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Tag: Psalms

He is one of us – from Christmas Eve 2013 CE
He IS born in a manger

The baby Jesus, born of the virgin Mary, remains a fond and distant memory in our annual celebrations of the Christ-Mass Holy-days.

Not surprisingly (as I recall that this year is the two-thousand twenty-fifth year of our Lord , as Christians used to call it in the days of Advent Calendars) I discovered my first CHRISTMAS EVE post from AD 2013,

It’s overall place in our current SERIES on The Apostles’ Creed is most fitting.

His timeline of three years of teaching during a mere 30 years in the world as the Son of Man places relevance on the brevity of both His and our mortal lives.

Roger Harned – author, administrator and founder of TalkofJesus.com
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Just a few introductory Scriptures here, followed by my original Christmas Eve post of AD 2013. - RH 
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He is both Shepherd & a sheep for the Sacrifice

Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

Psalm 44:11 KJV
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Is that not the lot of 2025 CE Christians as well?

Many Christians know this next one from the Gospel:
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All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned every one to his own way;

and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth:

he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter..

Isaiah 53:6-7a KJV

The Lamb of God in a manger

December 24, 2013

Psalm 10:17-18 KJV

LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

Gospel of the Birth of Christ Jesus

Mark 1

English Standard Version (ESV)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

Before John the messenger of the Messiah, prior to Isaiah and the Prophets calling us to repentance and announcing the coming of the Lord;
Before David and the Kingdom of Israel, before Moses and the exodus of God’s chosen from captivity;
Before Moses and the Law and Commandments;
Before Jacob and Isaac and Abraham (for Jesus said: Before Abraham was, I AM.
Before Adam, before man and before woman, before earth and before the heavens:
GOD IS.

Thus, God IS and did send unto mankind Himself His only Son, a babe in a humble manger, born of a humble woman betrothed of a humble man, for the work of our redemption, a sheep of sacrifice on the Cross for our salvation. He IS the resurrection and the life.

Are we not prisoners of our many sins? Do our hearts not suffer in the dungeons of our darkness. Is God not distant from our difficulties and silent in our sufferings?

It was no different 2013 years ago. Yet the beginning of the story of the babe in the manger begins before the beginning.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives – Luke 4:18

In the beginning, the Holy Spirit was with God. The Holy Spirit descended on Christ Jesus, Son of God and He, a man with us, taught us once more the surpassing love and grace of God our Father in heaven.

Before Jesus’ ministry and teaching in the Holy Spirit, before the Son of Man was born in a manger in Bethlehem, He IS God in creation. Now a savior is come. He IS God with man: like every man, a babe, a child, a youth, a young man, and finally a mature man teaching the very word of God. He IS the very word of God! Jesus’ teaching IS the only truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Yet by His own love and the great grace of God our Father, He IS the Lamb of sacrifice for our sins.

Think of Jesus descended into the womb of Mary and born to be worshiped in a lowly manger in this way:

John 1

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

Jesus, Son of Man, born of Mary, the Incarnate spoken Word of God the Father. He was with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit in the beginning.

3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Genesis 1:
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus speaks to creation as the Word taught us.

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Genesis 1: 26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.
In the image and likeness of Jesus we were made. In the beginning, adam (man) was without sin, as Jesus, as God: Holy and separated from sin, like the darkness is divided from the light.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Here is revealed the identity of the babe in the manger: Jesus, heralded by angels and worshiped by shepherds and wise kings; Jesus, the babe smuggled into Egypt by Joseph to escape the sword of Herod; Jesus who would return to Nazareth of Galilee announced by John the Baptist, greatest of all Prophets.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

By His Light and the cloud of His glory He led His own people from the slavery of Egypt to His land of promise. By His own Word He proclaimed His Law of holiness and light for the people of His promise.
God’s own rejected God as a people of God; therefore God came unto His own and also to those who were not His own as a light to the gentiles, to all nations and all peoples.
All who will believe in the only Son of God and truly follow the will of God have become sons and daughters of God, adopted into the household and heart of His eternal life and overflowing love.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Unto us a child is born, a son of man, the Son of God. His glory was again witnessed by His Apostles and His righteousness seen by all.

15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Luke 2

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Birth of Jesus Christ

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths andlaid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

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

14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

Thirty-three years later near Golgotha, then departed from Jerusalem:

Luke 24:

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen.

12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

Acts 1: 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Christ Jesus, from the beginning to the manger, to the cross, to the tomb, to the resurrection, to walking and witness with men fifty more days, to His ascension, to the heavens above, to return on the clouds.
Do you have a relationship with the greatest love of all, that of God our Father in Heaven, Christ Jesus the Lamb of sacrifice for our sins, and the Holy Spirit counselor of the Most High?

The Revelation of Jesus Christ to John 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Bow down and worship the Lord our God, Who IS and was and will be: God With Us; Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.
May the peace of God’s love dwell in your hearts through the grace of our Lord Christ Jesus, who came to a lowly manger that we might bow even lower to worship His Holy Name in this Holy time: Christ Mass, 2013
Amen.

More of how He saves sinners

From our Current SERIES on THE APOSTLES’ CREED

Apostles Creed 12 quick answers for christians

Merry Christ-mas

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
December 24, 2025
Christ – Light to the People and Ethnos
A LIGHT FOR REVELATION TO THE GENTILES,

And for the glory of Your people Israel.”

Gospel of Luke 2:32 LSB

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death,
a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:2 BSB

Paul Convicted by the Light of Christ
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I had thought to skip past this story of Paul's too-familiar retelling of the Apostle's conversion by Christ (since Luke has already repeated it with frequency in Acts). 

But just as Paul now witnesses with intensensity to a new audience, so shall I point to the Light of Christ JESUS that changed his life. 
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Who are you, Lord?

ănî yᵊhôšûaʿ

egō eimi iēsous

Acts of the Apostles 26:

Wherefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance.

Acts of the Apostles 26:19-20 RSV

The Apostle witnesses the Gospel in his own defence before Agrippa the King and his Herodian sister, as well as the Roman Governor Porcius Festus for a second time.

šā’ûl apangellō [kept declaring]

the heavenly vision,
- to those at Damascus,
- then at Jerusalem
- and throughout Judea,
- and also to the Gentiles
For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.

To this day I have had the help that comes from God,

and so I stand here testifying both to small and great,

saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:

Acts 26:22 RSV
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Paul then quotes Scripture - the Old Testment Scriptures
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that the Christ must suffer

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Zechariah 12:10 KJV

the first to rise from the dead,

my flesh also shall rest in hope.

For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell;

neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

Psalm 16:9b-10 KJV

Light to the People (of God – the Jews)

The Greeks have no Messiah — nor the Romans — nor did the Persians, the Babylonians or the Egyptians.

ONLY the JEWS. — Only the Jews are the PEOPLE of YHWH — the chosen PEOPLE of God.

When Paul points to the ‘people,’ the Apostle means the Jewish people, like Agrippa, Bernice and many other Herodian guests and officials hearing his argument.
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The Christian Standard Version makes this point clearly:
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“that the Messiah [christos] would suffer, and that, as the first to rise from the dead,

he would proclaim light to our people

and to the Gentiles [ethnos].”

Acts 26:23

JESUS is the MESSIAH or Christ of the JEWS!

Yet the Apostle to the ethnos, Saul (from the Hebrew) or Paul makes clear what the risen CHRIST has done ALSO for the gentiles.

and to the Gentiles.”

To THIS the Gentile Governor reacts!
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Now remember that in addition to what the Governor knows from his predecessor Felix, Festus had already heard Paul's witness at length. 
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Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice,

“Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!”

“I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.
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Now Paul's appeal is to Herod Agrippa, Bernice and the Jews in his hearing.
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For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things;

for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner.

Acts 24:26

The Jewish King responds

The Apostle defending the appearance of the risen Messiah of the Jews most certainly turns his own focus to the Herodian king claiming leadership of God’s chosen people.

“King Agrippa,

do you believe the prophets?

I know that you do believe.”
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Again, certainly Paul turns to Herod Agrippa II while the entire room also looks to the Jewish king for his answer. 
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The NIV perhaps catches the tone of Agrippa's meaning more clearly than the NKJV
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Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

Acts 26:28 NIV

Herod Agrippa is on the spot. Some of the Jews hearing Paul may be convinced that Jesus appeared to the Apostle. But most of Agrippa’s subjects will not have ears to hear even the Prophets.

The Light of Christ

Why has Luke recorded this third trial of Paul in Caesarea reiterating the Apostle’s same witness of the risen Christ Jesus?

This is Paul’s last appeal to the Jews.

The Apostle witnesses not only his own conversion and the evidence of the risen Messiah Jesus, but supports his new Gospel with the evidence of Scripture.

and God divided the light from the darkness.

the Prophesy of Isaiah [NKJV]
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Prophet to Judah 740-681 BC   
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Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil;
Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness;

Isaiah 5:20a

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined.

Isaiah 9:2

“I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness,
And will hold Your hand;
I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people,
As a light to the Gentiles,

Isaiah 42:6

Indeed He says,
‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant

To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel;

I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles,

That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Isaiah 49:6

A light shines in the darkness

And Paul said,
“I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains.”
Acts of the Apostles 26:29 NKJV

Agrippa’s hearing of Paul adjourned.

When he had said these things, the king stood up,

as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them;

and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves saying,

“This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.”

Then Agrippa said to Festus,

“This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”
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Luke records: 
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And when it was decided that we should sail to Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to one named Julius, a centurion of the Augustan Regiment.

Acts of the Apostles 27:1
July 29, 2025
A Happy Hope in the LORD our God Psalm 146
Are YOU a happy sort of human being?

Where do YOU find your hope in all that is happening?

The Psalmist points you (and me) to the LORD and away from mortals and empty promises for hope that can never satisfy.

Psalm 146:

הַלְלוּ־יָהּ הַלְלִי נַפְשִׁי אֶת־יְהוָה׃

As is the case with so many Psalms — songs of worship (from the original Hebrew) — Psalm 146 begins and ends with praise.

Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul!

Psalm 146:1 RSV

The LORD will reign for ever, thy God, O Zion, to all generations.

Praise the LORD!

Psalm 146:13

Who IS the LORD?

Before we get to the text of the Psalm and happiness promised, let’s clarify the focus of Who we worship in the LORD.

יְהֹוָה

יְהֹוָה Yᵉhôvâh, yeh-ho-vaw’; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:—Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050, H3069.

Source: BlueLetterBible.org

Yehovah is used for the LORD from the very beginning of Scripture:

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created. In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens..

then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

Genesis [בְּרֵאשִׁית] 2:4,7 RSV

LORD: Yehovah Eloheim

AND Yehovah is frequently used in conjunction with ‘אֱלֹהִים
- ʼĕlôhîym, el-o-heem’; plural of H433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God
AND (in Psalm 146 and other poetic praise) Ya [יָהּ] – a contraction of LORD, God or Jehovah and meaning the same.

Source: BlueLetterBible.org.

Psalms uses:
- Ya (for LORD) 43x
- Yehovah (for LORD) 687x
- אֱלֹהִים – ʼĕlôhîym (for God) 387x
בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֵת הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֵת הָאָרֶץ׃

In the beginning God [ĕlōhîm] created the heavens and the earth.

Genesis 1:1

Like other Psalms, even when not expressing human reactions other than happiness and hope, Psalm 146 is written and sung for the express purpose of worshiping the LORD God.

I will sing praises to my God while I have being.

Worship of the LORD as long as you live is a given for EVERY believer — and Psalm 146 opens with our response to the LORD our God:

While I live will I praise the LORD:

I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.

Psalm 146:2 KJV

Then the Psalmist contrasts the futility of those who do NOT praise the LORD our God:

Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Psalm 146:3-4 NIV

Can you think of some princes, presidents, premiers, prime ministers, popes, persistent politicians WE have trusted?

AND is it not so?

.. his thoughts and plans perish.

v. 4d- AMP

How blessed..

Blessed are…

Strong’s Definitions אֶשֶׁר ʼesher, – happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, how happy!:—blessed, happy.

Happy are you..

Happy are you, O Israel!
Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD,
The shield of your help
And the sword of your majesty!
Your enemies shall submit to you,
And you shall tread down their high places.”

Deuteronomy 33:29 NKJV – from Moses; blessings to the tribes who were captive in Egypt and before the Hebrews would follow the LORD conquering the promised land.

Now the Psalmist leads us in worship:

Happy is he who has the God [ēl] of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in the LORD [Yᵊhōvâ] his God [ĕlōhîm],

Psalm 146:5 NKJV

Why Our Happy Hope?

The Psalmist outlines good reasons for worshipers of the LORD God to be happy. And it all points to CREATION, both in the beginning and in our everyday experience.
- He made heaven and earth,
- (He made) The sea,
- and (God made) all that is in them (the heavens, the earth and the seas);
- [it is He} Who keeps truth forever,
The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.

The LORD watches over the strangers;
He relieves the fatherless and widow;

Psalm 146:8-9b NKJV

Consequence for those NOT blessed

WE don’t like to think about curse — only blessing (as if ALL receive blessing and are happy in the Lord our God).

The Psalmist, however, adds a brief contrast to happiness here — we all see it in many others.. or at times even in our own non-response to the blessings of God.

.. but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
Psalm 146:9c ESV

Do YOU choose to be HAPPY , that is: BLESSED in the LORD God?
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A heading for PSALM 146 in the AUTHORIZED KING JAMES VERSION reads: 
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The blessedness of trusting God

Do YOU trust God?

.. but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.

Surely, you who trust God are not wicked.

Why then, would you not be happy?

The Psalmist closes singing with great joy and praise!

The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations.
Praise ye the LORD.
Psalm 146:10 AKJV

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Why not add YOUR COMMENT and reaction to PSALM 146 or any Psalm for this summer.
July 11, 2025