Healing For The Broken-Hearted

Jesus was quoting Isaiah 61 when He read from this passage:

Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to > the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and > recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Luke 4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

It is a very important phrase Christ said, that He was "...sent...to heal the brokenhearted." This is way more than a "my boyfriend/girlfriend left me" kind of brokenheartedness. This is a deep, no way out kind of brokenness that no man/woman can fix. Its an illness that is all over this world, but speaking of America, we have the things mentioned in this article, plus the plague of single-parent homes, alcholic/drug addicted parents and siblings, and a host of worldly things that beckon us, calling us to fulfill ourselves. Not only that, but all these things promise quick fixes, and they may quell our appetite for but a moment. However, only the LORD JESUS CHRIST can satisfy, fill us, but more importantly, heal us. He alone, can take what is broken, and make something new out if it, and that includes our hearts.

The question is, will be believe Him?

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

https://answersingenesis.org/blogs/georgia-purdom/2015/04/28/women-ready-to-embrace-the-hurting-answers-for-women-conference/?utm_source=articlesmedia&utm_medium=email&utm_content=blog2title&utm_campaign=20150502&mc_cid=6b3b21bcb7&mc_eid=0d29df621f

On Daniel, chapter one, fulfilling prophecy

T
his is much longer than I anticipated. Please excuse the abbreviations. I’m not a writer, but I try to get the point across. In so many words! ¹

If you have questions, feel free to ask, I’ll try to answer. Comments always welcome. I know that I make great leaps of logic, that u may not be able to follow. I have always done that, but again, ask if u want. Or, fill in the blanks!

Mary Lou and Stuart hit the nail on the head with their response. In particular, that this is a fulfillment of prophecy given by God, thru Isaiah to Hezekiah. It is an important prophecy.

Many years & a few kings prior to Daniel and his friends being carried away in captivity, King Hezekiah received a visit from Babylonian ambassadors. Hezekiah had shown the Ambassadors all the riches in the kingdom. Isaiah, questioning Hezekiah:

2Kgs 20:15 And he said, What have they seen in thine house? And Hezekiah answered, All the things that are in mine house have they seen: there is nothing among my treasures that I have not shewed them.

Then, GOD’s response, thru Isaiah the prophet:

2Kgs 20:16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the LORD.
2Kgs 20:17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the LORD.
2Kgs 20:18 And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.
2Kgs 20:19 Then said Hezekiah unto Isaiah, Good is the word of the LORD which thou hast spoken. And he said, Is it not good, if peace and truth be in my days?

Note verse 18, above. Daniel 1 is the fulfillment.

A Matter Mentioned Three Times

Something is important in the Word Of God (WOG) when it is repeated. Whether its repeated in the same conversation, or spread out in various books of the Bible, as in this case. Since the entire Bible has One ultimate Author, being GOD Himself, this repetition carries some weight. I’ll leave to you to look up the other references, if you would like to see them:

2 Chronicles 32.24-31; Isaiah 39.3-8  

Note the reference in Chronicles is worded much differently, but it certainly refers to Hezekiah and his visit by the Babylonian ambassadors.

A Further Biblical Connection

The last thing to mention, is that in terms of Hezekiah’s line of descendants, there comes a stopping point of those who actually rule on the throne of Judah.

Here is the connection:

Matthew 1, begins with the descendants, from Adam down through the kings. Hezekiah is mentioned, starting in verse 9. The Jews kept excellent genealogical records and there should be king after king, but instead, you find it becoming, king, king, descendant. Because, they were denied a ruling throne.

Nevertheless, GOD still had planned for the true King, to come thru the line of David. Yet, not thru a man, since the line of descendants ended with curse placed upon Jeconiah, and his seed: that none would sit on the throne over Judah, ever.

Jeremiah 22.24-30, esp verse 30  

In order to keep His promise to Abraham, and especially to his great-great grandson, Judah in Genesis 49.10, God had already implemented His plan. That of the virgin-born Messiah. In the New Testament, Messiah is called, Christ. (John 1.41)

That brings us up to the time of the LORD’s birth. The same prophet, Isaiah, who spoke to Hezekiah with the prophecy of His seed being made eunuchs, also spoke several great prophecies regarding Jesus. These are the first two that spring to mind:

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

The entire chapter of Isaiah 53  

In the case of Joseph and Mary, Joseph was in the royal line, but sometime after the birth of Christ, he is no longer mentioned. So, he never became king. Yet, Joseph was not the father of Jesus, anyway. Mary was to be His mother, but as God told Joseph:

Matt 1:20 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.

Matt 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.


Matt 1:22 Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying,


Matt 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Verse 20: Jesus is conceived of the Holy Ghost! There it is, big, plain and straight.

Just for final clarification, Luke 3.33 specifies that Mary also, comes from the tribe of Judah, and therefore, by birth, Jesus is still in the royal family line, yet,  born of the seed of the woman. (Gen 3.15)

So, how do I wrap this up? I don’t know if I can keep all this straight!

• Daniel and his friends were of the royal seed - most likely



• Their serving under the chief eunuch most likely means, they were made eunuchs.



• Their being made eunuchs was a fulfillment of prophecy.



• It also begins to show that the line of kings ruling on the throne was about to end. That end came with the end of Zedekiah, the son or relative of cursed Jeconiah.



• GOD still kept His promise in that He has provided a King through the miraculous birth of Jesus in fulfillment of Gen 3.15, Gen 22.8 and a whole bunch of other Scripture.

Since GOD has kept all those promises and those prophecies have completely fulfilled, there is no doubt that He will ultimately do all other prophecy that is yet to be fulfilled.

▬▬

¹ This post was originally written as a Facebook note, November 2014.

Pre-John 3 Notes

I’m reading through the book of John. I’m also reading through a commentary on John’s gospel by Sam Gipp,

Here’s the link: "Practical and Theological Study of the Gospel"

My goal for the next day and possibly again over the next weekend, is to make some notes that are based on his commentary, along with some other items of interest regarding the exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus. The first 18 verses of chapter 3 will be the focus of my study.

This study has gone much further than I anticipated, even though I’ve read this passage many times throughout life. I am:

• learning more about Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, and how the Lord mastered the conversation
• making connections to other scriptures that I had not noticed, either.
• I’m making connections of words and phrases within this passage I had not noticed before.

Even in such familiar passages as this, there is often more to be gleaned, each and every time I return to God’s Word. Even though I should not be surprised, I am, anyway. I consider this a good thing.  

This is not going to be a book review. I’m not looking to qualify Mr. Gipp’s writing. I’m not critiquing his work. I’m enjoying this book, and simply using this blog to make notes. No plagiarism will be occurring. I do suggest,  that if you’d like to study from it, order yourself a copy.

Again, this study is going to be my notes based on what Mr. Gipp has written, and more importantly, what God has written. My premise regarding the Bible is that God is right, period. His Word supersedes my own notes, is far superior to commentaries from others (including Mr. Gipp’s). Put another way: In Genesis 3, the serpent (Satan) asked Eve, “Yea, hath God said…?” I say, “YEA!!  God most assuredly hath said!!” So, if something I say is not in line with the Word of God, God always' wins. I plead no contest. His Word is forever settled in Heaven. (now, where have I heard that before?)

Until next time, whether its tomorrow, or next weekend…

Ephesians 2: “Remember” (Kevin does a little thought rambling)

Ephesians 2:11: Starts off with, “Wherefore remember…” In context, Paul is reminding the saved of where these people came from: from being “dead in their sins and trespasses;” of being “…called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;…” That was a derisive term used by the Israelites of any nonJew. Paul is stating that thru JESUS CHRIST, and the work HE did on the cross, there is no longer that division. Essentially, the only division now are the saved or the lost (unsaved). Believers and Unbelievers. Or, as Adrian Rogers used to put it, the Saints and the Ain’ts. All fall under one of those two categories: either you are Heaven bound or Lake of Fire bound, regardless of your nationality. Paul goes on to make it very plain that GOD has provided the gift of life FREELY to all who will believe. (Ephesians 2:8)

So, verse 11 has the word,  remember. I did a little study this morning, on that word. Some fun connections were made, just in the Bible alone.

Connecting the Old Testament and the New

In the Old Testament, the LORD commanded Israel to remember that they were slaves in Egypt before HE brought them out of the land of slavery.

Deuteronomy 5:15 
And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt, and [that] the LORD thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.

All along, GOD has always been commanding HIS chosen people: “remember from whence you came.”

“by a stretched out arm”

I’m reminded, JESUS stretched out HIS arms wide on the cross, taking my sin, and my hell from me and in my place. (and your’s too, if you believe.) 

“a mighty hand ”

GOD told Moses (as a type of CHRIST) to stretch out HIS arms over the Red Sea, and GOD parted the waters there in the presence of the Israel and their enemy. (Exodus 14:16) Unlike Moses, GOD’s arms never age or grow tired, they are never weary. HIS arms are able to carry out anything and everything HE so desires, and HE desired us enough to stretch out HIS arms on the cross. ► Kevin’s Komment: that last phrase is worth thinking about! ☺ ◄

Isaiah 41:10: It is by the mighty right hand of the LORD that HE helps us. The right hand is a place of power, authority and strength. JESUS is now, at the “right hand of the throne of GOD, “ (Hebrews 4:12) and will someday establish HIS power, authority and strength bodily on the earth. Before that, of course, is that every believer in JESUS CHRIST the LORD, is looking for the day when HE comes and calls us out of the dust from which we are buried, to meet HIM in the air, to live eternally with HIM.

So, I’ve gone from connecting remembering to stretched out arm to the mighty hand of GOD.

Guess I do not have a particular point to make here, but I sure do like the way the Bible leads me in all kinds of fun directions. Studying the Bible never grows old.

Right Spirit Or Steadfast Spirit?

Psalms 51.10 (KJV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalms 51.10 (HCSB)
God, create a clean heart for me and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalms 51.10 (NKJV)
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalms 51.10 from the Net Bible Create for me a pure heart, O God! Renew a resolute spirit within me!
(http://net.bible.org/verse.php?book=Psa&chapter=51&verse=10)

Psalms 51.10 (NLT)
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Kevin's Komments
Yesterday, we visited a different church.

I have to say that the people were marvelous to meet, the Sunday School class is studying great lessons. The song director and assistants are absolutely fantastic: personable and knowledgeable. Each and every person seems to love the LORD, and upon meeting them, I have no reason to doubt that they aren't saved.

However, I have somewhat against the so-called-Bible that was used. It was from the HCSB, which I think means Holman Christian Standard Bible. It is the second translation of Psalms 51.10 copied above for you. The latter half of the verse is the part to note.

The point is, did GOD say what He meant in the KJV or not? Jesus told Satan, that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God?" In the Old Testament, warnings are given over and over, to not add or take away from God's Word. The end of the Bible, in Revelation, not only is the warning given, but a curse is commanded upon those who add or take away from the Lord's Word.

God's Word! This brings me to my point: Was David's prayer in this one verse for a right heart, or a steadfast heart? A right heart can be steadfast for things that are right/righteous. The things of God. On the other hand, a steadfast heart can be steadfast towards anything. This is a very subtle change in the wording. It is a very dangerous thing to mess with God's Word. Although He may be allowing it right now, there will come a time when there will be a reckoning. That reckoning was exemplified when Eve added to the Word of God in Genesis 3.

Another question I ask myself, is would God rather David (or me) be right or steadfast? The word right is related to the word righteous. In the KJV, God has planted seed thoughts and connections among the words, phrases and chapters, going completely through the Bible. Here, we find that it is God who creates within us a clean heart (xref 2 Corinthians 5.17). That is something we cannot do ourselves. It is God who renews a right spirit within us. Again, that is something we can not do. (xref Ephesians 2.8-10). It is all God's doing when we seek Him.