July 20 - Evening
(The Boy Friend)
"You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners. Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing. Each has its twin, not one of them is missing. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. Sixty queens there may be, and eighty concubines, and virgins beyond number; but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her."
- Song of Solomon 6:4-9
"You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling, as lovely as Jerusalem, as majestic as troops with banners. Turn your eyes from me; they overwhelm me. Your hair is like a flock of goats descending from Gilead. Your teeth are like a flock of sheep coming up from the washing. Each has its twin, not one of them is missing. Your temples behind your veil are like the halves of a pomegranate. Sixty queens there may be, and eighty concubines, and virgins beyond number; but my dove, my perfect one, is unique, the only daughter of her mother, the favorite of the one who bore her. The young women saw her and called her blessed; the queens and concubines praised her."
- Song of Solomon 6:4-9
A Look from this Beautiful Woman Stuns Him
This song, sometimes considered the fifteenth song on the album, is the young man decrying the girl. Whereas other times the young man described the girl’s beauty, this time he expresses how unique she is among other woman and rates her as superior to other women in her appearance.
Some of the metaphors (or, lyrics) are similar or identical to previous songs, such as the praise of her eyes, hair, teeth and temples. But, she is compared and declared superior to sixty queens, eighty concubines and innumerable virgins. The young man describes this woman is perfect, unique and the only one. She is the favorite. In fact all the other woman admire her and wished they looked as marvelous as she does. Her beauty is more than one man’s opinion!
When a woman as gorgeous as her looks at a man he is dazed. In 6:5 the young man admits that when he realizes her eyes are fixed on him he is overwhelmed. He loses his senses, he forgets what to say, he is flustered with her simple glance in his direction.
Thanasimos (Gr) – mortal (Eng) – the Greek word thanasimos means “mortal,” “causing death,”
and “relating to death.” Thanasimos occurs one time in the NT.
In classical Greek (700’s BC) thanasimos meant “causing death” or “leading to death,” and would be used to refer to things that led to death such as an attack, a fall, a wound, an illness and a poisonous animal.
By Hellenistic times (200’s BC) the idea of the dangerous animal bite began to prevail to the place that thanasimos became a technical term for “poison” or “poisoning.”
The New Testament uses thanasimos one time when it is used in Mark 16:18.
In James 3:8 and Acts 28:3 the Greek word thanateroros is used.
In James 3:8 and Acts 28:3 the Greek word thanateroros is used.
I will keep my eyes for my spouse and allow my spouses beauty to make me speechless.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Marriage
Church
Boldness in the face of opposition
Nation
President
World
Israel
Someone to Quote
"We are a nation full of soft, self-absorbed men."
- Galyn Wiemers
- Galyn Wiemers
Something to Ponder
Take an online quiz concerning the Nicene Creed while you study and learn -
Go HERE and click "start"
Go HERE and click "start"
Here’s a Fact
When examining the foundation stones of the Temple Mount wall it has been noticed that one of the stones does not have the typical Herodian margins, but is entirely smooth. A proposal has been made that this could be an extra stone designed for but not used in Herod’s Temple itself. But, there are other possible scenarios
Leen Ritmeyer shares some insight on the reality of this possibility HERE.
(Photo. Details 1, 2.
(Photo. Details 1, 2.
Proverb
"Ears that hear and eyes that see - the Lord has made them both."
- Proverbs 20:12
- Proverbs 20:12
Coach’s Corner
The greatest miracle is salvation. The godliest spiritual manifestation is the transformed soul.
Ezekiel 24 New International Version (NIV)
Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot
24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. 3 Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.
4
Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones;
5
take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.
6 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away! Take the meat out piece by piece in whatever order it comes.
7
“‘For the blood she shed is in her midst: She poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground, where the dust would cover it.
8
To stir up wrath and take revenge I put her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.
9 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high.
10
So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.
11
Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away.
12
It has frustrated all efforts; its heavy deposit has not been removed, not even by fire.
13 “‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.
14 “‘I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
Ezekiel’s Wife Dies
15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. 17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.”
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?”
20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword. 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners. 23 You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of your sins and groan among yourselves. 24 Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’
25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”
Jerusalem as a Cooking Pot
24 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. 3 Tell this rebellious people a parable and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.
4
Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces—the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones;
5
take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.
6 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away! Take the meat out piece by piece in whatever order it comes.
7
“‘For the blood she shed is in her midst: She poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground, where the dust would cover it.
8
To stir up wrath and take revenge I put her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.
9 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
“‘Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high.
10
So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.
11
Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows, so that its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away.
12
It has frustrated all efforts; its heavy deposit has not been removed, not even by fire.
13 “‘Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.
14 “‘I the Lord have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”
Ezekiel’s Wife Dies
15 The word of the Lord came to me: 16 “Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears. 17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners.”
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
19 Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things have to do with us? Why are you acting like this?”
20 So I said to them, “The word of the Lord came to me: 21 Say to the people of Israel, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary—the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword. 22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover your mustache and beard or eat the customary food of mourners. 23 You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of your sins and groan among yourselves. 24 Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord.’
25 “And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart’s desire, and their sons and daughters as well— 26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news. 27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the Lord.”
Hosea 5-7New International Version (NIV)
Judgment Against Israel
5
“Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you: You have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.
2
The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them.
3
I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt.
4
“Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the Lord.
5
Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them.
6
When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.
7
They are unfaithful to the Lord; they give birth to illegitimate children. When they celebrate their New Moon feasts, he will devour their fields.
8
“Sound the trumpet in Gibeah, the horn in Ramah. Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven; lead on, Benjamin.
9
Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
10
Judah’s leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water.
11
Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols.
12
I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah.
13
“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores.
14
For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.
15
Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face— in their misery they will earnestly seek me.”
Israel Unrepentant
6
“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
2
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.
3
Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
4
“What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.
5
Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth— then my judgments go forth like the sun.
6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
7
As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.
8
Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood.
9
As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes.
10
I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: There Ephraim is given to prostitution, Israel is defiled.
11
“Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed.
“Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,
7
1 whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed. They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets;
2
but they do not realize that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before me.
3
“They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies.
4
They are all adulterers, burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises.
5
On the day of the festival of our king the princes become inflamed with wine, and he joins hands with the mockers.
6
Their hearts are like an oven; they approach him with intrigue. Their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
7
All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.
8
“Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.
9
Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.
10
Israel’s arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him.
11
“Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless— now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.
12
When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like the birds in the sky. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.
13
Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely.
14
They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds. They slash themselves, appealing to their gods for grain and new wine, but they turn away from me.
15
I trained them and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against me.
16
They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent words. For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.
Judgment Against Israel
5
“Hear this, you priests! Pay attention, you Israelites! Listen, royal house! This judgment is against you: You have been a snare at Mizpah, a net spread out on Tabor.
2
The rebels are knee-deep in slaughter. I will discipline all of them.
3
I know all about Ephraim; Israel is not hidden from me. Ephraim, you have now turned to prostitution; Israel is corrupt.
4
“Their deeds do not permit them to return to their God. A spirit of prostitution is in their heart; they do not acknowledge the Lord.
5
Israel’s arrogance testifies against them; the Israelites, even Ephraim, stumble in their sin; Judah also stumbles with them.
6
When they go with their flocks and herds to seek the Lord, they will not find him; he has withdrawn himself from them.
7
They are unfaithful to the Lord; they give birth to illegitimate children. When they celebrate their New Moon feasts, he will devour their fields.
8
“Sound the trumpet in Gibeah, the horn in Ramah. Raise the battle cry in Beth Aven; lead on, Benjamin.
9
Ephraim will be laid waste on the day of reckoning. Among the tribes of Israel I proclaim what is certain.
10
Judah’s leaders are like those who move boundary stones. I will pour out my wrath on them like a flood of water.
11
Ephraim is oppressed, trampled in judgment, intent on pursuing idols.
12
I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah.
13
“When Ephraim saw his sickness, and Judah his sores, then Ephraim turned to Assyria, and sent to the great king for help. But he is not able to cure you, not able to heal your sores.
14
For I will be like a lion to Ephraim, like a great lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces and go away; I will carry them off, with no one to rescue them.
15
Then I will return to my lair until they have borne their guilt and seek my face— in their misery they will earnestly seek me.”
Israel Unrepentant
6
“Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds.
2
After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence.
3
Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”
4
“What can I do with you, Ephraim? What can I do with you, Judah? Your love is like the morning mist, like the early dew that disappears.
5
Therefore I cut you in pieces with my prophets, I killed you with the words of my mouth— then my judgments go forth like the sun.
6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.
7
As at Adam, they have broken the covenant; they were unfaithful to me there.
8
Gilead is a city of evildoers, stained with footprints of blood.
9
As marauders lie in ambush for a victim, so do bands of priests; they murder on the road to Shechem, carrying out their wicked schemes.
10
I have seen a horrible thing in Israel: There Ephraim is given to prostitution, Israel is defiled.
11
“Also for you, Judah, a harvest is appointed.
“Whenever I would restore the fortunes of my people,
7
1 whenever I would heal Israel, the sins of Ephraim are exposed and the crimes of Samaria revealed. They practice deceit, thieves break into houses, bandits rob in the streets;
2
but they do not realize that I remember all their evil deeds. Their sins engulf them; they are always before me.
3
“They delight the king with their wickedness, the princes with their lies.
4
They are all adulterers, burning like an oven whose fire the baker need not stir from the kneading of the dough till it rises.
5
On the day of the festival of our king the princes become inflamed with wine, and he joins hands with the mockers.
6
Their hearts are like an oven; they approach him with intrigue. Their passion smolders all night; in the morning it blazes like a flaming fire.
7
All of them are hot as an oven; they devour their rulers. All their kings fall, and none of them calls on me.
8
“Ephraim mixes with the nations; Ephraim is a flat loaf not turned over.
9
Foreigners sap his strength, but he does not realize it. His hair is sprinkled with gray, but he does not notice.
10
Israel’s arrogance testifies against him, but despite all this he does not return to the Lord his God or search for him.
11
“Ephraim is like a dove, easily deceived and senseless— now calling to Egypt, now turning to Assyria.
12
When they go, I will throw my net over them; I will pull them down like the birds in the sky. When I hear them flocking together, I will catch them.
13
Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely.
14
They do not cry out to me from their hearts but wail on their beds. They slash themselves, appealing to their gods for grain and new wine, but they turn away from me.
15
I trained them and strengthened their arms, but they plot evil against me.
16
They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. Their leaders will fall by the sword because of their insolent words. For this they will be ridiculed in the land of Egypt.