From Gary... When a fence is not a fence

I took this picture yesterday afternoon.  Actually, it was a continuation of my experimentation with stitching several pictures together.  This picture is a little deceiving, as the fences intersect at a 90 degree angle and not the apparent 45 degree above.  Also, if the ground on the right of the picture looks odd, it is because there is a mound running parallel to the fence.  Things are not always what they seem, as the following parable indicates...

Luke, Chapter 8

 4 When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable.  5  “The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.   6  Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.   7  Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.   8  Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” 

  9  Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?” 

  10  He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables; that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’  11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.   12  Those along the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.   13  Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.   14  That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.   15  That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produces fruit with patience. 

Verse 14 is very important in this passage, as the beginning of attaining knowledge is often preceded by asking a question.  The disciples were to become fishers of men and therefore needed to know how their future listeners would respond to the word of God.  We need to know this too as we are expected to share God's word today as well.  For me, I look at the picture of the fence and see the individual days of my life (the fence posts) anchored by a fitting nails (the words of God), connected by a union of twisted wire (God's thoughts and my own), set in a pattern ordained by the Almighty for his use.  You might just see a fence, which is fine.  I will be looking for God's presence in everything around me.  You decide which is better!!!  Both are correct!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading and Study, Jun. 14

Bible Reading and Study

June 14

1 Samuel 21, 22

1Sa 21:1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, Why are you alone, and no man with you?

1Sa 21:2 David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has commanded me a business, and has said to me, Let no man know anything of the business about which I send you, and what I have commanded you: and I have appointed the young men to such and such a place.

1Sa 21:3 Now therefore what is under your hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever there is present.

1Sa 21:4 The priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.

1Sa 21:5 David answered the priest, and said to him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then today shall their vessels be holy?

1Sa 21:6 So the priest gave him holy bread; for there was no bread there but the show bread, that was taken from before Yahweh, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

1Sa 21:7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.

1Sa 21:8 David said to Ahimelech, Isn't there here under your hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

1Sa 21:9 The priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if you will take that, take it; for there is no other except that here. David said, There is none like that; give it to me.

1Sa 21:10 David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

1Sa 21:11 The servants of Achish said to him, "Isn't this David the king of the land? Didn't they sing one to another about him in dances, saying, 'Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands?' "

1Sa 21:12 David laid up these words in his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

1Sa 21:13 He changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.

1Sa 21:14 Then said Achish to his servants, Look, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me?

1Sa 21:15 Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

1Sa 22:1 David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.

1Sa 22:2 Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

1Sa 22:3 David went there to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said to the king of Moab, Please let my father and my mother come forth, and be with you, until I know what God will do for me.

1Sa 22:4 He brought them before the king of Moab: and they lived with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.

1Sa 22:5 The prophet Gad said to David, Don't stay in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hereth.

1Sa 22:6 Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him: now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.

1Sa 22:7 Saul said to his servants who stood about him, Hear now, you Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,

1Sa 22:8 that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none who discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

1Sa 22:9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

1Sa 22:10 He inquired of Yahweh for him, and gave him food, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

1Sa 22:11 Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests who were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

1Sa 22:12 Saul said, Hear now, you son of Ahitub. He answered, Here I am, my lord.

1Sa 22:13 Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

1Sa 22:14 Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and is taken into your council, and is honorable in your house?

1Sa 22:15 Have I today begun to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: don't let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for your servant knows nothing of all this, less or more.

1Sa 22:16 The king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father's house.

1Sa 22:17 The king said to the guard who stood about him, Turn, and kill the priests of Yahweh; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and didn't disclose it to me. But the servants of the king wouldn't put forth their hand to fall on the priests of Yahweh.

1Sa 22:18 The king said to Doeg, Turn and attack the priests! Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod.

1Sa 22:19 Nob, the city of the priests, struck he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing babies, and cattle and donkeys and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

1Sa 22:20 One of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

1Sa 22:21 Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Yahweh's priests.

1Sa 22:22 David said to Abiathar, I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned the death of all the persons of your father's house.

1Sa 22:23 Stay with me, don't be afraid; for he who seeks my life seeks your life: for with me you shall be in safeguard.

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

1 Samuel

1 Samuel 21 1

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, Why are you alone, and no man with you?

And David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest; and Ahimelech trembled at meeting David, and said to him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

And David cometh in to Nob, unto Ahimelech the priest, and Ahimelech trembleth at meeting David, and saith to him, `Wherefore [art] thou thyself alone, and no man with thee?`

1 Samuel 21 2

David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has commanded me a business, and has said to me, Let no man know anything of the business about which I send you, and what I have commanded you: and I have appointed the young men to such and such a place.

And David said to Ahimelech the priest, The king has commanded me a business, and has said to me, Let no man know anything of the business whereon I send thee, and what I have commanded thee; and I have directed the young men to such and such a place.

And David saith to Ahimelech the priest, `The king hath commanded me a matter, and he saith unto me, Let no man know anything of the matter about which I am sending thee, and which I have commanded thee; and the young men I have caused to know at such and such a place;

1 Samuel 21 3

Now therefore what is under your hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever there is present.

And now what is under thy hand? give me five loaves in my hand, or what may be found.

and now, what is there under thy hand? five loaves give into my hand, or that which is found.`

1 Samuel 21 4

The priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.

And the priest answered David and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

And the priest answereth David, and saith, `There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if the youths have been kept only from women.`

1 Samuel 21 5

David answered the priest, and said to him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then today shall their vessels be holy?

And David answered the priest and said to him, Yes indeed, women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the [bread] is in a manner common, and the more so, because to-day [new] is hallowed in the vessels.

And David answereth the priest, and saith to him, `Surely, if women have been restrained from us as heretofore in my going out, then the vessels of the young men are holy, and it [is] a common way: and also, surely to-day it is sanctified in the vessel.`

1 Samuel 21 6

So the priest gave him holy [bread]; for there was no bread there but the show bread, that was taken from before Yahweh, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away. 

And the priest gave him holy [bread]; for there was no bread there but the shew-loaves that were taken from before Jehovah, to put on hot bread in the day when they were taken away.

And the priest giveth to him the holy thing, for there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence which is turned aside from the presence of Jehovah to put hot bread in the day of its being taken away.

1 Samuel 21 7

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.

(Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Jehovah; and his name was Doeg, the Edomite, chief of the shepherds that [belonged] to Saul.)

And there [is] a man of the servants of Saul on that day detained before Jehovah, and his name [is] Doeg the Edomite, chief of the shepherds whom Saul hath.

1 Samuel 21 8

David said to Ahimelech, Isn`t there here under your hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king`s business required haste.

And David said to Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, for the king`s business was urgent.

And David saith to Ahimelech, `And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for neither my sword nor my vessels have I taken in my hand, for the matter of the king was urgent.`

1 Samuel 21 9

The priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the vale of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if you will take that, take it; for there is no other except that here. David said, There is none like that; give it me.

And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of terebinths, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod; if thou wilt take that, take it; for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that: give it me.

And the priest saith, `The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou didst smite in the valley of Elah, lo, it is wrapt in a garment behind the ephod, if it thou dost take to thyself, take; for there is none other save it in this [place].` And David saith, `There is none like it -- give it to me.`

1 Samuel 21 10

David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 

And David arose, and fled that day from before Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

And David riseth and fleeth on that day from the face of Saul, and cometh in unto Achish king of Gath;

1 Samuel 21 11

The servants of Achish said to him, "Isn`t this David the king of the land? Didn`t they sing one to another about him in dances, saying, `Saul has slain his thousands, David his ten thousands?`"

And the servants of Achish said to him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul has smitten his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

and the servants of Achish say unto him, `Is not this David king of the land? is it not of this one they sing in dances, saying, `Saul smote among his thousands, and David among his myriads?`

1 Samuel 21 12

David laid up these words in his heart, and was very afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

And David took to heart these words, and was much afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

And David layeth these words in his heart, and is exceedingly afraid of the face of Achish king of Gath,

1 Samuel 21 13

He changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.

And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.

and changeth his behaviour before their eyes, and feigneth himself mad in their hand, and scribbleth on the doors of the gate, and letteth down his spittle unto his beard.

1 Samuel 21 14

Then said Achish to his servants, Look, you see the man is mad; why then have you brought him to me?

And Achish said to his servants, Behold, ye see the man is mad: why did ye bring him to me?

And Achish saith unto his servants, `Lo, ye see a man acting as a madman; why do ye bring him in unto me?

1 Samuel 21 15

Do I lack madmen, that you have brought this fellow to play the madman in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

have I lack of madmen, that ye have brought this one to rave in my presence? shall this [man] come into my house?

A lack of madmen [have] I, that ye have brought in this one to act as a madman by me! doth this one come in unto my house?`

1 Samuel 22 1

David therefore departed there, and escaped to the cave of Adullam: and when his brothers and all his father`s house heard it, they went down there to him.

And David departed thence, and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And his brethren and all his father`s house heard [it], and they went down thither to him.

And David goeth thence, and is escaped unto the cave of Adullam, and his brethren hear, and all the house of his father, and go down unto him thither;

1 Samuel 22 2

Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented, gathered themselves to him; and he became captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.

And every one in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one of embittered spirit collected round him; and he became a captain over them; and there were with him about four hundred men.

and gather themselves unto him do every man in distress, and every man who hath an exactor, and every man bitter in soul, and he is over them for head, and there are with him about four hundred men.

1 Samuel 22 3

David went there to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said to the king of Moab, Please let my father and my mother come forth, [and be] with you, until I know what God will do for me. 

And David went thence to Mizpeh in Moab, and said to the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth amongst you, till I know what God will do for me.

And David goeth thence to Mizpeh of Moab, and saith unto the king of Moab, `Let, I pray thee, my father and my mother go out with you, till that I know what God doth for me;`

1 Samuel 22 4

He brought them before the king of Moab: and they lived with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.

And he brought them before the king of Moab; and they abode with him all the while that David was in the stronghold.

and he leadeth them before the king of Moab, and they dwell with him all the days of David`s being in the fortress.

1 Samuel 22 5

The prophet Gad said to David, Don`t stay in the stronghold; depart, and get you into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hereth.

And the prophet Gad said to David, Abide not in the stronghold; depart, and go into the land of Judah. Then David departed, and came into the forest of Hareth.

And Gad the prophet saith unto David, `Thou dost not abide in a fortress, go, and thou hast entered for thee the land of Judah;` and David goeth and entereth the forest of Hareth.

1 Samuel 22 6

Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men who were with him: now Saul was sitting in Gibeah, under the tamarisk-tree in Ramah, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing about him.

And Saul heard that David was discovered, and the men that were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk upon the height, having his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing by him.

And Saul heareth that David hath become known, and the men who [are] with him, and Saul is abiding in Gibeah, under the grove in Ramah, and his spear [is] in his hand, and all his servants standing by him.

1 Samuel 22 7

Saul said to his servants who stood about him, Hear now, you Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give everyone of you fields and vineyards, will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,

Then Saul said to his servants that stood by him, Hear now, ye Benjaminites: will the son of Jesse give every one of you also fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds,

And Saul saith to his servants who are standing by him, `Hear, I pray you, ye Benjamites; also to all of you doth the son of Jesse give fields and vineyards! all of you he doth appoint heads of thousands and heads of hundreds!

1 Samuel 22 8

that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none who discloses to me when my son makes a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you who is sorry for me, or discloses to me that my son has stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

that all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that informs me when my son has made [a covenant] with the son of Jesse; and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or informs me that my son has stirred up my servant as a lier-in-wait against me, as at this day?

for ye have conspired all of you against me, and there is none uncovering mine ear about my son`s covenanting with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you grieving for me, and uncovering mine ear, that my son hath raised up my servant against me, to lie in wait as [at] this day.`

1 Samuel 22 9

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

Then answered Doeg the Edomite, who was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.

And answer doth Doeg the Edomite, who is set over the servants of Saul, and saith, `I have seen the son of Jesse coming in to Nob, unto Ahimelech son of Ahitub, 

1 Samuel 22 10

He inquired of Yahweh for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

And he inquired of Jehovah for him, and gave him victuals, and gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.

and he asketh for him at Jehovah, and provision hath given to him, and the sword of Goliath the Philistine hath given to him.

1 Samuel 22 11

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father`s house, the priests who were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king. 

Then the king sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father`s house, the priests that were in Nob; and they came all of them to the king.

And the king sendeth to call Ahimelech son of Ahitub, the priest, and all the house of his father, the priests, who [are] in Nob, and they come all of them unto the king;

1 Samuel 22 12

Saul said, Hear now, you son of Ahitub. He answered, Here I am, my lord.

And Saul said, Hear now, son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

and Saul saith, `Hear, I pray thee, son of Ahitub;` and he saith, `Here [am] I, my lord.`

1 Samuel 22 13

Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

And Saul said to him, Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me as a lier-in-wait, as at this day?

And Saul saith unto him, `Why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, by thy giving to him bread and a sword, and to ask for him at God, to rise against me, to lie in wait, as [at] this day?`

1 Samuel 22 14

Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king`s son-in-law, and is taken into your council, and is honorable in your house?

And Ahimelech answered the king and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, who is the king`s son-in-law, and has access to thy secret council, and is honourable in thy house?

And Ahimelech answereth the king and saith, `And who among all thy servants [is] as David -- faithful, and son-in-law of the king, and hath turned aside unto thy council, and is honoured in thy house?

1 Samuel 22 15

Have I today begun to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: don`t let the king impute anything to his servant, nor to all the house of my father; for your servant knows nothing of all this, less or more.

Was it to-day that I began to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king charge anything to his servant, [nor] to all the house of my father; for thy servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

To-day have I begun to ask for him at God? far be it from me! let not the king lay anything against his servant, against any of the house of my father, for thy servant hath known nothing of all this, less or more.`

1 Samuel 22 16

The king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father`s house.

And the king said, Thou shalt certainly die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father`s house.

And the king saith, `Thou dost surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all the house of thy father.`

1 Samuel 22 17

The king said to the guard who stood about him, Turn, and kill the priests of Yahweh; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and didn`t disclose it to me. But the servants of the king wouldn`t put forth their hand to fall on the priests of Yahweh.

And the king said to the couriers that stood about him, Turn and put the priests of Jehovah to death; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not inform me. But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hand to fall on the priests of Jehovah.

And the king saith to runners, those standing by him, `Turn round, and put to death the priests of Jehovah, because their hand also [is] with David, and because they have known that he is fleeing, and have not uncovered mine ear;` and the servants of the king have not been willing to put forth their hand to come against the priests of Jehovah.

1 Samuel 22 18

The king said to Doeg, Turn you, and fall on the priests. Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell on the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five persons who wore a linen ephod.

And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall on the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and fell on the priests, and put to death that day eighty-five persons who wore the linen ephod.

And the king saith to Doeg, `Turn round thou, and come against the priests;` and Doeg the Edomite turneth round, and cometh himself against the priests, and putteth to death in that day eighty and five men bearing a linen ephod,

1 Samuel 22 19

Nob, the city of the priests, struck he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing babies, and oxen and donkeys and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

And Nob, the city of the priests, he smote with the edge of the sword, both men and women, infants and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

and Nob, the city of the priests, he hath smitten by the mouth of the sword, from man even unto woman, from infant even unto suckling, and ox, and ass, and sheep, by the mouth of the sword.

1 Samuel 22 20

One of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David. 

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

And there escapeth one son of Ahimelech, son of Ahitub, and his name [is] Abiathar, and he fleeth after David,

1 Samuel 22 21

Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Yahweh`s priests.

And Abiathar informed David that Saul had slain Jehovah`s priests.

and Abiathar declareth to David that Saul hath slain the priests of Jehovah.

1 Samuel 22 22

David said to Abiathar, I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul: I have occasioned [the death] of all the persons of your father`s house.

And David said to Abiathar, I knew it that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would certainly tell Saul: I am accountable for all the lives of thy father`s house.

And David saith to Abiathar, `I have known on that day when Doeg the Edomite [is] there, that he doth certainly declare [it] to Saul; I have brought [it] round to every person of the house of thy father;

1 Samuel 22 23

Abide you with me, don`t be afraid; for he who seeks my life seeks your life: for with me you shall be in safeguard.

Abide with me, fear not; for he that seeks my life seeks thy life; for with me thou art in safe keeping.

dwell with me; fear not; for he who seeketh my life seeketh thy life; for a charge [art] thou with me.`

Study Questions...

What did Ahimelech give David? 21:1, 6

Why did Saul order Ahimelech killed? 22:16, 17

What was Abiathar offered? 22:20-23

From Jim McGuiggan... Paul And Corinth: Possible Chain Of Events

Paul And Corinth: Possible Chain Of Events

1. The First Visit: Establishes the church (Acts 18).

2. Writes Letter 'A' We don't have that letter. See 1 Corinthians 5:9

3. Writes Letter 'B' (Our 1 Corinthians) in response to reports and questions)

4. The second visit: 2 Corinthians 2:1 and 13:2 (not recorded in Acts). 

While there on the 2nd visit, he was attacked and humiliated by some brother which provokes the next letter ( Letter "C") This second visit was a "flying" visit and was not what he had promised in 1 Corinthians 16:5-7. That was to be an extended stay. 

See 2 Corinthians 1:15.

5. Writes Letter 'C' Described by Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:4 and 7:8 as a "tearful and grief-bringing letter". (We don't have that letter.)

6. Waits anxiously for a response to Letter C and finally learns from Titus that there had been a good response (2 Corinthians 7:6-16). Well, a better response than he might have expected. At least the whole church hadn't turned from him.

7. Along with that news or maybe even subsequent to it he heard that Jewish critics were among his opponents ("super/false apostles") and were generating tension and fragmentation. This leads him to write Letter 'D' (our 2 Corinthians).

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com

From Mark Copeland... Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial (14:27-31)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial (14:27-31)

INTRODUCTION

1. How well do we know ourselves...?
   a. Confident that our faith is strong?
   b. Certain that we would never deny our Lord?

2. In our text (Mk 14:27-31) we find examples of over-confidence...
   a. Not just in Peter who denied the Lord
   b. But in all the apostles who stumbled and fled

[Let’s begin with a reading of our text, with the Lord and His disciples
having just completed the Last Supper and on their way to the Mount of
Olives...]

I. NARRATIVE

   A. DESERTION AND REUNION FORETOLD...
      1. Jesus speaks of desertion by His disciples - Mk 14:27
      2. As foretold by Zechariah - cf. Zec 13:7
      3. But also of His resurrection and reunion in Galilee - Mk 14:28;
         cf. Mk 16:7

   B. PETER’S DENIAL FORETOLD...
      1. Peter asserts that even if all others stumble, not him! - Mk 14:29
      2. Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times that night
         - Mk 14:30
      3. Peter angrily disagrees, even if it means death - Mk 14:31
      4. The rest of the disciples all say the same thing - Mk 14:31

[Jesus’ prediction soon came true (Mk 14:50,66-72).  What would we have
done if we were one of Jesus’ disciples at that time?  Before answering
too quickly, consider a few lessons from the text...]

II. APPLICATION

   A. THE LIMITS OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE...
      1. How well do we really know ourselves?
         a. The disciples seem so certain in their faithfulness
         b. Yet they all stumbled and Peter denied the Lord, just as He
            said
         c. Like Hazael, they really did not know their true selves
            - cf. 2Ki 8:12-13
         d. Indeed, can any of us know our true selves? - cf. Jer 17:9
      2. Then what can we do?
         a. Acknowledge that only God truly knows us - cf. 

            Jer 17:10; Ps 139:1-16; He 4:13
         b. Look to the Word of God to see ourselves as we really are
            - He 4:12
         c. Look to God in prayer for help - Ps 19:12; 139:23-24; e.g.,
            2Th 3:5

   B. BEWARE OF COMFORT MISSED BY SELFISHNESS...
      1. Notice how the disciples ignored Jesus’ words of comfort
         a. He spoke plainly of His resurrection - Mk 14:28
         b. Yet they focused on defending themselves - Mk 14:29-31
      2. Might we be guilty of the same?
         a. We have been given many comforting words - e.g., Ro 8:31-39
         b. We can enjoy comfort from both God and one another - cf. 2Co 1:3-4
         c. But we can overlook such comfort when focused on selfish
            concerns!

   C. BE CAREFUL OF PROUD ASSERTIONS...
      1. Notice the self-confidence of the disciples
         a. Peter angrily stating that he would die before denying the
            Lord - Mk 14:29-31
         b. The rest of the disciples said likewise - Mk 14:31
      2. Might we be guilty of the same?
         a. Quick to boast of our faithfulness to the Lord or His
            church?
         b. Remember the wisdom of Solomon about pride and a haughty
            spirit - Pr 16:18

CONCLUSION

1. As disciples of Jesus Christ, let us learn...
   a. From His first disciples
   b. From those who were even His apostles

2. What can we learn...?
   a. The limits of self-knowledge
   b. The danger of missing comfort due to selfishness
   c. The need to be careful of proud assertions

We can also learn of our Lord’s grace and mercy, for He was quick to
forgive those who denied Him and fled away.  So He will do for us when
we stumble, if we are willing to repent and return to Him...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011