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Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Monday, and we’ll complete the book of Numbers with chapters 33-36.  After the reading I have some comments for you, I have an on this date in church history for you. And I have a VERY exciting praise in our prayer segment, as well. I’m calling today’s episode “He Is Our Refuge.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Matthew Rumph on Unsplash

Comments on Numbers 35

To our 21st century western culture minds, the concept of cities of refuge seems very foreign, but in the culture of Israel when these words were written, this was something that was needed. Each family group had an avenger who would carry out the Genesis 9:6 proclamation, which says, “Whoever shed’s man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God, God made man.”

Here in Numbers 35, a detailed plan was shown that dealt with the situation where a person committed a killing that was accidental, and not premeditated murder, could find a place of safety from an avenger. I won’t review the details of the plan, because we just read them.

What I want to do is show how this concept of the refuge cities is a foreshadowing, or type, of Jesus.

First, there are many scriptures that refer to God as being our refuge. Here are a few:

Psalm 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 

Psalm 91:2 – I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”

Psalm 18:2 – The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Hebrews 6:18 – That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.

Where do we flee for refuge? To Jesus.

Cities of refuge were located throughout Israel so that those who needed refuge would be able to easily make their way to them. Jesus is only a prayer away.

Cities of refuge were open to anyone, not just the Jew, but to all. Jesus came that anyone who asks will find salvation.

Cities of refuge were places where the one in need could live permanently. A relationship with Jesus is eternal.

Cities of refuge were the only place a person could find safety. Without them, death was sure. Only in Jesus, do we find eternal life.

Outside of the cities of refuge, there was no protection. Outside of Jesus, there is no salvation.

Only when the high priest died was the person freed from the threat of death by the avenger. Jesus, our High Priest, died on a cross to bring our freedom.

And there is one huge difference between cities of refuge and Jesus. You had to be innocent to live in a city of refuge. Jesus accepts the guilty, and removes all guilt and sin.

Hallelujah and amen! Jesus is the only way to freedom, to peace, to live with the assurance that we will never have to pay the penalty for our transgressions, if we have confessed our need of Him and invited Him to be our Savior, and accepted His gift of salvation.

He is our refuge.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 33 NKJV; Ch. 34 CEV; Ch. 35 NIV; Ch. 36 NLT

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00It was something that was needed.

INTRO S12E285 – 0:09And it’s the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside, California. Hi there. I’m your OG Godcaster, podcasting since 2004, and my name is Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Monday, and we’ll complete the book of Numbers with chapters 33 through 36. After the reading I’ve got some comments for you, I have an On This Date in Church History, and I have a very exciting praise in our prayer segment too. I’m calling today’s episode, “He is Our Refuge”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e285. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started.

NUMBERS 33 (NKJV) – 0:51Numbers, chapter 33. (1) These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron. (2) Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points:

(3) They departed from Rameses in the first month, on the fifteenth day of the first month; on the day after the Passover the children of Israel went out with boldness in the sight of all the Egyptians. (4) For the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had killed among them. Also on their gods the Lord had executed judgment.

(5) Then the children of Israel moved from Rameses and camped at Succoth. (6) They departed from Succoth and camped at Etham, which is on the edge of the wilderness. (7) They moved from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, which is east of Baal Zephon; and they camped near Migdol. (8) They departed from before Hahiroth and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness, went three days’ journey in the Wilderness of Etham, and camped at Marah. (9) They moved from Marah and came to Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there.

(10) They moved from Elim and camped by the Red Sea. (11) They moved from the Red Sea and camped in the Wilderness of Sin. (12) They journeyed from the Wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah. (13) They departed from Dophkah and camped at Alush. (14) They moved from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.

(15) They departed from Rephidim and camped in the Wilderness of Sinai. (16) They moved from the Wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah. (17) They departed from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth. (18) They departed from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah. (19) They departed from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez. (20) They departed from Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah. (21) They moved from Libnah and camped at Rissah. (22) They journeyed from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah. (23) They went from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher. (24) They moved from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah. (25) They moved from Haradah and camped at Makheloth. (26) They moved from Makheloth and camped at Tahath. (27) They departed from Tahath and camped at Terah. (28) They moved from Terah and camped at Mithkah. (29) They went from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah. (30) They departed from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth. (31) They departed from Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan. (32) They moved from Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Hagidgad. (33) They went from Hor Hagidgad and camped at Jotbathah. (34) They moved from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah. (35) They departed from Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber. (36) They moved from Ezion Geber and camped in the Wilderness of Zin, which is Kadesh. (37) They moved from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the boundary of the land of Edom.

(38) Then Aaron the priest went up to Mount Hor at the command of the Lord, and died there in the fortieth year after the children of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, on the first day of the fifth month. (39) Aaron was one hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.

(40) Now the king of Arad, the Canaanite, who dwelt in the South in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel.

(41) So they departed from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah. (42) They departed from Zalmonah and camped at Punon. (43) They departed from Punon and camped at Oboth. (44) They departed from Oboth and camped at Ije Abarim, at the border of Moab. (45) They departed from Ijim and camped at Dibon Gad. (46) They moved from Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim. (47) They moved from Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo. (48) They departed from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. (49) They camped by the Jordan, from Beth Jesimoth as far as the Abel Acacia Grove in the plains of Moab.

(50) Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying, (51) “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, (52) then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; (53) you shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess. (54) And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance; there everyone’s inheritance shall be whatever falls to him by lot. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. (55) But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. (56) Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’ ”

NUMBERS 34 (CEV) – 6:17Numbers, chapter 34. (1) The Lord told Moses (2) to tell the people of Israel that their land in Canaan would have the following borders:

(3) The southern border will be the Zin Desert and the northwest part of Edom. This border will begin at the south end of the Dead Sea. (4) It will go west from there,...

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Epistles Sunday. We’ll read Hebrews 8-10. I’m calling today’s episode “Once For All.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Tamanna Rumee on Unsplash

Comments on Hebrews 8-10

My comments today are going to be very short, because the main point being made in these three chapters can be summarized very succinctly. Here it is: Jesus made the perfect sacrifice with His own blood, and that one-time sacrifice was good for all time.

The reason the author of Hebrews elaborated so much is because the main audience of the book, the Jews, needed to be convinced from the point of view of one who, like them, at one time had been under the Mosaic law. Their entire lives, they had been told that doing annual sacrifices was necessary. To trust in the once-for-all-time sacrifice of Jesus was a huge change for them.

I’m so glad the old system is no longer in effect. Aren’t you?

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 8 NLT; Ch. 9-10 ERV

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This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00A huge change for them.

INTRO S12E284 – 0:09Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today is Epistle Sunday. We’ll read Hebrews 8 through 10. After the reading I’ve got some comments for you. And we’ve got an On This Date in Church History for you as well. The title of today’s episode is “Once for All”. The show notes page is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e284. And by the way, since this is Episode 284, there are only 80 episodes remaining before the 12 season comes to an end. If you’d like to send me an email, you can do that at st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get going.

HEBREWS 8 (NLT) – 0:57Hebrews, chapter eight. (1) Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven. (2) There he ministers in the heavenly Tabernacle, the true place of worship that was built by the Lord and not by human hands.

(3) And since every high priest is required to offer gifts and sacrifices, our High Priest must make an offering, too. (4) If he were here on earth, he would not even be a priest, since there already are priests who offer the gifts required by the law. (5) They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”

(6) But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.

(7) If the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no need for a second covenant to replace it. (8) But when God found fault with the people, he said:

“The day is coming, says the Lord,when I will make a new covenantwith the people of Israel and Judah.(9) This covenant will not be like the oneI made with their ancestorswhen I took them by the handand led them out of the land of Egypt.They did not remain faithful to my covenant,so I turned my back on them, says the Lord.(10) But this is the new covenant I will makewith the people of Israel on that day, says the Lord:I will put my laws in their minds,and I will write them on their hearts.I will be their God,and they will be my people.(11) And they will not need to teach their neighbors,nor will they need to teach their relatives,saying, ‘You should know the Lord.’For everyone, from the least to the greatest,will know me already.(12) And I will forgive their wickedness,and I will never again remember their sins.”(13) When God speaks of a “new” covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and will soon disappear.

HEBREWS 9 (ERV) – 3:07Hebrews, chapter nine. (1) The first agreement had rules for worship and a place for worship here on earth. (2) This place was inside a tent. The first area in the tent was called the Holy Place. In the Holy Place were the lamp and the table with the special bread offered to God. (3) Behind the second curtain was a room called the Most Holy Place. (4) In the Most Holy Place was a golden altar for burning incense. And also there was the Box of the Agreement. The Box was covered with gold. Inside this Box was a golden jar of manna and Aaron’s rod—the rod that once grew leaves. Also in the Box were the flat stones with the Ten Commandments of the old agreement on them. (5) Above the Box were the Cherub angels that showed God’s glory. These Cherub angels were over the place of mercy. But we cannot say everything about this now.

(6) Everything in the tent was made ready in the way I have explained. Then the priests went into the first room every day to do their worship duties. (7) But only the high priest could go into the second room, and he went in only once a year. Also, he could never enter that room without taking blood with him. He offered that blood to God for himself and for the sins the people committed without knowing they were sinning.(8) The Holy Spirit uses those two separate rooms to teach us that the way into the Most Holy Place was not open while the first room was still there. (9) This is an example for us today. It shows that the gifts and sacrifices the priests offer to God are not able to make the consciences of the worshipers completely clear. (10) These gifts and sacrifices are only about food and drink and special washings. They are only rules about the body. God gave them for his people to follow until the time of his new way.

(11) But Christ has already come to be the high priest. He is the high priest of the good things we now have. But Christ does not serve in a place like the tent that those other priests served in. He serves in a better place. Unlike that tent, this one is perfect. It was not made by anyone here on earth. It does not belong to this world. (12) Christ entered the Most Holy Place only one time—enough for all time. He entered the Most Holy Place by using his own blood, not the blood of goats or young bulls. He entered there and made us free from sin forever.

(13) The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a cow were sprinkled on those who were no longer pure enough to enter the place of worship. The blood and ashes made them pure again—but only their bodies. (14) So surely the blood sacrifice of Christ can do much more. Christ offered himself through the eternal Spirit as a perfect sacrifice to God. His blood will make us completely clean from the evil we have done. It will give us clear consciences so that we can worship the living God.

(15) So Christ brings a new agreement from God to his people. He brings this agreement so that those who are chosen by God can have the blessings God promised, blessings that last forever. This can happen only because Christ died to free people from sins committed against the commands of the first agreement.

(16) When someone dies and leaves a will, there must be proof that the one who wrote the will is dead. (17) A will means nothing while the one who wrote it is still living. It can be used only after that person’s death. (18) That is why blood was needed to begin the first agreement between God and his people. (19) First, Moses told the people every command in the law. Then he took the blood of young bulls and mixed it with water. He used red wool and a branch of hyssop to sprinkle the blood and water on the book of the law and on all the people. (20) Then he said, “This is the blood that makes the agreement good—the agreement that God commanded you to follow.” (21) In the same way, Moses sprinkled the blood on the Holy Tent. He sprinkled the blood over everything used in worship. (22) The law says that almost everything must be made clean by blood. Sins cannot be forgiven without a blood sacrifice.

(23) These things are copies of the real things that are in heaven. These copies had to be made clean by animal sacrifices. But the real things in heaven must have much better sacrifices. (24) Christ went into the Most Holy Place. But it was not the man-made one, which is only a copy of the real one. He went into heaven, and he is there now before God to help us.

(25) The high priest enters the Most Holy Place once every year. He takes with him blood to offer. But he does not offer his own blood like Christ did. Christ went into heaven, but not to offer himself many times like the high priest offers blood again and again. (26) If Christ had offered himself many times, he would have needed to suffer many times since the time the world was made. But he came to offer himself only once. And that once is enough for all time. He came at a time when the world is nearing an end. He came to take away all sin by offering himself as a sacrifice.

(27) Everyone must die once. Then they are judged. (28) So Christ was offered as a sacrifice one time to take away the sins of many people. And he will come a second time, but not to offer himself for sin. He will come the second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

HEBREWS 10 (ERV) – 8:31Hebrews, chapter 10. (1) The law gave us only an unclear picture of the good things coming in the future. The law is not a perfect picture of the real things. The law tells people to offer the same sacrifices every year. Those who come to worship God continue to offer those sacrifices....

Transcript

Distinguished Producer

Lifespring Family Berean Brother Paul of Seattle

Associate Producer

Timothy LaFontaine

Podcast Introduction

Today is Gospel Saturday, and our reading will be Acts 3-4. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. Plus we have two prayer requests.  I’m calling today’s episode  “The Right Words“  

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Ben White on Unsplash

Comments on Acts 3 and 4

In chapter 4, after Peter and John were arrested for talking about Jesus after the lame beggar was healed, and they were standing before the religious leaders, they were asked, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?”, what does scripture say happened?

It says, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them…” Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit! Do you remember how often Peter would put his foot in his mouth when He was with Jesus? Sure, he got a few things right, but he often said exactly the wrong things, didn’t he? And now that he is filled with the Holy Spirit, God speaks just the right words through him. 

Earlier in this chapter, we are told that after he preached, the number of the men added to the church was now about five thousand. The day before it was three thousand. So the Holy Spirit’s filling has made him a powerful and convincing speaker, wouldn’t you say?

What happened on the night that Jesus was crucified? Peter wouldn’t even admit to knowing Jesus. He was afraid and perhaps even ashamed to acknowledge Jesus. And now, the words he speaks have brought about five thousand men to believe in Jesus. And we don’t know how many more women there were.

So many of us are afraid to stand up and speak the name of Jesus. Here in Acts chapter four, Peter says to the religious leaders, “…if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, 10let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by this name this man stands here before you in good health. 11He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. 12And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

How is that for boldness? 

Now get this: “13Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.”

Why did they recognize them as having been with Jesus? Because of the Holy Spirit’s speaking through them! They spoke in the same way as Jesus did! Well of course they did! God is One. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have the same message because they are One.

The point to take away from this is that if you will let the Holy Spirit speak through you, you will have the right words to say…words that are from God and words that will change the hearts of people.

And my friend, we need this kind of filling of the Holy Spirit as much today as they needed Him that day, because there are those who tell us, like the religious leaders told them, “Do not speak of Jesus!”

You know it’s true, and it is only getting worse. If you are a believer, be ready to yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit. You will be amazed at what He will do through you.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 3 HCSB, Ch. 4 NASB

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00He often said exactly the wrong things, didn’t he?

INTRO S12E276 – 0:10As the singer said, One more time! Coming to you from Riverside, California. This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. And today is Gospel Saturday. We’ll be reading Acts 3 and 4. I’ve got an on this date in church history segment for you, and we’ve got a couple of prayer requests. I’m calling today’s episode, “The Right Words”. The show notes page for today is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e275. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Are you ready? Let’s get started.

ACTS 3 (HCSB) – 0:50Acts, chapter three. (1) Now Peter and John were going up together to the temple complex at the hour of prayer at three in the afternoon. (2) And a man who was lame from birth was carried there and placed every day at the temple gate called Beautiful, so he could beg from those entering the temple complex. (3) When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple complex, he asked for help. (4) Peter, along with John, looked at him intently and said, “Look at us.” (5) So he turned to them, expecting to get something from them. (6) But Peter said, “I don’t have silver or gold, but what I have, I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” (7) Then, taking him by the right hand he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. (8) So he jumped up, stood, and started to walk, and he entered the temple complex with them — walking, leaping, and praising God. (9) All the people saw him walking and praising God, (10) and they recognized that he was the one who used to sit and beg at the Beautiful Gate of the temple complex. So they were filled with awe and astonishment at what had happened to him.

(11) While he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people, greatly amazed, ran toward them in what is called Solomon’s Colonnade. (12) When Peter saw this, he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Or why do you stare at us, as though we had made him walk by our own power or godliness? (13) The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you handed over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. (14) But you denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you. (15) You killed the source of life, whom God raised from the dead; we are all witnesses of this. (16) By faith in His name, His name has made this man strong, whom you see and know. So the faith that comes through Him has given him this perfect health in front of all of you.

(17) “And now, brothers, I know that you did it in ignorance, just as your leaders also did. (18) But what God predicted through the mouth of all the prophets — that His Messiah would suffer — He has fulfilled in this way. (19) Therefore repent and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped out, that seasons of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, (20) and that He may send Jesus, who has been appointed for you as the Messiah. (21) Heaven must welcome Him until the times of the restoration of all things, which God spoke about by the mouth of His holy prophets from the beginning. (22) Moses said:

The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He will say to you. (23) And everyone who will not listen to that Prophet will be completely cut off from the people.

(24) “In addition, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those after him, have also announced these days. (25) You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, saying to Abraham, And all the families of the earth will be blessed through your offspring. (26) God raised up His Servant and sent Him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your evil ways.”

ACTS 4 (NASB) – 4:06Acts, chapter four. (1) As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, (2) being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. (3) And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. (4) But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

(5) On the next day, their rulers and elders and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem; (6) and Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, all who were of high-priestly descent. (7) When they had placed them in the center, they began to inquire, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” (8) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people, (9) if we are on trial today for a benefit done to a sick man, as to how this man has been made well, (10) let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health. (11) He is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone. (12) And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

(13) Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus. (14) And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. (15) But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, (16) saying, “What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who liv

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is prophecy Friday, and we’ll read about the guy who was swallowed by a fish! We will read the book of Jonah And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I have a comment or two to share with you, and a really serious prayer request. I’m calling today’s episode “No, Not Them!“  

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Cristian Palmer on Unsplash

Comments on Jonah

As you know, this book called Jonah is grouped in with what are commonly called the books of the Minor Prophets. Did you notice any of what we commonly think of as prophecy in today’s reading? Not much. Just one sentence, and it wasn’t until chapter three, verse four: “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

But let’s remember that a prophet is not only one who tells what will happen. A prophet is one who carries a message from God. And this, Jonah did. Jonah was a prophet, as much as any of the other biblical prophets. 

Now, as for whether or not a man could actually be swallowed whole by a fish. First, in the original language, the word translated as “fish” is “dg” (pronounced dag). That actually is the Hebrew word for fish. So in my mind, that settles it. Jonah was swallowed by a great big fish. Is it  not entirely conceivable that God would be able to create a fish large enough to swallow a man? Of course it is. Some people say that it must have been a whale. I don’t know why it’s easier to believe that whale swallowed him than a fist, but ok. According to gotquestions.org: “There are at least two species of Mediterranean marine life that are able to swallow a man whole. These are the cachalot (also known as the sperm whale) and the white shark. Both creatures are known to prowl the Mediterranean and have been known to sailors since antiquity.” The entire article there at gotquestions.org is worth a read.

We first heard of the man Jonah in 2 Kings 14:25, where we were told that he was from Gath-hepher in Galilee. He brought a message of mercy to Israel during the reign of king Jeroboam II (who practiced the worship of the golden calf). 

In this book that bears his name, we read how God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and rebuke them and call them to repent. But Jonah’s response was “No, Not them!” The Ninevites were considered the worst of the worst. He didn’t want them to receive God’s mercy. And so he ran away, in the opposite direction from Ninevah. But through his experience with the fish, Jonah learned that following God is the better choice. So when God called him a second time to go, he went. But then Jonah became angry when Nineveh did repent, and at God’s mercy in forgiving Nineveh.

From the introductory notes at bible.com: “Jonah’s role in the book is to represent the attitude of many in Israel toward other nations. Instead of accepting their own calling to help these nations come to know the true God, they considered them enemies and expected God to destroy them. The book teaches that God’s love extends beyond Israel to other nations, indeed, to the whole creation. God’s final question to Jonah is intended for all the book’s readers.”

What was the final question? “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”

I’m so glad that God has offered redemption to all nations, because that offer was extended to me, and to you.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1-4 NASB

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Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00Why would anybody think they could get away from God?

INTRO S12E275 – 0:10Coming to you from Lifespring Central in Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Prophecy Friday and we’ll read about the guy who was swallowed by a fish. We’ll read the entire book of Jonah, four chapters. Of course, I’ll have an On This Date In Church History segment. I have a comment or two to share with you and a really serious prayer request. I’m calling today’s episode, “No, Not Them”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e275. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

JONAH 1 (NASB) – 0:55Jonah, chapter one. (1) The word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying, (2) “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me.” (3) But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.

(4) The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. (5) Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god, and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep. (6) So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we will not perish.”

(7) Each man said to his mate, “Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.” So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. (8) Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupation? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” (9) He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.”

(10) Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. (11) So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. (12) He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” (13) However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them. (14) Then they called on the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.”

(15) So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. (16) Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

(17) And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.

JONAH 2 (NASB) – 3:20Jonah, chapter two. (1) Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, (2) and he said,

“I called out of my distress to the Lord,And He answered me.I cried for help from the depth of Sheol;You heard my voice.(3) For You had cast me into the deep,Into the heart of the seas,And the current engulfed me.All Your breakers and billows passed over me.(4) So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight.Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’(5) Water encompassed me to the point of death.The great deep engulfed me,Weeds were wrapped around my head.(6) I descended to the roots of the mountains.The earth with its bars was around me forever,But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.(7) While I was fainting away,I remembered the Lord,And my prayer came to You,Into Your holy temple.(8) Those who regard vain idolsForsake their faithfulness,(9) But I will sacrifice to YouWith the voice of thanksgiving.That which I have vowed I will pay.Salvation is from the Lord.”

(10) Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.

JONAH 3 (NASB) – 4:29Jonah, chapter three. (1) Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, (2) “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.” (3) So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, a three days’ walk. (4) Then Jonah began to go through the city one day’s walk; and he cried out and said, “Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown.”

(5) Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of them. (6) When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. (7) He issued a proclamation and it said, “In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water. (8) But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly that each may turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands. (9) Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.”

(10) When God saw their deeds, that they turned from their wicked way, then God relented concerning the calamity which He had declared He would bring upon them. And He did not do it.

JONAH 4 (NASB) – 5:53Jonah, chapter four. (1) But it greatly displeased Jonah and he became angry....

Transcript

The Second Lifespring! Family Berean

Supporters who make donations totaling $1000 (or the equivalent value of satoshi) or more will receive the honored title of Berean.

We read of the Bereans in Acts 17:10-15. The key verse for our purposes here is verse 11b, which says, ”The Bereans were eager to hear what Paul and Silas said and studied the Scriptures every day to find out if these things were true.”

Our second Value-for-Value supporter to attain this level is Brother Paul of Seattle. Thank you, Brother Paul of Seattle for your emails of encouragement and your generous donations!

Podcast Introduction

Today is poetry Thursday so we’ll read Proverbs 28.  I’ll have an introduction for each chapter, and then some comments after the reading. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I’m calling today’s episode “The Symptom and the Cause.”

Design: Steve Webb | Portrait of John Adams

Comments on Proverbs 28

When a nation sins, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and much learning, it will last a long time.

Proverbs 28:2 NLV

To paraphrase the first part of that verse, big government is a symptom of a sinful nation!

John Adams, America’s second president famously said, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Alexis de Toqueville is credited with saying, “In a democracy, people get the government they deserve.”

A big government is necessary when the people do not have their eyes on God. Why? Because without a standard, without a belief in an absolute morality, chaos eventually results. 

And there is an Arabic curse which says, “May God make your sheiks many.”

Adams also said, “Democracy… while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.”

Remember, every time the children of Israel turned away from God, He brought them great hardship until they repented. 

And now I will say it again, we need to pray for our nation. We need to pray for revival. We need to seek God’s forgiveness and invite Him back into the public square. Until that happens, I don’t think we can expect Him to bless our nation.

Daniel 2:21 says, “He controls the course of world events; he removes kings and sets up other kings.”

God removed the evil kings of Israel. Is he preparing to do the same in America? America was not created, was not founded as a democracy. It is a republic. But at the moment, because the constitution is not being defended, it is being governed more like a democracy. Will our republic die? Only God knows His plans. 

If America falls, the consequences will be felt around the world. The last, best hope for freedom from tyranny is here. Wherever you are beloved, pray for America.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 28 NLV

Support

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Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00Chaos eventually results.

INTRO S12E274 – 0:09Coming right at you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. And today’s Poetry Thursday. So we’ll read Proverbs, chapter 28. I’m calling today’s episode, “The Symptom and The Cause”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e274. And you know what that means, right? Yep, there are 90 remaining days of this season of the show. Are you ready? Let’s get started.

PROVERBS 28 (NLV) – 0:44Proverbs, chapter 28.

(1) The sinful run away when no one is trying to catch them, but those who are right with God have as much strength of heart as a lion.

(2) When a nation sins, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and much learning, it will last a long time.

(3) A poor man who makes it hard for the poor is like a heavy rain which leaves no food.

(4) Those who turn away from the law praise the sinful, but those who keep the law fight against them.

(5) Sinful men do not understand what is right and fair, but those who look to the Lord understand all things.

(6) A poor man who walks in his honor is better than a rich man who is sinful in his ways.

(7) He who keeps the law is a wise son, but a friend of men who eat too much puts his father to shame.

(8) He who gets money by being paid much for the use of it, gathers it for him who will be kind to the poor.

(9) He who turns his ear away from listening to the law, even his prayer is a hated thing.

(10) He who leads good people into a sinful way will fall into his own deep hole, but good will come to those without blame.

(11) The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor man who has understanding sees through him.

(12) When those who are right with God win, there is great honor, but when the sinful rule, men hide themselves.

(13) It will not go well for the man who hides his sins, but he who tells his sins and turns from them will be given loving-pity.

(14) Happy is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who makes his heart hard will fall into trouble.

(15) A sinful ruler over poor people is like a lion making noise or a bear running to fight.

(16) A ruler who takes much from the people who have little does not have understanding. But he who hates wanting something that belongs to someone else will live a long time.

(17) A man who is loaded down with the guilt of human blood will run in fear until death. Let no one help him.

(18) He who walks without blame will be kept safe, but he who is sinful will fall all at once.

(19) He who works his land will have more than enough food, but he who wastes his time will become very poor.

(20) A faithful man will have many good things, but he who hurries to be rich will be punished for it.

(21) To show favor is not good, because a man will sin for a piece of bread.

(22) A man with a sinful eye hurries to be rich. He does not know that he will be in need.

(23) He who speaks strong words to a man will later find more favor than he who gives false respect with his tongue.

(24) He who robs his father or his mother, and says, “It is not a sin,” is the friend of a man who destroys.

(25) A proud man starts fights, but all will go well for the man who trusts in the Lord.

(26) He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be kept safe.

(27) He who gives to the poor will never want, but many bad things will happen to the man who shuts his eyes to the poor.

(28) When the sinful rule, men hide themselves, but when they pass away, those who do what is right become many.

COMMENTS – 4:15Well, verse two of Proverbs 28 said, “When a nation sins, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and much learning, it will last a long time.”

So to paraphrase the first part of that verse, big government is a symptom of a sinful nation.

John Adams, America’s second president famously said, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Alexis de Tocqueville is credited with saying, “In a democracy, people get the government they deserve.”

You see a big government is necessary when the people do not have their eyes on God. Why? Well because without a standard, without a belief in an absolute morality, chaos eventually results.

And then there’s an Arabic curse which says, “May God make your sheiks many”.

John Adams also said, “Democracy while it lasts is more bloody than either aristocracy or monarchy. Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts and murders itself. There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide.”

Think about it. Every time the children of Israel turned away from God, he brought them great hardship until they repented.

And now I’ll say what I’ve said many times on the show, we need to pray for our nation, and I’ll expand it. We need to pray for the world. We need to pray for revival. We need to seek God’s forgiveness and invite him back into the public square. And until that happens, I don’t think we can expect him to bless this place. I’m talking about America or the world.

Daniel 2:21 says, “He controls the course of world events. He removes kings and sets up other kings.”

God removed the evil kings of Israel. Is he preparing to do the same in America? Did you know that America was not created or not founded as a democracy? It’s a republic. But at the moment because the Constitution is not being defended, it’s being governed like– well, I don’t even know what to call it. Will our republic die? Well, only God knows His plans.

If America falls, the consequences will be felt around the world. The last best hope for freedom from tyranny is right here. Wherever you are, beloved, please pray for America.

I’d like to know what you’re thinking. Let me know lifespringmedia.com/s12e274. Tomorrow is Prophecy Friday, and we’ll read about the guy who was swallowed by a fish. We’ll read the book of Jonah.

Boost!

LIFESPRING FAMILY BEREAN SHOUT-OUT – 6:52We have another Lifespring Family Berean today, Brother Paul of Seattle joins Brother John of Canada today as his total donations now total $1,206.66. And I’m gonna add a penny to make it $1,206.67. Brother Paul of Seattle wrote a note he said, “Funny enough, I grew up going to Berean Bible Church.” Wow, that’s great, Brother Paul,...

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Wednesday, so we’ll read from the Psalms, chapters 117-118.  I’ll have an introduction for each chapter, and then some comments after the reading. And of course I’ll have an “On This Date In Church History” segment for you, too. I’m calling today’s episode “God’s Enduring Love.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: len Rojnic on Unsplash

Comments on Psalm 117

The four aspects of Psalm 117 that Martin Luther addressed in his thirty-six page commentary of this chapter are:

1-Prophecy: the Gentiles will be included in God’s plan of redemption!

2-Revelation: the Messiah’s kingdom is heavenly and eternal, not earthly

3-Instruction: we are saved by grace alone, not by works, holiness or wisdom

4-Admonition: because of these things we should praise the Lord! 

Psalms chapter 117 is the shortest chapter in the Bible, and it’s smack dab in the center. 

You know what is really amazing about this psalm? The writer wrote something that could not have been accepted by the Jews! Why? Because it says, “Praise the Lord, all nations! Praise Him, all people!”

You see, unless you were circumcised, you could not join in praising the Lord when this psalm was written. 

This chapter at the very heart of the Bible, revealed the heart of God. This was a peek at the Gospel message. Paul, in the book of Romans, chapter 15, even used this short chapter as a proof to the Jews that God’s love was for the Gentiles as much as it was for the Jews. That is indeed Good News.

But the message of Psalm 117 doesn’t end there. It says, “For His loving-kindness toward us is great. And the truth of the Lord lasts forever.” I like the way the KJV says it, “For his merciful kindness is great toward us…” We should praise Him because his merciful loving kindness is great toward us. Do we deserve it? No. But His merciful kindness is great toward us. That is the truth. “And the truth of the Lord lasts forever.” It will never change. It will never waver. He won’t change His mind. Forever is a long, long time. 

And then the psalm ends with the only response we should have to this life changing truth: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! He deserves our praise. He who created all that is, He who holds your life and mine in his strong right hand loves you and He loves me. And that will never change. Praise the Lord!

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 117-118 NLV

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00Forever is a long, long time.

INTRO S12E273 – 0:10Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we are reading through the entire Bible in a year. Yesterday’s show was along with what we’re catching up with my health report and catching up on notes and donations. So this will be a short one. Today’s Wednesday, so we’ll read from the Psalms, chapters 117 and 118. I’ll have an introduction for each chapter and then some comments after the reading. And of course, there’ll be an On This Date In Church History segment. I’m calling today’s episode “God’s Enduring Love”. If you’d like to comment on the show, please do so at lifespringmedia.com/s12e273. And I don’t have a new email address, st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started.

COMMENTS ON PSALMS 117 – 0:59Just a reminder that the Psalms from 113 to 118 make up what is known as the Egyptian Hallel. Psalms 113 and 114 were sung before the Passover meal, and Psalms 115 through 118 were sung after the meal. Psalm 117 is the shortest psalm and the shortest chapter in the entire Bible, but Martin Luther wrote 36 pages about it. He wrote about four aspects of the psalm: Prophecy, Revelation, Instruction and Admonition. See if you can pick out how these apply as we read it.

PSALM 117 (NLV) – 1:50Psalms, chapter 117. (1) Praise the Lord, all nations! Praise Him, all people! (2) For His loving-kindness toward us is great. And the truth of the Lord lasts forever. Praise the Lord!

COMMENTS ON PSALM 118 – 2:05There is no attribution as to who the author is of Psalm 118, but King David is generally accepted as the writer. But thinking of Jesus singing this psalm after his last Passover meal, and just before he was betrayed, one could also say that this is the Messiah’s song. Of this psalm, G. Campbell Morgan wrote, “This is pre-eminently the triumph song of the Christ, He the ideal Servant, He the perfect Priest, He the Leader of the people. How much all these words meant to Him as He sang them on that night in the upper room.”

PSALMS 118 (NLV) – 2:41Psalms, chapter 118. (1) Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. (2) Let Israel say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.” (3) Let the house of Aaron say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.” (4) Let those who fear the Lord say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.”

(5) I cried to the Lord in my trouble, and He answered me and put me in a good place. (6) The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid of what man can do to me. (7) The Lord is with me. He is my Helper. I will watch those lose who fight against me. (8) It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man. (9) It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in rulers.

(10) All nations gathered around me. But I cut them off in the name of the Lord. (11) They gathered around me. Yes, they were on every side. But I cut them off in the name of the Lord. (12) They were all around me like bees and they died out fast like burning thorns. I will destroy them in the name of the Lord. (13) You pushed me back so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me. (14) The Lord is my strength and my song. He is the One Who saves me.

(15) The joy of being saved is being heard in the tents of those who are right and good. The right hand of the Lord does powerful things. (16) The Lord’s right hand is lifted high. The right hand of the Lord does powerful things. (17) I will not die but live. And I will tell of what the Lord has done. (18) The Lord has punished me but He has not given me over to death.

(19) Open to me the gates of what is right and good. I will go through them and give thanks to the Lord. (20) This is the gate of the Lord. Those who are right with God will pass through it. (21) I will give thanks to You, for You have answered me. And You are the One Who saves me.

(22) The stone that was put aside by the workmen has become the most important stone in the building. (23) The Lord has done this. We think it is great! (24) This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be full of joy and be glad in it. (25) O Lord, we beg You to save us! O Lord, we ask that You let everything go well for us! (26) Great and honored is he who comes in the name of the Lord. We honor you from the house of the Lord. (27) The Lord is God. He has given us light. Tie the gift with rope to the horns of the altar on this special day. (28) You are my God and I will give You thanks. You are my God and I will praise You. (29) Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever.

COMMENTS ON PSALM 117 – 5:17I’ve got some comments on Psalm 117. I told you that Martin Luther wrote about four different aspects of the psalm even though it was so short, he wrote 36 pages about it. Here are the four aspects that Martin Luther addressed. Number one, Prophecy. The Psalm tells us that the Gentiles will be included in God’s plan of redemption. Number two, Revelation. The psalm told us that the Messiah’s Kingdom is heavenly and eternal, not earthly. And also there was some instruction in the psalm that tells us that we were saved by grace alone, not by works, holiness or wisdom. And the fourth thing was, there was an admonition in the psalm. Because of these things, we should praise the Lord.

Now, not only is chapter 117, the shortest chapter in the Bible, it’s also smack dab in the center. And what’s really amazing about this psalm is this, the writer wrote something that could not have been accepted by the Jews. Why? Well, because it says, “Praise the Lord, all nations! Praise Him, all people!”

You see, unless you were circumcised, to the Jew, you could not join in praising the Lord, when this Psalm was written.

This chapter at the very heart of the Bible, revealed the heart of God. This was a peek at the gospel message. Paul, in the book of Romans, chapter 15, even used this short chapter as a proof to the Jews, that God’s love was for the Gentiles as much as it was for the Jews. That is, indeed Good News.

But the message of Psalm 117 does not end there. It says, “For His loving-kindness toward us is great.” I like the way the King James says it: “For his merciful kindness is great toward us.” Beloved, we should praise him because his merciful loving-kindness is great toward us. Do we deserve it? No, but his merciful kindness is great toward us. That’s the truth. And the truth of the Lord lasts forever. It will never change. It will never waver. He won’t change his mind. Forever is a long, long time.

And then the psalm ends with the only response we should have to this life changing truth. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. He deserves our praise. He who created all that is. He who holds your life and mine in his strong right hand loves you and He loves me. And that will never change. Praise the Lord.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e273 and let me know.

Tomorrow is Poetry Thursday, and we’ll read Proverbs 28.

Boost!

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 8:11On this date in church hist

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is history Tuesday, and we’ll read 2 Chronicles 11-15. I have an on this date in church history segment that I think you’ll find interesting, and related to that, I have a song for you at the end of the show today. I’m calling today’s episode  “Correction.”

Design: Steve Webb

Comments on 2 Chronicles 11

King Rehoboam was a mixed bag. There were times where he followed the Lord, and times where he turned his back on God. And in chapter 11, verses 16 and 17, we read some very important words.

16Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. 17They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time.

Chapter 12 tells us that Rehoboam reigned for 17 years, but those three years were his best, because he and the people sought the Lord and followed the examples of David and Solomon.

Beloved, when things are not going well with us, it’s a really good idea to take a spiritual inventory. How is our relationship with God? Are we seeking the Lord? Is there unconfessed sin in our life? Are we spending time with Him in prayer and in the Word? Of course, being right with God is no guarantee that life will be a bed of roses, because we live in a fallen world. But sometimes our loving Heavenly Father uses difficulties and hardships to get our attention if we are straying off the path. 

Yes, we are secure in God’s grace because of the shed blood of Christ. He paid the price for all of our sins, if we have been born again. I’m not saying that we are in danger of losing our salvation if we have a time of rebellion. But God loves us too much to not correct us if we need it. 

If you want to have God’s blessing, the place you want to be is in harmony with God, seeking to know Him better each and every day. 

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 11 NIV; Ch. 12-13 CEB; Ch. 14-15 NLT

Music

Nathan Drake of Reawaken Hymns graciously gave his permission to play this song on the show. Support him at Reawaken Hymns.

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00Take a spiritual inventory.

INTRO S12E279 – 0:10This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming to you from Riverside in Southern California’s Inland Empire where it’ll be in the upper 90s most of the week. Shoosh! Podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year and today is History Tuesday. We’ll read 2 Chronicles 11 through 15. After that I’ve got comments, of course, and I’ve got an On This Date in Church History segment that I think you’ll find interesting, and related to that I’ve got a song for you at the end of today’s show. I’m calling the episode today, “Correction”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e279. I’d love to hear from you. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

2 CHRONICLES 11 (NIV) – 0:592 Chronicles, chapter 11. (1) When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he mustered Judah and Benjamin—a hundred and eighty thousand able young men—to go to war against Israel and to regain the kingdom for Rehoboam.

(2) But this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah the man of God: (3) “Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon king of Judah and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, (4) ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not go up to fight against your fellow Israelites. Go home, every one of you, for this is my doing.’” So they obeyed the words of the Lord and turned back from marching against Jeroboam.

(5) Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built up towns for defense in Judah: (6) Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, (7) Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, (8) Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, (9) Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, (10) Zorah, Aijalon and Hebron. These were fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin. (11) He strengthened their defenses and put commanders in them, with supplies of food, olive oil and wine. (12) He put shields and spears in all the cities, and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin were his.

(13) The priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel sided with him. (14) The Levites even abandoned their pasturelands and property and came to Judah and Jerusalem, because Jeroboam and his sons had rejected them as priests of the Lord (15) when he appointed his own priests for the high places and for the goat and calf idols he had made. (16) Those from every tribe of Israel who set their hearts on seeking the Lord, the God of Israel, followed the Levites to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to the Lord, the God of their ancestors. (17) They strengthened the kingdom of Judah and supported Rehoboam son of Solomon three years, following the ways of David and Solomon during this time.

(18) Rehoboam married Mahalath, who was the daughter of David’s son Jerimoth and of Abihail, the daughter of Jesse’s son Eliab. (19) She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah and Zaham. (20) Then he married Maakah daughter of Absalom, who bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza and Shelomith. (21) Rehoboam loved Maakah daughter of Absalom more than any of his other wives and concubines. In all, he had eighteen wives and sixty concubines, twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters.

(22) Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maakah as crown prince among his brothers, in order to make him king. (23) He acted wisely, dispersing some of his sons throughout the districts of Judah and Benjamin, and to all the fortified cities. He gave them abundant provisions and took many wives for them.

2 CHRONICLES 12 (CEB) – 3:372 Chronicles, chapter 12. (1) But as soon as Rehoboam had secured his royal power, he, along with all Israel, abandoned the LORD’s Instruction.

(2) Egypt’s King Shishak attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam because Israel had been unfaithful to the LORD. (3) Accompanying Shishak from Egypt were twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horses, and countless Libyan, Sukkite, and Cushite warriors. (4) He captured the fortified cities of Judah and came toward Jerusalem. (5) Then the prophet Shemaiah went to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah who had gathered at Jerusalem because of Shishak, and told them, This is what the LORD says: Since you have abandoned me, now I am abandoning you to Shishak’s power.

(6) Then the leaders of Israel and the king submitted. “The LORD is right,” they said.

(7) When the LORD saw that they had submitted, the LORD’s word came to Shemaiah: Since they have submitted, I won’t destroy them. I will deliver them in a little while, and I won’t use Shishak to pour out my anger against Jerusalem. (8) Nevertheless, they will be subject to him so that they learn the difference between serving me and serving other nations.

(9) Egypt’s King Shishak attacked Jerusalem and seized the treasures of the LORD’s temple and the royal palace. He took everything, even the gold shields Solomon had made. (10) King Rehoboam replaced them with bronze shields and assigned them to the officers of the guard who protected the entrance to the royal palace. (11)(Whenever the king entered the LORD’s temple, the guards would carry the shields and then return them to the guardroom.) (12) When Rehoboam submitted, the LORD was no longer angry with him, and total destruction was avoided. There were, after all, some good things still in Judah.

(13) So King Rehoboam was securely established in Jerusalem. Rehoboam was 41 years old when he became king, and he ruled seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen from all the tribes of Israel to put his name. His mother’s name was Naamah from Ammon. (14) But Rehoboam did what was evil because he didn’t set his heart on seeking the LORD. (15) The deeds of Rehoboam, from beginning to end, aren’t they written in the records of the prophet Shemaiah and the seer Iddo, including the genealogical records? There was continual warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. (16) Rehoboam lay down with his ancestors and was buried in David’s City. His son Abijah succeeded him as king.

2 CHRONICLES 13 (CEB) – 6:072 Chronicles, chapter 13. (1) Abijah became king over Judah in the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam. (2) He ruled for three years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Micaiah; she was Uriel’s daughter from Gibeah. When war broke out between Abijah and Jeroboam, (3) Abijah went to fight with an army of four hundred thousand select troops against Jeroboam’s select forces numbering eight hundred thousand, who were arrayed in battle formation.

(4) Abijah stood on the heights of Mount Zemaraim in Ephraim’s highlands and said:

“Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel! (5) Surely you know that the LORD, Israel’s God, made an unbreakable covenant with David and his descendants that they would rule Israel forever. (6) It was Jeroboam, Nebat’s son, the servant of Solomon, David’s son, who rebelled against his master. (7) When some useless, worthless people joined his cause, they overpowered Rehoboam, Solomon’s son, who was too young and timid to resist them. (8) And now do you intend to challenge the LORD’s royal rule, entrusted to David’s descendants? You may have a numerical advantage, as well as the gold calves Jeroboam made for you as gods. (9) But you’ve banished the LORD’s priests, Aaron’s sons, along with the Levites, so that you could appoint your own priests as other countries do. Now anyone who shows up with a young bull and seven rams can become a priest of these phony gods!...

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is Monday, so we will read from one of the books of the Law. We’ll read Numbers  29-32. I’m calling today’s episode  “Balaam Gets His Due.“

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Mark Kuiper on Unsplash

Comments on Numbers 29 and 31

Thoughts on Numbers 29

Chapters 28 and 29 tell us about the offerings that the Lord told Moses the children of Israel were to make during the year. 

There were:

1) Daily offerings (Numbers 28)

2) Sabbath offerings (Numbers 28)

3) Monthly offerings (Numbers 28)

4) Passover offerings (Numbers 28)

5) Feast of Weeks offerings (Numbers 28)

6) Feast of Trumpets offerings (Numbers 29)

7) Day of Atonement offerings  (Numbers 29)

8) Feast of Tabernacles offerings (Numbers 29)

In order for Israel to fulfill these offerings each year, the priests sacrificed 113 bulls, 32 rams, over 2,000 pounds of flour, about 1,000 bottles of oil and wine, and 1,086 lambs without blemish. These totals do not include sacrifices made by individuals or families. 

Since these sacrifices were to be made every year, we know that they were inadequate to forgive sin. This was a perpetual demonstration of the need for the One who would bring forgiveness.

Notice the number of lambs without blemish. These pointed to the coming Messiah. In John 1:29 He is called “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Only Jesus could accomplish this. His one sacrifice was sufficient to bring forgiveness to anyone who put their faith in Him. Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 NKJV

Thoughts on Numbers 31

In Numbers 22 Balak, the king of Moab, sent a contingent made up of elders Moab and the elders of Midian  to Balaam to bring him to meet with Balak so that he could ask Balaam to put a curse on the children of Israel so that he could defeat them. Balak offered Balaam a large reward if he would curse them. Of course, God would not allow it. So Balak told Balaam that he would not get the reward. 

But what God would not allow the Moabites and Midianites to do to the children of Israel, they did to themselves.   

In Numbers 25 we read the Israelite people were seduced into sexual sin with the women of Moab, and they worshipped false gods with them. And God became angry with the people of Israel and brought judgement against them in the form of a plague. It was only when Phinehas, out of righteous anger killed one of the Israelite men and the Midianite woman he was with that God stopped the plague. 

Here in chapter 31, verse 1 the Lord spoke to Moses and said, “Pay back the Midianites for what they did to the Israelites…”

So God first brought judgement on Israel for their guilt, but after that He brought judgement on the Midianites for their guilt. 

Remember Balaam? In Revelation 2:14 Jesus said to the church in Pergamum, ““There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality.” So it was Balaam who was responsible for the idea that nearly brought ruin to Israel. Balaam presumably finally did get his reward from Balak, but here in chapter 31, verse 8 we read that he was killed along with every Midianite man.

Moses became angry after the battle because they brought back the women and children with the other spoils of war. Why? What harm could come from women and children? Some of these women were part of the immorality that the Israelites became involved in. Allowing these women to live among them was to invite further disaster. So Moses said that all the women who had been with a man must be killed, but those who had not been with a man (and thus who did not participate in immorality with the Israelite men) could be spared. In this culture, the male children would have grown up with the responsibility to take revenge on Israel for killing their fathers, and to keep the Midianite culture alive. This is why Moses had all the male children killed.  

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 29 NKJV; Ch. 30 ESV; Ch. 31 NCV; Ch. 32 ERV

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Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00They did to themselves.

INTRO S12E278 – 0:09Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This right here is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today’s Monday, so we’ll read from one of the books of the Law. We’ll read Numbers 29 through 32. I’m calling today’s episode “Balaam Gets His Due.” The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e278. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. I’d love to hear from you. Let’s get started.

NUMBERS 29 (NKJV) – 0:45Numbers, chapter 29. (1) ‘And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work. For you it is a day of blowing the trumpets. (2) You shall offer a burnt offering as a sweet aroma to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year, without blemish. (3) Their grain offering shall be fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, (4) and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs; (5) also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, to make atonement for you; (6) besides the burnt offering with its grain offering for the New Moon, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, as a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to the Lord.

(7) ‘On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall afflict your souls; you shall not do any work. (8) You shall present a burnt offering to the Lord as a sweet aroma: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in their first year. Be sure they are without blemish. (9) Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, (10) and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs; (11) also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the sin offering for atonement, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

(12) ‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work, and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days. (13) You shall present a burnt offering, an offering made by fire as a sweet aroma to the Lord: thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year. They shall be without blemish. (14) Their grain offering shall be of fine flour mixed with oil: three-tenths of an ephah for each of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each of the two rams, (15) and one-tenth for each of the fourteen lambs; (16) also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

(17) ‘On the second day present twelve young bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish, (18) and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance; (19) also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

(20) ‘On the third day present eleven bulls, two rams, fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish, (21) and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance; (22) also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

(23) ‘On the fourth day present ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year, without blemish, (24) and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance; (25) also one kid of the goats as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

(26) ‘On the fifth day present nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish, (27) and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance; (28) also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

(29) ‘On the sixth day present eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish, (30) and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance; (31) also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

(32) ‘On the seventh day present seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in their first year without blemish, (33) and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, by their number, according to the ordinance; (34) also one goat as a sin offering, besides the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offering.

(35) ‘On the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly. You shall do no customary work....

Transcript

Podcast Introduction

Today is epistles Sunday. We’ll read Hebrews 5-7. I’m calling today’s episode “A Clean Slate.”

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Esperanza Doronila on Unsplash

Comments on Hebrews 7 and 8

Melchizedek is a bit of a mystery man. As it said in chapter 7, we don’t know anything about his genealogy. Verse three tells us “There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life.” Well that’s kind of strange, especially for those times when genealogies were kept in great detail, because it was important to know what tribe of Israel a person was from. 

We are told that his name means “king of righteousness” and “king of peace.” Now we’re beginning to see that Melchizedek prefigured, or foreshadowed Jesus, because these are titles that He holds.

We are told that the priesthood of Melchizedek was perpetual, it never ended.

Also, the author goes into great detail as to why he (Melchizedek) was greater than Abraham, and therefore greater than Levi. This is important when we remember who the primary audience of this book is…the Hebrew people, or Jews. To them, the Law was paramount. Establishing that the priesthood of Melchizedek was superior to the Levitical priesthood was key, since the object of this book is to help the Jews to understand that the priesthood of Jesus supersedes the old Law, or old covenant. 

Why is this important? Because the old Law was not able to bring man into perfection, or righteousness before God. The old Law could only put a band-aid on the wounds caused by sin. Only the new covenant, with Jesus as our Great High Priest can do that.

By the way, it might be helpful to give a brief definition of the word “priest”. A priest is a person who intercedes for man to God. Being sinful, we are unable to approach a perfect and holy God. We must have, as it were, a representative who takes our case to God. Jesus, having been a man and having lived a sinless life, is qualified to do just that. And if we are His, when we are in relationship with Jesus, we approach God the Father through Jesus. He is our mediator. He is our representative. He is our Priest. Without Him, we have no standing before God.

Now, I quickly want to mention what God said near the end of chapter eight. He said,”The day is coming when I will make a new covenant…”  And then at the end of his statement He said, “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.”

What a marvelous promise! “I will never again remember their sins.” When we are in a relationship with Jesus, when He is our Great High Priest, God forgives our sins, and they are never again remembered! Once we ask for forgiveness, God forgets that we ever sinned! If we go back to him again because *we* remember them and ask for forgiveness again for the same sin, God says, “What are you talking about?” 

The enemy likes to bring up our past to us all the time. “Remember that time you did this?” “What about the time you did that?” “You can’t serve God. You stole. You committed adultery. You lied. You cheated.” And on and on and on. If you’ve confessed your sins to God and asked forgiveness, all of that stuff is gone. Done away with. Jesus paid the price for those sins on the cross. And God has forgotten them. You have a clean slate.

If you think you can’t come to God because you’re not good enough, you’re right. But you can come to God through Jesus, and when you do that, God sees you as perfect and righteous and holy. You *can* come to God just as you are, because when you  are in Jesus, God sees you as righteous.

Today’s Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 5-6 NET; Ch. 7 NLT

Support

This a value for value podcast. There are no advertisers because advertising=censorship. If you enjoy the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, decide how much value it brings to you. Only you can make that determination. Then put a number on the value and send it to me here: SUPPORT.

Transcript

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00He’s a bit of a mystery man.

INTRO S12E277 – 0:09Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today is Epistles Sunday. We’ll read Hebrews 5 through 7. I’m calling today’s episode, “A Clean Slate”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/e277. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

HEBREWS 5 (NET) – 0:40Hebrews, chapter five. (1) For every high priest is taken from among the people and appointed to represent them before God, to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. (2) He is able to deal compassionately with those who are ignorant and erring, since he also is subject to weakness, (3) and for this reason he is obligated to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. (4) And no one assumes this honor on his own initiative, but only when called to it by God, as in fact Aaron was. (5) So also Christ did not glorify himself in becoming high priest, but the one who glorified him was God, who said to him, “You are my Son! Today I have fathered you,” (6) as also in another place God says, “You are a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

(7) During his earthly life Christ offered both requests and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death and he was heard because of his devotion. (8) Although he was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered. (9) And by being perfected in this way, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, (10) and he was designated by God as high priest in the order of Melchizedek.

(11) On this topic we have much to say and it is difficult to explain, since you have become sluggish in learning. (12) For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances. You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. (13) For everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced in the message of righteousness, because he is an infant. (14) But solid food is for the mature, whose perceptions are trained by practice to discern both good and evil.

HEBREWS 6 (NET) – 2:26Hebrews, chapter six. (1) Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God, (2) teaching about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (3) And this is what we intend to do, if God permits. (4) For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, (5) tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, (6) and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt. (7) For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God. (8) But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned. (9) But in your case, dear friends, even though we speak like this, we are convinced of better things relating to salvation. (10) For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name, in having served and continuing to serve the saints. (11) But we passionately want each of you to demonstrate the same eagerness for the fulfillment of your hope until the end, (12) so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.

(13) Now when God made his promise to Abraham, since he could swear by no one greater, he swore to himself, (14) saying, “Surely I will bless you greatly and multiply your descendants abundantly.” (15) And so by persevering, Abraham inherited the promise. (16) For people swear by something greater than themselves, and the oath serves as a confirmation to end all dispute. (17) In the same way God wanted to demonstrate more clearly to the heirs of the promise that his purpose was unchangeable, and so he intervened with an oath, (18) so that we who have found refuge in him may find strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope that set before us through two unchangeable things, since it is impossible for God to lie. (19) We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast, which reaches inside behind the curtain, (20) where Jesus our forerunner entered on our behalf, since he became a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.

HEBREWS 7 (NLT) – 4:57Hebrews, chapter seven. (1) This Melchizedek was king of the city of Salem and also a priest of God Most High. When Abraham was returning home after winning a great battle against the kings, Melchizedek met him and blessed him. (2) Then Abraham took a tenth of all he had captured in battle and gave it to Melchizedek. The name Melchizedek means “king of justice,” and king of Salem means “king of peace.” (3) There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.

(4) Consider then how great this Melchizedek was. Even Abraham, the great patriarch of Israel, recognized this by giving him a tenth of what he had taken in battle. (5) Now the law of Moses required that the priests, who are descendants of Levi, must collect a tithe from the rest of the people of Israel, who are also descendants of Abraham. (6) But Melchizedek, who was not a descendant of Levi, collected a tenth from Abraham. And Melchizedek placed a blessing upon Abraham,...