The Seven Streams Method

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Psalm 106-107 We are in the Wisdom Stream reading in the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, we hear you.  Your words and blessings to us ARE our lives.  They are also why we are alive.  Amen.

106 - is a continuation of 105 that gave a mindful  rundown of God's true nature in bringing Abraham to Canaan clear to (600 years later) bringing Moses and the Israelites out of Egypt.  This Psalm continues the tale yet it has a dissonant twist in that it tells of God's faithfulness amid the Hebrews unfaithfulness.  It didn't take them long to forget about God's miracles preserving them through the 10 Plagues, the rescue at the Red Sea, He gave the 10 Commandments to preserve them - and they are busy playing party animal (Exo. 32).  They don't want to walk with God and yet are jealous that Moses is walking closely with God. [they're nuts!]  They make a golden calf, they won't enter the Promised Land, they complain like whiney brats, they worship Baal, fail to drive out the pagans, they follow Molech; and other idols.   43ff sums up: "again and again He rescued them, and yet they chose to rebel against the Him ... even so He pitied them in their distress and listened to their cries ... because of His unfailing love." Psalm 106 tells of another slant on God's unfailing love. To step back and meditate on this, the observant is led to ask, "why would anyone leave this God and walk away from Him?"

107 - This is the initial Psalm of the fifth division of Psalms; Book V.  It runs from 107 to Psalm 150; the last one.  107 deals with God's wonderful dealings with people: He redeems, gathers exiles, rescues the destitute, satisfies the hungry/thirsty,    Even the imprisoned and rebellious who cry out to Him are wonderfully helped, as are those near death. God works the seas, the winds, the waves. He can make a place fruitful or deserted [duh-ZER-ted] based on the character of the inhabitants. He blesses all those who are hungry for Him and for life. We would do well to take special note of the working of the hand of God in our world and in our lives and the interplay noted therein.  The secondary and obvious implication of all this is that God wants a relationship with us; His children and He will use extensive means to make this happen.

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II Kings 15-18 We are in the Nation Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Chart of the Kings of Israel and Judah 15 - The reading in II Kings today commenced with Uzziah being crowned King of Judah in the south. He had a successful reign - it was among the best eras since the secession of the north (between 930 B.C. and 586 B.C.. The military campaigns were successful against the Philistines &Arabs &Ammonites. Uzziah could have done a better job to cleanup up the miscellaneous false religions around nation but he didn't. He also became arrogant so God afflicted him with "leprosy". II Chron. 26 has more on Uzziah and his reign. When there is about a decade plus left for Uzziah to rule in the south, the north had an especially chaotic season. All in a one year span [minus]; in 748 b.c. Zechariah [NOT the prophet!] was made king and assassinated in less than six months by Shallum who assumed the throne. Shallum and was killed within a month by Menahem who seized rulership and was able to hold control of Israel by cold-blooded brutality and conniving. Assyria invaded from the north, but Menahem bought them off using a "semi-truck-load" of silver {forgive the modern phrase-ology}. It worked for a time and the Assyrians turned back. Though there was hardly 20 years until Assyria would pour in and take no bribes or payoffs; they would simply butcher and pillage and burn. But for Menahem's reign, a payoff bought a little time. His son Pekahiah took over, was evil, was assassinated in two years, Pekah, commander of Pekahiah's army, schemed and assassinated Pekahiah. He was co-regent for ca. 20 years with others that have been listed. His stance was valiant but he still lost more land and cities to the Assyrians; including Galilee in 734 B.C. During Pekah's reign in the north, Uzziah died in the south and his son; Jotham became king. He did well - his father's leprosy due to disobedience served as effective warning to him. II Chron. 27 is a helpful cross-reference for all who want a greater picture. and BTW, this is the year of Isaiah's vision in Isa. 6. Remember "he saw the Lord, the year that King Uzziah died..." !?! 16 - Ahaz became king. He reigned 16 years until around 726 B.C. He was Judean; Jotham's son and Uzziah's grandson. Uzziah did great but he was not entirely good and he was punished for straying. Jotham did better but he did not clean up the land the way he could have. Ahaz was a political, religious, civic, and personal "warthog" of a character. My apologies to anyone who has a pet warthog - we don't mean to insult this "thing of beauty" when compared to Ahaz. Ahaz is told of in II Ki. 16 and II Chron. 28. He co-reigned with his father, but when his father was out of the picture he completely flipped against Judaism and the God of Abraham. He brought back Baal worship with a vengeance and also reinstituted Molech; the Satanic god who wanted children sacrificed live in the fires of Judah. He even burnt his own children to death in a religious ritual. For his Satanic behavior Judah was attacked from all sides by Philistines, Edomites, Israelites, and Syrians; from King Rezin from Aram. Judah lost hundreds of thousands! Ahaz then took gold and silver and valuables from the Temple and gave them to the King of Assyria to get him to attack those who were attacking Judah. It worked, though some of the time Assyria accidentally attacked Judeans during the sheer momentum of his thirst for gore. Ahaz went even further and closed the Temple for worship as he altered the altar and the Hebrew's courtyard to accommodate the Assyrians and their pagan practices. Simply put, Ahaz was an utter psychopath. Hezekiah; a good king, Ahaz' son, followed Ahaz as king (tryyyy to figure it out if you want to - go ahead!) 17 - Hoshea came to rule in Israel 730 B.C. and he was the king who saw the northern country of Israel fall for the last and final time. Captors had chipped away at the north for a few decades but there was no recovering from the smashing of 722 B.C. Hoshea was paying tribute to Assyria to keep them at bay, but he was also working a deal with Egypt in hopes that Egypt would push back the Assyrians and those two countries would become preoccupied with wiping each other out and Israel would be in the clear.... At any rate, Assyria caught wind of this, Hoshea was imprisoned, and Israel was leveled! Only Samaria was left of it and Samaria got plundered. It's short 200 year history came to a close. All 19 of its kings were apostate. It's religion was false and rebellious. It's behavior was lecherous. It's practices and negotiations were faithless and diabolical - so they were gone. God had no more remedy nor effort nor intention to be so. God removed Israel from the land. 18 - Hezekiah came to power in Judah; the south about 5-6 years before the northern kingdom fell to Assyria. Hezekiah knew what the lynchpin of reform and protection was. He returned the Judean culture to God. He removed all the idols from the land, reopened the Temple, honored and sacrificed to God. Hezekiah refused to pay the Assyrians from the Judeans accounts. Hezekiah is in II Chron. 29-32 also. Come II Kings, Hezekiah's faith is tested as Assyria invaded Judah and absorbed much of it until he had Jerusalem surrounded. The Assyrians described Hezekiah as "a bird trapped in a cage". Hezekiah swiftly built a tunnel to secure Jerusalem's water supply - that can still be walked through today - if you don't have trouble with claustrophobia or skotophobia (fear of darkness) or ... hydrophobia as parts of it don't have much airspace. Sennacherib, leader of the Assyrian army, taunted Hezekiah and threatened him - even played mind games religiously claiming that the Lord had tolllllld Assyria to attack Jerusalem. The memo was shared with Hezekiah. Stress could not have been higher. What is going to happen? We'll read it to you next week.

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Leviticus 24-26 We are in the World Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

God make us like You.  Sanctify us through and through.  Life in you is so good.  Bless us with yourself in our lives. Amen. 24 - there are many comments that could be made about the bread and the oil and the frankincense on the gold altar but I will say this - Jesus called Himself The Bread (of life!).  The Holy Spirit is referred to as "oil" (along with four other elements).  Imagine the scene of 12 gigantic loaves of bread made of a gallon of flour each.  That, the gold, the aroma in the room, flames flickering, orange glow on the walls,  this isn't boring stuff, people. It would have been a marvel to be there.  Inspiring. The incident of the half Israeli/half Egyptian who cursed and broke the 4th Commandment and was executed sends quite a message that still speaks 3400 years later.  George Washington came back to his troops once after his morning prayer session and heard a man swear and curse, mocking God to another man.  GW ordered him whipped in front of the whole army.  It sent a message to all soldiers -  that they were on a divine assignment to found a new country, under God, and the 10 commandments WILL be obeyed in this land.  Other laws are laid forth in the latter of this chapter.  They aren't harsh/cold/ archaic/outdated.  It's merciful - for the purpose of ending disputes and disagreements as quickly as possible.  People talk about getting even, but the truth is no one ever does get even. An accidental slip or bump is followed by a slap of retaliation for a misfortune that is perceived to be deliberate. Then comes a punch, then out comes the sticks, then the clubs, then the blades, then the guns, then the ...   There's a true story about a gang rival that has gone on the over 40 years. Thousands have been killed in hundreds upon hundreds of skirmishes.  How/why/what/where did it all start? It began over a pair of stolen tennis shoes/sneakers.  That's it! true story. The Bible says [e.g.] a stolen pair of shoes needs to be returned with a fresh pair of new socks as compensation plus a second pair.  The human heart says, "uh, uh, grab weapons, sharpen the tips, lock and load, he's going to payyyy BIG TIME!"               The biblical way is better. Always. 25 - The Sabbath Laws were a shock to the world. No one ever thought of anything like this, much less operated this way.  Land was worked until it was stripped - the term is "desertization".  Slaves and workers were worked to death the world over prior to hearing of this - the Sabbath Laws.  The seven-day-week comes from this literature.  Life could now then have a pattern to it. There was a cycle, a schedule that bio-rhythmically worked with us and it was humane. Productivity resulted from this new schedule. Life expectancy rose again because of this.  It was very typical for the Egyptian river boat slaves (especially them) along with most slave laborers to die in their 30s. Many of these men died in their late 20s.  God made this SAbbath rule because He loves us.  The dustbowl of the 1930s resulted from the ignoring of the sabbath laws for agriculture. Who was rejoicing over this geological tragedy? No one.  The Year of Jubilee: imagine that being applied today?  People would cry "fiscal irresponsibility!"  Do you wonder what the government would wail about? They are the regents of irresponsibility. It's the way back for a new start.  Relax, the rich will get rich again.  It will take a decade at most.  The poor will get poor again.  It will take a decade ... at the most.  The Jubilee Year makes 100% sense.  There are pagan organizations that lend out loans in Asia.  The quickest they can be paid back is a century!  This shackles at least four generations of extended families.  It's just wrong. God's way is better <--  Have y'heard that before? 26 - This is a chapter of tremendous promises for everything wonderful that most everyone wants ... unless they are a sadistically depressed Satanist.  It also contains a list of horridly frightful warnings against all the calamity no one really wants ... unless they are a, uh, let's see, oh yes, unless they are a sadistically depressed Satanist.  It's very similar to Deuteronomy 28.  When God finished telling this list to Moses in Deuteronomy 28, He told Moses essentially, "btw, Moses, they are going to disobey."  Believe it. It's pathetically true.  The fact of life is that without the Holy Spirit assisting those who are yielded to God, it is not possible for a person, a family, a church, a group, a community, a state, a country, a people to do right start to finish.  God's help is needed.  To do right by God requires God's help.  He has a better way.  He always does.

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Ephesians 1-3 We are in the Church Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, you met Abraham, you met Moses, you met with David - and you meet us just as quickly as we call your Name.  Amen 1 - Paul is so extremely excited to send greetings and instruction to the great Ephesian church and tell about the redemption we have in Christ Jesus that he is near the bursting point.  He is that joyful!  He writes most of this first chapter as a single sentence (sort of can't even pause to take a breath) - he's elated to share Jesus.  And get this - he is writing this letter from a prison in Rome.  My husband and I saw this prison a couple years ago. Paul's love for Jesus is his "food" in life.  It's very evident that Paul wants the Ephesian church to be elated with Christ the way he is.  The Ephesian church was the most spiritually mature church in the new testament era, yet Paul wants them to "fly" higher still.  His prayer for the Eph. church is beautiful like his prayer for the Colossians and the Philippians  2 -  Here Paul lays out the plan for unity - for reversing the curse since Adam/Eve left the Garden.  The "salvation through grace" truth is pivotal for realizing and receiving salvation.  (BTW, remember that EVERY false cult botches this concept of grace and fails to understand it nor do they teach it properly).  We are saved by embracing God's goodness not trusting in our own "goodness" <---> goodness that doesn't really exist. Christ is our reconciler, our peace, our unifier.  Gentiles were not 2nd class believers. In Christ, all were unified. The Holy Spirit gave access to all.  The title of stranger/alien/foreigner was over with. Newly converted Gentiles were as cherished as Abraham and all his relatives. 3 - The mystery of God, which was once revealed to very few, was now open to all who would receive it. The mystery revealed was Christ Himself. Christ embodies who God is and this Christ is known through the Holy Spirit - all this was not the property of a private, exclusive club anymore.  The mystery and endless riches found in Christ, His power in and over all Creation, the marvelous testimony of a unified worldwide Body of Christ, the fellowship in Christ - all this is a heavenly testimony.  The wonder of it all merely drove Paul to pray for the church in Ephesus and us here today all the more.  Let's join Paul in praying for the endless, unshakeable, growing Church that Jesus Christ our Savior founded on Himself.  Don't let the 19+ century time lapse bother you!  

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Luke 9:18-10:24 We are in the Christ Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Luke 9:18ff - Today is a goldmine of lessons.  Here they are, itemized:

Peter's landmark statement is basically, "God sent you".  Anointed One = Christ Peter was following Jesus because He knew God sent Him - He wasn't following Him because Jesus was going to be crucified. But the reminder of te crucifixion comes right on the heels of Peter's confession. The Transfiguration; also in Mark 9, is an overwhelming memo to the "inside-3"; Peter/James/John that those who follow God never die and they never leave God The next day when Jesus encounters a boy who gets seizures from a bad spirit that is harassing him, we get a statement from Jesus that many find troubling. "Oh faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you...?" It hits y'sideways but there is triple motivation in Jesus' words if we let them sink in.  1] do not fool around with darkness for it won't let go of you. 2] Learn how to expel darkness and their powers - take authority v.s being a victim (btw, I am teaching on this all the time!) 3] Learn from me while I am here, so pay attention NOW.  Next, Jesus doubles down and tells of His Passion week again. The tussle of the disciples arguing about who would be greatest was not their last such juvenile discussion. Boys will be boys, eh? (my husband told me to say that!)  It's a worldwide phenomenon to joust for first place.  Jesus makes a perfect teaching moment reminding them to serve all v.s. compete with all. The point that the disciples bring up when a man is casting out demons is as silly as being perplexed that the whole world doesn't attend YOUR church with YOU. Hey, when someone is following Jesus quit fussing that their socks aren't perfect enough to walk in your parade - or any myriad of other inane concerns that accomplish nothing except waste brain cells and time. The lesson Jesus taught after the Samaritan Village shunned them is worth taking to heart... along with everything else: better learn to handle rejection, folks! Jesus' teaching about the cost of discipleship comes next. Some may have looked at Jesus operating and thought, "free food, free healthcare, sign me up!" He lets the one man know that it isn't always free housing too... Make what you will of that.  The others demonstrate the difference between them and when Jesus called the 12 who all dropped what they were doing and followed.  When someone is going to follow Jesus, all other priorities come below, after, later, many need to be eradicated permanently.  When Jesus calls, NEVER say "in a minute / wait until I... ? / just as soon as ... / I can't until after I download a few more, etc.  When Jesus says "come now", gee, what should be done? If that has to be explained again, no amount of explanation is going to be enough. 10 - Jesus sending out the 72 is a historical move with historical results.  They were given orders, with no back out or back up plan. They were to heal and proclaim, not to fret rejection, and know that their acceptance or rejection of Jesus' was a tremendous decision each would be making.  Those who turned away Jesus may as well prepare to be treated like the city of Sodom/Gomorrah - not good! The 72 return and are as excited as school kids with ice cream at recess.  Jesus reminds them to keep a proper attitude among all the successful ministry.  What excitement there is in following Jesus!!

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Obadiah We are in the Exile Stream reading the entire book of Obadiah from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, may we learn from these illustrations today - there is no hope for those who fight your Word, your Way, your Chosen Path and People.  Teach us to be a blessing as we follow you.  Amen. This is a judgment prophecy against Edom.  The Edomites were descendants of Esau; brother of Jacob who sold off his birthright for a bowl of soup, lost the blessing and was bitter toward Esau the remainder of his days.  Whenever Esaus' descendants have a clear shot and can be of trouble to Jacob's family, it happens, and we hear about it usually live from Jerusalem. The Edomite people that Obadiah is addressing occupied about a 2,000 square mile region south of the Dead Sea; 100 mi X 20 mi. It is a rocky range of mountains. It was well watered in biblical days. The capital then is an area today known as Petra.  You have seen this rock face city as a befabled place used in modern movies. The famous final city entered in Indiana Jones /The Last Crusade 1989 was filmed in Petra...and can still be visited today. This was home to the Edomites.  The conflict between Esau and Jacob is explained in Genesis 25:23 & 27:41  The hatred was still in full operation 1300 years or so later. Edomites made a habit of raiding caravans passing through and upon cities they could reach.  They would then escape back to their homes in the treacherous terrain they were familiar with. They were obstreperous in their denying passage to Moses in Numbers 20. Edom raided Jerusalem over the centuries so there were not warm feelings for them among the Jews. Between 850 and 586 B.C. the Edomites notably raided Jerusalem four times: II Chr. 21 / 25 / 28 / 36.  The one during II Chr. 36 was when Zedekiah was king and for several other reasons, Obadiah's prophecy likely follows this fourth raid. In Obadiah we hear of Edom being destroyed forever - and of Judah's remnant being saved. The end of their kingdom proper was after 550 B.C. when the Neo-Babylonians stormed through. The Nabateans took over this territory and their prominent centuries were 200 B.C. - 200 A.D.  It was the Nabateans who were prolific traders.  They welcomed commerce and visitors and prominent souls. Three who came through were Gaspar, Balthasar, and Melchior; learned men who counseled Kings and revered the Hebrew scriptures. They were enroute to see a newborn baby in Bethlehem that was prophesied to be God's Son, found under a star. ... 'do you wish YOU were in on that journey?!  This is all what became of the Edomite Kingdom.  Flushed out by Babylonians, kept out by Nabateans, some Edomites remained and were basically quarantined in the south of Judea.  They were rabble that remained hostile to Jews and Jewish culture. In 126 B.C. one of the Maccabean Rulers beat them down for rebellion.  They were absorbed into the Jewish state as what remained of these "cousins" of 17-18 centuries could be overlooked - though they weren't altogether accepted.  The Herods were direct descendants of these Edomites and thus they were particularly assigned to rule over Jews after Rome assumed control in 63 B.C.  We all know of the tension that existed between authentic Jews and the Herods (all four of them).  This was the finale~ of the Edomite people and their lording/harassing of the Jews.  In A.D. 70 Rome destroyed Jerusalem and there was nothing for any Herod to exercise control over. They died out. The last of the Edomites and they were then swept onto the dustbin of history.  Vv. 10,16,18 came true: "you shall be cut off forever / they shall be as though they had never been / no survivor shall remain of the house of Esau.         Just like God said,  "poof" they are gone.

Jeremiah 38-41 We are in the Prophetic Stream today as we read with the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, may we find YOUR peace in our hearts even though we may be in troubling times. Amen.

38 - Jeremiah was giving advice and prophecies that sounded backward to the leaders in Jerusalem. Thinking he was a traitor, they debated whether to kill him or not, then they put him in a mucky cistern/tank underground, then others had pity on him and they pulled him out of it again. Hey, the Babylonians were attacking soon, Jeremiah knew it and he wasn't going to lie to people. Jeremiah then gives advice to the last King of Jerusalem in this era of their history. The advice is prophetic, sage, brilliant, and accurate as ever. Zedekiah then makes it quite clear that he didn't know how to lead nor stand, nor flee, nor negotiate. His weakness led to foolishness as he did not yield to Jeremiah's words as he should have. It was his last chance of surviving..but scizophrenia seemed to take over. 39 - Then The Day finally came as Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon with all his army broke into Jerusalem, broke down the wall, burned the king's home, and the other homes, killed King Zedekiah's sons, blinded him and took him to Babylon. Jeremiah, however, is given special protection at Nebuchadnezzar's orders. This day of Jerusalem's doom factors so large in history and for the Hebrews, that it is further commented on in Jeremiah 52, The parallel tale is told in II Kings 25, and in II Chronicles 36. It's such a disaster - and God knows how many times they were told that this nightmare could have been avoided had they honored God . . . 40 - Gedaliah was put in charge of the poor and non-influential in Judah/Israel; those of whom were no threat to the Babylonians. Jeremiah was then offered a glorious invitation to come to Babylon and he would be given a fine life there. Even the captain of the guard in Babylon would tend to him. Jeremiah prefers [defers?] and stays in his home country. Gedaliah does a yeoman's job of calming fears and assuring those left in the land that they would be well and do well. Others Jews who had been away to avoid the onslaught began to trickle back into The Promised Land (that had now been spiritually mismanaged for much of it's 850 year history). It wasn't long until Gedaliah was warned about a plot to rid him. Some of those returning had perceived that Gedaliah had sold out to the Babylonians. It was some dicey days they were living through. 41 - A certain "Ishmael" came and led a murder plot against Gedaliah. He schemed his treachery that would follow a modest feast Ishmael's malcontent further drove him to kill all the Jews who were with Gedaliah plus the Chaldeans/Babylonians who were in the area. Soon after, a group of misguided worshipers arrived who were ignorant that Ishmael had killed Gedaliah. Ishmael lured them, pretended to guide and join them before he killed all of them too. Ishmael was a first rate skallywag/pirate type! He took the rest of Gedaliah's associates captive and headed for Ammon far to the south and east. A man, Johanan, gathered a group to counter Ishmael. He did and liberated those that Ishmael was taking to the Ammonites. Johanan took these Jewish people -who had been harassed enough- and led them to an area down past Bethlehem. They wanted to be far from the departed Babylonians for fear that they might be confused with the deeds of Ishmael who killed the leader Gedaliah that Nebuchadnezzar had put in charge. It was a dissettling time in what was once enjoyed as the Promised Land.

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Psalm 103-105 We are in the Wisdom Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

God, you are good all the time.  Thank you and Amen.

103 - a crowning Psalm of Praise about our good God who is so very good in all that He does.  He forgives, heals, redeems, satisfies, is righteous, merciful, He cares, empathizes, He rules and is blessed in heaven, by angels, by all beings, by His works, and by David who, btw, wrote this in the later days of his life.  All we need in God and from our God is found in Him. This is a magnificent hallmark of a Psalm

104 - This Psalm about God's beautiful work in making all of nature brings to mind a verse in "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" - it reads "were the whole realm of nature of mine, that were a present far too small ..." (too small to present to God when expressing gratitude for our great Salvation).  This Psalm makes one want to read this again while sitting on the edge of the Grand Canyon, or at base camp in Everest, or in Grand Teton Wyoming. ...and to think that all God asks of us in return for His colossal deeds is our lives given back to Him in thanksgiving.  Nature is merely a work of His fingers - our Salvation is the work of His strong Arm.  It makes a grateful soul sit and be amazed, doesn't it? 105 - Why do we sing to the Lord? Why call to Him, sing to Him, tell of Him, remember His works, glory in His Name?  Just pause and remember what He has done!  The litany of the chosen people brought from oblivion, called to God as a testimony to the world  - this Psalm does a regal march through 600-700 years of the Hebrews' history from Abraham to Joshua. Each line, each deed, each meal, each person was blessed and protected by a God who does not fail.  We may fail Him, but He does not fail us.  This is our God and He's worth pledging our lives and souls and families and eternity too. For He will continue to be good to us forever.  Hallelujah.

II Kings 10-14 We are in the Nation Stream reading from the New King James Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis 10 - Jehu, the wildman chariot rider who rode furiously through the land continued his intrepid 28-year crusade to eradicate Baal worship. In the last chapter he killed Joram; king of Israel and Jezebel and Ahaziah; king of Judah who was Ahab/Jezebels' son-in-law.  And he was not done! He gave the orders and the leaders in Israel beheaded the 70 sons of Ahab - in dramatic fashion that doesn't need to be explained. Jehu then "rubbed out" [pardon a Mafia term] all the rest of Ahab's leaders, confidants, and priests.  Heading out from there he went to Samaria and found the brothers of the newly deceased King Ahaziah and killed all 42 of them. He proceeded to kill the rest of Ahab's family.  It's an ugly business, yes, but Baal had to go.  Lastly, in a bait-and-switch move he ordered all the worshipers of Baal to gather for a sacrifice to Baal... [uh hum!]  All who would't come were to be executed, so the word went out. Jehu then did the opposite and killed all who were dedicated to Baal...and it was over.  Jehu was zealous to fight those who opposed God but he himself never abandoned the worship of the calf. He "cleaned house", yes, but he never cleaned up his own house.  Then he was gone (820 B.C.) and Jehoahaz ruled starting 816 B.C.

11 - Queen Athaliah came to power the same year Jehu came to rule and was still angry about her son Ahaziah being killed.  The human chess-game that went on was terrifying but the next king, Athaliah's relative, was protected from Athaliah's killing spree and he came to power via much vigilance and fervent protection.  The story is further told in II Chronicles 22.  Athaliah's death came from those who protected her secessor (sp?).  They put him [Joash/Jehoash] in power and cut her down outside so to not spill her blood in the Temple of the Lord.  With her gone, Judah was then rededicated to God ... 12 - The reign of Jehoash is also told in II Chron. 24, btw.  His trademark was to repair the Temple of the Lord.  The project was held up for years, however, since those who were gathering offerings for repairing the Temple were not faithful with the funds.  Gee, ever hear of that happening where someone "pockets it" v.s. producing with it?!  It finally got done however after some sobering inventory was taken and faithful men were put on the job.   A set back happened when the King of Syria conquered Gath on the coast and then headed to Jerusalem.  They got him to turn away and head home by giving him a sickening amount of wealth that had been stored for generations in Judah.  Gee, a King of Syria who kills and robs. . .what millennium is this anyway? Or is this story a current headline?  Joash was assassinated after this, and Amaziah came to rule in Judah. It was 803 B.C. Jehoash/Joash had ruled for 40 years. 13 - Jehoahaz came to power in Israel about half way through the reign of Joash; King of Judah.  Jehoahaz was evil, disobedient and pagan and God let Syria enter and oppress Israel in a chronic way.  Jehoahaz called out to God (imagine that!) so God heard them and delivered them and there was peace again.  Did Jehoahaz lead a revival in thanksgiving? No, he and the nation remained in their false religion and calf worship [like thankless humans usually do v.s. being grateful to God].--> Terribly dangerous to be a lout like this!  Elisha's death was approaching and the King Joash was very grieved about Elisha's imminent departure.  Elisha encourages him and mentors Joash one last time with the deed of the arrows. It helps a bit as he was trying to teach Joash to be as relentless in God's duties - more like Elisha was.  Turns out Elisha had an anointing on him that lasted longer than his life did.  As Israel was vigilant during the years shortly after Elisha's death, they were able to retake some cities back from the Syrians. 14 - pardon the jumping from north to south and the overlapping kings of differing kingdoms.  We were not trying to be confusing - just reading the text to you as it was written. Amaziah came to power at 25 upon the assassination of his father in 803 B.C.  He exacted revenge and killed the crew who conspired and killed his father Joash.  His confidence was bolstered when he defeated and killed 10,000 Edomites - perhaps it bolstered his confidence too much for he went from there and called Israel/northern Kingdom to battle.  It was the better part of wisdom to maintain and stay home but he wouldn't listen to contentment and . . . the Israelites gave him a drubbing. Amaziah was captured, 600' of Jerusalem's wall was broken down, the treasury was raided by Jehoash of the north.  Amaziah was later killed in an 'in-house' uprising when he fled to Lachish (to the S.W.)   Jeroboam was raised to power in the north, ca. 790 B.C. during Amaziah's reign in the south.  This was a second Jeroboam.  Like the first who came to rule the north in 930 B.C. this one too was bent on being evil and antithetical to the true faith that originated from the Temple.  He did not get any help from God because of his good faith, but God did come to aid because of His Covenant with Israel since Abraham 1200+ years prior.  The prophet Jonah went to Nineveh during this time.  There was revival to an extent. There was glimmers of hope through expansion of the territory.  But it could have been so much better had they cleaned up the land through true worship.

Leviticus 21-23 We are in the World Stream reading from the New King James Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

God of wonders beyond all galaxies, you ARE wonderful and beyond all galaxies.  What is even more wonderful is that you are right here with us as we dine together with you in communion.  Amen

These chapters that elaborate on the priests, their obligations, and the sacrifices pertaining to their vocation were spelled out initially in Lev. 1-9.  You may remember those chapters that we read June 18 and 25. They were to be men without defect.  There were also rules that must be abided by regarding not offering a sacrifice while ill or the like.  They were to marry a virgin only. They were to be circumspect men. There was to be no peculiar or garish shavings of the head, mohawk or designs or "what in the world is that?!" type of haircuts. They were to not handle or deal with 'the dead' (no priest moonlighted as a mortician).

22 - This tells further of the requirements for the priests and their abilities and duties and the condition they must be in for making an offering.  Some of this may make a modern day observer think that God was a real grouch or stiff back then.  But it really is a description of a ritual and culture that had tremendous reverence for the living God and therefore the offerings brought to Him were greatly reverenced as well. Who on earth would bring a gift to a very prominent person or famous person or head of state or world renowned athlete they admired and do so while he had a terribly runny nose, was unwashed had dirty fingernails, messed up hair, mud on his shoes (untied), with cuts on his face from shaving recklessly that morning, his shirt on all rumpled and mis-buttoned etc.  No one would do this!  And God is less important?  Think of what our offerings do today to transform the world, send missionaries, erect new church buildings, start Christian schools, open hospitals and clinics . . .   I.e. offerings matter folks. They are the work of God. Be serious about them.  And we should do our dead level best to bring and offer what is perfect / perfectly prepared to the Lord.  For, (great ending to this chapter!)  I AM THE LORD.  Hey, people forget this and they also act like they've forgotten it! 23 - Rather than re-hash or go into detailed descriptions of what each feast is and the parameters and details pertaining to, I think it's more pivotal for us to pause and ask why is God ordaining all this scheduled dining and feasting and music and commemoration and celebration?  These traditions stuck in the minds of the Hebrews and became enchanting holidays that never left their story, their calendars, nor their souls.  It is reviewed for thepower of reminding them in Deuteronomy 16 not long before Moses departed.  We love our holidays - the more Christ focused the more joy they bring. A family that , has traditions is a stronger and more significant family with more treasured memories than a family who doesn't. The Hebrew culture even today has a much lower drop-out rate than most other cultures. This is because they are so fastidious about these joyful and significant gatherings. We all remember the church potlucks and still enjoy today. What is a meeting with the eating? Well God is training them to keep the joy and the God and chowtime celebrations and unified sentiment and the wonder all going, all God, all eternally marvelous.  No one should have a problem with this.  God isn't a grump.  He wants us joyful (this becomes our greatest testimony).  And someone has said the greatest glory of God is us, His creation, fully alive. The food is on, so let's party with God, shall we?!