The Seven Streams Method

Mark 12-13 We are in the Christ Stream and reading from the New International Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord Jesus, just as you ARE the revelation of God, your words are revelation to us. You just simply tell us what we need to know.  As you told your disciples in John, "i call you friends", we are assured that there is no truer friend than you.  We are grateful.  Amen.

12 - The parable of the vineyard, wherein the tenants who were entrusted to care for it, figures prominently since Matthew/Mark/Luke all include this parable. When the Son comes on behalf of the owner and they kill Him too, it's a "dead" giveaway that Jesus is talking about the leaders of Jerusalem who have been entrusted to be the ones to spiritually care for Israel and her people. For the Israeli Nation were the Light to the Gentiles. This "vineyard" figures in religious history to heal and refresh the nations. The leaders are in charge and they are derelict and they know it and this story hits them in the heart; "ka-zing!" and they don't like it.  If it was false, they wouldn't care, but since it's true, they want Him arrested. Notice that they don't arrest Him however because, like Saul 1000 years ago, they care about public opinion - and this is their chief concern.

-Know that the question about paying taxes to Caesar is coming from people who detest Caesar. Again, it was another trick question.  They forget who they are fooling with, don't they? He throws it right back at them and they at least have the courtesy to be amazed with everyone else.  A subtle hint that reflects to today in a not so gentle manner is the clear insinuation that the government is not to be making dictates about religion, religious activity, or the religious convictions of people. -The "Marriage at the Resurrection" question serves a few purposes in Jesus' bloc of teaching here. There are a few "faiths gone awry" in this world that have man made ideas about family on earth and what family in heaven is and they project the lust-driven opinions of earth onto what life in heaven is going to be.  This is wrong.  When Jesus replies that we will be like the angels in heaven, it is a comment that eternally echoes both forward and backward in time.  The Sadducees asked this question about marriage in the resurrection when they flatly did not believe in the resurrection!!  The construction of the question is absurd to begin with: A widow marrying the next brother and then the next brother working through a whole family of seven brothers ... come on guys, eeeesh! They needed to get their act together and try following Jesus instead of trying to frustrate Jesus. They were in GREAT error. -Just a tip here: when someone asks "which commandment is the greatest?" it's a clear clue that they likely aren't obeying the commandments nor do they care to. Though this particular inquisitor may have asked with a clear conscience.  But in general, it's as dumb as asking which holes in the boat should we patch before we launch? the ones in the front or the rear?...or portside? which?  Either ALL the holes are patched or the boat is going to the ocean floor, ding-bat!  What kind of question is this?  Jesus constructed a rather cordial and pertinent reply and after that --> no one  d a r e d  ask him any more questions. Their plans were revealing their bleak hearts and not getting Jesus in any trouble like they had hoped. -the remainder of ch. 12 was further revelation of the teachers of the law and their dubious agenda, their hypocrisy, their arrogance, selfishness, crime and cruelty. Jesus nailed them. And He was telling this to the whole crowd.  Pretty gutsy of Jesus. 13 - Jesus gave signs and told us what was going to happen: imminently in Jerusalem and eschatalogically [End Times matters] for the earth and in history.  Jesus warns of deceivers, false messiahs,  wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution, worldwide evangelism along with family strife, distress like the world has never known, there will be signs in the skies, and the Return of Christ Jesus will be a giant event.  Amid all the cataclysmic events, know that the Word of the Lord will stand fast and hold true.    And finally be reminded that no one knows or even can know the day or hour that Christ will return.  So pay attention. And like the occupation of a watchman whose job is to WATCH. We too must watch for the Return of Christ.   Come Lord Jesus.

Hosea 13-14 Today we finish the book of Hosea in the Exile Stream. We are reading from the New International Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord we hear your heart today in this - Hosea's finale~  You so long to bless and heal and be with and shower good upon your own.  May we be a people who hear and obey and let you touch our lives.  Amen. We finished the words of Hosea today.  He began his ministry around 760 B.C. and prophesied to the northern Kingdom until it's final end in 722 B.C.   He lived in the north and, by God's command, lived in and among the Israelites; a nation turned completely pagan.  Hosea knew the pain that this paganism was causing God. The adultery hit home even for him as his wife was committed to adultery as a lifestyle.  He had seen seven kings come and go. All were wretched.

13 - The people of the north had been so regal (until rebelling). Ephraim was a noteworthy place - once upon a time it was noteworthy for a good reason - now it is noteworthy for a bad reason. The Kingdom splitting was the occasion for calf worship to be instituted. [This was ca. 160 years before Hosea showed up.]  Jeroboam wanted all loyalty to be up north and away from the Temple. <--[This was the late 900's B.C.] About two generations later, King Ahab added Baal worship to the calf worship. The calf worship started the spiritual bleeding whereas with the Baal worship, an artery had been "nicked".  The story of Ahab doing this is told in I Kings 16:30-33. Ahab had been gone for just over a century now and Israel was about to bleed out and be a lifeless place. The death of a nation is at hand. And this is what Hosea is speaking to to begin the reading today.  They will be pounced as if by a wild animal, the wells will go dry, even the babies will draw no compassion from the hoards that will pour in to kill everything they see.

14 - It has been a terrible 200 years for Israel.  "The curtain" is about to be drawn. Not much good at all if any has come out of a land that has dedicated itself to being rebellious to the Lord, to the south, to the Temple and all else that God stands for. The Assyrians are coming. Israel will be decimated. This is where rebellion ends up 100% of the time when God is being rebelled against.  Does that make God mean? Not at all. Listen to the beauty of what God wants to do with His people. Were His people to repent, all would be forgiven. And He still beckons them to repent!  Their gracious God would heal them and their wayward hearts. They would be loved and know love.  Wow, were they to listen to God -the wonders and rejuvenation, the communication with God, the fruitfulness - good heavens what can happen at the hands of a loving God!  God wants them to walk again; walk with Him. This invitation stands for all of us.

Jeremiah 11-14 We are in the Prophetic Stream reading from the New International Version.   7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Jesus, we feel pressed to pray for Jeremiah and provide hospitality or give him a break somehow. Let us take that same sentiment and provide it as support to those who serve you today. Increase our faith and service Lord.  Amen Come this chapter, Josiah has recently died and the reforms he instituted are reverting fast as the people are diving back into idolatry.  It's not good.  The first wave of the Babylonian invasion is less than five years out and the false prophets are crooning about security and riches and that all is well while they are hypocritical and two-faced as a hyena wearing three halloween costumes. 11 - The title of this chapter -from any angle you view it- is basically, "The Covenant is Broken".  To put it in today's terms. Your daddy has given you a vehicle, it has a lifetime warranty, bumper to bumper 100% insurance coverage 'forever'. You've been granted a gas card to swipe at any station in the world. Maintenance is also "on the house". It's the most beautiful car you ever saw. It is far beyond better than what you were hoping to get. All that's required is that you drive sensibly, safely, share rides with those who need it as time affords and go to church on Sunday.  Easy enough? Well in chapter 11 of Jeremiah, you've been pulled over for driving 85 is a 35 mph zone [AGAIN!], you are inebriated, it's a 7 passenger car and you have 12 people in it -no one has a seatbelt on, music is blaring and you can't even hear the policeman trying to ask for your license and registration. You think you should be let off because your daddeo is mayor and you insist you be allowed to drive on and instead you are forced to get out for a DUI test. The others in the car start plotting that they should burn the police car because their "fun" has been interrupted. btw, this is the 60th time you have been pulled over in similar fashion. [Jeremiah is the policeman here and the people in the car are the residents of Jerusalem about 610-609 B.C.  Make sense?!] 12 - Jeremiah's prophetic heart for ministry is being tested here as he notes the disparaging difference between his situation [as he is loathed for speaking while he serves God] against the way the wicked are thriving and prospering.  It's a legitimate question. These same people who are smack-mouthed about God since they don't mean their vows and their hearts are far gone astray,--> these same people are also wanting to kill Jeremiah for exhorting them. God's reply is sobering and ... well, it is what it is.  No one is going to get away for their turning away from God in a cavalier manner. 13 - The story is told straight-forward and it is easy to interpret. The linen belt is Jerusalem and Judah. They were beautiful, decorative and helpful - but are now soiled, ugly and useless.  Also, Judah is going to be smashed the way a loud-mouthed drunk late on a weekend night gets pummeled for shooting off his mouth.   Captivity is coming for these people.  It's like the whole nation is going to jail !  Apparently they are virtually impossible to "scare straight" so they will be "doing time" in the Babylonian Big House. 14 - There is a drought. The famine is going to get worse. The enemy is armed and is coming.  It is awful and it will be more awful before Jerusalem falls silent!  Still Jeremiah prays for this people.  He cares for them in this manner and in the continuing prayer (that goes into ch. 15).  Jeremiah is sounding sort of like Jesus languishing that he would like to gather Jerusalem in his arms but they wouldn't.  Jeremiah's prayer here is spot-on accurate theology.  He has the wherewithall to utter, "Oh Lord Our God ... our hope is in you.  He may have been the only one in the city praying this but Jeremiah is stallwart in heart to articulate his prayer as he does. Jeremiah is committed beyond what most all Christians today understand commitment.

Psalms 55-61 We are in the Wisdom Stream and using the New International Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Thank you Lord for being with us, for hearing us, for stepping in for us and defending us even and especially when things are at their worst. You truly are our Savior.  Amen   Today's run of Psalms is like trouncing through a jungle, escaping the lion to encounter the huge snake, then running into an angry gorilla, and then the demented explorer who sic's the blood-thirsty warriors on you so you run to a "Tarzan vine" that allows you to swing over and narrowly escape across the pirhana-infested river so you can have a moments rest with ... the Lord!  "whew"  Somehow the Lord brought David through harrowing times like this for years on end. 55 - David is pleading for a reply and some relief. He is in anguish, and distraught with terror and worse. Things are bad. Oh, would he love to fly away. David longs to flee back to the desert - probably because it reminds him of peaceful sheep tending during his youth. His prayer for the destruction of his enemies is warranted. And what is compounding matters is that the enemy in this case was once a close companion and believer along with David as they worshiped together - that was then. Now he's turned on David.  Honestly it sounds like Ahithophel the wretch whom we [red] read about last week. This cut David deep. II Samuel 15 is the narrative that triggered this particular prayer from David.  Amazing that David ends this Psalm, "cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain ... as for me, I trust in you." 56 - This Psalm corresponds with the story from I Sam. 21 when David was being "held" in Gath.  He is being resourceful, thinking quickly on his feet so to speak. And it is of note that his most intense interaction during this time in Gath is with his God.  The timing is intriguing (since you asked!), David is frightened in Gath; I Samuel 21:10-15. He prays this Ps. 56 here, then he escapes unscathed and then prays Psalm 34 to give thanks for delivery.  He is walking with God whatever "jungle" he finds himself in, doesn't he? 57 - David is hiding in a cave when he writes this Psalm - I Sam. 22 coincides with this prayer. I Sam 24 and 26 are similarly tense for David and David is saying in so many words, "God all I have is you. I cannot count on anyone else."  Interesting that David killed a lion and a bear perhaps in this same region and he likens those who are chasing him now to lions and ravenous beasts [MEN this time!] whose teeth are actual spears and arrows.  Still David's heart is steadfast on God, he is praising, knows of God's great love and David is in worship. 58 - David is especially bothered that the judges and rulers of this era are akin to poison on the land. He wishes that they would befallen upon their own wickedness and things would change quickly. He wants them to have no descendants to carry on the wrong doing.  They were as dangerous for the country of Israel as a lion prowling through a village with children playing outside. David just wants all the rulers who have a corrupted soul to vanish and David uses colorful illustrations to portray the depth of his desire to see them gone. 59 - This Psalm and I Sam.19 is the concurrent literature.  Saul tried to drill David through with a spear (for Saul, btw, this was an "indoor sport" that he was quite unsuccessful at).  Again, the spear stuck in the wall and David fled for his life.  So Saul sent soldiers after David. It was a recurring game of tag where 'winner takes all'. We remember the crazed excitement of playing tag as children, don't we?  Well this is just as exciting and it is gone way past being a game. Losing/getting caught was not an option. Yet David is very much on the run and very much filled with faith and trust.  David prays for deliverance and that is what happens.  The "howling dogs" are not victorious. David is victorious because his God is. 60 - was written during a moment when the battles David was embroiled in were not going so well. Thankfully it was a brief enough stint and God responded quickly to David's discouraged cry.  II Sam. 8 -somewhere during this chapter- was the setting of the prayer of David here. And God responded as we can see in II Sam. 8:14 wherein God granted victory to David wherever he went. 61 - The Psalm opens with a song that is sung even today. You probably remember the melody. .It is most likely that David wrote this when he was "in flight", far from home, and running from the pesky Absalom who had gone evil as a maniac.  David longed to be home in the house of God and in worship there again.  It would come. David's faith was anchored forever.  It's interesting, whether we realize day to day or not, but our prayers and the Psalms are basically assisting us to walk with God like David did.  He is a sterling example for this. We need to be spending our lives in the Psalms.

II Samuel 21-24 We are in The Nation Stream and finishing the book of II Samuel. We are reading from the New International Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Dear Lord, we see the greatest of Kings in essence getting his house or rather his soul in order as he is preparing to depart and "be gathered to his people". May we be souls who have the wisdom to number our days and make sure they count for Christ and His Kingdom.  Amen.

21 - This chapter wraps up the 9 chapters straight of troubles that sprung up in David's life since the Bathsheba incident. Virtually all of this is in-house trouble.  It's painful problems that were at an anguish level for David. Life was always turbulent for David since he defeated Goliath. That is the price of leadership. But this last 9 chapters hit close to home since his since was within his own home, among his own home and against his own. One might call the long season of David's life "when pain hits home."  The incident of the Gibeonites and avenging the wrong done to them to end the famine was simply awful stuff. That's one thing about the Bible - it doesn't gloss over how bad things can get as consequence of breaking a treaty before God or from breaking faith with God. The Philistines took one last swipe at David and his kingdom. It's legendary as giants came forth and Davids' army struck and finished them all off.

22 - David is sharing one of his last Psalms as he looks back on his life. God has always been faithful. Though David has erred on occasion - David, however, always had unfailing trust in God's care and David was always grateful knowing that God always took care of him.  It's placement here has us looking back over David's life which is among the richest of lives ever lived.  The adventure, the battles and struggles, the triumphs and devotion, the dark nights his soul walked through, the worship and exultation - this life is what has comprised the best of children's stories that inspire all ages for 3,000 years. 23 - This is David's last Psalm and it is an epochal rendition of God's majestic work of making the Kingdom of Israel.  God has been just. His Covenant is righteous. And God's Kingdom will grow eternally.  The list of names of great men and their deeds is like an all=star cast of the superhero movie to end all debates about who is the greatest. It's really quite something! 24 - The census that was taken at the end of David's life is an issue of puzzlement and discussion that will go on long after today.  To add to a sense of understanding of this reading I Chronicles 21 is the parallel story of this event.  All David's life he trusted in God alone. This seemed to indicate that, since he was in war much of his life, it was his thinking and orientation so he calculated that he needed some numbers to be assured that the kingdom that had expanded under his reign was sufficient. Satan had urged this census be taken and David complied. Joab was right to question the deed but David prevailed. He got his numbers but there was a plague that swept through in exchange for this faithless deed done with fleshly intent. The reaction of David and the stopping of the plague was classic David  - though his action was not right initially, his reaction was proper; to commemorate and remember and build an altar to God. Solomon later built the Temple in this same place (II Chr. 3:1)!  It's marvelous to step back and ponder this, the hand of God that oversees even during and through unfortunate events.

Exodus 27-29 We are in the World Stream today reading more about the construction the altar, tabernacle, etc. from the New International Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Dear Lord prepare us for our meeting with you. The beauty of what is coming together in this reading today is simple and intricate and beautiful; beautiful as meeting you daily as we prepare to meet you face to face one day.

27 - Here we find the description of the bronze altar and the court of the Tabernacle. The altar was 15' X 15' and 9' high. The details for the courtyard that would encircle the Tabernacle are many. The court was 150' X 75'.  The linen curtains and loops and poles and lamps is rather interesting. There are helpful drawings and illustrations if searching then on the internet helps you see it better. "Tabernacle in the wilderness" should take you enough options.

28 - The garments for the priests; Aaron and his sons were of vital importance. The included the ephod (the breastpiece), there were gems within the garments.  The outfits were symbolic, precise, intricate, and beautiful - even inspiring. This was such a significant element of their worship. I may seem hard to grasp for many today when the dresscode has degraded to "hey, wear whatever!"  But Jesus told one parable where those who attended a wedding were expelled from the event for having the wrong outfit on.  This was also illustrative of paradise where those who are clothed in Christ are the only ones allowed to enter. Anyone else with any other outfit is cast into outer darkness.  My husband and I may have a better insight into this as we work in Hollywood and it is crucial that every woman at every event be found in a unique dress. To be seen in any way similar to another woman's outfit is a perceived nightmare. The opposite rule goes for men - they must all look identical in black tuxedos/white shirt/black bowtie. To be seen in any variance of this is an extreme taboo.  Dressing for God matters FAR more. So it may require some mental effort, but understanding and seeing the priests outfits for the deep meaning that they carried is a rich endeavor. 29 - The consecrating of the Priests was the setting aside these men / their lives unto ministry was a grave matter (deathly serious) <-- if we may embrace a tone of such.  They were to have their outfits and to wear them properly.  They were not to be slapped on and then take a dumb stumble into the courtyard for some yaha time with God before the people. Heavens no. This was as serious as the nation's very existence.  If this stuff didn't matter, then nothing else mattered...and vice versa.  There were sacrifices to me made and they were to be folllowed to the "T".  There was food to be prepared and that must be done in a flawless manner also.  Why all this detail in today's reading? This is all described here and then it is described again in Exodus 35-40 as they are building it. We may look at this and, putting our thinking today against the mindset in the Sinai, only to be thinking now, "heard that before - got it the first time."  This repetition only asserts the extreme importance - it is not a laborious repeat.    The TAbernacle was a foreshadow, a "likeness" of something heavenly.  The reminder to look back on this in Hebrews 8:5 is intriguing.  The significance of being right before a glorious God never goes away.  It's similar to the issue that arrives in construction. Get the blueprints done perfectly, follow them precisely and comprehensively, build it properly and the final product is eternally right.  This matters to all involved in any construction project. and to the occupants that shall reside/and/or work there later? .  How could anything we do be of greater importance that what God wants built. Does precision and beauty and strength and value matter to God. You bet you life it does.  Listen again to the final verse today - God does this "that He might dwell among them for He is the Lord their God."   Nothing matters more than this!

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I Corinthians 4-6 We are in the Church Stream today hearing the Apostle Paul instruct the church at Corinth. We are using the Common English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams

The Thread through the Streams

Looking over the terrain of the scriptures, we can almost feel it in our soul when God shows the vision to the 70 elders in Exodus. The Covenant is laid forth, they gather to dine and they see the dazzling blue above as if God opened a window from heaven and let them see in. "Watch this" <--they heard it back then and they saw. It was a spectacular gift of God.

-In II Samuel there is a rebellion getting some scary momentum. Will Ahithophel get away with this? No. Watch this. Will the army of Absalom snuff out King David? No. They are going down today. God will do them in - this rebellion will die in the forest, watch this. -In Psalm 50:15, I can almost hear the question being asked of God and his reply, " cry out to me, I'll deliver you from trouble - watch this!" -In Jeremiah they are justifying themselves thinking they will never be punished. "oh yea? watch this as the harvest doesn't come in, mounted horsemen bent on obliterating you ride. You won't want to watch this, but you will!" -Hosea in ch. 11 especially muses at how frustrating this all is for God to call down punishment on His beloved children. Can they see it? God wants to show them compassion if they would watch for Him instead of looking for ways to err into sin. -Right before Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time, there's a "watch this!" as Jesus heals Bartimaeus of blindness. And think that the deed itself says the same thing to the blind man. Guess what?! He can watch Jesus now! Amazing. -In Corinth there is a fellow engaging is a dark sin that leads to death / not just an ecclesistical inconvenience. He is arrogant about it. Paul almost retorts in his spirit to that man, "you think you are going to get away with this? Keep this up? Stay in the church? avoid evil and love your sin and not encounter grave punishment? Watch this as you get handed over to Satan himself. Let's everyday be watching for what God is going to do - it's terribly marvelous.

Mark 10-11 We are in the Christ Stream today reading about Palm Sunday and more. We are using the Common English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | @drakewtravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for sharing your endless wisdom, your mind, your life and your eternal home with us.  Amen 1 - In case anyone is wondering: Jesus is in the final days - week or two at the most - of His life/ministry before He is crucified. It is the Springtime. If we put our calendar transparently right on top of the local calendar of the era and region we would be calling the month April. If you are into calendars, the Julian and the Gregorian and (it's a laborious study so we will simply mention it here) The year is 29 A.D. -Fascinating little study about the dates. But, on to Jesus' march to Jerusalem. He has just come far south. He is still east of the Jordan and getting mashed in by a crowd again, He is teaching and some Pharisees are there. They ask him if divorce is permitted by law.  It's always amusing when someone asks a question and they are not really on a quest to get their question answered. These Pharisees are tramps! They were the type to divorce and give out easy divorces for ... a wife burning the food, for casually stating "she isn't attractive to me anymore". They treated women below dogs. And so over the years, most of these clowns had turned their wives into skittish, cowering ladies who lived with little value in their own minds so their own husbands were not drawn to them anymore. They don't care that the Law forbids divorce. They are just trying to set up a situation where Jesus seems pitted against Moses. Makes one shake their head to watch these guys get "owned" or exposed like crooks in broad daylight. I like to say that Jesus tied them in a knot and left them baking in the sun. OK, that's not very nice :-( Next we see Jesus blessing little children, and the disciples rebuke this. For them, children are a segue to nothing. They can't be added to the "vital contacts" list. Jesus, always ready to create a teachable moment, does so and portrays "the child" as the ones who access God far more readily for they come to God for love. They come purely. No finesse, no secondary or hidden agenda. No attempt to deceive or be dubious. They just come to Jesus because they want HIM. Adults rarely do that, though children always do. And we better learn something here. ~Then there comes a rich young ruler; he has wealth, youth, time, and power. He wants to add Jesus' wisdom to his arsenal AND have eternal life. Jesus basically says to him, that Jesus is to be the number one priority in his life. We've met people who glance over Jesus' statement here and declare they can never follow Jesus. This is paper-thin scholarship. Just a few verses later Jesus tells his disciples that ALL things are possible with God. Jesus asserts that those who serve Him wholeheartedly will be rewarded accordingly and they can "take that to the bank". -He tells of his Passion again - remember Jesus does this five times during this season of His ministry -  James and Johns' little "I'm #1" squabble is turned into a teaching lesson for service. Interesting that Christians lead the world in service because of this passage right here! -in the blind Bartimaeus story, notice that when Jesus calls to him, he throws off his mantle. This mantle was a cloak that was sanctioned by the government meaning he was 'cleared' to beg. BarT- throwing it away as soon as he hears Jesus' voice means he KNOWS he will be healed. Do we come to Jesus' with that confidence?! 11 - The triumphal entry is the event that is commemorated each Palm Sunday the world over. 'Pretty bold of him to go straight to the Temple and bash all the bookkeepers and kaBoom the bazaar that had developed into an eternal fundraiser. To charge people for praying was disgusting and Jesus' made is statement didn't He.??  The fig tree incident can be analyzed for a lifetime, I'll just pick one facet and say this, "we need to be producing something for God's sake. Jesus is hungry and wants a fig. Are we going to be coming to God empty handed forever? Come on! He tells us to be full of faith and quick to forgive. Let's do what we are told here. -It ends today with the Temple leaders coming to him again with a question that is just a ploy to ensnarl Him. Again, their "question" is no quest. Jesus throws it right back at them and they fall dumbfoundedly silent.  This whole interchange is actually taught in law schools today for it's brilliance and quick reply that exposes what is really going on. -Looking over the two chapters today, let's not come to Jesus with our "educated agenda", let's come like Bartimaeus and the children with our needs before us and excitement to be with Him.

Hosea 11-12 We are in the Exile Stream and reading from the Common English Bible. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | @drakewtravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Dear Lord,

We know that You are compassionate to those who follow after You. We want to follow You. Help us to stay on the straight and narrow and to not be distracted by the temptations of this world. May Your compassion flow through us to reach more for Your Kingdom. Amen.

Just to pause for some review, Hosea was sent as the final prophet to the North; to Israel.  They split from the south because they were tired of the taxes and of being told by the new young leaders [in the south] that taxes would only go up; way up. To secure the division, the north (Israel) had set up the the golden calf as their national symbol and had immersed themselves in Baal worship. This deliberate paganism was a 200 year run from ca. 920 BC to 720 BC.  During these two centuries God sent Elijah, Elisha, Jonah, Amos and finally Hosea.  All tried to get the northern Kingdom to repent of its idol worship. It was as feckless of results as trying to get dogs to stop digging through garbage or to keep pigs out of mud. ?How to get these people to stop their transgressions? We read Hosea 11 and 12 today and will finish Hosea next week.

11 - begins that God called his son out of Egypt. This is a theme; a motif in the long process of redemption.  Moses was called out of Egypt, the Israelites were called/delivered out of Egypt, Jesus was called out of Egypt as a toddler when the angel told Joseph/Mary to return to Israel now since Herod was gone.  The phrase "Leaving Egypt" can virtually mean to depart from slavery and come into freedom. God had called Israel out of slavery and ... they dove back into it around 920 B.C. and told themselves that they were doing this to symbolize their independence. It's quite the "whirling dervish" mentality and it wasn't taking them where they might have thought it would.

God has cared for them for so long; from the start! and all they do is run away. They are a frustration to God.  And since they think it's their right to dabble in spiritual slavery, they will return to slavery. Assyria will swarm in and when the swords flash all over over their country it won't be some display or Memorial Day exposition.  Swords will flash for their death! Horror of horrors. God really doesn't want to see this happen to Israel, his chosen people. But what is God to do when Israel has chosen wrong? The two mentioned cities of Admah and Zeboiim were sister cities of Sodom/Gomorrah, mentioned in Gen. 10:19. They had joined in S Gs' sin.  They were burned into oblivion too in Genesis along with the other ungodly populations. Again, God doesn't want to treat Israel this way but what choice is Israel's behavior offering to God when they had joined in such diabolical behavior? Their satanic behavior must be addressed. Does God love them? He never stopped loving them. This is pain for the divine one who would so prefer to save them.  However their life of lies cannot go on.

12 - Ephraim, in Israel (remember Absalom and his army perishing in the forests of Ephraim a few days ago?) Ephraim was a cultural center in Israel.  Let's put it this way, they put the "cult" in cultural. At any rate, Ephraim is doing deals with Egypt and Assyria (both menacing countries on either side of them) and they are thinking that they are going to triangulate a clever deal and thereby keep punishment at bay. It is as if they think that some tricky chess playing or maneuvering is going to keep them out of trouble. They were being like Jacob; Israel their forefather who was constantly conjuring something v.s. dealing with matters in a forthright manner. God had dynamically met Jacob at Bethel [Gen. 28] - now that area is "sin-central", they are ungodly in every way.  God has worked so long to establish His people in Israel but they seem to prefer to return to lostness.  They will, - and blood is going to be spilt.

Don't you wish things had gone differently? Yeah. God does too.

Jeremiah 8-10 We are in the Prophetic Stream today spendings some time with Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet. We are using the Common English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | @drakewtravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis God of Heaven, hear us when we pray. We see the mess that comes from disobedience. Let us be tender toward you, and listen.  May we be clay that can be molded in your hands. We do not want to be like those we have read about today. Make us like you.     Amen.

ch. 8 - begins midstream [continuing the thought that began in ch. 7]  One version called it "...The Valley of Slaughter". This is the description of how bad things were in Jerusalem as it was approaching 600 B.C. Human sacrifice had been going on, the priests were agents of darkness and not taking people to God. They had been doing astrology full on; consulting moon and stars like pagans gone amok. So God would see to it that the bones of these false priests would be laid out before the heavens - it was much more like Hindu "theology" for this to happen v.s. Judaic theology wherein the followers are buried at their death v.s. eaten by birds or burned on pyres. Judeans had been playing with false religion so they were going to end up as such.  It's a horror show, folks.  God has been trying to talk to His people, but one may as well try to have a calm conversation with a scared cat!  They run away, listen to lies, they're impenitent, oblivious to the Lord, they lie to themselves, lie about God and reject God outright.  Judah will be stripped bare for what they are doing. The harvest will not come in... but the enemy will come.  They've poisoned what God gave them and now they are poisoned. Healing? not happening. Jeremiah is very pained by all this.

9 - The first verses here is why Jeremiah is nicknamed the Weeping Prophet. What 'once was' compared to 'what is now' has decayed to such a sorry state of rottenness both spiritually and culturally. Deception is everywhere. The desolation they are seeing will soon completely overtake them.  This once beautiful city will soon be worse off than a dog pen. Jeremiah saw distinctly what was coming for these people. He walked among them (for well over a generation of time) and pleaded, practically begged- trying to persuade them - imploring them to turn from wickedness.  Btw, no one "converted" in his 60 years of ministering and prophesying. Jeremiah certainly had a discouraging assignment. The rebellious and callous ungodliness of these people -who had "firstborn" status with God- virtually broke Jeremiah's heart.  There will be so many dead bodies when the Babylonians stomp through Judah! My God, My God, won't these people hear the warnings?! 10 - is a glaring rendition of the pure worthlessness and empty stupidity of idols: either making them, using them, or worshiping them in any manner.  God is true, and living, and powerful, and renders justice, and applies his wrath properly.  He controls all nature - these idol makers are fools; buffoons.  Will you come home to Almighty God?        Since you won't, you may as well get to packing up your things for you are going to be run out of here.  Your injuries, your destroyed belongings, your decimated families ... what did you think would happen for ignoring the Lord's instruction?! Then Jeremiah ends the reading today with a humble prayer that is 'one for the ages.'   "Correct me Lord, but with justice, and not in your anger, or else you will reduce me to nothing."  Jeremiah knew the times he was living in for certain.