I’ve been placed in your custody.

You’ve cradled me throughout my days.

I’ve trusted in you and you’ve always been my God.

So don’t leave me now; stay close to me!

For trouble is all around me and there’s no one else to help me.

I’m surrounded by many violent foes;

mighty forces of evil are swirling around me

who want to break me to bits and destroy me.

Curses pour from their mouths!

They’re like ravenous, roaring lions tearing their prey.

Now I’m completely exhausted; I’m spent.

Every joint of my body has been pulled apart.

My courage has vanished and

my inward parts have melted away.

I’m so thirsty and parched—dry as a bone.

My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

And now you’ve left me in the dust for dead.

They have pierced my hands and my feet.

Like a pack of wild dogs they tear at me,

swirling around me with their hatred.

They gather around me like lions to pin my hands and feet.

All my bones stick out.

Look at how they all gloat over me and stare!

With a toss of the dice they divide my clothes among themselves,

gambling for my garments!

Lord, my God, please don’t stay far away.

For you are my only might and strength.

Won’t you come quickly to my rescue?

Give me back my life.

Save me from this violent death.

Save my precious one and only

from the power of these demons!

Save me from all the power of the enemy,

from this roaring lion raging against me

and the power of his dark horde.

I will praise your name before all my brothers;

as my people gather I will praise you in their midst.

Lovers of Yahweh, praise him!

Let all the true seed of Jacob glorify him with your praises.

Stand in awe of him, all you princely people,

the offspring of Israel!

For he has not despised my cries of deep despair.

He’s my first responder to my sufferings,

and he didn’t look the other way when I was in pain.

He was there all the time, listening to the song of the afflicted.

You’re the reason for my praise; it comes from you and goes to you.

I will keep my promise to praise you before all who fear you

among the congregation of your people.

I will invite the poor and broken,

and they will come and eat until satisfied.

Bring Yahweh praise and you will find him.

Your hearts will overflow with life forever!

From the four corners of the earth,

the peoples of the world will remember and return to the Lord.

Every nation will come and worship him.

For the Lord is King of all, who takes charge of all the nations.

There they are! They’re worshiping!

The wealthy of this world will feast in fellowship with him

right alongside the humble of heart,

bowing down to the dust, forsaking their own souls.

They will all come and worship this worthy King!

His spiritual seed shall serve him.

Future generations will hear from us

about the wonders of the Sovereign Lord.

His generation yet to be born will glorify him.

And they will all declare, “It is finished!”

The Book of Psalms, Poem 22 (The Passion Translation)

[tj-van-heerden]

Righteousness

Righteousness means doing the will of God, doing his commandments, doing his words, obeying Him. It can also mean "just", as in a righteous judgment.

There is opposition to our righteousness: our own sinful nature, demons who put attitudes and thoughts in our hearts and minds, people who mock us, etc. We must stand firm in our righteousness.

Matt 5:6 [WEB] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Matt 5:10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matt 6:33 But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matt 13:41-43 41  The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, 42  and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 43  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Matt 13:49, 50 49  So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50  and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”

Matt 23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matt 25:37-41 37  “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38  When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? 39  When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ 40  “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ 41  Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels;

Luke 14:13, 14 13  But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; 14  and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”

Luke 15:7 I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.

John 5:30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.

John 7:18 He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

John 16:7, 8 7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8  When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment;

Acts 17:31 because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Rom 1:21-32 21 Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, four-footed animals, and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; 25 who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. 28 Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, 30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

Rom 2:5-9 5 But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; 6 who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:” 7 to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; 8 but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath, indignation, 9 oppression, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 3:25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;

Rom 6:16 Don’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?

1Cor 6:9, 10 9 Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom.

2Cor 11:13-15 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Gal 3:11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Eph 4:24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Eph 5:9, 10 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

Phil 1:9-11 9 This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

2Thess 2:8-12 8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; 9 even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; 12 that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1Tim 1:9-11 9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine, 11 according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

1Tim 6:11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

2Tim 2:19-21 19 However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.” 20 Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. 21 If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master’s use, prepared for every good work.

2Tim 2:22 Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

2Tim 3:16, 17 16 Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Titus 2:12 12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age;

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Heb 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness. I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more.”

Heb 10:38 But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

Heb 12:11 All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Jas 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Jas 5:16 Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

1Pet 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness. You were healed by his wounds.

1Pet 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1Pet 4:18 “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?”

2Pet 2:21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

1John 3:7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

1John 3:10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.

Rev 19:8 It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Rev 22:11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.”

[tj-van-heerden]

Righteousness

Matt 5:6 [WEB] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.

Matt 5:10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matt 6:33 But seek first God’s Kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matt 13:41-43 41  The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling, and those who do iniquity, 42  and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. 43  Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

Matt 13:49, 50 So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous, 50  and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth.”

Matt 23:28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Matt 25:34-46 34  Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35  for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. 36  I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’ 37  “Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? 38  When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? 39  When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ 40  “The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,‡ you did it to me.’ 41  Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; 42  for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; 43  I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ 44  “Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ 45  “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ 46  These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Luke 14:13, 14 13  But when you make a feast, ask the poor, the maimed, the lame, or the blind; 14  and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness

Rom 1:29-32 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, 30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

Rom 2:5-10 5 But according to your hardness and unrepentant heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath, revelation, and of the righteous judgment of God; 6 who “will pay back to everyone according to their works:” 7 to those who by perseverance in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life; 8 but to those who are self-seeking, and don’t obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, will be wrath, indignation, 9 oppression, and anguish on every soul of man who does evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 10 But glory, honor, and peace go to every man who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Rom 6:13 Also, do not present your members to sin as instruments of unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Rom 6:16 Don’t you know that when you present yourselves as servants and obey someone, you are the servants of whomever you obey; whether of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness?

1Cor 6:9-10 9 Or don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s Kingdom? Don’t be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortionists, will inherit God’s Kingdom.

1Cor 13:4-7 4 Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud, 5 doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil; 6 doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

2Cor 6:14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

2Cor 11:13-15 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ’s apostles. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Gal 3:11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, “The righteous will live by faith.”

Eph 4:23, 24 23 and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Eph 5:9, 10 9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.

2Thess 2:8-12 8 Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will kill with the breath of his mouth, and destroy by the manifestation of his coming; 9 even he whose coming is according to the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deception of wickedness for those who are being lost, because they didn’t receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 Because of this, God sends them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; 12 that they all might be judged who didn’t believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1Tim 1:9-11 9 as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for homosexuals, for slave-traders, for liars, for perjurers, and for any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine, 11 according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

1Tim 6:11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.

2Tim 2:19 However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”

2Tim 3:16, 17 16 Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Titus 2:11-13 11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Heb 10:38 But the righteous will live by faith. If he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.”

Heb 12:11 All chastening seems for the present to be not joyous but grievous; yet afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Jas 5:16 Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

1Pet 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1Pet 3:14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”

1Pet 4:18 “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will happen to the ungodly and the sinner?”

2Pet 2:9 the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment

2Pet 2:20, 21 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilement of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in it and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than after knowing it, to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1John 2:29 If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.

1John 3:7 Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

1John 3:10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.

Rev 19:7-9 7 Let’s rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let’s give the glory to him. For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.” 8 It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. 9 He said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb.’ ” He said to me, “These are true words of God.”

Rev 22:11, 12 11 He who acts unjustly, let him act unjustly still. He who is filthy, let him be filthy still. He who is righteous, let him do righteousness still. He who is holy, let him be holy still.” 12  “Behold, I come quickly. My reward is with me, to repay to each man according to his work.