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Known Day 15 Jehovah Nissi

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Known Day 15 Jehovah Nissi

Marietta Taylor

July 28, 2023

Believe,Faith,Fear,God,Humility,Identity,Know

Read His Words Before Ours!

1 Samuel 17:45-47
Exodus 17:8-16
Isaiah 11:1-12
Romans 8:31-39
John 12:23-36

When my daughter was a senior in high school, she was very sick and needed to do “home study” for part of the quarter. The principal and teachers were all on board and supportive, except one.  He refused to cooperate in any area. He threw up roadblock after roadblock, though he knew the challenges of her situation. So, this momma bear fought for her daughter. Without me standing up for her, he would have failed her.

We have someone infinitely more fiercely loving than any momma bear. We know Him as Jehovah Nissi, The Lord Our Banner. What does His name mean you ask?

Nissi comes from the Hebrew word Nes (nês), meaning something lifted up as a standard or banner. (Blue Letter Bible) A standard is a flag or rallying point during battle, while a banner was usually set on top of a mountain to show people where to assemble and it flew over the warriors as they fought.

Friends, our Lord is not only the banner flying over us, He is also the One fighting for us. We are assured of this throughout Scripture. (2 Chronicles 20:15, 1 Samuel 17:47, Exodus 14:13-14, Romans 8:37) Tucked in Exodus 17:8-16, we find an excellent portrayal of Jehovah Nissi fighting for His people; it’s also the only place in Scripture specifically referencing the name Jehovah Nissi. Let’s peek in.

The Amalekites, Israel’s enemy, came to fight at Rephidim. Joshua gathered some men while Moses stood on top of the hill with the Lord’s staff (Exodus 4:1-5), along with his brother, Aaron, and friend, Hur. Moses held the staff over the men fighting below. “While Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, but whenever he put his hand down, Amalek prevailed.” (Exodus 17:11) So Aaron and Hur helped by supporting Moses’ arms so the staff wouldn’t lower, and Joshua and his men defeated the Amalekites.

Seems like Moses was the banner, right?
Not So!

“And Moses built an altar and named it, “The Lord Is My Banner.” He said, “Indeed, my hand is lifted up toward the Lord’s throne.” (Exodus 17:15-16)  Moses knew and documented the real source of the victory was God. Jehovah Nissi orchestrated this victory, while using Moses, Joshua, Aaron, Hur and the staff.

Throughout the Old Testament, God fights relentlessly for His people. In Exodus, God protected the Israelites as a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day. (Exodus 13:20-22) When the Egyptians pursued the Israelites to take them back into slavery, the Lord parted the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross through and then, “During the morning watch, the Lord looked down at the Egyptian forces from the pillar of fire and cloud, and threw the Egyptian forces into confusion. He caused their chariot wheels to swerve and made them drive with difficulty.” (Exodus 14:24-26)

Other examples you can explore on your own are found in Judges 7:13-22, 2 Chronicles 32:6-22, 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, 2 Kings 6:8-18, Daniel 3:8-27, and Daniel 6:1-23. Each example of God fighting for His people gives me chills.

But what about the New Testament?
Have I got news for you!

Isaiah 11:1-12 tells us of the “new” banner.
Verse 10 says, “On that day the root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples. The nations will look to him for guidance, and his resting place will be glorious.”

Who is the root of Jesse?
Jesus.

Jesus, the root of Jesse,
was hung on a cross on the hill called Golgotha
as a banner over us.

He said of Himself,
“As for Me, if I am lifted up from the earth
I will draw all people to Myself.”
(John 12:32)

He was lifted up on that cross,
becoming the banner of righteousness and redemption
so that sin and death would be forever conquered.
All who trust in Jehovah Nissi would live!

With His life, He showed us what God was like as love lived out.
With His death, He won every victory for us, spreading the banner of reconciliation with our Most Holy God over all who trust in Him.

Why though?
It’s simple yet profound.
John 3:16-17 explains, “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”

God loves us. He loves us so much He fights for us.
He is our protection and our rallying cry.
We assemble under His power and authority so we can win and then give Him every ounce of glory.

In my Faces of Grace story I share of a time when I traveled down some dark roads. The darkness appeared to hold the victory, but Jehovah Nissi fought for me, His daughter.
“He saved my life.
And it wasn’t because I deserved it,
but because He loved me.
He still loves me.”

Sisters, let us draw near to God.
Read His Word.
Carry it in our hearts.
Live it out.

And when we need a victory, rely on the One known as Jehovah Nissi.
We are known as His daughters.
When He wins, we win, then we glorify Him.

Let me leave you with something to help you remember Jehovah Nissi,
who will never stop fighting for you!
“Fighting For Me” by Riley Clemmons

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banner,Jehovah,love,Names of God
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Armed with years of learning to rely on the Lord (and speak and sing to Him, as the psalms record), the confidence David displayed as he faced Goliath wasn’t out of character from his everyday walk with the Lord, this was just one more opportunity to trust Him as evidenced by his own words, “The LORD […] will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” (verse 37)
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Known Day 10 Jehovah Rohi: Digging Deeper

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Known Day 10 Jehovah Rohi: Digging Deeper

Stacy Winkler

July 21, 2023

Comfort,Dwell,Enemies,Family,Fear,Fellowship,Shielded

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Jehovah Rohi"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 23, John 10:2-5, 14-18

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord as long as I live.

2 “The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers.”

14 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me, and I know the Father I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 But I have other sheep that are not from this sheep pen; I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd. This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What is a shepherd in this context? (Psalm 23:1-4)

Jehovah Rohi means “The Lord is our Shepherd”. Most of us probably do not understand a shepherd’s job description and this beautiful metaphor of God as Shepherd might be difficult for us to deeply comprehend.

Shepherding is first recorded in the Bible early in Genesis describing Abel as a shepherd of flocks. (Genesis 4:2) Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Jacob’s sons, and David were all shepherds. (Genesis 24:34-35, Genesis 26:12-14, Genesis 30:40, Genesis 37:13, 1 Samuel 16) Jacob explicitly declares that God had been his shepherd all his life. (Genesis 48:15)

In his book “Shepherds After My Own Heart,” Timothy Laniak writes that the success of the flock was dependent “greatly on the care, attentiveness and skill of the shepherd.” (Laniak, pg 98) The shepherd led his flock to “quiet waters” and a variety of “green pastures,” rarely driving them from behind. (verse 2)

Kenneth Bailey, in his book “The Good Shepherd”, writes, “The sheep appear to be attracted primarily by the voice of the shepherd, which they know and are eager to follow.” (Bailey, pg 69) Shepherds protected their flock from disease, injury, weather, and predators. (Isaiah 49:10) A good shepherd would not run from danger but stayed with the flock to defend and rescue. (verse 4)

David convinced King Saul he could defeat Goliath, telling Saul how he protected his sheep by killing predators and even rescuing them from a predator’s mouth. (1 Samuel 17:34-37)

The shepherd carried a rod and a staff. (verse 4) “His staff was useful for support, picking off branches, snagging a trapped animal with the crook, or redirecting misbehaving members of the herd…. (It) became a symbol for the protective presence of the shepherd.” (Laniak, pg 103)

The rod was a shorter club that “was a traditional shepherd’s standby for defense and the implement for counting sheep.” (Laniak, pg 104) A good shepherd was a symbol of self-sacrifice as he cared for, protected, and defended the flock he loved.

The Everyday Application

1) What is a shepherd in this context? (Psalm 23:1-4)

My friends, Rebecca and Vance, keep sheep at their homestead and their duties as shepherds are not that different from Old Testament shepherds. They must daily check on the health and welfare of their sheep making sure they have good, clean water.

They provide over-seeding and rotational grazing for fresh, clean, high quantity and quality food. They provide shade during hot summers and shelter during the cold winters. Electric fencing assures them that the sheep are kept in while the predators are kept out. Some shepherds also use livestock guardian dogs for extra protection. They trim the sheep hooves regularly to help their mobility and avoid injury.

Rebecca said, “Shepherds have to spend time with their flock to build familiarity and trust. When sheep know and trust their shepherd, they will come when called, and the shepherd can better care for them. Our more tame sheep love to get their heads and necks scratched. Their trust in us encourages the other sheep to trust us as well.”

Do you know the voice of your Shepherd? Have you experienced His care, attentiveness, and skill? (Laniak, pg 98) Do you go to Him regularly? Are others encouraged by your relationship with Him? Have you called upon Him to be your Shepherd?

Through His shed blood on the cross, all who trust in Him and repent of their sin have complete forgiveness. Yes, we walk through dangers and griefs in this life, but our Shepherd has promised His constant presence to comfort, strengthen, and provide for those who have been redeemed by His blood. (verse 4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5, Ephesians 1:7-8, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Peter 5:10)

The One who has inscribed His beloved ones on the palms of His hands can never forget us nor lose us. (Isaiah 49:15-16) 

The Original Intent

2) How is God the Shepherd of His people? (Psalm 23:1-4, 6)

Psalm 23 begins with David speaking about God. (verses 1-3) He writes that YAHWEH, the only true self-existent eternal God, is His shepherd, linking God’s most holy name with the intimacy of a shepherd caring for his sheep. (verse 1)

It isn’t that God simply provides, but David paints a picture of how He tenderly and faithfully provides. God “lets him lie down in green pastures” and leads him “beside quiet waters.” (verse 2) According to “The Good Shepherd” by Kenneth Bailey, sheep are afraid to drink from moving waters, so quiet waters are essential in keeping the sheep well hydrated and feeling secure.

David knows God provides him with everything he needs, including food, water, and security. He also notes that God leads him along the right paths for God’s glory and reputation. (verse 3) But here there is a change in the psalm as David no longer talks about God but begins talking to God, building even more intimacy into the psalm.

He knows there are dangers everywhere even as God leads him on the right paths, yet it is God’s presence that comforts and protects him in the midst of danger. There are metaphoric predators, bad weather, and injury but David is secure not in his circumstances, but in the God who is always with him. David confidently knows God’s goodness and faithfulness will pursue him all of his life, even when he is disobedient to God. (verse 6, 2 Samuel 11-12)

It is in this relationship that David declares how he longs to be with God all the days of his life. He is safe, secure, cared for, and loved by his shepherd.

The Everyday Application

2) How is God the Shepherd of His people? (Psalm 23:1-4, 6)

Though familiar to many, Psalm 23 isn’t the only place where a psalmist references God as shepherd. Elsewhere, the psalmist makes a connection between God the majestic Creator and God the caring Shepherd, declaring His worthiness of our worship and adulation because He is both magnificent and loving. (Psalm 95:6-7)

It is this majestic and caring, loving God who did what was necessary to rescue us from our predator, the devil. (1 Peter 5:8) Our Shepherd sent His one and only Son to live a perfect life and die in our place for the sins we committed, thus snatching us out of the jaws of our enemy, Eternal Death and separation from God. (Galatians 1:3-4) We are saved from the penalty of sin while we are saved to an abundant life. Jesus said He came to give us life and give us life in abundance. (John 10:10)

He is our Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Protector, Counselor, and constant Companion. (verses 1-4) It is His goodness and faithful love that pursues us for the rest of our lives and never lets us stray very far. (verse 6) Have you come to know Him for yourself?

Is he your Shepherd? If he is not, pray, and ask him to be your Good Shepherd and He will with joy receive you into His flock, never letting you go!

The Original Intent

3) How is Jesus our Shepherd? (John 10:2-5; John 10:14-18)

Just as God is the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23, Jesus declares Himself as the Good Shepherd in John’s gospel and reminds His audience of the attributes of a good shepherd.

The sheep hear His voice, He calls His sheep by name, and He leads them. (verse 3) He goes ahead of His sheep and the sheep follow Him trustingly because they are keenly familiar with His voice. (verse 4)

His sheep will never follow a stranger because they don’t know any voice but the shepherd’s. In fact, they will run from a stranger’s voice. (verse 5) A few verses later, Jesus says something staggering and nearly unimaginable, “I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father.” (verses 14-15) The relationship between the Father and the Son is one of thorough intimacy, full omniscience, and complete oneness.

It is the only perfect relationship extending from eternity past to eternity future. Jesus then says this is the relationship He has with His flock. He knows everything about each of His sheep. He knows what they are thinking, feeling, and how they have been hurt. He knows their sorrows and their joys. 

Later in the text, Jesus tells the audience He is not only willing to lay down His life for His sheep, but that He will take it up again. (verse 17) He tells of both His impending death and resurrection, both of which are for the sake of His flock.

He willingly and painfully gives up His life in the greatest example of self-sacrifice man has ever known and picks it up again, proving eternal victory over Death, Sin, and the Grave; He then hands this victory to His precious sheep who trust in Him! (Romans 14:8)

The Everyday Application

3) How is Jesus our Shepherd? (John 10:2-5; John 10:14-18)

What do we do with this understanding of Jesus’ intimacy, love, and self-sacrifice toward us? If you have trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, I want to remind you He knows you. He sees you. He knows your thoughts, your actions, and your feelings. Knowing all this, He still loves you with perfect love and open arms of forgiveness and joy in His presence. (Psalm 16:11)

Difficult circumstances may still exist, but His love and provision He shows while leading us on the right paths while providing constant companionship will never end. (Psalm 23:1-4) You cannot flee the Good Shepherd because He is always with you. (Psalm 139:7-10) If you have not trusted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, come into His flock and allow Him to be the loving, good, perfect Shepherd over you and your life.

He loves you and provides grace and forgiveness and eternal salvation when you enter the safety of His fold. You are not too dirty, too sinful, or too far away that He cannot find you, cleanse you, and make you whole.

It is a strange thing, isn’t it, when we consider how Jesus is the Shepherd who willingly lays down His life for His sheep, and at the same time He is the Lamb of God whose sacrifice on the cross takes away our sins? He is both Shepherd and Sacrificial Lamb. This is how God showed His love for us even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)

Meditate on and pray Psalm 23 and John 10. Ask God to show you how He has been your shepherd since before you were knit together in your mother’s womb. Thank Him and rejoice in your very Good Shepherd who loves you to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:8)

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The Lord is my King and Guardian Caretaker; I have everything I need. Even when I despair, He comes through and takes care of it all.

He leads me to His good blessings, whether they are basics like good food and clean water, or more complex as a loving community and purpose in Him. He gives me rest and eases anxiety. God guides every step and shows me the way to His goodness.

With His help, everyday decisions are stepping stones to fuller plans He has for me to proclaim His glory. Even in difficulty and pain, I’m not afraid because God is right beside me. I know He will always protect me, therefore I feel safe.
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Known Day 7 El Chuwl: Digging Deeper

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Known Day 7 El Chuwl: Digging Deeper

Rachel Jones

July 18, 2023

Bold,Family,Fellowship,Know,Meaning,Mercy,Perfect

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "El Chuwl"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 139:13-18

For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.

16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began. 17 God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is! 18 If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand; when I wake up, I am still with you.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Why does the psalmist say God’s works, including the psalmist himself, are wondrous? (verse 14)

In Psalm 139:14, David praises God because he has been “remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.” David knew God as the Creator of everything, including people. (Genesis 1:27) He knew God declared His creation to be very good indeed. (Genesis 1:31)

As a shepherd (1 Samuel 17:34) and soldier who lived in caves (1 Samuel 24:3) and slept under the stars (1 Samuel 26:3), David observed the intricacies of nature. He noted with awe the incredible colors, patterns, diversity and abilities of all creation, and he marveled at God’s most complex creation of all, humans. Lori Stanley Roeleveld points out, “Our design—physical, biological, mechanical, functional, mental, emotional, and spiritual—reflects our God’s expansive intelligence, wisdom, and creativity. We are wondrous and awesome in every way, and that was God’s idea.”

David wasn’t a scientist, but he did observe God’s remarkable design in the birth of children (2 Samuel 12:24) and in their growth, and in the body’s ability to heal itself and endure trauma (Psalm 38:7). David’s observations caused him to praise God for His wondrous work in designing people.

David Guzik notes, “The workings of the human body are stunning in their design and execution. We know far more than David ever did about how we are made, and it should make us full of more awe and praise than David ever had.” When we hold a newborn baby, we are reminded of the mystery and the complexity of human life. When we witness an elite athlete run at incredible speeds or a mathematician solve complex equations, we marvel at the abilities of the human body.

Next time we glance in the mirror, we should remember that all of God’s works are wondrous, including us!

The Everyday Application

1) Why does the psalmist say God’s works, including the psalmist himself, are wondrous? (verse 14)

If asked, “Is God’s Word true?” (John 17:17), my emphatic answer is yes! But if you judge by my actions, the answer is less certain, especially when it comes to Psalm 139:14, “I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.” I marvel at God’s design of the human body; it is my own human body I find less than wondrous.

Sadly, many women believe lies from the enemy (John 8:44) that tell us we are hideous, not wondrous, and this becomes our mantra when we look in the mirror. Melissa D’Arabian suggests that the negative comments we direct at our bodies are “actually directed at God. He tells us we are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and then we respond by essentially saying, ‘Your handiwork is just not good enough for me.’”

Instead of doubting we are remarkably and wondrously made by God, we can use this truth to combat the lies we have believed. Jo Saxton emphasizes that we can use this verse to “acknowledge that your body, your personality, your talents, all of you is fearfully and wonderfully made. His words have the power to level and liberate you, a Spirit-filled sword (Ephesians 6:17) to cut through the most resistant of chains.”

When we focus on God as the Master Craftsman, it is easier for us to appreciate that we are His marvelous workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10) Tara Sun asserts, “When we stand in proper view of the reality of our Savior, we can stand in thankfulness and contentment for how we were created. Bumps, dimples, curves, saggy skin and all.”

Thank You, Lord, for hand-crafting each one of us into a unique masterpiece!

The Original Intent

2) What does the author mean by saying he was formed in the depths of the earth? (verse 15)

Discussing his wondrous creation by God, David states that his “bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.” (Psalm 139:15) David isn’t suggesting he was made deep inside the earth, although he could be making a reference to the first man, Adam, who was created by God from the dust of the earth. (Genesis 2:7)

Harriet Connor suggests, “The first man was formed in the ‘womb’ of the earth, as God shaped and animated the dust of the ground.” The psalmist, according to David Guzik, uses “lowest parts of the earth to refer to any mysterious, unseen place.” Specifically, David is referencing the mystery of human gestation in utero.

Albert Barnes suggests David is describing a place “much beyond the power of human observation as though it had been done low down beneath the ground where no eye of man can penetrate.” The Scriptures refer to the mystery of human development in Ecclesiastes 11:5, “You don’t know…. how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman.” Jeremiah 1:5 also references God forming a person “in the womb”.

Harriet Connor notes, “Woman is like the earth in that she has the potential for gestating new life within her body.” David is awestruck contemplating the mystery of how God forms a life inside of a mother.

Although the secrets of gestational development are unknown to him, David is certain God is there, orchestrating everything.

The Everyday Application

2) What does the author mean by saying he was formed in the depths of the earth? (verse 15)

When I was pregnant 20 years ago, I marveled at how much we understood scientifically about pre-natal development. I showed everyone the ultrasound, which wasn’t available to my parents when I was born. The knowledge for Gen-Z parents is even greater; I recently read a study that linked fetal alcohol syndrome to excessive alcohol consumption by the father before conception.

For all our advancements, there is still a great deal of mystery surrounding what occurs in utero. In Psalm 139:15, David talks to God about the process as best he can describe: “My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth.” Alexander Maclaren explains, “The mysterious receptacle in which the unborn body takes shape and grows is delicately described as ‘secret’ and likened to the hidden region of the underworld, where are the dead. The point of comparison is the mystery enwrapping both.” 

How amazing that God has been with me since even before I was born, in the mysterious darkness of the womb. God has “been my God from my mother’s womb” (Psalm 22:10), and He promises He will never leave me or abandon me (Deuteronomy 31:8). There is nowhere we can go that He will not be with us. (Psalm 139:7)

It encourages and comforts me to know that God is with me forever, from before birth to my last day on earth (Psalm 48:14) until I stand in His presence in Heaven. (John 11:25) No matter how dark the situation is, God is there with me, strengthening me and sustaining me with His love (Romans 8:38-39) and through His Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3:16).

I know I can trust in God, who has been with me since even before my first breath!

The Original Intent

3) Why does the psalmist say that God’s thoughts are precious to him? (verse 17)

In Psalm 139:17, David declares, “God, how precious your thoughts are to me; how vast their sum is!”. David marvels that the God of all Creation formed him in secret, knit him in his mother’s womb, and planned out all his days even before he was born (Psalm 139:16) The fact that God was mindful of him was mind-boggling and humbling to David. (Psalm 8:4)

Having the God of all things notice him and care for him was precious to the psalmist. David Guzik notes, “David was filled with amazement and adoration by considering how God knew and cared for him. It is precious that God should think of us at all; it is beyond precious that He would think well of us and think so often of us.”

David knew there was nothing spectacular about him that God should think about him, so he found God’s thoughts toward him precious. He was just a simple shepherd, a youngest son (1 Samuel 17:12-14) whom God chose to bless and prosper, and David was overwhelmed by the grace shown him.

Charles Spurgeon remarks, “That God should think upon him is the believer’s treasure and pleasure.”

The next time you feel unseen or forgotten, remember how precious it is that God is mindful of you and thinks a vast sum of thoughts about you!

The Everyday Application

3) Why does the psalmist say that God’s thoughts are precious to him? (verse 17)

Every year, churches around the globe observe clergy appreciation month in October. As the children’s pastor at my church, I enjoy the notes of encouragement from parishioners, the hand-made cards from students, and the letters of thanks from parents. I also look forward to the home-made goodies and the gift cards I receive.

One October Sunday, a couple placed an envelope in my hand and thanked me for my service to the Lord and our church family. I was astonished to find $200 inside! That was a lot of money, and I was flabbergasted that they (or anyone) would think to bless me with such generosity. Their children had long since grown up, and it surprised me that the children’s minister would even be on their radar.

David registers similar joy and surprise when he considers the thoughts of God toward him, and he declares that they are precious and vast in sum. (Psalm 139:17) To know that anyone thinks of you is special, but to know that The One whose thoughts are so high above your own (Isaiah 55:9) thinks much of you is precious indeed!

Ever since David was conceived, before he was even born, God had been with him, thinking of Him and making plans for him. (Jeremiah 29:11) What could be more precious than knowing the Creator of the universe has been thinking of you since before your birth and continues to think about you every day?

Like David, we can rejoice that no matter what we think about ourselves, our Omniscient God has good thoughts toward us.

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The Lord is intensely for us; if you’re breathing, His heart is to draw you near. Jonah was ready to watch the city of Nineveh and all of its inhabitants burn, but the Lord saw His creation. When the people of Nineveh repented, the Lord’s righteous anger turned to sovereign grace.
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July 10 - July 28, 2023 - Journey Theme #121

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The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 1

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The GT Weekend! ~ Known, Week 1

Rebecca Adams

July 15, 2023

Believe,Christ,Family,Glory,Jesus,Life,Mercy,Perfect

Rest your soul through reflective journaling,
praying Scripture,
and worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

This Week's Journeys

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Friday's DD

Pray His Words Back To Him!

John 14:15-17

“If you love me, you will keep My commands. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn’t see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you.
Read More Of His Words

Prayer Journal Entry

Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us to pray to the Father, calling Him Our Father, beckoning us to share in the rich relationship You came to sacrifice Yourself so we may enjoy Your family.

Thank You, Spirit, for making the heart of the Father known to us through Jesus. Thank you for comforting our hearts with truth and Your constant presence. Thank You for being coequal to Father and Son as the very Breath of God!

Abba, Father, Your compassion is endless and Your love unfailing. I stand in speechless awe at Your unfathomable authority and lavish grace that brought me near, and the price you paid because of love that I might call You Abba. 

May I live my everyday breathing, speaking, and moving in overflow of this love You’ve poured out into my heart! In the Name above all other Names, Christ Jesus, Amen.

Worship Through Song

Journal Prompts

JOURNAL ONE

Jesus, God the Son, taught us to enter the sacred space of intimate prayer by uttering the unthinkable term of love, endearment, and familiarity with the Almighty God by calling out, “Abba Father.”  

In our culture, we can tend to jump to the far end of Abba by solely focusing on God as close, intimate, gentle, and tender. While these are all true and necessary for our understanding of God as Father as depicted in Scripture, we must also refuse to neglect the other, equally important aspect, of Abba.

He carries all authority over us as His children if we have committed ourselves to Him and entered into father-child relationship with Him through the sacrificial blood of Jesus. What Abba says, is what goes.

 In Hebrew tradition, the calling of “Abba” by a child meant, “Father, I will obey you.” In the context of love and safety and awe-filled respect, I will obey what you say because you are my Abba.

How does your view of God line up with these realities from Scripture? Do you find yourself leaning more to one side or another?

JOURNAL TWO

We know the Father because of the Son. (John 14:7) Christ provides the clarity about what God looks like, sounds like, and demonstrates to us “in person” how God acts. Never are the two out of sync. (John 5:19-20)

Sometimes, our view of Jesus isolates Him from the Father God. We think of Jesus as the “nice” version of God, but not as the actual “full picture” of what God looks like in the flesh. (Hebrews 1:3) Jesus is the big, giant “picture window” through Whom we begin to comprehend the very essence of God.

Get honest with your view of Jesus and pull out a blank sheet of paper. Fill it with as many descriptions of Jesus as you can imagine without any filter. Every adjective goes on the sheet.

Now, go back through and mark with a 1, 2, or 3 how much you personally fully agree with these descriptions. Can you find Scripture evidence for the ones you agree with? Go on a quest this weekend to discover how much of your view of God the Son aligns with His Word about Himself!

JOURNAL THREE

Just as the Son shows us the Father with brilliantly painted strokes of awe and beauty, so the Spirit points us repeatedly back to Jesus, back to Jesus, back to Jesus, so we can see the Father. Every teaching, every reminder, every ounce of comfort provided by the indwelling Holy Spirit of the Living God is meant to speak of Christ that we might come to know more deeply the Father, and therein, the whole of the Triune God. (John 14:16-17)

Similar to the “adjective challenge” for Jesus in prompt #2, do the same for the Spirit of God. Do the number of answers you were able to provide surprise you? Alongside those adjectives, jot down the first 3 questions that come to mind about the Spirit of God. How might you go about finding answers to those questions? Could you start this weekend with your exploration?!

Considering this is the Triune God who has come to earth in the Son for the purpose of being revealed to us through the Spirit that we might know the Father, what better use of our study could there be than to explore the Trinity?! A simple first step is prayer.

Ask the Triune God to make Himself known to you through His Word by His Spirit, then apply yourself to knowing Him more deeply! Consider exploring with the help of this easy-to-read book “Delighting In The Trinity” by Michael Reeves.
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compassion,father,love,relationship,Son,spirit,Trinity,worship
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Known Day 5 Parakletos: Digging Deeper

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Known Day 5 Parakletos: Digging Deeper

Melodye Reeves

July 14, 2023

Adoration,Faith,Fruitfulness,Hallel,Holy Spirit,Hope,Lord

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Parakletos"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

John 14:16-20

16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive Him because it doesn't see Him or know Him. But you do know Him, because He remains with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

19 In a little while the world will see Me no longer, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live too. 20 In that day you will know that I am in My Father, you are in Me, and I am in you.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What does verse 16 teach us about a triune God?

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you Another …” Three persons are mentioned in this verse. Jesus tells His disciples He will pray to the Father to send the Spirit. Though not a biblical term, these three Persons are often referred to as the Trinity.

In studying other religions, you’ll discover Christianity is the only religion which believes God is triune existing as a singular deity in three persons who are equally God. If you’re unfamiliar with teaching about the Trinity, it may be a confusing concept, but Scripture clearly teaches God exists in three Persons or Beings. (Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:18-20, John 15:26-27, Acts 10:37-38, Titus 3:4-6)

Tim Keller refers to this relationship of three-in-one as “the Divine Dance. The Trinity means that God is, in essence, relational. Three persons in dynamic orbit about each other, a dance of love, delight and adoration. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit glorify each other. At the center of the universe, self-giving love is the dynamic currency of the Trinitarian life of God. The persons within God exalt, commune with, and defer to one another.

When early Greek Christians spoke of perichoresis in God they meant that each divine person harbors the others at the center of his being. In constant movement of overture and acceptance each person envelops and encircles the others.” (Tim Keller, The Reason for God)

There is no perfect human illustration of how the triune God functions; what we do know is the eternal nature of God. He is the One who would be with them forever via the Spirit’s presence. (verse 16)

The human nature of Jesus would no longer be with the disciples, but He was sending them a spiritual Person who would never leave them! Interested in further study of the Trinity in easy to read language? Try “Delighting In The Trinity” by Michael Reeves!

The Everyday Application

1) What does verse 16 teach us about a triune God?

It is impossible to rightly apply Scripture’s teaching regarding the Holy Spirit without a proper understanding of its teaching about the three-Persons God. Though it is not an easy doctrine to wrap our minds around, it is an essential one if we want to understand the work of the Spirit in our lives.

There are misunderstandings about the authority of the Spirit as it relates to the Trinity. This has led to a wrong view of the very nature of God, eventually leading to a skewed perspective concerning authority and submission in other areas of the believer’s life. The Trinity is not comprised of three greater and lesser gods. Though we may not be able to completely understand or explain it, there is one God who exists in three distinct but equal persons. (Philippians 2:5-6)

Confusion has led many to see the Spirit in a 3rd place position  of inferiority within the Godhead. We must not think of the Trinity as company heads with a President, His VP, and the secretary. In doing so, we have neglected the authority of the Spirit: God Himself!

Francis Chan writes with anguish, “From my perspective, the Holy Spirit is tragically neglected and, for all practical purposes, forgotten. While no evangelical would deny His existence, I’m willing to bet there are millions of churchgoers across America who cannot confidently say they have experienced His presence or action in their lives over the past year. And many of them do not believe they can.” (The Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit)

The Spirit is not less powerful than either the Father or the Son. The Spirit of God has always been in existence. Sister, if you’re spending time with God, you’re spending time with the Spirit! (Jude 1:20-21)

The Original Intent

2) Who is the Spirit of truth and how will they recognize Him? (verse 17)

Verse 17 says of the One who will come, “He is the spirit of Truth.” The term “Another” in verse 16 translates a Greek term (allos) that means “another of the same kind.” This counselor, “one called alongside to help,” is like one who would serve as an advocate in the Roman legal system. (studylight.org)

Jesus had been their Helper, Friend, and Advocate physically present in the flesh. They had even seen Him speak to the wind and waves on their behalf. (Mark 4:35-41) Jesus is saying He will send Another Counselor (Greek, “paraklçtos“) who is like Himself. One full of truth just like Him. (John 1:14, John 14:25-26) This is how they will know He is the Spirit of God. A form of this same Greek root (parakalço) is used of God the Father in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

The verb form of this word (parakaleô) is found in several places in the Old Testament. For example, the psalmist and prophet spoke of this kind of comfort and rescue by God. (Psalm 69:20, Isaiah 35:3-4) Jesus told His disciples they would recognize Him. And while the Spirit’s presence brings comfort, courage, and truth, we know Satan’s presence brings the exact opposite!

He pits himself against the Spirit by bringing confusion, doubt, and lies. (Genesis 3:1, Job 1:9-11, 1 Peter 5:8) The world is blinded by these, but Jesus assures them they will know the Spirit because He has been with them, making Himself known. (verse 17)

To know Jesus is to know the Father and the Spirit. Now, when Jesus physically leaves, it will be even better because the Spirit will dwell with them permanently. Jesus may not be in the boat with them, but the Spirit will!

The Everyday Application

2) Who is the Spirit of truth and how will they recognize Him? (verse 17)

From beginning to end, the Holy Spirit is active in the big story of the world. At the beginning of the story, He was there creating us. At the end of the story, He is there calling us to Home with Him.

The Spirit of God came and went in unique ways in the Old Testament, but His presence is both evident and undeniable. (Genesis 6:3, Numbers 27:18, 2 Samuel 23:1-2, Ezekiel 2:1-2) It’s unlikely that talk of the Spirit was totally new to Jesus’ disciples. They had likely read or heard the passages of Scripture referring to the Spirit of God.

We don’t know how much the apostles understood in that moment, but they would come to understand the Spirit was also their Lord and their God. He was not merely a vague vapor or mist. He was not a force or an energy. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God personified! (bible.org)

“If you or I had never been to a church and had read only the Old and New Testaments, we would have significant expectations of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we read and believed these accounts, we would expect a great deal of the Holy Spirit. He would not be a mostly forgotten member of the Godhead whom we occasionally give a nod of recognition to, which is what He has become in most American churches. We would expect our new life with the Holy Spirit to look radically different from our old life.” (The Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit)

Since we have read #HisWordsBeforeOurs and believed Him, let us boldly ask for our lives to be radically changed by the Spirit.

The Original Intent

3) How will Jesus be with His disciples if He is leaving them? (verses 18-20)

Jesus is sharing with His disciples on the day before His death. It seems they kept missing exactly what Jesus was saying to them about His departure. (John 14:1-5,  John 13:33, John 14:12, John 16:4-5) Though it appears they weren’t really listening, Jesus is reassuring them again. (verse 18)

There will come a time when it would all sink in, and they would need to remember these comforting words. Jesus demonstrates the kindness of a parent by telling them He will provide for them when He’s no longer there. (verse 19) Jesus doesn’t mention His death at this point, though He has before. (Matthew 16:19-21, Luke 9:21-22, Matthew 20:17-19, Matthew 26:1-2)

In the next few days, He would die and be raised to life and return to Heaven. (Acts 1:7-9) Though He’d be absent in body, Jesus would be present with them by His Spirit; and though He was going back to heaven, He would return again to gather them. (Matthew 25, Mark 13:26-27, Acts 1:11) Putting all this together, we can understand why the disciples were probably a combination of confused, troubled, and dismissive. They could not possibly fully grasp all that was to happen to Jesus, nor did they want to think about Jesus leaving them.

What comfort these words would eventually bring “in that day…” (verse 20) Jesus had a nature which could not die. As God, His presence would never leave them. Thankfully, they wouldn’t need to remember all this by themselves. To comfort them with this truth, the Holy Spirit would come to stay forever and He would continue to remind them of everything Jesus had taught them. (John 14:25-26)

The Everyday Application

3) How will Jesus be with His disciples if He is leaving them? (verses 18-20)

Have you ever considered the significance of having a counselor who is just like Christ? Sister, imagine what it would be like to have Jesus walking beside you in the flesh, functioning as your personal guide through life.

What peace would come from knowing we would have constant access to perfect truth and flawless guidance. I can’t fathom the benefit of having Jesus here physically. I rejoice and wonder at the glorious thought! But, oh sweet Friend, did you see it in all these verses? The disciples had Jesus’ presence. Every day.

And somehow it just wasn’t enough to keep them from sin. What is even more amazing is that when Jesus told them about His departure, He said the Spirit’s coming would be better for them! (John 16:7) I’m not sure believers have internalized and applied this truth as Jesus intended.

It seems it is mostly head knowledge to many of us, and we have not owned the reality of the Spirit within us. I know there have been many days I have “forgotten God” and the power of the Holy Spirit in my life. “Many Christians, you see, function as deists. They act as if God rules from the heavens and has spoken in his Word, but does not act on earth or move in their souls — at least in any way that they can sense those movements.” (J.D. Greear, Jesus, Continued: Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better than Jesus Beside You)

Oh, how I want to consistently recognize God the Spirit in my daily life and take note of the ways He’s working which may not be visible to the human eye, but very visible to my heart! As believers and followers of Jesus, let’s hear Him clearly and trust Him entirely: Don’t let your hearts be troubled!! (John 14:1)

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Known Day 5
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“Yada, yada”
A Hebrew phrase meaning to know and be known on the deepest, most intimate levels.

Perhaps you’ve heard it colloquially as “etc, etc, etc,” or perhaps, closer to its true definition, you’ve heard it means “to be familiar with.”

But Truth? It means to know God and be known by Him in the deepest of ways. Nothing hidden. Nothing secret. All things known.
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Known Day 2 Abba: Digging Deeper

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Known Day 2 Abba: Digging Deeper

Merry Ohler

July 11, 2023

Anchored,Forgiven,Freedom,Hope,Inheritance,Know

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Abba"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Jeremiah 31:16-20

16 This is what the Lord says: Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come—this is the Lord’s declaration—and your children will return from the enemy’s land. 17 There is hope for your future—this is the Lord’s declaration—and your children will return to their own territory.

18 I have surely heard Ephraim moaning, “You disciplined me, and I have been disciplined like an untrained calf. 18 Take me back, so that I can return, for you, Lord, are my God. 19 After my return, I felt regret; after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief. I was ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth.” 20 Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to me, a delightful child? Whenever I speak against him, I certainly still think about him. Therefore, my inner being yearns for him; I will truly have compassion on him. This is the Lord’s declaration.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) Who is Ephraim and why is he grieving? (verses 18 and 20)

Ephraim was the younger of Joseph’s sons born to him in Egypt (Genesis 41:50-52) and was eventually established as the powerful Northern tribe of Israelites referred to as “Israel” or “Ephraim” while the Southern kingdom was known as “Judah”. (Genesis 48:3-23)

Although Ephraim and Manasseh were technically Jacob’s grandsons by Joseph when Jacob was near death he blessed them as his own sons, and God honored his blessing. In this prophecy, God was not referring specifically to Joseph’s son, Ephraim, but instead to the powerful Northern tribe by the same name, who had strayed from the Lord’s way and protection. This is reminiscent of how God referred to the enslaved people of Israel as His son in Exodus 4:22-23.

God instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh that Israel was His “first-born son,” and to release him in order to serve God. The name Israel was used by God to personify the Israelites who were freed from Egypt and wandered the desert. In a similar fashion, God revealed through Jeremiah that the tribe of Ephraim recognized their sin and were repentant toward the LORD, seeking His forgiveness and acceptance.

They mourned their sinful state, acknowledging the right discipline they received and recognized they were at the mercy of God. Further, God acknowledged and reiterated His steadfast love for His chosen people, even though they had sinned, and claimed them again as His own beloved children.

When read with correct historical, biblical, and cultural context, the message Jeremiah delivered in verses 16-20 about the tribe of Ephraim’s repentance and God’s response brings to mind the parable of the prodigal son Jesus told in Luke 15:11-32.

The Everyday Application

1) Who is Ephraim and why is he grieving? (verses 18 and 20)

I’ll never forget when I accidentally punched my little sister in the eye. A boy had taught me how to do a “fake punch” after church, and I was eager to show off my new skill. I never intended to harm her at all, but when I reeled back to show her my new trick, I completely misjudged the moment I needed to stop swinging to carry out the “fake” part of the punch.

The sound of my fist colliding with her face was nauseating, and trumped only by her shrill, heartbreaking wail. My regret and remorse were instantaneous. I hadn’t meant to hurt her at all, but there was nothing I could do to take back my actions; the damage was done. I felt awful, and from the way I cried, you might have thought I was the one who was punched.

My sister’s injury may have been the result of an accident, but I knew I had been playing in a careless way. The regret and remorse I felt were heavy, and I fervently wished I could take back what I had done. This is how the wayward tribe of Ephraim is described with repentant hearts, weeping and grieving over their sin.

We experience feelings of regret and remorse when we turn from our sin and turn instead toward our Heavenly Father. In His kindness, He does not place condemnation on us when we experience those convicting feelings, but instead forgives us and invites us immediately to walk rightly with Him again. (Romans 8:1-4, 1 John 1:8-10, Ephesians 1:3-10)

Scripture shows us that we all sin. (Romans 3:23-24, Romans 3:9-18, 1 John 1:5-10) No human is exempt, not even one. When we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us and bring us back into right relationship with Him through the blood of Jesus Christ. (Isaiah 1:16-19, Colossians 1:13-14, Matthew 26:26-29)

The Original Intent

2) Verse 20 describes Ephraim as a precious son and delightful child while verse 19 describes the disgrace of his youth. Do these verses contradict each other?

The blessing of Ephraim as one of Jacob’s own sons transferred to the tribe that grew from his lineage; Ephraim was a child of promise. God’s choice of words in verses 19 and 20 show His love and care for the tribe of Ephraim as His own child. In all of this passage, His words about Ephraim are only ever loving, forgiving and kind.

The verses leading up to verses 19 and 20 outline the tribe of Ephraim’s own words of regret, remorse, and shame, but the Lord’s response is to remind the listener of the tribe’s special place in His heart. He even mentions that when He disciplines or speaks against them, it is for their good; His heart is still soft toward them.

The complete other-ness of God’s nature is brilliantly displayed in the truth we see revealed in this exchange: God is holy and will not tolerate sin. (Psalm 97:2-5, Leviticus 11:44-45, Isaiah 6:1-4)

God also loves. (1 John 4:16-19, Zephaniah 3:17, Ephesians 2:4-5) In His love, He disciplines His children. (Hebrews 12:3-13, Revelation 3:17-20, Job 5:17-18)

In this passage, we see Ephraim responded rightly to the conviction of sin and repented toward the LORD, and the LORD affirmed He would be true to His character. He would forgive and restore, bringing the tribe of Ephraim back into right standing with Him, proving His mercy and compassion yet again.

The Everyday Application

2) Verse 20 describes Ephraim as a precious son and delightful child while verse 19 describes the disgrace of his youth. Do these verses contradict each other?

When we read the Bible, it can be easy to get caught up in the language or immediate details and assume we understand the gist of it, while losing sight of what the text actually says. We must constantly remind ourselves that as we read, we should be asking a series of questions, like: Where does this fit into the overarching narrative of the Bible? Who is writing? Who was this person writing to? What would the original hearers or readers have plainly understood? What does this passage say about God? How does this point toward Jesus? What does it say about mankind?

During my first pass of this passage, it seemed that God was conflicted about Ephraim, describing the tribe as both an untrained calf and disgrace, while also espousing fatherly love for them. However, when I slowed down to dig in deeper, I realized my original take was way off base.

The narrative we see in this passage is instead a beautiful picture of the Lord encouraging His people. We’ve all experienced the shame, regret, and remorse that flood us when the Holy Spirit convicts us of a particularly protected, hidden sin.

Just like Ephraim, I’ve cried out to the Lord. “Abba, thank you. Your discipline led me to repentance, and I’m thankful…but also why is this still an issue with me? I just can’t seem to get _______ right. I don’t deserve your mercy or grace, but Lord, help me. I want to do what You desire.”

Just like with Ephraim, Abba’s response to His repentant child is immediately forgiving, fatherly, and true to His heart character! 

The Original Intent

3) Why did the LORD use the specific language about His “inner being” yearning for Ephraim? (verse 20)

The language God used in His communication to Jeremiah reveals clear proof of God’s affection for and desire for relationship with His people. He has always loved and wanted His Creation to respond to Him rightly, and to choose Him over love of Self.

The emotions evident in His words here are compelling evidence of His father-heart, portrayed later toward His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and all those who would repent of their sin and put their trust in Him. (Matthew 3:13-17, John 3:14-21, Romans 8:12-17)

The God of the Old Testament IS the same God of the New Testament; He is unchanging. (Malachi 3:5-6, Psalm 102:23-27, Hebrews 13:5-8)

Over and over throughout history, God communicated the depths of His holy, steadfast love for His people through word pictures reminiscent of the deepest human relationships. He spoke in terms of father and child, evoking the picture of deep, protecting, and guiding love. (Jeremiah 31:20, Proverbs 3:11-12, Exodus 4:21-23)

He spoke in terms of bridegroom and bride, stirring thoughts of new love, deep affection, desire, and eagerness. (Isaiah 62:4-5, Ezekiel 16:8-14, Luke 5:33-35)

He spoke in terms of husband and wife, drawing out images of dedicated devotion, commitment, and covenant. (Isaiah 54:4-7, Hosea 2:2-7, Ephesians 5:25-33)

Throughout all of Scripture, from the first Creation-weighted words, until the final pages promising the eventual guaranteed return and revelation of the person of Jesus Christ, God consistently conveys His love for and desire for relationship with His people. 

The Everyday Application

3) Why did the LORD use the specific language about His “inner being” yearning for Ephraim? (verse 20)

Relationships are often challenging to describe, mostly because there are just so many different types of relationships. We are all born into certain relationships; from our very beginning we are someone’s daughter or son, grandchild, niece or nephew, sibling, cousin, etc.

These relationships exist because of biology, or legal relationship as appointed by law. Some relationships exist due to proximity, such as neighbors or coworkers. There are also those relationships we seek out and choose. Regardless of the descriptor or title of a given relationship, the gamut of intimacy is vastly different from one relationship to the next.

We may have a dear aunt we love and care for, but we only spend six hours a year in the same amount of space. At the same time, we may have a friend we’ve only known for a few months, but we spend over 15 hours together each week, talking about faith, personal struggles and other deep topics.

Scripture leaves nothing to the imagination: God desires a deep, intimate relationship with us. He knows us, and He knows what we are like.

He knows that when we sin and repent, we may be prone to despair and grieve, but that doesn’t stop Him from immediately restoring us to walk with Him.

He loves us with a perfect, Fatherly love, and He desires people who will choose Him, and choose to be in deep relationship with Him in return!

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Known, Day 1
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We are God’s chosen, treasured possession. And as His holy and beloved people, we show our love for Him by obeying Him and pursuing Him with single-minded devotion. (Deuteronomy 14:1-2)

It is comforting to have my heavenly Father ever by my side. When I feel alone, unloved, not so special, or passed over, Abba reminds me I am always loved, special, and never passed over.

Beloved ones, come to your Father who loves you to the end of time. Who meets you wherever you are, delighting in, remembering, and forgiving you.
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July 10 - July 28, 2023 - Journey Theme #121

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Sketched XI Day 9 Making A Mockery: Digging Deeper

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Sketched XI Day 9 Making A Mockery: Digging Deeper

Merry Ohler

June 29, 2023

Character,Fear,Fellowship,Glory,Jealous,Justice,Love,Mercy

Discover the original intent of Scripture. Make good application to our everyday lives.
Become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!

This DD Connects With "Making A Mockery"
Why Dig Deeper?

Read His Words Before Ours!

Deuteronomy 4:23-27

23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you, and make an idol for yourselves in the shape of anything he has forbidden you. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.

25 “When you have children and grandchildren and have been in the land a long time, and if you act corruptly, make an idol in the form of anything, and do what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, angering him, 26 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that you will quickly perish from the land you are about to cross the Jordan to possess. You will not live long there, but you will certainly be destroyed. 27 The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be reduced to a few survivors among the nations where the Lord your God will drive you.
Read More Of His Words

The Original Intent

1) What covenant is Moses referencing and what is the Israelites role in it? (verse 23)

Moses references the covenant God made with Israel after delivering them from slavery in Egypt, which built upon previous covenants God had made with Noah and Abraham. The first covenant with Noah (Genesis 6:17-22) expressed God’s plan to save Noah’s family from judgment and death.

After the flood, God promised never again to exact judgment in the form of all life on earth for the sins of man. (Genesis 8:20-9:17) Man’s part of this covenant highlighted the sanctity of life in God’s eyes and outlined God’s requirement for payment of each taken life. God’s covenant(s) to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3; 15) told of His purpose to grow a nation from Abraham’s family and His will to bless all people through Abraham’s family line.

Later, in Genesis 17, God told Abraham there would come a time when his people would be enslaved, but God promised He would deliver them. Abraham and his family’s covenant role was to circumcise every male for all generations to come.

True to His Word, the Israelites were slaves in Egypt for 400 years (Exodus 12:40-41) until God delivered them through Moses’ obedience. After the Israelites were freed, God made an additional covenant with them. On Mount Sinai, God delivered His Law to Moses, designed to govern the Israelites in the promised land and to show them God’s standard for righteousness.

These guidelines included the Ten Commandments, as well as other standards God outlined as the way His chosen people must live in daily life. (Exodus 21-24, Exodus 31-35) The Israelites’ role in this covenant was to obey God’s laws, which would accomplish a few things.

First, it would demonstrate how very different God’s people are from the other nations on earth that worshiped false gods and gave themselves to evil practices.

Second, it would showcase God’s glory to the surrounding nations.

Third, it would serve as a placeholder until the time when Christ would come to fulfill the Israelites’ part of the covenant Himself, since only He could perfectly accomplish this, and establish the new covenant: salvation.

The Everyday Application

1) What covenant is Moses referencing and what is the Israelites role in it? (verse 23)

Covenant is a word we don’t often use in modern culture. The only current cultural context we have is a marriage covenant, but that is decidedly within Christian circles. Apart from that, the word is virtually obsolete. Our closest frame of reference might be a promise or an agreement, but neither word accurately conveys the weight a biblical covenant held in ancient times.

Merriam Webster defines covenant as a formal, solemn, and binding agreement. A covenant is an agreement reached between two parties with specific parameters and requirements outlined for each participant to fulfill; a binding contract. The outline and requirements of God’s law demonstrated His standard of righteousness and holiness, while also conveying His intentional provision for the inevitable failings of people.

Even when the Israelites faltered and sinned, God afforded them the opportunity to make sacrifices to bring them back into right standing with Him. While these sacrifices met the Israelites’ end of the covenant, they were simply a placeholder for God’s ultimate plan: Jesus Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice when He laid down His perfect, sinless, fully-man-yet-fully-God life and was crucified, fulfilling the atonement required for all sin, for all time.

All that is needed to enter this new covenant is genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and true heart repentance to turn from our sin as we trust Him at His Word that His sacrifice paid the complete penalty for our sin. Over and over throughout Scripture, we see the Israelites’ failure to uphold their end of the covenant.

Idolatry, disobedience, rebellion, jealousy, covetousness…time and again, they fell short of their end of the covenant. Their choices may have resulted in consequences and discipline from God, but over and over again, He forgave them, delivered them, and faithfully continued to uphold His covenant with them, regardless of their failures. 

The Original Intent

2) Does the description of God as a consuming fire and jealous conflict with 1 John 4:16, which says God is love? (verse 24)

Scriptures that describe God as a consuming fire (Exodus 24:17, Deuteronomy 9:3, Isaiah 30:27, Isaiah 33:14, Hebrews 12:28-29) describe God’s power, sanctifying nature, and incredible glory in vibrant terms. When we read the Bible through our current cultural lens, these descriptions can seem to conflict with other biblical passages that describe God as love (1 John 4:16), and full of mercy (Ephesians 2:4-5) and grace (2 Corinthians 12:9).

When God responded to Job’s questions (Job 38-41), His words were clear and filled with truth, power and clarity. For Job to have continued to question His identity, power, sovereignty, or authority would have been foolish.

When Jesus spoke to the Jews who were weary of attempting to follow the additional rules and laws the Pharisees had added to God’s law, Jesus’ words revealed His kindness, gentleness, and mercy. (Matthew 11:28-30) In each case, God revealed His character in a clear demonstration of certain aspects of His character.

He is a consuming fire, and as Merriam Webster defines jealous: intolerant of unfaithfulness. He alone deserves all glory, praise, and loyalty; He rightly and righteously expects it. He is also the embodiment of love and is full of mercy and grace.

The Everyday Application

2) Does the description of God as a consuming fire and jealous conflict with 1 John 4:16, which says God is love? (verse 24)

When we consider God’s nature and character, we must first always remember He is completely, totally different from humans.

While Scripture states we were created in His likeness (Genesis 1:26-28), we are not and can never become Him. We were not created to be, nor do we exist as “little gods,” neither are we “pieces” of God. He ALONE is God and He shares His glory with none. (Isaiah 42:8, Isaiah 44:6-8, Deuteronomy 4:32-40, 1 Timothy 2:5-6)

He ALONE has no beginning, and no end. (Psalm 90:2, Job 36:22-26, Hebrews 13:8)

He ALONE created everything out of nothing at all. (Genesis 1, Hebrews 1:10-12, Isaiah 45:11-13)

Full stop. The Bible is about Him, not us.

When we approach Scripture with the intention to learn more about how God is like us, or about ourselves, we approach with a wrong heart and mindset. When we study the Bible, we do learn more about ourselves, but it’s only because we are learning more about who God is and what He is like.

By soaking in those truths, we can’t help but recognize where we fall short and where we need His mercy and grace to cover us. The differences between our cultural and language lens is starkly different from what the Bible shows us to be true.

We might think about or describe love as a feeling of affection, acceptance, approval of, or a fondness for someone, but throughout Scripture we see that God defines love as an action or series of actions. When we hear God described as jealous, our minds tend to conjure up thoughts about the feeling of jealousy, whether in the context of a romantic relationship, or even a friendship. However, when God is described as jealous, Scripture is showing us that God alone deserves and expects to hold the place of God in His peoples’ lives.

Verse 24 articulates that He was unwilling to share worship with other idols or false gods, and this is completely in line with His character as the only true living God. 

The Original Intent

3) Why is the warning about making a carved image specifically repeated for future generations? (verse 25)

At the time when this passage of history took place, the Israelites had been freshly freed from slavery in Egypt. There were people of every age group in their company, from infants and young children to elderly adults. Scripture tells us God alone knows all things (Psalm 139, Isaiah 40:28, 1 John 3:20), and this included the heart posture and the future choices the Israelites would make.

In addition to knowing idolatry had proved so alluring to His chosen people (and would entice them over and over again), He also wanted to make the consequences for such unfaithfulness abundantly clear. There would have been no mistaking His clarity here: idolatry at any point in their lives, whether at a young age or old age, would necessitate serious and permanent consequences.

Those who fell prey to idolatry would be cut off from His presence, scattered, and destroyed. The emphasis and repetition of the warning reveals how the Lord God desired the whole hearts and lives of His people.

He did not want, and would not stand for, a fickle devotion that would waver and wane over time; instead, He called for fervent, whole-life, steady and determined worship that would prevail throughout their years, marking them as His in their young and old age.

The Everyday Application

3) Why is the warning about making a carved image specifically repeated for future generations? (verse 25)

It’s so easy to think we’ve “arrived,” isn’t it? Almost before we recognize the thought has taken up residence in our minds, self-satisfaction is quick to set in.

The Lord is no stranger to the minds and hearts of mankind. He knows just how sneaky our pride can be, and this passage is a prime example of His knowledge and wisdom. God knew the Israelites just as He knows us. He knew the temptations and pride of life would seek to ensnare them all the days of their lives, and He saw fit to reiterate the consequences of idolatry for their old age as well as young.

God knows people are often inclined to rest on the laurels of their youth while slipping in their convictions as they age. God used this repeated warning to highlight that He cannot and will not tolerate idolatry, no matter how long a person has walked with Him.

Scripture tells us God is holy. (1 Samuel 2:2, Leviticus 19:1-4, Revelation 4:8) Because He is holy, He cannot be in the presence of sin. (Habakkuk 1:13)

In His kindness, God reiterated His warning, so the Israelites would know and remember God desired their persistent devotion throughout their entire lives.

The Lord intended to warn His precious people of the disastrous results idolatry would have in their lives should they choose to turn away from the one true God.

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Sketched XI, Day 8
Journey Study

Her emotions had spun like the ever-present dust devils on the day I arrived, and again when her son died and the Lord resurrected him. Her faith has grown significantly during the years I’ve been here.

Mine has, too. I think both of us expected the flour and oil to run out during the first few weeks of my stay. As the weeks turned to years, my trust in the Lord strengthened in ways I did not realize I needed. Each day, He has proven His faithfulness and His presence through my daily bread.
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Worship XI Day 15 Shin & Tav

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Worship XI Day 15 Shin & Tav

Marietta Taylor

June 16, 2023

Amazed,Broken,Captivating,Faith,Fellowship,Glory,God,Grace,Heart

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:161-176 
2 Timothy 3:10-17
Psalm 23
Romans 7:14-25

Faithful and dedicated servant.
A wandering sheep needing rescue, understanding, and assistance. 

Which one am I?
Both.

Though redeemed, my flesh still wins some battles. This makes me grateful for God’s Word, which is “profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 

ש Shin means to consume, destroy, eat. 

“Our God is a consuming fire.” He purifies and refines us. Therefore, He will “consume” our idols and destroy strongholds that exist in our lives. It is the truth of the Word that burns up anything that is against His will, promises and plans. 

“I rejoice over Your promise like one who finds vast treasure.” (Psalm 119:162)

We know God’s promises by reading His Word. We can claim them when we belong to Him. From my prayer journal:

Lord, You promise to strengthen, help, and uphold me. (Isaiah 41:10) You promise to keep me in perfect peace if I fix my mind on You. (Isaiah 26:3) You’ve said You will never leave nor forsake me. (Deuteronomy 31:8) I love this because, sadly, I tend to wander like a lost sheep. But You will never lose me. You said You would instruct and teach me, showing me what to do. (Psalm 32:8) I praise You Lord for loving me through these and other promises. 

We should praise Him continually for all His promises because “The Lord is faithful in all His words and gracious in all His actions“. (Psalm 145:13)  

“I hate and abhor falsehood, but I love Your instruction.” (Psalm 119:163)

Abundant peace belongs to those who love Your instruction; nothing makes them stumble. (Psalm 119:165)

Let me share two different perspectives of Shin. 

Father God, thank You that Your grace is sufficient for me and your strength is made perfect in my weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) I repent of the sins of boasting, worrying, doubting, and deceiving. I seek Your grace and forgiveness, for without it I would surely perish. I love You and I know You delight in Your children. I pray that You will cleanse me, praising You in advance for Your mercy and grace. 

Lord, You commanded we walk before You and be blameless. I must intimately know You and be instructed in Your ways to do this. I need Your mercy and grace because it is impossible in my own strength…but Your Holy Spirit lives in me. I’ve given the throne of my heart to You. And I read, study, and follow Your Word, which allows me to grow in faith and toward blamelessness. I have no worries or anxiousness because I know You are guiding me. 

The Word is “able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15) I pray we allow God’s Word to burn up and destroy our desire for anything that doesn’t line up with His instructions for our lives. Let it purify, refine, and rescue us from our own flesh. Psalm 23:3 says, “He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.” May His Word lead us where He would have us go. 

ת Tav means mark or seal.

Seals protect and preserve. Jesus bears the seal of God. (John 6:27) When we accept the free gift of salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit, preserved for our entry into heaven and God’s holy and glorious presence. (Ephesians 1:13-14)

While salvation is a one time event, transforming us into new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17), the sanctification that happens after is a lifelong process. It is how God grows us and teaches us His ways. 

“Let my cry reach You, Lord; give me understanding according to Your word.” (Psalm 119:169)

John 17:17 says, “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” God teaches us by His Word. We gain godly wisdom and understanding by reading, studying, and following these truths.  By this, we also know we need the Lord to save us from our own sinful ways. We cry out and He answers. 

“My lips pour out praise, for You teach me Your statutes. My tongue sings about Your promise, for all Your commands are righteous.” (Psalm 119:171-172) 

I wrote this prayer in my journal:           

Lord Jesus, I praise You for setting me free from the tight clothes of this world to be dressed in Your righteousness instead. 

I don’t exactly remember the circumstances here, but my journal entry speaks to intentionally choosing something godly over something worldly. None of us has any righteousness besides the righteousness of Jesus. (Romans 3:10-12, Romans 5:19) As we continue to choose the godly way, we are sanctified all the more. From this sanctification springs our worship of the One who continues to lovingly transform us. 

“I wander like a lost sheep; seek Your servant, for I do not forget Your commands.” (Psalm 119:176)

We will wander from what is right and good, because we still have a sin nature. (Romans 7:14-23) But praise God, He always knows where we are and what state we are in and He will rescue us. (Romans 7:24-25)

I was once lost. Now I am found, loved, sealed, and transformed by The One whose Spirit lives in me!

“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Revelation 5:13)

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awe,compassion,Consume,love,prayer
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Worship XI Day 15
Digging Deeper

Fear, anger, anxiety, pride, the desire for control, insistence on one’s own way, complaint, and all other forms of self that actively fight against perfectly satisfying love have been consumed and drowned out by the Lord’s ways, wisdom, and good presence.

Praise, rejoicing, adoration, peace, and delight have taken their place; there is secret joy here!
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Worship XI Day 13 Qof & Resh

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Worship XI Day 13 Qof & Resh

Sara Cissell

June 14, 2023

Deep,Enough,Forgiven,Freedom,Fruitfulness,Fullness,Holy Spirit

Read His Words Before Ours!

Psalm 119:145-160
Isaiah 43:1-4
Romans 8:28-29

“I think earth, if chosen instead of Heaven, will turn out to have been, all along, only a region in Hell; and earth, if put second to Heaven, to have been from the beginning a part of Heaven itself.”  –C.S. Lewis, The Great Divorce

This quote from C.S. Lewis brings to mind my last year of college. Praise God that Heaven awaits me, and my eternity will not carry the pain of that year. To this day, I reflect on the thoughts and emotions of that season, and my stomach rolls. 

The vividness of my memories has not diminished, but the lens of truth through which I view them has shifted, thank the Lord! 

What would a personal hell on earth look like for you? 

For me, during my senior year pursuing an elementary education degree, I was told by authority figures I would never be a good teacher. Miscommunications, spiritual warfare, my lack of confidence, and personality differences all were at play. For years, I’d worked toward my degree, and as the journey neared the finish line, I received deep criticism rather than encouragement. 

For a people-pleasing perfectionist with a strong desire to be part of a team, the slow and bitter rejection and injustice of my senior year created physical, mental, and social torture. I lost weight. I battled fear. I understood how the devil could make the lie of suicide solving all problems so very palatable when life clenched a stranglehold on hope. I cried myself to sleep most nights. 

I was miserable. 
I was also desperate for the Lord in ways I had never been before. 

Many nights, as tears streamed down my face, I clutched my Bible to my chest. John 1:1 says the Word was with God and the Word was God. In those moments, I was literally holding Him close.

During that year, I was devoted to reading the Word and expecting the Lord to speak to me. Countless times, I started my Bible reading time begging for the Lord to bring His Word to life. I knew how desperately I needed His voice of authority covering me.

My heart-cry echoed the psalmist’s words:

Qof
“I call with all my heart; answer me, LORD.
I will obey your statutes.
I call to you; save me,
and I will keep your decrees.
I rise before dawn and cry out for help;
I put my hope in your word.
I am awake through each watch of the night
To meditate on your promise. 
In keeping with your faithful love, hear my voice.
LORD, give me life in keeping with your justice.”
(Psalm 119:145-149)

He proved faithful. He provided His manna for the day, and I left nothing behind for the next day. (Exodus 16:31-35)

By the time I graduated and became a certified teacher, I was no longer the same person. Much healing still needed to take place, but I walked away from my college years with much more than a degree. 

It has been years (*cough* decades) since that year of struggle, and in preparation for this Journey Study, I pulled out my journals from that long-ago season. 

What I found made me weep and fall face down before my King. 

10/22/03 “Lord, I am struggling. I feel weighed down, overwhelmed, and lost. I cannot carry this burden. I can’t. I lay my stress, concern, anger, hurt, shame, and defeat at Your feet. I want Your peace and Your joy. I need Your strength alone, Lord. My strength is so weak, unbelievably weak, and yet I still try to do it on my own. Forgive me.” 

11/8/03 “God, I need You desperately. I want You to use me, grow me, keep me humble. Lord, I do not know how to deal with this year. What is its purpose, Lord? Please help me obey and remove my pride. Please, Holy Spirit, teach me. Turn this struggle into a growing and refining time.”

11/12/03 “Lord God, You are awesome. This has been the hardest week thus far of this semester. I praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and amazing grace.”

12/10/03 “Lord, increase my faith that You are in control. Turn this negative experience into a positive one. God, use this experience to make me a better teacher, person, and Christian. Thank you, Father, for the growth I have experienced this semester. I have learned how to cling to You in a new way. Glory be unto Your name!!”

As I read through countless journal entries, prayers of thankfulness filled my heart. The Lord has faithfully answered those prayers. Clinging to His Word, His promises and His precepts, have brought about good fruit in my life. 

Resh
“Consider how I love Your precepts;
Lord, give me life according to Your faithful love.
The entirety of Your word is truth,
each of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”
(Psalm 119:159-160)

He used that prolonged, hard season to uproot what could not remain in my life. He provided time for my heart and mind to begin to consistently search for Him and His perspective, to bring about a humility resulting in fertile heart ground, and to teach me to trust His voice of authority over all others. 

In essence, He took a year that felt like hell and planted seeds that drew me closer to Heaven.

I declare with the psalmist,
Your compassions are many, Lord;
give me life according to Your judgments.
(Psalm 119:156)

For indeed, He HAS!

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Worship XI Day 14
Digging Deeper

But God doesn’t connect to humanity because He needs something from us. He draws near out of the abundance of who HE is.

The psalmist understood something important: he had an ongoing relationship with His creator because of God’s coming near! The psalmist continually called out to God from his heart. Through the day and the night, he walked with God by obeying His word, putting hope in His word and meditating on His word.
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May 29 - June 16, 2023 - Journey Theme #119

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