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).
We don't like to think about the fact that we begin dying at the instant of our birth. It's hard enough to cope with that when those we love leave us after a long life, but what if that life is cut short and marked by tremendous suffering?
https://thebarkingfox.com/2023..../04/22/but-what-if-h
We don't like to think about the fact that we begin dying at the instant of our birth. It's hard enough to cope with that when those we love leave us after a long life, but what if that life is cut short and marked by tremendous suffering?
https://thebarkingfox.com/2023..../04/22/but-what-if-h
SERIES M --- PROPHESIES AND MIRACLES --- LESSON 23
QUEEN ATHALIAH
JOASH BECOMES KING
From 2 Kings 11:1-16, 20; 2 Chronicles 22:9-12; 23:1-15, 21
Meanwhile, back in the southern kingdom of Judah, things were also in a state of change. King Ahaziah of Judah died in Jehu’s purge of the northern kingdom of Israel, for he was visiting King Jehoram when Jehu killed Jehoram and all his friends. When Ahaziah’s body was brought back to Jerusalem for burial, it was laid in one of the royal tombs in Jerusalem, for he was the grandson of King Jehoshaphat, who had served Adonai well. When Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah, saw that her son was dead, she murdered all her grandsons and seized the throne for herself. However, Ahaziah’s sister Jehoshabeath, managed to hide one of the king’s sons Joash, who was still a baby, in the temple bedchamber, along with his nurse. Jehoshabeath was also a daughter of King Jehoram of Judah and the wife of Jehoiada the priest. Little Joash lived in the temple for six years while Athaliah ruled as queen. His aunt, Princess Jehoshabeath, his uncle, the priest Jehoiada and his nurse took care of him. Finally, in the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada got up enough courage to proclaim Joash king. He summoned the officers of the army to the temple and made a covenant with them, pledging them to loyalty and then showed them Joash, the child king. Among those present that day were Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. These officers went on a secret mission across the land, telling the Levites and Israel’s clan leaders about their plan and calling them to an assembly at Jerusalem. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they all made a covenant with the young king in the temple. [Adonai promised that a son of David would rule on the throne and the time has come for that to happen,] Jehoiada said. [Now this is what we must do. A number of you priests and Levites will come off duty on the Sabbath. A third of you will go to the entrance as guards. Another third will go to the palace to take control there. The last third will go to the Gate of the Foundation. All other people who are not priests and Levites must stay in the outer courts of the temple, as YHVH’s Law Commands. No one except the priests and Levites on duty may enter the temple, for they alone are sanctified for this service. You Levites will form a circle around the king to protect him with your weapons. Kill anyone who tries to come near him. Stay with the king at all times.] Everything went as planned. Each leader was in charge of a third of those arriving for Shabbat duty and a third of those who would normally be going off Shabbat duty, except that Jehoiada did not dismiss them. Jehoiada gave the officers of the army the spears and shields which had once belonged to King David and had since been kept there in the temple. These officers then formed a line from the south side of the temple to the north side, all along the front, as well as around the altar and the sanctuary itself. Then little Joash was brought out. They placed the crown upon his head, presented him with a copy of the Law of YHVH and proclaimed him king. [Long live the king!] the people shouted as Jehoiada and his sons anointed Joash. The shout was so loud that Queen Athaliah heard it. She also heard the noise of people running and shouts and cheers from these people. She ran to the temple to see what was happening. There she saw the young king standing by a pillar at the entrance, with the officers and trumpeters standing beside him. The people surrounding the king were shouting for joy and blowing trumpets and the musicians were joining with them in singing and playing musical instruments. Athaliah tore her clothing and shouted, [Treason! Treason!] Jehoiada however, sent the army officers after her. [Take her out of the temple and kill her,] he commanded. [See to it that she is not killed in Adonai’s house. And kill anyone who tries to help her.] The army officers grabbed Athaliah and took her to the horse gate of the palace and there they executed her.
COMMENTARY
TEMPLE GATES AND WALLS
In many centres of the ancient Middle East, the royal palace and the temple of worship were built directly next to each other, Other important buildings, such as storehouses, treasuries, living quarters for temple attendants and palace servants, stood nearby. The entire collection of different buildings was called the citadel, a word that in the modern world has come to mean {fortress} or {stronghold.} Such a group of buildings, fundamental to the life of the city, was often enclosed by a protective wall much like the main city wall. In hilly regions such as Jerusalem, it stood apart from the major city activity. Putting the temple and the palace together accomplished several purposes. In Jerusalem, it placed all major authority in one central place. Both religious and political power functioned from one defined area. The structure of Solomon’s temple reflected this idea of centralization. A small court enclosed the temple and a similar inner court enclosed the palace. Both of the buildings were joined by one gate. A larger outer court surrounded the two. This total area was the one Jehoiada’s guards controlled, for within it lay the basic power of the entire kingdom. One indication of how important such an arrangement was is found in Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple. YHVH instructs Ezekiel in great detail how the courts and gates will be arranged. The purpose, He declares, is that never again will the holy house of YHVH be defiled by sharing a common wall with the palace of corrupt and evil kings.
Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me."
Joshua 7:19
Joshua didn't hate Achan. He treated Achan with kindness even though he had caused the death of 36 men by his greed and was sentenced to be killed along with his entire family. Achan was given an opportunity to confess and his death was quick. The requirements of justice can almost always be met without cruelty.
We would love it if you would join us for livestream service,
https://www.youtube.com/live/6....FgocgKG9gk?feature=s
Joshua 7 seems to indicate that cremation was considered a shameful end. We all return to dust eventually, but the ancient Hebrews only burned those they despised. That's something to consider when writing your will.
This doesn't mean cremation is a sin or that God can't resurrect someone who was cremated. Most of the molecules of the billions who have died before us have already been recycled into the bodies of other people, animals, plants, and minerals, yet God will still resurrect them at the end too. He won't be re-using our old flesh, but will give us entirely new bodies.
HalleluYah for another Sabbath of rest! What a gift obedience to His Sabbath command is—to our spirits as we are refreshed, to our bodies as we take a break from labor, and to our minds as we put our worries aside and look to Him!
https://archive.aweber.com/awlist6425868/BdldE
Will the Creator use you to defeat the enemy? we are told today that the Creator will protect us, but that doesn’t always mean that He will hide us from danger, illness or other things that may harm us. He often will use us in various ways to overcome evil. We may not build an ark or lead an army and yet when we are faithful, evil fails.
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