safety

September 28, 2017

The new covenant (Hos 2:18-2:18)

“On that day,

I will make

For you

A covenant

With the wild animals,

The birds of the air,

The creeping things

Of the ground.

I will abolish

The bow,

The sword,

War from the land.

I will make you

Lie down in safety.”

On that day to come, Yahweh said that he was going to make a new covenant with the wild animals, the birds, and the creeping things. He was going to abolish the bow, the sword, and even fighting in general. War would be no more. This futuristic peace time would mean that they could lie down in safety. Was this the messianic age to come with worldwide peace?

June 15, 2017

The safe and secure life (Ezek 34:28-34:29)

“They shall no more

Be plunder

For the nations.

The wild animals

Of the land

Shall not devour them.

They shall live

In safety.

No one

Shall make them

Afraid.

I will provide

For them

A splendid vegetation.

Thus,

They will no longer

Be consumed

With hunger

In the land.

They will no longer

Suffer the insults

Of the nations.”

Once they were back in their land, the Israelites would no longer become plunder for the various nations. The wild animals in the land would not devour them. They would live in safety, since no one would make them afraid. Yahweh was going to provide for them with splendid vegetation. They would never have to worry about hunger in their land. They would no longer suffer any insults from the various nations.

January 1, 2017

Why the Rechabites moved to Jerusalem (Jer 35:11-35:11)

“But when King Nebuchadnezzar

Of Babylon

Came up against the land,

We said.

‘Come!

Let us go to Jerusalem!

They feared

The army of the Chaldeans.

They feared

The army of the Arameans.’

This is why

We are living in Jerusalem.”

How then did they end up in the city of Jerusalem? Their explanation was simple. With the coming of King Nebuchadnezzar (605-562 BCE) of Babylon, they moved to safety in or around Jerusalem. They feared for their lives because of the Babylonian invasion with their Chaldean and Aramean troops. Thus they took refuge in Jerusalem. Obviously, they were a little out of place there with their strange life style ways.

December 29, 2016

The future righteousness king (Jer 33:15-33:17)

“In those days,

At that time,

I will cause

A righteous branch

To spring up

For David.

He shall execute justice

In the land.

He shall execute righteousness

In the land.

In those days,

Judah will be saved.

Jerusalem will live in safety.

This is the name

It will be called.

‘Yahweh is our righteousness.’

Thus says Yahweh.

‘David shall never lack

A man to sit

On the throne

Of the house of Israel.’”

This is almost word for word from chapter 23 of this work. Yahweh indicates that a future Davidic king would rule in both Judah and Jerusalem, not Israel as in chapter 23. This king would come from David’s righteous branch. He would rule wisely with justice and righteousness. Judah would be saved and Jerusalem, not Israel, would live in safety. The name of Jerusalem would be called “Yahweh of our righteousness.” However, Yahweh said that they would never lack a descendant of David to sit on the throne as the king of Israel.

October 19, 2016

Sound the alarm in Judah and Jerusalem (Jer 4:5-4:6)

“Declare in Judah!

Proclaim in Jerusalem!

Say!

‘Blow the trumpet

Through the land!

Shout aloud!

Say!

‘Gather together!

Let us go Into the fortified cities!’

Raise a standard toward Zion!

Flee for safety!

Do not delay!’”

Jeremiah warns the people of Judah and Jerusalem that they ought to gather together in their fortified cities. They should sound a trumpet throughout the land, as well as shout and cry out. They should raise the standard in Zion. They should flee to safety without delay. They should get their defenses ready for an attack.

September 13, 2016

God will lead the servant of Yahweh (Isa 50:10-50:11)

“Who among you fears Yahweh?

Who obeys the voice of his servant?

Who walks in darkness?

Who has no light?

Who trusts in the name of Yahweh?

Who relies upon his God?

But all of you are kindlers of fire!

You are lighters of firebrands!

Walk in the flame of your fire!

Walk among the branches

That you have kindled!

This is what you shall have

From my hand.

You shall lie down in torment!”

Second Isaiah reminds the faithful that if they fear and trust Yahweh they will be okay. If they obey the voice of his servant and rely on God, they will be fine. However, if they walk in darkness, there will be no light. He wanted them to start fires and walk in the flames of their own fires. They will be tormented, but Yahweh will lead them to safety.

November 3, 2015

God leads them to the holy land (Ps 78:52-78:55)

“Then he led out his people like sheep.

He guided them in the wilderness like a flock.

He led them to safety.

They were not afraid.

However the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

He brought them to his holy hill.

He brought them to the mountain

That his right hand had won.

He drove out nations before them.

He apportioned them for a possession.

He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.”

God led his people like sheep. Thus the image of the good shepherd goes back to the Exodus itself. He guided his flock of sheep through the wilderness as he led them to safety. Thus they were not afraid. After all he had led them through the waters that never touched them. He brought them to his holy hill or mountain, Mount Sinai. He drove out nations before them as they entered the holy land. The apportionment of this holy land among the Israelite tribes can be found in Joshua, chapters 14-19.

October 14, 2015

God save the king (Ps 61:5-61:7)

“You!

O God!

Have heard my vows!

You have given me the heritage

Of those who fear your name.

Prolong the life of the king!

May his years endure to all generations!

May he be enthroned forever before God!

Appoint steadfast love

Appoint faithfulness

To watch over him.”

The psalmist or David said that God had heard his vows. He had a great heritage because he too feared God. However, he wanted the life of the king to be prolonged. If this was David, he was asking for his own life to be continued. The king would bring safety to all. The king should have steadfast love and faithfulness. Long live the king! This does not seem like the exile when there was not a king. Perhaps it was a longing for a king that was no more.

August 18, 2015

Yahweh promises to help the poor (Ps 12:5-12:6)

“‘The poor are despoiled.

Because the needy groan,

I will now rise up.’

Says Yahweh.

‘I will place them in the safety for which they long.’

The promises of Yahweh

Are promises that are pure.

The promises of Yahweh are silver refined

In a furnace on the ground,

Purified seven times.”

The pure are troubled as the needy groan. However, Yahweh hears them and promises to bring them to safety. What is great about this is that the promises of Yahweh are like refined purified silver. You do not have to worry about them. Yahweh never lies. He will come to the rescue of the poor.

June 23, 2015

The guile of Timothy (2 Macc 12:24-12:25)

“Timothy himself fell into the hands of Dositheus and Sosipater and their men. With great guile he begged them to let him go in safety, because he held the parents of most of them and the brothers of some of them, who were about to be executed. When with many words he had confirmed his solemn promise to restore them unharmed. They let him go for the sake of saving their kindred.”

Timothy the great enemy of Judas Maccabeus on the east side of the Jordan fell into the hands of Judas’ 2 captains, Dositheus and Sosipater, who might have lived in this area. The 2 of them listened as Timothy explained that he had captured their parents, brothers, and sisters. If they were to let him go he would be able to help them with their relatives. He solemnly swore to do this, so they let him go. This is the same Timothy, who was killed in chapter 10 of this book at Gazara.