"He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it."

Pr 11

Thought for Today: Sunday October 12

When Yeshua returns, there will be an accounting given, a judgement held. Every person outside of the Moshiach will give an account not only of the things done and the things said, but also an account of all their thoughts and motives. Now for the glorious news: When Yeshua returns, all evil will be destroyed. There will be worldwide justice, and complete safety and security. There will be no more war, no more fighting – for Yeshua Moshiach will rule as King of kings, and “His Kingdom will never end” {Luke 1:33}

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BIBLE STUDY --- THE SAVIOUR

GOOD NEWS FROM AN ANGEL

From Luke 1:26-38

Six months had passed since the Angel Gabriel visited Zacharias in the temple. Once more, the angel returned to the world with good news, this time to Mary of Nazareth, a young lady who was still a virgin. Mary was engaged to a man named Joseph, who had come from the royal family of King David. The angel appeared suddenly in Mary’s room and spoke to her. [Greetings! May Adonai be with you,] the angel said, [you have found great favour with YHVH.] Mary was uneasy when she heard this. What could such a greeting mean? [Don’t be afraid,] the angel said. [YHVH has chosen you among all women to do something for Him. You will become the mother of His Son and will Name Him Yeshua. He will do great wonders and will rule over King David’s people forever.] [But how can I become a mother?] Mary asked. [I don’t have a husband yet.] [Ruach HaKodesh will come to you,] the angel answered. [The power of YHVH will come over you. YHVH will be the Father of this holy Child, and He will be called the Son of YHVH. Do you remember how people called your cousin Elizabeth ‘the childless one?’ She is now expecting a child, so never doubt His promises. When YHVH Promises something, that Promise comes true!] [I will do whatever Adonai wants,] said Mary. [Let this happen the way you have said it would.] When the angel heard that, his mission was accomplished. He went away and left Mary alone with her thoughts.

THE SONG OF MARY

From Luke 1:39-56

Not long after the angel’s visit, Mary took a hurried trip to visit her cousin Elizabeth in the hill country of Judea. As soon as Mary spoke to her, Elizabeth felt her baby move, and she was filled with Ruach HaKodesh. Then Elizabeth began to speak these words to Mary:

[You have been blessed more than any other woman, and the Child in you is richly blessed, too. What a great honour for me to have the mother of my Adonai, visit with me here in my home! With your greeting, my child stirred with joy inside me. What delight comes to the woman who believes YHVH and trusts Him to fulfil His Promises!]

When Elizabeth finished, Mary spoke this song to her:

[My heart overflows with praise to YHVH, my soul rejoices in YHVH my Saviour. He looked so kindly at His humble servant, that all generations to come may call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great things for me. His Name is Holy. In each generation, His mercy comes to those who honour Him. His arm is strong, sweeping away proud and mighty men. He has demoted kings and promoted commoners and He has filled hungry hearts, while rich men live in hunger. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering the Promises He made to our fathers -- to Abraham and to his descendants forever.]

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months. Then she returned to her own home in Nazareth.

COMMENTARY

WHAT TOWN IS THIS?

Ignored in the Old Testament, despised by its neighbours, Nazareth was just another little village to be forgotten with time. Nazareth had such a low reputation that Nathanael asked, when told about Yeshua, [Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?] But something happened that made Nazareth a place honoured by millions of people from all nations and all generations. A Child was born to a family of Nazareth. The village was the home of young Mary and her husband-to-be Joseph. Mary had grown up in the nearby village of Sepphoris, while it is believed Joseph was born and raised in Nazareth. Yeshua did not live in Nazareth until Mary and Joseph returned with Him from Egypt. He had been born in Bethlehem, spent His early childhood in Egypt, but Nazareth would he His home for many years, giving Nazareth a place in history. When Joseph returned to Nazareth, he taught the young Yeshua the carpentry trade. Joseph is not mentioned again after he took Yeshua and Mary to Jerusalem when Yeshua was twelve. Many think that he died soon after the trip. Nazareth would not accept Yeshua as the Son of YHVH. The people could not believe that the young carpenter who had grown up among them was the Moshiach. Although they had waited so long for Him, they drove Him away from their town. Yeshua left Nazareth and made His new home in the village of Capernaum, just a few miles northeast, along the Sea of Galilee.

BIBLE STUDY -- THE SAVIOUR

A NEW VOICE

From Luke 1:1-4

“The story of Yeshua has been written by others, based on the information which we, His apostles, gave them. But we are the ones who saw these things happen, from the time He came to earth until the time He left. Since we are the ones who walked with Yeshua, it is necessary for us to write an accurate account of His life on earth. This will help you know what is true concerning Him.”

WHERE HE LIVED BEFORE BETHLEHEM

From John 1:1-14

Yeshua has always been alive, from the very beginning. He has not only lived with YHVH, but He is YHVH. Nothing was ever made without Him, for He is the Source of all life. He is so filled with Life that it radiates into our dark world to light our paths, but His light is never dimmed by the world’s darkness. YHVH sent a messenger named John the Baptist to proclaim this Light to the world. He never pretended to be the Light of the World himself, but lived for the sole purpose of telling others that Yeshua is the Light of the World. John wanted the world to see that Yeshua brought His truth to illuminate us all. Although Yeshua was the Creator of all things and lived here among His creations, men did not realize who He was. Even His own adopted land and people did not recognize that He was YHVH. But those who did accept Him, became YHVH’s children. These are the ones who believed that He was the Saviour, as His Name says. They were born into a new life, not through an earthly father and mother, but through YHVH’s Plan of Life. Yeshua lived on earth in a human body and entered into the daily affairs of people. We who are His apostles have seen YHVH’s glory in Him, for He was full to overflowing with YHVH’s Grace and Truth.

A BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT FOR JOHN THE BAPTIST

From Luke 1:5-25

At the time when Herod the Great was king of Judea, Zacharias served with other priests who ministered in the temple. He was a member of the group of Abijah, one of twenty-four such groups which took turns serving there. Both Zacharias and his wife Elizabeth were descended from Aaron. They had the distinction of belonging to the priestly tribe of Israel. They were godly people, pleasing Adonai in all they did and serving Him faithfully. But Zacharias and Elizabeth had no children, a mark of dishonour in Israel. It now seemed hopeless that they would ever have children, for both of them were old. During the week when the Abijah group of priests was on duty in the temple, Zacharias had the added honour, chosen by lot, to burn incense to YHVH in The Holy Place. Outside, a crowd gathered to pray, as they usually did when a priest burned the incense. While Zacharias went about his work, an angel suddenly appeared to him and stood beside the altar where the incense was burned. This dramatic visit frightened Zacharias and caused him to be greatly disturbed. [Don’t be afraid,] the angel said to Zacharias. [I have good news that answers your prayers. You and Elizabeth will have a baby boy and you will name him John. His birth will bring joy not only to you, but to many others, also. He will be a great man of YHVH, abstaining from wine and liquor, and will be filled with Ruach HaKodesh, even before he is born. Because of his preaching, many of the people of Israel will turn to YHVH. His powerful preaching and his rugged appearance will remind people of Elijah. His purpose in life will be to prepare people for the coming of the Moshiach, the Son of YHVH and to show them how to come to YHVH in simple childlike faith.] [But how can I be certain that this will happen?] Zacharias asked. [My wife and I are both too old to have a baby.] [Don’t you realize who I am?] the angel said. [I am the Angel Gabriel, one who lives in the very presence of YHVH Himself! I have come directly from YHVH to tell you these things. But you have dared to question me! Because of your doubt, you will not talk again until the day your son is born. But you will see all this unfold on YHVH’s schedule.] Outside, the people grew restless waiting for Zacharias, wondering why he stayed so long in The Holy Place. When he finally came outside, he could tell them what had happened only by using gestures. Then the people realized that Zacharias had seen some strange, wonderful sight in The Holy Place. When his week of service at the temple was over, Zacharias went back home. Not long after that, Elizabeth learned the good news that she was going to have a baby. At that time, she stopped visiting with other people for five months, [Adonai has done a wonderful favour for me,] Elizabeth said, [for He has removed my shame of having no children.]

COMMENTARY --- HEROD THE GREAT -- WARRIOR AND BUILDER

Whatever his faults may have been, Herod the Great was an outstanding builder and military leader. As a warrior, he was rarely defeated. Throughout his life he was involved in many battles, most of which he won because of his talent at military strategy. Guessing his opponent’s next move in war also served him well in Roman politics, where he was a long-time survivor in an area famous for its rapid changes. In his first job as governor of Galilee, he almost immediately proved his ability at war by defeating the bands of robbers who were plundering the country. When this earned him the title of king, he had to conquer Jerusalem before he could claim the throne. Later, he was involved in territorial disputes with Arabia and with rebellions in Galilee. Herod also helped Caesar Augustus in his war against Egypt. If war was Herod’s job, then building was his hobby. He reshaped Jerusalem by rebuilding the temple and parts of the city walls. He also built a magnificent palace and fortified citadel from which he could keep close watch over the city. But Jerusalem was not the only city where Herod built palaces. There was a royal residence in Sepphoris, Ashkelon and several other places. His mountain fortresses were also equipped with palaces for the king and his household. Two of his building projects were truly massive for the time. In Samaria, which he renamed Sebaste, Herod built walls, towers, theatres, amphitheatres and aqueducts. At Caesarea, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, he constructed a fortified harbour with a long dock and a large sea wall. Today, almost two thousand years later, the land of Israel is still marked by the remains of Herod’s many remarkable building projects.