Lifespring! One Year Bible

Transcript

This is Gospels Saturday. We’ll complete the book of Acts with the reading of Acts 27-28. I’m calling today’s show “The Storm.”

When we last left Paul, he was on trial before Festus and Agrippa, when he appealed to Caesar. So now, he is being shipped off to Rome, the capital of the empire, where Caesar was located. 

What I want to look at in today’s chapter is how Paul encouraged the men onboard the ship when it looked like all was lost. Paul had already told them that he belonged to God and that he served God, and that an angel had told him that all on board would be spared.

Now, I can imagine the reaction he must have gotten from the sailors and other prisoners on the ship. I think there would have been a lot of scoffing, don’t you? 

But at the height of the storm, two weeks into it, Paul encourages the men to eat in order to live. And he reminded them that they would not come to harm in the storm. But words are cheap. So, in their sight, he took some bread, gave thanks to God and ate. And they were all filled with hope.

Sometimes, God puts us in situations where we can bring hope and make a difference. Without hope, the will to carry on or even the will to live can be extinguished. I know in my own life there have been times where it seemed that all was lost, and then God would bring someone to encourage me with a word from the Lord, and I knew I could make it another day. 

We need to be willing to be the one to bring hope to a dark situation. It really can save a life and even bring someone to the throne of God.

Let’s take a quick look at the end of the the last chapter of Acts. What Paul quoted to the Jewish leaders should have sounded familiar to you if you’ve been with me since the beginning of our year together. He quoted from the book of Isaiah 6:9-10.

When God gave that message to Isaiah, it was a message to the Jewish people. It was one of the times that God had had enough of their rejection of Him. 

And now, Paul is quoting these verses to the Jewish leaders in Rome because the Lord wants them to know that the message of the Gospel which has been presented to them, and which they rejected, will be taken to the Gentiles, where it will be embraced and accepted.

You see, God is patient, but there is a point at which He draws the line. 

Beloved, I believe we are getting very close to the time when God says, “Enough. You have rejected my Son long enough. I have offered you forgiveness through His shed blood, and you have chosen your own way. You refuse to listen to my Holy Spirit as He tries to speak to you, and your ears will not hear and your eyes will not see. Your hearts are hardened. Therefore you cannot turn to me and let me heal you.”

This message in Isaiah was because of the Jew’s rejection of God. Today, much of mankind has rejected Christ. It is man’s pride and wanting to be his own master.

As our nation and our world falls deeper and deeper into sin and farther and farther away from God, we are seeing more and more outrageous behaviors being accepted by the culture. It’s no wonder, because without God, man is unable to govern himself.

Now is the time for each of us…you and me and every believing person on the planet…to get on our knees and pray. Pray for God’s hand in the affairs of the world. Pray that people would open their eyes. Pray for your unsaved family and friends. Time may be short, beloved. Don’t sit idly by and let them be left behind. Be bold. Don’t be cowed by those who will not hear. You have the message of life. Don’t be afraid to share it with those dying around you.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 27 NIRV; Ch. 28 CEV

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.

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00
We need to be willing to be the one to bring hope in a dark situation.

INTRO S12E360 – 0:11
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 of which there are 1…2…3 days left after today. This is Gospel Saturday. We’ll complete the book of Acts with a reading of chapters 27 and 28. And I’m calling today’s show, “The Storm”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e360. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started.

ACTS 27 (NIRV) – 0:48
Acts, chapter 27. (1) It was decided that we would sail for Italy. Paul and some other prisoners were handed over to a Roman commander named Julius. He belonged to the Imperial Guard. (2) We boarded a ship from Adramyttium. It was about to sail for ports along the coast of Asia Minor. We headed out to sea. Aristarchus was with us. He was a Macedonian from Thessalonica.

(3) The next day we landed at Sidon. There Julius was kind to Paul. He let Paul visit his friends so they could give him what he needed. (4) From there we headed out to sea again. We passed the calmer side of Cyprus because the winds were against us. (5) We sailed across the open sea off the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia. Then we landed at Myra in Lycia. (6) There the commander found a ship from Alexandria sailing for Italy. He put us on board. (7) We moved along slowly for many days. We had trouble getting to Cnidus. The wind did not let us stay on course. So we passed the calmer side of Crete, opposite Salmone. (8) It was not easy to sail along the coast. Then we came to a place called Fair Havens. It was near the town of Lasea.

(9) A lot of time had passed. Sailing had already become dangerous. By now it was after the Day of Atonement, a day of fasting. So Paul gave them a warning. (10) “Men,” he said, “I can see that our trip is going to be dangerous. The ship and everything in it will be lost. Our own lives will be in danger also.” (11) But the commander didn’t listen to what Paul said. Instead, he followed the advice of the pilot and the ship’s owner. (12) The harbor wasn’t a good place for ships to stay during winter. So most of the people decided we should sail on. They hoped we would reach Phoenix. They wanted to spend the winter there. Phoenix was a harbor in Crete. It faced both southwest and northwest.

(13) A gentle south wind began to blow. They thought that this was what they had been waiting for. So they pulled up the anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete. (14) Before very long, a wind blew down from the island. It had the force of a hurricane. It was called the Northeaster. (15) The ship was caught up by the storm. We could not keep it sailing into the wind. So we gave up and were driven along. (16) We passed the calmer side of a small island called Cauda. We almost lost the lifeboat. (17) So the men lifted it on board. Then they tied ropes under the ship itself to hold it together. They were afraid it would get stuck on the sandbars of Syrtis. They lowered the sea anchor and let the ship be driven along. (18) We took a very bad beating from the storm. The next day the crew began to throw the ship’s contents overboard. (19) On the third day, they even threw the ship’s gear overboard with their own hands. (20) The sun and stars didn’t appear for many days. The storm was terrible. So we gave up all hope of being saved.

(21) The men had not eaten for a long time. Paul stood up in front of them. “Men,” he said, “you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete. Then you would have avoided this harm and loss. (22) Now I beg you to be brave. Not one of you will die. Only the ship will be destroyed. (23) I belong to God and serve him. Last night his angel stood beside me. (24) The angel said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must go on trial in front of Caesar. God has shown his grace by sparing the lives of all those sailing with you.’ (25) Men, continue to be brave. I have faith in God. It will happen just as he told me. (26) But we must run the ship onto the beach of some island.”

(27) On the 14th night we were still being driven across the Sea of Adria. About midnight the sailors had a feeling that they were approaching land. (28) They measured how deep the water was. They found that it was 120 feet deep. A short time later they measured the water again. This time it was 90 feet deep. (29) They were afraid we would crash against the rocks. So they dropped four anchors from the back of the ship. They prayed that daylight would come. (30) The sailors wanted to escape from the ship. So they let the lifeboat down into the sea. They pretended they were going to lower some anchors from the front of the ship. (31) But Paul spoke to the commander and the soldiers. “These men must stay with the ship,” he said. “If they don’t, you can’t be saved.” (32) So the soldiers cut the ropes that held the lifeboat. They let it drift away.

(33) Just before dawn Paul tried to get them all to eat. “For the last 14 days,” he said, “you have wondered what would happen. You have gone without food. You haven’t eaten anything. (34) Now I am asking you to eat some food. You need it to live. Not one of you will lose a single hair from your head.” (35) After Paul said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God. He did this where they all could see him. Then he broke it and began to eat. (36) All of them were filled with hope. So they ate some food. (37) There were 276 of us on board. (38) They ate as much as they wanted. They needed to make the ship lighter. So they threw the rest of the grain into the sea.

(39) When daylight came, they saw a bay with a sandy beach. They didn’t recognize the place. But they decided to run the ship onto the beach if they could. (40) So they cut the anchors loose and left them in the sea. At the same time, they untied the ropes that held the rudders. They lifted the sail at the front of the ship to the wind. Then they headed for the beach. (41) But the ship hit a sandbar. So the front of it got stuck and wouldn’t move. The back of the ship was broken to pieces by the pounding of the waves.

(42) The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners. They wanted to keep them from swimming away and escaping. (43) But the commander wanted to save Paul’s life. So he kept the soldiers from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and swim to land. (44) The rest were supposed to get there on boards or other pieces of the ship. That is how everyone reached land safely.

ACTS 28 (CEV) – 6:33
Acts, chapter 28. (1) When we came ashore, we learned that the island was called Malta. (2) The local people were very friendly, and they welcomed us by building a fire, because it was rainy and cold.

(3) After Paul had gathered some wood and had put it on the fire, the heat caused a snake to crawl out, and it bit him on the hand. (4) When the local people saw the snake hanging from Paul’s hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer! He didn’t drown in the sea, but the goddess of justice will kill him anyway.”

(5) Paul shook the snake off into the fire and wasn’t harmed. (6) The people kept thinking that Paul would either swell up or suddenly drop dead. They watched him for a long time, and when nothing happened to him, they changed their minds and said, “This man is a god.”

(7) The governor of the island was named Publius, and he owned some of the land around there. Publius was very friendly and welcomed us into his home for three days. (8) His father was in bed, sick with fever and stomach trouble, and Paul went to visit him. Paul healed the man by praying and placing his hands on him.

(9) After this happened, everyone on the island brought their sick people to Paul, and they were all healed. (10) The people were very respectful to us, and when we sailed, they gave us everything we needed.

(11) Three months later we sailed in a ship that had been docked at Malta for the winter. The ship was from Alexandria in Egypt and was known as “The Twin Gods.” (12) We arrived in Syracuse and stayed for three days. (13) From there we sailed to Rhegium. The next day a south wind began to blow, and two days later we arrived in Puteoli. (14) There we found some of the Lord’s followers, who begged us to stay with them. A week later we left for the city of Rome.

(15) Some of the followers in Rome heard about us and came to meet us at the Market of Appius and at the Three Inns. When Paul saw them, he thanked God and was encouraged.

(16) We arrived in Rome, and Paul was allowed to live in a house by himself with a soldier to guard him.

(17) Three days after we got there, Paul called together some of the Jewish leaders and said:

My friends, I have never done anything to hurt our people, and I have never gone against the customs of our ancestors. But in Jerusalem I was handed over as a prisoner to the Romans. (18) They looked into the charges against me and wanted to release me. They found that I had not done anything deserving death. (19) The Jewish leaders disagreed, so I asked to be tried by the Emperor.

But I don’t have anything to say against my own nation. (20) I am bound by these chains because of what we people of Israel hope for. This is why I have called you here to talk about this hope of ours.

(21) The leaders replied, “No one from Judea has written us a letter about you. And not one of them has come here to report on you or to say anything against you. (22) But we would like to hear what you have to say. We understand that people everywhere are against this new group.”

(23) They agreed on a time to meet with Paul, and many of them came to his house. From early morning until late in the afternoon, Paul talked to them about God’s kingdom. He used the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets to try to win them over to Jesus.

(24) Some of the leaders agreed with what Paul said, but others did not. (25) Since they could not agree among themselves, they started leaving. But Paul said, “The Holy Spirit said the right thing when he sent Isaiah the prophet (26) to tell our ancestors,

‘Go to these people
and tell them:
You will listen and listen,
but never understand.
You will look and look,
but never see.
(27) All of you
have stubborn hearts.
Your ears are stopped up,
and your eyes are covered.
You cannot see or hear
or understand.
If you could,
you would turn to me,
and I would heal you.’”

(28-29) Paul said, “You may be sure that God wants to save the Gentiles! And they will listen.”

(30) For two years Paul stayed in a rented house and welcomed everyone who came to see him. (31) He bravely preached about God’s kingdom and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ, and no one tried to stop him.

COMMENTS – 10:28
Well, Beloved, when we last left Paul, he was on trial before Festus and Agrippa when he appealed his case to Caesar. So now he’s being shipped off to Rome, the capital of the empire where Caesar was located.

What I’d like to look at in chapter 27, today, is how Paul encouraged the men that were on board the ship when it looked like all was lost. Paul had already told them that he belonged to God and that He served God and that an angel had told him that all onboard would be spared.

Now, can you imagine the reaction he must have gotten from the sailors and the other prisoners on the ship? You think maybe there was some scoffing? I think so.

But at the height of the storm, two weeks into it, as a matter of fact – two weeks – Paul encourages the men to eat in order to live and he reminded them that they would not come to harm in the storm. But words are cheap. So in their sight, he took some bread, gave thanks to God and ate. And scripture says that when they saw that they were all filled with hope.

You know, sometimes God puts us in a situation where we can bring hope and where we can make a difference. Without hope, the will to carry on or even the will to live can be extinguished. I know in my own life, there have been times where it seemed like all was lost. And then God would bring somebody into my life that would encourage me with a word from the Lord. And I knew that I would be able to make it another day.

We need to be willing to be the one to bring hope in a dark situation. It really can save a life and even bring someone to the throne of God.

And now let’s take a quick look at the end of the last chapter of Acts, chapter 28. You’ll remember that Paul quoted Isaiah to the Jewish leaders, he quoted Isaiah 6:9-10, which said, “Go to your people say to them, you will hear but never understand, you will see but never know what you’re seeing. These people’s hearts have become stubborn, they can barely hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes. Otherwise, they might see with their eyes, they might hear with their ears, they might understand with their hearts, they might turn and then I would heal them.”

When God gave that message to Isaiah, it was a message to the Jewish people. It was one of the many times that God had had enough of their rejection of him.

And now Paul is quoting these verses to the Jewish leaders in Rome, because the Lord wants them to know that the message of the Gospel, which has been presented to them and which they rejected, will be taken to the Gentiles where it will be embraced and accepted.

Beloved, God is patient, but there is a point at which he draws the line.

I believe that today we’re getting very close to the time when God says, “Enough. You have rejected my Son long enough. I have offered you forgiveness through His shed blood, and you have chosen your own way. You refuse to listen to my Holy Spirit as He tries to speak to you, and your ears will not hear and your eyes will not see. Your hearts are hardened. Therefore you cannot turn to me and let me heal you.”

Beloved, this message in Isaiah was because of the Jews rejection of God. Today, much of mankind has rejected Christ. It’s man’s pride and wanting to be his own master.

And as our nation in our world falls deeper and deeper into sin, and farther and farther away from God, we’re seeing more and more outrageous behaviors being accepted by the culture. It’s no wonder because without God, man is unable to govern himself.

Now is the time, Beloved, for each of us, you and me and every believing person on the planet, to get on our knees and pray. Pray for God’s hand in the affairs of the world. Pray that people would open their eyes. Pray for your unsaved family and friends. Time may be short, Beloved. Don’t sit idly by and let them be left behind. Be bold. Don’t be cowed by those who will not hear. You, Beloved, you have the message of life. Don’t be afraid to share it with those people that are dying around you.

I’d love to hear your comment. Let me know what you have to say. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e360. Scroll all the way to the bottom of that page and you’ll find a box where you can put your comments. Tomorrow is Epistle Sunday and we’ll read the book of Jude.

And now as the French say, it is time for le boost.

SUPPORTER SHOUT-OUT – 14:57
I got a donation this morning from Timothy LaFontaine of $25, and he sent along a very nice note. He said, “You are a blessing and I want to share the blessings that God has given me.” Well, Timothy, thank you so very much. I appreciate you, Brother. Thank you for your generosity. God bless you.

And Anonymous sent in a row-o-ducks, $22.22. Thank you, Anonymous. I appreciate you. God bless you.

Boostagram!

And then a few days ago I messed up I did not read my boostagrams in time. But Wayne Henderson sent in three separate row-of-ducks boostagrams of 222 sats, which – three times 222 is 666 and he sent that in on the day that we finished up Revelation. So Wayne I don’t know if you did that on purpose or if it was a joke or what, but thank you for the boostagrams.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 15:54
On this date in church history, August 27, 1876, 13-year-old G. Campbell Morgan delivered his first sermon – 13 years old. He later became one of the most renowned expository preachers and writers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You’ve heard me quote G. Campbell Morgan several times here on the show.

PRAYER REQUEST – 16:25
I have a prayer request. I’m recording this on Friday afternoon, Del and Kathi are at City of Hope right now. She’s had her blood drawn for testing and will soon begin the latest infusion of her chemotherapy. Del says she’s very nervous about it because every dose is potentially fatal. And on the blood test, her cancer markers went up 27 points. The oncologist said that the next marker is critical. If it keeps going up, it’s bad news. We need the next marker to go down, Del says. The next infusion is three weeks from today on September 16, which is their 50th wedding anniversary.

CLOSING PRAYER – 17:06
So let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, Lord, we thank You for Your Word. And we ask again for boldness from the Holy Spirit to share the good news with the people you’ve put into our lives who need to hear about Jesus. Prompt us, Lord, when you want us to speak. And then give us your words to say. Prepare the hearers hearts and speak through us Lord.

And father again I lift up Kathi and Del to you. I pray, Lord, that the infusion that takes place today will have the right effect. I pray Lord, that healing will begin and that the next time they have markers taken in three weeks, that there will be good progress down. Father, I know that you have a plan for Kathi and Del and I just pray, Lord, that the plan includes giving them more time together. I know your plan is perfect, and we will accept whatever your will is, we always have and we always will. But Lord, you’ve told us to come to you with our petitions. And this is my petition and the petition of many, many others.

And, Father, I ask you to be with the Lifespring family, today. I ask Lord that you bless each one. Where there are needs, where there are hurts where your touch is needed, I pray Lord again that you would work in your perfect and loving way. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you have a prayer request, if you have a need, if you have a praise, please go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com. And by the way, I will keep that page open for the foreseeable future. I don’t ever plan on taking that page down. So after this show is over, if you want me to pray for you, that’s the place to go. Or, of course, you can always email me at st***@*************ia.com.

OUTRO S12E360 – 18:50
Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e360. Send an email to me at st***@*************ia.com. I’m so thankful for the team: Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise. Thanks to everybody that stream sats and sends boosts. I see them coming in and I’m so appreciative. Thank you. Thanks again to Tim for his gift today and to Anonymous for their gift today, as well. God bless you, too.

And, Beloved, thank you for inviting me into your day, today. I appreciate you and I’ll see you tomorrow.

Until then, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Three.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise

Transcript

This is Prophecy Friday, and we will complete the book of Revelation with the reading of chapters 18-22. I’m calling today’s show, “A New Creation.”

There were a tremendous amount going on in these last five chapters of Revelation, and I’m only going to touch on a few highlights. 

In chapter 19 we saw those in Heaven giving thanks to God for bringing down Babylon and bringing justice to the woman who had killed and slaughtered those who believed in Jesus. It was a time of celebration and a time of worshipping and honoring God.

Then we saw the wedding supper of the Lamb. The Lamb is Jesus, and His bride is the church, those who are followers of Jesus. They are clothed in fine white linen, which is the righteousness that they have been given because of the grace of God.

And then we see Jesus, the King of Kings, sitting on a white horse. He is called Faithful and True. As it is translated in the version we read from today, “He is the One Who punishes in the right way. He makes war.” I like the way it reads in the New International Version: “With justice he judges and wages war.”

Some people have the idea that war is always wrong. Listen to the commentator J.A. Seiss:

“In the letter to the Laodiceans he (Jesus) was “the Faithful and True witness,” reproving and instructing his friends; here is the Faithful and True Warrior and Judge, for the punishment of his enemies. Heaven cannot be at peace with iniquity, and justice cannot be at amity with falsehood and rebellion. When sin is once incorrigible and incurable by remedial measures, it must be put down by force of arms. Mercy slighted and abused, brings the executioner. The world banded together in arms against its true Sovereign brings against it the sword of insulted majesty. Not as human kings and nations war—out of covetousness, pride, and an ambition for selfish greatness and dominion—but in absolute justice and right; and in strictest accord with every holy principle and every holy interest, he now unsheathes and wields the sword of infinite power. Dreadful is the carnage which follows, but no one can ever say that it is not precisely what was merited and demanded.”

And then the beast (or antichrist) and the false prophet, with the kings of the earth and their armies are gathered to wage war against Jesus as He sat on the white horse. But the beast and the false prophet were captured and thrown into lake of fire, and the rest were killed.

And after that, in chapter 20, an angel seized satan and threw him into the hole without a bottom, or as it translated in most versions, the abyss. But only for 1,000 years. This thousand year period is referred to by most as “The Millennium”, and during this time, Jesus reigns on the Earth, and the believers who had died before, reign with Him.

At the end of the Millennium, Satan is released from the Abyss for a short time, and he tries to wage war once again. But he is then thrown forever into the lake of fire.

After that is the Great White Throne judgment, where all are judged. Anyone whose name is not written in the book of life is thrown into the lake of fire, because God does not force anyone to spend time with Him in eternity. If you have not chosen to love Him of your own free will, He will respect that decision.

At the beginning of chapter 21, we see a new heaven and a new earth. It is a glorious new creation, and the beginning of an indescribably marvelous and wonderful eternity with God. God will actually dwell with us, and we will be able to see Him just as we see each other now. 

There will be no sorrow, no pain, no decay, no sickness, no sin, no temptation, no weakness at all of the flesh, because we will all be in our brand new glorified bodies. No strife, no wars, no envy, no hypocrisy. None of the things that bring us pain and heartbreak today.

My friend, after more than 68 years here on earth, I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to this time. I’m not going to do anything to shorten my time here, but I do not dread leaving this place either. How about you?

The New Jerusalem is described in chapter 21, and I believe that this is where we will live, but with twelve gates (which never close) in the four walls, I believe that we will be free to come and go. There will be an eternity to worship around the throne of God, but I believe we will also be doing other things in that eternity. What sort of things? I don’t know. 

I do know that God is an infinitely creative God, and as His sons and daughters in our glorified bodies, I believe that He has some infinitely creative plans for us! Jesus paid the ultimate price to buy our admission into this eternity, and as His bride, we are in store for an incredible eternity that we cannot even begin to imagine.

Are you with me? I want to see each and every one of you there. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and as your Savior? Oh, I hope so. 

If you are not sure that your name is written in the Book of Life, if you don’t know for sure where you will spend eternity, or that you will be with the Lord in Heaven, then there is no better time than right now to settle it once and for all.

Jesus said,“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

John 3:16 says, “For God loved the world so much that he gave  his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

If you want to know that you will go to Heaven when you die, then all you have to do is pray this simple prayer. Pray with me: Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I have broken your commandments and fallen short of your standards. I turn from that sin now, and ask you to come into my life. I ask you to be my Lord, my Savior, my friend and my God. I put my faith in you, Jesus, to save me from my sins. Thank you for loving me. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, and you meant it in your heart, congratulations. Welcome to the family. You are now a brand new person. You are forgiven, and your eternity is forever changed. I would like to send to you, at no charge, a very special NT that has hundreds of notes in it to help you get a solid start as a new believer. It’s called the New Believer’s Bible, and it is my gift to you. All you need to do is email me at st***@*************ia.com and tell me your name and address so that I can put it in the mail to you right away. I promise not to spam you or sell your information. I just want to help you get a good start on your new life. st***@*************ia.com. In the subject line, just enter New Believer. 

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 18-20 NLV; Ch. 21-22 CEB

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.

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00
He’s called Faithful and True.

INTRO S12E359 – 0:10
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. After today, four days left. This is Prophecy Friday, and we’ll complete the book of Revelation with a reading of chapters 18 through 22. I’m calling today’s episode, “A New Creation”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e359. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. You ready? Let’s begin.

REVELATION 18 (NLV) – 0:48
Revelation, chapter 18. (1) Then I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had much power. The earth was made bright with his shining-greatness. (2) He cried out with a loud voice, “The big and powerful city of Babylon is destroyed. Demons and every kind of unclean spirit live there. Unclean birds that are hated are there. (3) For she gave her wine to the nations of the world. It was the wine of her desire for sex sins. The kings of the earth have done these sex sins with her. The men of the earth who buy and sell have become rich from the riches she received while living in sin.”

(4) I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out from her, my people. Do not be a part of her sins so you will not share her troubles. (5) For her sins are as high as heaven. God is ready to punish her for her sins. (6) Pay her back for what she has paid you. Give back to her twice as much for what she has done. In her own cup give her twice as much as she gave. (7) Give her as much trouble and suffering as the fun and the rich living she chose for herself. In her heart she says, ‘I sit here like a queen. I am not a woman whose husband has died. I will never have sorrow.’ (8) Because of this, troubles of death and sorrow and no food will come to her in one day. She will be burned with fire. For the Lord God is powerful. He is the One Who says she is guilty.

(9) “Then the kings of the earth will cry for her and be sorry when they see the smoke of her burning. They are the ones who did sex sins with her and lived as rich people. (10) They stand a long way from her because they are afraid of her sufferings. They say, ‘It is bad! It is bad for the big and powerful city of Babylon. For in one hour she is destroyed.’ (11) The men of the earth who buy and sell are sorry for her and cry. They cry because there is no one to buy their things anymore. (12) They sold gold and silver and stones worth much money and pearls. They sold fine linen and purple and red silk cloth. They sold all kinds of perfumed wood. They sold things made from the teeth of animals and things made from wood that cost much money. They sold brass and iron and stone. (13) They sold spices and perfumes of all kinds. They sold wine and olive oil and fine flour and wheat. They sold cows and sheep and horses and wagons. They sold men who are not free and they sold the lives of men. (14) They say to her, ‘All the good things you wanted so much are gone from you. Your riches are gone. The things you liked so much are gone. You will never have them again.’ (15) The men of the earth who became rich by buying and selling in that city will stand a long way back because they are afraid of her sufferings. They will cry and have sorrow. (16) They will say, ‘It is bad! It is bad for that powerful city. She dressed in fine linen of purple and red. She covered herself with gold and pearls and stones worth much money. (17) For in one hour her riches are destroyed.’ The captain of every ship and all who traveled on ships and all who worked on ships stood a long way back. (18) They cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, ‘Has there ever been such a city as powerful as this one?’ (19) They threw dirt on their heads. They cried out with much sorrow and said, ‘It is bad! It is bad for the powerful city! She is the place where all those who owned ships on the sea became rich from all her riches. For in one hour everything is gone!’

(20) “Be full of joy because of her, O heaven! Be full of joy, you who belong to God and missionaries and early preachers! For God has punished her for what she did to you.”

(21) Then a strong angel picked up a large stone like those used for grinding wheat. He threw it into the sea, saying, “The big and strong city of Babylon will be thrown down like this. It will never be found again. (22) The sound of those playing on harps and on flutes and on horns will not be heard in you again. No workman doing any kind of work will be found in you again. The sound of the grinding-stone will not be heard in you again. (23) No light will ever shine in you again. There will be no happy voices from a wedding heard in you. Your men who bought and sold were the most powerful on earth. You fooled people over all the world by your witchcraft. (24) And in this city was found the blood of the early preachers and of those who belonged to God and of all those who had been killed on the earth.”

REVELATION 19 (NLV) – 5:25
Revelation, chapter 19. (1) After this I heard what sounded like the voices of many people in heaven, saying, “Thanks to our God, the One Who saves. Honor and power belong to Him. (2) For the way He punishes people is right and true. He has punished the powerful woman who sold the use of her body. She was making the earth sinful with her sex sins. She killed those who worked for God. He has punished her for it.” (3) Again they said, “Thanks to our God. The smoke from her burning goes up forever.” (4) The twenty-four leaders and the four living beings got down and worshiped God Who was sitting on the throne. They said, “Let it be so. Thanks to our God!”

(5) A voice came from the throne, saying, “Give thanks to our God, you servants who are owned by Him. Give thanks to our God, you who honor Him with love and fear, both small and great.”

(6) Then I heard what sounded like the voices of many people. It was like the sound of powerful rushing water. And it was like loud thunder. It said, “Thanks to our God. For the Lord our God is King. He is the All-powerful One. (7) Let us be full of joy and be glad. Let us honor Him, for the time has come for the wedding supper of the Lamb. His bride has made herself ready. (8) She was given clean, white, fine linen clothes to wear. The fine linen is the right living of God’s people.”

(9) The angel said to me, “Write this: ‘Those who are asked to the wedding supper of the Lamb are happy.’” And he said, “These are the true words of God.” (10) Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “No! Do not worship me. I am a servant together with you and your Christian brothers who tell of their trust in Christ. Worship God. For those who speak for Jesus are led in what to say as the early preachers were led.”

(11) Then I saw heaven opened. A white horse was standing there. The One Who was sitting on the horse is called Faithful and True. He is the One Who punishes in the right way. He makes war. (12) His eyes are a flame of fire. He has many crowns on His head. His name is written on Him but He is the only One Who knows what it says. (13) The coat He wears has been put in blood. His name is The Word of God. (14) The armies in heaven were dressed in clean, white, fine linen. They were following Him on white horses. (15) Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword to punish the nations. He will be the Leader over them using a piece of iron. He walks on the grapes where wine is made, pressing out the anger of God, the All-powerful One. (16) On His coat and on His leg is the name written, “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

(17) Then I saw an angel standing in the sun. He cried out with a loud voice to all the birds flying in the sky, “Come and gather together for the great supper of God! (18) Come and eat the flesh of kings and of captains of soldiers and of strong men and of the flesh of horses and of those sitting on them. Come and eat the flesh of all men, small and great. Some are free and some are not free.”

(19) Then I saw the wild animal and the kings of the earth and their armies gather together. They were ready to fight against the One Who is sitting on the white horse and against His army. (20) The wild animal was taken. The false preacher was taken with it. It was the false preacher who had done powerful works in front of the wild animal. In this way, he fooled those who had received the mark of the wild animal and those who worshiped his false god. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulphur. (21) The rest were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the One Who sat on the horse. All the birds were filled by eating the flesh of these who were killed.

REVELATION 20 (NLV) – 9:09
Revelation, chapter 20. (1) Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven. He had in his hand a key to the hole without a bottom. He also had a strong chain. (2) He took hold of the dragon, that old snake, who is the Devil, or Satan, and chained him for 1,000 years. (3) The angel threw the devil into the hole without a bottom. He shut it and locked him in it. He could not fool the nations anymore until the 1,000 years were completed. After this he must be free for awhile.

(4) Then I saw thrones. Those who were sitting there were given the power to judge. I saw the souls of those who had been killed because they told about Jesus and preached the Word of God. They had not worshiped the wild animal or his false god. They had not received his mark on their foreheads or hands. They lived again and were leaders along with Christ for 1,000 years. (5) The rest of the dead did not come to life again until the 1,000 years were finished. This is the first time many people are raised from the dead at the same time. (6) Those who are raised from the dead during this first time are happy and holy. The second death has no power over them. They will be religious leaders of God and of Christ. They will be leaders with Him for 1,000 years.

(7) When the 1,000 years are finished, Satan will be free to leave his prison. (8) He will go out and fool the nations who are all over the world. They are Gog and Magog. They will gather them all together for war. There will be as many as the sand along the sea-shore. (9) They will spread out over the earth and all around the place where God’s people are and around the city that is loved. Fire will come down from God out of heaven and destroy them. (10) Then the devil who fooled them will be thrown into the lake of fire burning with sulphur. The wild animal and the false preacher are already there. They will all be punished day and night forever.

(11) Then I saw a great white throne. I saw the One Who sat on it. The earth and the heaven left Him in a hurry and they could be found no more. (12) I saw all the dead people standing before God. There were great people and small people. The books were opened. Then another book was opened. It was the book of life. The dead people were judged by what they had done as it was written in the books. (13) The sea gave up the dead people who were in it. Death and hell gave up the dead people who were in them. Each one was judged by what he had done. (14) Then death and hell were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. (15) If anyone’s name was not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

REVELATION 21 (CEB) – 11:50
Revelation, chapter 21. (1) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. (2) I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. (3) I heard a loud voice from the throne say, “Look! God’s dwelling is here with humankind. He will dwell with them, and they will be his peoples. God himself will be with them as their God. (4) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more. There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (5) Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look! I’m making all things new.” He also said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (6) Then he said to me, “All is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will freely give water from the life-giving spring. (7) Those who emerge victorious will inherit these things. I will be their God, and they will be my sons and daughters. (8) But for the cowardly, the faithless, the vile, the murderers, those who commit sexual immorality, those who use drugs and cast spells, the idolaters and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

(9) Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues spoke with me. “Come,” he said, “I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” (10) He took me in a Spirit-inspired trance to a great, high mountain, and he showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. (11) The city had God’s glory. Its brilliance was like a priceless jewel, like jasper that was as clear as crystal. (12) It had a great high wall with twelve gates. By the gates were twelve angels, and on the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel’s sons. (13) There were three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. (14) The city wall had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the Lamb’s twelve apostles.

(15) The angel who spoke to me had a gold measuring rod with which to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. (16) Now the city was laid out as a square. Its length was the same as its width. He measured the city with the rod, and it was fifteen hundred miles. Its length and width and height were equal. (17) He also measured the thickness of its wall. It was two hundred sixteen feet thick, as a person—or rather, an angel—measures things. (18) The wall was built of jasper, and the city was pure gold, like pure glass. (19) The city wall’s foundations were decorated with every kind of jewel. The first foundation was jasper, the second was sapphire, the third was chalcedony, and the fourth was emerald. (20) The fifth was sardonyx, the sixth was carnelian, the seventh was chrysolite, and the eighth was beryl. The ninth was topaz, the tenth was chrysoprase, the eleventh was jacinth, and the twelfth was amethyst. (21) The twelve gates were twelve pearls; each one of the gates was made from a single pearl. And the city’s main street was pure gold, as transparent as glass.

(22) I didn’t see a temple in the city, because its temple is the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb. (23) The city doesn’t need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because God’s glory is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. (24) The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. (25) Its gates will never be shut by day, and there will be no night there. (26) They will bring the glory and honor of the nations into it. (27) Nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is vile and deceitful, but only those who are registered in the Lamb’s scroll of life.

REVELATION 22 (CEB) – 15:49
Revelation, chapter 22. (1) Then the angel showed me the river of life-giving water, shining like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and the Lamb (2) through the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river is the tree of life, which produces twelve crops of fruit, bearing its fruit each month. The tree’s leaves are for the healing of the nations. (3) There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. (4) They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. (5) Night will be no more. They won’t need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will shine on them, and they will rule forever and always.

(6) Then he said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.

(7) “Look! I’m coming soon. Favored is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy contained in this scroll.”

(8) I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. (9) But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I’m a servant just like you and your brothers and sisters, the prophets, and those who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!” (10) Then he said to me, “Don’t seal up the words of the prophecy contained in this scroll, because the time is near. (11) Let those who do wrong keep doing what is wrong. Let the filthy still be filthy. Let those who are righteous keep doing what is right. Let those who are holy still be holy.

(12) “Look! I’m coming soon. My reward is with me, to repay all people as their actions deserve. (13) I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. (14) Favored are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right of access to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. (15) Outside are the dogs, the drug dealers op0i98888888888888888 and spell-casters, those who commit sexual immorality, the murderers, the idolaters, and all who love and practice deception.

(16) “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to bear witness to all of you about these things for the churches. I’m the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star. (17) The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who is thirsty come! Let the one who wishes receive life-giving water as a gift.”

(18) Now I bear witness to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy contained in this scroll: If anyone adds to them, God will add to that person the plagues that are written in this scroll. (19) If anyone takes away from the words of this scroll of prophecy, God will take away that person’s share in the tree of life and the holy city, which are described in this scroll.

(20) The one who bears witness to these things says, “Yes, I’m coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

(21) The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all

COMMENTS – 18:51
Well, of course, there was a tremendous amount going on in these last five chapters of Revelation. And I’m only going to touch on a few highlights.

In chapter 19, we saw those in heaven giving thanks to God for bringing down Babylon and bringing justice to the woman who had killed and slaughtered those who believed in Jesus. It was a time of celebration and a time of worshiping and honoring God.

And then we saw the wedding supper of the Lamb. The Lamb is Jesus, of course. And his bride is us, the church, those who are followers of Jesus. They’re clothed in fine, white linen, which is the righteousness that they’ve been given because of the grace of God.

And then we saw Jesus, the King of Kings, sitting on a white horse. He’s called Faithful and True. And as translated in the version we read from today, “He is the One Who punishes in the right way. He makes war.” But I like the way it reads in the New International Version better and other translations as well: “With justice he judges and wages war.”

Now some people have the idea that war is always wrong. Listen to what commentator J. A. Seiss said,

“In the letter to the Laodiceans he (Jesus) was ‘the Faithful and True witness,’ reproving and instructing his friends; here he’s the Faithful and True Warrior and Judge, for the punishment of his enemies. Heaven cannot be at peace with iniquity, and justice cannot be at amity with falsehood and rebellion. When sin is once incorrigible and incurable by remedial measures, it must be put down by force of arms. Mercy slighted and abused, brings the executioner. The world banded together in arms against its true Sovereign brings against it the sword of insulted majesty. Not as human beings and nations war—out of covetousness, pride, and an ambition for selfish greatness and dominion—but in absolute justice and right; and in strictest accord with every holy principle and every holy interest, he now unsheathes and wields the sword of infinite power. Dreadful is the carnage which follows, but no one can ever say that it is not precisely what was merited and demanded.”

And then the beast (or antichrist) and the False Prophet with the kings of the earth, and their armies, are gathered to wage war against Jesus as he sat on the white horse. But the beast and the false prophet were captured and thrown into the lake of fire and the rest were killed.

And after that, in chapter 20, an Angel seized Satan and threw him into the hole without a bottom or as it’s translated, in most versions, the Abyss. I like that much better. But only for a thousand years. This thousand year period is referred to by most as the Millennium or the Millennial Reign of Christ. And during this time, Jesus reigns right here on the earth, the earth as we know it, and the believers who had died before reign with Him.

Now, at the end of the millennium, Satan is released from the Abyss for a short time, and he tries to wage war once more, but he is then thrown forever into the lake of fire.

After that is the Great White Throne Judgment, where all are judged, anyone whose name is not written in the Book of Life is thrown into the lake of fire, because God does not force anyone to spend time with him in eternity. If you have not chosen to love him of your own free will, he will respect that decision.

And then at the beginning of chapter 21, we see a new heaven and a new earth. It is a glorious new creation, and the beginning of an indescribably marvelous and wonderful eternity with God, God will actually dwell with us, and we’ll be able to see Him just as we see each other now.

There will be no sorrow, there’ll be no pain, no decay, no sickness, no sin, no temptation, no weakness at all of the flesh, because we will all be in our brand new glorified bodies. No strife, no wars, no envy, no hypocrisy. None of the things that bring us pain and heartbreak today.

Beloved, after more than 68 years here on Earth, now, I cannot tell you how much I’m looking forward to this time. I’m not going to do anything to shorten my time here. But I do not dread leaving this place, either.

The New Jerusalem is also described in chapter 21. And I believe that this is where we will live but with twelve gates, which never close, in the four walls, and I believe that we will be free to come and go. There will be an eternity to worship around the throne of God. But I believe we will also be doing other things in that eternity. What sort of things? I don’t know.

I do know that God is an infinitely creative God. And as his sons and daughters in our glorified bodies, I believe that he has some infinitely creative plans for us. Jesus paid the ultimate price to buy our admission into this eternity. And as his bride, we are in store for an incredible eternity that we can’t even begin to imagine.

Are you with me? I want to see each and every one of you there. Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and your Savior? I hope so.

Now, if you’re not sure that your name is written in the book of life that we talked about a second ago, if you don’t know for sure where you will spend eternity, or that you will be with the Lord in heaven, then there’s no better time than right now to settle it once and for all.

Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”

If you want to know that you’ll go to heaven when you die. Then all you have to do is pray this simple prayer. Pray with me. Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I have broken your commandments and fallen short of your standards. I turn from that sin now. And I ask you to come into my life. I ask you to be my Lord, my Savior, my friend, and my God. I put my faith in you, Jesus, to save me from my sins. Thank you for loving me. Amen.

Now, Beloved, if you prayed that prayer, and you meant it in your heart, then congratulations! Welcome to the family! You are now a brand new person. You’re forgiven, and your eternity is forever changed. Now I’d like to send you at no charge, a very special New Testament that has hundreds of notes in it to help you get a solid start as a new believer. It’s called the New Believer’s Bible. And it is my gift to you. All you need to do is send me an email at st***@*************ia.com. Tell me you prayed that prayer and give me your name and address so that I can put it in the mail to you right away. I promise I won’t spam you or sell your information. I just want to help you get a good start on your new life, st***@*************ia.com. In the subject line, just enter “New Believer.”

Do you have a comment? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e359. And scroll to the bottom of that page where you’ll find a place where you can put your comments.

Tomorrow is Gospel Saturday. We’ll complete the book of Acts by reading chapters 27 and 28.

Boost.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 26:40
On this date in church history, August 26, 1832, Adam Clarke died. He was the British Wesleyan preacher and theologian, and he helped to establish Methodism in the Shetland Islands and served on the British and Foreign Bible Society. He’s best known as the author of an eight volume commentary on the Bible, which is still reprinted today. I’ve used the Adam Clarke commentary many times.

And on August 26, 1901, the New Testament of the American Standard Version of the Bible was published. This US edition of the 1881 English Revised Version was the first major American Bible translation.

PRAISE REPORT AND PRAYER REQUEST – 27:27
I have a praise and a prayer request today. Steve O’Brien had a checkup with his cardiologist yesterday and everything looks good. He’s doing well. The doctor gave him some medications that he’ll probably be on for the rest of his life like the rest of us heart patients. And the doc gave him some dietary guidelines, which is standard with heart patients, but, praise the Lord, there are no problems and he is healing well. So that’s great.

And Kathi is at City of Hope today. So pray for her. She’ll be staying with one of their daughters for a few days to deal with any side effects of the chemo, which of course we were praying will not be severe.

CLOSING PRAYER – 28:03
So let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you so much for the book of Revelation and the knowledge that you have already won. Every prophecy that foretold the coming of Jesus’ first appearance was fulfilled to the letter, so we know that the remaining prophecies will be as well. And we know that when our faith is in Jesus, we’ve got nothing to worry about. And we’re anxiously awaiting that glorious day when the enemy is cast forever into the lake of fire. And we see you create the new heaven and the new earth.

Lord, I pray that you continue to heal Steve O’Brien and please be with Kathi today as she receives the chemo. We pray that the side effects are slight, and we ask you to bring healing to her body. I ask Lord that you’d be with a Lifespring family today and I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Well, with only four days left to this season. If you have a prayer request or a praise, you want to get over to prayer.lifespringmedia.com right away.

OUTRO S12E359 – 29:06
I’d love to hear your comments on the show. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e359. Send an email to me at st***@*************ia.com. Thanks to the team: Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro, and Denise. And thank you for inviting me into your day today.

Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Local weather is next.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise

Transcript

This is Poetry Thursday. We’ll complete the book of Song of Solomon with the reading of chapters 7 and 8. I’m calling today’s show, “What Is God?”

As we’ve already discussed on a previous episode, this book can be seen as an allegory about the relationship between Jesus as the bridegroom and the church as the bride. Obviously, discussing all the imagery is far beyond the scope of this podcast, but I do suggest that you make it a point to get a good commentary and do your own study. Well worth your time.

I would like to take a couple minutes to focus on chapter 7 verse 10, where the bride exclaims, “I am my beloved’s, and he desires me!”

She says this after he has told her the many ways that he finds her beautiful. It sort of reminds me of when Sally Field won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1985. (Play clip.) Yes, it’s true. Despite our many flaws, Jesus finds us (the church) beautiful and worthy of His love. Romans 5:8 says “…God demonstrates his own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

I can’t imagine why, to be honest. What could He possibly find in us that would cause Him to give of Himself so completely? Why would such a holy and perfect God love me (and you) so much that He would give up the glories of Heaven for even an instant, to live amongst us on this tiny, dirty, sin-filled and rebellious speck in the vastness of the universe to ultimately be tortured and nailed to a cross like a common criminal? Why would he choose to take on my sins and yours? Why would he allow Himself to be utterly separated from God the Father because of me? 

The answer is truly beyond my understanding. His Word tells me, and I believe what the word says, that the only reason is because He loves me, and He loves you. But why does He love us? 1 John 4:8 says simply “…because God is love.” Let that sink in. God. Is. Love. God is love. God is. Love. Not God *has* love, but God *is* love. It is His essence. It is who He is. God *is* love. And He loves you. And He loves me. 

 “I am my beloved’s, and he desires me!”

I don’t know about you, but my response to that kind of love is to reciprocate, to return that love as much as I can in my puny, imperfect, human way. But it thrills me to no end that He sees me as worthy of His attention. And above that, that He is working in me to refine me, to purify me, so that on that day when I see Him face-to-face, I will be the bride He desires.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 7-8 NET

Interview with Kenny Metcalf. On the Lifespring! podcast. On YouTube: Part 1 of 3.

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.

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00
It is His essence. It is who He is.

INTRO S12E358 – 0:11
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 this is Poetry Thursday, our last Poetry Thursday. We’ll complete the book of Song of Solomon with the reading of chapters 7 and 8. I’m calling today’s episode, “What is God?” The show notes page today is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e358. My email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s get started.

SONG OF SOLOMON 7 (NET) – 0:45
Song of Solomon, chapter 7.

The Lover to His Beloved:
(1) How beautiful are your sandaled feet,
O nobleman’s daughter!
The curves of your thighs are like jewels,
the work of the hands of a master craftsman.
(2) Your navel is a round mixing bowl –
may it never lack mixed wine!
Your belly is a mound of wheat,
encircled by lilies.
(3) Your two breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle.
(4) Your neck is like a tower made of ivory.
Your eyes are the pools in Heshbon
by the gate of Bath-Rabbim.
Your nose is like the tower of Lebanon
overlooking Damascus.
(5) Your head crowns you like Mount Carmel.
The locks of your hair are like royal tapestries –
the king is held captive in its tresses!
(6) How beautiful you are! How lovely,
O love, with your delights!
(7) Your stature is like a palm tree,
and your breasts are like clusters of grapes.
(8) I want to climb the palm tree,
and take hold of its fruit stalks.
May your breasts be like the clusters of grapes,
and may the fragrance of your breath be like apricots!
(9) May your mouth be like the best wine,
flowing smoothly for my beloved,
gliding gently over our lips as we sleep together.

The Beloved about Her Lover:
(10) I am my beloved’s,
and he desires me!

The Beloved to Her Lover:
(11) Come, my beloved, let us go to the countryside;
let us spend the night in the villages.
(12) Let us rise early to go to the vineyards,
to see if the vines have budded,
to see if their blossoms have opened,
if the pomegranates are in bloom –
there I will give you my love.
(13) The mandrakes send out their fragrance;
over our door is every delicacy,
both new and old, which I have stored up for you, my lover.

SONG OF SOLOMON 8 (NET) – 2:39
Song of Solomon, chapter 8.

The Beloved to Her Lover:
(1) Oh, how I wish you were my little brother,
nursing at my mother’s breasts;
if I saw you outside, I could kiss you –
surely no one would despise me!
(2) I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house,
the one who taught me.
I would give you spiced wine to drink,
the nectar of my pomegranates.

The Beloved about Her Lover:
(3) His left hand caresses my head,
and his right hand stimulates me.

The Beloved to the Maidens:
(4) I admonish you, O maidens of Jerusalem:
“Do not arouse or awaken love until it pleases!”

The Maidens about His Beloved:
(5) Who is this coming up from the desert,
leaning on her beloved?

The Beloved to Her Lover:
Under the apple tree I aroused you;
there your mother conceived you,
there she who bore you was in labor of childbirth.
(6) Set me like a cylinder seal over your heart,
like a signet on your arm.
For love is as strong as death,
passion is as unrelenting as Sheol.
Its flames burst forth,
it is a blazing flame.
(7) Surging waters cannot quench love;
floodwaters cannot overflow it.
If someone were to offer all his possessions to buy love,
the offer would be utterly despised.

The Beloved’s Brothers:
(8) We have a little sister,
and as yet she has no breasts.
What shall we do for our sister
on the day when she is spoken for?
(9) If she is a wall,
we will build on her a battlement of silver;
but if she is a door,
we will barricade her with boards of cedar.

The Beloved:
(10) I was a wall,
and my breasts were like fortress towers.
Then I found favor in his eyes.

The Beloved to Her Lover:
(11) Solomon had a vineyard at Baal-Hamon;
he leased out the vineyard to those who maintained it.
Each was to bring a thousand shekels of silver for its fruit.
(12) My vineyard, which belongs to me, is at my disposal alone.
The thousand shekels belong to you, O Solomon,
and two hundred shekels belong to those who maintain it for its fruit.

The Lover to His Beloved:
(13) O you who stay in the gardens,
my companions are listening attentively for your voice;
let me be the one to hear it!

The Beloved to Her Lover:
(14) Make haste, my beloved!
Be like a gazelle or a young stag
on the mountains of spices.

COMMENTS – 5:15
Beloved, as we’ve already discussed on a previous episode, Song of Solomon, or Song of Songs, can be seen as an allegory about the relationship between Jesus as the bridegroom and the church as the bride. Obviously, discussing all the imagery is far beyond the scope of this podcast. But I do suggest that you make it a point to get a good commentary and do your own study. It is well worth your time.

What I’d like to do today is take a couple of minutes to focus on chapter seven, verse 10, where the bride exclaims, “I am my beloved’s and he desires me.”

She says this after he’s told her the many ways that he finds her beautiful. It sort of reminds me of when Sally Field won the Oscar for Best Actress in 1985.

SALLY FIELD – 5:59
You like me!

COMMENTS (CONT’D) – 6:00
Yes, it’s true. Despite our many flaws, Jesus finds us (the church) beautiful and worthy of His love. Romans 5:8 says, “…God demonstrates His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Now, I cannot imagine why. Why would he do that? What could he possibly find in us that would cause him to give of himself so completely? Why would such a holy and perfect God love me and you so much that he would give up the glories of heaven for even an instant to live amongst us on this tiny, dirty, sin-filled and rebellious speck in the vastness of the universe to ultimately be tortured, and nailed to a cross like a common criminal? Why would he choose to take on my sins and yours? Why would he allow himself to be so utterly separated from God the Father because of me?

Well, the answer is truly beyond my understanding. His Word tells me, and I believe what the Word says, that the only reason is because he loves me, and he loves you. But why does he love us? I John 4:8 says simply, “…because God is love.“ Let that sink in. God is love. Not God has love, but God is love. It is His essence. It is who He is. God is love. And he loves you. And he loves me.

“I am my beloved’s, and he desires me.”

I don’t know about you, but my response to that kind of love is to reciprocate, to return that love as much as I can, in my puny, imperfect human way. It thrills me to no end, that he sees me as worthy of his attention. And above that, the fact that he’s working in me to refine me, to purify me, so that on that day when I see him face to face, I will be the bride that He desires.

You have a comment? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e358. Tomorrow is Prophecy Friday. We’ll complete the book of Revelation with a reading of chapters 18 through 22.

Boostagram.

SUPPORTER SHOUT-OUT – 8:25
Couple of days ago, Sean of San Pedro sent a boostagram of 7777 sats also known as a Stryper boost. He said, “Only seven episodes left. This is bittersweet.” Well, Sean, thank you. It is sort of bittersweet, isn’t it? This has been a great year. I’ve enjoyed this year more than any other in my nearly 18 years of podcasting. But as they say, all good things must come to an end. And of course after today’s episode, there are only five days remaining.

And by the way, speaking of Stryper, which of course, was a Christian, sort of, glam rock band in the 80s. I interviewed Kenny Metcalf on episode 176 of the Lifespring podcast back in 2008. Kenny was Stryper’s first keyboard player. He was neighbors with the Sweet brothers who started Stryper. And Kenny is the guy who introduced them to Jesus. Kenny has a really amazing Job-like story and, like Job, he lost his health. He was covered literally from head to foot with sores, and he nearly died. If you’d like to listen to the show, I’ll have a link on today’s show notes page at lifespringmedia.com/s12e358. And if you want to go over to YouTube, I actually have some of that interview on my YouTube channel. I’ll have a link to that on the show notes page as well.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 9:58
On this date in church history, Joseph Mohr began serving as pastor of St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf, Austria. In 1818, on Christmas Eve, he and church organist, Franz Gruber, created the enduring Christmas carol, “Stille Nacht”, or “Silent Night”.

CLOSING PRAYER – 10:23
Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, after today’s reading, all I can do is say, thank you, Lord. Thank you for loving us in a way that none of us deserve. Your love is a perfect love and the best that we can do is bask in it and try our best in our own feeble way to love you in return. And we look forward to the day that we will be in your presence. I pray God that you would bless the Lifespring family today. Be with each of us, I pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

OUTRO S12E358 – 10:59
The show notes page if you’d like to comment on today’s show, is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e358. Send an email to me at st***@*************ia.com. Thanks to the team: Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise. Thanks to the sat streamers and boosters. And thank you for spending part of your day with me.

Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Later, dude.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise

Transcript

This is Psalms Wednesday. And it will mark the one-week remaining episode. It will be our last visit to the Psalms this season. We’ll complete the book with the reading of Psalms 149 and 150. I’m calling this episode “An Encore Hallelujah.”  Of course, I’ll have a brief introduction for you before each chapter.

What is your idea of what Heaven is like? What will we be doing? Of course we have no way of really knowing everything, but the Bible gives us some idea of at least part of what life will be like. 

In the book of Revelation, chapter 5, verse 13 John tells us, “Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying: ’To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever.”

And in Revelation 7:9-10, “…there was a great number of people, so many that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. 10They were shouting in a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 

Revelation 19:5-8 says, “5Then a voice came from the throne, saying:“Praise our God, all you who serve him and all you who honor him, both small and great!”6Then I heard what sounded like a great many people, like the noise of flooding water, and like the noise of loud thunder. The people were saying:“Hallelujah!Our Lord God, the Almighty, rules.7Let us rejoice and be happyand give God glory,because the wedding of the Lamb has come,and the Lamb’s bride has made herself ready.8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear.”

I think we’re going to be spending a great deal of time praising God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

Have you ever been at a concert where one of your favorite bands or musicians played? My son, Steven and his wife recently took the Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I to see Norah Jones at the Greek Theater in L.A., a beautiful outdoor venue. What do you think happened at the end of the show? Sure, everyone stood and applauded while Norah and her band took their bows and left the stage while the applause continued. And and after this went on for several minutes, Norah and the band comes out to do an encore. Of course, their entrance was met with even more applause and cheering. 

Now imagine at the end of time as we know it, when everything here is wrapped up, and God has made all things right. He’s wiped every tear, and the enemy has been finally and eternally sent to his final destination, never to bring heartbreak and havoc again. Don’t you think we will all just break out in praise and celebration of the Lamb? Since we will have eternity, it won’t be a problem to spend a thousand years or even ten thousand years singing hallelujahs and rejoicing at what He has done.

Today’s closing chapters of Psalms were just a small warm up for what awaits us when we see God face to face. Holy. Holy. Holy is the Lamb. Hallelujah! Great is He who is the King of kings and Lord of lords!

Read it here.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 149-150 NCV

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.

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00
It was a great show!

INTRO S12E357 – 0:09
Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And podcasting since 2004, I’m your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. Hi, how are you? This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. And this is Psalms Wednesday. Oh, and by the way, this marks the one-week-remaining episode. It’ll be our last visit to the Psalms this season. We will complete the book with the reading of Psalms 149 and 150. Of course, I will have a brief introduction before each chapter. And later on in the show, I’ll talk to you about my plans for the future, in other words, life after this season ends next Tuesday. I’m calling today’s episode, “An Encore Hallelujah”. The show notes page for today is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e357. Let’s get started.

INTRO TO PSALMS 149 – 0:58
Remember I told you last week that the last five psalms are known as the Hallelujah Psalms. Each one begins and ends with either the words “Hallelujah” or “Praise the Lord”. Like the others in this group of five, Psalm 149 is given no title.

PSALMS 149 (NCV) – 1:15
Psalms, chapter 149.

(1) Praise the Lord!
Sing a new song to the Lord;
sing his praise in the meeting of his people.
(2) Let the Israelites be happy because of God, their Maker.
Let the people of Jerusalem rejoice because of their King.
(3) They should praise him with dancing.
They should sing praises to him with tambourines and harps.
(4) The Lord is pleased with his people;
he saves the humble.
(5) Let those who worship him rejoice in his glory.
Let them sing for joy even in bed!
(6) Let them shout his praise
with their two-edged swords in their hands.
(7) They will punish the nations
and defeat the people.
(8) They will put those kings in chains
and those important men in iron bands.
(9) They will punish them as God has written.
God is honored by all who worship him.
Praise the Lord!

INTRO TO PSALMS 150 – 2:07
Psalm 150 is the final Psalm in the book of Psalms which itself has five sections or divisions. The first division ends with Psalm 41, the second with Psalm 72, the third with Psalm 89, the fourth with Psalm 106, and now we end with Psalm 150, which closes the fifth division, and indeed, the entire book. Each of the five divisions end with a doxology or an expression of faith. In Psalm 150 tops them all. It is truly a fitting way to close this most precious book. Commentator Alexander McLaren wrote, “The 150th Psalm is more than an artistic close of the Psalter. It is a prophecy of the last result of the devout life and in its unclouded sunniness, as well as in its universality. It proclaims the certain end of the weary years for the individual and for the world.”

PSALMS 150 (NCV) – 3:04
Psalms, chapter 150.

(1) Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his Temple;
praise him in his mighty heaven.
(2) Praise him for his strength;
praise him for his greatness.
(3) Praise him with trumpet blasts;
praise him with harps and lyres.
(4) Praise him with tambourines and dancing;
praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.
(5) Praise him with loud cymbals;
praise him with crashing cymbals.
(6) Let everything that breathes praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

COMMENTS – 3:35
Beloved, what is your idea of what heaven is like? What do you think we’ll be doing? Of course, we really have no way of knowing everything. But the Bible gives us some idea of, at least, part of what life will be like.

As we recently read in the book of Revelation, chapter 5, verse 13, John tells us, “Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying: ’To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever.’”

And in Revelation 7, verses 9 and 10, “…there was a great number of people,” John wrote, “so many that no one could count them. They were from every nation, tribe, people, and language of the earth. They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. (10) They were shouting in a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”

Revelation 19, 5 through 8 says, “(5) Then a voice came from the throne, saying: ‘Praise our God, all you who serve him and all you who honor him, both small and great!’ (6) Then I heard what sounded like a great many people, like the noise of flooding water, and like the noise of loud thunder. The people were saying: ‘Hallelujah! Our Lord God, the Almighty, rules. (7) Let us rejoice and be happy and give God glory, because the wedding of the Lamb has come, and the Lamb’s bride has made herself ready. (8) Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear.’”

Beloved, I think we’re going to be spending a great deal of time praising God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been to a concert where one of your favorite bands or musicians played? My son Stephen and his wife recently took the Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I to see Norah Jones at the Greek Theatre in L.A., a beautiful outdoor venue. It was a great show. And what do you think happened at the end of the show? Sure. Everybody stood up and applauded while Norah and her band took their bows and left the stage while the applause continued. And after this went on for several minutes, guess what? Norah and the band came back out to do an encore. And of course, their entrance was met with even more applause and cheering.

Now, imagine, at the end of time as we know it when everything here is wrapped up. And God has made all things right. He’s wiped every tear. And the enemy has been finally and eternally sent to his final destination, never to bring heartbreak and havoc again. Don’t you think we’ll all just break out in praise and celebration of the Lamb. And since we’ll have eternity to do it, it won’t be a problem to spend thousand years or even ten thousand years singing hallelujahs and rejoicing at what he has done.

Today’s closing chapters of Psalms were just a small warm up for what awaits us when we see God face to face. Holy, holy, holy is the Lamb! Hallelujah! Great is He Who is the King of kings and Lord of lords!

I’d love to hear your comments. Please go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e357. Scroll all the way to the bottom of that page and leave your comment there. Tomorrow is our last Poetry Thursday. We’ll finish the book of Song of Solomon with the reading of chapters 7 and 8.

Boost! Boost! Boost!

THE FUTURE OF LIFESPING FAMILY AUDIO BIBLE – 7:06
Well, the end of the season is just days away. Next Tuesday is the last scheduled day of season 12. Please, if you’ve not yet sent a “The Next Step” email to me, I’d like to ask you to do it today. As you know, I announced it. I’ve decided that I can no longer produce the daily show. But I am now prepared to say that I have decided that I am not yet going to stop podcasting. It seems clear to me that the Lord still has plans for me here behind this very microphone. And your emails had no small part in helping me to make that decision. Your emails helped to confirm that for me. So thank you to those who have sent in your thoughts and ideas already. But the exact form of this continuing-in podcasting is not yet clear. So if you haven’t sent in your ideas yet, I would consider it a personal favor to me, if you would do that right away. Send that email to me at st***@*************ia.com with the subject line, THE NEXT STEP.

Now I do hope to be able to give you by the final episode, if not a concrete plan, at least a general direction. Ideas are beginning to come together, but nothing is at all final yet. I’ve got a couple of very exciting things that I’m thinking about and talking to some other people about, but I can’t reveal those to you yet. But as I said a few days ago, if you want to be sure that you’ll get whatever I do decide to do, I suggest that you subscribe to the Lifespring Media All Shows Feed in your podcast app.

One thing I do know for sure whatever direction I take, I know that I’ll be taking a break. It will be at least two weeks I’m thinking but probably not longer than a month. Some of the ideas that I’m thinking about and have been suggested by the Lifespring family will require quite a bit of rejiggering of the way I do things. So I wouldn’t even be able to implement them immediately after the season ends anyway. So there will be a break.

Now that doesn’t mean that you won’t be able to hear me in podcast form. There are, after all, almost 3000 episodes over at lifespringmedia.com. So you can listen through the Lifespring HymnStories shows. You can listen to the Lifespring Weekend Music Show. You can listen to In Touch With God’s Character. You can listen to some of the episodes of the original Lifespring show. There’s a bunch you can still listen to. So just because I’m not producing doesn’t mean you can’t listen to me if you want to subject yourself to me again. So that’s probably enough of that for now. I’ll keep you updated throughout the week if and when I have more to share with you. I’ve tried to be upfront and transparent with you throughout the season and that’s not going to change, ever. I call you “Beloved” because I do love you and I consider you to be family. And as I’ve said many times this season, “Family shares.”

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 10:03
On this date in church history, August 24, 1747, John A. Dickins was born. Who was he? He was a pioneer church leader who first suggested the denominational name, Methodist Episcopal Church. And there’s an interesting article about the Methodist Episcopal Church at britannica.com, and I’ll link that in the show notes page if you’d like to read it. Pretty interesting.

And on August 24, 1970, editors and scholars at the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. published the New American Bible, which replaced the traditional 1610 Douay-Rheims version of the scriptures which I narrated several years ago. No, I’m not Catholic, but I was commissioned to do that project. And I’m glad I did, because that commission is what brought about the book Webb’s Easy Bible Names Pronunciation Guide. If you want to know more about that book, go to easybiblenamesguide.com. And if you decide you’d like to purchase it, use the discount code PODCAST, and you’ll get 25% off. If you’re interested and you’d like to check out some reviews, check it out on Amazon. But if you’re in the U.S., buy it at my website, easybiblenamesguide.com because you’ll get that discount. I’m sorry, I can’t ship overseas. It just is too expensive. If you’re out of the U.S. really the best value for you is to buy it from Amazon.

PRAISE REPORT – 11:30
I have an update for you on Steve O’Brien. His wife Laurie sent this report out today. She said, “Steve had a wound care appointment on Monday. They also took labs and x-rays and the doctor showed us the x-rays and his lungs look good. Couldn’t tell much about the heart from the x-ray. But he has an appointment with a cardiologist on Thursday. So I’m sure we’ll know more after that.” If you’re at all squeamish, you might want to fast forward 10 seconds or so, but she says, “The wound had developed a really thick scab that he had to swab to reduce because it can hide infection. He didn’t find infection, but there was a clear liquid that came out of the wound when he removed the scab, which is not supposed to happen. The doctor put something on it that felt like alcohol, Steve said. So after that appointment, which also required a lot of walking between labs, x-ray and then his appointment which were in three separate locations, Steve was exhausted when he got home. He slept a lot. So when he went to bed that night, he couldn’t sleep. So now he is finally getting some sleep. He had his days and nights mixed up when he first came home and we finally got that back to normal. So I’m hoping that this nap doesn’t mess that up.”

So overall, that’s a good report and it’s there for a praise.

And then let’s not forget that Kathi has an appointment at City of Hope on Friday for tests and another round of her chemotherapy.

CLOSING PRAYER – 12:49
Let’s pray. Oh Lord, we do praise you. We worship You. We lift up your name, the name above all names. You’re worthy. You’re mighty. You are our Savior, our shield, our strength, our rock, our provider. There is none like you. Hallelujah! We praise you, Lord, and we look forward to the day when we will see you and join our voices with all of creation to sing your praises. We thank you Lord for the good report we got from Laurie O’Brien and we asked you to continue Steve’s healing and we asked for your healing touch on Kathi as well. Help her when she goes in for her second round of chemotherapy. And for any of the Lifespring family who are hurting in any way I ask you to be gracious to them according to your will. Your plan is always the best plan. I ask you, Lord, to be with each of us. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have a prayer request or a praise, you know what to do. Go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com. There’s a form there. You fill it out, and I will pray for you in my private prayer time and we will pray together on the show.

VALUE-FOR-VALUE – 14:01
Beloved, has the Lifespring Family Audio Bible been a blessing to you this year? As we enter the last week of the show, please consider returning some of that value in the form of a donation. As I told you earlier in the show, my plans are to continue podcasting and your gift will be very much appreciated and will be used to continue the work of Lifespring Media. No matter what form my podcasting takes, it will always be with the primary aim of proclaiming the name of God, sharing the gospel preaching the good news of a risen Christ, boldly, unapologetically, and with no compromise. If that sounds right to you, please pray and ask God what he would have you do. Then go to lifespringmedia.com/support and do as God leads. I’ll thank you and I believe God will bless you, lifespringmedia.com/support.

OUTRO S12E357 – 14:56
Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e357. Email me at st***@*************ia.com. If you have not yet sent in your The Next Step email, please do that at st***@*************ia.com. Thank you to Kirsty. Thank you Sean of San Pedro. And thank you Denise. I do thank God for you every single day. To each of you who have supported this show with your time, talent or treasure this year, whether it’s been in the form of PayPal donations, or Venmo, or Zelle, or streaming sats or boostagrams or whatever, I thank you. I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have been such an encouragement to me. And if you have not been able to send a donation in, I get it. I understand things can be tough. The show is free. It’s always gonna be free. And I’m just so glad you’ve been here. Thank you for being a part of the Lifespring family.

So until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Hasta la vista

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise

Transcript

This is history Tuesday, and we will finish the book of Esther by reading chapters 6-10, which will also complete our reading of the entire Bible for season 12 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, the last “live” season of the show. I’m calling today’s show, “Coincidence? I Think Not.”

Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish His plans? There are some people who believe that once God finished His work of creation, He stepped away and let events on earth happen on their own. Seems like a foolish notion to me.

Here in Esther 6, we have an example of how God orchestrates the events of man for His purposes.

The king is unable to sleep on the very night that Haman is plotting to kill Mordecai, so he does what many of us do. He decides to read a book, hoping that will make him sleepy. Think of it. Ahasuerus is the king of the most powerful kingdom on earth, so he could have done almost anything for a diversion, but he chooses to read a book. He orders that a book of remembrances be brought to him. He had a kingdom of 127 provinces, so I can imagine that this book of remembrances had several volumes, can’t you? But the person who was tasked with bringing the book brought the volume that included the account of how Mordecai saved the king from assassination. And the servant opened the book to the very page with that record. What are the odds? Well, with God, the odds are 100%. Without God, who knows? There had to have been many remembrances in the book, but on this specific night, this specific page was opened. 

Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish His plans? Of course He does.

Has God ever intervened in your life like this? Can you remember a time where the course of your life was changed by a seemingly random event?

Let me tell you about a time this happened to me.

It happened in 2004. It was a Saturday in September, I think. I turned on the radio to listen to a talk show about technology. It was normally a call-in type show where people would ask the host for help with their tech devices. But when I turned on the radio, the host was interviewing a guy, and the guy was telling the host about new thing he had invented where radio-type shows could be automatically downloaded to people’s computers. And better still, every time a new show was created, the new episodes would just show up on their computers. And then, they could transfer the new shows to their portable mp3 player and listened to whenever they wanted. This idea sounded pretty interesting to me, having been in radio in the late 70s and early 80s. 

Of course, this new invention was podcasting. The interviewer was Leo Laporte and the interviewee was Adam Curry, whom I am now happy to not only call my friend, but ecstatic to call my brother in the Lord, but that’s a different story. Or is it? 

Just a week or so before I heard this interview, I had asked God what more I could do to serve Him. I was already the tech guy at my church and putting a lot of time into that, but I wanted to do more for God since He had been so very good to me and had blessed me with a wonderful wife, great kids, a business that paid the bills and a home. I just wanted to be available to do whatever God had for me. I prayed and asked God what more I could do, and His answer was a very clear, almost audible, “Proclaim my name.”

So, was it just a random event when I heard Adam Curry telling Leo Laporte about podcasting? I don’t think so. God prompted me to turn on the radio at just the right time, and on November 13, 2004 I uploaded the world’s first Christian podcast to my church’s website. Within days I received emails from around the world telling me stories of how God was using my podcast to bring them to Jesus. God was using my little podcast in miraculous ways. 

But the story doesn’t end there. From the first podcast, that I called “Lifespring!”, I created several other podcasts, one of which was the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. Because of that show, a person asked me to record the entire Douay Rheims Bible, and because of that project, I wrote Webb’s Easy Bible Names Pronunciation Guide, which was published in 2012 and has helped many, many people as they study and teach and preach God’s Word. Also, because of podcasting, I have a career doing voice overs for radio and TV commercials, videos for companies around the world, church videos, and so much more, something I never dreamed could happen.

My life was changed when God orchestrated events on that September Saturday in 2004. Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish His plans? I most certainly do.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 6-7 ESV; Ch. 8 NLT; Ch. 9 NIV; Ch. 10 NKJV

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.

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00
Do you believe that God orders the events in the lives of people to accomplish his plans?

INTRO S12E363 – 0:13
One more time! Coming to you from Riverside, California. This is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And podcasting since 2004, I am your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we’re reading through the entire Bible in a year. This is History Tuesday, and we’ll finish the book of Esther by reading chapters 6 through 10 which will also complete our reading of the entire Bible for season 12 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, the last live season of the show. More about that a bit later. I’m calling today’s episode “Coincidence? I Think Not.” As promised on yesterday’s show. I’ll be talking about my plans for the future after my comments on Esther today. I’ll be sharing some of the ideas that came in from the “The Next Step” emails you sent in. And of course, we’ll have a time of prayer. Today’s show notes page is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e363. Let’s begin.

ESTHER 6 (ESV) – 1:12
Esther, chapter 6. (1) On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king. (2) And it was found written how Mordecai had told about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. (3) And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king’s young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.” (4) And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for him. (5) And the king’s young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.” (6) So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?” (7) And Haman said to the king, “For the man whom the king delights to honor, (8) let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head a royal crown is set. (9) And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king’s most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’” (10) Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.” (11) So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”

(12) Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning and with his head covered. (13) And Haman told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”

(14) While they were yet talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman to the feast that Esther had prepared.

ESTHER 7 (ESV) – 3:35
Esther, chapter 7. (1) So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. (2) And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, “What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” (3) Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. (4) For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.” (5) Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared to do this?” (6) And Esther said, “A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.

(7) And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king. (8) And the king returned from the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman’s face. (9) Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman’s house, fifty cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” (10) So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the wrath of the king abated.

ESTHER 8 (NLT) – 5:24
Esther, chapter 8. (1) On that same day King Xerxes gave the property of Haman, the enemy of the Jews, to Queen Esther. Then Mordecai was brought before the king, for Esther had told the king how they were related. (2) The king took off his signet ring—which he had taken back from Haman—and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed Mordecai to be in charge of Haman’s property.

(3) Then Esther went again before the king, falling down at his feet and begging him with tears to stop the evil plot devised by Haman the Agagite against the Jews. (4) Again the king held out the gold scepter to Esther. So she rose and stood before him.

(5) Esther said, “If it please the king, and if I have found favor with him, and if he thinks it is right, and if I am pleasing to him, let there be a decree that reverses the orders of Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, who ordered that Jews throughout all the king’s provinces should be destroyed. (6) For how can I endure to see my people and my family slaughtered and destroyed?”

(7) Then King Xerxes said to Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew, “I have given Esther the property of Haman, and he has been impaled on a pole because he tried to destroy the Jews. (8) Now go ahead and send a message to the Jews in the king’s name, telling them whatever you want, and seal it with the king’s signet ring. But remember that whatever has already been written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can never be revoked.”

(9) So on June 25 the king’s secretaries were summoned, and a decree was written exactly as Mordecai dictated. It was sent to the Jews and to the highest officers, the governors, and the nobles of all the 127 provinces stretching from India to Ethiopia. The decree was written in the scripts and languages of all the peoples of the empire, including that of the Jews. (10) The decree was written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with the king’s signet ring. Mordecai sent the dispatches by swift messengers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king’s service.

(11) The king’s decree gave the Jews in every city authority to unite to defend their lives. They were allowed to kill, slaughter, and annihilate anyone of any nationality or province who might attack them or their children and wives, and to take the property of their enemies. (12) The day chosen for this event throughout all the provinces of King Xerxes was March 7 of the next year.

(13) A copy of this decree was to be issued as law in every province and proclaimed to all peoples, so that the Jews would be ready to take revenge on their enemies on the appointed day. (14) So urged on by the king’s command, the messengers rode out swiftly on fast horses bred for the king’s service. The same decree was also proclaimed in the fortress of Susa.

(15) Then Mordecai left the king’s presence, wearing the royal robe of blue and white, the great crown of gold, and an outer cloak of fine linen and purple. And the people of Susa celebrated the new decree. (16) The Jews were filled with joy and gladness and were honored everywhere. (17) In every province and city, wherever the king’s decree arrived, the Jews rejoiced and had a great celebration and declared a public festival and holiday. And many of the people of the land became Jews themselves, for they feared what the Jews might do to them.

ESTHER 9 (NIV) – 8:46
Esther, chapter 9. (1) On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar, the edict commanded by the king was to be carried out. On this day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to overpower them, but now the tables were turned and the Jews got the upper hand over those who hated them. (2) The Jews assembled in their cities in all the provinces of King Xerxes to attack those determined to destroy them. No one could stand against them, because the people of all the other nationalities were afraid of them. (3) And all the nobles of the provinces, the satraps, the governors and the king’s administrators helped the Jews, because fear of Mordecai had seized them. (4) Mordecai was prominent in the palace; his reputation spread throughout the provinces, and he became more and more powerful.

(5) The Jews struck down all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and they did what they pleased to those who hated them. (6) In the citadel of Susa, the Jews killed and destroyed five hundred men. (7) They also killed Parshandatha, Dalphon, Aspatha, (8) Poratha, Adalia, Aridatha, (9) Parmashta, Arisai, Aridai and Vaizatha, (10) the ten sons of Haman son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

(11) The number of those killed in the citadel of Susa was reported to the king that same day. (12) The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed five hundred men and the ten sons of Haman in the citadel of Susa. What have they done in the rest of the king’s provinces? Now what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? It will also be granted.”

(13) “If it pleases the king,” Esther answered, “give the Jews in Susa permission to carry out this day’s edict tomorrow also, and let Haman’s ten sons be impaled on poles.”

(14) So the king commanded that this be done. An edict was issued in Susa, and they impaled the ten sons of Haman. (15) The Jews in Susa came together on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar, and they put to death in Susa three hundred men, but they did not lay their hands on the plunder.

(16) Meanwhile, the remainder of the Jews who were in the king’s provinces also assembled to protect themselves and get relief from their enemies. They killed seventy-five thousand of them but did not lay their hands on the plunder. (17) This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.

(18) The Jews in Susa, however, had assembled on the thirteenth and fourteenth, and then on the fifteenth they rested and made it a day of feasting and joy.

(19) That is why rural Jews—those living in villages—observe the fourteenth of the month of Adar as a day of joy and feasting, a day for giving presents to each other.

(20) Mordecai recorded these events, and he sent letters to all the Jews throughout the provinces of King Xerxes, near and far, (21) to have them celebrate annually the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar (22) as the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration. He wrote them to observe the days as days of feasting and joy and giving presents of food to one another and gifts to the poor.

(23) So the Jews agreed to continue the celebration they had begun, doing what Mordecai had written to them. (24) For Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had plotted against the Jews to destroy them and had cast the pur (that is, the lot) for their ruin and destruction. (25) But when the plot came to the king’s attention, he issued written orders that the evil scheme Haman had devised against the Jews should come back onto his own head, and that he and his sons should be impaled on poles. (26) (Therefore these days were called Purim, from the word pur.) Because of everything written in this letter and because of what they had seen and what had happened to them, (27) the Jews took it on themselves to establish the custom that they and their descendants and all who join them should without fail observe these two days every year, in the way prescribed and at the time appointed. (28) These days should be remembered and observed in every generation by every family, and in every province and in every city. And these days of Purim should never fail to be celebrated by the Jews—nor should the memory of these days die out among their descendants.

(29) So Queen Esther, daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter concerning Purim. (30) And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 provinces of Xerxes’ kingdom—words of goodwill and assurance— (31) to establish these days of Purim at their designated times, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had decreed for them, and as they had established for themselves and their descendants in regard to their times of fasting and lamentation. (32) Esther’s decree confirmed these regulations about Purim, and it was written down in the records.

ESTHER 10 (NKJV) – 13:44
Esther, chapter 10. (1) And King imposed tribute on the land and on the islands of the sea. (2) Now all the acts of his power and his might, and the account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia? (3) For Mordecai the Jew was second to King Ahasuerus, and was great among the Jews and well received by the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace to all his countrymen.

COMMENTS – 14:17
Beloved, I have a question for you. Do you believe that God orders the events in the lives of people to accomplish his plans? There are some people who believe that once God finished His work of creation, he stepped away, took his hands off, and let events on earth happen on their own. To me, that seems sort of foolish, but that’s what some people think.

Well, here in Esther, we have an example of how God does orchestrate the events of man for his purposes.

The king was unable to sleep on the very night that Haman was plotting to kill Mordecai. So the king does what many of us do, he decided to read a book hoping that that’ll make him sleepy. Think of it. Ahasuerus is the king of the most powerful kingdom on earth, so he could have done almost anything for a diversion, but he chose to read a book. He orders that a book of remembrances be brought to him. Now he had a kingdom of 127 provinces, so I can imagine that this book of remembrances probably had several volumes, can’t you? But the person who was tasked with bringing the book brought the volume that included the account of how Mordecai saved the king from assassination. And the servant opened the book to the very page with that record. What are the odds? Well, with God, the odds are 100%. Without God, who knows? There had been many remembrances in that book. But on this specific night, this specific page was opened.

Coincidence? I think not. Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish his plans? Of course he does.

Has God ever intervened in your life like this? Can you remember a time where the course of your life was changed by a seemingly random event?

Let me tell you about a time this happened to me.

And some of you know this story. But it happened in 2004. It was a Saturday in September, I think it was. And I turned on the radio to listen to a talk show about technology. This was normally a call-in type show where people would ask the host for help with their tech devices. But when I turned on the radio, the host was interviewing a guy, and the guy was telling the host about this new thing he invented where radio-type shows would be automatically downloaded to people’s computers. And better still, every time a new show was created. The new episodes would just show up on their computers, and then they could transfer the new shows onto their portable mp3 player, and they could listen to them whenever they wanted. Well, this idea sounded pretty interesting to me having been in radio in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

And, of course, this new invention was podcasting. The interviewer was Leo Laporte, and the interviewee was Adam Curry, whom I am now happy to not only call my friend, but ecstatic to call my brother in the Lord. But that’s a different story.

Well, just a week before I heard this interview, I had asked God, what more I could do to serve him. I was already the tech guy at my church and putting in a lot of time in that. But I wanted to do more for God since he had been so very good to me and had blessed me with a wonderful wife, great kids, a business that paid the bills and a home. I just wanted to be available to do whatever God had for me. I prayed and I asked God, what more I could do. And his answer was a very clear almost audible, “Proclaim my name.”

So was it just a random event when I heard Adam Curry telling Leo Laporte about podcasting? I don’t think so. God prompted me to turn on that radio at just the right time. And on November 13, 2004, I uploaded the world’s first Christian podcast to my church’s website. And within days, I received emails from around the world telling me stories of how God was using my podcast to bring them to Jesus. God was using my little podcast in miraculous ways.

But the story doesn’t end there. From that first podcast that I called Lifespring. I created several other podcasts, one of which was the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. And because of that show, a person asked me to record the entire Douay-Rheims Bible. And because of that project, I wrote Webb’s Easy Bible Names Pronunciation Guide, which was published in 2012, and has helped many, many people as they study and teach and preach God’s word. And also because of podcasting, I’ve got a career doing voiceovers for radio and TV commercials and videos for companies around the world and church videos and so much more. Something I never would have dreamed would happen.

My life was changed when God orchestrated events on that September Saturday in 2004. Do you believe that God orders events in the lives of people to accomplish his plans? I sure do.

You have a comment? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e363. I’d love to hear from you.

Boost.

THE NEXT STEP – 19:27
Normally, this is the time where we do the donation segment, but I want to talk to you first about what my plans are. So here we are at the last episode of the final fully live season of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. I guess there should probably be an asterisk there on “fully live” since by definition a podcast isn’t really live, but now with a brand new lit tag in the Podcasting 2.0 namespace. That’s even no longer true, but let’s not get too geeky here. You know what I mean. I will no longer be producing episodes of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible with new content every day. It isn’t that I’ve lost interest. It isn’t that I don’t want to. It’s just that I have to step back because I have to take care of myself. I have a wonderfully understanding and patient and supportive wife who deserves much, much more of my attention, and for whom I would love to do some projects that have been simmering on the back burner for literally years. And I’ve got grandchildren and sons and daughters-in-law with whom I would love to spend time, and I’ve got hobbies that I’d like to get back to. But at the same time, I am a firm believer that there really is no retirement plan for Christians. As long as God continues to give me breath, he’s got a job for me to do for His kingdom. And I believe that’s true for every believer. Like Paul said, I want to finish the race. I don’t plan on dropping out of the race. I want to finish strong, stretching for the finish line.

So what I did, as you know, is I asked you to send me emails for what my next step should be. And many of you did, for which I am grateful. I tried, and I think I succeeded in responding to each email, and if I missed responding to yours, believe me it was not intentional. And I’m sorry, if I did miss you. What I want to do right now is share some of these emails with you. I’m doing this because there are some ideas that came through in here, and some reasons for the decision that I have made going forward.

So the first one, I think appropriately is from Brother Paul of Seattle. He says, “Hi, Steve, I think you’re recording the last episode of the Family Audio Bible tomorrow or Monday. So I just wanted to say a huge thank you for putting out the daily Family Audio Bible. It’s interesting to see how God led me to the podcast through TWiT, Leo Laporte saying he was totally opposite politically of No Agenda in some sidebar, and I thought, hey, I should check that out. So from TWiT I went to No Agenda, and then from No Agenda to the Lifespring Family Audio Bible. It only took 16 years. I am very happy as listening to the Family Audio Bible rekindled my relationship with God. And I believe God has brought me back to his path. I still struggle as I know everyone does. But my prayer is for God to continue to work in my life, grow my faith in Him, learn to listen to him, and look for how I can serve God with my life, not just continue doing the job every day. So thank you for listening to God’s calling 17 plus years ago, I don’t know how many lives God has changed through you. But I know that there is at least one. I’m looking forward to seeing what podcasts you’re going to do. And I already subscribe to the all media feed. And by the way, it was for me a little hard to find the all media feed.”

I’m gonna stop right there for just a second, if you were searching for the Lifespring all media feed, that might be one of the problems that you had. It’s the Lifespring Media All Shows Feed. I tried this out just a little while ago, and I went to my different podcast apps that I have on my phone, and I did a search for Lifespring Media All Shows Feed, and it shows up every time. So if you look for Lifespring all media feed, that might be why it was difficult. That’s my guess.

Continuing the email here. “I know I mentioned this in a previous email, but I’m serious about wanting to help in some way with Lifespring Media. I don’t know what that would be or what I could do. But if you need help with something, let me know. Signed, Paul”

Brother Paul, thank you so much for that. I don’t know what your skills are. But keep listening because there’s something that’s going to come up a little bit later that if you have skills in this area, for sure I would want your help. So keep listening. And again, thank you so much for your email and for all the support and encouragement you’ve given me this year. So thank you, Paul.

And then here’s another one. “Hi, Steve, Sir Snide here. ITM.” In The Morning to you Sir Snide. He says, “I want to thank you for what you’ve done, and let you know that it has enriched my life and walk with God. Being an engineer, I have had many thoughts about possible next steps a lot over the past several days. From a personally selfish perspective, I would like things to continue as is. But this is neither respectful nor feasible. So the engineer in me kicks in and my mind ran through many possible outcomes. Number one, do nothing and let people access the archives to read the Bible again on their schedule, very manual and high friction for the user, but easiest to accomplish. Number two, automate and rebroadcast the last season with pre-canned intro about it being a rebroadcast and the donor segment is from last year and please support the rebroadcast cost by donating again on the value-for-value model as servers, storage and bandwidth cost. May be simple to accomplish. Has the advantage that podcast apps can pick them up on a published schedule, which makes it easier for the user. Number three, if you still have the raw files and if you recorded things in segments, you could create an evergreen version that has the scripture reading, your best or favorite commentary from the past seasons, this day in history, and a canned value-for-value donation request for the servers, storage and bandwidth as in point two. This has the advantage to be able to be replayed year after year with minimal effort after the evergreen episodes are created. Still benefits users with a scheduled release for their podcast apps to handle, but I fear some of the personality and special extras from time-to-time would disappear. But also at the same time, it would not grow stale due to old prayer requests and other time-anchored elements. Number four, find a successor and mentor them and allow them to become the host for this podcast adding a second personality to your Lifespring Media setup. So turning off my engineering mode, I will support your future choices and treasure the blessings of this podcast that I have received over the past year. I leave it in your capable hands and I’m sure God will make his will clear to you. Best regards, Sir Snide.”

Thank you, Sir Snide, for all of those suggestions. They were all good. I agree with you on your evaluation of each option, but they were some very good suggestions there. Thank you, Sir Snide. I appreciate it very much.

And now I have a short one from Denise; yes, Denise who helps with the transcriptions. She said some very nice things. And then, she says, “I love history. So I’d vote for a weekly church history podcast, 20 minutes on an historical figure or event in church history. Or do a daily reading from someone’s journal, like John Wesley’s, for instance, and do, like, a year-in-the-life of John Wesley, but I don’t know how that would work with a weekly podcast.” She said, “I liked Susan from Oregon’s idea of doing a weekly podcast on current social issues. And I also liked Jane’s idea of keeping the daily Bible readings going but doing a weekly commentary.”

I could make a hybrid of Sir Snide’s suggestion of reassembling the shows. That’s… that would be a possibility.

And then she volunteered this last wonderful little bit. She said, “If you need any help with transcripts or research in the next season, if there is a next season, I’d be glad to help with that.” She said, “God bless you and LeeAnn and enjoy your visit with little Penelope this coming week.”

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Denise. Those are great ideas. And yeah, stay tuned.

And now from John Taves from Candanavia. He’s been around these parts for many, many years now. He wrote some very nice things as well. And then he said, “Ideas could include reading a smaller part of the Bible, just the New Testament or a few books, or a topical study, like endtimes, living in Christian life or foundations of the faith, etc. Number two, reading from other Christian material: books, studies, topics, etc. Next suggestion is updates and prayer time. Another idea is more HymnStories or other shows with music.” Problem with music shows is the copyright issue, that… it’s getting harder all the time. “Next, repost the Bible, you’ve already recorded with some of the commentary relating to the world at that time trimmed out. Shorter shows rebroadcasted.” This is a theme that came up with a lot of them. “Something shorter, like a devotional and commentary on a less frequent schedule, or something more like the original Lifespring show, sporadic shows discussing a topic or interviewing someone, etc.”

And that one came up quite a bit, too, redoing the Lifespring show. New episodes of a Lifespring-type show. So that came up quite a bit.

This one is from a brand new listener, Jason Morgan. He said, “I started listening to your show a month ago, and I just wanted to thank you for all your good works. I have needed this, my brother. It helps me understand the message more than reading alone. I’m thankful you share your knowledge in the Holy Spirit daily. God bless you, Steve. PS, I hope to hear more from you. I’m listening.” He put a smiley face.

So Jason, thank you very much for that. And I’m so glad you found us even though it is sort of late in the year. And I got quite a few of this type of thing. “I just found your show. And I’m so glad that I did find it.” This email and the others like it are one of the reasons why I have made the decision to, at least, keep going in some manner. Keep listening here on this, this episode.

And then Sir Kevin said, “What I’d really like to hear are your insights, your stories. What’s on Steve’s mind? What have you been up to? What have you been thinking about? Is there a particular Bible verse you’ve read that has stuck out to you or that you’ve learned something new from? Is there a story from your life that applies to something happening today? Or that might be just what someone in the family needs to hear? How’s the Lovely Lady LeeAnn? How are the grandkids? How are Del and Kathi holding up? Maybe we could spend some time praying together.” I like that. “Maybe 30 minute episode per week, longer if you’ve got more to say, or more often, if you have the time. I think a lot of what that will be will be up to you. But those are my thoughts. I hope that’s the kind of feedback you’re looking for.”

And Sir Kevin that’s exactly what I was looking for. And thank you for those suggestions. So really what Sir Kevin is referring to is something like the old Lifespring show used to be. So put another hash on the scoreboard for that one.

And then here’s another one from a longtime listener. This is Matt Bogart. “How about a scaled down weekly version of the current show? Maybe just one or two verses, along with some commentary, then prayer requests. One caveat on prayer…,” And this is why I’m reading this particular email. “One caveat on prayer requests is that they work best whenever they’re closer to real time. So not sure a once per week prayer show would work well.”

You know, Matt, I’ve thought a lot about that. And here’s my thinking – and this just me. You might very well be right about it being important to be near real time. But here’s my thought. God is outside of time. Think of it a little bit like we live in a fishbowl. We are inside of time. Fish… the fishbowl is time and we live in there. And God is outside of that, as if he’s looking into the fishbowl. He’s not in time. So when we have a prayer request, and when we pray, for God, it’s not really real time. In other words, being outside of time, he knows about the, the need. He knows about the prayer request, even before we pray it.

So, if we had a show that was just once a week, as an example, and I took prayer requests, we could pray for something, and it could be as far as a week out before you hear the prayer or before we pray the prayer. But to God, it doesn’t matter. I know that can be kind of a weird concept. But the fact that we pray isn’t really to cause God to change His mind. It’s more to change our heart to conform to God’s will. It’s like when I pray for Kathi Brixey, I don’t really expect that I’m going to change God’s will for Kathi’s life. It would be wonderful if because of my prayers, God says, “Okay, Steve talked me into it. I’m going to heal her.” I don’t expect that to happen. God’s plan for Kathi is God’s plan for Kathi. As I pray, I try to align my heart to God’s will. I think it’s okay. I think God wants us to submit our petitions to him. But as we do that, as we live our lives, the Holy Spirit does His work in us to conform us to him.

Now, all that being said, what you say might very well be true. I don’t know how receptive people would be to having prayer requests that aren’t, like, you know, the next day… they are going to show up on the next day. I could explain this idea of God being outside of time. And I think some people would say, “That makes sense”. But other people might say, “I don’t know.” So I don’t know. Something to think about.

If you, Beloved, as you’re listening to this have any comments on what I just said, feel free to send them to me, st***@*************ia.com.

And then here in the email, Matt had some other suggestions for Lifespring-type shows, for interview-type things. Oh, here’s one that kind of grabbed my, my attention. Matt said, “Lastly, if you recall from our conversation over lunch a few years back, I also mentioned I thought a podcast interview that covers a show guests’ conversion story or testimony would be super interesting.” So yeah, I like that idea. That might have legs. So put that on the scorecard here. He closed by saying, “However it shakes out, you definitely should take a break to clear your mind and rest those vocal cords before you do the next thing. You’ve earned it.” Thank you, Matt.

And then this one from York Campbell, who, who does the Poetic Earthlings podcast. And if you like storytelling podcasts, look up Poetic Earthlings. York said, “I’m a faithful listener to your show. God has used you in profound ways to speak to my heart. You have strengthened my understanding of the love of God and His Word. Thank you. What about if you do a weekly show and you tackle the difficult parts in the Bible?” First off, York, thank you so much for those very kind words. I appreciate it. And I do like that idea about doing a weekly show that tackles the difficult parts of the Bible. That’s definitely something that’s in the mix.

And then Roderick sent an email – and by the way, for those of you who’ve been around podcasting since the early days, no, this is not Father Roderick, the Dutch Catholic priest that had a very successful podcast, back in the day. And, you know what, I’ve even got a picture of myself and LeeAnn and Father Roderick together along with Greg and Jennifer, co-hosts of the Rosary Army Podcast, back in the day. I’ll put that picture up on the show notes page if you’d like to see who we all look like back in 2006. But, our Roderick said, New believers need to hear every single word you read. Old Believers, like me, need to hear every single word you read.” And he’s talking about, obviously, the Bible, not my own comments. But he says, “I can’t tell you how many conversations I’ve had with my family after listening to you reading the Word of God. So for me, I wouldn’t want you to change a thing. I find enormous value in your teaching. And…” Well, thank you. “And hope to hear you continue reading every word of the Bible, until I get to be with you and yours in heaven.” Well, Roderick, thank you so very much for that. And your comment there about the importance of getting the Word out, along with the comments from new believers about how this show has really helped them in their walk with God has had a really big influence on my decision to keep the Lifespring Family Audio Bible alive in one way or another.

I’ve got just two more emails to share with you. One of the emails is from Ann whom we’ve heard from before in donation segments, and Ann is the wife of Howie who we prayed for. Howie is the father-in-law of Sean of San Pedro. So Ann is Sean of San Pedro’s mother-in-law. She said, “Another podcast topic could be about family and being Christian grandparents and the impact grandparents have in the lives of their grandchildren, or the knowledge they can share with the third generation. I know as grandparents Howie and I see things differently, now. However, as a Christian scholar…” She’s talking about me. Are you talking about me? Who me? “…as a Christian scholar, you have an abundant knowledge and insights to share and teach young families. I keep ‘hearing’…” – and she puts that in quotes – “I keep ‘hearing’ that your next ministry needs to bring joy to your heart. And it needs to make you smile every time you think about it. This is very important. I’m also ‘hearing’, quote, “Teach them about me, and what a wonderful Father I am,” unquote. Share stories from your experiences as a grandfather and connected to Scripture. The joy you felt in your heart the first time you held your grandchild, and how that’s how God feels about us.” Ann, thank you for that. I very, very much appreciate your thoughts. And yes, I do want whatever I do to bring joy to my heart. I think that when we are working for God, when we’re doing what he calls us to do, that’s one of the benefits. God puts joy in our hearts. Not that it’s always easy. God does not always call us to things that are easy. But in following him, it does bring joy.

And then the last email this one is from Howie. He wrote, “One idea we thought of is a Q & A podcast where listeners can send in biblical questions they may have wanted to ask their pastor, but never had the opportunity since pastors are so busy these days. That’s why we really enjoy your summaries at the end of the Bible readings.” Thank you for that, Howie.

And then, lastly, there are a couple of people who suggested I do a weekly, bi-weekly or monthly show with another well-known podcaster, who will remain unnamed right now. Well, to those of you who suggested this idea, I want you to know that I did mention it to this person. But they have not, as yet, responded, probably because they’ve been out of town. But if this show is to happen, I want it to be of God. So I’m not going to push it with this other person. If the Lord wants it to happen, I want him to lay it on this other person’s heart. So I want you to know that I did not just put that suggestion off to the side.

So there you go. These are just a few of the emails that y’all sent me. There’s some great ideas there, I think you’ll agree and each has got merit. What I’m gonna do is rest and recharge, and I’m going to continue to seek God’s will. And I think after I’ve had time to rest and just really make this a matter of prayer. I’ll know what to do. One thing I will say is that it is clear that the Lifespring Family Audio Bible has to continue in some form or fashion. I’ve learned never to say never, but I don’t anticipate the show coming back in its present form. But I’m going to take the ideas that you sent in and I’ll bring it back in some way.

Now to do some of the automated things that were suggested. I would need some fairly sophisticated help. I am in no way a coder. I know just enough PHP and CSS to get me into trouble. But I don’t know anything beyond that, certainly nowhere near enough to do the things that were suggested in some of these emails, like especially from Sir Snide. But I would love it if someone would be willing to donate their time, talent or treasure toward that end, if they would step forward. I need someone who could write some code to add a pre-roll and/or a post-roll value-for-value message to the nearly 3000 episodes that are already at
lifespringmedia.com. Or a pre-roll that talks about what’s new with Lifespring Media, and somebody who could write something to automate the scheduling of posting new episodes, stuff like that. If that’s you, or if you know somebody who could do this stuff, let me know. Write to me at st***@*************ia.com.

And before we go to the next segment, please know how very, very thankful I am for each one of you. You have made this the best year I have ever had in podcasting. The interaction we’ve had this year has been leaps and bounds ahead of any other of my nearly 18 years in podcasting. You’ve been generous with your time, with your talent, with your treasure in the form of emails, your prayers, figuring out the new Podcasting 2.0 toys, and your donations. Listen, podcasting can sometimes be a very lonely thing. You speak into a microphone. You edit the show. You post it. And most of the time you wonder if what you’re doing matters to anybody. But this year has been different. You’ve been with me and you’ve let me know that I’m not here by myself. And it’s because of that interaction that I’m coming back. Do me a favor, if you have other podcasts that matter to you. Be sure to let those podcasters know. Give them some love, too, because, unless it’s a really huge show, they wonder if what they’re doing is worthwhile, too.

Now you’ve heard me call you “Beloved” many times on the show. And each time I use that word, it was intentional. I love you. And I’ll be back, Lord willing. But give me at least two weeks, perhaps a month. But do know that the Lifespring Family Audio Bible will be back in its new form. soon. Stay subscribed, and subscribe to the Lifespring Media All Shows Feed in your chosen podcast app, or you can subscribe right there at lifespringmedia.com. And one last thing all the episodes at
Lifespring Media are value-for-value enabled so you can boost and stream even on the old episodes.

DISTINGUISHED PRODUCER SHOUT-OUTS – 42:21
And now today we have three Distinguished Producers. These three people have distinguished themselves by their generous and selfless value-for-value gifts of time, talent and treasure. Kirsty has been creating the Lifespring Media newsletter for much of this season. And she’s done it with only occasional input from Yours Truly. And without Sean of San Pedro, the chapters for the show would not exist. For those of you that have been brave enough to switch to a modern Podcasting 2.0 podcast app and have enjoyed the chapters function, you have Sean to thank. He even wrote a custom web-based chapter-generating app to speed the process up. And one of the first things I’m going to do with my newly found free time is show this app to Adam Curry and Dave Jones. And Denise has been correcting the artificial-intelligence- (or I should say not-so-intelligence)generated transcripts for several months now, which is certainly not a glamorous task, but is highly appreciated by me as one who can be a bit of a stickler for spelling and punctuation. And if you want confirmation on that, just ask the Lovely Lady LeeAnn. It drives me crazy to see bad punctuation and spelling…, and so thank you Denise. So because of their sacrifice of their time, talent and treasure, I hereby name Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise Distinguished Producers of this, the final episode of season 12 of the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, episode s12e363.

LIFESPRING FAMILY BEREANS – 43:52
And I furthermore bestow the title of Lifespring Family Berean on the henceforth to be known as Sister Kirsty, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Sister Denise, with my heartfelt gratitude. Your service to the Lifespring family will forever be remembered.

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER SHOUT-OUT – 44:08
And I want to thank Kevin Schneider in Candanavia who sent in $123.45, 1-2-3-4-5, via Pay Pal and just said, “For the Daily Audio Bible,” making him our Associate Producer today. Kevin, thank you so very much. You’ve been a Lifespring family member for quite some time, and I appreciate you. God bless you, Brother. And speaking of Brother Sean of San Pedro, he sent in a $50 donation via Zelle with this note: “For the last episode of the year. What a year!” Yes, Sean, it has been quite a year. Thank you.

MORE SUPPORTER SHOUT-OUTS – 44:42
And Matthew Thomas sent in a row-o-ducks, $22.22 and he did that over at lifespringmedia.com/support. He said, “First time making it through the Bible in a year. Thank you for your courage and passion. ITM.” Well, he obviously came over from No Agenda. I should have one of those jingles like Adam has for Joe Rogan when one of the Joe Rogan listeners comes over to No Agenda. Well Matthew, thank you for your gift. Thank you for your courage and may God bless you richly. Thank you.

Boostagram.

And there’s a boostagram. Sean of San Pedro sent an another 1-2-3-4-5 sat boost, 12,345 sats. Thank you. And last, but not least, Wayne Henderson sent in yet another Stryper boostagram of 777 sats using the Fountain app.

[Stryper sings.]

And by the way, if you’re a Green Bay Packers fan, you really need to check out Wayne’s show, the Packers Fan Podcast at, strangely enough, packersfanpodcast.com. He’s been doing this show since June of 2011. Congrats on that Wayne and thank you for the boostagram, buddy. God bless you.

And while I’m on the subject of boostagrams, which is a subset of streaming sats, which is something that every podcaster who is participating in this Podcasting 2.0 technology is thrilled to receive. I want to acknowledge and thank each and every one of you who have streamed sats while listening to the show over this year. I can’t thank you by name because I don’t get that information. I only get your name if and when you send a boostagram and you choose to share your name in the boostagram. But there are some of you who have been extremely generous in your streaming. Don’t think that I haven’t noticed, I have and I’m thankful. God bless all of you who have taken this admittedly geeky and not always easy step. So I very much appreciate each of you.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 46:51
On this date in church history, August 30, 1856, the Methodist Episcopal Church established Wilberforce University in Xenia, Ohio, and ownership of the school was transferred to the African Methodist Episcopal Church or AME Church in 1863.

PRAYER REQUESTS – 47:17
Prayer requests. Del said that Kathi had a rough night. She kept waking up. Overall, she’s feeling about the same. She’s probably going to start her oral nausea medications today, since the ones given to the IV are losing their effectiveness and the pain in her mouth and throat, much like a sunburn, you’ll remember, is still there. Del says he asked her to message her doctor to see how to relieve that pain, but she’s always iffy about contacting the doctor. I told Del to slap her upside the head and say, “That’s what the doctor is there for!” No, I didn’t say that, but I said, “That’s what the doctor is for.”

And then this came in from Sean this morning. He said, “Thank you and the Lifespring family for all of the prayers for Brittaney, for me and our extended family.” That would be Howie, of course, and his friend that was anonymous on the show. Sean wanted me to pass that along to you the Lifespring family.

CLOSING PRAYER – 48:08
So let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, Lord, I thank you for calling me to this microphone, despite my many faults. Who am I, Lord, that you would allow me to have a part in your work? Oh, Lord, You are so merciful. I worship you. And I offer myself to you once more to do with me as you see fit.

Lord, I ask you to be with Kathi. Help her through this time. Bring healing to her body. Ease the pain. Ease the nausea and the vertigo. And I know, Lord, that Dell is afraid. He’s afraid. And I pray God that you would be with him and comfort his heart.

I thank you, Lord, for each person that you brought to the show over the years and right up to today. Thank you for touching their hearts and for the work you’ve done and continue to do in their lives through the hearing of your Word. We know, Lord, that your word never returns void. And it is a joy to be involved in anything having to do with your word. I thank You, Lord. I pray, Lord, that you’ll bless these brothers and sisters, these Lifespring family members according to your mercy, and your grace and your love. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

This is the place where I always say: “If you have a prayer request or a praise that you’d like to share with the family, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com and let me know about it.” Well, obviously there’s not going to be another one of these shows for a while. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about what’s happening in your life. If you have a prayer request or if God is doing something marvelous in your life, I do want to hear about it. And prayer.lifespringmedia.com is an easy way for you to make that happen. Or, like I said before, you can always email me at st***@*************ia.com

OUTRO S12E363 – 49:55
If you have a comment on this show, please do leave it at lifespringmedia.com/s12e363. As I’ve said many times, scroll all the way to the bottom of that page where you’ll find a box where you can put your comments. There won’t be another show necessarily to share your comments with, but I’ll see the comments and I’ll respond. Thank you to Sister Kirsty, Brother Sean of San Pedro and Sister Denise. I love each of you.

Thank you to Kevin. Thank you to Brother Sean. And thank you to Matthew for your gifts today. And thanks to Sean of San Pedro and Wayne for the boostagrams.

And thank you for allowing me to be in your life yet once more today. Please stick around. Stay subscribed. And if you haven’t yet, subscribe now to the Lifespring Media All Shows Feed. I love you and until next time, may God bless you richly. My name as always is Steve Webb. See you soon.

Fun for the whole family. You won’t want to miss it.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise

Transcript

Kirsty

This is Monday, and we will finish the book of Deuteronomy by reading chapters 32-34. I’m calling today’s show “The End of an Era.”

Chapter 31 ended with the words, “And Moses spoke this whole song for all the people of Israel to hear:”

Most of chapter 32 is the song. 

The first four verses are a call to all of creation to listen to what he is about to say, and the fact that he is proclaiming the name of the Lord, giving Him praise for who He is and what He does.

The next two verses state the fact that Israel has sinned.

Verses 7-14 tells how God has been faithful to Israel throughout history. He has loved them and blessed them. 

In verses 15-18, Moses reminded them of how Israel responded to God’s love by abandoning Him.

Verses 19-27 tell how, in response to their rebellion, God left their side and punished them.

In the final verses of the song (verses 28-43), God lists His charges against Israel and calls them back to Himself.

After the song, Moses encourages Israel with the words, “This is no trivial matter for you—this is your very life! It is by this means that you will prolong your life on the fertile land you are crossing the Jordan River to possess.” 

Another way to say “This is no trivial matter for you” is “This is no meaningless thing-this matters…” One of the lies of the enemy when we are in the midst of sin is, “What God says doesn’t matter. You can do what you want.” Moses is reminding them that what God says DOES matter. What He says is life itself. 

And then in the final five verses God gives Moses His final instructions. He is to go up to the place where he will breathe his last. He will be able to look across the Jordan River into the promised land, but because of his sin at Meribah-Kadesh he will not be allowed to go in.

Very few of us know the time of our death. But in Deuteronomy 33, Moses knows that his time has come. God told him.

And Moses wanted to leave the people that he had led out of Egypt and through the desert for these forty years with words that would encourage them, despite their failings. 

Did you notice that each of the twelve tribes received a distinct blessing except one? Which tribe received no blessing? It was Simeon. 

Why was Simeon left out? 

Let’s quickly look at some history. Remember that Jacob loved Rachel and asked her father, Laban, for her hand in marriage. Laban had two daughters, Rachel and her older sister Leah. Laban told Jacob that he could have Rachel after he worked for him for seven years. But after the seven years were up, Laban tricked Jacob by giving Leah to him instead. In order for Jacob to have Rachel as his wife, Jacob had to give Laban another seven years.

Then we’re told in Genesis 29 that when the Lord saw that Leah was unloved by Jacob, he gave her children, but Rachel was unable to do so. Leah’s firstborn son was Reuben, followed by Simeon, Levi and lastly, Judah. Leah also gave birth to a daughter named Dinah. 

When Dinah was a young woman, she caught the eye of a man, a prince, named Shechem, who raped her. Shechem told his father, Hamor, that he wanted Dinah to be his wife. So Hamor went to talk to Jacob, Dinah’s father. When Dinah’s brothers found out what had happened to her, they were furious. Hamor insisted that Shechem wanted to marry Dinah, and he told Jacob that they could agree that their two peoples could intermarry. Shechem also added, in essence, “Name your price. Anything you ask, I will agree to. Only let me marry your daughter.”

So Dinah’s brothers, angry still at what he had done to their sister, devised a scheme. They told Shechem and his father that they could never allow their sister to marry an uncircumcised man. It would be a disgrace. They could only agree if all the males were circumcised. Then and only then would they allow Dinah to marry Shechem and allow intermarriage between their people.

Hamor and Shechem agreed, and they convinced all the males of the city to be circumcised. Three days later, while they were all still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, came into the city and killed every male. They killed Hamor and Shechem, and took Dinah out of there. And then all of Jacob’s sons came into the city and looted it. They carried off all their wealth and all their women and children. 

Near the end of Jacob’s life, he gathered his sons to himself, to tell them what would happen to them in the future. Of Simeon and Levi, those who had instigated this act on Hamor, Shechem and the city of Shechem, Jacob said in Genesis 49:5-7 “Simeon and Levi are brothers—their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.”

So the tribe of Simeon eventually became small and insignificant, and was absorbed into the tribe of Judah. Levi was also scattered throughout Israel, but in a much different way. God chose them to be His priests.

Chapter 34 tells us of Moses’ death. Imagine the bittersweet thrill that it must have been for Moses to have God show him a view of the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo! It had to be disappointing not to get to go in, but since God had already told him this would be the case after their sin in Numbers chapter 20, he must have been somewhat used to the idea. But the thrill of actually seeing the land with his own eyes had to have been very satisfying. If you’d like to see a picture, of what Moses saw I’ve got one, and a link, on the show notes page. /s12e362

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 32-33 CEB; Ch. 34 GWT

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.

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00
He calls them back even still.

INTRO S12E362 – 0:10
Coming 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. And after this episode, there is one left. This is Monday and we’ll finish the book of Deuteronomy by reading chapters 32 through 34. I’m calling today’s episode, “The End Of An Era”. The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e362. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. Let’s begin.

DEUTERONOMY 32 (CEB) – 0:47
Deuteronomy, chapter 32.

(1) Heaven! Pay attention and I will speak;
Earth! Listen to the words of my mouth.
(2) My teaching will fall like raindrops;
my speech will settle like dew—
like gentle rains on grass,
like spring showers on all that is green—
(3) because I proclaim the LORD’s name:
Give praise to our God!
(4) The rock: his acts are perfection!
No doubt about it: all his ways are right!
He’s the faithful God, never deceiving;
altogether righteous and true is he.
(5) But children who weren’t his own
sinned against him with their defects;
they are a twisted and perverse generation.
(6) Is this how you thank the LORD,
you stupid, senseless people?
Isn’t he your father, your creator?
Didn’t he make you and establish you?
(7) Remember the days long past;
consider the years long gone.
Ask your father, he will tell you about it;
ask your elders, they will give you the details:
(8) When God Most High divided up the nations—
when he divided up humankind—
he decided the people’s boundaries
based on the number of the gods.
(9) Surely the LORD’s property was his people;
Jacob was his part of the inheritance.
(10) God found Israel in a wild land—
in a howling desert wasteland—
he protected them, cared for them,
watched over them with his very own eye.
(11) Like an eagle protecting its nest,
hovering over its young,
God spread out his wings, took hold of Israel,
carried him on his back.
(12) The LORD alone led Israel;
no foreign god assisted.
(13) God made Israel glide over the highlands;
he fed him with food from the field,
nursed him with honey from a boulder,
with oil from a hard rock:
(14) curds from the herd, milk from the flock,
along with the best of lambs,
rams from Bashan, he-goats too,
along with the finest wheat—
and for drink, wine from the juiciest grapes!
(15) Jacob ate until he was stuffed;
Jeshurun got fat, then rebellious.
It was you who got fat, thick, stubborn!
Jeshurun gave up on the God who made him,
thought the rock of his salvation was worthless.
(16) They made God jealous with strange gods,
aggravated him with detestable things.
(17) They sacrificed to demons, not to God,
to deities of which they had no knowledge—
new gods only recently on the scene,
ones about which your ancestors had never heard.
(18) You deserted the rock that sired you;
you forgot the God who gave birth to you!
(19) The LORD saw this and rejected
out of aggravation his sons and his daughters.
(20) He said: I will hide my face from them—
I will see what becomes of them—
because they are a confused generation;
they are children lacking loyalty.
(21) They provoked me with “no-gods,”
aggravated me with their pieces of junk.
So I am going to provoke them with “No-People,”
aggravate them with a nation of fools.
(22) A fire burns in me—
it will blaze to the depths of the grave;
it will destroy the land and its crops;
it will blacken the base of the mountains.
(23) I’ll throw on them disaster after disaster;
I’ll destroy them with my arrows:
(24) devastating hunger, consuming plague, bitter sickness.
I’ll send animal fangs after them,
venom from dust crawlers too.
(25) Outside, in the streets, the sword will bereave!
Inside, in the safest room, there will be terror
for young men and women,
nursing baby and senior citizen.
(26) I thought about it: I could have struck them down,
erased them from human memory,
(27) but their enemies’ rage concerned me;
their opponents might misunderstand.
They might say, “Our strong hands,
not the LORD’s, did all this,”
(28) because they are not a thoughtful nation;
they lack any insight.
(29) If they had any wisdom, they would understand this;
they would discern what will become of them.
(30) How could one person chase off a thousand in battle?
How could two people make ten thousand flee for their lives?
Only because their rock sold them off,
only because the LORD handed them over!
(31) But, no, their rocks can’t compare to our rock!
Our enemies are completely stupid.
(32) Their roots run straight from Sodom—
from the fields of Gomorrah!
Their grapes are pure poison;
their grape clusters, nothing but bitter;
(33) their wine is snake poison,
venom from a cruel cobra.
(34) Don’t I have this stored up,
sealed in my vaults?
(35) Revenge is my domain, so is punishment-in-kind,
at the exact moment their step slips up,
because the day of their destruction is just around the corner;
their final destiny is speeding on its way!
(36) But the LORD will acquit his people,
will have compassion on those who serve him,
once he sees that their strength is all gone,
that both prisoners and free people are wiped out.
(37) The Lord will ask, “Where are their gods—
the rocks they trusted in—
(38) who ate up the fat of their sacrifices,
who drank their sacred wine?
They should stand up and help you!
They should protect you now!
(39) Now, look here: I myself, I’m the one;
there are no other gods before me.
I’m the one who deals death and gives life;
I’m the one who wounded, but now I will heal.
There’s no escaping my hand.
(40) But now I’m lifting my hand to heaven—
I swear by my own eternity:
(41) when I sharpen my blazing sword
and my hand grabs hold of justice,
I’ll pay my enemies back;
I’ll punish in kind everyone who hates me.
(42) I’ll make my arrows drink much blood,
while my sword devours flesh,
the blood of the dead and captured,
flowing from the heads of enemy generals.”
(43) Heavens: Rejoice with God!
All you gods: bow down to the Lord!
Because he will avenge his children’s blood;
he will pay back his enemies;
he will punish in kind those who hate him;
he will cleanse his people’s land.

(44) So Moses came and recited all the words of this poem in everyone’s hearing; Joshua, Nun’s son, joined him. (45) When Moses finished speaking all these words to Israel, (46) he told them: Set your mind on all these words I’m testifying against you right now, because you must command your children to perform carefully all the words of this Instruction. (47) This is no trivial matter for you—this is your very life! It is by this means alone that you will prolong your life in the fertile land you are crossing the Jordan River to possess.

(48) The LORD spoke to Moses that very same day: (49) “Hike up the Abarim mountains, to Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab opposite Jericho. Take a good look at the land of Canaan, which I’m giving to the Israelites as their property. (50) You will die on the mountain you have hiked up, and you will be gathered to your people just like your brother Aaron, who died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people, (51) because the two of you were unfaithful toward me in front of the Israelites at the waters of Meribath-kadesh, in the Zin wilderness, because you didn’t treat me with proper respect before the Israelites. (52) You can look at the land from the other side of the river, but you won’t enter there.”

DEUTERONOMY 33 (CEB) – 8:04
Deuteronomy, chapter 33.

(1) This is the blessing that Moses the man of God gave the Israelites before he died. (2) He said:

The LORD came from Sinai:
from Seir he shone like the dawn on us,
from Paran Mountain he beamed down.
Thousands of holy ones were with him;
his warriors were next to him, ready.
(3) Yes, those who love the nations—
all his holy ones—were at your command;
they followed your footsteps;
they got moving when you said so.
(4) Moses gave the Instruction to us—
it’s the prized possession of Jacob’s assembly.
(5) A king came to rule in Jeshurun,
when the people’s leaders gathered together,
when Israel’s tribes were one.
(6) “I pray that Reuben lives, doesn’t die,
though his numbers are so few.”
(7) Moses said this to Judah:
“LORD, listen to Judah’s voice!
Bring him back to his own people,
strengthen his hands;
be his help against every enemy.”
(8) Then he told Levi:
“Give your Thummim to Levi,
your Urim to your faithful one—
the one you tested at Massah,
the one you challenged by Meribah’s waters;
(9) the one who said of his own mother and father:
‘I don’t consider them as such’;
of their siblings: ‘I don’t recognize them’;
of their own children, ‘I don’t know them’—
but who obeyed your words
and who guarded your covenant!
(10) They teach your case laws to Jacob,
your Instruction to Israel.
They hold sweet incense to your nose;
put the entirely burned offering on your altar.
(11) I pray that the LORD blesses Levi’s strength,
favors his hard work,
and crushes the insides of his enemies
so that those who hate him can’t fight anymore.”
(12) He said to Benjamin:
“The LORD’s dearest one
rests safely on him.
The Lord always shields him;
he rests on God’s chest.”
(13) Then he told Joseph:
“I pray that his land is blessed by God:
with heaven’s gifts from above,
with the deep waters stretching out underneath;
(14) with the gifts produced by the sun,
with the gifts generated by the moon;
(15) with the best fruit from ancient mountains,
with the gifts of eternal hills;
(16) with the gifts of the earth and all that fills it,
and the favor of the one who lives on Sinai.
I pray that all these rest on Joseph’s head,
on the crown of that prince among brothers.
(17) A firstborn bull—that’s how majestic he is!
A wild ox’s horns—those are his horns!
With them he gores all peoples
completely, to the far ends of the earth!
His horns are Ephraim’s tens of thousands.
His horns are Manasseh’s thousands.”
(18) Then he told Zebulun:
“Zebulun: celebrate when you are out and about;
Issachar: celebrate when you are at home in your tents!
(19) They call all sorts of people to the mountain,
where they offer right sacrifices.
It’s true: They’re nourished on the sea’s abundance;
they are nourished on buried treasures in the sand.”
(20) Then he told Gad:
“May Gad’s broad lands be blessed!
He lives like a lion:
he rips an arm, even a head!
(21) He chose the best part for himself
because there, where the commander’s portion was,
the leaders of the people gathered together.
Gad executed the LORD’s justice
and the Lord’s judgments for Israel.”
(22) Then he told Dan:
“Dan is a lion cub.
He jumps up from Bashan.”
(23) Then he told Naphtali:
“Naphtali—you are full of favor,
overflowing with the LORD’s blessing—
go possess the west and the south!”
(24) Finally, he told Asher:
“Asher is the most blessed of sons.
I pray that he’s his brothers’ favorite—
one who dips his foot in fine oil.
(25) I pray that your dead bolts are iron and copper,
and that your strength lasts all your days.”
(26) Jeshurun! No one compares to God!
He rides through heaven to help you,
rides majestically through the clouds.
(27) The most ancient God is a place of safety;
the eternal arms are a support.
He drove out the enemy before you.
He commanded: “Destroy them!”
(28) So Israel now lives in safety—
Jacob’s residence is secure—
in a land full of grain and wine,
where the heavens drip dew.
(29) Happy are you, Israel! Who is like you?
You are a people saved by the LORD!
He’s the shield that helps you,
your majestic sword!
Your enemies will come crawling on their knees to you,
but you will stomp on their backs!

DEUTERONOMY 34 (GWT) – 12:40
Deuteronomy, chapter 34. (1) Then Moses went up on Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab. He went to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. The Lord showed him the whole land. He could see Gilead as far as Dan, (2) all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the territory of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, (3) the Negev, and the Jordan Plain—the valley of Jericho (the City of Palms)—as far as Zoar.

(4) Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised with an oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I said I would give it to their descendants. I have let you see it with your own eyes, but you may not go there.”

(5) As the Lord had predicted, the Lord’s servant Moses died in Moab. (6) He was buried in a valley in Moab, near Beth Peor. Even today no one knows where his grave is.

(7) Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eyesight never became poor, and he never lost his physical strength. (8) The Israelites mourned for Moses in the plains of Moab for 30 days. Then the time of mourning for him was over.

(9) Joshua, son of Nun, was filled with the Spirit of wisdom, because Moses had laid his hands on him. The Israelites obeyed him and did what the Lord had commanded through Moses.

(10) There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord dealt with face to face. (11) He was the one the Lord sent to do all the miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials, and to his whole country. (12) Moses used his mighty hand to do all the spectacular and awe-inspiring deeds that were seen by all the Israelites.

COMMENTS – 14:25
Today, I’ve got thoughts on each of our chapters. Let’s talk about Deuteronomy 32, first. Chapter 31 ended with the words “And Moses spoke this whole song for all the people of Israel to hear,” leaving us with a bit of a cliffhanger.

Well, most of chapter 32 is the song to which the end of 31 referred.

The first four verses are a call to all of creation to listen to what he’s about to say, and the fact that he’s proclaiming the name of the Lord, giving him praise for who he is and what he does.

The next two verses state the fact that Israel has sinned.

And then verses 7 through 14 tell how God has been faithful to Israel throughout history, and that He has loved them and blessed them.

In verses 15 through 18, Moses reminded the people of how Israel responded to God’s love by abandoning him.

Verses 19 to 27 tell how in response to their rebellion, God left their side and punished them.

And then in the final verses of the song (verses 28 through 43) God lists his charges against Israel and calls them back to himself.

Notice that he calls them back even still. Well, after the song, Moses encourages Israel with the words, “This is no trivial matter to you—this is your very life! It is by this means that you will prolong your life on the fertile land you are crossing the Jordan River to possess.”

Another way to say “This is no trivial matter for you” is “This is no meaningless thing-this matters…” One of the lies that the enemy tells us when we’re in the midst of sin is “What God says doesn’t matter. You can do what you want.” Well, Moses is reminding them that what God says does matter. And what he says is life itself.

And then in the final five verses of this chapter, God gives Moses his final instructions. He’s told to go up to the place where he will breathe his last. God says he’ll be able to look across the Jordan River into the Promised Land, but because of his sin at Meribath-kadesh, he will not be allowed to go in.

And then in chapter 33, very few of us know the time of our death. But here in chapter 33 of Deuteronomy, Moses knows that his time has come because God told him so.

And here in chapter 33, Moses wanted to leave the people that he had led out of Egypt and through the desert for these 40 years with words that would be encouraging to them despite their failings.

Chapter 34 tells us about Moses’ death. Now imagine the bittersweet thrill that it must have been for Moses to have God show him a view of the Promised Land from the top of Mount Nebo. It had to be disappointing not to get to go in. But since God had already told him that this would be the case after their sin in Numbers, chapter 20, Moses must have been somewhat used to the idea. But the thrill of actually seeing the land with his own eyes had to have been at least somewhat satisfying.

If you’d like to see a picture of what he probably saw, I’ve got one and a link on the show notes page at lifespringmedia.com/s12e362.

Now, before we leave Deuteronomy, Brother Paul of Seattle had a comment on last week’s reading. To begin his comment, he quoted part of one of the verses that we read, “…[Israel] rejected the agreement and decided to worship gods that had never helped them.” Paul says, “There are a lot of different references to ‘gods’…,” (That is small g with quotes) …references to ‘gods’ in this reading and throughout the Law and as I’ve been hearing them it strikes me as odd that the Bible seems to be giving these gods more personality than just idols [made of wood, metal and stone] by saying things like ‘gods that had never helped them’.” Paul says, “A piece of wood someone carved [isn’t] going to help, unless you’re cold and need a nice fire.” He says, “These gods seems like they’re more than just setting anything in front of God, for the obvious example, [like] the love of money. It’s almost like there are many pseudo god entities, more than just the Enemy, [Satan], [perhaps] other fallen angels?” He says, “Maybe it is something around the lines of, ‘Good thing I had that nest egg of money to cover me when the furnace went out,’ rather than saying ‘Thanks to God He has provided so I have the money to fix the furnace.’” Paul says, “It could be this, but it doesn’t quite feel like it. Just curious your thoughts, there’s probably an obvious explanation in Scripture that I’m just totally missing.”

All right, so the question is: Is there more to these small-g gods than just being wood or stone or metal? Is there a demonic influence there? Well, to answer this question, let me read to you a few paragraphs from gotquestions.org. It says:

“Deuteronomy 32:16–17 [which we read today, by the way, says], ‘They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded’ (ESV). This passage associates pagan gods with ‘demons’ and warns God’s people not to be involved with idolatry.

“The Hebrew text here uses what is called synonymous parallelism, in which two or more lines communicate the same idea using different words. In this case, the parallels include ‘strange gods’ and ‘demons that were no gods.’ Grammatically, the demons and the foreign gods are the same. The text clearly connects pagan worship with evil spirits. The false gods are in contrast with the true God, the ‘Rock’ [referred to] in verses 15 and 17.

“Leviticus 17:7 adds another important connection: ‘They shall no more offer their sacrifices to demons, after whom they have played the harlot’ (NKJV). Here, these demons… are other gods worshiped by the surrounding cultures. Again, demons are equated with pagan gods in this passage.

“It is no coincidence that demonic activity is associated with religions that embrace a multitude of gods and goddesses. A desire to have supernatural contact with the ‘spirit world’ often focuses people on supernatural power apart from the power God offers through a relationship with Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit. The devil desires to be worshiped…, and demons teach false doctrine in order to deceive [people]…. Those who worship false gods are, wittingly or unwittingly, pledging their allegiance to evil spirits who desire to usurp God’s rightful place in our hearts.

“To the Christian, an idol is ‘nothing’…. That is, demons and their deceit have no true power over us. Any power they wield pales in comparison with the power of Christ….”

So yes, Paul, when scripture refers to some of these small-g gods, it’s really referring to the worship or being involved with demons. So they’re more than just a piece of wood or a piece of stone. I hope that covers it for you, Paul. Thanks for the question.

Do you have a comment on today’s commentary? If so, go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e362. Tomorrow is Tuesday and we will finish the book of Esther, and the season, by reading chapters 6 through 10.

Boost.

ASSOCIATE PRODUCER SHOUT-OUT AND BOOSTAGRAM – 22:03
Today our Associate Producer is Kirsty who came in with her monthly $20 donation. Kirsty, thank you very much, and God bless you.

Boostagram.

And Wayne Henderson sent a Stryper boostagram of 777 sats and he said, “Have a great week.” Well, thank you very much Wayne, you too. God bless you.

Beloved, tomorrow, after the reading and my comments, I’ll talk to you a little bit about my plans for the Lifespring Family Audio Bible and for the future of Lifespring Media. I’ll share some of the ideas and suggestions from “The Next Step” emails that I’ve received from you and some of my thoughts about this past year. I hope you’ll be here.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 22:49
On this date in church history, August 29, 1792, Charles G. Finney was born. He was an American revivalist and educator, and he was the president of Oberlin College from 1851 to 1866. If you’ve never read Charles Finney, I suggest you look up some of his writings.

And on this date, August 29, 1867, The Social Brethren, a small evangelistic denomination, was officially organized in Illinois.

PRAYER REQUESTS – 23:26
Prayer requests. Del said that Kathi is having some problems with her equilibrium and nausea as the IV nausea drugs subside. And she’s got some pain like a sunburn in her mouth. She has pills for the nausea but not sure how to treat the other two options. Fatigue and her MS issues are increased for some reason. So we need to pray for Kathi.

CLOSING PRAYER – 23:48
Our heavenly Father, we praise you and we thank you for your faithfulness and your mercy. We thank you for Your Word, and the lessons we learned about you from it. Thank you, Lord, for the Holy Spirit and His presence in our lives as we try to be more like Jesus.

Father, we pray for Kathi and we ask that you help with her symptoms and that you would bring healing, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for the Lifespring family. I asked you to bless them today and I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

OUTRO S12E362 – 24:24
Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e362. Send me an email at st***@*************ia.com. If you haven’t sent in your “The Next Step” email yet, there’s still time. Do it right away though because time is running out. Be sure you put “THE NEXT STEP” in your subject line. Thanks to Kirsty, today, and Wayne. Bless you guys. Thank you for having me spend some time with you today. I appreciate it.

And until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

One.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise

Transcript

This is Epistles Sunday, and we’ll read the book of Jude. I’m calling today’s show “False Teachers.” 

It’s amazing, isn’t it, how a letter written more than 2,000 years ago sounds so current? 

Jude talks about the importance of standing up for the faith. Never has it more important to do that than it is today, when Christianity is under attack as it has not been in many years, and never, I believe as it has been here in the United States. I’ve heard it said that Christianity is always only one generation away from extinction. If we don’t stand up, if we don’t share our faith with the next generation, there will be no one to share the Good News of a Risen Savior. 

But of course we know that God has promised to always have a remnant in each generation, so that won’t happen. But that does not take away our responsibility to heed what Jesus said just before he ascended into Heaven. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”

This is the great commission. This is the job he gave to each of us. He didn’t say to do this when it is easy, or convenient, or politically correct. There was no opportunity given for a way out of doing everything we can to accomplish the job. We must do what Jesus said.

And Jude spoke, as others did, about false teachers. But here, Jude talked about those who abuse God’s grace and excuse sexual sin. Doesn’t that sound familiar? Today they say, “How could a loving God condemn me for who I love? This is the way He made me.” Which addresses the point Jude made about how they “do what comes naturally to them”. 

Listen, it might “come naturally” to me to have multiple women. But that is not God’s plan, and I chose to follow God’s teaching about marriage and I am joyously faithful to one wife.

Jude encourages the believers to remain in God’s love. To pray with the leading of the Holy Spirit and to live lives that please God, and praise Him for who He is, and praise Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jude’s message was written to the early church, the church of today, and the church of tomorrow without a doubt.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 1 NIRV

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.

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00
Christianity is always just one generation away from extinction.

INTRO S12E361 – 0:11
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 are reading through the entire Bible in a year. And after this episode, there are two left. Have you sent in you’re “The Next Step” email to me at st***@*************ia.com with THE NEXT STEP in the subject line? If not, please do it today. I do want to hear from you. This is Epistles Sunday and we’ll read the book of Jude. I’m calling today’s episode, “False Teachers”. I’ll have a brief introduction for you before we read this short one chapter book. Today’s show notes page or lifespringmedia.com/s12e361. And my email address again is st***@*************ia.com. Are you ready? Let’s get started.

INTRO TO JUDE – 1:00
Like James, Jude was the brother of Jesus or more accurately a half-brother. This epistle or letter was probably written to Jewish believers, and he wrote to them about Jewish history, angels and false teachers.

JUDE (NIRV) – 1:14
The book of Jude. (1) I, Jude, am writing this letter. I serve Jesus Christ. I am a brother of James.

I am sending this letter to you who have been chosen by God. You are loved by God the Father. You are kept safe by Jesus Christ.

(2) May more and more mercy, peace, and love be given to you.

(3) Dear friends, I really wanted to write to you about the salvation we share. But now I feel I should write and ask you to stand up for the faith. God’s people were trusted with it once and for all time. (4) Certain people have slipped in among you in secret. Long ago it was written that they would be judged. They are godless people. They use the grace of our God as an excuse for sexual sins. They say no to Jesus Christ. He is our only Lord and King.

(5) I want to remind you about some things you already know. The Lord saved his people. He brought them out of Egypt. But later he destroyed those who did not believe. (6) Some of the angels didn’t stay where they belonged. They didn’t keep their positions of authority. The Lord has kept those angels in darkness. They are held by chains that last forever. On judgment day, God will judge them. (7) The people of Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them also did evil things. They gave themselves over to sexual sins. They committed sins of the worst possible kind. They are an example of those who are punished with fire. The fire never goes out.

(8) In the very same way, those dreamers pollute their own bodies. They don’t accept authority. They speak evil things against heavenly beings. (9) But not even Michael did that. He was the leader of the angels. He argued with the devil about the body of Moses. But he didn’t dare to speak evil things against the devil. Instead, he said, “May the Lord stop you!” (10) But those people speak evil things against what they don’t understand. They are like wild animals. They can’t think for themselves. They do what comes naturally to them. Those are the very things that destroy them.

(11) How terrible it will be for them! They followed the way of Cain. They rushed ahead and made the same mistake as Balaam did. They did it because they loved money. They are like Korah. He turned against his leaders. Those people will certainly be destroyed, just as Korah was.

(12) They are like stains at the meals you share. They eat too much. They have no shame. They are shepherds who feed only themselves. They are like clouds without rain. They are blown along by the wind. They are like trees in the fall. Since they have no fruit, they are pulled up. So they die twice. (13) They are like wild waves of the sea. Their shame rises up like foam. They are like falling stars. God has reserved a place of very black darkness for them. He will keep them there forever.

(14) Enoch was the seventh man in the family line of Adam. He gave a prophecy about those people. He said, “Look! The Lord is coming with thousands and thousands of his holy ones. (15) He is coming to judge everyone. He is coming to sentence all ungodly people. He will judge them for all the ungodly acts they have done. They have done them in ungodly ways. He will sentence ungodly sinners for all the bad things they have said about him.” (16) Those people complain. They find fault with others. They follow their own evil longings. They brag about themselves. They praise others to help themselves.

(17) Dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said was going to happen. (18) They told you, “In the last days, some people will make fun of the truth. They will follow their own ungodly longings.” (19) They are the people who separate you from one another. They do only what comes naturally. They are not led by the Holy Spirit.

(20) Dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Let the Holy Spirit guide and help you when you pray. (21) The mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ will bring you eternal life. As you wait for his mercy, remain in God’s love.

(22) Show mercy to those who doubt. (23) Pull others out of the fire. Save them. To others, show mercy mixed with fear. Hate even the clothes that are stained by the sins of those who wear them.

(24) Give praise to the One who is able to keep you from falling into sin. He will bring you into his heavenly glory without any fault. He will bring you there with great joy. (25) Give praise to the only God. He is our Savior. Glory, majesty, power and authority belong to him. Give praise to him through Jesus Christ our Lord. Give praise to the One who was before all time, who now is, and who will be forever. Amen.

COMMENTS – 6:07
Isn’t it amazing how a letter written more than two thousand years ago sounds so current?

Jude talks about the importance of standing up for the faith, and never has it been more important to do than it is today when Christianity is under attack as it has not been in many years, and never, I believe, as it has been here in the United States. I’ve heard it said that Christianity is always just one generation away from extinction. If we don’t share our faith with the next generation, there will be no one to share the good news of a Risen Savior.

But, of course, we know that God has promised to always have a remnant in each generation, so that isn’t going to happen. But that doesn’t take away our responsibility to heed what Jesus said just before He ascended into heaven. He said,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. (19) So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (20) Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”

That of course, is the Great Commission. And that’s the job he gave to each of us. He didn’t say to do this when it’s easy or convenient or politically correct. He didn’t give any opportunity or no excuse for a way out of doing everything we can to accomplish this job. And we must do what Jesus said.

In his epistle here, Jude spoke as others did about false teachers. But here Jude talked about those who abuse God’s grace and excuse sexual sin. That sounds vaguely familiar, doesn’t it? Today, they say, “How could a loving God condemn me for who I love? This is the way He made me.” Which addresses the point Jude made about how they, quote, “do what comes naturally to them”, unquote.

Listen, it might “come naturally” to me to have multiple women but that is not God’s plan. And I choose to follow God’s teaching about marriage, and I am joyfully faithful to one wife.

Jude encouraged the believers to remain in God’s love in this letter as well. To pray with the leading of the Holy Spirit and to live lives that please God and praise Him for who He is. And praise Jesus Christ our Lord.

Jude’s message was written to the early church and to the church of today and the church of tomorrow without a doubt.

What do you think? Do you have a comment? Let me know at lifespringmedia.com/s12e361. Tomorrow is Monday and we’ll finish the book of Deuteronomy by reading chapters 32 through 34.

Boost.

SUPPORTER SHOUT-OUTS – 8:50
Sean of San Pedro sent a boostagram this morning of 1-2-3-4-5 sats, 12,345 sats. Thank you, Sean. And a couple of nights ago the Lovely Lady LeeAnn and I had the pleasure of having dinner with Sean and his beautiful wife, Brittaney, in a very nice San Pedro eatery. It’s a bit of a drive from Riverside to San Pedro, but it was well worth it to spend the time with them. Thank you, Sean for a fun evening. And yesterday I mentioned on the show three 222 sat boosts from Wayne Henderson that total 666. This morning he sent it another row of ducks of 222. And I’m guessing he did that to make the total 888. That’s a good one. Wayne, Thank you.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 9:41
On this date in church history, August 28, the year 430. Augustine of Hippo, an early Latin Church Father and one of the outstanding theological figures of the ages, passed away. It was Augustine who wrote, “Thou hast made us for thyself, Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless till they find their rest in thee.

THE HABIT OF PRAYER AND PRAYER REQUESTS – 10:10
Before we get to our prayer today, I ran across this quote on prayer from Charles Spurgeon this morning, which I shared on No Agenda Social and I want to share with you. He said, “The more we pray, the more we shall want to pray. The more we pray, the more we can pray. The more we pray, the more we shall pray.” I couldn’t agree more. Prayer is a little bit like exercise, I’m the first to say that it is very difficult, at least for me to get into the habit of exercising. It’s hard to overcome the inertia. When we aren’t used to exercise it’s hard to begin. But once we do, if we stick to it, the easier it is to continue. And once the habit begins to form, it’s easier to do it every day. And once the habit is truly habit, we actually begin to enjoy it. So we do it more. If you find it difficult to pray, do it anyway. Make an appointment with God every day. Start small, say five minutes a day and stick to it. I think you’ll find that after a short while you’ll look forward to your time with God. And those five minutes will become ten. Then the ten will become fifteen, and so forth. And you’ll also find that you’ll be talking with God throughout the day, prayer will become a joyful thing for you.

I got this report from Del this morning about Kathi. He said she had a rough night with nausea, thought she would pass out but it didn’t happen. So let’s pray that the anti-nausea medication they gave her before she left City of Hope will begin to kick in.

CLOSING PRAYER – 11:42
Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, we thank you for preserving your Word through the centuries so that we can know the truth. There are so many that tried to teach that which is false, but your word is the standard, the plumb line. And when distortions are lined up against it, the lies are revealed. We thank you for that Lord and we ask you to give us discernment and help us to be immersed in your truth.

Lord, we pray that you will ease Kathi’s nausea today, Lord, I pray this in Jesus’ name.

Lord, I thank you for the Lifespring family and for those who have sent their thoughts and ideas about the show. Guide me, Lord, as I seek your will as to what the next step should be. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have a praise or a prayer request, please go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com and tell me all about it. Give me whatever information you want me to have. And I will pray for you my private prayer time and we’ll pray together here on the show. If you want to remain anonymous, you can do that as well.

OUTRO S12E361 – 12:46
Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e361. Send me an email at st***@*************ia.com. Thank you to the team: Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise. Thanks to you sat streamers and boosters. I appreciate you. And thank you for inviting me into your day, today. I don’t take it for granted and I am honored.

And now until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Two.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise

Transcript

This is Gospel Saturday and we’ll be reading Acts 25-26. I’m calling today’s episode “Your Past Is Past.”

In his opening statement, Paul establishes his credentials to Agrippa, and everyone else listening. Agrippa was a convert to Judaism, and who therefor knew better than most other Roman authorities the Jewish laws and customs. Paul explains that not only is he a Jew, but that he is a highly educated Jew from a sect that is known as being very strict, or conservative as we might say today. And not only was he from such a sect, he adhered to its teachings. 

Then he explains that he used to persecute Christians, and even encouraged and participated in the execution of Christians, believing that this was a right and proper thing.

And then Jesus stepped into his life in a way that Paul could not deny. He literally “saw the light”, and thenceforth his life was forever changed. God chose this man among all others to take the message of the Good News to the Gentiles. 

What I learn from this is that it doesn’t matter what your background is. God can reach down and save you, He can use you no matter what! Paul was the least likely candidate (from man’s perspective) to be the one to carry the message to the Gentiles, let alone the Jews. But God had other plans. 

What are his plans for you? They’re probably completely different than you ever imagined!

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 25-26 NLT

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.

Download .txt file.

STEVE WEBB – 0:00
It doesn’t matter what your background is.

INTRO S12E353 – 0:10
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. This is Gospel Saturday, and we’ll be reading Acts 25 and 26. I’m calling today’s episode, “Your Past Is Past”. If you’d like to leave a comment on today’s episode, go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e353. And if you’d like to send me an email, send it to st***@*************ia.com. I’d love to get it. Let’s get started.

ACTS 25 (NLT) – 0:46
Acts, chapter 25. (1) Three days after Festus arrived in Caesarea to take over his new responsibilities, he left for Jerusalem, (2) where the leading priests and other Jewish leaders met with him and made their accusations against Paul. (3) They asked Festus as a favor to transfer Paul to Jerusalem (planning to ambush and kill him on the way). (4) But Festus replied that Paul was at Caesarea and he himself would be returning there soon. (5) So he said, “Those of you in authority can return with me. If Paul has done anything wrong, you can make your accusations.”

(6) About eight or ten days later Festus returned to Caesarea, and on the following day he took his seat in court and ordered that Paul be brought in. (7) When Paul arrived, the Jewish leaders from Jerusalem gathered around and made many serious accusations they couldn’t prove.

(8) Paul denied the charges. “I am not guilty of any crime against the Jewish laws or the Temple or the Roman government,” he said.

(9) Then Festus, wanting to please the Jews, asked him, “Are you willing to go to Jerusalem and stand trial before me there?”

(10) But Paul replied, “No! This is the official Roman court, so I ought to be tried right here. You know very well I am not guilty of harming the Jews. (11) If I have done something worthy of death, I don’t refuse to die. But if I am innocent, no one has a right to turn me over to these men to kill me. I appeal to Caesar!”

(12) Festus conferred with his advisers and then replied, “Very well! You have appealed to Caesar, and to Caesar you will go!”

(13) A few days later King Agrippa arrived with his sister, Bernice, to pay their respects to Festus. (14) During their stay of several days, Festus discussed Paul’s case with the king. “There is a prisoner here,” he told him, “whose case was left for me by Felix. (15) When I was in Jerusalem, the leading priests and Jewish elders pressed charges against him and asked me to condemn him. (16) I pointed out to them that Roman law does not convict people without a trial. They must be given an opportunity to confront their accusers and defend themselves.

(17) “When his accusers came here for the trial, I didn’t delay. I called the case the very next day and ordered Paul brought in. (18) But the accusations made against him weren’t any of the crimes I expected. (19) Instead, it was something about their religion and a dead man named Jesus, who Paul insists is still alive. (20) I was at a loss to know how to investigate these things, so I asked him whether he would be willing to stand trial on these charges in Jerusalem. (21) But Paul appealed to have his case decided by the emperor. So I ordered that he be held in custody until I could arrange to send him to Caesar.”

(22) “I’d like to hear the man myself,” Agrippa said.

And Festus replied, “You will—tomorrow!”

(23) So the next day Agrippa and Bernice arrived at the auditorium with great pomp, accompanied by military officers and prominent men of the city. Festus ordered that Paul be brought in. (24) Then Festus said, “King Agrippa and all who are here, this is the man whose death is demanded by all the Jews, both here and in Jerusalem. (25) But in my opinion he has done nothing deserving death. However, since he appealed his case to the emperor, I have decided to send him to Rome.

(26) “But what shall I write the emperor? For there is no clear charge against him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially you, King Agrippa, so that after we examine him, I might have something to write. (27) For it makes no sense to send a prisoner to the emperor without specifying the charges against him!”

ACTS 26 (NLT) – 4:17
Acts 26. (1) Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You may speak in your defense.”

So Paul, gesturing with his hand, started his defense: (2) “I am fortunate, King Agrippa, that you are the one hearing my defense today against all these accusations made by the Jewish leaders, (3) for I know you are an expert on all Jewish customs and controversies. Now please listen to me patiently!

(4) “As the Jewish leaders are well aware, I was given a thorough Jewish training from my earliest childhood among my own people and in Jerusalem. (5) If they would admit it, they know that I have been a member of the Pharisees, the strictest sect of our religion. (6) Now I am on trial because of my hope in the fulfillment of God’s promise made to our ancestors. (7) In fact, that is why the twelve tribes of Israel zealously worship God night and day, and they share the same hope I have. Yet, Your Majesty, they accuse me for having this hope! (8) Why does it seem incredible to any of you that God can raise the dead?

(9) “I used to believe that I ought to do everything I could to oppose the very name of Jesus the Nazarene. (10) Indeed, I did just that in Jerusalem. Authorized by the leading priests, I caused many believers there to be sent to prison. And I cast my vote against them when they were condemned to death. (11) Many times I had them punished in the synagogues to get them to curse Jesus. I was so violently opposed to them that I even chased them down in foreign cities.

(12) “One day I was on such a mission to Damascus, armed with the authority and commission of the leading priests. (13) About noon, Your Majesty, as I was on the road, a light from heaven brighter than the sun shone down on me and my companions. (14) We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.’

(15) “‘Who are you, lord?’ I asked.

“And the Lord replied, ‘I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting. (16) Now get to your feet! For I have appeared to you to appoint you as my servant and witness. Tell people that you have seen me, and tell them what I will show you in the future. (17) And I will rescue you from both your own people and the Gentiles. Yes, I am sending you to the Gentiles (18) to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among God’s people, who are set apart by faith in me.’

(19) “And so, King Agrippa, I obeyed that vision from heaven. (20) I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that all must repent of their sins and turn to God—and prove they have changed by the good things they do. (21) Some Jews arrested me in the Temple for preaching this, and they tried to kill me. (22) But God has protected me right up to this present time so I can testify to everyone, from the least to the greatest. I teach nothing except what the prophets and Moses said would happen— (23) that the Messiah would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, and in this way announce God’s light to Jews and Gentiles alike.”

(24) Suddenly, Festus shouted, “Paul, you are insane. Too much study has made you crazy!”

(25) But Paul replied, “I am not insane, Most Excellent Festus. What I am saying is the sober truth. (26) And King Agrippa knows about these things. I speak boldly, for I am sure these events are all familiar to him, for they were not done in a corner! (27) King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do—”

(28) Agrippa interrupted him. “Do you think you can persuade me to become a Christian so quickly?”

(29) Paul replied, “Whether quickly or not, I pray to God that both you and everyone here in this audience might become the same as I am, except for these chains.”

(30) Then the king, the governor, Bernice, and all the others stood and left. (31) As they went out, they talked it over and agreed, “This man hasn’t done anything to deserve death or imprisonment.”

(32) And Agrippa said to Festus, “He could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.”

COMMENTS – 8:33
In Paul’s opening statement, he established his credentials to Agrippa and everybody else who was listening. Agrippa was a convert to Judaism, and who therefore knew better than most other Roman authorities the Jewish laws and customs. Paul explains that not only is he a Jew, but that he’s a highly educated Jew from a sect that is known as being very strict or conservative, as we might say today. And not only was he from such a sect, he adhered to its teachings.

He then explained that he used to persecute Christians and even encouraged and participated in the execution of Christians, believing that this was a right and proper thing to do. And then Jesus stepped into his life in a way that Paul could not deny. Paul literally saw the light and, thenceforth, his life was forever changed. God chose this man among all others to take the message of the Good News to the Gentiles.

What do we learn from this? We learn that it doesn’t matter what your background is, God can reach down and save you and he can use you no matter what. Paul was the least likely candidate, from man’s perspective, to be the one to carry the message to the Gentiles, let alone the Jews, but God had other plans.

So what are his plans for you? They’re probably completely different than you could have ever imagined.

You have a comment? Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e353. Let me know. Tomorrow is Epistle Sunday and we’ll read 3 John.

Boost.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 10:21
On this date in church history, August 20, 1553, Protestant reformer John Calvin wrote in a letter, “Seeing that a pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness.”

CLOSING PRAYER – 10:49
Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father, it is so good to know that when we invite Jesus to be our Savior and our Lord, you forgive us and do not remember our sins. They’re stricken from our record. Oh, how good it is to know that. Lord, help us to see ourselves the way you see us and to forgive ourselves. And then help us to focus on you and seeking your will for our lives. As you had to work for Paul, we know that you have a work for us. Show us what that is and help us to accomplish it.

And Lord, I pray for the Lifespring family. Bless each one today. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Prayer.lifespringmedia.com is the place to go, if you have a prayer request or a praise to share with the Lifespring family.

OUTRO S12E353 – 11:41
There are not very many days left, so please remember to give some thought and prayer to the question of what you would like to see me do once this season is over in just a few days. And then email your thoughts to me at st***@*************ia.com with the words “THE NEXT STEP” in the subject line. I really do want to hear from every single person who’s listening right now.

Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e353. Thanks to Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise, for all the work they do for us. Thanks to the sat streamers and the boosters. I see what you send in and I appreciate it. Thank you.

And, Beloved, thank you for sharing your time today. I’ll see you tomorrow.

May God bless you richly until then. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Quittin’ time.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise

Transcript

This is Prophecy Friday. We’ll read Revelation 12-17. I’m calling today’s episode”The Dragon, The Beast, The Antichrist and the Lamb.” 

Thoughts on Revelation 12-17

Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

In today’s reading of Revelation 12, we see more of that spiritual warfare with what John described as “a great sign in Heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

Most commentators agree that the woman represents the church, the bride of Christ. The sun is Jesus, the crown of twelve stars is the twelve apostles, and the moon is the Jewish people. Of course, the dragon is satan, who has tried from the very beginning of human history, to destroy humanity in general and the church in particular.

This warfare will continue until satan is thrown into the pit. One thing we know is that his defeat is as sure as sure can be. The war has already been won. The battles continue only because of God’s great love as He waits for the fullness of time and the final soul to be added to the roll of believers. 

Until then, we proclaim the Gospel, the Good News of a Risen Savior. This is what is meant in chapter 12, verse 11, which says, “They (meaning the believers) overcame him (meaning satan) because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.”

Yes, there will be martyrs. But as we have already seen, God will dry their tears. The important thing, beloved, is to remain faithful. Whatever we go through here on Earth is temporary and fleeting. Isn’t an eternity with God something glorious to look forward to?

As we read Revelation and try to understand the prophecies contained in it, like the fall of Babylon and the mark of the beast, the 666 which is the number of a man, it’s natural to try to understand them and put them into a familiar frame of reference. 

For example, let’s consider the number 666. Throughout history believers have thought that it was Nero to Mohammed to Henry Kissinger, to Barak Obama to George Soros to Klaus Schwab. I’m certainly not going to venture a guess, because until he is revealed, a guess is just a guess. We can know this, the number does represent a very real person, and when the time comes all will know who he is.

Some people are superstitious about the number. If their total at a cash register comes up to $6.66, they’ll buy something else to change it. Athletes who are assigned entry number 666 will ask for a different number or refuse to compete. The list goes on and on. In my opinion, that’s just plain foolish, as all superstitions are.

These prophecies will come about, just as the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming did. The best thing for us to do in preparation for his second coming is to do the work He called us to. Love God with all our heart and soul and mind, love others. and share the Good News until the day of his coming or until we are called home.

So who is this great city, Babylon? This one who sinned greatly, caused others to sin, was rich and brought riches to those who threw in with her, and was drunk with the blood of God’s people? 

I don’t know. I can speculate, but I’m not going to. Today, I’m going to bring to your attention something that should bring encouragement to your heart. 

As I record this, the civilized world is still reeling from a series of attacks on Paris, Beirut, a Russian passenger jet leaving a city in Egypt, and another in Baghdad. These attacks were done by the group known as ISIS, an extremist Muslim organization. There is no doubt that they are evil incarnate.

But they are just the latest high profile evil entity. Throughout history, there have always been monstrous people and organizations. For a time, they seemed to prosper. But in every case, destruction was their end. 

As we see evil arise, we can take heart knowing that God will bring justice and judgment. Even the harlot of Babylon, whoever she may be, will be destroyed.

We do not serve an impotent God. We do not serve a deaf God. We do not serve a heartless God. We serve a God who acts at the precisely perfect time. And when the time comes for judgment, it will come swiftly and surely.

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 12-16 WEB; Ch. 17 NLV

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.

Download .txt file.

SHERIFF JOHN SINGS – 0:06
Put another candle on my birthday cake. We’re gonna bake a birthday cake. Put another candle on my birthday cake. I’m another year old today. I’m going I have a party with my birthday cake. Come on and take some birthday cake. Put another candle on my birthday cake. I’m another year old today.

[NEEDLE SCRATCH]

STEVE WEBB – 0:30
I’ve never done that on the show. But there is a first and probably last time for everything. Well, let’s get started.

INTRO S12E352 – 0:45
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. This is Prophecy Friday. We’ll read Revelation 12 through 17. I’m calling today’s episode, “The Dragon, the Beast, the Antichrist and the Lamb.” The show notes page for today’s episode is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e352. Let’s get started.

REVELATION 12 (WEB) – 1:15
Revelation, chapter 12. (1) A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. (2) She was with child. She cried out in pain, laboring to give birth. (3) Another sign was seen in heaven. Behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads seven crowns. (4) His tail drew one third of the stars of the sky, and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child. (5) She gave birth to a son, a male child, who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron. Her child was caught up to God, and to his throne. (6) The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.

(7) There was war in the sky. Michael and his angels made war on the dragon. The dragon and his angels made war. (8) They didn’t prevail. No place was found for them any more in heaven. (9) The great dragon was thrown down, the old serpent, he who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. (10) I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ has come; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. (11) They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death. (12) Therefore rejoice, heavens, and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and to the sea, because the devil has gone down to you, having great wrath, knowing that he has but a short time.”

(13) When the dragon saw that he was thrown down to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. (14) Two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, so that she might be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. (15) The serpent spewed water out of his mouth after the woman like a river, that he might cause her to be carried away by the stream. (16) The earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river which the dragon spewed out of his mouth. (17) The dragon grew angry with the woman, and went away to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep God’s commandments and hold Jesus’ testimony.

REVELATION 13 (WEB) – 3:51
Revelation, chapter 13. (1) Then I stood on the sand of the sea. I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads. On his horns were ten crowns, and on his heads, blasphemous names. (2) The beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. (3) One of his heads looked like it had been wounded fatally. His fatal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled at the beast. (4) They worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” (5) A mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. (6) He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. (7) It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. (8) All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. (9) If anyone has an ear, let him hear. (10) If anyone is to go into captivity, he will go into captivity. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, he must be killed. Here is the endurance and the faith of the saints.

(11) I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. (12) He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. (13) He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. (14) He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast, saying to those who dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. (15) It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed. (16) He causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; (17) and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. (18) Here is wisdom. He who has understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man. His number is six hundred sixty-six.

REVELATION 14 (WEB) – 6:39
Revelation, chapter 14. (1) I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him a number, one hundred forty-four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads. (2) I heard a sound from heaven, like the sound of many waters, and like the sound of a great thunder. The sound which I heard was like that of harpists playing on their harps. (3) They sing a new song before the throne, and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the one hundred forty-four thousand, those who had been redeemed out of the earth. (4) These are those who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed by Jesus from among men, the first fruits to God and to the Lamb. (5) In their mouth was found no lie, for they are blameless.

(6) I saw an angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal Good News to proclaim to those who dwell on the earth, and to every nation, tribe, language, and people. (7) He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”

(8) Another, a second angel, followed, saying, “Babylon the great has fallen, which has made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her sexual immorality.”

(9) Another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead, or on his hand, (10) he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger. He will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. (11) The smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever. They have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name. (12) Here is the perseverance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

(13) I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write, ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’”

“Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors; for their works follow with them.”

(14) I looked, and saw a white cloud, and on the cloud one sitting like a son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. (15) Another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Send your sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap has come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe!” (16) He who sat on the cloud thrust his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.

(17) Another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven. He also had a sharp sickle. (18) Another angel came out from the altar, he who has power over fire, and he called with a great voice to him who had the sharp sickle, saying, “Send your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth, for the earth’s grapes are fully ripe!” (19) The angel thrust his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and threw it into the great wine press of the wrath of God. (20) The wine press was trodden outside of the city, and blood came out of the wine press, even to the bridles of the horses, as far as one thousand six hundred stadia.

REVELATION 15 (WEB) – 10:04
Revelation, chapter 15. (1) I saw another great and marvelous sign in the sky: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them God’s wrath is finished. (2) I saw something like a sea of glass mixed with fire, and those who overcame the beast, his image, and the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. (3) They sang the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

“Great and marvelous are your works, Lord God, the Almighty!
Righteous and true are your ways, you King of the nations.
(4) Who wouldn’t fear you, Lord,
and glorify your name?
For you only are holy.
For all the nations will come and worship before you.
For your righteous acts have been revealed.”

(5) After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. (6) The seven angels who had the seven plagues came out, clothed with pure, bright linen, and wearing golden sashes around their breasts.

(7) One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. (8) The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power. No one was able to enter into the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels would be finished.

REVELATION 16 (WEB) – 11:23
Revelation, chapter 16. (1) I heard a loud voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God on the earth!”

(2) The first went, and poured out his bowl into the earth, and it became a harmful and evil sore on the people who had the mark of the beast, and who worshiped his image.

(3) The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became blood as of a dead man. Every living thing in the sea died.

(4) The third poured out his bowl into the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. (5) I heard the angel of the waters saying, “You are righteous, who are and who were, You Holy One, because you have judged these things. (6) For they poured out the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. They deserve this.” (7) I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God, the Almighty, true and righteous are your judgments.”

(8) The fourth poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given to him to scorch men with fire. (9) People were scorched with great heat, and people blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues. They didn’t repent and give him glory.

(10) The fifth poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was darkened. They gnawed their tongues because of the pain, (11) and they blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores. They didn’t repent of their works.

(12) The sixth poured out his bowl on the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up, that the way might be prepared for the kings that come from the sunrise. (13) I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, something like frogs; (14) for they are spirits of demons, performing signs; which go out to the kings of the whole inhabited earth, to gather them together for the war of that great day of God, the Almighty.

(15) “Behold, I come like a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his clothes, so that he doesn’t walk naked, and they see his shame.” (16) He gathered them together into the place which is called in Hebrew, “Megiddo”.

(17) The seventh poured out his bowl into the air. A loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” (18) There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake, such as has not happened since there were men on the earth, so great an earthquake, and so mighty. (19) The great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. Babylon the great was remembered in the sight of God, to give to her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath. (20) Every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. (21) Great hailstones, about the weight of a talent, came down out of the sky on people. People blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail, for this plague is exceedingly severe.

REVELATION 17 (NLV) – 14:15
Revelation, chapter 17. (1) Then one of the seven angels who had the seven jars came to me. He said, “Come! I will show you how the powerful woman who sells the use of her body will be punished. She sits on the many waters of the world. (2) The kings of the earth have done sex sins with her. People of the world have been made drunk with the wine of her sex sins.”

(3) I was carried away in the Spirit by the angel to a desert. I saw a woman sitting on a red wild animal. It had seven heads and ten horns. All over the red wild animal was written bad names which spoke against God. (4) The woman was wearing purple and red clothes. She was wearing gold and pearls and stones worth much money. She had in her hand a gold cup full of sinful things from her sex sins. (5) There was a name written on her forehead which had a secret meaning. It said, “The big and powerful Babylon, mother of all women who sell the use of their bodies and mother of everything sinful of the earth.” (6) I looked at the woman. She was drunk with the blood of God’s people and those who had been killed for telling about Jesus. When I saw her, I wondered very much.

(7) The angel asked me, “Why do you wonder? I will tell you the secret about this woman and the red wild animal that carries her. It is the red wild animal with seven heads and ten horns. (8) The red wild animal you saw was alive but is now dead. He will come up from the hole without a bottom and be destroyed. The people of the earth, whose names have not been written in the book of life from the beginning of the world, will be surprised as they look at the red wild animal. He was alive, but not now, but will yet come.

(9) “Here is where we need wisdom. The seven heads of the animal are mountains where the woman sits. (10) They are seven kings also. Five of them are no longer kings. The sixth one is now king. The seventh one will be king, but only for a little while. (11) The red wild animal that died is the eighth king. He belongs to the first seven kings, but he will be destroyed also.

(12) “The ten horns of the red wild animal which you saw are ten kings. They have not become leaders yet. But they will be given the right and the power to lead their nations for one hour with the red wild animal. (13) They agree to give the right and the power to the red wild animal. (14) These kings will fight and make war with the Lamb. But the Lamb will win the war because He is Lord of lords and King of kings. His people are the called and chosen and faithful ones.”

(15) Then the angel said to me, “You saw the waters where the woman who sold the use of her body is sitting. The waters are people and large groups of people and nations and languages. (16) The ten horns you saw and the red wild animal will hate the woman who sold the use of her body. They will take everything from her and even her clothes. They will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. (17) God put in their minds a plan that would carry out His desire. They will agree to give their nation to the red wild animal until the words of God have been completed. (18) The woman you saw is the big and powerful city that has power over the kings of the earth.”

COMMENTS – 17:36
Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

In today’s reading of Revelation 12, we saw more of that spiritual warfare with what John described as “a great sign in Heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”

Most commentators agree that the woman represents the church, the bride of Christ, the sun is Jesus, the crown of twelve stars is the twelve apostles, and the moon is the Jewish people. Of course, the dragon is Satan who has tried from the very beginning of human history to destroy humanity in general and the church in particular.

This warfare will continue until Satan is thrown into the pit. One thing we do know is that his defeat is as sure as sure can be, the war has already been won. The battles continue only because of God’s great love as He waits for the fullness of time, and the final soul to be added to the roll of believers.

Until then our job is to proclaim the Gospel, the Good News of a risen Savior. This is what is meant in chapter 12, verse 11, which says, “They (meaning the believers) overcame him (meaning Satan), because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death.”

Yes, there will be martyrs. But as we’ve already seen, God will dry their tears. The important thing, Beloved, is to remain faithful. Whatever we go through here on Earth is temporary and fleeting. And an eternity with God is certainly something glorious to look forward to, don’t you think?

And then as we read Revelation and try to understand the prophecies contained in it, like the fall of Babylon and the mark of the beast, the 666, which is the number of a man, it’s natural and this has been happening probably since John wrote the book of Revelation, to try to understand them and put them into a familiar frame of reference.

For example, considering the number 666, throughout history believers have thought that it was Nero to Mohamed to Henry Kissinger to Barack Obama to George Soros to Klaus Schwab. I’m certainly not going to venture a guess because until he is revealed a guess is just a guess. We can know this: the number does represent a very real person. And when the time comes, everybody’s going to know who he is.

Now, some people are superstitious about the number. If the total at the cash register comes up to 666, they’ll buy something else to change it. Athletes who are assigned entry number 666, oftentimes will ask for a different number or they’ll refuse to compete. Listen, in my opinion, that’s just plain foolish, as all superstitions are.

So in terms of Babylon, who is this great city, this one who sinned greatly caused others to sin, was rich and brought riches to those who threw in with her, and was drunk with a blood of God’s people? You ready? Here’s the answer. I don’t know. I can speculate., but I’m not going to. I just want to bring your attention to something that should bring encouragement to your heart.

When we see evil arise, we can take heart knowing that God will bring justice and judgment. Even the harlot of Babylon, whoever she may be, will be destroyed.

We do not serve an impotent God. We do not serve a deaf God. We do not serve a heartless God. We serve a God who acts at precisely the perfect time. And when the time comes for judgment, it will come swiftly and surely.

All these prophecies we read about in Revelation will happen just as the prophecies of Jesus first coming did. The best thing for us to do beloved in preparation for His Second Coming is to do the work he called us to do: love God with all of our heart and soul and mind, love others and share the good news until the day of his coming, or until we’re called home.

What do you think? Do you have a comment? Let me know. Go to lifespringmedia.com/s12e352. Tomorrow is Gospel Saturday and our reading will be Acts 25 and 26.

BIRTHDAY BOOSTAGRAM – 22:06
Well, I got a birthday boostagram today from Sean of San Pedro. He sent in 22819 sats, 22 for the year, 8 for August, 19 for today. He says, “Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day! What a year!” And yes, it has been a year, hasn’t it? It has been a great year. This has actually been the very best year I’ve ever had in podcasting in my almost 18 years and you the Lifespring family are responsible for that and I thank each and every one of you.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 22:47
On this date in church history, August 19, 1843, Cyrus I. Scofield was born. He was an American congregational lawyer and biblical lecturer, and he taught that seven distinct dispensations of God’s relationship to man are revealed in Scripture. And his most enduring contribution to Christian studies was his Scofield Reference Bible, which was published for the first time in 1909.

And on this date in church history, August 19, 1886, Baptist clergyman, Richard G. Spurling established the Christian Union in Monroe County, Tennessee. In 1923, this Pentecostal denomination changed it’s name to Church of God.

And I’ve got a bonus one for you today, August 19, 1954. I was born, perhaps (and this is true), perhaps the unlikeliest person in the world to become the world’s first Christian podcaster. I had a speech impediment so bad that in the fourth grade I was sent to a speech therapist. I was painfully shy. And I asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior at the age of 16. I was married at 21. Too young. I was divorced at 33. I was convinced that God would never use me again. But at 34 I rededicated my life to the Lord. And at the age of 35, I married the Lovely Lady LeeAnn. Fifteen years later, I put up my first podcast at the age of 50. And here I am at 68 years old, still hanging on to the hem of His garment. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. And I’m thanking God for you. And I’m thanking God for every day h e gives me to serve him.

PRAISE REPORT – 24:35
I have a praise. I talked to Steve O’Brien today and he’s recovering from his open heart surgery at home, now. He says that, right now, his pain meds are his best friend. He said he didn’t realize how bad surgery hurts. But of course, this is from someone who never had any surgery, but his sense of humor is in good shape. So he’s doing fine and he thanks you for your prayers.

CLOSING PRAYER – 24:56
Let’s pray. Our heavenly Father as we read through Revelation and look at the world around us. It sure seems like the time is close. And it’s good to know the outcome regardless of what’s happening now in the trenches. We know that the battle is already won because of Jesus’ victory over death. And, Lord, we thank you for showing us what is ahead, because it helps us to keep going when things look bleak here, we will keep our eyes on the prize. And we thank you that your plan is perfect. Lord, I thank you so much for the Lifespring family. I ask that you bless them today. I pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.

If you have a prayer request or praise, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com. Fill out the form there. If you want to remain anonymous, you can. Give me whatever details you’re comfortable sharing. And I will pray for you and my private prayer time and we will pray together on the show, prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

OUTRO S12E352 – 25:57
Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e352. Send me an email at st***@*************ia.com. And if you have not yet sent an email with your ideas on what I should do once this season is over, please do that. I honestly do want to hear from every single person listening, st***@*************ia.com. The subject line should be “THE NEXT STEP”. Thanks to the team Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise and thank you for sharing your time with me and inviting me into your day.

Until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

SHERIFF JOHN SINGS – 26:32
Put another candle on my birthday cake. I’m another year old today. Happy birthday to you. I’m another year old today.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Transcript

This is Poetry Thursday. We’ll read Song of Solomon 5-6. I’m calling today’s episode “The Perfect Relationship.” 

As you probably know, this book can be read from at least two levels: As just an account of a bride and groom from the purely human level, or as an allegory of the love of Christ for the church. Both interpretations are beautiful, and both have merit. 

As I was studying it again, in preparation for how to present it to you, I came upon an interesting fact. Jewish teachers often advised their young people not to read it till they were thirty years old, because they were afraid that the book would stir up feelings of lust in them. 

Reading the language with our very different vocabulary, it’s a bit difficult to imagine it having that effect on us, I suppose, but their fears are understandable, don’t you think? 

But if we look at the book from the allegorical perspective, we see how much Christ loves His church, and how much we ought to love Him. I ran across the following excerpt from the great 19th century preacher, CHARLES H. SPURGEON. He said, in reference a portion of chapter 5:16, which reads in the KJV: 

“Yea, He is altogether lovely” (v. 16). 

“Looking at my text I felt much humbling of spirit, and I hesitated to preach upon it, for I said in my heart,

“It is high, I cannot attain unto it.” These deep texts show us the shortness of our plumb line; these ocean verses are so exceeding broad that our skills are apt to be driven far out of sight of land where our timid spirits tremble to spread the sail. Then I comforted myself by the thought that though I could not comprehend this text in a measure, nor weigh its mountains in scales, or its hills in a balance, yet it was all mine own, by the gift of divine grace, and therefore I need not fear to enter upon the meditation of it. If I cannot grasp the ocean in my span, yet may I bathe therein with sweet content; if I cannot describe the King in His beauty, yet may I gaze upon Him, since the old proverb says, “A beggar may look at a prince.” Though I pretend not so to preach from such a heavenly Word as that before us, as to spread before you all its marrow and fatness, yet may I gather up a few crumbs which fall from its table. Poor men are glad of crumbs, and crumbs from such a feast are better than loaves from the tables of the world. Better to have a glimpse of Jesus, than to see all the glory of the earth all the days of our life. If we fail on this subject we may do better than if we succeeded upon another; so we will pluck up courage, seek divine help, and draw near to this wondrous text, with our shoes from off our feet like Moses when he saw the bush aglow with God. 

“This verse has been translated in another way: “He is all desires”; and so indeed Jesus is. He was the desire of the ancients, He is the desire of all nations still. To His own people He is their all in all; they are complete in Him; they are filled out of His fullness. He is the delight of His servants, and fills their expectations to the full. But we will not dispute about translations, for, after all, with such a text, so full of unutterable spiritual sweetness, every man must be his own translator, and into his own soul must the power of the message come, by the enforcement of the Holy Spirit. Such a text as this is very like manna which fell in the wilderness, of which the rabbis say it tasted after each man’s liking. If the flavor in a man’s mouth was very sweetness, the angel’s food which fell around the camp was luscious as any dainty he had conceived; whatever he might be, the manna was to him as he was. So shall this text be. To you with low ideas of Christ the words shall but glide over your ears, and be meaningless; but if your spirit be ravished with the precious love of Jesus there shall be songs of angels, and more than that, the voice of God’s own Spirit to your soul.”

—The Treasury of the Old Testament

I can’t improve upon what Spurgeon wrote. So I’ll leave it at that. 

Bible translation used in today’s episode: Ch. 5-6 HCSB

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STEVE WEBB – 0:00
Both interpretations are beautiful and both have merit.

INTRO S12E351 – 0:11
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 this is Poetry Thursday. We’ll read Song of Solomon, chapters 5 and 6, and I’m calling today’s episode, “The Perfect Relationship”. Today’s show notes page is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e351. And my email address is st***@*************ia.com. If you haven’t sent in your THE NEXT STEP email, please do that. Let’s get started.

SONG OF SOLOMON (HCSB) – 0:45
Song of Solomon, chapter 5.

(1) I have come to my garden—my sister, my bride.
I gather my myrrh with my spices.
I eat my honeycomb with my honey.
I drink my wine with my milk.

Eat, friends!
Drink, be intoxicated with love!

(2) I sleep, but my heart is awake.
A sound! My love is knocking!

Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my perfect one.
For my head is drenched with dew,
my hair with droplets of the night.

(3) I have taken off my clothing.
How can I put it back on?
I have washed my feet.
How can I get them dirty?
(4) My love thrust his hand through the opening,
and my feelings were stirred for him.
(5) I rose to open for my love.
My hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with flowing myrrh
on the handles of the bolt.
(6) I opened to my love,
but my love had turned and gone away.
I was crushed that he had left.
I sought him, but did not find him.
I called him, but he did not answer.
(7) The guards who go about the city found me.
They beat and wounded me;
they took my cloak from me—
the guardians of the walls.
(8) Young women of Jerusalem, I charge you:
if you find my love,
tell him that I am lovesick.

(9) What makes the one you love better than another,
most beautiful of women?
What makes him better than another,
that you would give us this charge?

(10) My love is fit and strong,
notable among ten thousand.
(11) His head is purest gold.
His hair is wavy
and black as a raven.
(12) His eyes are like doves
beside streams of water,
washed in milk
and set like jewels.
(13) His cheeks are like beds of spice,
towers of perfume.
His lips are lilies,
dripping with flowing myrrh.
(14) His arms are rods of gold
set with topaz.
His body is an ivory panel
covered with sapphires.
(15) His legs are alabaster pillars
set on pedestals of pure gold.
His presence is like Lebanon,
as majestic as the cedars.
(16) His mouth is sweetness.
He is absolutely desirable.
This is my love, and this is my friend,
young women of Jerusalem.

SONG OF SOLOMON 6 (HCSB) – 3:06
Song of Solomon, chapter 6.

(1) Where has your love gone,
most beautiful of women?
Which way has he turned?
We will seek him with you.

(2) My love has gone down to his garden,
to beds of spice,
to feed in the gardens
and gather lilies.
(3) I am my love’s and my love is mine;
he feeds among the lilies.

(4) You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling,
lovely as Jerusalem,
awe-inspiring as an army with banners.
(5) Turn your eyes away from me,
for they captivate me.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
streaming down from Gilead.
(6) Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
coming up from washing,
each one having a twin,
and not one missing.
(7) Behind your veil,
your brow is like a slice of pomegranate.
(8) There are 60 queens
and 80 concubines
and young women without number.
(9) But my dove, my virtuous one, is unique;
she is the favorite of her mother,
perfect to the one who gave her birth.
Women see her and declare her fortunate;
queens and concubines also, and they sing her praises:

(10) Who is this who shines like the dawn—
as beautiful as the moon,
bright as the sun,
awe-inspiring as an army with banners?

(11) I came down to the walnut grove
to see the blossoms of the valley,
to see if the vines were budding
and the pomegranates blooming.
(12) Before I knew it,
my desire put me
among the chariots of my noble people.

(13) Come back, come back, Shulammite!
Come back, come back, that we may look at you!

Why are you looking at the Shulammite,
as you look at the dance of the two camps?

COMMENTS – 4:50
Beloved, as you probably know this book, The Song of Solomon, can be read from at least two levels. It can be read as an account of a bride and groom from a purely human level, or as an allegory of the love of Christ for the church. Both interpretations are beautiful, and both have merit.

Now, as I was studying this book again in preparation for how to present it to you, I came upon an interesting fact. In times past, Jewish teachers often advised their young people not to read it until they were 30 years old, because they were afraid that the book would stir up feelings of lust in them.

Well, reading the language with a very different vocabulary today, it’s a bit difficult to imagine it having that effect on us, I suppose. But their fears are understandable, don’t you think?

But if we look at the book from the allegorical perspective, we see how much Christ loves His church, and how much we should love him. I ran across the following excerpt from the great 19th century preacher, Charles Spurgeon, he said in reference to a portion of chapter 15 (which reads in the King James: “Yea, He is altogether lovely” (v. 16)) these following words”

“Looking at my text I felt much humbling of spirit, and I hesitated to preach upon it, for I said in my heart, ‘It is high, I cannot attain unto it.’ These deep texts show us the shortness of our plumb line; these ocean verses are so exceeding broad that our skills are apt to be driven far out of sight of land where our timid spirits tremble to spread the sail. Then I comforted myself by the thought that though I could not comprehend this text in a measure, nor weigh its mountains in scales, or its hills in a balance, yet it was all mine own, by the gift of divine grace, and therefore I need not fear to enter upon the meditation of it. If I cannot grasp the ocean in my span, yet may I bathe therein with sweet content; if I cannot describe the King in His beauty, yet may I gaze upon Him, since the old proverb says, ‘A beggar may look at a prince.’ Though I pretend not so to preach from such a heavenly Word as that before us, as to spread before you all its marrow and fatness, yet may I gather up a few crumbs which fall from its table. Poor men are glad of crumbs, and crumbs from such a feast are better than loaves from the tables of the world. Better to have a glimpse of Jesus, than to see all the glory of the earth all the days of our life. If we fail on this subject we may do better than if we succeeded upon another; so we will pluck up courage, seek divine help, and draw near to this wondrous text, with our shoes from off our feet like Moses when he saw the bush aglow with God.

“This verse has been translated in another way: ‘He is all desires’; and so indeed Jesus is. He was the desire of the ancients, He is the desire of all nations still. To His own people He is their all in all; they are complete in Him; they are filled out of His fullness. He is the delight of His servants, and fills their expectations to the full. But we will not dispute about translations, for, after all, with such a text, so full of unutterable spiritual sweetness, every man must be his own translator, and into his own soul must the power of the message come, by the enforcement of the Holy Spirit. Such a text as this is very like manna which fell in the wilderness, of which the rabbis say it tasted after each man’s liking. If the flavor in a man’s mouth was very sweetness, the angel’s food which fell around the camp was luscious as any dainty he had conceived; whatever he might be, the manna was to him as he was. So shall this text be. To you with low ideas of Christ the words shall but glide over your ears, and be meaningless; but if your spirit be ravished with the precious love of Jesus there shall be songs of angels, and more than that, the voice of God’s own Spirit to your soul.”

That was from Spurgeon’s “The Treasury of the Old Testament”, and I can’t improve on what he wrote. So I’m gonna leave it at that.

If you have a comment, let me know at lifespringmedia.com/s12e351. Tomorrow is Prophecy Friday and we’ll read Revelation 12 through 17.

Boost.

IT’S STEVE’S BIRTHDAY! – 9:28
If you’re subscribed to the weekly newsletter, you saw that Kirsty sent out a newsletter this week mentioning my birthday, and Kirsty, I want to thank you for that. That was very sweet. But in addition to sending out that newsletter, she also sent me a $22.40 cent in Australian dollareedoos birthday gift. She said, “Happy Birthday, Steve. My donation calculation was a little complex. It comes from adding up the letters in “Happy Birthday, Steve” using A as 1, B as 2, etcetera, which equaled 224. So $22.40, it is! Wishing you a wonderful birthday surrounded by your family and remembering all the blessings granted to you.” Well, Kirsty that was very sweet and thank you so very much. Very, very thoughtful.

FEEDBACK – 10:14
And I got a comment from Brother Paul of Seattle on the Nehemiah 10 through 13 the “It Had To Happen” episode. He said, “Okay, I had to do a double take at, ‘They went past the Tower of Ovens.’” He said, “Maybe it’s just because I’m pretty hungry for dinner, but this made me laugh and wonder what this is, the bakery part of town where I could get some sort of blueberry hand pie?” And he put a smiley face.

So I’ll comment on that and then he had a little bit more to say. Yes, the Tower of Ovens or in some translations it’s the Tower of the Furnaces was located on the street where the bakers were or some people call Bakers Street, off the western wall of Jerusalem. This area was considered the baking district of Jerusalem. The Sabbath show bread for the Temple was baked here by Levite bakers. We know that from 1 Chronicles chapter 9, verses 31 and 32. And Zedekiah had his guards feed Jeremiah, a daily loaf of bread from Bakers Street. We know that from Jeremiah 37:21.

And this is the only place scripture mentions that women worked on the wall, the daughters of Hallohesh. So yes, this was where the baking district was in Jerusalem. Pretty interesting, huh? And by the way, I got that information from the website, tentstakeministries.net. And it’s interesting that the last fact they have there in Tent Stake Ministries was that this is the only place scripture mentions that women worked on the wall.

This dovetails very nicely with Paul’s second point in his comment. He said, “Also, there is a verse that says, ‘Even the women and children were excited and happy.’” Paul says, “I remember a similar verse somewhere and it struck me then how people could take this and twist it like, ‘see, God doesn’t think much of women and children.’ Well, I know,” Paul says, ”that God loves women and children and that they’re not lower then men, but I always wonder why some of these types of phrases appear. I know it is just conjecture, but interested in your insight on this.”

So here’s my thoughts on this subject. We know from the very important place that some women had in Scripture, God honors women just like he does any other godly person. And children were obviously important to God because when the children wanted to come around Jesus and the disciples tried to shoo them away, Jesus said, “Let the kids come around here.” That’s Steve’s paraphrase. Jesus loves children. Like the song says, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.” Okay, not for that singing. So we know that God honors men and women of God, and He loves children. Now, again, this is my opinion, Jewish society was a patriarchal society. So when censuses were taken, or when the attendance of a crowd was reported, it was based on the number of men. This is the way things were done back then. This is the way people counted. We know from our reading of genealogies this year in the Bible, the numbers reported were the numbers of men. Oftentimes, you may remember, the number was reported as how many men capable of fighting were there. This was a way to sort of measure the strength of a tribe or a nation. Women and children were not allowed to fight obviously, and so they were not counted. Now, I have not done a deep study on this subject, but there’s my thoughts off the top of my head.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY – 13:53
On this date in church history, August 18, 1927, 20-year-old Theodore Epp was converted to a living faith. A pioneer in Christian radio broadcasting, he founded Back To The Bible, an evangelistic radio program in 1939. And Back To The Bible is now heard on more than 600 stations around the world.

And on this date in church history, August 18, 1959. Haldor Lillenas died and he was an American hymn writer who founded Lillenas Music Company in 1924. And he authored nearly 4000 gospel texts and hymn tunes including “Wonderful Grace of Jesus” and “Peace, Peace, Wonderful Peace”. Back in the 80s when I managed some Christian bookstores, we sold a lot of music, sheet music and choral music, from Lillenas Music Company.

CLOSING PRAYER – 14:54
Let’s pray. Our Heavenly Father we do love you and we long to see Jesus. And we cherish the closeness we have with the Holy Spirit. As husbands and wives respond to the love their spouse shows for them, we returned the love you give to us. The parallels are fitting Lord and we thank you for creating the marriage relationship as an illustration for us to begin to understand the relationship that you want to have with us.

Lord, I asked you to continue the healing of both Steve O’Brien and Kathi and, Lord, any other members of the Lifespring family who need your healing touch. For any who are hurting physically, emotionally or spiritually, we know that you are aware and we ask you to show them your love, and we ask you to have your perfect loving will in their lives. Let them feel your presence even now, we pray. I thank you for each person listening right now, wherever and whenever they’re hearing this and I asked you to bless them. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

If you have a prayer request or a praise, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

OUTRO S12E351 – 16:08
Comment on the show at lifespringmedia.com/s12e351. Send an email to me at st***@*************ia.com. Thank you, Kirsty, again for the newsletter this week. That was very, very sweet of you. Thank you. And thanks to Sean of San Pedro and Denise for the work they do as well. I thank you and I thank God for you every single day. Thank you, Beloved, for inviting me into your day. I enjoy our time together.

And until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Unmatched value.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Corrected by Denise