Honest God Truth

 Ezekiel 10:18-19 Then the glory of the LORD went out from the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. 19And the cherubim lifted up their wings and mounted up from the earth before my eyes as they went out, with the wheels beside them. And they stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the LORD, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. Ezekiel had the privilege to see heavenly beings as they administer to the LORD.  The God of the universe has created all things for his glory.  When God is seen in all his glory and is honored and praised then all is right. When Adam sinned his eyes were clouded so instead of seeing and enjoying God glory, Adam turned to himself, like Satan and praised is own glory.  He robbed God of glory since we are made to reflect God’s glory not to take it for our own. Jesus came to show how God’s glory is shown by humans before sin. May we live for and in Christ so we will not rob the Lord of his glory and inst...

 Ezekiel 9:3-6 “Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub on which it rested to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writing case at his waist. 4And the LORD said to him, “Pass through the city, through Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and groan over all the abominations that are committed in it.” 5And to the others he said in my hearing, “Pass through the city after him, and strike. Your eye shall not spare, and you shall show no pity. 6Kill old men outright, young men and maidens, little children and women, but touch no one on whom is the mark. And begin at my sanctuary.”  God gets glory for passing judgment on his disobedient people.  God gets glory on showing mercy on those he chooses to show mercy.  The glory of the Lord is scene to those who have eyes to see and respond in praise and worship to Jesus. When we see injustice and degrading of God we must respond in sad...

 Ezekiel 8:5-6 “Then he said to me, “Son of man, lift up your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted up my eyes toward the north, and behold, north of the altar gate, in the entrance, was this image of jealousy. 6And he said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here, to drive me far from my sanctuary? But you will see still greater abominations.” Ezekiel’s vision of the Lord was about God’s jealousy for his worship. The Israelites were substituting worshipping the LORD for other things.  And they were doing it in the Lord’s temple. Humans have the tendency to stray away from God to other idols when they don’t receive what they want. We tend to trust our own ingenuity instead of praying and waiting on God for his direction in our life. This is an abomination to the Lord. We rob him of his glory by not trusting him to provide us what we need. He is a jealous God because he knows that what he suppliers...

 Ezekiel 7:1-4 “The word of the LORD came to me: 2“And you, O son of man, thus says the Lord GOD to the land of Israel: An end! The end has come upon the four corners of the land.a 3Now the end is upon you, and I will send my anger upon you; I will judge you according to your ways, and I will punish you for all your abominations. 4And my eye will not spare you, nor will I have pity, but I will punish you for your ways, while your abominations are in your midst. Then you will know that I am the LORD. We all will have an end day, will we be ready for God’s judgment?  Jesus is our savior and he is also our judge. He eyes are always on us and he knows all our ways. We are so blessed that our judge is our savior.  How do we respond to him now makes all the difference on that day when we see him face to face.  Will we praise him for his mercy to us sinners or will we hear his words I never knew you away from me you evil sinner?  Lord Jesus help us to love you and live...

 Ezekiel 6:1-7 “The word of the LORD came to me: 2“Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, 3and say, You mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord GOD! Thus says the Lord GOD to the mountains and the hills, to the ravines and the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. 4Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain before your idols. 5And I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones around your altars. 6Wherever you dwell, the cities shall be waste and the high places ruined, so that your altars will be waste and ruined,a your idols broken and destroyed, your incense altars cut down, and your works wiped out. 7And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the LORD. I am the LORD, God of all creation and Israel’s covenant God.  Israel ha...

 Ezekiel 5:1-4 “And you, O son of man, take a sharp sword. Use it as a barber’s razor and pass it over your head and your beard. Then take balances for weighing and divide the hair. 2A third part you shall burn in the fire in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are completed. And a third part you shall take and strike with the sword all around the city. And a third part you shall scatter to the wind, and I will unsheathe the sword after them. 3And you shall take from these a small number and bind them in the skirts of your robe. 4And of these again you shall take some and cast them into the midst of the fire and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will come out into all the house of Israel” Ezekiel demonstrates by cutting his hair and his beard God judgement on lsrael and the city of Jerusalem.  God punishes disobedience and cares much about his righteousness. We know that God is love and is merciful to who he chooses but punishment and wrath are also a part...

 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” ‭‭James‬ ‭1:2‬ ‭ESV‬‬ It seems that God wants us to know that he loves us and is with us always.  It is not a natural thing to trust someone you can’t see, touch, or hear.  That is why it takes events in our lives to have us experience his presence in supernatural ways, like peace in trials, joy in sadness, strength when sick, happen when all alone. All these events direct us more to Jesus along with scripture to proclaim his presence in our life. We glorify him when we believe that he loves us, forgives us and will always be with us.  Thank you Jesus. Amen

 Ezekiel 4:4-8 “Then lie on your left side, and place the punishmenta of the house of Israel upon it. For the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their punishment. 5For I assign to you a number of days, 390 days, equal to the number of the years of their punishment. So long shall you bear the punishment of the house of Israel. 6And when you have completed these, you shall lie down a second time, but on your right side, and bear the punishment of the house of Judah. Forty days I assign you, a day for each year. 7And you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem, with your arm bared, and you shall prophesy against the city. 8And behold, I will place cords upon you, so that you cannot turn from one side to the other, till you have completed the days of your siege. Ezekiel was called the son of man like Jesus because he was to suffer for the sins of his people, the Israelites like Jesus suffered for the sins his people, his church.  This is amazing that G...

 Ezekiel 3:1-7”And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey. 4And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. 5For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— 6not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. 7But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.” Jesus said that he had food the disciplines did not know about. Could it be the very words of God? The Bible i...

 Ezekiel 2:1-6 “And he said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them. 6And you, son of man, be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on scorpions. Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” What an introduction God gives to Ezekiel. He calls him Son of man which Jesus used to call himself! This tells us that ...

 Song of Solomon 8:6-7 “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. 7Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man offered for love all the wealth of his house, he would be utterly despised.” The power of love created the universe and it is dangerous and should be protected. Love is not cheap and needs to be guarded with all seriousness.  Jesus love for his father and his people motivated him to obey his father and go to the cross.  May our love for Jesus and one another be strong enough to willingly sacrifice our desires and needs for love.  Jesus fill us with your Spirit that we may love like you.  For your glory  and our joy.  Amen 

 Song of Solomon 7:1-6 “How beautiful are your feet in sandals, O noble daughter! Your rounded thighs are like jewels, the work of a master hand. 2Your navel is a rounded bowl that never lacks mixed wine. Your belly is a heap of wheat, encircled with lilies. 3Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. 4Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are pools in Heshbon, by the gate of Bath-rabbim. Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon, which looks toward Damascus. 5Your head crowns you like Carmel, and your flowing locks are like purple; a king is held captive in the tresses. 6How beautiful and pleasant you are, O loved one, with all your delights!” Here Solomon has finally came to the place where he is focused on the beauty of his bride. It is like he sees every inch of her beauty and is  enthralled by each part. His love and passion is present and like the Lord all satisfying to his sight. It is not a quick glance of her beauty but a long inspective look that is en...

 Song of Solomon 6:1-3  “Where has your beloved gone, O most beautiful among women? Where has your beloved turned, that we may seek him with you? 2My beloved has gone down to his garden to the beds of spices, to graze in the gardens and to gather lilies. 3I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine; he grazes among the lilies.” Solomon here is describing another aspect of beauty and love that is part of being human made in the image of God.  Beauty is attractive not only to the beloved but to bystanders who see and admire beauty.  It is hard to hide a beautiful thing.  God wants us to share his love and beauty with others but in a way that strengthens our love for him not diminishes it.  Another part of love is that you have to wait for it and trust that your lover is preparing him/herself for you.  God’s timing is perfect and it always takes patience to wait on the Lord.  He is faithful and true and will never forsake you.  It is always true th...

 Song of Solomon 5:10-16 “My beloved is radiant and ruddy, distinguished among ten thousand. 11His head is the finest gold; his locks are wavy, black as a raven.12His eyes are like doves beside streams of water, bathed in milk, sitting beside a full pool.13His cheeks are like beds of spices, mounds of sweet-smelling herbs. His lips are lilies, dripping liquid myrrh. 14His arms are rods of gold, set with jewels. His body is polished ivory, bedecked with sapphires. 15His legs are alabaster columns, set on bases of gold. His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.16His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.” Solomon’s bride describes how her groom looks to her in all his beauty.  I can’t help but to thing that the Lord Jesus gave this description for us as an example for when we will see him face to face in all of his glory!  Many times in scripture the people who knew the Lord God we...

 Song of Solomon 4:10-15 “How beautiful is your love, my sister, my bride! How much better is your love than wine, and the fragrance of your oils than any spice! 11Your lips drip nectar, my bride; honey and milk are under your tongue; the fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon. 12A garden locked is my sister, my bride, a spring locked, a fountain sealed. 13Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates with all choicest fruits, henna with nard, 14nard and saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, myrrh and aloes, with all choice spices—15a garden fountain, a well of living water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.” Solomon describes how beautiful his bride is by comparing her to God’s finest and choicest natural creation.  Love and beauty are closely related. God is beautiful and what he creates is stunning to the eyes. We are to open our eyes to God’s love and he will display all his beauty around us.  We as believers must stay close ...

 Song of Solomon 3:1-5 1On my bed by night I sought him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but found him not. 2I will rise now and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares; I will seek him whom my soul loves. I sought him, but found him not. 3The watchmen found me as they went about in the city. “Have you seen him whom my soul loves?” 4Scarcely had I passed them when I found him whom my soul loves. I held him, and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother’s house, and into the chamber of her who conceived me. 5I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.” This chapter describes a bride looking for her groom and her soul’s longing.  Love produces desires that can be overwhelming and impatient.  God gives us these emotions to realize the power of love and what it can do when given the correct purpose.  Yet often these desires become self satisfying an...

 Song of Solomon 2:7-12 “I adjure you,O daughters of Jerusalem, by the gazelles or the does of the field, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases. 8The voice of my beloved! Behold, he comes, leaping over the mountains, bounding over the hills. 9My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag. Behold, there he stands behind our wall, gazing through the windows, looking through the lattice. 10My beloved speaks and says to me: “Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come away, 11for behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone. 12The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singingd has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” Love is so essential in God’s world. It motives our thoughts, feelings, senses and mostly our hearts. Love makes everything new with energy and joy. God’s love motivated him to create the world and raise the dead! Without love life is bland without flavor.  Solomon describes how love makes one see life through eyes of j...

 Song of Solomon 1:2-4 “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine; 3your anointing oils are fragrant; your name is oil poured out; therefore virgins love you. 4Draw me after you; let us run. The king has brought me into his chambers. Love is a very important part of Christ’s love for his church. In the Book Songs of Solomon, he describes love between a man and women which represents Jesus love towards his church his chosen people.  Let us learn the type of love our savior offers us so we know how much he loves us and how much we should love him. When we enter into his presence is fullness of love and wonder.  Our joy will be overwhelming and undeserved.  Oh Lord Jesus let me love you more today.  Amen

  8 The next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.  9 So they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent messengers throughout the land of the Philistines, to carry the good news to the house of their idols and to the people.  10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth-shan.  11 But when the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard what the Philistines had done to Saul,  12 all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth-shan, and they came to Jabesh and burned them there. 13 And they took their bones and buried them under the tamarisk tree in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

 1 Samuel 30:1-6 “Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2and taken captive the women and alla who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. David was gone with his men out to deceive the kings of the Philistians.  At the same time the Amalek...

 1 Samuel 29:3-5 “the commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews doing here?” And Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul, king of Israel, who has been with me now for days and years, and since he deserted to me I have found no fault in him to this day.” 4But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him. And the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send the man back, that he may return to the place to which you have assigned him. He shall not go down with us to battle, lest in the battle he become an adversary to us. For how could this fellow reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of the men here? 5Is not this David, of whom they sing to one another in dances,‘Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?” The sovereignty of God is seen here by the Lord, through the commander of the Philistians, not letting David fight Israel. David has been very deceptive t...

 1 Samuel 28:3-7 “Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” This chapter tells of a story of a person who wants God when he thinks he needs him and wants to be his own god when things go his way.  Saul is a most pathetic individual where he knows the Lord but does not love him or trusts him.  When the Lord doesn’t answer he has to find other ways to get wh...

 1 Samuel 27:1-4 “Then David said in his heart, “Now I shall perish one day by the hand of Saul. There is nothing better for me than that I should escape to the land of the Philistines. Then Saul will despair of seeking me any longer within the borders of Israel, and I shall escape out of his hand.” 2So David arose and went over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish the son of Maoch, king of Gath. 3And David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel, and Abigail of Carmel, Nabal’s widow. 4And when it was told Saul that David had fled to Gath, he no longer sought him.“ Our hearts are so fickle where in one moment we can do great things giving honor and praise to God by trusting and obeying him.  Then we stop believing, trusting and obeying the Lord and begin lying and living deceptive lives bringing dishonor to our Lord and savior.  David knew that Samuel had anointed him to ...

 “So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.” ‭‭John‬ ‭11:20‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Why did Martha go to Jesus and Mary didn’t?  Martha was upset at Jesus and Mary was sad and hurt.  Emotions are very funny but often tell what is in the heart of a person.  Martha knew that Jesus could heal but didn’t because he was not there.  Mary knee that Jesus loved and was broken hearted because he wasn’t there.  Martha was mad at Jesus and Mary felt betrayed by Jesus.  If you don’t love me you can’t keep my commandments.  Loving Jesus means we may get our hearts broken because we don’t know what will happen tomorrow.  Jesus wants us to be real in our relationship with him.  Knowing all the facts about him makes us almost as smart as Satan! He wants our heart which means our emotions.  Jesus can handle our emotions even if we can’t.  Amen

 1 Samuel 26:21-25 “Then  Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.” 22And David answered and said, “Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it. 23The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. 24Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation.” 25Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place. This great chapter where the Lord, David and Saul acted righteously.  The Lord Jesus always acts righteous but often his people do not. God gave Saul into Dav...

 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”” ‭‭John‬ ‭10:27-30‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Jesus proclaims that he and the father are one is an amazing statement.  He is calling himself God and yet shows a distinction between the Father and himself the Son.  Oh these verses are so rich in knowing God.  The question for all of us is do we hear his voice?  If we do then we are truly blessed because we are a part of God’s family.  Nothing can change this truth because nothing is greater than God.  So as we live our life of faith we should always be listening to hear his voice and follow Jesus.  That is what children do, trust and obey their parents because they know that they are loved!  Listen always! Amen

 1 Samuel 25:21-26 “Now David had said, “Surely in vain have I guarded all that this fellow has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. 22God do so to the enemies of Davidb and more also, if by morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him.” 23When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from the donkey and fell before David on her face and bowed to the ground. 24She fell at his feet and said, “On me alone, my lord, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your servant. 25Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent. 26Now then, my lord, as the LORD lives, and as your soul lives, because the LORD has restrained you from bloodguilt and from saving with your own hand, now then let your enemies and those who...

 1Samuel 24:3-5 “And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave. 4And the men of David said to him, “Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.’” Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.” This is one of David’s greatest hours for he showed all his men, Saul and us what it means to trust in the Lord and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways obey him.  Yes the Lord brought Saul to David and David responded in a way that let everyone know that God is to be honored in all his ways. For if God appoints someone to be his representative then we should respect God’s choice.  God doesn’t make mistakes for his plans are greater than our plans. If we act in ways that may be to our advantage but go against God’s laws o...

 1Samuel 23:14-16 “And David remained in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country of the wilderness of Ziph. And Saul sought him every day, but God did not give him into his hand. 15David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life. David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. 16And Jonathan, Saul’s son, rose and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.  This chapter shows how God works in people who trust in the Lord. David asked the Lord what to do and obeyed when the Lord responded.  Then once again Jonathan showed that God was with him and strengthened David in the Lord.  Trusting that the Lord Jesus is in control and wants us to ask and obey him.  Faith in Jesus means living in his presence and trusting he loves us and is in control.  Amen

 1 Samuel 22:17-19 “And the king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because their hand also is with David, and they knew that he fled and did not disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to strike the priests of the LORD. 18Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike the priests.” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod. 19And Nob, the city of the priests, he put to the sword; both man and woman, child and infant, ox, donkey and sheep, he put to the sword. Saul turned to evil against God for he was so jealous of David and wanted to kill him.  Then he came to the priest who helped David because David lied to him. Saul did what God told him to do to the Amelikes and did it to the Priests of God.  When we don’t listen to God and take control in our own hands we destroy situations and are being used by ev...