The One Year Bible TLB (78 page)
Read The One Year Bible TLB Online
Authors: Tyndale
How we thank you, Lord! Your mighty miracles give proof that you care.
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“Yes,” the Lord replies, “and when I am ready, I will punish the wicked!
3
Though the earth shakes and all its people live in turmoil, yet its pillars are firm, for I have set them in place!”
4
I warned the proud to cease their arrogance! I told the wicked to lower their insolent gaze
*
5
and to stop being stubborn and proud.
6-7
For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God. He promotes one and deposes another.
8
In Jehovah’s hand there is a cup of pale and sparkling wine. It is his judgment, poured out upon the wicked of the earth. They must drain that cup to the dregs.
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But as for me, I shall forever declare the praises of the God of Jacob.
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“I will cut off the strength of evil men,” says the Lord,
*
“and increase the power of good men in their place.”
Crooks are jealous of each other’s loot, while good men long to help each other.
13
Lies will get any man into trouble, but honesty is its own defense.
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Telling the truth gives a man great satisfaction, and hard work returns many blessings to him.
April 4“When you arrive in the land and have conquered it and are living there,
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you must present to the Lord at his sanctuary the first sample from each annual
*
harvest. Bring it in a basket and hand it to the priest on duty and say to him, ‘This gift is my acknowledgment that the Lord my God has brought me to the land he promised our ancestors.’
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The priest will then take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar.
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You shall then say before the Lord your God, ‘My ancestors were migrant Arameans who went to Egypt for refuge. They were few in number, but in Egypt they became a mighty nation.
6-7
The Egyptians mistreated us and we cried to the Lord God. He heard us and saw our hardship, toil, and oppression,
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and brought us out of Egypt with mighty miracles and a powerful hand. He did great and awesome miracles before the Egyptians
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and has brought us to this place and given us this land “flowing with milk and honey”!
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And now, O Lord, see, I have brought you a token of the first of the crops from the ground you have given me.’ Then place the samples before the Lord your God, and worship him.
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Afterwards, go and feast on all the good things he has given you. Celebrate with your family and with any Levites or migrants living among you.
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“Every third year is a year of special tithing. That year you are to give all your tithes to the Levites, migrants, orphans, and widows, so that they will be well fed.
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Then you shall declare before the Lord your God, ‘I have given all of my tithes to the Levites, the migrants, the orphans, and the widows, just as you commanded me; I have not violated or forgotten any of your rules.
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I have not touched the tithe while I was ceremonially defiled (for instance, while I was in mourning), nor have I offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God and have done everything you commanded me.
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Look down from your holy home in heaven and bless your people and the land you have given us, as you promised our ancestors; make it a land “flowing with milk and honey”!’
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“You must wholeheartedly obey all of these commandments and ordinances that the Lord your God is giving you today.
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You have declared today that he is your God, and you have promised to obey and keep his laws and ordinances, and to heed all he tells you to do.
18
And the Lord has declared today that you are his very own people, just as he promised, and that you must obey all of his laws.
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If you do, he will make you greater than any other nation, allowing you to receive praise, honor, and renown; but to attain this honor and renown you must be a holy people to the Lord your God, as he requires.”
27:
1
Then Moses and the elders of Israel gave the people these further instructions to obey:
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2-4
“When you cross the Jordan River and go into the Promised Land—a land ‘flowing with milk and honey’—take out boulders from the river bottom and immediately pile them into a monument on the other side, at Mount Ebal. Face the stones with a coating of lime
*
and then write the laws of God in the lime.
5-6
And build an altar there to the Lord your God. Use uncut boulders, and on the altar offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God.
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Sacrifice peace offerings upon it also, and feast there with great joy before the Lord your God.
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Write all of these laws plainly upon the monument.
*
”
9
Then Moses and the Levite-priests addressed all Israel as follows: “O Israel, listen! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God,
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so today you must begin to obey all of these commandments I have given you.”
11
That same day Moses gave this charge to the people:
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“When you cross into the Promised Land, the tribes of Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin shall stand upon Mount Gerizim to proclaim a blessing,
13
and the tribes of Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali shall stand upon Mount Ebal to proclaim a curse.
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Then the Levites standing between
*
them shall shout to all Israel,
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“‘The curse of God be upon anyone who makes and worships an idol, even in secret, whether carved of wood or made from molten metal—for these handmade gods are hated by the Lord.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
16
“‘Cursed is anyone who despises his father or mother.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
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“‘Cursed is he who moves the boundary marker between his land and his neighbor’s.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
18
“‘Cursed is he who takes advantage of a blind man.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
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“‘Cursed is he who is unjust to the foreigner, the orphan, and the widow.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
20
“‘Cursed is he who commits adultery with one of his father’s wives, for she belongs to his father.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
21
“‘Cursed is he who has sexual intercourse with an animal.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
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“‘Cursed is he who has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether she be a full sister or a half sister.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
23
“‘Cursed is he who has sexual intercourse with his widowed
*
mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
24
“‘Cursed is he who secretly slays another.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
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“‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’
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“‘Cursed is anyone who does not obey these laws.’ And all the people shall reply, ‘Amen.’”
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem
*
they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home.
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Her sister Mary sat on the floor, listening to Jesus as he talked.
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But Martha was the jittery type and was worrying over the big dinner she was preparing.
She came to Jesus and said, “Sir, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
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But the Lord said to her,
“Martha, dear friend,
*
you are so upset over all these details!
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There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it—and I won’t take it away from her!”
11:
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Once when Jesus had been out praying, one of his disciples came to him as he finished and said, “Lord, teach us a prayer to recite
*
just as John taught one to his disciples.”
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And this is the prayer he taught them:
“Father, may your name be honored for its holiness; send your Kingdom soon.
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Give us our food day by day.
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And forgive our sins—for we have forgiven those who sinned against us. And don’t allow us to be tempted.”
5-6
Then, teaching them more about prayer,
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he used this illustration:
“Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would shout up to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit and I’ve nothing to give him to eat.’
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He would call down from his bedroom, ‘Please don’t ask me to get up. The door is locked for the night and we are all in bed. I just can’t help you this time.’
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“But I’ll tell you this—though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you everything you want—just because of your persistence.
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And so it is with prayer—keep on asking and you will keep on getting; keep on looking and you will keep on finding; knock and the door will be opened.
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Everyone who asks, receives; all who seek, find; and the door is opened to everyone who knocks.
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“You men who are fathers—if your boy asks for bread, do you give him a stone? If he asks for fish, do you give him a snake?
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If he asks for an egg, do you give him a scorpion? Of course not!
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“And if even sinful persons like yourselves give children what they need, don’t you realize that your heavenly Father will do at least as much, and give the Holy Spirit to those who ask for him?”
God’s reputation is very great in Judah and in Israel.
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His home is in Jerusalem. He lives upon Mount Zion.
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There he breaks the weapons of our enemies.
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The everlasting mountains cannot compare with you in glory!
5
The mightiest of our enemies are conquered. They lie before us in the sleep of death; not one can lift a hand against us.
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When you rebuked them, God of Jacob, steeds and riders fell.
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No wonder you are greatly feared! Who can stand before an angry God?
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You pronounce sentence on them from heaven; the earth trembles and stands silently before you.
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You stand up to punish the evildoers and to defend the meek of the earth.
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Man’s futile wrath will bring you glory. You will use it as an ornament!
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Fulfill all your vows that you have made to Jehovah your God. Let everyone bring him presents. He should be reverenced and feared,
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for he cuts down princes and does awesome things to the kings of the earth.
A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others.
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A fool is quick-tempered; a wise man stays cool when insulted.
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A good man is known by his truthfulness; a false man by deceit and lies.
April 5“If you fully obey all of these commandments of the Lord your God, the laws I am declaring to you today, God will transform you into the greatest nation in the world.
2-6
These are the blessings that will come upon you:
Blessings in the city,
Blessings in the field;
Many children,
Ample crops,
Large flocks and herds;
Blessings of fruit and bread;
Blessings when you come in,
Blessings when you go out.
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“The Lord will defeat your enemies before you; they will march out together against you but scatter before you in seven directions!
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The Lord will bless you with good crops and healthy cattle, and prosper everything you do when you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
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He will change you into a holy people dedicated to himself; this he has promised to do if you will only obey him and walk in his ways.
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All the nations in the world shall see that you belong to the Lord, and they will stand in awe.
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“The Lord will give you an abundance of good things in the land, just as he promised: many children, many cattle, and abundant crops.
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He will open to you his wonderful treasury of rain in the heavens, to give you fine crops every season. He will bless everything you do; and you shall lend to many nations, but shall not borrow from them.
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If you will only listen and obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, he will make you the head and not the tail, and you shall always have the upper hand.
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But each of these blessings depends on your not turning aside in any way from the laws I have given you; and you must never worship other gods.
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“If you won’t listen to the Lord your God and won’t obey these laws I am giving you today, then all of these curses shall come upon you:
Curses in the city,
Curses in the fields,
Curses on your fruit and bread,
The curse of barren wombs,
Curses upon your crops,
Curses upon the fertility of your cattle and flocks,
Curses when you come in,
Curses when you go out.
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“For the Lord himself will send his personal curse upon you. You will be confused and a failure in everything you do, until at last you are destroyed because of the sin of forsaking him.
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He will send disease among you until you are destroyed from the face of the land you are about to enter and possess.
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He will send tuberculosis, fever, infections, plague, and war. He will blight your crops, covering them with mildew. All these devastations shall pursue you until you perish.
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“The heavens above you will be as unyielding as bronze, and the earth beneath will be as iron.
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The land will become as dry as dust for lack of rain, and dust storms shall destroy you.
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“The Lord will cause you to be defeated by your enemies. You will march out to battle gloriously, but flee before your enemies in utter confusion; and you will be tossed to and fro among all the nations of the earth.
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Your dead bodies will be food to the birds and wild animals, and no one will be there to chase them away.
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“He will send upon you Egyptian boils, tumors, scurvy, and itch, for none of which will there be a remedy.
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He will send madness, blindness, fear, and panic upon you.
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You shall grope in the bright sunlight just as the blind man gropes in darkness. You shall not prosper in anything you do; you will be oppressed and robbed continually, and nothing will save you.
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“Someone else will marry your fiancée; someone else will live in the house you build; someone else will eat the fruit of the vineyard you plant.
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Your oxen shall be butchered before your eyes, but you won’t get a single bite of the meat. Your donkeys will be driven away as you watch and will never return to you again. Your sheep will be given to your enemies. And there will be no one to protect you.
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You will watch as your sons and daughters are taken away as slaves. Your heart will break with longing for them, but you will not be able to help them.
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A foreign nation you have not even heard of will eat the crops you will have worked so hard to grow. You will always be oppressed and crushed.
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You will go mad because of all the tragedy you see around you.
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The Lord will cover you with boils from head to foot.
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“He will exile you and the king you will choose to a nation to which neither you nor your ancestors gave a second thought; and while in exile you shall worship gods of wood and stone!
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You will become an object of horror, a proverb and a byword among all the nations, for the Lord will thrust you away.
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“You will sow much but reap little, for the locusts will eat your crops.
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You will plant vineyards and care for them, but you won’t eat the grapes or drink the wine, for worms will destroy the vines.
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Olive trees will be growing everywhere, but there won’t be enough olive oil to anoint yourselves! For the trees will drop their fruit before it is matured.
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Your sons and daughters will be snatched away from you as slaves.
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The locusts shall destroy your trees and vines.
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Foreigners living among you shall become richer and richer while you become poorer and poorer.
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They shall lend to you, not you to them! They shall be the head and you shall be the tail!
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“All these curses shall pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed—all because you refuse to listen to the Lord your God.
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These horrors shall befall you and your descendants as a warning:
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You will become slaves to your enemies because of your failure to praise God for all that he has given you. The Lord will send your enemies against you, and you will be hungry, thirsty, naked, and in want of everything. A yoke of iron shall be placed around your neck until you are destroyed!
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“The Lord will bring a distant nation against you, swooping down upon you like an eagle; a nation whose language you don’t understand—
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a nation of fierce and angry men who will have no mercy upon young or old.
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They will eat you out of house and home until your cattle and crops are gone. Your grain, new wine, olive oil, calves, and lambs will all disappear.
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That nation will lay siege to your cities and knock down your highest walls—the walls you will trust to protect you.
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You will even eat the flesh of your own sons and daughters in the terrible days of siege that lie ahead.
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The most tenderhearted man among you will be utterly callous toward his own brother and his beloved wife and his children who are still alive.
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He will refuse to give them a share of the flesh he is devouring—the flesh of his own children—because he is starving in the midst of the siege of your cities.
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The most tender and delicate woman among you—the one who would not so much as touch her feet to the ground—will refuse to share with her beloved husband, son, and daughter. She will hide from them the afterbirth and the new baby she has borne, so that she herself can eat them: so terrible will be the hunger during the siege and the awful distress caused by your enemies at your gates.
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“If you refuse to obey all the laws written in this book, thus refusing reverence to the glorious and fearful name of Jehovah your God, then Jehovah will send perpetual plagues upon you and upon your children.
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He will bring upon you all the diseases of Egypt that you feared so much, and they shall plague the land.
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And that is not all! The Lord will bring upon you every sickness and plague there is, even those not mentioned in this book, until you are destroyed.
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There will be few of you left, though before you were as numerous as stars. All this if you do not listen to the Lord your God.
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“Just as the Lord has rejoiced over you and has done such wonderful things for you and has multiplied you, so the Lord at that time will rejoice in destroying you; and you shall disappear from the land.
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For the Lord will scatter you among all the nations from one end of the earth to the other. There you will worship heathen gods that neither you nor your ancestors have known, gods made of wood and stone!
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There among those nations you shall find no rest, but the Lord will give you trembling hearts, darkness, and bodies wasted from sorrow and fear.
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Your lives will hang in doubt. You will live night and day in fear, and will have no reason to believe that you will see the morning light.
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In the morning you will say, ‘Oh, that night were here!’ And in the evening you will say, ‘Oh, that morning were here!’ You will say this because of the awesome horrors surrounding you.
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Then the Lord will send you back to Egypt in ships, a journey I promised you would never need to make again; and there you will offer to sell yourselves to your enemies as slaves—but no one will even want to buy you.”
Once, when Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, his voice returned to him. The crowd was excited and enthusiastic,
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but some said, “No wonder he can cast them out. He gets his power from Satan,
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the king of demons!”
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Others asked for something to happen in the sky to prove his claim of being the Messiah.
*
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He knew the thoughts of each of them, so he said,
“Any kingdom filled with civil war is doomed; so is a home filled with argument and strife.
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Therefore, if what you say is true, that Satan is fighting against himself by empowering me to cast out his demons, how can his kingdom survive?
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And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own followers? For they cast out demons! Do you think this proves they are possessed by Satan? Ask
them
if you are right!
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But if I am casting out demons because of power from God, it proves that the Kingdom of God has arrived.
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“For when Satan,
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strong and fully armed, guards his palace, it is safe—
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until someone stronger and better armed attacks and overcomes him and strips him of his weapons and carries off his belongings.
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“Anyone who is not for me is against me; if he isn’t helping me, he is hurting my cause.
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“When a demon is cast out of a man, it goes to the deserts, searching there for rest; but finding none, it returns to the person it left,
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and finds that its former home is all swept and clean.
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Then it goes and gets seven other demons more evil than itself, and they all enter the man. And so the poor fellow is seven times
*
worse off than he was before.”
27
As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, “God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that gave you suck!”
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He replied,
“Yes, but even more blessed are all who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.”
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As the crowd pressed in upon him, he preached them this sermon:
“These are evil times, with evil people. They keep asking for some strange happening in the skies to prove I am the Messiah,
*
but the only proof I will give them is a miracle like that of Jonah, whose experiences proved to the people of Nineveh that God had sent him. My similar experience will prove that God has sent me to these people.
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“And at the Judgment Day the queen of Sheba
*
shall arise and point her finger at this generation, condemning it, for she went on a long, hard journey to listen to the wisdom of Solomon; but one far greater than Solomon is here and few pay any attention.
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“The men of Nineveh, too, shall arise and condemn this nation, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and someone far greater than Jonah is here, but this nation won’t listen.
*
33
“No one lights a lamp and hides it! Instead, he puts it on a lampstand to give light to all who enter the room.
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Your eyes light up your inward being. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. A lustful eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness.
35
So watch out that the sunshine isn’t blotted out.
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If you are filled with light within, with no dark corners, then your face will be radiant too, as though a floodlight is beamed upon you.”