Fusion Community Church

The Story Chapter 23 "Jesus' Ministry Begins"

'He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall 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. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. ' John 3:2-21 https://my.bible.com/bible/111/JHN.3.2-21

The Story Chapter 22 "The Birth of The KING"

The Story Chapter 22

"The Birth of The KING"

 

The Story Between The Lines-Finale-The Crimson Thread

The Story Between The Lines Finale
“The Crimson Thread”

LEVITICUS

What does it say?

The priest sacrificed a burnt offering of dedication and devotion on behalf of the worshipper. The aroma was pleasing to the Lord.

What does it mean?

Leviticus is a manual for how the priests from the tribe of Levi were to help the Israelites approach God in worship. God is holy and people are sinful. A blood sacrifice is required for sinful people to enter the presence of a holy God (Heb. 9:22.) God graciously allowed the transference of sin from the worshipper to the animal. The Israelites willingly chose to place their hands on the head of the animal, symbolically claiming it as their substitute. In order to represent total dedication to the Lord, fire consumed the entire animal in the burnt offering. God is pleased when His people voluntarily express their commitment and total surrender to Him.

How should I respond?

The ceremonial sacrifices of the Old Testament were rich with meaning, pointing worshippers of that day to God’s future and perfect sacrifice—Jesus Christ. Just like the Israelites, you are responsible for your sin. On what basis do you approach God? Have you chosen Jesus as both the sacrifice for your sin and the peacemaker between you and God? As a follower of Christ, determine to express your devotion to Him today by complete surrender of your thoughts, attitudes, and actions to His will.

                                                 "Holiness; a study on the book of Leviticus"

The Story: Between the Lines-Part Eight: The King of Kindness

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

'One day David asked, “Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” He summoned a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants. “Are you Ziba?” the king asked. “Yes sir, I am,” Ziba replied. The king then asked him, “Is anyone still alive from Saul’s family? If so, I want to show God’s kindness to them.” Ziba replied, “Yes, one of Jonathan’s sons is still alive. He is crippled in both feet.” “Where is he?” the king asked. “In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him, “at the home of Makir son of Ammiel.” So David sent for him and brought him from Makir’s home. His name was Mephibosheth ; he was Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. When he came to David, he bowed low to the ground in deep respect. David said, “Greetings, Mephibosheth.” Mephibosheth replied, “I am your servant.” “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!” Mephibosheth bowed respectfully and exclaimed, “Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?” Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said, “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family. You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him to produce food for your master’s household. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, will eat here at my table.” (Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.) Ziba replied, “Yes, my lord the king; I am your servant, and I will do all that you have commanded.” And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly at David’s table, like one of the king’s own sons. Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica. From then on, all the members of Ziba’s household were Mephibosheth’s servants. And Mephibosheth, who was crippled in both feet, lived in Jerusalem and ate regularly at the king’s table.' 2 Samuel 9:1-13 https://my.bible.com/bible/116/2SA.9.1-13

The Story: Between the Lines-Part Seven: Elisha and His Servant

The Story Between The Lines
Part Seven “Elisha and His Servant”

Why are we afraid?

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding....”

2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight....”

Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”

 

Elisha was the faithful disciple of the prophet Elijah, and his successor. He had followed his master from the moment they met, when Elisha was a young man, plowing his father's field near the ancient town of Abel-mecholah in northern Israel. Elisha saw his master disappear in a fiery chariot, going up to heaven, without dying first. At that moment Elisha cried: "My father, my father, the chariot of Israel...!" and rent his clothes. He knew then that he was to carry on the great work of Elijah, to spread the knowledge of G‑d, to bring relief and blessing to his people, and teach them to be kind and charitable.

Elisha picked up the mantle which Elijah had cast off when he went up to heaven. He felt the spirit of Elijah within him, and when he had to cross the Jordan to return home, he waved Elijah's mantle against the water, and they parted suddenly and made a way for the divine prophet to cross the Jordan on its dry bed.

In Jericho the band of young prophets saw Elisha make his miraculous crossing of the Jordan alone. They knew Elijah disappeared and they hailed Elisha as their leader and master.

Soon Elisha was again to prove his divine powers. The people of Jericho came to him to complain of the bad water of the vicinity which caused disease to man and beast, and laid the whole land waste and barren. Elisha was ready to prove G‑d's great kindness in a miraculous way. He requested a new cruse with salt. This he took to the nearest spring and there cast the salt into the water. To the assembled people he proclaimed in G‑d's name that the water would now be cured, and would no longer cause death, nor make the land barren. And as the people drank of the sweet, pure and wholesome water they praised G‑d and blessed the great prophet. Elisha's name grew far and wide.

Having left Jericho in the company of his disciples, the younger prophets, Elisha was approaching the town of Beth-el. Instead of greeting the prophet and his disciples with respect and honor, some young men of Beth-el came out to mock the prophet and shout abusive words in his direction. The reason for their disgraceful behavior was their great selfishness. For until Elisha cured the water in the vicinity they had a profitable business. They used to bring water from afar and get high prices for it from the local inhabitants. But since Elisha cured the water, they lost this business, and therefore hated the prophet.

Seeing that these people had no fear of G‑d, and no respect for the prophet, nor any consideration for their fellowmen, Elisha cursed them, and their punishment came swiftly. Ferocious bears suddenly appeared from the woods and charged into the mocking crowd. Forty-two young men were left slain, and the rest fled in terror.

Three Kings Plead for Elisha's Help

There was now hardly a man, king or slave, who hadn't heard of Elisha's miracles and divine powers. It didn't take a long time before three kings came together to Elisha to ask his help. The occasion was the war with Moab.

For many years the Moabites had been subdued by Ahab, king of Israel (of the Ten Tribes). When Ahab died, they rebelled, and again became a menace to the land of Israel. Ahab's son Jehoram who succeeded his brother Ahaziah as King of Israel then appealed to Jehoshophat, king of Judah, to come to his aid, and Jehoshophat's reply was short and sweet: "I am as thou; my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses..."

The two Jewish kings marched with their armies through Edom, and the king of Edom joined them. But when the armies were poised for battle against the Moabites, they ran out of water, and they became faint with thirst. There was not a drop of water in the whole valley, and it looked as though the vast armies of the three kings would suffer a great disaster.

The three kings then remembered Elisha, and together went to see him.

Seeing the wicked Jehoram who was following in his father's steps and continuing to spread the Baal-worship in his kingdom, Elisha rebuked him fearlessly. Elisha told him to his face that were it not for the king of Judah, he would not have even looked at him. However, this was a rare opportunity to show them G‑d's kindness to His people. And so, Elisha told them, in G‑d's name, to dig ditches, and though they would see neither wind nor rain, the ditches would be filled with pure drinking water for them and their horses. Moreover, Elisha promised them complete victory over the Moabites.

Every word Elisha said came true.

The Pot of Oil That Turned Into A Well

One day, the widow of the prophet Obadiah came to Elisha. In a voice full of grief she told him that her husband died in great indebtedness, and the creditors now threatened to take away her two sons as slaves, unless she paid the debts immediately.

Elisha had known the G‑d-fearing and kind Obadiah, who under the very eyes of the wicked king Ahab fed and sheltered the true prophets of G‑d whom the wicked queen Jezebel sought to exterminate. He sustained them at his own expense, and when his own means gave out he had to incur many debts. Now his two sons would have to serve the creditors to the full value of the debts, for such was the law in those days. Surely such a man deserves a better lot!

"What have you in the house?" Elisha asked her.

"I have nothing but a little pot of oil," she replied.

"Good. Now go and borrow many vessels from all your neighbors, the more the better. Then shut yourself in with your sons, and pour the oil into the vessels."

The woman followed the prophet's instructions. When she began to pour out some oil into the first vessel, the oil kept on pouring until the vessel was full. The boys passed her the next vessel, and this, too, soon became full of oil. Vessel after vessel was thus filled with oil, and the little oil that was originally in the pot never seemed to end. When all the vessels were filled, she cried to the boys to pass her another vessel, but they said there was no empty vessel left. Immediately the oil stopped.

The woman ran to Elisha and told him what happened. Elisha was not surprised. He told her to sell all the oil and repay her husband's debts, and use the rest to support herself and her children.

Elisha And The Shunammite

It was Elisha's custom to travel about all over the land of Israel in order to observe how his people lived, to help them where necessary and to teach them the knowledge of G‑d.

One day, he visited the town of Shunem. There lived an aged couple there, and both of them were very kind and pious. The woman of Shunem was particularly hospitable, and she saw to it that the prophet eat bread at her house. The aged couple were so pleased with the great privilege and mitzvah of "hachnosas orchim" (hospitality), that they built a special chamber for him, and put a bed there, with a table and a stool and a candle-stick, so that whenever the prophet passed through Shunem, he would find a ready little resting-room.

One day when he was enjoying the comfort of his little room at the Shunemmite's house, he sent his servant Gehazi to call the hostess. When she appeared before him, Elisha asked her how he could reward her for her kindness. Elisha offered to speak for her to the king or governor, if there was any special favor she required of them. But the good woman said she really needed nothing. "I dwell among my own people," she said, for she was one of those rare folk who were contented and happy with their lot. As she walked out, Gehazi said to the prophet, "But she has no son! Could there be a greater gift then a nice little boy at their old age?"

Elisha had her called before him again. "About this time next year, thou shalt embrace a son!" Elisha promised her solemnly.

Exactly at the time predicted by the prophet Elisha, a son was born to the aged couple. This was a miracle very much like the one that happened to Abraham and Sarah, and the aged Shunemmite couple were not less happy with their son than were the aged Abraham and Sarah of old with theirs.

One day, when the boy was a few years old and went with the reapers into the field, he complained of a head-ache. His father sent him back to his mother. She hugged him until noon, but he died in her lap.

The poor mother took the lifeless body of her beloved son and laid him on the bed upon which the prophet used to rest. She left him there and shut the door. Then without telling anybody of the death of the boy, she obtained an donkey from her husband, and one of the servants to accompany her, and hurried to Mt. Carmel, where the prophet was. There she flung herself at the prophet's feet, and gave vent to her deep grief. When Elisha heard the sad news, he at once sent his servant Gehazi with his staff, and told him to place the staff upon the dead child and thus restore him to life. He bade him sternly to make haste and not stop on his way, nor tell anyone the reason for his haste. Gehazi, however, could not keep back the great news. Whomever he met on the way, he told that he was going to restore life to a dead child with the prophet's staff. But when Gehazi finally reached the Shunemmite's house and placed the staff on the child it did not help, because Gehazi had not obeyed the prophet.

Elisha himself then went to the house of the Shunemmite and shut himself up with the dead child. Uttering a prayer to G‑d, he restored the child to life. (This very child was later to become the prophet Habakkuk).

The Seven Years of Famine

Time and again, Elisha warned his people to mend their ways or suffer famine and war. The people did not mend their ways and the famine came just as Elisha had foretold it.

At that time Elisha and the young prophets following him, went to Gilgal, near Jericho. They were hard pressed for a meal, and one of the young prophets went out to gather some herbs in the field. He came back with some wild gourds, and no one knew that they were poisonous. When they ate of the pottage, they cried, "Oh, man of G‑d, there's death in the pot!"

Elisha at once requested a handful of meal, and he poured it into the pot. Then he invited the young prophets to eat some more. They did, and suffered no ill-effects!

Some time later, a man came from Baal-Shalisha in Mount Ephraim, bringing a present to the prophet, bread of the first fruit, 20 barley loaves, and some ears of corn. Said Elisha to his attendant, "Give it to all the people gathered here!"

"There are two thousand of your disciples here," the man exclaimed in amazement, "shall I set one loaf before hundreds of men?"

"Give it to them" said the holy man again, "For this is the word of G‑d: they will eat, and leave thereof!"

And so it was; they all ate and had enough, and some of the bread was left over!

The miracles that the holy prophet Elisha so frequently performed to ease the suffering of his dear ones, became known far and wide. Everybody knew that Elisha was kind and generous to all, even to men who did not belong to his own people. Thus he cured of leprosy a great Syrian prince, Naaman, who next to the king was the greatest man in Syria).

So numerous did Elisha's disciples become, that their quarters in Samaria became too small. At the request of the young prophets, Elisha graciously agreed to accompany them to the Jordan, where they intended to build spacious quarters to house all the young prophets who were anxious to be near him.

Once again Elisha amazed the young prophets by a wonderful miracle. It happened that the iron head of an axe used by one of the builders in cutting down a tree, fell into the waters of the Jordan. The young prophet was greatly distressed because the axe was borrowed. Seeing how dear the young prophet held the property of his friend, Elisha came to his rescue. He cut a wooden stick, and threw it into the water, and the next moment all the young prophets gazed at a wonderful sight: the wooden stick slowly sank to the bottom, and up came the iron to the surface, and was retrieved by the young prophet!

War and Siege

Taking advantage of the famine that ravaged the Land of Israel, the Syrian people continually harassed them in the hope of conquering and enslaving them altogether. In those difficult years of famine and siege, the great prophet was the sole support of his people, continually assuring them of G‑d's protection and delivery, if only they would return to G‑d with all their heart. It was at this fateful time that the siege of Samaria was broken, and the enemy fled in terror leaving so much food in their wake, that it became as plentiful and as cheap as in the years of plenty, and once again, the words of the prophet were fulfilled to "the letter."

One day, Elisha went to Damascus, the capital of Syria. The news of his arrival in the Syrian capital reached king BenHaddad, who was lying critically ill in his palace. The king sent his most trusted statesman Hazael to enquire of the Hebrew prophet whether he would recover from his illness.

Elisha told Hazael that the king would not die of his illness, but die he would nevertheless, without recovering first. Then turning his head to the wall, the prophet wept bitterly.

"O man of G‑d, why are you weeping?" Hazael asked in surprise.

"G‑d has revealed to me that you will be the next king of Syria, and that you will cause unspeakable misery and suffering to my people; you will pull down our fortified cities, you will slay our best sons, and massacre our women and children..."

"Am I a dog that I should do such a thing?" Hazael cried indignantly.

"Alas, G‑d has willed it, for my people have sinned..."

Hazael returned to his king and told him only that the prophet had said the king would not die of his illness. The next morning however, when he was alone with the sick king, he smothered him, and proclaimed himself king of Syria:

Hazael; the new king of Syria, began a series of successful wars against the people of Israel, spreading destruction and death wherever his savage troops moved.

"The Chariot and Horsemen of Israel"

For over 65 years, Elisha stood at the head of the prophets of his time, among whom was also the prophet Jonah. He saw many kings reign and fall in Judah and Israel. Fearlessly, like his master the prophet Elijah, he fulfilled his divine mission, until his last day came.

As he was lying ill, king Joash of Israel came to his bedside and wept.

"My father, my father, the chariot and horsemen of Israel!" he cried.

Indeed, the people of Israel came to rely upon their great and beloved prophet more than they ever relied upon their chariots and horsemen.

Elisha's last prophecy was an encouraging one. He told the king that he would defeat Syria three times, and that the people of Israel would then see better and happier days.

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/111858/jewish/The-Prophet-Elisha-Elijahs-Succesor.htm

The Story: Between the Lines-Part Six: A Global Mission

The Story-Between the Lines-Part-6
“A Global Mission.”

What do we do to share Christ in a secular unchurched society?

“Live your lives in a way that sparks spiritual curiosity”

“Connect Christ into something they are going to do anyway”

“Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.””
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:7-8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Story: Between the Lines-Part Five: Running Away From God

The Story Between the Lines part 5
Running from God.

 

Can you run from God?

Do you ever feel in a pit? Thinking if you would ever get out. Blaming yourself and blaming other people and also blaming God. Thinking what can I do to get out of it?
Would God have an answer for my troubles? Or would my own doing be enough to get out of the pit?

God has the answers to overcome our troubles. Financial troubles, relationship troubles, at work at school at any situation.
The Bible is full of stories that can help you see a way out.
In the story of Jonah, the Prophet, we can find some answers
Who was Jonah?

God called to Jonah one day and told him to go preach to Nineveh because the people were very wicked. Jonah hated this idea because Nineveh was one of Israel's greatest enemies and Jonah wanted nothing to do with preaching to them!
Jonah tried to run away from God in the opposite direction of Nineveh and headed by boat to Tarsish. God sent a great storm upon the ship and the men decided Jonah was to blame so they threw him overboard. As soon as they tossed Jonah in the water, the storm stopped.
God sent a big fish, some call it a whale, to swallow Jonah and to save him from drowning. While in the belly of the big fish (whale), Jonah prayed to God for help, repented, and praised God. For three days Jonah sat in the belly of the fish. Then, God had the big fish throw up Jonah onto the shores of Nineveh.
Jonah preached to Nineveh and warned them to repent before the city is destroyed in 40 days. The people believed Jonah, turned from their wickedness, and God had mercy on them. Jonah now became angry and bitter because God did not destroy the Ninevites who were Israels enemy! When Jonah sat to rest God provided a vine to give him shade. The next day, God sent a worm to eat the vine. Jonah now sat in the hot sun complaining and wanting to die. God called out to Jonah and scolded him for being so concerned and worried about just a plant while God was concerned with the heart condition and lives of 120,000 people who lived in the city of Nineveh.
https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-stories/jonah-and-the-whale.html

Go read Jonah to have a full understanding of the Lines above.

So how the story of Jonah can help us get out of the pit? My own understanding is that we find ourselves in trouble because we are not obedient to God. In the story of Jonah we see how Jonah tried to run away from God, but guess what God runs away with you, He is right behind you. We have a God of second chances. You are never to far gone for God.

 

 

 

 

The Story: Between the Lines-Part Four: A Woman of Courage.

The Story

Between the Lines Part 4

A Woman of Courage.

 

Deborah Becomes Israel’s Judge

1After Ehud’s death, the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. 2So the Lord turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-haggoyim. 3Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help.

4Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. 5She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. 6One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. 7And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”

8Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.”

9“Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 10At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him.

11Now Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses’ brother-in-law4:11 Or father-in-law. Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanannim near Kedesh.

12When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, 13he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River.

14Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. 15When Barak attacked, the Lordthrew Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot. 16Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera’s warriors. Not a single one was left alive.

17Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber’s family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor. 18Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

19“Please give me some water,” he said. “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again.

20“Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”

21But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died.

22When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, “Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple.

23So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king. 24And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him.

 

The Song of Deborah

1On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

 

2“Israel’s leaders took charge,

and the people gladly followed.

Praise the Lord!

 

3“Listen, you kings!

Pay attention, you mighty rulers!

For I will sing to the Lord.

I will make music to the Lord, the God of Israel.

 

4“Lord, when you set out from Seir

and marched across the fields of Edom,

the earth trembled,

and the cloudy skies poured down rain.

5The mountains quaked in the presence of the Lord,

the God of Mount Sinai—

in the presence of the Lord,

the God of Israel.

 

6“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,

and in the days of Jael,

people avoided the main roads,

and travelers stayed on winding pathways.

7There were few people left in the villages of Israel5:7 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.—

until Deborah arose as a mother for Israel.

8When Israel chose new gods,

war erupted at the city gates.

Yet not a shield or spear could be seen

among forty thousand warriors in Israel!

9My heart is with the commanders of Israel,

with those who volunteered for war.

Praise the Lord!

 

10“Consider this, you who ride on fine donkeys,

you who sit on fancy saddle blankets,

and you who walk along the road.

11Listen to the village musicians5:11 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.

gathered at the watering holes.

They recount the righteous victories of the Lord

and the victories of his villagers in Israel.

Then the people of the Lord

marched down to the city gates.

 

12“Wake up, Deborah, wake up!

Wake up, wake up, and sing a song!

Arise, Barak!

Lead your captives away, son of Abinoam!

 

13“Down from Tabor marched the few against the nobles.

The people of the Lord marched down against mighty warriors.

14They came down from Ephraim—

a land that once belonged to the Amalekites;

they followed you, Benjamin, with your troops.

From Makir the commanders marched down;

from Zebulun came those who carry a commander’s staff.

15The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak.

They followed Barak, rushing into the valley.

But in the tribe of Reuben

there was great indecision.5:15 As in some Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac version, which read searchings of heart;Masoretic Text reads resolve of heart.

16Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds—

to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks?

Yes, in the tribe of Reuben

there was great indecision.

17Gilead remained east of the Jordan.

And why did Dan stay home?

Asher sat unmoved at the seashore,

remaining in his harbors.

18But Zebulun risked his life,

as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.

 

19“The kings of Canaan came and fought,

at Taanach near Megiddo’s springs,

but they carried off no silver treasures.

20The stars fought from heaven.

The stars in their orbits fought against Sisera.

21The Kishon River swept them away—

that ancient torrent, the Kishon.

March on with courage, my soul!

22Then the horses’ hooves hammered the ground,

the galloping, galloping of Sisera’s mighty steeds.

23‘Let the people of Meroz be cursed,’ said the angel of the Lord.

‘Let them be utterly cursed,

because they did not come to help the Lord—

to help the Lord against the mighty warriors.’

 

24“Most blessed among women is Jael,

the wife of Heber the Kenite.

May she be blessed above all women who live in tents.

25Sisera asked for water,

and she gave him milk.

In a bowl fit for nobles,

she brought him yogurt.

26Then with her left hand she reached for a tent peg,

and with her right hand for the workman’s hammer.

She struck Sisera with the hammer, crushing his head.

With a shattering blow, she pierced his temples.

27He sank, he fell,

he lay still at her feet.

And where he sank,

there he died.

 

28“From the window Sisera’s mother looked out.

Through the window she watched for his return, saying,

‘Why is his chariot so long in coming?

Why don’t we hear the sound of chariot wheels?’

 

29“Her wise women answer,

and she repeats these words to herself:

30‘They must be dividing the captured plunder—

with a woman or two for every man.

There will be colorful robes for Sisera,

and colorful, embroidered robes for me.

Yes, the plunder will include

colorful robes embroidered on both sides.’

 

31“Lord, may all your enemies die like Sisera!

But may those who love you rise like the sun in all its power!”

 

Then there was peace in the land for forty years.

The Story: Between the Lines-Part Three; A Man of Strength and Weakness

Birth Of A Superman

• You know the drill: Israel does evil, so boom—40 years of Philistine captivity.
• "And there was a certain man […] whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not" (KJV 13:2).
• "And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, […] thou shalt conceive, and bear a son" (KJV 13:3). Soundfamiliar?
• The angel continues, "[A]nd no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines" (KJV 13:5). You might want to note this no-haircuts policy. It comes up later on.
• Manoah's wife tells her husband what the "man of God" said to her (KJV 13:6-7).
• Manoah entreats the Lord, "O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born" (KJV 13:8).
• He can't really order any parenting books, so naturally he wants some coaching.
• The Lord sends the angel again, who reiterates what he already said.
• Manoah offers him some food. This isn't just a man of God he's dealing with, though, but a straight-up angel. The angel's like, "Dude, I'm an angel. I can't eat your bread. Why don't you offer the Lord a burnt offering?"
• Manoah's like, "Oh, sorry," and asks him his name, but the angel's like, "Man, why are you asking me to reveal my secret name, bro?"
• Things are getting awkward, so Manoah burnt-offers a baby goat on an altar, and as it burns the angel ascends up in the flame toward heaven.
• Manoah finally realizes what this guy was, and he's really worried that they'll have to die now that they've seen him.
• His wife tells him to settle down, because why would God have sent an angel to tell them about their son if he was just going to kill them?
• She has her baby, and names him Samson.
• "[A]nd the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him at times" (KJV 13:24-25).

 

Lions And Honey And Riddles, Oh My!

• Samson sees a Philistine woman and tells his parents he wants to marry her, which is a no-no in Israel. Ahh, forbidden love!
• His parents are disappointed that he doesn't want to marry an Israelite, but he insists, so they head toward her house to negotiate the marriage.
• On his way there, a young lion attacks Samson.
• The Spirit of the Lord comes to Samson just in time, though, and he shows that lion who's boss.
• The Spirit of the Lord, we'll see, is to Samson what anger is to the Incredible Hulk. Anytime you see the Spirit of the Lord coming, stay tuned for carnage.
• Samson tells no one about his lion-wrestling, and continues to his future Philistine in-laws' house.
• Samson's parents negotiate with his dream-girl's parents, who agree to the marriage.
• While he's on his way to pick up his new bride, he passes the carcass of the lion he killed. "[A]nd, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcasse of the lion" (KJV 14:8).
• He eats some of the honey, and gives some to his parents without telling them where he got it.
• As was the custom, Samson throws a wedding feast at his Philistine phiancée's house.
• Samson challenges 30 Philistines at the feast to solve a riddle within seven days. If they can guess the answer, he'll give them 30 sheets and 30 changes of garments; if they can't, they each have to give him a sheet and a change of garments.
• They accept the challenge, and Samson riddles them this: "Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness" (KJV 14:14).
• They can't figure it out, so they go to Samson's wife with an ultimatum: Tell us the answer to your husband's riddle, or we'll "burn thee and thy father's house with fire" (KJV 14:15). Sheesh!
• So she tries to convince Samson to tell her the riddle, but he refuses until she weeps and harasses him for 7 days.
• She tells the Philistines the answer, and they say to Samson, "What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion?" (KJV 14:18)
• "If ye had not plowed with my heifer," Samson says, "ye had not found out my riddle" (KJV 14:18). He seems upset. We're going to suggest he refrain from comparing his wife to a cow anyway, though.
• "And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him [here it comes!] and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house" (KJV 14:19).
• Unbeknownst to him, Samson's new wife is given to a Philistine friend of his. This is going to get ugly…

Well, I'll Be A Donkey's Jawbone! Samson Slays A Thousand Philistines

• After his temper's cooled a little bit, Samson returns to see his wife, but her father won't let him in, saying, "I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion" (KJV 15:2). Maybe she told him about the heifer comment?
• At this point it seems like Samson gets that "Spirit of the Lord" look in his eye, because his ex-wife's father says, perhaps in panicked desperation, "[I]s not her younger sister fairer than she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her" (KJV 15:2). Gee thanks, Pops.
• Samson says thanks-but-no-thanks, and feels justified in exacting vengeance on the Philistines.
• Just picture this: "And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails. And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives" (KJV 15:4-5). That's how Samson rolls, Philistines.
• The Philistines blame Samson's erstwhile-wife's family for his shenanigans, and they burn her and her father.
• Samson vows vengeance again, and slaughters tons of Philistines.
• When he returns to the land of Judah, the Philistines follow him with an army.
• This worries the tribe of Judah, and they tell the Philistines that they'll arrest Samson themselves and bring him to them.
• They send 3,000 men up to the top of the rock of Etam, who tell Samson, "Look man, you can't do that to the Philistines. You're going to get us into trouble. We gotta take you in."
• Samson agrees to let them bring him bound to the Philistines, which they do.
• But as soon as they get to a place called Lehi (meaning "jawbone"), the Philistines see him and start shouting at him.
• And boom goes the dynamite.
• The Spirit of the Lord comes to Samson, he breaks the ropes with which he's bound, and he pherociously phights the Philistines.
• He finds a donkey's jawbone lying around (gotta use what you've got) and, wielding it like a club, kills 1,000 men.
• Then he utters perhaps the first ever post-kill one-liner: "With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men" (KJV 15:16). It has a certain rhythm to it, don't you think?
• As if he weren't hardcore enough right now, he tells God he's thirsty, so God opens up a spring of water for him right there.
• And Samson judged Israel for 20 years after that.

Boy Meets Girl, Girl Cuts Boy's Hair, Boy Destroys The Temple Of Dagon

• Samson goes to Gaza, a Philistine city, and spends some time with a harlot there.
• The Philistines find out he's there, and hide outside the city gates that night, hoping to attack and kill him when he leaves in the morning.
• But Samson wakes up at midnight, tears the gates out of the city wall (Hulk smash), and carries them on his shoulders like it ain't no thang to the top of a hill outside the city.
• Rather than getting squashed like bugs, the Philistines leave him alone. Good thinking, you guys.
• Afterward, Samson falls in love with a lady names Delilah.
• Cue the theme music. This will do. Or this. Or this. Not this.
• "And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him […] and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver" (KJV 16:5). Hmm… Betrayed for silver. Sound familiar?
• For love of money, or love of country, or both, Delilah agrees to betray her lover.
• She tells him, in her seductive Philistine accent, "Sammy-poo, you're so strong. I love that about you. How did you get that way? If I—hypothetically—wanted to, I dunno, afflict you, or like, y'know, imprison you or something—hypothetically—how would I do that?"
• Well, our guy Sam wasn't born yesterday. He makes up several fake sources of his strength.
• Delilah uncovers Samson's fibs one-by-one until she finally ratchets up the romantic manipulation and gets some results.
• "And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth" (KJV 16:15).
• Well played, Delilah. Her ploy works and Samson reveals to her the true source of his strength: his flowing locks.
• Delilah tells the Philistines everything. They give her the silver, and she has Samson fall asleep on her lap.
• While he sleeps, Delilah has a servant cut his hair.
• Delilah wakes Samson up and, before he knows what's happening, the Philistines take him away. Love stinks.
• They "put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house" (KJV 16:21).
• After a while, "the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand. And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our country, which slew many of us" (KJV 16:23-24).
• The Philistines are so excited to have captured Samson that they bring him out of prison to entertain them.
• He does so, but he's not happy about it. Afterward, he rests between two pillars, with thousands of Philistines seated above him after watching his show. Rookie mistake, you guys.
• Samson appeals to God for a final burst of strength to avenge himself of the Philistines.
• "And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his life" (KJV 16:30).
• Then his brethren came and brought Samson's body back for a hero's burial near his family.

 

The Story: Between the Lines-Part Two; Capture of The Ark of The Covenant

Proverbs 3:5-6 

' Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.' 

 

Deuteronomy 28

 

Blessings for Obedience

1"And if you faithfully obey the voice of the Lord your God, being careful to do all his commandments that I command you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. 3Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. 4Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your cattle, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 5Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 6Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

7"The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. 8The Lord will command the blessing on you in your barns and in all that you undertake. And he will bless you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. 9The Lord will establish you as a people holy to himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in his ways. 10And all the peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. 11And the Lord will make you abound in prosperity, in the fruit of your womb and in the fruit of your livestock and in the fruit of your ground, within the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. 12The Lord will open to you his good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. 13And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall only go up and not down, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, being careful to do them, 14and if you do not turn aside from any of the words that I command you today, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

Curses for Disobedience

15"But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. 16Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. 17Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 19Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out.

20"The Lord will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. 21The Lord will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 22The Lord will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought and with blight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish. 23And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron. 24The Lord will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed.

25"The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26And your dead body shall be food for all birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth, and there shall be no one to frighten them away. 27The Lord will strike you with the boils of Egypt, and with tumors and scabs and itch, of which you cannot be healed. 28The Lord will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of mind, 29and you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways. And you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually, and there shall be no one to help you. 30You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall ravish her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit. 31Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you shall not eat any of it. Your donkey shall be seized before your face, but shall not be restored to you. Your sheep shall be given to your enemies, but there shall be no one to help you. 32Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, while your eyes look on and fail with longing for them all day long, but you shall be helpless. 33A nation that you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your ground and of all your labors, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually, 34so that you are driven mad by the sights that your eyes see. 35The Lord will strike you on the knees and on the legs with grievous boils of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head.

36"The Lord will bring you and your king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone. 37And you shall become a horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the Lord will lead you away. 38You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it. 39You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them. 40You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives shall drop off. 41You shall father sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours, for they shall go into captivity. 42The cricket shall possess all your trees and the fruit of your ground. 43The sojourner who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him. He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail.

45"All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you. 46They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. 47Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, 48therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. 49The Lord will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, 50a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young. 51It shall eat the offspring of your cattle and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed; it also shall not leave you grain, wine, or oil, the increase of your herds or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish.

52"They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the Lord your God has given you. 53And you shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you. 54The man who is the most tender and refined among you will begrudge food to his brother, to the wife he embraces, and to the last of the children whom he has left, 55so that he will not give to any of them any of the flesh of his children whom he is eating, because he has nothing else left, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in all your towns. 56The most tender and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because she is so delicate and tender, will begrudge to the husband she embraces, to her son and to her daughter, 57her afterbirth that comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears, because lacking everything she will eat them secretly, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in your towns.

58"If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the Lord your God, 59then the Lord will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting. 60And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61Every sickness also and every affliction that is not recorded in the book of this law, the Lordwill bring upon you, until you are destroyed. 62Whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, you shall be left few in number, because you did not obey the voice of the Lord your God. 63And as the Lord took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the Lord will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. And you shall be plucked off the land that you are entering to take possession of it.

64"And the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. 65And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the Lord will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul. 66Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life. 67In the morning you shall say, 'If only it were evening!' and at evening you shall say, 'If only it were morning!' because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see. 68And the Lord will bring you back in ships to Egypt, a journey that I promised that you should never make again; and there you shall offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer."

 

1 Samuel 4

 

 Philistines Capture the Ark

1And the word of Samuel came to all Israel.

Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They encamped at Ebenezer, and the Philistines encamped at Aphek. 2The Philistines drew up in line against Israel, and when the battle spread, Israel was defeated before the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle. 3And when the people came to the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has the Lord defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord here from Shiloh, that it may come among us and save us from the power of our enemies." 4So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty shout, so that the earth resounded. 6And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, "What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" And when they learned that the ark of the Lord had come to the camp, 7the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "A god has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before. 8Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness. 9Take courage, and be men, O Philistines, lest you become slaves to the Hebrews as they have been to you; be men and fight."

10So the Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated, and they fled, every man to his home. And there was a very great slaughter, for thirty thousand foot soldiers of Israel fell. 11And the ark of God was captured, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.