MIDDLE EAST NEWS

“Because you have said, these two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess them, although the LORD was there” (Ezek. 35:10 NKJV).

The crisis in the Middle East is not new; it even existed in Ezekiel’s day. In fact this situation has been going on for millennia. The nations around Israel were constantly plotting against them. Our verse speaks about a time when one of Israel’s enemies, the Edomites, plotted against Israel to get her land, but they were not successful in their plotting. Our verse speaks of the plans of Edom and the protection from Edom.

Plans of Edom – “You hast said, these two nations and these two countries shall be mine, and we will possess them.” While Babylon was invading Judah and took many Jews captive, Edom saw an opportunity. They therefore planned to take possession of the land of Judah and Israel when the Jews were deported to Babylon. They wanted Israel’s land and thought they could get it. Not much has changed over the years - Israel’s enemies are still plotting against her. Whenever they see Israel at a disadvantage, they attack in hopes of obtaining the land; often through diplomatic channels and war.

Protection from Edom – “Although the Lord was there.” How often in history when Israel has been at a disadvantage and appeared ready to lose all to the enemy, God stepped in and brought deliverance. Edom had to reckon with God, for He controlled the situation in Israel. Today there are many who look at Israel’s difficult situation and think Israel will be easy prey. However, like the plotting of Edom, they will not prevail. The Lord is there, and this assures Israel of ultimate victory.

(Adapted from Analytical Biblical Expositor)

Soli Deo Gloria (To God Alone Be The Glory)

Quotation of the Week

“The safest place in all the world is in the will of God, and the safest protection in all the world is the name of God!”

Warren Wiersbe (1929 - 2019)

American Pastor, Bible Teacher and Author

Word Study

Eaten by worms

In Acts 12:23 we read, “Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died!” (NKJV).

Eaten by worms is the Greek word skōlēkobrōtos (σκωληκόβρωτος =sko-lay-kob'-ro-tos). It is made up of two words: “skolex” which means a worm, and “bibrosko” which means to eat. Thus the word means eaten by worm. In classical Greek skōlēkobrōtos means worm-eaten and was used in reference to both trees and men that have been eaten by worms. Skōlēkobrōtos is not used in the Septuagint, and occurs only once in the New Testament, here in Acts 12:23. There it refers to the death of Herod who was killed by an angel for failing to give God glory for divine provision.

“Fear Nots” Found in the Bible

“Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them” (Gen. 50:21 KJV).

Did You Know…

The Book of Revelation is the only book of the Bible that begins with a blessing on all who read, hear and keep the words (Rev. 1:3).

Bible Quiz

What was Jesus’ family’s first reaction to His teaching?

**Answer to last week’s Bible Quiz: According to 1 Samuels 1, why did the High Priest think Hannah was drunk? “Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk.” (1 Sam. 1:13).

Names For God Found in the Bible

“Husband”

"For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth” (Isa. 54:5 NKJV).

1. Meaning – Husband speaks of God as Israel’s spouse. In the Old Testament Israel is often seen as the spouse of Jehovah.

2. Insights – Israel formally became the wife of Jehovah in the “ceremony” at the foot of Mt. Sinai (Ex 19:1-2) when God gave Moses the Law. Israel the bride of Yahweh said “I do” to the vows when they said “All the words which the LORD has said we will do” (Ex 24:3). However, they violated that covenant by playing the harlot and worshiping idols. But God did not forsake His people even though they had been unfaithful to Him. And while Israel was repeatedly an unfaithful and adulterous wife, the Lord remained faithful. Even after centuries of disobedience on the part of His people, God will take back Israel, His wife (Hos. 2:16).

Did You Know...Christian History

Jeremiah Calvin Lanphier was born September 3, 1809 in Albany, New York. He was an American lay missionary in New York City.

Lanphier had moved to New York City to find employment and became a success as a clothing wholesaler. Although he attended church and sang in the choir, he was not a Christian. However, while attending the Broadway Tabernacle he was converted to Christ. Lanphier immediately became concerned for the souls of those in spiritual darkness around him. Unmarried, he was able to give his evenings and spare time to passing out tracts and talking to people.

Meanwhile, a Dutch Reformed church in lower Manhattan that had been losing members, decided to start a visitation program to deal with the problem. They offered the job to Lanphier and he accepted. He would spend entire days visiting members, witnessing in the blocks around the church, and holding Bible studies with anyone he could interest. The work was draining spiritually, but he found that if he spent an hour at noon in prayer, he would be recharged.

It then occurred to him that if prayer proved to be beneficial in his situation, perhaps others would benefit, too. He obtained a room on Fulton Street and printed 20,000 flyers, setting the first meeting for noon, Wednesday September 23, 1857. But Lanphier knelt to pray alone. It seemed that his flyer had been dismissed by all who saw it. For half an hour, he remained praying in solitude. Then a man showed up and, without a word, knelt beside him. Then another. By 1 PM, ten knees were on the floor beside Lanphier. The following week, several more men appeared. By October, Lanphier had to get a larger building. On 7 October, he had forty businessmen as prayer partners and they asked to meet daily. The timing could not have been more perfect.

If ever there was a time to pray, it was then. The United States was in spiritual, political, and economic decline. Such a great number of people flocked to churches that soon many places of worship around the city were forced to open their sanctuaries at noon and evening for prayer. Chicago, St. Louis, Cleveland, and other large cities began noon prayer meetings. The result was labeled America’s Third Great Awakening. The revival leapt around the world - to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, Europe, South Africa, India, Australia, and the Pacific islands. Jeremy Lanphier continued his work in New York’s streets until he was too old to get around any longer. He died in 1898.

A Little Humor

A young boy called the pastor of a local “corner” church to ask the pastor to come by to pray for his mother who had been very ill with the flu. The pastor knew the family and was aware they had been attending another church down the road. So the pastor asked, “Shouldn’t you be asking Brother Simon down the road to come by to pray with your mom?” The young boy replied, “Yeah, but we didn’t want to take the chance that he might catch whatever this is that Mom has.”

Thought Provoking Church Sign

“Salvation comes through a cross and a crucified Christ!”