Read 1 Chron 8
This whole chapter is Benjamin's line. Last chapter told about his line and now we are getting the detailed version. Why spend a whole chapter again on Benjamin? If he is a picture of the bride then his offspring must have characteristics of this bride. So lets look at the meaning of some of the names. Benjamin means "son of my right hand" or blessed. A Jewish father puts his right hand on the head of his son when he passes down the blessing to him. Rachel was the wife Jacob loved, who died in childbirth. Joseph was Jacob's favorite son because he was Rachel's offspring. When Benjamin came along he took Joseph's place in Jacob's heart because Joseph was no longer at home. Joseph was a type of Jesus, God's beloved son. When Jesus (Joseph) left the earth the church became his beloved son (Benjamin). Rachel's name means a "ewe" which is a lamb. A lamb had to die to bring forth the church just as Rachel died to bring forth Benjamin.
Let's look at the numbered sons and what their names meant. Benjamin's first born was Bela which means "a gulp; devouring, that which he hath swallowed up". When Jesus died, death was swallowed up in victory (1 Co. 15:54). His second-born, Ashbel means "a man in God". That is a good description of a born-again believer. Another book says "flowing" which is a great picture of moving in the spirit. This third son, Aharah means "brother of breathing; remaining brother". Our brother is Jesus but he has gone to the father; we are the remaining, still-breathing brother. We are to be Jesus to the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. The next brother is Nohab and his means "quietude; resting place". He is the forth son and the number 4 means "to rule" so the bride will be ruling and reigning from the position of rest. The last and fifth son is Rapha which means "he healed: the giant: the feeble one. I don't think of giants as being feeble but I wonder if it doesn't mean that the bride will bring healing to the great and small. (Sometimes giants are feeble inside. We cover our insecurities with a lot of outward fluff.)
As I saw the meaning of some of the other men in the geneology they were great descriptions of the bride of Christ. Notice that Saul, the first king came from this line. May the meaning of our names be written in your book and bring you much glory and pleasure.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wed.'s Devo - From Manasseh to Ephraim
Read 1 Chron 7
The sons of Issacar were valiant in war. They were wealthy, virtuous, full of valor and strength. They walked in favor with God. If you are a son of Issacar you will have a servant's heart and the heart of a warrior. You will have favor wherever you go. His stone is the amethyst on the priest's ephod which stands for royalty.
Next we have Benjamin. Benjamin stands for the bride. He was the only son not alive during Joseph's captivity and trials. Joseph went ahead of his family to prepare a place for them and when they came he provided for them. He gave Benjamin 5 times the blessings he gave his other brothers. He was related to Benjamin by blood. The bride knows God because of the blood. Joseph was a type of Jesus going to heaven to prepare a place for us. If you are from the tribe of Benjamin you will be white and pure. You will understand revelation. His stone is jasper and his color is white for purity.
Those from the tribe of Naphtali are the redeemed; those brought back from the land of sin and addiction and now shine like diamonds. Their stone is the diamond and their color is silver.
Those from the tribe of Asher are the faithful, child-like in faith. Asher dipped his feet in oil (his walk was in the spirit). Asherites are fun-loving and innocent. Their stone is the agate which is pink and is the most calming color in our spectrum.
The sons of Manasseh and Ephraim are interesting to me so I did a study on them. This is my conclusion: Gen 41:51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, (worry, miserable pain, sorrow, sin) and all my father's house.
Gen 46:20 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph's sons who Jacob spiritually adopted. So instead of there being a tribe of Joseph there were the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. When Jacob came to bless Joseph's sons, Joseph stratgically placed Manasseh in front of Jacob's right hand and Epraim in front of his left. Jacob prophetically crossed his arms (making the symbol of the cross) and blessed Ephraim as the first born spiritually, even though he was the second-born naturally.
Both these sons were born in Egypt (bondage). Before Joseph died he made his sons promise that they would take his bones into the promise land. They did. When they got to the Promise Land 2 and 1/2 of the tribes decided to stay on this side of the Jordan River: Gad, Rueben and 1/2 of Manasseh. The Jordan stands for the Holy Spirit and those who cross that river will enter into the promises of God. There are enemies in their land that need to be driven out but they can have whatever they ask if they contend for it.
I think that we as the body of Christ are moving from the point where God is causing us to forget the pain of our past (Manasseh) and moving into double fruitfulness (Ephraim) In Rev. 7:8 when it mentions the sealed tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim are sealed under one name: Joseph (which is another name for Jesus)
Interestingly the priest's stone for Joseph was the onyx which was black. Black speaks of repentence and a new begining.
Lord, we were born in sin but through your son we are free of our past and are moving into the land of fruitfulness and abundance. Thank you for your merciful kindness that endures forever. Great is your faithfulness.
The sons of Issacar were valiant in war. They were wealthy, virtuous, full of valor and strength. They walked in favor with God. If you are a son of Issacar you will have a servant's heart and the heart of a warrior. You will have favor wherever you go. His stone is the amethyst on the priest's ephod which stands for royalty.
Next we have Benjamin. Benjamin stands for the bride. He was the only son not alive during Joseph's captivity and trials. Joseph went ahead of his family to prepare a place for them and when they came he provided for them. He gave Benjamin 5 times the blessings he gave his other brothers. He was related to Benjamin by blood. The bride knows God because of the blood. Joseph was a type of Jesus going to heaven to prepare a place for us. If you are from the tribe of Benjamin you will be white and pure. You will understand revelation. His stone is jasper and his color is white for purity.
Those from the tribe of Naphtali are the redeemed; those brought back from the land of sin and addiction and now shine like diamonds. Their stone is the diamond and their color is silver.
Those from the tribe of Asher are the faithful, child-like in faith. Asher dipped his feet in oil (his walk was in the spirit). Asherites are fun-loving and innocent. Their stone is the agate which is pink and is the most calming color in our spectrum.
The sons of Manasseh and Ephraim are interesting to me so I did a study on them. This is my conclusion: Gen 41:51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, (worry, miserable pain, sorrow, sin) and all my father's house.
Gen 46:20 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph's sons who Jacob spiritually adopted. So instead of there being a tribe of Joseph there were the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. When Jacob came to bless Joseph's sons, Joseph stratgically placed Manasseh in front of Jacob's right hand and Epraim in front of his left. Jacob prophetically crossed his arms (making the symbol of the cross) and blessed Ephraim as the first born spiritually, even though he was the second-born naturally.
Both these sons were born in Egypt (bondage). Before Joseph died he made his sons promise that they would take his bones into the promise land. They did. When they got to the Promise Land 2 and 1/2 of the tribes decided to stay on this side of the Jordan River: Gad, Rueben and 1/2 of Manasseh. The Jordan stands for the Holy Spirit and those who cross that river will enter into the promises of God. There are enemies in their land that need to be driven out but they can have whatever they ask if they contend for it.
I think that we as the body of Christ are moving from the point where God is causing us to forget the pain of our past (Manasseh) and moving into double fruitfulness (Ephraim) In Rev. 7:8 when it mentions the sealed tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim are sealed under one name: Joseph (which is another name for Jesus)
Interestingly the priest's stone for Joseph was the onyx which was black. Black speaks of repentence and a new begining.
Lord, we were born in sin but through your son we are free of our past and are moving into the land of fruitfulness and abundance. Thank you for your merciful kindness that endures forever. Great is your faithfulness.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tues.'s Devo - What Tribe are You?
Read 1 Chron 6
Today we read the list of the priestly line. Not very interesting unless your name is in there. So why do we have these lists of people that lived forever ago? These are the chronicles of the kings. These were lists that the kings kept and would refer back to when needed. It was very important to keep the levitical line pure so this record was for accountablility. If a man came forward and said he was a levite they could take this list out and see if his family was in the list. I have heard that there is something different in the dna of a levite and they will use this science to find levites when they regain the temple mount in Jerusalem. Our names are written in a book in heaven called the Book of Life. I believe that this is the book we hold - the Bible. Jewish scholars have been searching for a hidden code in the Bible since before Isaac Newton's age. They could never find it until now. Through the technology of computers they have found the key to the code and have found past and future history in it. I believe that our names are coded in this Bible since God knew us before the foundation of the earth.
Ever notice how music runs in families? That is how God set it up; different clans had different offices according to God's gifting. The Levites were worshippers and musicians. They carried the presence of God and prepared a place for God's glory to inhabit for the benefit of the people. Read that last sentence again because that is what we are suppose to be. We are called to be prophets, priests, and kings. We will do this from the time of the tabernacle of David to the time when Solomon builds God's temple (vs. 31-32). In other words we are living in the days of the tabernacle of David. David ministered to God from his heart of passion in a day when there was much spiritual warfare. Solomon's reign will be a heavenly millenial reign where we have rest from all our enemies and there is peace. When that day comes the priestly tribe will be separated out and once again serve according to their order. In Revelation it says that in heaven we will still come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Tablernacles and every man will enter the gate of their tribe. We all belong to a tribe of Israel. If you want to know what tribe you are from ask God.
Today we read the list of the priestly line. Not very interesting unless your name is in there. So why do we have these lists of people that lived forever ago? These are the chronicles of the kings. These were lists that the kings kept and would refer back to when needed. It was very important to keep the levitical line pure so this record was for accountablility. If a man came forward and said he was a levite they could take this list out and see if his family was in the list. I have heard that there is something different in the dna of a levite and they will use this science to find levites when they regain the temple mount in Jerusalem. Our names are written in a book in heaven called the Book of Life. I believe that this is the book we hold - the Bible. Jewish scholars have been searching for a hidden code in the Bible since before Isaac Newton's age. They could never find it until now. Through the technology of computers they have found the key to the code and have found past and future history in it. I believe that our names are coded in this Bible since God knew us before the foundation of the earth.
Ever notice how music runs in families? That is how God set it up; different clans had different offices according to God's gifting. The Levites were worshippers and musicians. They carried the presence of God and prepared a place for God's glory to inhabit for the benefit of the people. Read that last sentence again because that is what we are suppose to be. We are called to be prophets, priests, and kings. We will do this from the time of the tabernacle of David to the time when Solomon builds God's temple (vs. 31-32). In other words we are living in the days of the tabernacle of David. David ministered to God from his heart of passion in a day when there was much spiritual warfare. Solomon's reign will be a heavenly millenial reign where we have rest from all our enemies and there is peace. When that day comes the priestly tribe will be separated out and once again serve according to their order. In Revelation it says that in heaven we will still come to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast of Tablernacles and every man will enter the gate of their tribe. We all belong to a tribe of Israel. If you want to know what tribe you are from ask God.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday's Devo - The Blessing and the Birthright
Read 1 Chron. 5
Ever wonder why in so many stories in the Old Testament the second-born got the birthright and the blessing? Abel's offering was accepted by God and Cain, the firtstborn's was not. Jacob cheated Esau out of the birthright and the blessing because it was God's plan. God chose Isaac over Ishmael to establish His covenant. Ephraim was blessed as the firstborn above his brother Manasseh and in today's reading Joseph is given the birthright instead of Reuben. God uses real life to teach spiritual principles. We are born first of our parents and are by nature sinful. That is the first birth. If we accept Jesus as our Saviour we are born again. We receive the birthright and the blessing that goes along with being a child of God. Jesus said, "You must be born again." The second child stands for the one 'born again.' I understand why Rueben lost his position of "first born" when he went into his father's concubines; what I don't understand is why Joseph, the 11th-born got the birthright. I guess he, like David had a destiny. I often wonder if the other brothers of David and Joseph could have gotten the privaleges that they did if they had pressed into God to do it. I do know this: God has destinies that will be fulfilled if it takes generations to fulfill them in. What we don't finish ourselves will be passed to the next generation to finish which is both challenging and relieving.
Verse 2 says that Judah rose above all his brethren to become the leader, but the birthright was Joseph's. It is true that Jesus came from the tribe of Judah and because of this, the tribe of Judah is held in high esteem. But, Joseph stood spiritually for Jesus. His life was a shadow of the Lord Jesus is every way. So where Judah bore Jesus in the natural, Joseph bore Jesus in the spiritual.
Our chapter ends on a sad note. Israel became fat and happy and started sinning. They took up the gods of the people of the land -the ones they were suppose to destroy. So instead of destroying their enemies, their enemies started destroying them. Give them time and they will call out to God and God will deliver them. It is not until we realize we are actually in bondage that we cry out. Wouldn't it be great to not fall for the trap of the enemy in the first place? I pray that God would open our eyes and give us discernment not to fall into Satan's booby traps and that we second-born children will appropriate the both the rights and blessings of our salvation.
Ever wonder why in so many stories in the Old Testament the second-born got the birthright and the blessing? Abel's offering was accepted by God and Cain, the firtstborn's was not. Jacob cheated Esau out of the birthright and the blessing because it was God's plan. God chose Isaac over Ishmael to establish His covenant. Ephraim was blessed as the firstborn above his brother Manasseh and in today's reading Joseph is given the birthright instead of Reuben. God uses real life to teach spiritual principles. We are born first of our parents and are by nature sinful. That is the first birth. If we accept Jesus as our Saviour we are born again. We receive the birthright and the blessing that goes along with being a child of God. Jesus said, "You must be born again." The second child stands for the one 'born again.' I understand why Rueben lost his position of "first born" when he went into his father's concubines; what I don't understand is why Joseph, the 11th-born got the birthright. I guess he, like David had a destiny. I often wonder if the other brothers of David and Joseph could have gotten the privaleges that they did if they had pressed into God to do it. I do know this: God has destinies that will be fulfilled if it takes generations to fulfill them in. What we don't finish ourselves will be passed to the next generation to finish which is both challenging and relieving.
Verse 2 says that Judah rose above all his brethren to become the leader, but the birthright was Joseph's. It is true that Jesus came from the tribe of Judah and because of this, the tribe of Judah is held in high esteem. But, Joseph stood spiritually for Jesus. His life was a shadow of the Lord Jesus is every way. So where Judah bore Jesus in the natural, Joseph bore Jesus in the spiritual.
Our chapter ends on a sad note. Israel became fat and happy and started sinning. They took up the gods of the people of the land -the ones they were suppose to destroy. So instead of destroying their enemies, their enemies started destroying them. Give them time and they will call out to God and God will deliver them. It is not until we realize we are actually in bondage that we cry out. Wouldn't it be great to not fall for the trap of the enemy in the first place? I pray that God would open our eyes and give us discernment not to fall into Satan's booby traps and that we second-born children will appropriate the both the rights and blessings of our salvation.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday's Devo - The Sins of the Fathers
I am back from Louisiana and my mom's surgery went really well. We were at the hospitol for 11 hours and once home she was feeling well only a little weak. By the next day she was up doing everything she normally did. Thank you for your prayers. At the hospitol I got to sit for 2 and a half hours with my older brother. He was the rebellious/70's hippie/ prodigal son that never came home. I listened as he unloaded all his life's woes on me. He is bitter and put all the blame for his life on my parents. It was like we were raised in completely different homes by different parents. He was very convincing and I found myself rethinking some of my conclusions after he had gone. I realized that when you are affended and you don't allow God to heal you and set you free of it, you become blinded to the truth. He never once took responsibility for any of his actions. He has never remarried and has no children so he has no idea the suffering and pain he put my parents through. I was there and I did. My parents made some mistakes but they were navigating through uncharted paths. They grew up in a generation where the parents ruled and the children obeyed or got punished for it. The depression made everyone sober and responsible for their own livelihood. There was little "extra" and little time for doing your own thing. The 70's were marked by fathers who were trying to make a living for their families so they would never have to go through that again. The problem was that these fathers left there families for work and spent little time being fathers. They tried to buy their children's hearts with money and material things. The sons and daughters became rebellious kids who just wanted the attention of a father. They turned to drugs, rock music and doing their own thing. These very children who just wanted a father grew up to be the yuppies of today. They continue the cycle of working and providing for their families only it became a contest to have the most, the biggest, and the best. To do this the mothers go to work too. Now the children have lost the family structure all together. They get the left-overs from their parent's energy and time. The tendency of parents today is to worship the image of children: what can their children achieve that will make them proud.
On the other hand I see parents who love God and are trying to raise their children in a godly atmosphere in a world gone wrong. They love their children for the right reasons. They realize they are God's children who have been sent to earth for a purpose and an assignment. And these children will rock the world for Jesus. Thank God for these parents and these children. May there testimony ring loud in this generation!
I pray that my brother and others like him will become humble and forgiving and will open their heart to the love of a loving father. I pray that You would pour your love out on the fathers of this generation and cause them to arise and take their righteous places in the family.
On the other hand I see parents who love God and are trying to raise their children in a godly atmosphere in a world gone wrong. They love their children for the right reasons. They realize they are God's children who have been sent to earth for a purpose and an assignment. And these children will rock the world for Jesus. Thank God for these parents and these children. May there testimony ring loud in this generation!
I pray that my brother and others like him will become humble and forgiving and will open their heart to the love of a loving father. I pray that You would pour your love out on the fathers of this generation and cause them to arise and take their righteous places in the family.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tues. Devo - The Prayer of Jabez
I am going to be out of town the rest of the week because my mom is having surgery. I am takig this opportunity to take my computer to Geek Rescue to fix what I have done to my machine. I will be back Monday. I would appreciate your prayers for my mom. Thank you and may God send you great blessings.
Read 1 Chron. 4
Still in the begets... did you catch vs. 9 & 10? It's the famous prayer of Jabez. I wonder if he knew that in the 20th century a man would write a whole book about him and it would become a best seller. These 2 verses look like someone just stuck them in the middle of the geneologies to spice them up. Jabez is not recorded in the geneology so there is no reason for him to be mentioned except "he was an honorable man...more honorable than his brethren." Apparently there was nothing noteworthy about the rest of these people but there was something so outstanding about Jabez that he got his name and an excert of his life in the listing.
The name Jabez means "to grieve; sorrowful" because his mother was grieved when she had him. Why was she grieving and sorrowful? Had her husband just died or left her? It doesn't tell us but Jabez does pray that he would not be grieved with sin. So, I'm thinking that his mother must have lived through some really evil thing that caused her to grieve and that Jabez didn't want to have that happen to him. Let's look at the beginning of his prayer:
"'Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed" means "to kneel and bless God as an act of adoration". He is really blessing God and worshipping God. It is a very humble request.
"and enlarge my coast" means "to increase in abundance my boundary." That is something I pray for the Body of Christ - that me would stretch beyond our comfort zone and dare to go places we would never go in the natural and in the spirit. I also pray that God would put abundance of money, talent, gifts into people's hands to be used for the Kingdom of God here on earth.
He then asks God to keep him from bad, evil, adversity, affliction, calamity, etc. Not a bad prayer. I pray that for all of us.
Read 1 Chron. 4
Still in the begets... did you catch vs. 9 & 10? It's the famous prayer of Jabez. I wonder if he knew that in the 20th century a man would write a whole book about him and it would become a best seller. These 2 verses look like someone just stuck them in the middle of the geneologies to spice them up. Jabez is not recorded in the geneology so there is no reason for him to be mentioned except "he was an honorable man...more honorable than his brethren." Apparently there was nothing noteworthy about the rest of these people but there was something so outstanding about Jabez that he got his name and an excert of his life in the listing.
The name Jabez means "to grieve; sorrowful" because his mother was grieved when she had him. Why was she grieving and sorrowful? Had her husband just died or left her? It doesn't tell us but Jabez does pray that he would not be grieved with sin. So, I'm thinking that his mother must have lived through some really evil thing that caused her to grieve and that Jabez didn't want to have that happen to him. Let's look at the beginning of his prayer:
"'Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed" means "to kneel and bless God as an act of adoration". He is really blessing God and worshipping God. It is a very humble request.
"and enlarge my coast" means "to increase in abundance my boundary." That is something I pray for the Body of Christ - that me would stretch beyond our comfort zone and dare to go places we would never go in the natural and in the spirit. I also pray that God would put abundance of money, talent, gifts into people's hands to be used for the Kingdom of God here on earth.
He then asks God to keep him from bad, evil, adversity, affliction, calamity, etc. Not a bad prayer. I pray that for all of us.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Monday's Devo - Hidden in the Name
Read 1 Chron. 3
Notice once again the ones that get counted: David's sons and Josiah's sons. The rest are just listed. David is a picture of Jesus's kingdom on earth and that yet to come. Josiah's is a picture of the Kingdom of God yet to come. David had 6 sons in Hebron. Hebron is a high place on earth where people worshipped God. It was a type of this earthly rule. None of these sons became heir to the throne. He stayed in Hebron 7 1/2 years and moved to Jerusalem.
David's reign in Jerusalem describes his heavenly rule. God's faithful followers will only be on this earth 6,000 years then we will be taken up in shifts. (If you believe in the rapture and the different watches in the night.) (Matt. 24) Millenium will begin during the 7,000th year. When it mentions his sons born in Jerusalem, only Solomon is numbered. He was the 4th. Jesus came in the 4th millenium. Solomon was the son of peace which will also describes the millenial reign. He also was the one who reigned as king. He built God's Temple and a house for himself and he had peace throughout his reign.
Josiah's sons represent what will happen when that time comes. His first son is Johanan which means "to show favor on the faithful". His 2nd means "Jehovah will raise". The 3rd means "the right of Jehovah". And the 4th means "recompense, reward". All these describe what it will be like for the faithful. God will stand up and show favor to the righteous. They will stand before God and get their reward. As I looked up the rest of the descendents names I found things like "God will establish a Jewish king", "kindness will return", "Jehovah has saved", "Jehovah has delivered". All I can say is Halleluiah. What we are waiting for is going to happen and we will be a part of the glory!
Notice once again the ones that get counted: David's sons and Josiah's sons. The rest are just listed. David is a picture of Jesus's kingdom on earth and that yet to come. Josiah's is a picture of the Kingdom of God yet to come. David had 6 sons in Hebron. Hebron is a high place on earth where people worshipped God. It was a type of this earthly rule. None of these sons became heir to the throne. He stayed in Hebron 7 1/2 years and moved to Jerusalem.
David's reign in Jerusalem describes his heavenly rule. God's faithful followers will only be on this earth 6,000 years then we will be taken up in shifts. (If you believe in the rapture and the different watches in the night.) (Matt. 24) Millenium will begin during the 7,000th year. When it mentions his sons born in Jerusalem, only Solomon is numbered. He was the 4th. Jesus came in the 4th millenium. Solomon was the son of peace which will also describes the millenial reign. He also was the one who reigned as king. He built God's Temple and a house for himself and he had peace throughout his reign.
Josiah's sons represent what will happen when that time comes. His first son is Johanan which means "to show favor on the faithful". His 2nd means "Jehovah will raise". The 3rd means "the right of Jehovah". And the 4th means "recompense, reward". All these describe what it will be like for the faithful. God will stand up and show favor to the righteous. They will stand before God and get their reward. As I looked up the rest of the descendents names I found things like "God will establish a Jewish king", "kindness will return", "Jehovah has saved", "Jehovah has delivered". All I can say is Halleluiah. What we are waiting for is going to happen and we will be a part of the glory!
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