Today's Bible Translation

Steve Webb

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 84-86 GNT

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Thoughts

I read Psalm 84 with different eyes, beloved. How about you? Verses 1 and 2 jumped of the page like never before:

1How I love your Temple, Lord Almighty!2How I want to be there!I long to be in the Lord's Temple.With my whole being I sing for joyto the living God. Psalms 84:1-2 GNT

Current Restrictions on Worshipping Together

Do these verses have a different meaning for you after the corona virus lockdowns? They certainly do for me. I live in California, and our...illustrious tyrant, er, I mean governor, still has us in lockdown. In most of the state, churches still cannot conduct indoor services, and outdoor services must maintain so-called social distancing and every person must wear masks. Maybe it's different where you live. I certainly hope so. 

Regardless of your current situation, my guess is that most of us have a far different reaction to these verses than they did a year ago, and I'm sure that for many of us, we will never again take for granted the right to worship as we see fit. 

Yes, I said the *right* to worship as we see fit, not *privilege*.

Not What Our Founding Fathers Intended

Let me read for you a portion of the United States Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Declaration of Independence

Now, listen to this:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America

So just so there was no mistake, the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States makes very clear that the free exercise of religion *cannot* legally be stifled, *cannot* legally be stopped. What is happening to our churches is unconstitutional and unlawful.

What To Do

So now what? What are we to do? Well beloved, the complete answer to that question is far beyond the scope of this podcast. I have my ideas, but this podcast is about the reading of God's Word. It's not a civics podcast or a legal podcast or a political podcast. 

I'll say just one more thing, though. In the Declaration of Independence, just after the part I read to you a moment ago, about our rights being endowed by our Creator, our founding fathers wrote this:

That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That,

Today's Bible Translation

Steve Webb

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 11-14 NKJV, Ch. 15 NIV

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Thoughts

In chapter 13  we read about the death of the great prophet, Elisha. 

It’s been about sixty years since Elisha was called to be a prophet, and the last time we heard anything about him was at the anointing of Jehu JEE-hew, some forty-five years before Joash (or Jehoash in our translation today) began his reign.

When Elisha became ill, King Joash came to his side. Even though Joash did evil in the sight of the Lord by continuing the worship of Baal, he knew that Elisha was the prophet of God, and he greeted Elisha with the same words that Elisha said to Elijah when he was close to death, “O my father, my father.”

You heard what transpired between the two men. Had Joash been truly following the Lord, he probably would have fared better with his test of striking the ground with the arrows. 

Oh how we limit the blessing of God on our lives when we fail to follow Him with all our heart and soul and mind. Beloved, it is never a weakness to go all in with God. It is only then when we can be fully used by Him to accomplish all that He desires for us.

As we begin a new year, how about redoubling our determination to be the man or woman of God that He wants us to be? No more compromise. No more worrying about what others will think of us. Let us keep our eyes on the prize. 

Today's Bible Translation

Steve Webb

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 16 NET, Ch. 17-18 GW

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Thoughts

Ok. We're going to tackle the elephant in the room in chapter 18. And by the way, this is one of the reasons, the main reason, I don't take advertisers on the show, and why I'm not interested in having the show on any of the podcast networks. What I am about to say would get me cancelled. But my job is to accurately reflect what I believe the clear teaching of the Bible is, regardless of the current culture, or even my own thoughts. 

There Must Be A Standard

The Bible is my plumb line. In case you're not familiar with that phrase, a plumb line is used to show what is absolutely vertical. It's usually a string with a weight tied on one end. I used to be in construction many years ago, and when building a wall, you want to build it straight and true. One of the tools you can use to show if the wall is straight is a plumb line. You hold on to the string with the weight, or plumb, hanging down. And you hold the line up next to, but not quite touching the wall. The string should be the same distance from the wall, all the way from the top of the wall to where it is tied to the top of the plumb. If it isn't, then your wall is not exactly vertical. So then you know to make adjustments, if your goal is to make a vertical wall.  Make sense? The plumb line is an absolute standard of what is straight and true.

And so is the Bible. What is says is the truth. If there is any variation from the standard, then adjustments must be made, if your goal is to adhere to the standard. As believers, that should be our goal. If that isn't your goal, then you have to have a conversation with yourself. You have to decide if you truly are a believer in Jesus. Because He said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." (John 14:15) 

There Is An Elephant

So what is the elephant in the room? Right. In verse 22 of Leviticus 18 the plumb line says, "Don’t have sex with a man as one does with a woman. That is disgusting (GW) abomination (KJV) detestable (HCSB) abhorrent (MSG).

I know that more and more, homosexuality is accepted as a lifestyle. But today's text, and many others by the way, tell us that God does not accept it. Billy Graham was once asked if he really believed that only Christians would get into Heaven. Did he really believe that Jews or Muslims or Buddhists and people who had lived good lives would not be allowed into Heaven? Billy's response was, and I'm probably paraphrasing. This is what he said to the best of my recollection: "It doesn't matter what I think. It's what the Bible says. If you don't agree, take it up with God."

I know some homosexual people. Several. I'm friendly with them, I don't hate them, and I'm not afraid of them. You know that's what "phobic" means, right? To have a phobia about something is to be afraid of it. Most of the homosexuals I know are decent people. But as long as they participate in this behavior, they are out of God's will. 

But listen very carefully, beloved. Homosexuality is not worse than adultery. It is not worse than theft. It is not worse than gossiping. It is not worse than cheating on your taxes. It is a sin, and all sin separates us from God.

Today's Bible Translation

Steve Webb

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 3-4 NKJV

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Thoughts

Today I have a few words for both chapters.

Thoughts on Chapter 3

In chapter 3, verse 2. Paul said: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”

What a great reminder for the times in which we live.

About five and a half years ago, I wrote some thoughts down on this very verse. I’d like to read for you a paragraph that I wrote for the Lifespring Family Audio Bible series from 2015:

“Remember, yesterday I spent the entire day writing and producing an episode of the Lifespring! podcast dealing with the SCOTUS decision on homosexual marriage, and then talking about it briefly to you on this podcast. And then when we look at all the other turmoil in the world, with Isis, crazed gunmen killing people in church, the recent riots, etc., it’s tempting to really get bogged down in the cares of the world.”

The crises today are different, but they are really just the crisis d’ jour. The crisis of the day. It’s nothing new. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says, “What has been, it is what will be, And what has been done, it is what will be done. There is nothing new under the sun.” The longer I live the more I realize that these words are true. 

And then we come to this beautiful verse from Colossians 3: 2 that reminds us that we are really just visitors on the earth. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” This is not our home. God is in control. He is our hope. He is our strength. He is our provider. He is our all in all. He is the great I AM. Why should we focus on the things of the earth when this place will soon pass away? Even if the earth lasts ten million more years (which I doubt), that is nothing in light of eternity. Whatever the current “crisis” may be, it will pass in an instant, only to be replaced by the next crisis. And the next. And the next. 

Keep your eyes up, beloved. God is still God, and as I seem to have said several times in the past few weeks, He does not change. One day soon, we will be in His presence, and as the old hymn says, “…the things of Earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace”. Hallelujah!

Thoughts on Chapter 4

Do you have just a few more minutes for a comment on chapter four?

Today Paul spoke quite a lot about how we as believers should behave. Let’s focus for a minute or two on chapter 4, verses 5 and 6. Here it is again: “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be  with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”

“Those who are outside” are non believers, those who don’t have a relationship with Jesus. How do we walk in wisdom in regards to them? We should treat them in such a way that we don’t make it difficult for them to accept Jesus. Don’t be rude to them. Don’t insult them. Treat them with respect. In short, treat them as Jesus treated non believers. Question them as Jesus did, causing them to think about what they believe and why they believe as they do. In answering their questions, give them thoughtful answers.

Today's Bible Translation

Steve Webb

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 19 NASB, Ch. 20 NLV

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Thoughts

Zacchaeus was a chief tax collector, and the Jews hated tax collectors in general, so as a chief tax collector he probably was especially disdained by them. Tax collectors often got rich by extracting extra taxes from people, over and above what was required by the Roman government. Zacchaeus appears to be one who took full advantage of his position.

Interestingly, the name "Zacchaeus" means "pure one", which of course, he was anything but pure.

He had evidently heard about Jesus and the miracles he had done, and probably had heard reports of His teachings and the way he dealt with people. So Zacchaeus wanted to meet him, so much so that he ran ahead along the route that Jesus was taking and climbed up a sycamore tree because he was a short man and could not see over the heads of the crowd.

Let's consider the inclusion of Zacchaeus' short stature for a moment. While not always true, it is sometimes true that short men develop a personality trait called a Napoleon complex, or short man syndrome. They sometimes have a chip on their shoulder, often as a result of being bullied when they were young. And this might be why Zacchaeus became a tax collector, as a way of getting back at those who bullied him. He may have become driven to achieve financial success, no matter what it took. And this driven personality trait made him a man not to let anything get in his way, so on this day, in order to see Jesus, he set aside personal pride and climbed a tree as a child would do, so that he could achieve the goal of seeing this Jesus that everyone was talking about. I like what the commentator Alexander Maclaren said: "I wish there were more of us who did not mind being laughed at if only what we did helped us to see Jesus."

So Jesus did walk past the tree where Zacchaeus had perched himself, and He looked up and called Zacchaeus by name! He called him by name. I believe that Jesus had a divine appointment with Zacchaeus that day. This was no chance meeting. Jesus knew that Zacchaeus was waiting to see Him, and that Zacchaeus' heart was prepared for something special, even if Zacchaeus himself didn't know it.

"Hurry down from there, Zacchaeus, because I'm coming to your house today!" Jesus said. Can you imagine Zacchaeus' excitement at those words? The crowd around Jesus is so numerous that he had to climb a tree to even see him, and Jesus singles him out by name and says, "I want to spend some time with you." Jesus didn't just want to talk to him, He wanted to have a relationship with him.

In John 10:3 Jesus said, "The one who watches the door opens it for him. The sheep listen to the voice of the shepherd. He calls his own sheep by name and he leads them out." Jesus knew Zacchaeus' name, and He knows your name, beloved. Isn't that marvelous?

Of the billions of people who have ever lived, He knows your name. But of course He does, because He formed you in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13 says, "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." I find this to be both humbling and reassuring, don't you?

So after Jesus called to him in the tree, what did Zacchaeus do?

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 25-26 NKJV, Ch. 27-30 NIRV

Steve Webb

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Thoughts

Chapters 25-32 are chapters dealing with the nations surrounding Judah. God has dealt with His chosen people in the chapters previous to these, but now His judgement will be on the godless nations surrounding Judah and Jerusalem.

Ezekiel 25

God pronounces judgement on Ammon, Moab, Edom and the Philistines.

Ezekiel 26-28

Tyre, a powerful trading city and kingdom, is judged

Ezekiel 28

These verses are of special interest to me, in light of today's United States:

You were the model of perfection.You were full of wisdom.You were perfect and beautiful.13You were in Eden.It was my garden.All kinds of jewels decorated you.14a: I appointed you to be like a guardian angel.I anointed you for that purpose.Ezekiel 28:12b-13a NIRV

18Your many sins and dishonest trademade your holy places impure.So I made you go up in flames.I turned you into nothing but ashes on the ground.I let everyone see it.19All the nations that knew youare shocked because of what happened to you.You have come to a horrible end.And you will be gone forever.Ezekiel 28:18-19 NIRV

Chapter 29 is the first of four chapters which prophecy against Egypt.

Israel had long looked to Egypt in times of trouble, going back to Abraham's time in Canaan. (Gen 12:10-20) In Isaiah 31:1, God warned Israel by saying, "Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help."

Even though Egypt kept Israel in bondage for 400 years, they still looked to Egypt to rescue them from the Babylonians here in Ezekiel's time. So in order to get their eyes off Egypt and on Him, and because of Egypt's pride, God will destroy Egypt.

As we read about these once great nations, I think we should be humbled. No nation is so big that God cannot utterly destroy it, if it turns its face against Him or against Israel. Yes, I believe that Israel still holds a special place in God's heart. There are still prophecies yet to be fulfilled that deal with them, and I therefor believe that we should pray for and support Israel.

Beloved, I believe that it is imperative that we pray that our nation will return to its original ideal of looking to God for guidance and protection, if we are to survive. And for those of you around the world, not listening from the US, I ask that you pray for us, while also praying for your own country. God is calling people of all nations to follow Him, amen?

Executive Producer

Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 10 GNT

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Thoughts

As I think about wisdom, one thought that comes up repeatedly for me is that a wise person knows that no matter how much he knows, there is still a lot he does not know. And a foolish person thinks he knows it all. 

Have you ever seen the old TV show, Cheers? One of the characters is the mail carrier, Cliff Clavin, played by John Ratzenberger. He was one of those guys that you often see in a group situation that always thinks he knows everything about whatever subject comes up in conversation. He puffs up his chest and says, “Oh yeah. Let me tell you about that…” And then he goes on to demonstrate that he really doesn’t know anything about it. Cliff Clavin was a fool. 

And then on another TV show that is actually one of my all-time favorites, there’s a character who shows quite a lot of wisdom. This character is named Jesse Stone, and he is played by Tom Selleck. Jesse Stone a small town chief of police. He has many personal problems, but he does demonstrate the characteristic of knowing when to keep quiet. In one scene the town council, the group to whom he is accountable, is not happy with the way he is handling a particular crime investigation. To their questions, he responds with primarily one word answers. One of the councilpersons, in frustration, says, “You don’t talk much, do you?” And Stone’s answer is something like, “Only when there’s something to say.”

The wise person doesn’t feel the need to demonstrate how smart he is. The foolish person is too stupid to know when to shut up. 

I think I’ll shut up now. 

Executive Producer

Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 81-83 GWT

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Thoughts

You probably noticed in chapter 82, verse one where it said, "He pronounces judgment among the gods" and then in verses six and seven, “You are gods. You are all sons of the Most High."

Notice that the word "gods" is written with a small "g", meaning that God is not making them equal with Himself. But besides that, what is going on here? Are there other gods? 

Well, of course we make gods of many different things. Anything you put above the true Almighty God (capital "G") has become, for you, a god (small "g"), and that can only spell trouble for you. That's why Jesus told the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-22 to go and sell everything. Remember that story? The young man asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus told him, "Keep the commandments." The man told him that he had, and asked Jesus what he still lacked. Jesus told him to sell what he had and give to the poor, and then he would have treasure in heaven. Then he should go and follow Jesus. At that point the young man went away, grieving, because he had great wealth. So this young man's god was his wealth.

We must guard against putting anything above Almighty God, our Creator.

But this isn't the small "g" god that is referred to here in Psalms 82.

The word here refers to earthly magistrates and governors. We can tell this by the language. It says, "How long are you going to judge unfairly?

How long are you going to side with wicked people?” And it goes on to tell them what they should be doing, like defending the weak and defenseless. He is talking to those who were judges in Israel, because he says, "You are all sons of the Most High." And he reminds them that they will be judged because of their own wickedness, " You will certainly die like humans and fall like any prince.” 

Luke 12:48 says, "To whom much is given, much will be required." These "gods" were thinking much too highly of themselves, and had become corrupt and evil. The Psalmist was passing along God's reproach to them. 

Let us humbly thank God for the blessings and responsibilities He has given us, whatever those may be. And let us prayerfully consider how He wants us to use those things. We are only temporary custodians. If we are foolish enough to think that they come to us by our own efforts or because we deserve them, we run the risk of a great fall.with them. 

Executive Producer

Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 6-7 NASB, Ch. 8-10 NLT

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Thoughts

In chapter 6, when the army of the king of Aram had Elisha’s place surrounded, his servant was afraid and said, “Alas! (Or ‘Oh no!’) my master! What shall we do?”

Elisha’s answer was perfect. He said, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And then Elisha asked the Lord to allow the servant to see. And he saw the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

We live in perilous times, beloved. The first thing that comes to mind is the so called pandemic. I personally believe that it has been greatly overblown, but whatever your view on it, we do know that diseases are not new, and some of them are deadly. 

Secondly, there is political unrest here in the US. The presidential election has not yet been finalized, despite what most of the media tells you. Until Congress meets and accepts the Electoral College votes, the winner is yet to be determined. In most election years, this constitutionally proscribed process is really just a formality. But this year, it is anything but. I expect fireworks in Washington DC on January 6th, and not necessarily the celebratory kind. And depending on the final outcome of the election, there could be quite a lot of civil unrest.

But the US is not the only place in the world that is experiencing unrest.

Again I say, we live in perilous times, beloved. Some enemies are microscopic organisms, some are ideological enemies bent on changing the political makeup of the governments of the US and even the world. Uncertainty is all around us. But one thing we do know is this: Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. 

Of course that does not mean that our bodies will necessarily be saved from disease or attacks or even murder. But there are worse things than dying. Matthew 10:28 says, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” 

And for those who belong to Christ, we have no need to fear Him. As a matter of fact 2 Corinthians 5:8 tells us, “Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.”

Elisha’s answer to his servant would be a good thing to commit to memory for those times when you feel fear creeping in. Those who are with us are more than those who are with them. 

Executive Producer

Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch.13 NKJV, Ch. 14-15 ESV

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Thoughts

Well, this was fun reading today, wasn’t it? How about no?

I’m not going to go into any detail in my comments today. Not because I don’t think there is anything of value here, but because I personally find the find the details on how to deal with leprosy and bodily discharges somewhat distasteful for discussion on this podcast. It’s  not that I can’t handle this kind of subject matter. I have a degree in biology, and I worked in three different emergency medical fields for some time many years ago. I’ve seen a lot of gross stuff. I just don’t want to discuss the details here.I will say, though, that the Hebrew word that is translated as “leprosy” in our Bibles today that could include a variety of different skin diseases, such as psoriasis or ringworm, including what is known  today as “Hansen’s disease”, commonly called leprosy. In addition, there are some diseases that at first manifest themselves on the skin, but are not strictly skin diseases, such as smallpox and measles.

Something else I will comment on in a general sense is in regards to quarantine. Note that even though true leprosy is a horrible disease that ultimately causes death, quarantine was reserved for the person with the disease. The healthy population was not quarantined. Only the person suspected of having the disease was locked down. 

I would like to share a bit with you from Leviticus 14:1-7 because it sounds a bit strange upon first blush. 

Let’s read it again:

1The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2“This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, 3and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, 4the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. 5And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water. 6He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field.Leviticus 14:1-7 ESV

Now you might wonder what this ritual has to do with anything. It sort of seems a bit random, doesn’t it?

But it’s not. 

Leprosy is thought by many to be a representation of sin. It begins with almost no visible symptoms and is painless in the early stages. It grows slowly. Sometimes it seems to go away, then comes back. The affected area becomes numb. It causes decay and deforms the person, to the point where they become repulsive. Eventually, the victim dies.

So, this ritual has to do with the cleansing of the leper. Listen to this:

In summarizing the ritual here is what happens:<...