October 7, 2016

Bible Reading October 7,8,9 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading  October 7,8,9 (WEB)

Oct. 7
Psalms 141-144

Psa 141:1 Yahweh, I have called on you. Come to me quickly! Listen to my voice when I call to you.
Psa 141:2 Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.
Psa 141:3 Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth. Keep the door of my lips.
Psa 141:4 Don't incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity. Don't let me eat of their delicacies.
Psa 141:5 Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness; let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head; don't let my head refuse it; Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
Psa 141:6 Their judges are thrown down by the sides of the rock. They will hear my words, for they are well spoken.
Psa 141:7 "As when one plows and breaks up the earth, our bones are scattered at the mouth of Sheol."
Psa 141:8 For my eyes are on you, Yahweh, the Lord. In you, I take refuge. Don't leave my soul destitute.
Psa 141:9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me, from the traps of the workers of iniquity.
Psa 141:10 Let the wicked fall together into their own nets, while I pass by.

Psa 142:1 I cry with my voice to Yahweh. With my voice, I ask Yahweh for mercy.
Psa 142:2 I pour out my complaint before him. I tell him my troubles.
Psa 142:3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, you knew my path. In the way in which I walk, they have hidden a snare for me.
Psa 142:4 Look on my right, and see; for there is no one who is concerned for me. Refuge has fled from me. No one cares for my soul.
Psa 142:5 I cried to you, Yahweh. I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living."
Psa 142:6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need. deliver me from my persecutors, For they are stronger than me.
Psa 142:7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may give thanks to your name. The righteous will surround me, for you will be good to me.

Psa 143:1 Hear my prayer, Yahweh. Listen to my petitions. In your faithfulness and righteousness, relieve me.
Psa 143:2 Don't enter into judgment with your servant, for in your sight no man living is righteous.
Psa 143:3 For the enemy pursues my soul. He has struck my life down to the ground. He has made me live in dark places, as those who have been long dead.
Psa 143:4 Therefore my spirit is overwhelmed within me. My heart within me is desolate.
Psa 143:5 I remember the days of old. I meditate on all your doings. I contemplate the work of your hands.
Psa 143:6 I spread forth my hands to you. My soul thirsts for you, like a parched land. Selah.
Psa 143:7 Hurry to answer me, Yahweh. My spirit fails. Don't hide your face from me, so that I don't become like those who go down into the pit.
Psa 143:8 Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you.
Psa 143:9 Deliver me, Yahweh, from my enemies. I flee to you to hide me.
Psa 143:10 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your Spirit is good. Lead me in the land of uprightness.
Psa 143:11 Revive me, Yahweh, for your name's sake. In your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.
Psa 143:12 In your loving kindness, cut off my enemies, and destroy all those who afflict my soul, For I am your servant.

Psa 144:1 Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, who teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to battle:
Psa 144:2 my loving kindness, my fortress, my high tower, my deliverer, my shield, and he in whom I take refuge; who subdues my people under me.
Psa 144:3 Yahweh, what is man, that you care for him? Or the son of man, that you think of him?
Psa 144:4 Man is like a breath. His days are like a shadow that passes away.
Psa 144:5 Part your heavens, Yahweh, and come down. Touch the mountains, and they will smoke.
Psa 144:6 Throw out lightning, and scatter them. Send out your arrows, and rout them.
Psa 144:7 Stretch out your hand from above, rescue me, and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hands of foreigners;
Psa 144:8 whose mouths speak deceit, Whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Psa 144:9 I will sing a new song to you, God. On a ten-stringed lyre, I will sing praises to you.
Psa 144:10 You are he who gives salvation to kings, who rescues David, his servant, from the deadly sword.
Psa 144:11 Rescue me, and deliver me out of the hands of foreigners, whose mouths speak deceit, whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.
Psa 144:12 Then our sons will be like well-nurtured plants, our daughters like pillars carved to adorn a palace.
Psa 144:13 Our barns are full, filled with all kinds of provision. Our sheep bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our fields.
Psa 144:14 Our oxen will pull heavy loads. There is no breaking in, and no going away, and no outcry in our streets.
Psa 144:15 Happy are the people who are in such a situation. Happy are the people whose God is Yahweh.


Oct. 8
Psalms 145-147

Psa 145:1 I will exalt you, my God, the King. I will praise your name forever and ever.
Psa 145:2 Every day I will praise you. I will extol your name forever and ever.
Psa 145:3 Great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! His greatness is unsearchable.
Psa 145:4 One generation will commend your works to another, and will declare your mighty acts.
Psa 145:5 Of the glorious majesty of your honor, of your wondrous works, I will meditate.
Psa 145:6 Men will speak of the might of your awesome acts. I will declare your greatness.
Psa 145:7 They will utter the memory of your great goodness, and will sing of your righteousness.
Psa 145:8 Yahweh is gracious, merciful, slow to anger, and of great loving kindness.
Psa 145:9 Yahweh is good to all. His tender mercies are over all his works.
Psa 145:10 All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh. Your saints will extol you.
Psa 145:11 They will speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk about your power;
Psa 145:12 to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of his kingdom.
Psa 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. Your dominion endures throughout all generations. Yahweh is faithful in all his words, and loving in all his deeds.
Psa 145:14 Yahweh upholds all who fall, and raises up all those who are bowed down.
Psa 145:15 The eyes of all wait for you. You give them their food in due season.
Psa 145:16 You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
Psa 145:17 Yahweh is righteous in all his ways, and gracious in all his works.
Psa 145:18 Yahweh is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Psa 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear him. He also will hear their cry, and will save them.
Psa 145:20 Yahweh preserves all those who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
Psa 145:21 My mouth will speak the praise of Yahweh. Let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

Psa 146:1 Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh, my soul.
Psa 146:2 While I live, I will praise Yahweh. I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.
Psa 146:3 Don't put your trust in princes, each a son of man in whom there is no help.
Psa 146:4 His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish.
Psa 146:5 Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in Yahweh, his God:
Psa 146:6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps truth forever;
Psa 146:7 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Yahweh frees the prisoners.
Psa 146:8 Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind. Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down. Yahweh loves the righteous.
Psa 146:9 Yahweh preserves the foreigners. He upholds the fatherless and widow, but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.
Psa 146:10 Yahweh will reign forever; your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise Yah!

Psa 147:1 Praise Yah, for it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant and fitting to praise him.
Psa 147:2 Yahweh builds up Jerusalem. He gathers together the outcasts of Israel.
Psa 147:3 He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds.
Psa 147:4 He counts the number of the stars. He calls them all by their names.
Psa 147:5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power. His understanding is infinite.
Psa 147:6 Yahweh upholds the humble. He brings the wicked down to the ground.
Psa 147:7 Sing to Yahweh with thanksgiving. Sing praises on the harp to our God,
Psa 147:8 who covers the sky with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth, who makes grass grow on the mountains.
Psa 147:9 He provides food for the livestock, and for the young ravens when they call.
Psa 147:10 He doesn't delight in the strength of the horse. He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.
Psa 147:11 Yahweh takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his loving kindness.
Psa 147:12 Praise Yahweh, Jerusalem! Praise your God, Zion!
Psa 147:13 For he has strengthened the bars of your gates. He has blessed your children within you.
Psa 147:14 He makes peace in your borders. He fills you with the finest of the wheat.
Psa 147:15 He sends out his commandment to the earth. His word runs very swiftly.
Psa 147:16 He gives snow like wool, and scatters frost like ashes.
Psa 147:17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles. Who can stand before his cold?
Psa 147:18 He sends out his word, and melts them. He causes his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
Psa 147:19 He shows his word to Jacob; his statutes and his ordinances to Israel.
Psa 147:20 He has not done this for just any nation. They don't know his ordinances. Praise Yah!


Oct. 9
Psalms 148-150

Psa 148:1 Praise Yah! Praise Yahweh from the heavens! Praise him in the heights!
Psa 148:2 Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his army!
Psa 148:3 Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you shining stars!
Psa 148:4 Praise him, you heavens of heavens, You waters that are above the heavens.
Psa 148:5 Let them praise the name of Yahweh, For he commanded, and they were created.
Psa 148:6 He has also established them forever and ever. He has made a decree which will not pass away.
Psa 148:7 Praise Yahweh from the earth, you great sea creatures, and all depths!
Psa 148:8 Lightning and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling his word;
Psa 148:9 mountains and all hills; fruit trees and all cedars;
Psa 148:10 wild animals and all livestock; small creatures and flying birds;
Psa 148:11 kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth;
Psa 148:12 both young men and maidens; old men and children:
Psa 148:13 let them praise the name of Yahweh, for his name alone is exalted. His glory is above the earth and the heavens.
Psa 148:14 He has lifted up the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near to him. Praise Yah!

Psa 149:1 Praise Yahweh! Sing to Yahweh a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.
Psa 149:2 Let Israel rejoice in him who made them. Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
Psa 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance! Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!
Psa 149:4 For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people. He crowns the humble with salvation.
Psa 149:5 Let the saints rejoice in honor. Let them sing for joy on their beds.
Psa 149:6 May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
Psa 149:7 To execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples;
Psa 149:8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
Psa 149:9 to execute on them the written judgment. All his saints have this honor. Praise Yah!

Psa 150:1 Praise Yah! Praise God in his sanctuary! Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power!
Psa 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts! Praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Psa 150:3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre!
Psa 150:4 Praise him with tambourine and dancing! Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!
Psa 150:5 Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals!
Psa 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise Yah! Praise Yah! 
 
Oct. 7
Galatians 4

Gal 4:1 But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a bondservant, though he is lord of all;
Gal 4:2 but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed by the father.
Gal 4:3 So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental principles of the world.
Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent out his Son, born to a woman, born under the law,
Gal 4:5 that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of children.
Gal 4:6 And because you are children, God sent out the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!"
Gal 4:7 So you are no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal 4:8 However at that time, not knowing God, you were in bondage to those who by nature are not gods.
Gal 4:9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, why do you turn back again to the weak and miserable elemental principles, to which you desire to be in bondage all over again?
Gal 4:10 You observe days, months, seasons, and years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid for you, that I might have wasted my labor for you.
Gal 4:12 I beg you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You did me no wrong,
Gal 4:13 but you know that because of weakness of the flesh I preached the Good News to you the first time.
Gal 4:14 That which was a temptation to you in my flesh, you didn't despise nor reject; but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Gal 4:15 What was the blessing you enjoyed? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me.
Gal 4:16 So then, have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?
Gal 4:17 They zealously seek you in no good way. No, they desire to alienate you, that you may seek them.
Gal 4:18 But it is always good to be zealous in a good cause, and not only when I am present with you.
Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ is formed in you--
Gal 4:20 but I could wish to be present with you now, and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.
Gal 4:21 Tell me, you that desire to be under the law, don't you listen to the law?
Gal 4:22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the free woman.
Gal 4:23 However, the son by the handmaid was born according to the flesh, but the son by the free woman was born through promise.
Gal 4:24 These things contain an allegory, for these are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children to bondage, which is Hagar.
Gal 4:25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, "Rejoice, you barren who don't bear. Break forth and shout, you that don't travail. For more are the children of the desolate than of her who has a husband."
Gal 4:28 Now we, brothers, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
Gal 4:29 But as then, he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it is now.
Gal 4:30 However what does the Scripture say? "Throw out the handmaid and her son, for the son of the handmaid will not inherit with the son of the free woman."
Gal 4:31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the free woman.



Oct. 8
Galatians 5

Gal 5:1 Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don't be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Gal 5:2 Behold, I, Paul, tell you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will profit you nothing.
Gal 5:3 Yes, I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Gal 5:4 You are alienated from Christ, you who desire to be justified by the law. You have fallen away from grace.
Gal 5:5 For we, through the Spirit, by faith wait for the hope of righteousness.
Gal 5:6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision amounts to anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith working through love.
Gal 5:7 You were running well! Who interfered with you that you should not obey the truth?
Gal 5:8 This persuasion is not from him who calls you.
Gal 5:9 A little yeast grows through the whole lump.
Gal 5:10 I have confidence toward you in the Lord that you will think no other way. But he who troubles you will bear his judgment, whoever he is.
Gal 5:11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross has been removed.
Gal 5:12 I wish that those who disturb you would cut themselves off.
Gal 5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
Gal 5:14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Gal 5:15 But if you bite and devour one another, be careful that you don't consume one another.
Gal 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.
Gal 5:18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,
Gal 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:24 Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live by the Spirit, let's also walk by the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let's not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.



Oct. 9
Galatians 6

Gal 6:1 Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; looking to yourself so that you also aren't tempted.
Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Gal 6:3 For if a man thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
Gal 6:4 But let each man test his own work, and then he will take pride in himself and not in his neighbor.
Gal 6:5 For each man will bear his own burden.
Gal 6:6 But let him who is taught in the word share all good things with him who teaches.
Gal 6:7 Don't be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.
Gal 6:8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Gal 6:9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don't give up.
Gal 6:10 So then, as we have opportunity, let's do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.
Gal 6:11 See with what large letters I write to you with my own hand.
Gal 6:12 As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
Gal 6:13 For even they who receive circumcision don't keep the law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised, that they may boast in your flesh.
Gal 6:14 But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Gal 6:16 As many as walk by this rule, peace and mercy be on them, and on God's Israel.
Gal 6:17 From now on, let no one cause me any trouble, for I bear the marks of the Lord Jesus branded on my body.
Gal 6:18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.

The dynamic faith of two Ethiopians by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/054-2Ethiopians.html

The dynamic faith of two Ethiopians
Scripture reading: 2 Kings 24:17 - 25:11
In the Scriptures we read about two Ethiopians who had great faith.

The English word ‘Ethiopian’ comes from an ancient Greek designation meaning ‘people with a dark complexion’. It referred to residents of the land of Cush. Cush was a son of Ham (Genesis 10:6-8). The country of Cush, or the Biblical Ethiopia, was south of Egypt in the area of modern Nubia, Sudan and the northern part of Ethiopia. Ethiopians were black (Jeremiah 13:23).

We notice no prejudice in the Bible on the basis of skin color. Moses had an Ethiopian wife (Numbers 12:1). The stunning Shulammite shepherdess whose beauty Solomon praises in the Song of Songs was dark: “I am dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, Like the tents of Kedar, Like the curtains of Solomon” (Song of Solomon 1:5).

The Hebrew word translated here as ‘dark’ means ‘black’. It is used to describe hair ‘black as a raven’ (Song of Solomon 5:11) and ‘black horses’ (Zechariah 6:2). The “tents of Kedar1” were made of black goat’s hair.

The Bible mentions two Ethiopians who had a dynamic faith worthy of emulation.


A faithful servant of the King.

The name Ebed-Melech means ‘servant of the king’. Ebed- Melech was a servant of Zedekiah, king of Judah. But more important: Ebed-Melech was a servant of the King of heaven and earth.

Ebed-Melech saved the life of Jeremiah the prophet, when King Zedekiah would have allowed him to die.

In 587 BC, Jerusalem had been under siege by Nebuchadnezzar II for two years.

Although Zedekiah had sworn an oath of allegiance to the Babylonians when they appointed him as king, he had broken his vow and rebelled against them. “Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD. And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD God of Israel. Moreover all the leaders of the priests and the people transgressed more and more, according to all the abominations of the nations, and defiled the house of the LORD which He had consecrated in Jerusalem. And the LORD God of their fathers sent warnings to them by His messengers, rising up early and sending them, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy” (2 Chronicles 36:11-16). [Also see 2 Kings 24:17, 20.] God condemned Zedekiah for breaking his oath (Ezekiel 17:15, 16). The Babylonians returned to reconquer the city.

The people of Judah had “forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshiped other gods” (Jeremiah 22:9). During 40 years2 Jeremiah had warned them to repent but they did not listen (Jeremiah 1:1-3; 25:3). God’s patience was at an end. His message through Jeremiah was that Jerusalem would be destroyed but that the people could save their lives by surrendering to the Babylonians.

Because of this, Jeremiah was viewed as a traitor by some.

Four leading men in Jerusalem “heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken to all the people, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.” Thus says the LORD: “This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.”’

“Therefore the princes said to the king, ‘Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.’

“Then Zedekiah the king said, ‘Look, he is in your hand. For the king can do nothing against you.’ So they took Jeremiah and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the court of the prison, and they let Jeremiah down with ropes. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire. So Jeremiah sank in the mire.

“Now Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs, who was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon. When the king was sitting at the Gate of Benjamin, Ebed-Melech went out of the king’s house and spoke to the king, saying: ‘My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon, and he is likely to die from hunger in the place where he is. For there is no more bread in the city.’

“Then the king commanded Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, ‘Take from here thirty men with you, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he dies.’

“So Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took from there old clothes and old rags, and let them down by ropes into the dungeon to Jeremiah.

“Then Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian said to Jeremiah, ‘Please put these old clothes and rags under your armpits, under the ropes.’ And Jeremiah did so. So they pulled Jeremiah up with ropes and lifted him out of the dungeon” (Jeremiah 38:1-13).

“Now Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison until the day that Jerusalem was taken. And he was there when Jerusalem was taken” (Jeremiah 38:28).

“Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying, ‘Take him and look after him, and do him no harm; but do to him just as he says to you’” (Jeremiah 39:11, 12).

“Meanwhile the word of the LORD had come to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying, ‘Go and speak to Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: ‘Behold, I will bring My words upon this city for adversity and not for good, and they shall be performed in that day before you. But I will deliver you in that day,’ says the LORD, ‘and you shall not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. For I will surely deliver you, and you shall not fall by the sword; but your life shall be as a prize to you, because you have put your trust in Me,’ says the LORD” (Jeremiah 39:15-18).

What can we learn from the faith of Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian?

When he heard that Jeremiah was in the dungeon, he immediately attempted to help him. There was danger involved because he could be accused of helping a traitor. Yet he went to the king and told him that the men who had put Jeremiah in the dungeon had done something evil. Ebed-Melech recognized Jeremiah as a prophet and did not want him to die! The king granted his request.

Let us follow the example of Ebed-Melech the Ethiopian. Let us have the courage to do what is right even if others are doing what is wrong. From this we also learn that God rewards those who put their trust in Him.


An Ethiopian obeys the gospel.

Next we go to the first century AD. The church has been established. The gospel is being preached. Philip the evangelist is sent to a lonely road.

“Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is desert. So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’ So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this: ‘He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.’ So the eunuch answered Philip and said, ‘I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?’ Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, ‘See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?’ Then Philip said, ‘If you believe with all your heart, you may.’ And he answered and said, ‘I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.’ So he commanded the chariot to stand still. And both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him. Now when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, so that the eunuch saw him no more; and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:26-39).

We do not know the name of this Ethiopian. He was the treasurer of the queen of Ethiopia. More important however: he was a man of faith who put his faith into practice.

He was willing to expend great effort to worship God! By chariot he had travelled 1800 km to Jerusalem to worship! Along the way he would have encountered bad weather and hardships. He would have been in danger from thieves. The round trip was 3600 km!

How much effort are we willing to expend to worship God? God’s people no longer must go to Jerusalem, only to a local assembly on the Lord’s day.

Sunday is not our day on which we do what we want, it is the Lord’s day on which we come together to praise and thank God.

The Ethiopian was reading the Scriptures while joggling along in a chariot! There would have been a cushion on his seat, but chariots had no springs. He really wanted to know the word of God! What do we learn from this? We can find occasion to read the Scriptures if we love God and really want to learn His will.

When the Ethiopian heard the gospel, he obeyed immediately! When he saw water, he asked to be baptized! Some hesitate to become a Christian. Not this man. He was baptized and went on his way rejoicing.

From these two examples of dedication, we can learn much. Let us do what is right even if others are doing what is wrong. Let us exert the required effort to worship God and learn His will. Let us have a living faith like Ebed-Melech and the treasurer of Candace! Amen.
Roy Davison
The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers.
Permission for reference use has been granted.
Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)
Footnotes:

1 Of the Qedarites - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qedarite.

2 Jeremiah prophesied 18 years under Josiah, 11 years under Jehoiakim and 11 years under Zedekiah.