Julie Vivienne podcast

Chosen And Seen By GOD Part 4.mp3

Chosen And Seen By GOD Part 4
The 12th Hebrew Wedding Custom :The Wedding Garment
Matthew 22:1-14
"Many are called but few are chosen" verse 14
To grasp the significance of the wedding garment of guests , we must first understand the cultural context of the parable of the Wedding Feast. At the time of the earthly ministry of The LORD Jesus, the wedding host provided guests with a special wedding robe, symbolizing their acceptance into the celebration. This robe was not merely attire but a mark of honour and belonging, signifying the guest’s alignment with the host’s status and purpose. The wedding robe, in this context, represents the righteousness provided by GOD Himself , which cannot be self-manufactured but must be received as a gift through GOD's Grace. The parable challenges us as believers to examine our own spiritual preparedness. Just as the guest without a robe was bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness, those who presume upon God’s grace without genuine repentance and faith face exclusion. None of us can ever earn salvation but true salvation results in transformation.
See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Galatians 3:27, Revelation 19:8 The concept of "garments of salvation" is beautifully illustrated in Isaiah 61:1
The wedding feast is an open invitation, but there is a dress code which is the righteousness of Christ Himself. Everyone is welcome at the table, but being at the table should change us. If we have not been transformed from the inside out , then we are not truly guests. See 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 and John 3:3
The wedding garment in the parable represents “the righteousness of Christ.” Like the guests in the parable, we have nothing suitable of our own to wear. We are acceptable in the presence of the great God only when clad in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, by virtue of His merits
Isaiah 64:6 (NKJV): “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags;"
Isaiah’s declaration underscores that human righteousness is insufficient and cannot stand before God. This highlights the necessity of Christ’s righteousness for acceptance into the Kingdom.The parable of The Wedding Feast underscores human inadequacy and the need for divine provision of righteousness. Humans cannot produce righteousness on their own; it must be provided by God through Christ. We must be transformed from the inside out by putting our faith in what Christ has already done on our behalf.
See 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
Galatians 3:27
Revelation 19:7
Ephesians 2:8
The invitation to the Wedding Feast is an open invitation to all but one must be dressed in the gifted wedding garment of The King, which is The Righteousness of The Son, Messiah Jesus. If we are not transformed by His Righteousness from the inside out, we are not truly guests.
See John 3:3
Look again at Revelation 19:8The “righteous acts” of the saints are the fruits of sanctification that follow justification and the accepting of the righteousness of Christ by faith.
The man without the wedding garment rejected the gift of the king, trusting in his own ability to be dressed for the wedding, his own righteousness which is utterly insufficient.
See Romans 3:22
In its cultural context, the man who did not wear the gifted wedding garment of the king, the wedding host, displayed gross disrespect for him. He rejected the gracious gift and trusted in his own self made garment instead.
See Ephesians 2:8-8
Matthew 5:20
Outward appearance is not what GOD desires but transformation of the heart. The LORD Jesus’ teaching highlights that mere external compliance is insufficient; true righteousness, which comes from Christ, is required for entry into the Kingdom.
Justification and righteousness are gifts from God, not achievements of human effort. This reinforces the idea that the wedding garment represents a divine provision rather than human accomplishment.The punishment of the man without the wedding garment illustrates the serious consequences of rejecting the righteousness provided by Christ. It underscores the importance of accepting and embodying this righteousness.
See Galatians 3:27
Believers are called to “put on” Christ, signifying the transformation and sanctification that follow justification.The parable calls for genuine faith that results in transformation and sanctification. It is not enough to simply respond to the invitation; one must also embrace and live out the righteousness provided by Christ.
James 2:19 (NKJV): “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”
The phrases "weeping" and "gnashing of teeth" indicate profound sorrow and suffering. Weeping signifies deep emotional pain, while gnashing of teeth suggests physical torment and anger.
See Matthew 8:12, 22:14, 25:30, Luke 13:28
Outer darkness" is often interpreted as a metaphor for hell or a place of eternal punishment, characterized by separation from God and the absence of His light. It symbolizes a state of despair and regret for those who reject God's invitation to salvation.
See Peter 2:17
Jude 1:13
GOD is light.
See 1John 1:5
To be absent from God's Grace. That is outer darkness.
The gnashing or grinding of teeth in anger is described of the self righteous anger of the religious leaders who stoned Stephen in Acts 7:54
They were furious in their hearts and gnashed their teeth at Stephen. Actually they were furious with the Spirit of Grace Himself. Weeping is from regret and hopelessness. Gnashing teeth is from anger at GOD Himself.
See Acts 7:51-54
This is just like the description of those initially invited to the weddings feast in the parable. What Christ has done He has done once for all. We cannot add to it or subtract from it.
See Hebrews 10:14
The punishment of the man without the wedding garment illustrates the serious consequences of rejecting the righteousness provided by Christ. It underscores the importance of accepting and embodying this gift of Christ 's own righteousness
See 2 Corinthians 5:21
The Hebrew Jewish wedding rituals are not just tradition. They are a prophetic rehearsal. Every detail speaks of our Heavenly Groom Who came to choose us, Who has momentarily left to prepare a place for His beloved ones, and will return to lift His Bride into Glory with Himself in The Father's House and The Divine Love Story is fulfilled.
See Psalm 23:6
Selah
Shalom shalom.

Chosen And Seen By GOD Part 3.mp3

Chosen And Seen By GOD Part 3
We are looking at the context of the Hebrew Jewish wedding of The Parable of the Wedding Feast for these profound words of our LORD Jesus Christ in Matthew 22: 14 " many are called, but few are chosen.”
We have so far looked at the first 6 of 12 customs of the Jewish wedding all of which are found in Scripture and relate to our LORD Jesus being the Heavenly Bridegroom of His people. We are now at number 7.
7. “Matan” – The Gifts for the Bride
After the betrothal, the groom would send gifts to the bride. These weren’t just tokens of love. They were reminders that she was chosen, valued, and deeply loved during the waiting period. The gifts reassured her that he had not forgotten her and was coming back. See Ezekiel 16:11-13
The LORD Jesus ascended to the Father, but He did not leave us empty-handed. He gave us the Holy Spirit and spiritual gifts not only to equip us but to remind us that we belong to Him and that He will come back for us. See John 14:16-17
8. “Mikveh” – The Cleansing of the Bride
Before the wedding, the bride would immerse herself in water. It was a ritual cleansing called the "Mikveh." It was a symbolic act of purification, preparing her body and spirit to be joined with her bridegroom. See Leviticus 15:18
The Mikveh wasn’t only a physical bath but it represented a spiritual readiness and a washing away of the old life in anticipation of a new life. As the Bride of Christ, we, too, undergo a spiritual cleansing. Through baptism, we outwardly display the inward washing and renewal that happens when we belong to Messiah Jesus. See Ephesians 5:26-27
9. “Chuppah” – The Wedding Chamber Is Prepared
After the betrothal, the groom would leave to prepare a place for his Bride. He would build a "chuppah," a bridal chamber, as an extension of his father’s house.
It had to be approved by the father before the groom could return to claim his bride. This period could last up to a year. The bride never knew the exact day or hour of the groom’s return, only that he would return once everything was ready and approved by the father of the groom. See Psalm 19:5
Our LORD Jesus, our Bridegroom, has gone to prepare a place for His Bride, the Church and just like in Hebrew Jewish custom, only The Father knows when He will return to bring us home because The Father will approve when everything is ready. We the Bride stay ready in anticipation of His return. See John 14:2-3
10. “Nisuin” – The Lifting of the Bride
When the father gave the final approval, the groom would leave in the middle of the night with a joyful shout, accompanied by friends and the sound of a shofar (trumpet). Friends of the bride were also to be ready . This unannounced arrival added excitement and kept the bride in constant readiness. The bride would be lifted up in a bridal carriage (the "aperion") and carried to the groom’s father’s house for the wedding. “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’” (Matthew 25:6)
The LORD Jesus will return unexpectedly to gather His Bride, the Church. And we will be caught up with Him in the clouds. Just like the Jewish bride, we are called to be ready with our lamps full of oil. The LORD Jesus also referred to this is the parable of the wise and foolish virgins in Matthew 25:1-13The parable of the Ten Virgins is centered around 10 Virgins awaiting a long-delayed Bridegroom who would arrive and open the doors to a Wedding Feast. It was important to be prepared for His arrival, because once he entered the doors would be locked. To fully understand the parable, we must understand that the Jewish audience of The LORD Jesus would have associated this parable with the feast of Yom Kippur/ Day Of Atonement. After having affirmed the atonement after the sacrifice of the two goats at Yom Kippur ,the High Priest would reenter the Holy of Holies for a prayer of Thanksgiving. The High Priest then removed his robes for a final water purification ritual. Once purified, he put on Bridegroom vestments along with a Crown and went into the streets for a wedding celebration.
The wedding feast of Yom Kippur was symbolic of the wedding bond between GOD and the Jewish people, the people of Israel. GOD declared Himself to be the Husband of His people. See Isaiah 54:5 and Hosea 2:16
(The bridal imagery of the people as the “Kallah” (bride) and the High Priest as the “chatan” (bridegroom) leaving the Holy of Holies, is still kept in Jewish Hasidic traditions.) Unmarried women would line the streets dressed in white as virgins awaiting their bridegroom. Not only were their sins atoned but The LORD GOD was understood as renewing His marital relationship with Israel. The virgins did not know exactly when the High Priest would make his appearance when the atonement was completed, so they waited, and sometimes waited a long time into the night.
In addition to this, at the time of Messiah's earthly ministry, in Israel , processions with torches or lamps were popular. Eg in the territory of the women’s courtyard of the Jerusalem Temple, rebuilt by Herod, there was a torchlight procession on the Day of Tabernacles (Sukkot). The bride would have young girls who were her friends , rather like we have brides' maids , who, singing in a torchlight procession, were supposed to accompany the groom to the bride, when he arrived to take her. In the parable of the foolish virgins, the friends of the bride did not have enough oil for their lamps/torches, and therefore, with their torches extinguished, they were unfit for the role that was assigned to them. Having gone to the closed market in the middle of the night in an unsuccessful search for oil, they, of course, missed the arrival of the groom and found themselves shut out behind locked doors. As disciples of Messiah Jesus, waiting for His Second Coming, we must be the light of the world. See Matthew 5:14 The oil for the lamps of our lives is given to us by the Holy Spirit, Who dwells in our hearts while we stay ready for our Bridegroom The LORD Yeshuah.
The Bridegroom's arrival to lift up the bride into the bridal carriage was announced with a great shout and the blowing of a shofar/trumpet. This is exactly what the apostle Paul was alluding to in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God… and we who are alive… will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
11. "The Wedding Feast" – The Final Celebration
After the bride was lifted and carried to the groom’s father’s house, the couple entered the "chuppah" (the wedding chamber) to consummate their union.
The door was shut behind them, and they remained hidden together for seven days while guests gathered to celebrate. Only after seven days did the bride emerge and be presented to the world as the groom’s wife. A traditional Jewish wedding feast lasted seven days, but the wedding of a king lasted seven years!
Remember how Jacob began to serve for Rachel to be his wife for seven years. He was decieved by Laban and was married to Leah but he made a banquet and rejoicing for seven days to fulfill the week for Leah and then married Rachel.See Genesis 29:27-28
We will look at the 12th Jewish Wedding custom tomorrow, that of the wedding garments of the guests and the profound words of our LORD in Matthew 22:14
"Many are called but few are chosen"
Shalom shalom
The Church, the Bride of Christ, will be caught up to be with Him at the Rapture and remain hidden with Him for seven years. See Revelation 19:7-9
The Groom has come. The Bride is with Him. The door is shut and the feast begins. The wedding feast is not the end however. It is the beginning of forever and ever.
We will look at the final part of this study tomorrow concerning the 12th custom of the Hebrew Jewish Wedding, that of the wedding garment of the guests and see exactly what our LORD Jesus meant when He said "Many are invited but few are chosen" in Matthew 22:14
Shalom

Chosen And Seen By GOD Part 2.mp3

Chosen And Seen By GOD Part 2
The phrase "Many are called, but few are chosen" is found in the New Testament, specifically in the book of Matthew. To understand its meaning, we must examine the context in which it appears in Matthew 22:14 (ESV), The LORD Jesus says, "For many are called, but few are chosen." This statement is part of a parable called the Parable of the Wedding Feast where many were invited. Read Matthew 22:1-14
Throughout Scripture in both the Old and New Testament there are references to the Hebrew Jewish wedding procedures.
The Wedding Blue Print
1. "Shiddukhim" - The Choosing Of The Bride
In ancient Jewish tradition, the marriage journey began with the father choosing a bride for his son. It was an intentional act. Just as Abraham sent his servant Eliezer to find a wife for Isaac, the process began not with romance but with calling.
See Genesis 24:4
GOD The Father has chosen a Bride for His Son, not from status or lineage, but from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
The Church is that chosen Bride, not by merit but grace.
See Ephesians 1:4
The choosing of a Bride is where The Divine Love Story begins.
2. "Consent of the Bride" - Her Willing Yes
In ancient Hebrew Jewish tradition, her consent mattered even after the father chose the bride. She had to agree willingly to the proposal.
One of the clearest examples is found in the story of Rebekah:
See Genesis 24:1-58
Even though she had never seen Isaac, Rebekah gave her wholehearted yes
In the same way, GOD does not force His love. He invites but never compels. The Church, The LORD Jesus’ Bride, must respond.
See 1 Peter 1:8
Though we have not yet seen our LORD Jesus, we choose to trust and love Him. The “yes” is a life of love, trust, and surrender.
3. "Mohar" - The Bride Price
In ancient Jewish culture, the groom’s father would negotiate a price for her, called the "Mohar", once the bride consented.The Mohar wasn’t a purchase price but a declaration of her elevated status, and it freed her from her old house.
See Genesis 29:20 The Mohar could take years to raise, but no price was too high for the one in love.
The LORD Jesus didn’t just pay a price for His Bride. He became the price. The cross on which He took the punishment for our sin and died was the Mohar.Through His blood,our LORD Jesus set us free from the bondage of sin and declared our worth with His own life. See Galatians 5:1
The Mohar wasn’t about ownership. It was about the Bride's worth. And our LORD Jesus paid the ultimate price to claim us as His Beloved.
4. Ketubah - The Marriage Covenant
Once the bride price (mohar) was paid the groom presented a written agreement, the Ketubah. It is a legal document outlining the groom’s promises, the bride’s rights, and the covenant terms. It was signed and sealed in the presence of witnesses and kept safe, often by the bride's family.It served as her security and proof that she was chosen, cherished, and not forgotten.
See Malachi 2:14
The LORD Jesus gave us a new covenant written not on paper but on our hearts. The New Testament outlines His promises, sealed not with ink but with His own blood.
See Hebrews 8:10
In a way, the Bible is our Ketubah, a love contract from GOD Himself. It declares His commitment to never leave us, never forsake us, and to return for us.
5. Dabar - The Covenant Cup
After the ketubah was agreed upon, the groom would offer the bride a cup of wine. If the bride drank from the cup, she accepted the covenant and would become his.
It was her “Yes, I do . See 1 Samuel 25:39 The Hebrew word for "communed" here is Dabar, which can mean both “word” and “covenant exchange.”In this context it refers to a marriage covenant.
At the Last Supper, The Passover meal, The LORD Jesus lifted a cup of wine and said:
“ ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.’” (Matthew 26:27-28
The LORD Jesus offers His covenant cup to us. Whenever we take Communion, we remember and reaffirm that sacred “yes.” The Holy Communion is our “yes” to Jesus—again and again until He comes.
6. Eyrusin - The Betrothal
Once the bride accepted the covenant cup, the couple entered into betrothal—called Eyrusin in Hebrew. It was not like a modern engagement. It was as legal as marriage, binding in every way except that they didn’t live together yet.The groom would leave to prepare a home. The bride was now set apart. She belonged to him, and he to her. This is like Mary and Joseph. They were betrothed, a legally binding commitment in ancient Jewish culture that was considered equivalent to marriage, even though they had not yet consummated their union.There are three passages of Scripture that pertain specifically to the time of Joseph and Mary’s betrothal, the consummation of their marriage, and the birth of The LORD Jesus: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:1-7. Each passage reveals something about their relationship as well as the Hebrew Jewish marriage procedure.The Levitical laws recognized the seriousness of betrothal. It was no light promise. See Leviticus 19:20)
The LORD Jesus has made us His own. Though we have not yet seen Him face to face, we are entirely His. He is away preparing a place, and we are set apart as His bride. See 2 Corinthians 11:2 We are not just waiting. We are betrothed. We are already bound to Christ—fully, faithfully, forever. In John 14:3 our LORD speaks to us as our Heavenly Bridegroom. We will continue this study in Part 3 of Chosen And Seen By GOD . I finish today with the words of The LORD Jesus in John 15:16:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you" These profound words highlight the incredible truth that GOD Himself actively pursues us as individuals. We must realize that we did not come to Him out of our own will; rather, He called us into His loving embrace, and, by His Grace, we responded. This is a humbling thought, recognizing that we were chosen, loved, and valued by the Creator of the universe , Who has seen us, called us and chosen us to be His from long before we were within the womb of our mother and long before He created the universe itself. Selah. Shalom shalom

Chosen And Seen By GOD Part 1.mp3

Chosen And Seen By GOD
Part 1
The word "Moriah" means "chosen by Yahweh and "seen by Yahweh" in Hebrew.
In The Old Testament Moriah was the name of a mountain , a significant place chosen by GOD for His purposes of Salvation and Redemption.
We first read of Mount Moriah is Genesis chapter 22:
Genesis 22:2 · "Then God said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.'"
In this passage, Moriah is the region where GOD commands Abraham to take his son Isaac for a sacrifice. God tested Abraham’s love by calling him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac, on Mt. Moriah. Seeing Abraham’s profound obedience and trust, GOD stopped him at the last second and said, “Now I know that you truly fear (revere) God.” ( Genesis 22:12)
We next read of Mount Moriah in 1 Chronicles 21.
Here we see King David, a man after GOD's own heart,( 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22) fall into the trap of pride by ordering a census of Israel. This act was not just a simple counting of people; it was a demonstration of self-reliance and pride. "Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel" (1 Chronicles 21:1). This reminds us that pride can lead us away from trusting in God. Let us always remember to humble ourselves before The LORD acknowledging that all we have and all we are comes from Him.
Even though David repented, there were still consequences for his actions. GOD gave David three choices for punishment, and he chose a plague that resulted in the loss of 70,000 men (1 Chronicles 21:14). This serves as a sobering reminder that our actions have consequences, not just for ourselves but for those around us.
King David purchased the threshing floor of Ornan as the place where he would build an altar and sacrifice to the Lord. Ornan offered to give David everything, but David refused, saying, “I will surely buy it for the full price; for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing.” (1 Chronicles. 21:24)David built an altar to The LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings" (1 Chronicles 21:26).
In 2 Chronicles 3:1 we learn David’s purchase was Mount . Moriah, the same mountain of Abraham’s testing, and the place where Solomon later built the temple, where every sacrifice for sin was offered.
2 Chronicles 3:1 · "Then Solomon began to build the house of The LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where The LORD had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."
Here, Moriah is identified as the site where Solomon built the Temple in Jerusalem. This connection establishes Moriah as a central place of worship and sacrifice in Israelite history, linking it to The Divine Presence and the Davidic Covenant.
The LORD Jesus , The Lamb of GOD ,was crucified at Golgotha-meaning "the place of the skull" , a hill outside the city walls of Jerusalem, and many scholars believe that it was, like The Temple of Jerusalem, located on Mount Moriah. It is part of the same limestone ridge as the site of The Temple inside the city walls. On this chosen mountain in Jerusalem, love and sacrifice met supremely when The LORD Jesus gave His life as a sacrifice for us—the greatest expression of love.
GOD chose the nation of Israel to be the people through whom Messiah , Jesus Christ would be born. He first promised the Messiah after Adam and Eve’s fall into sin (Genesis 3:15). The LORD later confirmed that Messiah would come from the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3). Messiah, The LORD Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason why GOD chose Israel to be His special people.
GOD's desire for Israel was also that they would go and teach others about Him. Israel was to be a nation of priests, prophets, and missionaries to the world. His intent was for Israel to be a distinct people, a nation who pointed others towards Himself and His promised Provision of The Redeemer, Messiah, and Saviour.
Israel’s responsibilities included keeping and preserving the Law (Joshua 22:5); being “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6); and bringing “renown and praise and honor” to the Lord (Jeremiah 13:11). Their high calling is straight from The Living GOD who chose them out of all the nations of the earth.
For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” – Deuteronomy 7:6
Through the prophet Isaiah, GOD repeatedly assigned Israel as His servant, His witness, and a light to the nations—for the purpose of revealing God's character, His salvation, and His ways with humanity.
I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.” – Isaiah 41:9
As individuals He knows us and chooses us before we are conceived in our mother's womb.
Jeremiah 1:4-5
4 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,
5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
and before you were born I consecrated you;
I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
For the sake of His people Israel and His purpose of Messiah coming through the physical seed of Abraham GOD chose and called a pagan king, Cyrus of Persia, 150 years before he was king , to help bring His people Israel back to Jerusalem out of captivity in Babylon.
See Isaiah 45:1-4
The apostle Paul speaks of his being chosen and called by GOD from his mother's womb.
“But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased.” – Galatians 1:15
We who are in Messiah, in Christ , were chosen in HIm from before GOD ever created the world.
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love.” – Ephesians 1:4
In Messiah we are His chosen people
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” – 1 Peter 2:9
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” – Colossians 3:12
We are not chosen because of anything we could possibly ever do but because of His Divine purposes and Grace
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.” – 2 Timothy 1:9
“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:4
GOD chooses the foolish and despised of the world. Thank GOD that means I qualify!
See 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Shalom shalom

Shall We Dance?

Shall We Dance?
See Daniel 3:25
The 3 friends of Daniel :Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael were thrown into the firey furnace by Nebchadnezzar because they refused to worship the golden statue.
Our English translations of Daniel 3:25 say that the 3 men and a 4th man, The Son Of GOD, The LORD Jesus Christ Himself were walking in the midst of the fire. The English translation "walking in" gives us a vague picture of them just milling around but the original text means something completely different. Daniel chapter 3 was originally written in Hebrew and Aramaic. The words translated as "walk around" are the Hebrew words "mahlekin" meaning to "walk with purpose" - a purposeful movement. It means to walk a righteous walk aligned with GOD's Word. Here in this passage the text reveals to us that far from just walking about, these men were walking in unity together with purpose, in a sort of rhythm, as in a dance. This is like the ceremony of "Simchat Torah" meaning "Rejoicing of the Torah" - Rejoicing of GOD's Word. The people walk rejoicing around the synagogue following the one carrying the Torah scrolls which occurs at the end of Sukkot ( Feast of Tabernacles) The atmosphere is vibrant and festive, with music and clapping as they move with purpose together. They dance with the Torah, The Word of GOD, Who is Jesus Christ Himself. See John 1:1
These 3 men were dancing with The Word of GOD Himself in the midst of the fire,rejoicing in Him. This is very much backed up in several translations which have kept the additional verses, removed by many Protestant Bibles which view these verses az apocryphal or non-cannonical text. It is however accepted as canonical scripture by Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians and these verses are in their bibles such as the New American Bible (Revised Edition) and The Jerusalem Bible.
Here are some of these verses from Daniel 3 in the New American Bible Revised Edition :
NB the verse numbers are slightly different from versions which have removed these verses
Daniel 4:24-26 Prayer of Azariah.[f] 24 They walked about in the flames, singing to God and blessing the Lord. 25 Azariah[g] stood up in the midst of the fire and prayed aloud:
26 “Blessed are you, and praiseworthy,
O Lord, the God of our ancestors,
and glorious forever is your name"
and verse 88
"Hananiah, Azariah, Mishael, bless the Lord;
praise and exalt him above all forever.
For he has delivered us from Sheol,
and saved us from the power of death;
He has freed us from the raging flame
and delivered us from the fire."
In 1944 towards the end of World War II there were fifty young Jewish men between the ages of 16 and 18 who were in a German concentration camp during the Holocaust. The war was closing and the efforts to exterminate the Jews in the concentration camps were being accelerated. Young men were being targeted by German camp commandants for fear that their youth and vitality would be used against them if the war should end. The order was given to send these fifty teenage Jewish men to the gas chambers.
As the fifty young men were waiting to be herded like cattle into the gas chamber one young man declared to all the others: “Look, today is Simchat Torah, it is a time to rejoice.” One young man replied: “But we have nothing, especially Torah Scrolls to sing and dance with.” The other young man announced to all: “Yes, we may not have the Torah Scrolls but all our young lives we have read and loved the Torah and learned to love the GOD of the Torah. Therefore, GOD is with us. We don’t need to dance with the physical Torah Scrolls, we will dance with GOD.” All the men agreed and they all began to dance and rejoice as they were led into the gas chambers.
This made the guards angry and they began to beat the young men but they kept dancing and singing rejoicing in God.
The Nazi commandant of the camp was made aware of the disturbance and personally appeared and saw this strange sight of these young men rejoicing and praising GOD inside the gas chamber moments before the lethal gas was to be released. The commandant was so angry that he ordered the doors of the gas chamber opened and with anger and hatred he declared to all the young men that they would not get an easy death. This reminds us of Nebuchadnezzar's rage and fury and how he heated the furnace seven times hotter ( Daniel 3:19) He would personally see to it that each prisoner would have be skinned alive and they would all die in torment and agony. He ordered the prisoners taken to a special barracks and placed under careful guard and the next morning the commandant would personally oversee each young man tortured and treated to a slow, painful, agonizing death.
The next morning however, a high ranking German official arrived at the camp and said he needed a hundred young, healthy men for a special project. When he saw these fifty young teenage boys, he declared they were exactly the ones he needed and ordered the young men transferred to his special camp where they would work on his project, much to the dismay of the commandant who was so looking forward to torturing these young men.
According to witnesses of the concentration camp all fifty young men survived the war and at the end of the war the commandant himself, just a few months after this event was himself executed. ( Nazi commandant Gottfried von Ermandnsdorff executed for war crimes including skinning Jewish men alive and worked in Aushwitz-Birkenau)
In our own trials of life, The Word of GOD Himself is with us and He holds out His hand to us saying "Shall we dance?"
Let us dance in step with Him throughout this life and into the next.
Shalom shalom

Good Intentions Will Not Suffice

Good Intentions Will Not Suffice
See Luke 14:28-30
Good intentions will not complete the task or finish the course set before us.
In Acts 7 we read about Stephen the first Christian matyr. Surrounded by blood thirsty hatred he kept his gaze on His Saviour.
See Acts 7:55-56
The rejection of the people did not blur or hinder his heavenward gaze. His focus was entirely upon The One Who is invisible to the physical eye and he was full of The Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that we become that which we behold. Stephen reflected the glory of The LORD and the people around him rejected The LORD Jesus in him. In our society today, the majority of people have rejected The LORD Jesus Christ. May we, like Stephen, be mirrors of The LORD 's glory and love. As we gaze upon His beauty every day, we will become more like The One we behold and He will help us to count the cost required for each of us to complete our individual race that is set before us. Remember that ABBA Father relates with us as individuals. His Grace is always sufficient
See 2 Corinthians 12:9
Shalom shalom.

Coram Deo- Before The Face Of GOD

Before The Face Of GOD-
"Coram Deo"
Living our lives before His Presence -
The Fear of The LORD includes awe, reverence and respect, but it is much more than that.
Ses Psalm 36:1
To have no fear of The LORD is practical atheism- living our lives as if our Creator does not exist. Such an attitude is extremely dangerous. The Latin phrase "Coram Deo" means to live before The Face or Presence Of GOD.
We need to cultivate this awareness of His Presence in our everyday lives.
See Job:28:28
Proverbs 9:10
That which is esteemed by society in this life as, "success" is foolish if not done in The reverent Fear of The LORD because if we refuse The Fear of Him in this life we will stand before Him as our Judge and bear His wrath.
But if we acknowledge that we can do nothing to save ourselves from our corrupted fallen nature and trust in the Redeeming Blood Of Christ Jesus, ask His forgiveness of sin believing that He has already borne our punishment in our place, and declare His Lordship in our lives, we can receive His forgiveness and know His love and companionship whilst also knowing how awesome He is.
See Isaiah 53:4-5
1 Peter 2:24
Colossians 2:14
2 Corinthians 5:21
Romans 10:9_10
Indeed GOD Himself puts within us the reverential fear of Him.
See Jeremiah 32:39-40
When we give GOD 's Word revererence and see everything as relevant and importance The Fear of The LORD is cultivated within us.
See Ezra 7:10
Romans 3:18
Let us never live a life of practical atheism but rather a life that reveals how much we love The Beloved One because He is so Beautiful and worthy of our worship.
Coram Deo - Before The Face Of GOD, The Presence, The Gaze of GOD Almighty.
Shalom shalom

One Life One Goal One Treasure

One Life, One Goal, One Treasure
Despite intense suffering for the sake of The Gospel, contentment was a major mark of the apostle Paul's life. In Acts 9:15 The LORD Jesus said of Paul that he was a chosen instrument/vessel to carry His Name before kings and people, both Jews and Gentiles. After his conversion, Paul immediately began to preach that The LORD Jesus is The Son of GOD. See Acts 9:20
Paul had received this great commission from The LORD Himself appearing to him on the road to Damascus, and yet, many times in his ministry he was confined to a prison cell. Yet he was content to minister from wherever he was. He had a world wide commission but was always faithful to testify one on one to individuals .
Whilst other younger men seemed to pass him by, travelling all over the place preaching, Paul was not jealous of them.
See Timothy 6:6-8
"Godliness with contentment is great gain." 2Tim 6:6
To many in his generation, Paul may have seemed a failure- frequently in prison, whipped, beaten, despised....
But Paul 's letters reveal to us a man who had found The Pearl of Great Price- (Matthew 13:45-46)
and that he had only one goal:to see his Beloved Saviour face to face.
See Philippians 1:23 and 3:7-21
Acts 20:22-24, 26:12-23 Romans 8:18-24
2 Timothy 4:4-8
Colossians 1:28-29
We too must ask ourselves "What is the goal of my life?"
Is it centred on this fleeting, vapour-like, temporary life or in eternity?
See 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
Where is the treasure of my heart?
Our LORD Jesus said in Matthew 6:21" For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also "
GOD calls us upward heavenward into Him.
Selah
Shalom shalom

You Can’t Move Forwards Looking Backwards

Proverbs 29:1 says "He that often being rebuked or corrected hardens or stiffens his neck shall suddenly be destroyed without remedy or healing." God calls an arrogant, obstinate person who refuses correction and direction "stiff necked" . Like a steady drip of water that is not fixed but allowed to continue dripping, the damage will eventually be very serious. Are we holding on to a past hurt refusing to let it go? Are we refusing to forgive someone ? Are we trying to walk forwards with our head looking backwards? If so, we simply cannot move forwards. The Hebrew word for neck "oraph" can also mean "apostacy", or "abandoning our directive" . The Hebrew word for stiff is "qashah" meaning "stubborness" or to be "obstinate" . Are we being hard or stiff necked towards the prompting and instruction of The Holy Spirit in any way? We must fix that drip, drip, drip immediately.
Remember Lot's wife who in the midst of GOD's angelic deliverance from fire and brimstone, obstinately disobeyed GOD's warning and command, and looked back to Sodom.....and there she stayed as a pillar of salt.... because her heart had remained there.

ABBA Father Upholds Me With Both Hands

Isaiah 41 verses 10 and 13 reveal something wonderful to us: Abba Father holds both of our hands and upholds us just like a parent upholds a young child learning to walk. The Hebrew word for uphold is chazak and it means to add your strength to another 's so that your strength is combined
. Hallelujah! Father God upholds us, enabling us to walk forward, gaining strength and experience in every walk of this life.