Tag: Lord

  • The Sun and the Moon Stood Still – Why won’t we?

    The Sun and the Moon Stood Still – Why won’t we?

    The sun and moon stood still in their habitation:

    Habakkuk 3:11 KJV

    Sun and moon stood still before God

    What’s the picture?


    Habakkuk – a Prophet burdened for a people humbled

    1:2 עַד־אָנָה יְהוָה שִׁוַּעְתִּי וְלֹא תִשְׁמָע אֶזְעַק אֵלֶיךָ חָמָס וְלֹא תוֹשִׁיעַ׃


    The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did see.

    IF you have not already felt the full weight of a Prophet painting a picture for men without eyes to see

    a sun and a moon which had stood still, — then you have sensed a low and quiet place where the Lord has prepared an unseeing Common Era people by a BLINDING LIGHT in the darkness of these last days…


    O LORD, how long shall I cry,
    And You will not hear?
    Even cry out to You, “Violence!”
    And You will not save.

    Habakkuk 1:2 NKJV


    Sound familiar?

    (Even from your own arrogant lips?)


    Why do You show me iniquity,
    And cause me to see trouble?
    For plundering and violence are before me;
    There is strife, and contention arises.

    Therefore the law is powerless,
    And justice never goes forth.
    For the wicked surround the righteous;
    Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

    Habakkuk 1:2-3

    The LAW of which the Prophet speaks 
    -- the Commandments of the LORD
    -- NO LAW = No Justice!

    Do we blindly suppose that the righteous are US?
    AND therefore WE the named and claimed PEOPLE of God suffer by His Almighty Hand!
    COULD THAT BE JUST?

    WHY does this sound so familiar to a Common Era people who rarely read or hear the oracles of WARNING by the Prophets of God?

    And what does Habakkuk ask early-on in his plea to the LORD?

    Why do You look on those who deal treacherously,
    And hold Your tongue
    when the wicked devours
    A person more righteous than he?
    14 Why do You make men like fish of the sea,
    Like creeping things that have no ruler over them?

    Habakkuk 13b-14 NKJV


    IS THIS any way to PLEA to the Lord our God of Whom WE are commanded to 'love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’ even confirmed by the Messiah and Lord Jesus? 

    More Writing on the wall

    Jesus writing in the sand with his finger
    (for those casting a first stone at Habakkuk) 

    Then the Lord answered me and said:

    “Write the vision
    And make it plain on tablets,
    That he may run who reads it.

    For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
    But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

    Though it tarries, wait for it;
    Because it will surely come,
    It will not tarry.

    “Behold the proud,
    His soul is not upright in him;
    But the just shall live by his faith.

    Habakkuk 2:2-4 NKJV


    Again, what is the picture? 

    The SOUL of the proud is fallen.
    AND the soul of the Lord's faithful remains bowed down in the witness of our lives.

    Therefore, for the hope of the faithful know that the LORD pronounces many woes (and NOT blessings) on the proud who seem to be in charge of our mortal lives. And to name just a few:

    THEN the LORD closes his response to the Prophet with an authoritatively THUNDERING VOICE to humble worshipers bowed down in faithfulness:

    “But the Lord is in His holy temple.
    Let all the earth keep silence before Him.”

    Habakkuk 2:20

    What would happen IF Common Era worshipers would put down our devices and our coffees and entered into WORSHIP like this? 

    Let thos whw with eyes to see Christ's writing in the sand see God's zeal for faithful worshipers.

    and now:

    This prayer sung by the prophet Habakkuk:

    O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
    O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
    In the midst of the years make it known;
    In wrath remember mercy.

    Habakkuk 3:2 NKJV

    And the earth was full of His praise.

    4 His brightness was like the light;
    He had rays flashing from His hand,
    And there His power was hidden...

    He looked and startled the nations.
    And the everlasting mountains were scattered,
    The perpetual hills bowed.

    from the prayer of Habakkuk


    GET THE IDEA?

    all bowed down before the Lord – in HIS Presence everything else stood still or was swept away by the hidden power of HIS GLORY!

    The sun and the moon stood still


    Now returning to the context of our opening picture and illustration: 
    red moon of an eclipse The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. Habakkuk 3:11

    You divided the earth with rivers.
    10 The mountains saw You and trembled;
    The overflowing of the water passed by.
    The deep uttered its voice,
    And lifted its hands on high.
    11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation;
    At the light of Your arrows they went,
    At the shining of Your glittering spear.

    12 You marched through the land in indignation;
    You trampled the nations in anger.
    13 You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
    For salvation with Your Anointed.
    You struck the head from the house of the wicked,
    By laying bare from foundation to neck.

    Selah

    When I heard, my body trembled;
    My lips quivered at the voice;
    Rottenness entered my bones;
    And I trembled in myself,
    That I might rest in the day of trouble.

    Habakkuk 3:16a NKJV

    Is THIS your reaction -- contemporary christian worshiper? 

    A Hymn of Faith

    NO hymns for OUR praise band! 
    NO Old Testament Prophets and their drama that could SILENCE the applause and bring the CROWD to its knees.

    Who remembers Jesus cursing the fig tree as the Lord entered Jerusalem?

    The unfamiliar picture and significant symbolism Jesus drew is the same as that of Habakkuk’s hymn of faith.

    We examined this great symbolism in an earlier series.


    Even if you choose not to read the prologue above you will find these references from Habakkuk below -with which we will conclude.

    AND consider our 2025 CE Lenten theme of contrition replanted in the hearts of 21st century worshipers:

    We stood there and did nothing

    • Habakkuk and other Prophets of the Lord have warned us to WORSHIP the Lord our God.
    • The Messiah JESUS — Son of the Living God — enters Jerusalem cursing a tree that bore no fruit (though thousands applaud Him).
    • Crowds of worshipers enter a Common Era gathering little noticing a cursed fig tree as they bring their coffees and distracting devices toward the gate of the grand stage.
    • LENT?
      • WE don’t do that anymore…

    O, faithless fig tree, dear dried up vine;

    do you believe that you alone have cried out to the Lord for mercy?

    Habakkuk 3:

    O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;
    O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years!
    In the midst of the years make it known;
    In wrath remember mercy.

    for it was not the season for figs – 7 – July 9, 2017 TalkofJESUS.com

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  • a Common Era Contrition for Lent – Ash and dust

    a Common Era Contrition for Lent – Ash and dust

    lenten series outline & Introduction

    Ash Wednesday 2025 C.E.



    OUTLINE of a Scriptural path toward Christ’s walk to Gethsemane, Calvary, beyond Bethany and anticipating the Lord’s return in glory in these last days.

    the path of contrition

    “I am the way and the truth and the life.

    No one comes to the Father except through me.

    Gospel of John 14:6


    Introduction by the author

    The liturgical season of Lent although having no Biblical requirement has always been a reflective time for me. I have provided some glances back for any who have not followed Talk of JESUS in previous Lenten seasons.

    This YEAR – A.D. 2025 to most of you (2025 C.E. to most of our unbelieving world) – I wanted to lead you through some Old Testament Scriptures looking through Jewish eyes (yes JESUS and EVERY Apostle was Jewish). You may glance at a HEBREW organization of the BIBLE below which orders and groups our O.T. Books differently.

    G_d only knows how many of the 40 days of Lent I will publish, but each will likely be briefer than my usual 5-minute READ.

    Finally, beloved brother or sister in Christ,

    IF you look for a connecting thread between these O.T. Scriptures and Christ you may discover a faithful Jewish thread of contrition not seen in the Gospels except in the Person of Jesus. (Think of Gethsemane, now.. and follow Him along the narrow path.)

    Won’t you pray for me and comment here encouraging all?

    Roger Harned – Author and Site administrator, Talk of JESUS .com


    Lent A.D. 2014 Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord + Ash Wednesday - Easter Sunday - Jesus is RISEN! and will return once more
    a picture of LENT from AD 2014

    Introduction to the Hebrew Bible

    On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

    The Word summarizing Jewish Scripture in Matthew 22:40,

    This phrase refers to the entirety of the Hebrew Scriptures, known as the Tanakh, which is divided into the Torah (Law), Nevi’im (Prophets), and Ketuvim (Writings).

    In the context of Matthew 22:40, “the Law and the Prophets” is a shorthand for the Old Testament.

    STUDY BIBLE Bible Hub .com


    Tanakh Hebrew Bible books
    CLICK to ENLARGE the three sections of the Tanakh [Hebrew Scriptures]

    What path will you walk this day?

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    garden in darkness

  • Hail Mary, humble wife of GOD

    Hail Mary, humble wife of GOD

    And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

    Gospel of Luke 2:16 King James Version

    Mary an Introduction

    Christians, Jews and unbelievers know parts of the iconic scene unfolding in Bethlehem through a virgin Jewish mother. 

    Today I honor Mary most appropriately by retelling her story of Christmas mostly from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

    Mary, Eve of the Virgin Birth

    And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem..

    .. with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

    Gospel of Luke 2:4-5 KJV excerpt

    And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

    Mary, wife of Joseph?

    Not quite, according to custom and Jewish law.

    Do YOU know any young woman who has been pregnant (even near full term) yet not married to the man she knew?

    μνηστεύω Strong’s G3423 – mnēsteuō – from a derivative of G3415; to give a souvenir (engagement present), i.e. betroth:—espouse.

    Recall that GREEK is the common language not only of Luke the Physician but also of all of the Roman Empire ruled by Caesar Augustus. 

    Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused G3423 to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

    Gospel of Matthew 1:18 KJV

    SCANDELOUS !

    (as least in the A.D. First Century)

    Mary, ENGAGED to Joseph

    AND they both know that the Virgin Mary had NEVER come together with Joseph her fiancé!

    Joseph, an honorable man

    (like his namesake and ancestor, Joseph, son of Jacob, who the LORD used to rule Egypt under Pharaoh.) 

    Gospel of Matthew 1:19- KJV

    Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying,

    Joseph, thou son of David,
    fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife:
    for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

    Matthew 1:20b KJV

    And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

    for he shall save his people from their sins.

    Gospel of Matthew 1:21 KJV


    An angel of the Lord speaks to you!

    What to do?


    The adoptive father of JESUS believes God (of course). And Joseph is a righteous and honorable man.

    Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

    And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

    Gospel of Matthew 1:24-25 KJV

    Signs and Witnesses

    Prophesy of Isaiah and others centuries Before Christ.

    Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

    Isaiah 7:14 KJV

    And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

    For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

    And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

    Gospel of Luke 2:8-14 King James Version

    Witnesses and worship

    Signs before Jesus’ birth

    There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

    And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

    And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

    And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

    Gospel of Luke 1:5-11 King James Version

    An Angel of the Lord standing beside the Priest of God right inside the Holy of Holies! A pretty big deal.

    Briefly, what happens next is a foretelling prophetic birth of JOHN the BAPTIST, preparing the way for the Lord Jesus, the consolation of Israel and Messiah sent of God the Father.

    Elisabeth, John and the Holy Spirit

    • Zacharias the Priest of God continued to serve his term in the Temple unable to speak.
      • Daily worshipers in Jerusalem must have know that something was up.
    • He returns home.
    • Elisabeth conceived.
    • An angel of the Lord then appears in Nazareth prior to their trip to register for the census of Caesar and also tells Mary:

    And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.

    Gospel of Luke 1:36-37 KJV

    • And Mary went into the hill country of *Juda
    • And entered into the house of Zacharias
    • and (knowing the the angel had revealed) saluted Elisabeth.

    And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,

    the babe leaped in her womb;

    and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

    Gospel of Luke 1:41 KJV signs confirming the Messiah when Mary greeted the mother of John the Baptist

    In the Year of the most controversial birth in history

    Jesus Christ born in a manger

    Church fathers, theologians who study such things, took a few centuries to articulate the trinitarian Christology from the Apostles recorded in Scripture from the A.D. first century.

    The clarity of their CREEDS and CONFESSIONS of FAITH define our hope of eternal life in the Lord Jesus Christ.

    I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
    And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
    Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary,
    and was made man

    Nicene Creed excerpt
    AD 325 & AD381

    εὐλογέωeulogeō

    .. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

    Luke 1:42b KJV

    κύριος – kyrios

    As were Joseph and others to whom the Lord sent His angels:

    The soul of Mary is humble, as is JESUS from her womb to the Cross.


    Talk of JESUS .com

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