July 6 - Evening
"Kings detest wrongdoing,
for a throne is established through righteousness.
Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value the one who speaks what is right."
- Proverbs 16:12-13
- Proverbs 16:12-13
Governmental Righteousness is a Prerequisite for Reigning in Wisdom
The idea that leadership and governing powers must be established in righteousness has been known throughout the ages and even is advised in Pagan writing. Daily operation of governing powers must be honest and must value those who speak with integrity. A wise king will despise wickedness for he knows it is like pockets of sand in the foundation of his kingdom and stains of weakness in the fabric of his society.
The commitment of the king and his administration to justice and truth are prerequisites for an enduring foundation of the king’s rule and the maintenance of society.
Proverbs 16:13 is advice to those who work for the government or serve in the king’s administration. The righteous king finds pleasure in their honest lips. An administrator or government official who serves the country with integrity is valuable.
Eupsycheo (Gr) – be courageous (Eng) – the Greek word eupsycheo can mean “to take heart,” “to be courageous,” “to be cheered.” Eupsycheo is used few times in classical Greek (700’s BC) and Hellenistic Greek (200’s BC), but when it is used it refers to a soldier’s bravery in battle. Josephus uses it to refer to comfort received in difficult situations. For example, Josephus uses eupsycheo to describe Xerxes, the Persian king (486-465 BC), comforting his wife Esther when she faints. In Hellenistic times (200 BC) eupsycheo began to be used as a salutation on inscriptions or in letters in the collection of papyri (100 BC- 100 AD) to say “take heart” and “good courage.” Eupsycheo is used 1x in the New Testament. Paul uses eupsycheo in Philippians 2:19 when he sends Timothy to Philippi to receive information that would eupsycheo Paul.
"I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you." - Philippians 2:19
"I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you." - Philippians 2:19
I will serve my country and strengthen my society by speaking truth, supporting justice and living with integrity.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Organization of your house and home management
Church
Reach the community, county, state,
nation and world
with Word of God
Nation
Local school system
World
Indonesia
Someone to Quote
"Although keeping parrots and curlews, the pagans do not adopt the orphan child. Rather, they expose children who are born at home. Yet, they take up the young of birds. So they prefer irrational creatures to rational ones!"
- Clement of Alexandria writing about the pagan culture of 195 AD
- Clement of Alexandria writing about the pagan culture of 195 AD
Something to Ponder
Eusebius, the church historian, wrote around 315 AD that Jesus had exchanged letters with Abgar (Avak-air), the king in Edessa the capital of Armenia. This is not scriptural, but it has all the markings of a historical account with possible scriptural reference in John 12:20-22. Eusebius writes the following:
"On their return, the Armenian deputies went to Jerusalem to see our Savior the Christ, being attracted by the report of His miracles. Having themselves become eye-witnesses of these wonders, they related them to Abgar. This prince, seized with admiration, believed truly that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and said:
These wonders are not those of a man, but of a God. No, there is no one among men who can raise the dead: God alone has this power.
Abgar felt in his whole body certain acute pains...Abgar sent a letter of entreaty to Jesus: he prayed Him to come and cure him of his pains. Here is this letter:—
Abgar, son of Archam, prince of the land, to Jesus, Saviour and Benefactor of men, who has appeared in the country of Jerusalem, greeting: — I have heard of You, and of the cures wrought by Your hands, ... I have concluded from them either that You are God, come down from heaven to do such great things, or that You are the Son of God, working as You do these miracles. Therefore have I written to You, praying You to condescend to come to me and cure me ... I have a city small but pleasant, it would be sufficient for us both.
The messengers, the bearers of this letter, met Jesus at Jerusalem, a fact confirmed by these words of the Gospel:
Some from among the heathen came to find Jesus, but those who heard them, not daring to tell Jesus what they had heard, told it to Philip and Andrew, who repeated it all to their Master. (John 12:20-22)
The Saviour did not then accept the invitation given to Him, but He thought fit to honor Abgar with an answer in these words..."
(Read more, Eusebius' full text 1, 2.)
"On their return, the Armenian deputies went to Jerusalem to see our Savior the Christ, being attracted by the report of His miracles. Having themselves become eye-witnesses of these wonders, they related them to Abgar. This prince, seized with admiration, believed truly that Jesus was indeed the Son of God, and said:
These wonders are not those of a man, but of a God. No, there is no one among men who can raise the dead: God alone has this power.
Abgar felt in his whole body certain acute pains...Abgar sent a letter of entreaty to Jesus: he prayed Him to come and cure him of his pains. Here is this letter:—
Abgar, son of Archam, prince of the land, to Jesus, Saviour and Benefactor of men, who has appeared in the country of Jerusalem, greeting: — I have heard of You, and of the cures wrought by Your hands, ... I have concluded from them either that You are God, come down from heaven to do such great things, or that You are the Son of God, working as You do these miracles. Therefore have I written to You, praying You to condescend to come to me and cure me ... I have a city small but pleasant, it would be sufficient for us both.
The messengers, the bearers of this letter, met Jesus at Jerusalem, a fact confirmed by these words of the Gospel:
Some from among the heathen came to find Jesus, but those who heard them, not daring to tell Jesus what they had heard, told it to Philip and Andrew, who repeated it all to their Master. (John 12:20-22)
The Saviour did not then accept the invitation given to Him, but He thought fit to honor Abgar with an answer in these words..."
(Read more, Eusebius' full text 1, 2.)
Here’s a Fact
In the past the writings of Luke (The Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts) were considered unreliable documents filled with inaccuracies and legends because Luke was the only historian from the ancient world to use specific terms, names of locations and references to people unknown to “scholars.” When atheist
Sir William Ramsay attempted to disprove Luke’s reliability as a historian by going to archaeological sites and researching classical history he instead concluded that Luke was the greatest of the historians, even more accurate and impressive than Thucydides, the Greek historian.
Details 1, 2. "Archaeologist and NT Scholar" .pdf
Watch Video about "Sir Ramsay and the Bible:
Details 1, 2. "Archaeologist and NT Scholar" .pdf
Watch Video about "Sir Ramsay and the Bible:
Proverb
"This command is a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
are the way to life."
- Proverbs 6:23
this teaching is a light,
and correction and instruction
are the way to life."
- Proverbs 6:23
Coach’s Corner
The greatest miracle is salvation. The godliest spiritual manifestation is the transformed soul.
Jeremiah 24
New International Version (NIV)
Two Baskets of Figs
24 After Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the Lord. 2 One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early; the other basket had very bad figs, so bad they could not be eaten.
3 Then the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
“Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. 6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. 7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
8 “‘But like the bad figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt. 9 I will make them abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, a curse and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish them. 10 I will send the sword, famine and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.’”
New International Version (NIV)
Two Baskets of Figs
24 After Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of the Lord. 2 One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early; the other basket had very bad figs, so bad they could not be eaten.
3 Then the Lord asked me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
“Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians. 6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. 7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
8 “‘But like the bad figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt. 9 I will make them abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, a curse and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish them. 10 I will send the sword, famine and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.’”
2 Chronicles 26
New International Version (NIV)
Uzziah King of Judah
26 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.
6 He went to war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful.
9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
11 Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials. 12 The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. 14 Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army. 15 In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.
16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.”
19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.
21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house—leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
22 The other events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah rested with his ancestors and was buried near them in a cemetery that belonged to the kings, for people said, “He had leprosy.” And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
New International Version (NIV)
Uzziah King of Judah
26 Then all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 2 He was the one who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. 4 He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. 5 He sought God during the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. As long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success.
6 He went to war against the Philistines and broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. He then rebuilt towns near Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines. 7 God helped him against the Philistines and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal and against the Meunites. 8 The Ammonites brought tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread as far as the border of Egypt, because he had become very powerful.
9 Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate and at the angle of the wall, and he fortified them. 10 He also built towers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, because he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain. He had people working his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.
11 Uzziah had a well-trained army, ready to go out by divisions according to their numbers as mustered by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officials. 12 The total number of family leaders over the fighting men was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500 men trained for war, a powerful force to support the king against his enemies. 14 Uzziah provided shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows and slingstones for the entire army. 15 In Jerusalem he made devices invented for use on the towers and on the corner defenses so that soldiers could shoot arrows and hurl large stones from the walls. His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful.
16 But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God, and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 Azariah the priest with eighty other courageous priests of the Lord followed him in. 18 They confronted King Uzziah and said, “It is not right for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord. That is for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who have been consecrated to burn incense. Leave the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful; and you will not be honored by the Lord God.”
19 Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the Lord’s temple, leprosy broke out on his forehead. 20 When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the Lord had afflicted him.
21 King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate house—leprous, and banned from the temple of the Lord. Jotham his son had charge of the palace and governed the people of the land.
22 The other events of Uzziah’s reign, from beginning to end, are recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. 23 Uzziah rested with his ancestors and was buried near them in a cemetery that belonged to the kings, for people said, “He had leprosy.” And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.