Q53: Who was the first king of Judah of whom it is recorded that he burnt his children in the fire?

#quiz

Source: www.biblequiz.biz

PS: Discussions are very welcome, but please do not give the answer away in your discussions.

I LOVE doing this! Thank you, Sisters, especially contributors! Today was shipping day, which is my favorite because all the production and planning is done for this issue and I finally get to put these beauties in the mailbox. #torahsisters

The ebb and flow of moral standards correlated with prosperity is a repeating pattern in history.

Prosperity brings apostasy.
Apostasy brings judgment.
Judgment brings morality.
Morality brings prosperity.

The longer we live in prosperity, the easier it becomes to believe we are the source of our own fortune. Prosperity follows hardship, but if you forget the lessons of hardship, you will be forced to relearn them.
#deuteronomy 8:14,19 #torah

FEELINGS OF INSECURITY --- PART 2

How should we deal with our feelings of insecurity?

Matthew 6:32-34: -- Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of YHVH your primary concern. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. We are to make YHVH’s priorities our priorities. Philippians 4:6-7: -- Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell YHVH what you need and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience YHVH’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Moshiach Yeshua. We are to bring our concerns to YHVH in prayer with thanksgiving. Ephesians 3:16-20: -- I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Ruach Kodesh. And I pray that Moshiach will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of YHVH’s marvellous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all YHVH’s people should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of Moshiach, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from YHVH. Now glory be to YHVH! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. -- Philippians 4:13: -- I can do everything with the help of Moshiach who gives me the strength I need. We are to rely on YHVH’s power and His provision. John 6:39: -- This is the will of YHVH, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given me, but that I should raise them to eternal life at the last day. John 17:12: -- During my time here, I have kept them safe. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold. We are to trust His protection. Psalm 37:3-5: -- Trust in Adonai and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in Adonai and He will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to Adonai. Trust Him and He will help you. We are to depend on YHVH’s promises. Isaiah 26:3: -- You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You! We are to experience His peace as a result of trusting and focusing on Him.

How can we prevent feelings of insecurity?

Romans 8:35-39: -- Can anything ever separate us from Moshiach’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity or are persecuted or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? [Even the Scriptures say, ‘For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.’] No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Moshiach, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from His love. Death can’t and life can’t. The angels can’t and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow and even the powers of hell can’t keep YHVH’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of YHVH that is revealed in Moshiach Yeshua our Adonai. Proverbs 18:10: -- The Name of Adonai is a strong fortress; the godly run to Him and are safe. Psalm 125:1: -- Those who trust in Adonai are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Psalm 40:1-2: -- I waited patiently for Adonai to help me and He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. Psalm 63:8: -- I follow close behind you; your strong right hand holds me securely. Proverbs 1:33: -- All who listen to Me will live in peace and safety, unafraid of harm. Matthew 7:24-25: -- Anyone who listens to My teaching and obeys Me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse, because it is built on rock. Our security is based on YHVH’s love and character; our response is to trust and obey. Trust is the basis for security. And who can be trusted more than YHVH? If you choose to believe His promises then you will begin to feel more secure. And what could be more exciting than YHVH’s promise of eternal security?

How can we encourage others to rid themselves of their personal feelings of insecurity?

Ephesians 2:10: -- We are YHVH’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Moshiach Yeshua, so that we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Ephesians 3:20: -- Now glory be to YHVH! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. Philippians 1:6: -- I am sure that YHVH, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on that day when Moshiach Yeshua comes back again. We are of such value to YHVH that not only did YHVH make each of us unique and in His image, but He continues to work within us on an individual basis. The YHVH of all the universe loves each of us and wants us to live with Him now and forever. That should make any of us feel security at its best.

How can feelings of insecurity affect our relationships?

Matthew 22:39: -- Love your neighbour as yourself. When we feel insecure about ourselves, we cannot love others as we should. Mark 9:34: -- They didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. Feelings of insecurity can lead to discontent, arguing and broken fellowship. 1 Samuel 18:7-9: -- This was their song: ‘Saul has killed his thousands and David his ten thousand!’ This made Saul very angry. ‘What’s this?’ he said. ‘They credit David with ten thousand and me with only thousands. Next, they’ll be making him their king!’ So, from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 1 Samuel 18:28-29: -- When the king realized how much Adonai was with David and how much Michal loved him, he became even more afraid of him and he remained David’s enemy for the rest of his life. 1 Samuel 19:1: -- Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. 1 Samuel 20:30-31: -- Saul boiled with rage at Jonathan. ‘You stupid son of a whore!’ he swore at him. ‘Do you think I don’t know that you want David to be king in your place, shaming yourself and your mother? As long as that son of Jesse is alive, you’ll never be king. Now go and get him so I can kill him!’ Our own insecurity can result in envying another to the point of intending to cause harm.

FEELINGS OF INSECURITY --- PART 1

How should we respond to feelings of insecurity?

Faithful obedience to Moshiach control insecurity!

They didn’t answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. -- Mark 9:34. The disciples, caught up in their constant struggle for personal success, were embarrassed to answer Yeshua’ question. It is always painful to compare our motives with Moshiach’s. It is not wrong for believers to be industrious or ambitious. But when ambition pushes obedience and service to one side, it becomes sin. Pride or insecurity can cause us to overvalue position and prestige. In YHVH’s Kingdom, such motives are destructive. The only safe ambition is directed toward Moshiach’s Kingdom, not our own advancement.

Faith in Moshiach is the answer to insecurity.

I ask you again, does YHVH give you Ruach HaKodesh and work miracles among you because you obey the Law of Moses? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heard about Moshiach. -- Galatians 3:5. The Galatians knew that they had received Ruach HaKodesh when they believed, not when they obeyed the Law. People still feel insecure in their faith, because faith alone seems too easy. People still try to get closer to YHVH. While certain disciplines [Bible study, prayer, Torah) and service may help us grow, they must not take the place of Ruach HaKodesh in us or become ends in themselves. By asking these questions, Paul hoped to get the Galatians to focus again on Moshiach as the foundation of their faith.

What can cause feelings of insecurity?

… Trusting in ourselves rather than YHVH.

Proverbs 28:26: -- Trusting oneself is foolish, but those who walk in wisdom are safe. 1 Corinthians 10:12: -- If you think you are standing strong, be careful, for you too, may fall into the same sin. Luke 12:16-21: -- He gave an illustration: A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. So, he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store everything. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, my friend; you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink and be merry!’ But YHVH said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?’ Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with YHVH. Isaiah 47:8: -- You are a pleasure-crazy kingdom, living at ease and feeling secure, bragging as if you were the greatest in the world! You say, ‘I’m self-sufficient and not accountable to anyone! I will never be a widow or lose my children.’

… Trusting in the wrong people.

Psalm 146:3: -- Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. Jeremiah 17:5: -- This is what Adonai says: ‘Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from Adonai.’ Psalm 60:11: -- Oh, please help us against our enemies, for all human help is useless. Psalm 118:9: -- It is better to trust Adonai than to put confidence in princes. Isaiah 2:22: -- Stop putting your trust in mere humans. They are as frail as breath. How can they be of help to anyone? Proverbs 25:19: -- Putting confidence in an unreliable person is like chewing with a toothache or walking on a broken foot. Isaiah 30:2-3: -- Without consulting Me, you have gone down to Egypt to find help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh for his protection. But in trusting Pharaoh, you will be humiliated and disgraced. Isaiah 31:3: -- These Egyptians are mere humans, not YHVH! Their horses are puny flesh, not mighty spirits! When Adonai clenches His fist against them, they will stumble and fall among those they are trying to help. They will all fall down and die together. Isaiah 36:6: -- Will Egypt? If you lean on Egypt, you will find it to be a stick that breaks beneath your weight and pierces your hand. The Pharaoh of Egypt is completely unreliable!

… Trusting in false gods.

Deuteronomy 32:37: -- Then he will ask, ‘Where are their gods, the rocks they fled to for refuge?’ 2 Chronicles 28:23: -- He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus who had defeated him, for he said, ‘These gods helped the kings of Aram, so they will help me too, if I sacrifice to them.’ But instead, they led to his ruin and the ruin of all Israel. Psalm 115:4-8: -- Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They cannot talk, though they have mouths or see, though they have eyes! They cannot hear with their ears or smell with their noses or feel with their hands or walk with their feet or utter sounds with their throats! And those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them.

… Trusting in the wrong things.

Proverbs 27:24: -- Riches don’t last forever and the crown might not be secure for the next generation. 1 Timothy 6:17: -- Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living YHVH, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. Psalm 49:6-7: -- They trust in their wealth and boast of great riches. Yet they cannot redeem themselves from death by paying a ransom to YHVH. Psalm 52:7: -- Look what happens to mighty warriors who do not trust in YHVH. They trust their wealth instead and grow more and more bold in their wickedness. Proverbs 11:28: -- Trust in your money and down you go! But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

How is YHVH the solution to our insecurities?

Psalm 91:1-2: -- Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare of Adonai: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; He is my YHVH and I am trusting Him. Psalm 46:1-3: -- YHVH is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So, we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! Proverbs 3:5-6: -- Trust in Adonai with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will direct your paths. Proverbs 14:26: -- Those who fear Adonai are secure; He will be a place of refuge for their children. Psalm 20:7: -- Some nations boast of their armies and weapons, but we boast in Adonai our Elohim. Psalm 125:1: -- Those who trust in Adonai are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever. Psalm 16:5: Adonai, You alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine. 2 Timothy 1:12: -- That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the One in whom I trust and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return. We find true security by trusting YHVH. Why? Because YHVH alone holds all the future and all the world’s resources in His hand. He alone knows what is best for us and is prepared to help us receive and discover what is best for us.

Think of it this way: You need to daily read your Bible and connect with Elohim in prayer. Yesterday's bread will not be enough for today's hunger. Eat the Bread of Life daily so that the well of living water overflow within you.

The blessings of #deuteronomy 7-8 are national, not individual, but national blessings stem from individual blessings. The nation can't be blessed unless individuals are blessed. If you want God's blessings, encourage your nation to keep His commandments and keep them yourself!

Did you know that the Bible contains a list of ways to love your neighbor? They're called "commandments", but they are much more than that.
#ekev #torah

https://www.americantorah.com/....2016/08/24/613-ways-