Compare a typical translation of Ephesians 6:12, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” with a more literal translation from the Greek. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Thought for Today: Sunday April 23:

No matter if you are in a valley or on a mountain, may you remember most importantly that as a Moshiach-follower, you are seated with Moshiach in heavenly realms. Everything He has is yours. He has written your name on His hand and holds your desires close to his heart. Though the elements rage on earth, your footing is secure in Him. Stay hidden in the shelter of His wings; stay in that place of peace. May you remember today that nothing can separate you from His Powerful, Personal Love for you. You are everything to Him – Thus make Him your first Love.

SERIES M --- PROPHESIES AND MIRACLES --- LESSON 24

COVENANT RENEWED

THE REIGN OF KING JOASH

From 2 Kings 11:17-21, 12:1-21, 2 Chronicles 23:16-21; 24:1-27

As soon as the wicked Queen Athaliah was executed, the priest Jehoiada made a covenant with the king and the people that they would serve Adonai. After that, the people went to Baal’s temple and broke down the building, the altars and the idols and executed Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. Jehoiada appointed guards at the temple under the direction of the Levites and Levite priests, whom David had put in charge of the temple. Part of their work was to offer burnt offerings to Adonai, as directed in the Law of Moses, singing joyfully as they worked. The guards or door-keepers were stationed at the temple gates so that nothing would enter unless it was consecrated. Then the army officers, nobles, governors and all the people brought King Joash from the temple, going through the Upper Gate to the palace and there they placed the new king upon his throne. The people of the land rejoiced, for the city was peaceful at last because the wicked Queen Athaliah had been executed with the sword. Joash, whose mother was Zibiah of Beersheba, was only seven years old when he began to reign and he ruled over Judah in Jerusalem for forty years. As long as the priest Jehoiada was alive, Joash tried to please Adonai in all that he did. When Joash was grown up, Jehoiada arranged for his marriage to two wives and in time he had sons and daughters. As time passed, Joash made plans to restore the temple. He called for an assembly of the priests and Levites and gave them the following orders: [Go into the cities of Judah and gather offerings from the people so that we may restore the temple of Adonai and keep it in good condition year after year. Go now and do not linger!] The Levites however were slow in obeying the king’s command. Joash called Jehoiada the high priest and asked him, [Why haven’t you required the Levites to gather the temple taxes from Jerusalem and the cities of Judah? We must enforce the Law which Moses gave concerning the temple tax so that the temple can be kept in good condition.] The temple was in bad condition because the followers of the evil Queen Athaliah had broken into it and had taken everything of value to the temple of the Baals, even those articles which had been dedicated to Adonai’s service. Next, King Joash commanded that a chest be made and placed at the gate of the temple. He sent a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem that the people bring the required temple taxes that Moses had assessed on the people of Israel while they were still in the wilderness. The people responded gladly and brought the money to help take care of the temple. They put it into the chest until they had paid all that was due at that time. The Levites often brought the chest to the king’s officers so that the king’s secretary and the high priest’s assistant could count the money. Then they took the chest back to its place so it could be filled again. This happened each day until they had quite a large amount of money. With the money from the chest the men in charge of temple repairs hired masons and carpenters, iron workers and coppersmiths to restore the temple. These men worked hard and the project moved forward well until the temple was in good condition again. When the work was finished, they brought the remaining money to King Joash and Jehoiada, the high priest. They had it melted down and made the gold and silver into spoons and bowls for incense and other items to be used in the sacrifices and offerings. As long as Jehoiada was alive, burnt offerings were sacrificed regularly. Jehoiada lived to be one hundred and thirty years old. When he died, he was buried in the royal tombs in the City of David, for he had done so many wonderful things for YHVH and the temple. After Jehoiada died, the leaders of Judah began to give bad advice to King Joash and he listened to them. They turned away from the worship of the temple and served the Asherim and the idols. YHVH was angry and showed His wrath through the messages of prophets whom He sent to turn the people of Judah and Jerusalem back to Adonai. But the people would not listen to the prophets. At one time the Spirit of Adonai came upon Jehoiada’s son Zechariah. He gathered the people and stood on a high place among them. [Adonai wants to know why you are breaking His Commandments and bringing disaster upon yourselves!] he said. [Since you have turned away from Adonai, He has turned away from you.] The leaders of Judah were angry when they heard Zechariah say these things and they made plans to kill him. At last, they persuaded King Bash to have Zechariah stoned in the courtyard of the temple, the very place where Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had risked his life to make Joash king. That was how Joash showed his gratitude for what Jehoiada had done for him; by killing his son! As Zechariah lay dying, he cried out, [Adonai, look at what these people are doing and send Your judgment!] By the end of that year the Syrian army marched against Jerusalem and Judah. They destroyed the leaders of Judah and sent the plunder to their king at Damascus. The Syrian army was much smaller than the army of Judah, but because the people of Judah had left Adonai, He let them be defeated by the Syrians. The Syrians brought YHVH’s judgment upon Joash. When the Syrians finally left, Joash was badly wounded. Then his own officers began to plot his death because he had murdered the son of Jehoiada the priest. As he lay on his bed, they killed him. He was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal tombs, as Jehoiada had been. The men who plotted Joash’s death were Zabad the son of Shimeath, an Ammonite and Jehoazbad the son of Shimrith, a Moabite. There are further accounts of the works of Joash and his sons, the curses against him and the work of the temple restoration in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah. After Joash died, his son Amaziah became king in his place.

COMMENTARY

TREASURIES

Palaces and temples of the ancient Middle East were built with large treasuries. In the royal treasury, kings placed official documents, works of ivory, gold and other valuable items. Much of the wealth was war booty or tribute. This included not only precious metals and jewels, but valuable goods such as spices, ointment and richly ornamented garments. Taxes provided a regular flow of goods into the treasury. Some were transit taxes, charged to the caravans using the trade routes through the land. Others came from the people; jugs of oil, wine, grain, ointment and produce. Special storehouses had stalls to house cattle and sheep paid in kind. Many of the same goods filled temple treasuries. In Israel, kings commonly deposited war booty in the temple and drew on the temple treasury for public expenses.

"All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die."

Eze 33

Welcome to the group Chris Heiser !

Do you mind sharing your current thoughts about multiple wives? ?

As if to emphasise the contrast with idolatry, and to show the true purpose of human art, the faith of Abraham worships towards the space between two statues.

"Thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth." Ps 80

The purpose of our creations is to glorify our Creator. If we, his creations, are so foolish as to refuse worship to our Creator, it is the same foolishness to turn and worship our own creations. If instead we rightly worship our Creator, we worship him with our creations.

2023/04/22 #sabbathposts

I hope everyone had a restful, joyful and rewarding day of rest. As you head into the new week, remember we are laboring for Yahs kingdom, not this world, so have a joyful heart of a servant and the hours will pass smoothly. I am fortunate to know a man who labors with a joyful heart of a servant. Even the days before he went into a diabetic coma, he was happy and humble, always praising Yah. He broke his foot when he went home from the hospital, and drove himself back to the hospital to get it set. It was frustrating to him to sit at home for weeks. He came back to work with an even happier personality. The murder of his brothers wife last year saddened him, but did not dampen his servant spirit. The teens who murdered her, plead guilty the other day after spending a year in jail. Perhaps they will be changed for the better during their 25 year sentences, however, the circumstances of the murder lead me to believe our town will not be safe once they are paroled. Pray for these two, who are now 17 and 18, that they may come to know Yah and be reformed. Shalom!

The message, "We Are All Lepers," was delivered on location at 60 Bailey Ave., Manchester, NH for First Fruits Ministries Sabbath celebration on April 22, 2023. Here is the Odysee video archive: https://bit.ly/3oA8jrn

For the presentation transcript, download the PDF here:
https://bit.ly/3L0hFEf

Sermons at First Fruits Ministries are based on weekly Torah Portion readings announced each week in the church bulletin. This week’s sermon is loosely based on: Leviticus 12:1-15:33; 2 Kings 4:42-5:19; Isaiah 66:1-24; Luke 2:22-35; Luke 7:18-35; Mark 1:35-45 (https://bit.ly/3LjFjx4).

 

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"We Are All Lepers": Shabbat Message 4/22/2023

The message, "We Are All Lepers," was delivered on location at 60 Bailey Ave., Manchester, NH for First Fruits Ministries Sabbath celebration on April 22, 2023. For the presentation transcript, down...