O Jerusalem

 Ezekiel 24:6, 9
6“Now this is what the Sovereign Lord says: What sorrow awaits Jerusalem, the city of murderers!
She is a cooking pot whose corruption can’t be cleaned out..
9 “This is what the Sovereign Lord says: What sorrow awaits Jerusalem, the city of murderers!  I myself will pile up the fuel beneath her.

Saints,

Some time ago the Lord dropped in my spirit 2nd Samuel chapter 12...

1 So the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich (Jerusalem), and one was poor (Gaza). 2 The rich man (Jerusalem) owned a great many sheep and cattle. 3 The poor man (Gaza) owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. 4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”

5 David was furious. “As surely as the Lord lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! 6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”
7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.
11 “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”
13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Saints,
Those who won't learn from history, will repeat it.  In Matthew chapter 23, seven times Jesus calls the Pharisees hypocrites.  I thank God for Jewish Voice for Peace,  Amer Zahr, Rabbi Yisroel Dovid Weiss as well as other organizations.  A plea for equality for all humanity.  I have an overwhelming sadness of the leadership of Pharisees of today.  Following scripture from Isaiah and Jesus speaks loudly.

Isaiah 9:16-17

16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.
17 Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.  (Judgments upon Israel for pride)

Matthew 23:37-39
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!  38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. 

“This is what the Sovereign Lord says: What sorrow awaits Jerusalem, the city of murderers!

An overwhelming amount of  commentaries on Isaiah 9:16 from the Biblehub.

Out of The Many Prostitutes, Only One Stood Out Gloriously

 Saints,

Out of the many prostitutes, only one stood out gloriously.  Guess who?

You can find more reading Joshua chapter 2 of this famous individual who acted in faith.

Enjoy reading this devotional of great encouragement.

• 1st we'll begin with Isaiah.

Isaiah 1:21 (Unfaithful Jerusalem)
See how Jerusalem, once so faithful, has become a prostitute. Once the home of justice and righteousness, she is now filled with murderers.

• 2nd, let's see what Jeremiah has to share...

Jeremiah 3:1
God says, “If a husband divorces his wife And she goes from him And belongs to another man, Will he still return to her? Will not that land be completely polluted? But you are a harlot with many lovers; Yet you turn to Me,” declares the LORD.

• 3rd, let's see what the famous prophet Ezekiek has to say.

Ezekiel 16:28, 32
28 You have prostituted yourself with the Assyrians, too. It seems you can never find enough new lovers! And after your prostitution there, you still were not satisfied.  32 Yes (Jerusalem), you are an adulterous wife who takes in strangers instead of her own husband.

• 4th, let's read what God told Hosea.

Hosea 1:2
When the Lord first began speaking to Israel through Hosea, he said to him, “Go and marry a prostitute, so that some of her children will be conceived in prostitution. This will illustrate how Israel has acted like a prostitute by turning against the Lord and worshiping other gods.”

• Finally, precious Rahab.  I truly enjoy reading the following two verses about her.  She is in the Faith Hall of Fame Hebrews chapter 11 and a nice word from James.  

Hebrews 11:31
It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed....

James 2:25
Rahab the prostitute is another example. She was shown to be right with God by her actions...

Famous Rev. Morris Cerullo always said "Faith is not only a fact, faith is an act."

So live gloriously fighting the good fight of faith.  And leave everything else settled with God. Walk by faith, not by sight.

In Closing,

John 8:7-11

7 So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to the scribes and Pharisees, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” 8 And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

11 She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Being Jewish

 Romans 2:28-29 (KJV)
²⁸ For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: ²⁹ But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Precious saints,

By birth, I am Palestinian, yet in the spirit I rejoice being called to fellowship with Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:9).  Let me take this time and share the precious joy of the Old Testament...

Wasn't it in Genesis like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob where He called me to stretch my faith muscle not once, but multiple times.  

Wasn't it in Exodus where He gave me the 10 Commandments, yet in Romans 13:10 He said Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Wasn't it in Exodus 23 & Leviticus 23 where He gave me the importance of celebrating His holidays and being kind to the poor (Leviticus 19:33-34).

Wasn't it in Numbers 23:19 where it's written God is not a man that He should lie.

Wasn't it in Deuteronomy where He said to me it is He who gives me power to get wealth.

Wasn't it in Joshua where He told me don't assume and as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

Wasn't it in Judges where He told me to repent, start over again, and like Gideon we all can be called to fight the good fight of faith.

Wasn't it in Ruth where we told Him “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”

Wasn't it in 1 and 2 Samuel where we discover the courage of David and how we all can relate to his story.  Even in failure we rejoice for no one is perfect (1 John 1:8-10).  Was so curious why so many people hold unforgiveness?  Reminds me of John 8:7 where Jesus told the Pharisee's "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone... "

Wasn't it in Job where His wife told him 2:9-10 to curse God and die.  Yet, Job so graciously, lovingly told her you talk like a worldly woman.  I know myself and I can relate to Job's wife by yelling my head off at God, but I am grateful in His mercy to repent and try to understand the big picture of God.

Wasn't it in Psalms 23, 37, 73, 100 and so many other psalms where He tells us 'fret not' and simply 'Praise Him'.

Wasn't it in Proverbs He calls us to wisdom and teaches us the law of kindness.

Wasn't it in Ecclesiastes where He tells us everything is vanity and to find life, just give everything away (Ecclesiastes 11:1-2).

Wasn't it in Isaiah chapter 9 where He tells us in verse 6 and 16....

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

16 For the leaders of this people cause them to err, And those who are led by them are destroyed.

Wasn't it in Isaiah 43:25-26 where He doesn't remember my sins and calls me to rise up boldly & plead my case with Him that I may be justified. God is cool!

Wasn't it in Jeremiah where He graciously tells me my own backsliding will correct me 2:19.

Wasn't it in Hosea where He call him to marry a prostitute for the land has commited great whoredom 1:2.  At this point, I must say, life is certainly interesting, so let's not judge anyone.  For what God has put together, let no man get in the way.  Galatians 5:6 faith works through love, so be kind.

Wasn't it in Haggai where God calls us to build Him a house, before we build ours.  From experience, I rejoice at sharing His mathematical formula is always most fascinating.  Take care of God's business, and He'll take care of our business.

Wasn't it in Zechariah 4:6 where He tells us a powerful mathematical equation "NOT by might, NOR by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."  I feel like Gomer Pyle now and say - surprise, surprise, surprise. 

In Closing,

With Romans 2:29 along with many scriptures, walk in the spirit, pray in tongues to talk to God & edify self (Isaiah 28:11-12, Jude 1:20, 1 Cor 14:2, 4).  Don't think too much, we'll only hurt ourselves (read Romans 8:7).  As Jesus said, what we do in secret, God will reward us openly (Matthew 6).

Galatians 3:24 (KJV)
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Jeremiah 22

 Saints,

Jeremiah 22 is an incredible chapter and is summed up in Leviticus 18:25, 20:22.

Truly applicable to everyone and in every area of life.

3 This is what the Lord says: “Do justice and righteousness, and save one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. And do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you will indeed perform this instruction, then kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting in David’s place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, the king himself, his servants, and his people. 5 But if you will not obey these words, I swear by Myself,” declares the Lord, “that this house will become a place of ruins.”’
Jeremiah 22:3-5

8 “Many nations will pass by this city; and they will say to one another, ‘Why has the Lord done this to this great city?’ 9 Then they will answer, ‘Because they abandoned the covenant of the Lord their God and bowed down to other gods and served them.’”
Jeremiah 22:8-9

But as for the land to which they long to return, they will not return to it.
Jeremiah 22:27

Every August

 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,

Jeremiah 2:26 KJV

The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.

Jeremiah 3:6 KJV

Blessed is the reading of God's Word.

The 'Daily Walk Bible', every August in the book of Jeremiah. Stay on track with intimate fellowship with Jesus or in the weakness of flesh, get lost on this earth discovering habitations of cruelty (Psalm 74:20).

Surely as a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with me, O house of Israel, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 3:20 KJV