The Seven Streams Method

Psalms 49-54 We are in the Wisdom Stream today. Dr. Drake is covering for Serena who is out with laryngitis. We are reading from the Common English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | @drakewtravis Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis God we thank you for the strength, courage and we can draw from these Psalms. These are common men you engaged to have them later speak to us. Thank you.  You lived in them. You live in us. Therefore let us be strengthened in the joy of the Lord. Amen Psalm 49 - opens with a herald of "hear ye, hear ye ..."  It's a memo of all hearts, young/old, rich/poor, wise/fool.  These Sons of Korah (the writers) reverence God and fear nothing in this world. The one thing that always wins on this earth; and has the last say is the grave. All are headed there. So of all the things we are to hope in ultimately is that God will redeem and take us to himself. This hope supersedes all hopes. Riches, wisdom, time - the things that most people spend their lives trying to gain are all destined to pass with us.  So look to God for redemption. 50 - Here is another Psalm that was sung in the Temple. It certainly is regal. God does what He does in all His natural glory and magnificent splendor. God speaks and gathers His own. Amid all He does, God is mindful of us. It's like in this Psalm, He is stopping in to assure and encourage us to keep living for Him, remaining thankful, and honoring Him - for He delivers us from trouble. As for the wicked: The total opposite awaits them. The are unteachable, they steal, visit whores, lie, cheat, even bash their own families! They better reckon and walk right or God will tear them to pieces ---> with no one to rescue. 51 - David's soul has hit bottom (though he was at the top of his world). There wasn't an army he couldn't beat, a territory he couldn't attain, he was honored over the known world. Then during some "down time", he stole a man's wife. When he gets rebuked for it, he confesses and repents. We read this story in the history stream last week; II Sam.11&12 . Of all the great things David did, one wise old preacher said, that this prayer, this confession from Ps. 51 was David's greatest move. He wants mercy and a renewed relationship with God. David knows about God's unfailing love and He calls upon that love with all earnestness. David's broken spirit IS his sacrifice to God. This Psalm that David was transparent enough to utter, has been and still is, an inspiration to billions of Believers throughout all time. 52 - David had learned that an Edomite; Doeg had run and told Saul about David's whereabouts and thus Saul resumed his heated chase to find and kill David.  Well David has a word for Doeg-the-tattler and we find it here in Psalm 52.  The setting of this writing was in I Sam. 21:7 and 22:9.  Doeg's presence was incidental but his obvious commitment to Saul over David is found out and is therefore what birthed this harsh word against him. God would ruin Doeg for this, though David would continue to thrive. 53 - Could this Psalm be called "The Tune of The Athiests"?  The Hebrews knew all about this concept that God's goodness is followed or there is no good found anywhere because man on earth does not manufacture goodness. This phrasing is quoted near verbatim in Psalm 14, Paul says these words 1K/yrs later in Romans 3:10-12.  It's the other end of the spectrum from modern-day pagans and New Agers who we may find chanting, "visualize smiles and loving worlds...visualize random kindness!" [poof]  The godless turn out to be hollow and fearful and they end up scattered. 54 - This Psalm, as in #52, is written in response to people giving away David's location to Saul. This time it was the people of Ziph (far SE of Jerusalem). You can brief that at your leisure in I Sam. 26. David's reaction is to call to God (as he always does) to be saved, defended, and heard in his prayers.  The contrast of the lives and spirit of those who are against God and of those who are for God is so stark. David again ends up victorious in triumph.

II Samuel 16-20 We are in the Nation Stream today and will discover what happens to the battle between King David and Prince Absalom. We are reading from the Common English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord, you preserved David through these difficult years, and we are comforted by your preservation of the King.  We also gain reassurance knowing that you do the same for us.  Amen.

We are in the heart of David's troublesome years. I think the Absalom factor cut David the deepest. Absalom was not in line for the throne, though there may have been generational priority over Solomon. I mean, really, Solomon was the son of Bathsheba - a wife obtained through illicit processes but... Be that as it may, David's affections for his womEn [plural] had created a sequence of events that birthed chaos and pained David the rest of his days.  So here we are in the thick of the skirmish caused by his "pretty-boy" son who felt he deserved even more than was due him.  A strong motif today is seen in how David treats each and every-one.

16 - The revelation of loyalties v.s. disaffections, the treachery and the intrigue of today's reading unfolds as a very high stakes, life and death chess game. We never can tell what each person's next move is going to be.  David is still enroute fleeing Jerusalem -namely Absalom; his rebel son, when he encounters Mephibosheth's aid; Ziba. M- was Saul's grandson whom David was endeared to and took him in. David still honors them despite the national tension. Then Shimei appears. He was a relative of Saul's.  Shimei is a agitated soul and curses David. This was extremely foolish since David is guarded by warriors who could kill Shimei at any moment. Oddly enough David halts any possible retaliation and lets Shimei yap away. This seems to reveal that DAvid is still feeling guilty --> Seriously, the king being treated this way (and musing about it being God's doing) just isn't right. But all things considered, David is being overly gracious these days. Remember, David's attitude toward Absalom is basically, "oh well, let him be King now..." (huh!?) Next Ahithophel reveals how far gone he is by advising Absalom to violate his father's concubines on rooftop in view of all the people.  Absalom obliges. It's like Jerusalem has gone crazy. 17 - Ahithophel then advises that 12K soldiers go hunt down David to scatter the soldiers and isolate David for the kill. Absalom [who's gone amok] loves the plan. Hushai intercepts (at God's prompting) and advises to pull in all Israel "against" David so that David and Co. can annihiliate Absalom's support. Hushai then goes completely stealth to spirit away and warn David of what's coming. Ahithophel learns his advice wasn't followed, so he goes home and hangs himself.  Gee, where did anyone think this turncoat rebel would end up? Meanwhile refreshment and comfort is provided to David's men so they are ready for battle. 18 - David snaps back into warrior-mode. He organized matters brilliantly under his command (On their departure he gives comment about Absalom - that puzzles his men more than anything) --> and off they ride into the battle! David's victory is swift and decisive as 20,000 of Absalom's loyalists (Israelites) are killed. Absalom, fleeing on a mule (not exactly a valiant picture!) gets himself killed/hung by his neck in a tree.  Joab learns of Absalom hanging in a tree unable to get free and he thrusts him through with three javelins (today's translation of "sticks" is a trifle weak). This rebellion ends. The victory is grand though grievous for David as his son was killed. He leaves his men in a bit of a lurch as he mourns Absalom's death in a rather protracted (and pathetic) manner. The victory, for him was an internal conflict that he couldn't resolve. 19 - General Joab's heated monologue of exhortation snaps David out of his mourning.  It seems Joab is perhaps more into David and the Kingdom than David is. A rally cry arises and David is called to return and resume as King of Israel. During the return Shimei comes forward for his sappy apology while falling prostrate before David.  David's graciousness was more than Shimei deserved for cursing the King [back in ch. 16.]  During the journey back to Jerusalem we see David handling many interactions that show his regal character in forgiving Shimei, Interacting tenderly and wisely with Mephibosheth and Ziba, being grateful to Barzillai and Chimham ("KIM-ham"). We see a tussle/argument break out between Israel -the conglomerate of the 10 tribes of the north and Judah -the chief tribe of the south.  It's a virtual harbinger of what is going to happen two generations later when, upon Solomon's death, the north splits away. 20 - Well, we're all heading back to Jerusalem and the rebellion is over, riiiight?  No, Sheba, a Benjamite rallied Israel against David and they followed Sheba against David! David acted quickly, put Amasa on task to assemble Judah to stop this rebellion.  Amasa took too long in the process and who [sensing divided loyalty!], who steps forward to ante-up and kill Amasa and roust the army? Joab!  He was quite-the-Patton we could say [during WWII] or Sherman [during the Civil War]. He was doggedly Patriotic and loyal to David; almost more "Davidic" that King David was! He pursued Sheba, like a cheetah after a gazelle, to where he was ditching out in Abel ["Ah-BELL"]. And Joab did not stop until Sheba's head was thrown over the wall and landed amid Joab's army.  The intervention of a wise woman in Abel was what ended sparing bloodshed on both sides and the city of Abel Beth Maacah ["m'-AH-cuh"] being razed-to-rubble.  Wow, what a read!

Exodus 23-26 We are reading more of the law and the instructions for the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle today. We are reading from the Common English Bible this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord God Almighty, seeing you and experiencing you is why we are alive. Prepare US to meet YOU.  Amen.

23 - The Book of the Covenant (Ex.21-24) continues and we finish that today [23,24] plus read the first two chapters that give directions for the Tabernacle [25,26].  To summarize 23: there will be justice and mercy. do not follow rumors or tell lies or lie as a witness, Justice means no favoritism, follow decency- not sentiment, take no bribes and do not oppress newcomers.  The land needs a Sabbath (ea.7th year), as do you and your slaves (ea.7th day). Follow no other gods. You will have festivals and celebrations in each season and God will be in the middle of them. People may ponder this but of a truth we all know; people either party with God or they will party with the Devil. God is commanding that they keep Him in the middle of their celebrations and He institutes these celebrations to assure the culture be a God-centered culture.      So much can be said about the dietary matters of blood, the yeast, the fat, the cooking process, the prohibition of mixing meat with the milk of that same animal - there is a landmark book titled Purity & Danger by Mary Douglas [1966] that offers a good explanation of the depth of this. It all could be summed up that God wants us to be whole and healthy and well. Many particular meats especially are unsanitary, from disorderly garbage minded-animals, putrid and therein they lend toward insanity and symbolize chaos. They were to avoid them and everything about them.  Each person will bring offerings to God / no one comes empty-handed. God led them via Moses and He was also sending an angel ahead of them (this "Messenger") This angel would protect against enemies, diseases, displacement, or becoming cowardly. They will have security and must avoid false gods.

24 - The Covenant is confirmed in an over-whelming event of effects and visions and fire and smoke and colors and revelations of God this all let the people know that God is abundantly serious and excited about what He is laying down here! The Israelites pledged to God and the elders proceeded into a venue that was most impressive. In case anyone is wondering, the word "lapis-lazuli tiles" is the light effect of azure-blue or sapphire. It's a deep sky color one sees when looking upward from an airplane at a high altitude. Here they are seeing God. My heavens! Moses then goes up into the cloud to listen/converse with God. Keep in mind that as we are reading the next 7 chapters (do not get bored amid the details of ch. 25-31!) Moses is IN the cloud getting these matters noted straight from God as He is talking to him. What an experience.  This time OMG means OMG literally! 25 - The offerings for the Tabernacle are to be gathered. This is very precious material being stored up. The instructions for the Ark are given as are the Table and the Lampstand. It may help to see this better by searching "The Tabernacle of Moses". This opens a series of sketchings. Most impressive is the one with the tall flame above the actual Tabernacle. This is the flame that God brought down along with the cloud that we read of at the end of Exodus 40. This assured that God was with them - that's all anyone needs to know, really.  But at the present there is alot of preparation yet to do to welcome God into their presence in majesty that will help make an impression on these people they will never forget. 26 - The dimensions of the Tabernacle are given.  The details are many and we may feel belabored by all this, but it matters. It matters to God so it needs to matter to us. [Again, searching Tabernacle photos can be helpful]  This is the place where God is going to appear and show his glory.  No house is built without specifications. Homes/Mansions are built and the more important it is, the more details there are. They were to follow these matters every one. Following this was prerequisite for God to appear. Sloppiness here would not be tolerated.  If they were sloppy here, they would be sloppy with everything. Going through Israeli neighborhoods today, the attention to detail is a marvel. Gates, gardens, fences, edging, etc. They get these notions from here in Exodus and it still shows 3,400 years later.  What are we studying and therefore what are we committed to?

I Corinthians 1-3 We are starting a new book in the Church Stream! We are reading from the Easy-to-Read Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis God, thank you for caring for us enough to walk us through such matters as we read about today. Church and Christian Fellowship is the best place on earth to find support and comfort, safety, strength, discipleship, and teaching. You certainly love your bride; the church. And we are grateful - because it is us you love. Amen.

Paul wrote this letter from Ephesus to the Corinthian church after he had left the first time. Corinth was along a busy trade route. It was a cultural and wealthy city of influence. Paul was spurred to write the Believers in Corinth because leaders from there had come to visit him in Ephesus as they were in duress and vexed with how to handle troubles, sin, misconduct, plus relational and doctrinal matters back in Corinth. [btw, Olympic trials were held here before Paul arrived and shortly after he had left.] There was an Aphrodite Temple above town. It had been closed by the New Testament era but there were residual effects from it in Corinth, Paul ended up addressing this issue also. It became an influential church and Paul was fervent to see them "aright their ship". For within a century there would be a population of 3/4Million people in the area, so now was the time to set the church straight.

1 - Paul encourages them that they are holy because they belong to Christ Jesus. The Greek culture had a goal of attaining a perfect body and a perfected mind. [E.g. the muscle-bound statues, the 'thinker', etc.] We can still view this art today. This was a Grecian's grid of value. and Paul wanted them to know that their value was that they belonged to Christ. This was news! Churches here (as elsewhere) had not built central meeting places. That happened a couple of centuries after Rome had committed to stop harassing and executing Christians. Churches met in homes, halls, fields, caves and were therefore almost never "all together" as a unified group. The tendency was to become competitive. They were following different factions they had created. Paul reminded them that they were all following Christ, together, so stop bickering. And it was vital that they understand the Cross. Greeks didn't like it because they felt, "why follow a man who surrendered himself to die? I don't want to die. I'll follow Apollos! He's alive..." [or we'll follow Peter or Paul or Aquila].  And then there were the Jews who were taught for 1400 years that a lamb was to be sacrificed, not a human. That was too much like Molech or the pagans in Rome. yuck!  As you see, Paul needed to explain the Cross to them....[and to us!] And because of this Cross, Jesus is your strength, your mind, your justification, your freedom. 2 - It was important that their confidence switch from being rooted in human thinking (mind worship) to confidence in Christ.  THIS is the root of true wisdom.  The Greek mind and language structure was a rather brilliant system - it still affects the way we think and talk even today.  But it is the wisdom of God, found in Christ Jesus, that we access through His Holy Spirit that leads to true wisdom that transforms us and the world.  This is the wisdom that Paul mentors us into finding and living by.  God has such marvels and wonders to share with us and bring us to, but we won't find this life in Him via a human path or cranial activity. We will find it by surrendering to Him, His wisdom, His Spirit. 3 - Paul takes the time to tell them that the teachers that pass through their live are God's Servants - not Their Masters.  Follow Christ, let the teachers guide you, and the arguing and comparing would simply cease - as it needed to!  The Greeks (and Corinth is a city in Greece) were very immersed in learning and growing and perfecting and building. There are structures from centuries before Christ that are still matters to marvel over today.  Paul, amid this thinking, asserts to them that THEY are a temple, Christ is at work on this temple. They must bring Christ into all their thinking and building and activity and hobbies and obsessions. Christ would then therefore be their "obsession". <-- We're saying what Paul is implying though he doesn't word it this way.  Paul simply wants Corinthians to latch on to a totally higher way of thinking, and wisdom and operating that supersedes anything they have ever known before.  Christ owns you and has so much to bless you with. Let Him. The Thread Through the Streams :You will all follow a higher wisdom, what God has laid out, or you will end up killing what you think it is you love. In Exodus, God laid out the plan; the "Decalogue" and numerous subsequent laws. Each persons impulses and passions were not to rule the day. God's Law was the law. What happens in the world, in villages, in families where God's law is not followed? Eventually murder rules and worse. -In II Samuel David is feeling the affects of not following God's 6,7,8, & 10th Commandments. He repented and was restored, yes. But it ends up terrorizing and killing his children however. -In Psalms, the Sons of Korah are at a crossroads many times. They are so down-hearted. Thankfully they choose to look up to God, and His higher wisdom, and to be encouraged and not let their feelings override their faith. -Jeremiah is urging them to follow God's laws and wisdom. But they follow their own vices and darkness - what they think they love.  And it's going to kill them, their towns, and Temple too. -Hosea tells them that they are living wrong (teaching their children wrong too), Your idols, your judges - it's all poison and you will lose everything and be destroyed for turning against God. -Jesus, in Mark, asserts definitively that He must die (so that you/us/we can live.  This is higher wisdom - the plan that God laid out. This must be loved more than our own lives or we won't find life ever.  Our life is found in Jesus' death. [born once/die twice - born twice/die once] -The Corinthian Church will follow Paul's higher wisdom and the Corinthian Church will turn from their selfishness or there is going to be no Christian testimony in this city or this region. Their love for Greek culture and argument and body and mind will be surrendered to Christian codes for living or this church is going to devour itself.  

Mark 8:27-9:50 We are in the Christ Stream today and reading from the Easy-to-Read Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Jesus, the wild and varied road of discipleship with you is as exciting as ever. Thank you for including us as your disciples. Heaven is worth it, and so is each moment with you.

Mark 8:27ff - They are walking north from Galilee to Caesarea Phillippi (21 miles straight, rather longer than that on foot). The discussion that ensues needs to happen: "who is Jesus?" The disciples start quoting this guy and that guy and this guy... This was a trademark of Jewish scholarship. Jesus wanted to know what they thought.  Jesus asks us the same question today. And we need to answer it.  Our eternity rests upon our answer of this question. Peter and Jesus' interaction here and in the next story are wedded truths that must both be accepted: Jesus is the Savior and he must be crucified as a sacrifice for us. Learning this --> IS discipleship. It's not an easy truth to ingest. Peter's attempt to correct Jesus gets a swift and stinging rebuttal.  We are to follow Jesus whole-heartedly, single-mindedly, boldly. Getting "on page" with Him is the issue. We are not to try to mold Jesus to fit our agenda and worldview. He shapes ours.

9 - The disciples would witness the coming of the Power of God - Pentecost is what they being assured of in the opening statement of ch. 9. -The Transfiguration is a vital lesson in the revelation of paradise, eschatology (end times study), and Resurrection theology. The Israelites had a notion of heaven and the next world but it is an under-developed segment of theology for them. Most of what we believe about heaven/paradise/the next world we learn from Jesus' teaching.  So here are three of the disciples that realize that Jesus has instant access to other worlds. That the prophets are not dead. They see Elijah - who had "died" 700 years ago, and Moses - who died 1300 years ago. What?! You're alive? You're here?!  Those who work for God and follow His Son do not die.  It's quite a grand testimony, certainly worth telling to the world (when the time is right)! Upon returning, there is another showdown centered around another demon-possession victim. Matthew and Luke tell of this same story in a much abbreviated 6-verse version. Mark tells it in full. The lynch-pin is that the 9 disciples who didn't witness the Transfiguration gave it a go to free the youngster from Demons while Jesus was away. They did not succeed. Jesus' reply to this development was tongue-in-cheek curt response to motivate them to move up to His level. Jesus wants them to be able to expel demons from people. We all hope the reaction was that they insist Jesus teach THEM how to cleanse the demon-possessed and not wither into insecurity because it sounds like Jesus might have insulted them.  Following Jesus in not for the faint of heart, btw. Next, Jesus tells of his crucifixion again.  He did so five times between this session in Galilee and the arrival in Jerusalem. [Mark tells us of four of them]. Talk of his Passion during what we call Easter week wasn't mentioned much prior to this. But Jesus wanted them to be certain of what was coming. However they are still not 'getting it' yet.' -The next verse tale is proof that the gravity of what was coming at Calvary wasn't sinking in at this point --> They are arguing about who's the greatest, [as if Cassius Clay was among them as one of the disciples). Jesus teaching about serving and having a child-like heart is perfect timing again.  It's still shaking up the leadership world today. Awesome. -The word of Jesus and His powerful Name is spreading as someone other than them is ministering in Jesus' name. The disciples aren't sure what to make of this. "Jesus" wasn't going to be a small club of 12 much longer so they best get accustomed to this. -The final teaching is so needed today. We are to be inspiring and raising up and mentoring eachother.  An alarming amount of people today make a living from selling, promoting, and doing things that harm people and leads them into dark and unhealthy things. Jesus asserts that there is a horrid price tag for leading people astray.  The part about maiming one'self [if that's what it takes to stop sinning] is too much to take: the issue is clearly this: SIN is NOT one of your OPTIONS.  Dietrick Bonhoffer explains this better than anyone if you care to look up his commentary on these verses. It is vital and beyond that no one is led astray from our example. We are to affect people in the opposite manner.

Hosea 9:10-10:15 We are in the Exile Stream reading from the Easy-to-Read Version this week. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis Lord, let this sorry tale of the northern Kingdom only remind us that you do not play games with the disobedient. Let it remind and urge us to follow you, follow you today, and to follow you fully. Amen.

9 - Israel's love for God has rotted. It started out as affection that was pure but it has become like garbage gone bad "late in the day".  Israel has loved rotten things ... now they have gone totally rotten themselves.  God needs to discard them.           Their future needs to be cut off because a rotten present (that Israel is committed to) signifies a rotten future.

         Nothing signals that there's a future like a baby arriving. Well God is going to end this and Israel is going to have no more babies.  What does survive, God will "take" those babies.  It's too disturbing to describe what the Assyrian soldiers did to Israel's helpless babies during the seige. And you don't want to know.  Email my husband, if you really need to know as this era was his major in college. Believe me, it's bad.  Well, Israel had killed its own faith and done so deliberately and it won't be long now until Assyria kills every Israelite baby they can find. Too rough? Is God being too mean? Willful sin takes things in a far worse direction than the deliberate sinner ever dreamed he would be taken in his worst nightmare.  They would become a homeless nation.  And historically, these tribes of the north were scattered into the "compost heap" of history. 10 - Israel has erred greatly in that they used their wealth and fertile land and blessing to, do what?!, to make idols!  Their aimlessness is turned lunacy.  We've heard the phrase, "wherever, you go, there you are." With Israel, wherever they go in their minds and hearts and sinfulness, "they aren't there either. When someone isn't thinking clearly, we declare, "they're not all there."  This is Israel completely.   They have a king, but they don't - not really, they make promises that they don't keep (so what were they promising?), their judges merely poison everything, they worship a calf - it gets stolen, they make pacts with other countries - with those that hate them and then invade, their altars of worship will turn into piles of weeds ... so what are they worshiping? The nation is crazy. Israel has been sinning and sinning so horribly, so constantly, and for so long.  All these centuries they could have been planting good things that grew into great things.  But Israel planted evil and lies and false hope (in their sinful commitments).   Btw, the man "Shalman" mentioned in Hosea 10:14 was an Assyrian King, His full name was Shall-man-EASE-err.  Whoever completes the conquest of Israel, Israel is going to be fully destroyed.  It's basically over for them.

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.