The Seven Streams Method

Jeremiah 5-7 We are in the Prophetic Stream reading the judgments as written by the prophet Jeremiah. We are reading from the Easy-to-Read Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

God, we ask that you would be a comfort to us; an ever present help in times of trouble. Guide us as we aim to live as Jeremiah did and speak up amid a culture that seems bent on disobedience. We trust you to guide us in our pilgrimage and ministry as we find ourselves living in similar times to what Jeremiah lived in.  Amen

5 - Jeremiah is appalled that there is not even one righteous/loving/God-fearing soul in Jerusalem.  The people talk of God but it is hollow. He then goes into a prayer for 15 verses straight.  Jeremiah vents to God about their wickedness, the punishment coming to them like a lion pouncing on its prey.  They're about to be treated like animals -since they wander away from God. The children, the leaders, everyone is going to feel the punishment. They ignore His prophecy so the LORD must bring in a foreign nation.  They've brought foreign gods to worship from another land, so they are going to be taken to a foreign land (what do they THINK is going to happen?!)  They and everything they own is going to be devoured. These Babylonians may as well be six foot tall locusts - they will leave nothing. These people of Judah are not accidentally straying; their rebellion is deliberate. They are deaf and blind but think they are fine. They lie and are treacherous. It will require the Babylonian army to get their attention.

6 - The enemy of the people of God is coming, and they come to destroy. The people have stopped their ears long enough and God is going to use this foreign army to "cleanse" Judea. The chapter reads like God is even directing the Babylonians, telling them how to overtake the city. As believers we read this and may think, "God, what are you doing?!" Hey, what is God supposed to do? The Judeans have been up and down spiritually for almost 350 years. The north had fallen to Assyria (150 years before Judea did) and in the intermittent century and a half, Judea more or less has an ungodliness contest with itself to see how far they can press the matter in their disobedience. They had deluded themselves. Remember, later in Jer. 25:9 and 43:10 God refers to the Babylonian king as "His servant." This king Nebuchadnezzar will be sent (by God!) to clean up Judea. If God is not allowed to, then a dark force will be put to work on them. Obedience to God would have been a much better plan. This is just like in Eden; When God's people do not obey God or His plan, what is God to do?  When they (we) won't obey, God just needs to clean house. We do the same with spiders and roaches in our houses, do we not? Judea refuses to repent. And they keep bringing offerings to God as if that would cover for their wickedness. The warnings for repentance are insistent, even pathetic. The awful punishment coming to them could be avoided through repentance. But Judah won't. 7 -  Jeremiah is assigned to stand in the gateway to the city and prophesy to the people about the matter of obedience and repentance. Jeremiah is laying it all out here! The people have been treating the Temple like a kid playing "tag" or something like that. A kid will run all around a yard and then stop with a hand on a structure and declare, "Base!" meaning they can't be caught or tagged because they are on a base.  Judah was breaking all the commandments all over the country in their ungodly behavior and then coming to the Temple and declaring to themselves that they would not be punished because they were in the Temple. It's like they are yelling "base!" to God.  I mean God isn't going to let His own Temple be smashed is He? Not with us in here with our offerings, right? Think again!  The reference in v. 18 "Queen of Heaven" was Ashtoreth. They were worshiping this female sex deity just like all the surrounding pagan nations were doing. All God wanted was their obedience. They are countering with, "we won't obey, ...but we will bring sacrifices! [durrr] The Judeans revered their ancestors (uh, they weren't obedient either!).  And the more time passes, the worse people become. They have been as pagan as the pagan nations and worse. They've done infant sacrifice right in the city, the Temple is polluted by their deeds as they play both sides. They do this Satanic level wretchedness and then bring their offerings to the Temple (same people!) Well God is going to end all this and there will be so many dead that vultures will swarm in to clean up the bodies. Some Hebrews will be preserved in another land, but Jerusalem is going to fall silent.  A preview of this is in Lamentations 1 "...the city is deserted..."  This all- so- did- not- need to happen. But with Judah's behavior - it did happen.  

Psalms 42-48 We are in the Wisdom Stream and beginning Book 2 of 5 in the Psalms. We are using the Easy-to-Read Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, we thank you for these prayers that remind us of your goodness and our need for you in our lives every day, every step.  Amen. Today we start in book Two.  Psalms is divided into five "books" and 1-41 is book One. Here we begin with the second.  We read today about the Sons of Korah.  Just so you know, these were a family of Levites, a musical group, a team or guild if you will, that David had assembled to bolster the atmosphere of worship for the Israelites.

42, 43 - These two actually form one poem.  It's the longing cry/prayer of one who wants to get back into God's presence; into the Temple again for worship. He's away from Jerusalem, feeling in exile up north and east - east of the Jordan.  The locals are hostile toward him and he is caught up in a full effort to cheer himself again.  Vv. 42:5,6,11 and 43:5 are used in a familiar worship song, (from a different translation) it is sung, "why so downcast oh my soul? Put your hope in God..."  Throughout these two Psalms, The Sons of Korah are longing, quizzing and encouraging themselves so to cheer up, lamenting the cruelty of others, calling for God to come quickly, and reminding themselves of His goodness. It may sound like they are "all over the place", but this is appropriate and applicable because so are our lives and so are we on a regular basis.

44 - The army has paused to call on God during a rough time amid a battle.  They pause to reflect and assert that it is God in Heaven who always gave the victory in Israel's history. And they know this.  At current they are trying to see the light when it seeeems to be snuffing out. They are feeling at a loss, they are getting pushed back by enemies and they are calling on God to guide the way, to act quickly, to show and help them get moving forward in this battle again. They pray this way because they do not want to go into complete despair. 45 - is the wedding song of a king. It seems to be multifaceted in that the King before us while this is written is either David or Solomon. They talk of regality, beauty, handsomeness, victory but it does seem to go ethereal in that it sounds like Revelation 19:7 and the marriage of the Bride to the Lamb which is of God. This is an event that is going to be thousands of years away. The inspiration that transforms into ambiguity adds intrigue and an alluring passion that keeps the reading and the discussion of this Psalm very much alive ... for 3000 years so far ! 46 - When in trouble from enemies or natural disasters, it is God who protects and gives peace.  God indeed can conquer anything and therefore we will run to him for our covering.  It is noted that Martin Luther drew much comfort and reassurance from this Psalm during the Reformation of the 1500's [A.D.] 47,48 -  like 42 and 43, these two Psalms read like a verses 1 and 2 segment of the same Psalm, though they're also numbered as two separate Psalms.  The worship is breaking into rhapsody, come 47!  The Lord is King, He loves Jacob and descendants, this land of Zion,  (He rules the whole world too.)     The Lord is great; so great. He has drawn people the world over to His city.  God defends this city against any foe. God in Jerusalem is cause for elation.  It is greater than can be described. Just walk through and all around Zion and experience Him. This is the invitation here.

I Samuel 12-15 We are in The Nation stream and reading from the Easy-to-Read Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Jesus, forgive us for our having lapses in our discipleship, suffering for it, only to muse, "why is this happening to me if God loves me?"  God, you do not bring or wish or want evil upon us. It just happens in this life. Our disobedience has invited evil into this world.  May our pleasures make us grateful, and our pain make us even more prayerful. Amen. 12 - God needed to use a parallel story told by a trusted friend to get to David. As has been said, he had less ethics when he was sober than Uriah did when he was inebriated. The sheep story from Nathan crushed David who came out of his moral coma finally. David did not feel the change coming over him as he took in one wife after another. But subconsciously somewhere along, he thought, "I can because I want, I want because I can, and I can because I am King. If David had paused long enough, he would have been reminded that taking Bathsheba from Uriah, was coveting and stealing and adultery and murder.  Strangely enough, David had lapsed, thinking the 10 Commandments didn't apply to him.  But his realization started him on the road right back into God's presence. David was quick to confess and repent (Psalm 51 and 32).  However this sin of David's started an avalanche that haunted him the rest of his years.  He had Uriah murdered and soon this murder visited his own home. He let lust take him to places he shouldn't go. Lust therein took over others in his family. He had sex with Bathsheba in secret thinking it would keep it hidden. Soon all his wives were ransacked in public; on the rooftop.  From this day on, "the sword would never leave David's home".  This translation says he would never have peace in his home.  And to top off the chapter, the baby David gave Bathsheba dies. Solomon is then born.  The chapter ends with a war victory but it feels less victorious in the wake of David's violations 13 - David's troubles amplify as one of his sons, Amnon, from one of his wives tricks, seduces, and rapes one of David's daughters, Tamar, from one of his other wives.  Absalom, another one of David's sons, plots to kill Amnon for his deed of raping their sister Tamar.  On cue Absalom calls it and Amnon taken out.  All of David's other sons escape in fright and Absalom becomes a fugitive in hiding in Geshur for three years.  The drama is thickening in David's family.  He must have dreamed of "days gone by" when dinner hour was a joyous event.  Not anymore.  The consequences for David's transgressions are visiting him for what he had done; line by line. 14 - Absalom was afraid to come back to Jerusalem. David seemed reticent to fetch him or even call for him to come back. It's sad, but reality is that David's resolve during his valiant deeds and battles of yesteryear doesn't seem to be there anymore.  Joab pulls together a scheme that spurs David enough to call for Absalom to return to Jerusalem. Abs' returns but is quarantined in a sense and doesn't get to visit the King; his own father, for two more years.  Absalom gets frustrated and lights Joab's field on fire to get some attention.  This finally triggers an arrangement for Absalom to visit his father in the palace for the first time in five years.  The overdue meeting finally happens. It is cordial, bittersweet, yet distant. 15 -  Absalom was not satisfied (murderers rarely are!) and soon began the role of self-appointed arbitrator so to turn affections from King David to himself.  Absalom was a huckster and not enough people saw through him.  He asks his father permission to go to Hebron but is not forthcoming as to what his real plans are.  Absalom goes, takes 200 men with him and even gets Ahithophel, one of David's confidants, to join him in the rebellion that Absalom is incubating. David hears what is really happening and seems to resign and simply leaves Jerusalem taking his household with him.  It's a sad affair and many are weeping aloud.  They pause and David insists that the Ark of the Covenant be taken back to Jerusalem and David would come back if he felt God prompting him to do so. (It's really sad how David had become so aimless in character.)  He is disturbed to learn that Ahithophel is against him now too. He sends messages that he is willing to follow Absalom as the next king [getting looney isn't it?!] and his messengers arrive back in Jerusalem just as Absalom arrives from Hebron.  What happens next ...?

Exodus 19-22 We are in the Nation Stream today reading from the Easy-to-Read Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Dear God - Thank you for your guiding Law. So many across the earth fall into trouble and sit in the ashes of a ruined life and moan, "how come no one told me?"  Well, you tell us God. You guide and warn and remind and teach and do this to save us heartache and loss, and we thank you. Amen. 19 - The awe-inspiring pre-show to the Law being given happens in this chapter. These 10 Commandments would prove to be the pillars of civil society. And the Israelites are looking up at all the fireworks and smoke and lightning as we read it in ch.19 and it had to be a heart-stopper!  The events of this "preView" to the Ten Commandments and their arrival and delivery to the people were of grave importance. The future of society would hinge upon these coming laws. God had to get their attention prior to the Law. To read the TenCom's and to shrug and walk away would have been a travesty.  Thus the fire and earthquake and trumpet blast that must have been Gabriel or Michael cutting loose has them at attention!  God also wanted the Israelites to hear God talking to Moses so that they would take Moses seriously throughout his life.  The impressions were made and - here comes the Law. One note that is of merit: historically, we know that the Israelites were not capable of keeping the Law as no one is. Interesting that we see Elijah right here in this same place centuries later when he is on the run from Ahab/Jezebel. It wasn't the thunder and lightning and fire that got Elijah's heart. It was God's whisper.  See I Kings 19 to review that at your leisure. 20 -  The Contract with God required keeping these Ten Commandments.  They are not 10 SUGGESTIONS that God hopes they hear and adhere to. They are not DEMANDs (is DEMANDMENTS a word? :-) as if God would burn them and throw them in hell the instant anyone falters. They were commands. You shall not do this. It could be worded in English today, "you won't be killing or stealing or swearing/cursing by Me, got it?! ..."  This is the way it was going to be.  The first 4 pertained to treatment of God. The last 6 pertained to the treatment of eachother. Very important to reverence eachother too!  'Ever been around someone who claims they love God and yet they treat their neighbors like rodents? 'pretty nauseating isn't it? There's a whole new code and God offered endless support/provision/protection for those who followed His Law.  Those who wouldn't, well, you made your choice and you're to get out of my sight." Don't anyone get mad because of their disobedience.          All this is delivered in a setting that shook them to the core.  The Israelites had been dwellers in the delta for 400+ years. and they'd never really seen a mountain. And here they were getting a new "life code", the scenery is colossal and terrifying, trumpets (that they can't see!) are blasting, the earth is shaking, the mountain is on fire.  WOW.  Get this memo people and obey this Law. 21 - 22 - The first aspect of augmented civil law was that of slavery and how to handle the matter. This is a topic of must passion today, so much so, that a sensible discussion regarding slavery is often thwarted by ignorance, anger, and resentment. The truth is that 80% of the slaves that resided in North America from 1619 to 1865 (at the end of the Civil War) were treated rather kindly as America was a biblically founded government and biblical laws commanding the fair treatment of slaves were abided by.  Granted 20% of slave owners (who dominate the discussion) were cruel and a notable amount of these brutal slave holders were of African descent themselves (which is usually ignored and very carefully so). The argument won't be put to rest here and we don't intend to but . . .    Be that as it may, the issue of slaves [a worldwide phenomenon] and their treatment had to be dealt with and God needed to step in and lay out rules. These slaves were humans made in God's image too. They were not animals that could be kept however or slaughtered and discarded whenever.  The people of God who possessed slaves must treat them honorably; better than the rest of the world did.  God commanded it.   The truth is that there are slaves today being held and driven by masters who are not Believers - and they will not read our Bible. One report gives a conservative estimate that there are in excess of 200Million slaves on earth today. The majority of them brutalized Christians being treated so by Muslims, Communists, Atheists, and Pagans (and the worldwide secular media couldn't care less).  Other aspects explained pertained to violence, deviant behavior, theft, rape, pets-gone-wild, and negligence resulting in harm,  The details involving disputes arising around animals is pertinent for animals were pets, food, income, tools for labor, etc.  The Hebrews must remember that they were to be upstanding people as a testimony to the world. They were to treat orphans and widows and foreigners/travelers well.  They were not engage in pagan behavior of any kind, and be amenable regarding loan$.  These were the beginning laws that would be the mark of a civil and godly society.  A country's atmosphere, even today, reflects on whether they adhere to, or disobey, or are ignorant of these laws that are spelled out starting here and running through to the end of Deuteronomy.

Romans 13-16 We are finishing the letter from the Apostle Paul to the Romans today. We are in the Living Bible translation this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Rom. 13  is being written by a man who is going to be executed by the pathological government's Caesar in a little over a decade.  If he can take this with an upstanding attitude, we can too. Paul does not want Christians to be known as the "rebels of the nations" everywhere they go. . . . We are a growing movement that is blessed so to redeem [not start skirmishes] everywhere we go. Cheerful obedience and civil behavior are powerful tools in starting a wave that has Christians being perceived, "gee, they are awfully nice and friendly and giving.people!"

We are urged anew by Paul to be content people, our main trait is that we are loving, and our heart is to be eagerly awaiting the Return of Our Lord.  This will be the trademark of a vast charitable "army" of people who will embody the largest movement the world has ever seen. 14 - Paul knew that as people came to Christ Jesus and joined in the Kingdom and joined church fellowships, and worshiped together, and dined together (Paul knew) that these people would be coming from numerous backgrounds and the natural tendency to unify would be jilted by prior habits and vows and commitments from former beliefs.  People dining together would encounter either the commitment to or revulsion of certain foods. People of Jewish descent had the kosher laws that were superseded once Peter had his vision in Acts 10:9-16.  Others had secular backgrounds and were oblivious to religions that were either sacred or profane. Others had cultic backgrounds and, now being a redeemed Believer, they would be sickened by how they once lived and did not want to eat anything that reminds them of their past. Well here they were together at "church potlucks" and some brought kosher "manna/matzoh" [ok, ok!], others brought pickled shrimp, others - vegan bread and/or (unkosher!)--> cheeseburgers, and ... you could see the squabbles that erupted over diet rules to which there was no resolution except to love eachother more than their former laws, or vows, or regrets of the past. The Jewish Sabbath v.s. new Believers honoring Sunday as more important was another needless argument that needed to be put to rest too.. It was vital that they all NOT insist that everyone else adhere to / or live by their own personal preferences, hankerings, or idiosyncrasies. Christian community was more important.  That meant they were not to be criticizing others. 15 - The onus was upon the more mature Christians to be accepting and welcoming, nurturing and even to be gently tutoring younger/newer/less mature Christians.  They were to be exceedingly welcoming and warm to one another.  Paul also wants Jews and Gentiles to get along.  From 15:20, through chapter 16; to the end of the book, Paul is talking of preparations, further journeys and travels and his desire to keep the gospel spreading. He'll be taking a trip through Jerusalem first before coming to see his Roman friends and Believers. Remember that being held back in Israel by the Sanhedrin and the Herod-family only caused the three years of anticipation to see Paul only become more pronounced. You can hear Paul's impassioned concern that the church grow and grow in all ways everywhere. 16 - is a great listing of the people Paul wanted to remember. A case study dedicated to each of the names in this chapter is as entrancing as poring over the 58,000 names upon the Vietnam memorial wall. We should not become fickle and skip these over. Each one shined like a reflection of Christ in the first century church. Some of the names of these people can still be seen upon the homes and structures they occupied back when Paul came through ca. 1,965 years ago. Paul revered each of these.  We ought also revere and welcome and honor each who visit our fellowships today ... as Paul has been urging us to do for a few chapters now. The week has been a colorful one going through each of the seven streams of Scripture. The thread throughout we'll call, "Be Attentive. God is Moving. Move With Him, and Let Yourself Be Instructed."   After the Exodus, there was water-as-medicine that needed to be ingested, a new diet pattern (failproof food from the sky for 40 years!), Sabbath rules, battles to uphold, a "no whining" law and these would remain for the rest of YOUR lives - catch this!           In II Sam. we are going to regroup in Jerusalem with the Ark for the first time (don't get too close Uzzah!), it's time to worship (Michal!) and David would have done better to keep his mind on the war v.s. the girl next door, eh?!  Everyone would have been better off if they had moved with God wouldn't they??           In Psalms, David is in pain from his sin and the results of it. God is moving him through it however and David learns from it. Come Psalm 40-41 he is finding relief in his God. David does right by his faith again.     Jeremiah laments that Israel/Judahs' love for God has grown cold. She has become a "queen" of prostitutes in many ways. God moves over them with an offering of repentance. They should move with God's offer . . . but sadly they don't let themselves be instructed.  .         Hosea brings a second antithetical story in a row as Israel is vapid/stupid and idolatrous, wretched to the core and refuses to be attentive and learn from God. So God is going to move a vicious army in their direction.        Everything Jesus taught them in Mark this week were very moving and dramatic lessons loaded with vital instruction. Jesus used each "teachable moment" to the full and the disciples caught it eventually.          Paul's instruction to the Roman church was straight from the Holy Spirit.  God was moving people from all ~walks of life and ~regions and ~refined faith and ~pagan faiths ---> right into His Kingdom and the teaching he gave this week was a perfect application to help them understand the moving of God anew .  Let's let ourselves be instructed by God's Spirit also so we do not miss what He has for us.

Mark 6:45-8:26 We are in the Christ Stream reading more about the miracles of Jesus. We are reading from The Living Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Jesus - you certainly show your wonderful deeds for us.  You feed and heal and instruct and love and welcome all who will come.  Thank you for being so marvelous and so loving. We wholeheartedly thank you. Amen. Jesus is now into his second full year of ministry.  From the feeding of the 5,000 (last story we read last week), to the final story today, (the healing of the blind man) this is an 8-month period. It is spent much in Galilee, Herod's jurisdiction, and the wonders of Jesus are making an eternal impression on many Greeks and Greek-speaking people as well.  6:45ff The theme of Mark is "Jesus the Wonderful" and we certainly read of this today.  His walking on water is universal proof that this is God's message bearer to us even to those who can't bring themselves to surrender to Him as of yet. Walking on water is deity in action. He enters the boat and the storm calms immediately. Remember, that Jesus sent them on ahead and they are caught in contrary winds that have them basically rowing in place through most of the night.  Jesus comes, all is calm and they proceed. Perhaps this is a good place to make a devotional point --> in evaluation of this story, "if we try to go on ahead without Jesus, we will likely find ourselves in a storm that we cannot deal with, and wasting our energy." We don't want to parse that illustration in a myriad of ways but it seems to be a helpful dab of wisdom.  They soon land on shore and Jesus is healing EVERYONE he touches. Imagine the joy that was raging through the countryside like a wind of happiness! Perhaps the day ended and the disciples -part elated, part in shock- and by nightfall they're thinking, "uh, let's stay with Jesus, avoid the storms, and watch all the wonders, eh?" 7 -  The Pharisees confront Jesus about how his disciples weren't washing their hands properly before eating. The full explanation of this tradition could easily be a half day lecture /discussion so we'll just ask this: "if you ran into Jesus personally do you ask Him to touch your life too or do you ask him about the sanitary status of His disciples hands?" Really! Jesus lets 'em have it over this one. He points out the real issue - the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and he details the matter. It's a lesson that angered them to the point of no return.  Jesus does two more prominent healings in this chapter. [Remember there were thousands of other healings that we are not told of.] He heals a young girl of demon possession out west near the coast. The area was Phoenician. The area was cultic - thus the encounter, the mother's reasoning and persistence, Jesus agreement and the blessing is all quite a story.  We can take away from this that we are to encourage people of any background that if they can't get through to Jesus, keep pressing until you do - because you will.         Next he heals a deaf/mute man. Last story the request for healing came from the mother. This time it comes from everyone who knew him. What a great way to have the witness of Jesus' power explode.  And everyone marveled. 8 - Jesus does another huge and miraculous feeding. The numbers are slightly different than the last time, but the lessons again are manifold and are to be taken to heart.  The disciples are worried about food when they should be ingesting the deeper lessons that were unfolding in front of them. The power that Jesus has is because of His deity. Notice that seven loaves becomes enough for everyone. The bread was broken in Jesus hands but it multiplied in the disciples' hands. Seven = The Holy Spirit at work, and it happened in the hands of the disciples.  Memo to the Disciples is a memo to us today: "let the Holy Spirit use YOUR hands to do His work. Get in the Holy Spirit and stop worrying so to take part in the wonders of God." Next the Pharisees arrive and demand a sign and Jesus just walks away from them. I mean who's got time for these jokers who have no intention of following Him?  He then heals a blind man from Bethsaida. This is a town that Jesus cursed for their unbelief. [Mt. 11:21 -It's now a deserted archaeological dig with a sun god carving that's visible even today, btw!] So Jesus takes him outside Bethsaida to heal him. Jesus heals him in his second "attempt" [2nd demonstration, actually]. The first gesture to heal has a comical result. Memo to the disciples and to us: "when you endeavor to minister healing and the immediate result is not the desired result - persist. Pray again. Reach out again. Be like the Syro-Phoenician woman and plead. With the deaf man, the whole town showed up to ask.  Get more people involved in healing ministry. Don't go it alone. P.U.S.H. [Pray UntilSomething Happens] I mean, do you like to pray with quitters? Why would God ever want us to be quitters?

Hosea 8:1-9:9 We are in the Exile Stream reading from The Living Bible. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord Jesus, make our lives significant like yours and the prophets were meaningful and still are as what was spoken still speaks today.  None of us want to come to the end of our lives only to hear that we have inherited a whirlwind. Help us live lives that count for the kingdom and for good for your Kingdom. Amen. 8 - We are back in the north and Hosea is speaking to a nation that is going to fall in 722 B.C. It's about 130-135 years earlier than what was read yesterday in Jeremiah.  Hosea reminds them that they have set up their entire government apart from God's leading. These are the people who erected a golden calf exactly like in Exodus 32 (500 years prior) just to make sure the people were deliberately disobedient and not going to Jerusalem to worship properly. This establishing of this idol is described as it happened in I Kings 12-13.  And Hosea is hitting the issue right between the eyes almost two centuries later.  They have been worshiping this calf so long that they may not even be hearing Hosea as he rebukes them.  The reference, "... sown to the wind and reap a whirlwind" is a motif in literature.  Well  Hosea said it first!  Israel has "boxed herself in". She thinks Assyria is a friend.  But they'll be the ones who "turn them into mince meat!".  The reference of "returning to Egypt", Hos. 8:13 is a metaphor for returning to slavery.  The nation is on the verge of being burnt to the ground and any survivors hauled away. 9 - For running from God and sacrificing to others, their idolatry will even affect the land and their crops.  At this point, every offering they bring to God is a stench to him; it's polluted. The bondage and poverty they have "earned" is upon them.  Hosea has been speaking to them, trying to avert 'judgment day' but he is labeled a crazy man.  Israel is NOT listening. The "depraved as in Gibeah..." verse is in reference to the horrid rape situation in Judges 19 and the hideous aftermath of it all.  Hosea reminds them that Israel is just as bad as this now.  For this, their children will be hauled away, their sons are doomed, pregnant women will be treated in ways that are too disturbing to describe.  Why is all this going to happen? because Israel will not listen or obey.  I would say "God help them" but they don't want his help.

Jeremiah 2-4 We are in the Prophetic Stream as we read from The Living Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Dear Lord: The prospects of the ungodly are oh so grim. The end of the disobedient is certain. I pray we are ready and alert souls who will have ministry in mind as we encounter those who have come the the end of themselves and are therefore ready to hear of The Savior. Amen. Here are some statistics: Jeremiah spent 20 years warning Judah to repent, 20 years amid the sabres of war as Babylon was sacking the southern Kingdom, and 20 years in retrospect lamenting the destruction of the land of God; Judah and Israel. 2 - The nation has fallen so far. God wants to know, and Jeremiah is assigned to tell them: "you once loved me so much. I defended you and fed you. Anyone who threatened you paid severely.  Now you will worship anything as long as it isn't Me. There is a national attitude of "whatever buddy!" toward God.  Even the priests and leaders are given to Baal and Molech."  God is going to continue pursuing Judah and will be trying to love them, but things do not look good.  They were so free and prosperous and strong but have turned themselves into slaves. They rebel at every turn.  They have become more proficient at sinning than those who have had no training in goodness (and vice versa!) It's as if those who were lost all along come to the Israelites to learn about 'how to be better sinners.'  It is so utterly pathetic what these people have turned themselves into.  They are dirty dirty dirty, lusting 24/7, anyone who comes to minister to them gets murdered, ...and they think that a foreign government is going to be of aid to them! 3 - Israel, called out to be God's bride, has turned itself into a trolling whore that will expend herself on anyone but her husband, and she doesn't come home.  God is willing to forgive and reunite with them but their sinfulness is a bit more appealing to them at the time.  Judah held onto God a bit longer (the southern Kingdom) but they have slouched in their pursuit of God too.  Manasseh is king at present.  He's the one who had Isaiah killed and he is turning out to be the darkest leader the Semitic world has ever seen.  His Satanic wretchedness far outdid Ahab. Manasseh was throwing live babies and young children into fires at evening rituals as a sacrifice to Molech.  Here was Jerusalem - no city had been so blessed, yet no place or people on earth had descended so far down from so far up. They had even become more wicked than their relatives in Israel; the northern kingdom. Judah was disaffectionately dubbed, "the adulterous wife". And that was just the tip of the matter as for how bad they had become. 4 -  The opening of ch. 4 sounds like, "this is your final chance to exit from the highway to destruction..."  God wants to see total transformation of His people, yet they are bent on wickedness.  and the enemy army is on the march to come flatten them!  The sword is raised, a lion is at the gate, their chariots and horses are coming, war and death and crushing will engulf Judah. It is going to be awful - and Jeremiah can see it prophetically. It will happen.  The first influx of Babylonian soldiers enter Judah in 605 B.C. - 21 years after Jeremiah is called into ministry. The siege is progressively moving across Judah until 586 B.C. when Jerusalem is sacked and the Temple is destroyed.  Jeremiah is warning them for two decades to turn but God's people are stubborn, dull to truth, skilled at deviance, and moronic about righteousness. It's amusing that, as the enemy is closing in on them, some of the Judeans are pausing to put on mascara and "doll up" themselves.  That's as dopey as the town being on fire, and stopping the work of dousing the fire so you can have time to wash and paint your house ... before it burns to an ash heap!  Something is really wrong with these people. The sad thing is that it is an illustration of all of us.

Psalm 38-41 We are in the Wisdom Stream reading from the The Living Bible today. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams

Lord God, we can learn from David today. May we, like David, when in anguish and pain turn to you and not turn on you.  Amen.

Things are not looking too good for David and that is the tone for most of what we find in the Psalms today.

38 - David is pleading to God for the punishment he is feeling to relent.  David has sinned and God is angry.  David is near complete despair with pain and inflammation, disease and exhaustion. Loved ones and friends have departed. His enemies are still coming at him. David calls out to God in this state - it's quite a lesson for all of us. 39 - David's sin and punishment because of it is dragging on and it has him longing for happier days. It has him musing about the frailty and emptiness of life.  His final verse here sums things up: "spare me Lord, let me recover and be filled with happiness again before my death." He simply longs to fellowship sweetly again like he did with his God when he was tending sheep and playing harp and singing to Him in better days. 40 - is one of the most popular Psalms of deliverance, recovery and relief. It's been a favorite for 3,000 years.  The presence and loving hand of the Lord is what the heart really longs for. And God longs to be with us - 'ever think about that? Sacrifices are ... well yeah, ... they are good but God wants us and we want God.  The fellowship is what is most sought for. God delivers, just keep calling for him until the relationship is restored.   It's very interesting about how U2; the band from Ireland made a song out of Psalm 40 and it has been among the most popular songs ever performed.  All opinions and personal impressions aside, the world longs to be with it's Savior - even though we seem to forget this more than we seem to remember it. 41 - David has a lovely piece about God's ability to nurse us back to health. He then quickly launches into his word against those who have turned on him.  This Psalm best coordinates with what is found in II Samuel 15 when Absalom has turned and is now trying to wrestle the kingdom from David; his own dad. Absalom has recruited Ahithophel to join in the rebellion. Athithophel was once very close to David (they were the best of friends) but has now become the "Judas" of the Old Testament if y'know what is being said here.  Still David remains in prayer and is turning to God in his distress, isolation, and pain. Amid this anguish he ends the Psalm exclaiming about his eternal God who is from everlasting to everlasting.  What a heart for God David had!

II Samuel 6-11 We are in the Nation Stream continuing the story of King David. We are reading from The Living Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis 6 - the stunning drama continues:  30,000 troops are in procession to bring the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem where it belongs.  The man standing right by the Ark catches the Ark so to keep it from falling. The young man, Uzzah who touched the Ark falls dead instantly. Quick reminder: the Ark is nothing to be trifle with or light-hearted about. It is the most sacred item ever constructed on earth. No one was to touch it ... so why was Uzzah less than an arm's length away from it?  The Ark is then kept at a home nearby and that home is truly and deeply blessed. David, realizing this anew realizes it must be taken to Jerusalem so the whole city and nation can be blessed! David enters the city and the worship he triggers is most vigorous. His first wife, Saul's daughter, resents all this excitement centering around God. So she is struck for her attitude and never has children.  Memo: when worship commences, it is better to join in than to sit on the sidelines and analyze it.

7 - David pauses to exclaim that a Temple be built to honor God. David had a good heart in stating this, but God has a better idea and tells him of it via Nathan the prophet. God is going to establish a throne for David that will make him among the most prominent men in history. David is going to shine above the rest for all time and indeed the Savior comes to the world by way of David's line of descendants.  His response to God is most gracious and grateful and humble.  It reminds us of why God's heart is after and upon David. 8 -10 - This starts David's campaign of expanding the borders to the largest they had ever been. He is king, and operating 400 years after Moses he is taking the property lines to places no one ever thought they would be. God gave David success at every turn. He subdued the Philistines, Moabites, Syrians, Edomites, Ammonites, Amalekites, and all neighboring nations. He brought home great wealth and his sons assisted him. The whole family has covering. [ 9 ]- This is a touching chapter in that David pauses amid 'endless' battels to inquire of Saul's relatives. David seeks out Mephibosheth, Jonathan's crippled son, who was dropped as a child.  And he takes him in and takes care of him for life.  Mephibosheth dines with the king from then on.  The marvel of this is that it tells of David's kind heart amid the conquests. The common practice of many in this region was to find any possible dissenters of a prior ruler who might in any way be disloyal to [you] the current king, and to wipe them all out. David does the opposite and honors this grandson of Saul [who hated him] and son of Jonathan [whom he was close to]. 11 - This is the chapter that creates a great turn in David's life. He had trouble all his earlier day but there was blessing and protection and provision for him.  This is where David procures wife #8 and he does so in an illicit manner. He already has 7 wives! The problem is that a set up like this trains a man deep in his soul [albeit even doing so unconsciously] that he can have whomever and whatever he wants whenever he wants it.  This is not good.  It also (multiple wives) merely proves to the heart of any man that "enough" is never enough. He sees BATHsheba taking a bath and wants her...now! It was all over, babe. He takes her, gets her pregnant, and in an effort to cover himself, arranges for her husband to be killed. Her husband, [you remember in the story] Uriah shows more ethics when he is inebriated than David shows when he is sober, btw! David did what he did and seemed to get away with it, legally.  But God was not pleased with him. He thought he had troubles before! ... They worsen now and never let up the rest of the days of his life.  David ruined his own plight here. His penchant for women [polygamy] is what weakened him and brought this on however.  It reminds of the warning in Proverbs 31:2-3, "my son, listen...do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings."  And remember this is not chauvanism - the warning comes to all men for all time - from a woman!