January 5 - Evening
“Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind." - Genesis 9:6
The Establishment of Government for the Well-being of Mankind
When Noah and his family emerged from the ark, they reentered a world very different from the one they’d left. There was no longer a protective layer of water above the earth’s atmosphere. Due to this loss, man’s life expectancy was greatly reduced. It was at this time that God introduced the new institution of social rule we now call government. In the previous dispensation, anarchy had become a way of life. This new system of authority would help preserve peace and dispense justice on the earth.
God told Noah:
“For your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting…from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. Whoever sheds the blood of man by man shall his blood be shed.” Genesis 9:5, 6
God gave the government the authority to take a man’s life for the crime of murder. He also gave governing men permission to prosecute lesser crimes deserving lesser punishment. Failure to enforce laws and punish crimes would indicate rebellion toward God and injustice toward men.
Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. Ham had a son named Cush who had a son named Nimrod who became a powerful world leader in this new governmental system. The name “Nimrod” means “rebel” or “we will rebel.” Nimrod is described as being a “mighty hunter” (Genesis 10:9) and “a mighty warrior” (I Chronicles 1:10). Just because someone is a good warrior, however, doesn’t make him a great leader, a just king, or a shepherd to his people. Government was designed to provide peace for mankind, but Nimrod used it as a tool to oppress people, promote himself, and lash out against God. Just three generations after the flood, the system of world government fell into the hands of one evil man. . The government under Nimrod corrupted the entire earth…again.
Martus (Gr) - Witness (Eng) - martus is a Greek word technical legal term that refers to a witness in a legal court room who provides testimony and evidence to support his testimony. Martus is translated "witness" and because the "witnesses" of Jesus life, death and resurrection where so often killed for refusing to alter their testimony the Greek word martus has been transliterated into the English language as "martyr."
Do I consider the government an evil institution of men?
Do I think that the world would be better without government?
God established government so that the chaos of life before the Flood could be averted.
I will respect my local and federal government. I will recognize that governmental leaders are in a position of leadership that God has established.
I will pray for them and help make their role effective in God's plan for the well-being of mankind.
Do I think that the world would be better without government?
God established government so that the chaos of life before the Flood could be averted.
I will respect my local and federal government. I will recognize that governmental leaders are in a position of leadership that God has established.
I will pray for them and help make their role effective in God's plan for the well-being of mankind.
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
An elderly person
Church
Avoid compromise
Nation
Families
World
Sudan's north and south division
Someone to Quote
"God has given us people to love and things to use, not people to use and things to love."
Something to Ponder
During the drought of the 1980's in Israel the water level in the Sea of Galilee dropped. The receded water revealed to two fisherman brothers, Moshe and Yuval Lufan, an ancient Galilean boat buried in the mud. The vessel was a complete first century boat from the days of Jesus, Peter and John. The boat was 30 feet long and 8 feet wide, and large enough to accommodate 15 people.
The back of the boat was raised just like the one described in Mark 4:35-41 where Jesus would have fell asleep on a cushion in the stern. photos Details
The back of the boat was raised just like the one described in Mark 4:35-41 where Jesus would have fell asleep on a cushion in the stern. photos Details
Here’s a Fact
The large stone that served as the upper balustrade, or the stone railing on the top of the temple mount, has been discovered. It was used as a guard rail above the south west corner, but also provided an indention for the priest to step close to the edge and sound their silver trumpet to announce the beginning of the Sabbath or the ending of a feast, etc. The stone actually has a 2,000 year old Hebrew inscription that says, "To the Trumpeting Place." This may be the place James, the brother of Jesus, was pushed to his death in 63 AD. Photos Details
Proverb
"The lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword." - Proverbs 5:3-4
Coach’s Corner
When you think you are right, try to see the other side before you speak.
Mark 4:35-41
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Calms the Storm
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
Genesis 10
New International Version (NIV)
The Table of Nations
10 This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.
The Japhethites
2 The sons of Japheth:
Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
3 The sons of Gomer:
Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
4 The sons of Javan:
Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites. 5 (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)
The Hamites
6 The sons of Ham:
Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
7 The sons of Cush:
Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteka.
The sons of Raamah:
Sheba and Dedan.
8 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar. 11 From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah 12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.
13 Egypt was the father of
the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
15 Canaan was the father of
Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, 16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 18 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.
Later the Canaanite clans scattered 19 and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha.
20 These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
The Semites
21 Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.
22 The sons of Shem:
Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
23 The sons of Aram:
Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.
24 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah,
and Shelah the father of Eber.
25 Two sons were born to Eber:
One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
26 Joktan was the father of
Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
30 The region where they lived stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, in the eastern hill country.
31 These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.
New International Version (NIV)
The Table of Nations
10 This is the account of Shem, Ham and Japheth, Noah’s sons, who themselves had sons after the flood.
The Japhethites
2 The sons of Japheth:
Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
3 The sons of Gomer:
Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
4 The sons of Javan:
Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites. 5 (From these the maritime peoples spread out into their territories by their clans within their nations, each with its own language.)
The Hamites
6 The sons of Ham:
Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
7 The sons of Cush:
Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah and Sabteka.
The sons of Raamah:
Sheba and Dedan.
8 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” 10 The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad and Kalneh, in Shinar. 11 From that land he went to Assyria, where he built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah 12 and Resen, which is between Nineveh and Calah—which is the great city.
13 Egypt was the father of
the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 14 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
15 Canaan was the father of
Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, 16 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 17 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 18 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.
Later the Canaanite clans scattered 19 and the borders of Canaan reached from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha.
20 These are the sons of Ham by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
The Semites
21 Sons were also born to Shem, whose older brother was Japheth; Shem was the ancestor of all the sons of Eber.
22 The sons of Shem:
Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
23 The sons of Aram:
Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.
24 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah,
and Shelah the father of Eber.
25 Two sons were born to Eber:
One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
26 Joktan was the father of
Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 27 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 29 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
30 The region where they lived stretched from Mesha toward Sephar, in the eastern hill country.
31 These are the sons of Shem by their clans and languages, in their territories and nations.
32 These are the clans of Noah’s sons, according to their lines of descent, within their nations. From these the nations spread out over the earth after the flood.
Job 8-9
New International Version (NIV)
Bildad
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2
“How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind.
3
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4
When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5
But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty,
6
if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state.
7
Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.
8
“Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned,
9
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.
10
Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
11
Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water?
12
While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass.
13
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.
14
What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web.
15
They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.
16
They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;
17
it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.
18
But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
19
Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow.
20
“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
22
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”
Job
9 Then Job replied:
2
“Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?
3
Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
4
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
5
He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.
6
He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.
7
He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.
8
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
11
When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
12
If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13
God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
14
“How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?
15
Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
16
Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
17
He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
18
He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
19
If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him?
20
Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
21
“Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22
It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23
When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24
When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
25
“My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
26
They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
27
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’
28
I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29
Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
30
Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder,
31
you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.
32
“He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
33
If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together,
34
someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.
35
Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
New International Version (NIV)
Bildad
8 Then Bildad the Shuhite replied:
2
“How long will you say such things? Your words are a blustering wind.
3
Does God pervert justice? Does the Almighty pervert what is right?
4
When your children sinned against him, he gave them over to the penalty of their sin.
5
But if you will seek God earnestly and plead with the Almighty,
6
if you are pure and upright, even now he will rouse himself on your behalf and restore you to your prosperous state.
7
Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be.
8
“Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned,
9
for we were born only yesterday and know nothing, and our days on earth are but a shadow.
10
Will they not instruct you and tell you? Will they not bring forth words from their understanding?
11
Can papyrus grow tall where there is no marsh? Can reeds thrive without water?
12
While still growing and uncut, they wither more quickly than grass.
13
Such is the destiny of all who forget God; so perishes the hope of the godless.
14
What they trust in is fragile; what they rely on is a spider’s web.
15
They lean on the web, but it gives way; they cling to it, but it does not hold.
16
They are like a well-watered plant in the sunshine, spreading its shoots over the garden;
17
it entwines its roots around a pile of rocks and looks for a place among the stones.
18
But when it is torn from its spot, that place disowns it and says, ‘I never saw you.’
19
Surely its life withers away, and from the soil other plants grow.
20
“Surely God does not reject one who is blameless or strengthen the hands of evildoers.
21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
22
Your enemies will be clothed in shame, and the tents of the wicked will be no more.”
Job
9 Then Job replied:
2
“Indeed, I know that this is true. But how can mere mortals prove their innocence before God?
3
Though they wished to dispute with him, they could not answer him one time out of a thousand.
4
His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?
5
He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger.
6
He shakes the earth from its place and makes its pillars tremble.
7
He speaks to the sun and it does not shine; he seals off the light of the stars.
8
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.
9
He is the Maker of the Bear and Orion, the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.
10
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.
11
When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.
12
If he snatches away, who can stop him? Who can say to him, ‘What are you doing?’
13
God does not restrain his anger; even the cohorts of Rahab cowered at his feet.
14
“How then can I dispute with him? How can I find words to argue with him?
15
Though I were innocent, I could not answer him; I could only plead with my Judge for mercy.
16
Even if I summoned him and he responded, I do not believe he would give me a hearing.
17
He would crush me with a storm and multiply my wounds for no reason.
18
He would not let me catch my breath but would overwhelm me with misery.
19
If it is a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it is a matter of justice, who can challenge him?
20
Even if I were innocent, my mouth would condemn me; if I were blameless, it would pronounce me guilty.
21
“Although I am blameless, I have no concern for myself; I despise my own life.
22
It is all the same; that is why I say, ‘He destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’
23
When a scourge brings sudden death, he mocks the despair of the innocent.
24
When a land falls into the hands of the wicked, he blindfolds its judges. If it is not he, then who is it?
25
“My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy.
26
They skim past like boats of papyrus, like eagles swooping down on their prey.
27
If I say, ‘I will forget my complaint, I will change my expression, and smile,’
28
I still dread all my sufferings, for I know you will not hold me innocent.
29
Since I am already found guilty, why should I struggle in vain?
30
Even if I washed myself with soap and my hands with cleansing powder,
31
you would plunge me into a slime pit so that even my clothes would detest me.
32
“He is not a mere mortal like me that I might answer him, that we might confront each other in court.
33
If only there were someone to mediate between us, someone to bring us together,
34
someone to remove God’s rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more.
35
Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.
