tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83762673143888726122024-03-13T03:59:33.807-05:00Generation Word Bible TeachingGeneration Word is a Bible teaching ministry of Galyn WiemersGeneration Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-34830690258184702042013-09-01T07:10:00.005-05:002013-09-01T07:12:30.523-05:00"Reps and Sets" 2X Daily Online Devotions...READY!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dUwNODdFZ-0/UiMuO2PDfJI/AAAAAAAALVA/jtiJ38MnkpQ/s1600/repsandsets-banner-1bag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dUwNODdFZ-0/UiMuO2PDfJI/AAAAAAAALVA/jtiJ38MnkpQ/s640/repsandsets-banner-1bag.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">OK, here we go! After 13 months of research, study and writing Generation Word's 2 times a day devotional/study site Reps and Sets is ready. The homepage will refresh every 12 hours to present more than 15 new pieces of information 732 time</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">s a year (that is a total 10,980 devotions, quotes, thoughts, proverbs, photos, prayers, diagrams, maps, quizzes, word studies, confessions or facts). To join the revival all you need to do is refresh and read - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.repsandsets.org&h=NAQGWA4x-&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.repsandsets.org</a> - 2X each day.<a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2FWWW.REPSANDSETS.ORG&h=YAQFPzj6S&s=1" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">WWW.REPSANDSETS.ORG</a> provides you with optimal spiritual training for life application. So, lets get started! I'll see you in the weight room!</span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z8wNyNPg5EY/UiMuHUdOUDI/AAAAAAAALU4/6Q-CL_pbK2g/s1600/RepsSets-lifter.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z8wNyNPg5EY/UiMuHUdOUDI/AAAAAAAALU4/6Q-CL_pbK2g/s320/RepsSets-lifter.png" width="320" /></a><br />
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Galyn Wiemers Generation Word <a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>
Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-84312628771961325562012-06-06T23:39:00.002-05:002012-06-06T23:41:03.964-05:00"Israel Field Book" .pdf Download Now Available<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I2TVA00VDfo/T9AveuXDsaI/AAAAAAAAIYk/sx1w1z-A7bQ/s1600/book-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I2TVA00VDfo/T9AveuXDsaI/AAAAAAAAIYk/sx1w1z-A7bQ/s320/book-cover.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
I just finished putting together the "Israel Field Book" and it is available as a .pdf download at<br />
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<a href="http://www.generationword.com/fieldbook.pdf">http://www.generationword.com/fieldbook.pdf</a><br />
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This 188 page book includes details and photos from 66 sites in Israel and 80 in Jerusalem. It is accompanied by 300+ photos plus maps, diagrams and charts at the back of the book. This is a great download on an iPhone and once it is downloaded just touch the screen for the option to put it into your iBooks library. Hope it is useful while in the field in Israel.<br />
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Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-53346459724314426312012-04-01T18:25:00.000-05:002012-04-01T18:25:55.922-05:00"Regional Study Guide" Link for JUC Students<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Here is the link to the guide that includes instructions for marking the "Regions on the Run" book and the "Regional Study Maps #1-7". This is a necessary download.<br />
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<a href="http://www.juc.edu/pdf/study_guide.pdf">http://www.juc.edu/pdf/study_guide.pdf</a> <br />
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Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
http://www.generationword.com</div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-41981657819880190102012-04-01T18:22:00.000-05:002012-04-01T18:22:02.827-05:00JUC Student Handbook<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">For the students going to Jerusalem in June...here is the JUC (Jerusalem University College) Student Handbook:<br />
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<a href="http://www.juc.edu/pdf/STManual.pdf">http://www.juc.edu/pdf/STManual.pdf</a> <br />
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Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
http://www.generationword.com</div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-15878609596810680682012-03-22T01:16:00.000-05:002012-03-22T01:16:09.454-05:00Photos of the Bullae Display<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="400" height="267" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109065662263703054094%2Falbumid%2F5722592106601021345%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Galyn Wiemers <br />
Generation Word <br />
http://www.generationword.com</div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-38653454822168614762012-03-17T15:54:00.016-05:002012-03-22T01:19:54.912-05:00Spring Break 2012 and Bullae from 587 BC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&captions=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F109065662263703054094%2Falbumid%2F5722592106601021345%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="600"></embed><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">I want to take time to explain why Toni and I are taking the trip we are about to embark on tomorrow during this year's spring break. It began when I read the article linked </span><a href="http://www.bib-arch.org/bar/article.asp?PubID=BSBA&Volume=38&Issue=02&ArticleID=20&Page=0&UserID=0&" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> in this month's issue of Biblical Archaeology Review...and, Toni agreed to go with me to see the display.</span><br />
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</span></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcnrh0PDwc8/T2T6FtYY3-I/AAAAAAAAIGc/_HB_Rkk5Lxc/s1600/bullae-gedaliah-jehucal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcnrh0PDwc8/T2T6FtYY3-I/AAAAAAAAIGc/_HB_Rkk5Lxc/s640/bullae-gedaliah-jehucal.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2000 BC the Canaanites were living in what is today the land of Israel and had occupied a city they called Salem. This city was 10 acres located on a ridge of core bedrock surrounded by very definable valleys: the Hinnom, the Central and the Kidron Valleys. These natural formations provided a natural source of protection for this ancient walled city which also had the necessary natural water source known as the Gihon Springs which still flows today.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DpcRUs-BbbU/T2TV4J-kFDI/AAAAAAAAIFg/vpxi5H_0ZMw/s1600/127_jerusalem_walls_1-450.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DpcRUs-BbbU/T2TV4J-kFDI/AAAAAAAAIFg/vpxi5H_0ZMw/s1600/127_jerusalem_walls_1-450.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This diagram shows the natural topography of the </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">ancient city of Salem occupied by the</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> Jebusites in 1000 BC when Israel's King David took it from them. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">David took up residence in the Jebusite </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">fortress located in the north part of this 10 acre city</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJVqUb_CCXo/T2TWYBvDCpI/AAAAAAAAIFo/5Wod4bP1Jzo/s1600/topography-photo-id.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="332" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FJVqUb_CCXo/T2TWYBvDCpI/AAAAAAAAIFo/5Wod4bP1Jzo/s640/topography-photo-id.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This photo was taken in 2010 from the south of the ancient city of Salem </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">(Jebusites) or Jerusalem (Israel) which is known today as the old City of David where </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">the current Palestinian village of Silwan sets. This photo is labeled with </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">the same natural land marks as the diagram above.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Abraham met with Mechizedek in the Kidron Valley around 2000 BC and offered Isaac on Mount Moriah (which was 15 acres outside the north walls of the city at that time.) In 1400 BC Joshua's men killed the Canaanite king of Salem, Adoni-Zedek, when they took the Promised Land, but it was not until the next generation that the city of Salem was captured, burnt, and left in ruins. The Jebusites soon resettled Salem and occupied this natural fortress until David took the city from them in 1000 BC to be used as his capital city. David took up residence in the north portion of this 10 acre walled city. The city's fortress was built in the north wall because this was the only approach to the city that was naturally weak. Invading forces could come down Mount Moriah to easily attack the north wall of the city.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y3TaGQqm-ao/T2T8o6NdOII/AAAAAAAAIGs/KfUmLUyq4EY/s1600/city-david-image-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="344" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-y3TaGQqm-ao/T2T8o6NdOII/AAAAAAAAIGs/KfUmLUyq4EY/s640/city-david-image-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px;">The royal palace of the kings of Judah was located in the </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px;">north portion of the city of Jerusalem (City of David) </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">next to the northern wall of the city.</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David built a new palace in the north area of the city and his son Solomon expanded the palace complex and increased the governmental buildings in this same area. The image below show the location of David's royal palace that would be handed down through out the dynasty of the Davidic line of kings who would rule the southern kingdom of Judah until its destruction by the Babylonian Empire in 586 BC. When the Persian King Cyrus sent the Jews back from Babylon to their homeland in 538 BC he appointed Zerubbabel to serve as the governor of this reoccupied land. Zerubbabel returned with the people to Jerusalem and took up residence in the royal palace of the former kings of Judah.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As archaeology has explored the historical remains in the city of Jerusalem there was always a quest to find the royal palace of the kings of Judah, which would have included part of David's original palace. Since the original city was only 10 acres and according to Scripture and the natural layout of the city it was fairly easily to identify where this royal palace complex should be located once the parameters of the ancient city where identified through correct archaeological principles and practices.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we were in Jerusalem in 2007 Eilat Mazar had just uncovered and identified (2005) a large structure from the days of the kings of Judah, but many things where unconfirmed. In fact, we could only walk over the framework that covered the excavation site, but as we walked over I did take the liberty to reach my camera into an opening and blindly snap the below photo. We suspected this could be David's Palace, but the excavation was not complete and skeptics where still accusing Ms. Mazar of "sensationalism." </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KLkv75oPUVg/T2T8Z3uOZ8I/AAAAAAAAIGk/zI2wBbhZMJg/s1600/david_palace2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KLkv75oPUVg/T2T8Z3uOZ8I/AAAAAAAAIGk/zI2wBbhZMJg/s640/david_palace2007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Photo I took in 2007 before the royal palace was open to the public</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">and a year beforethe Gedaliah bulla was found just a few yards</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">away outside the palace. The Jehuchal</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">bulla was found here in this palace in 2005.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> It wasn't until 2008-2009 that it became clear that the royal palace of the kings of Judah had been located. It was called the "Large Stone Structure". It sat on top of a sixty foot tall, strong retaining wall known as the the "Stepped Stone Structure" that had been uncovered in the 1920's and suspected of being built to support a large building complex above. </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dfnKRq0Tsnw/T2T9BJZX7zI/AAAAAAAAIG0/FV-Ba19zmbE/s1600/jebusite_wall_close.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="634" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dfnKRq0Tsnw/T2T9BJZX7zI/AAAAAAAAIG0/FV-Ba19zmbE/s640/jebusite_wall_close.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px;">This is the "stepped stone structure" or the terrace called "millo" in the Old Testament.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 20px;">This retaining wall supported the royal palace complex above. It was at the base of this</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">terrace that the Gedaliah bulla was found. </span> </span></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During her excavations of the royal palace of the kings of Judah Eilat Mazar discovered two bullae. A bulla is the small clay impression left when it is pressed with a seal or signet ring. These were used like we use a written signature on a contract to confirm the authenticity and legality of a document. The clay impression is called a bulla (bullae for the plural). These two bullae Mazar discovered were less than half an inch in diameter. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first was found in 2005 inside the royal palace with writing from the 500's BC that translates </span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>"belonging to Jehucal son of Shelemiah son of Shovi." </i></b></span></blockquote><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This clay impression (bulla) is described as being in mint condition and is a mere 0.4 inches in diameter which is almost the size of a dime which is about 0.7 inches</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-9M0P4ovcY/T2T9L2YMsyI/AAAAAAAAIG8/Lh3FQyFA8Sk/s1600/bulla-jehucal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g-9M0P4ovcY/T2T9L2YMsyI/AAAAAAAAIG8/Lh3FQyFA8Sk/s400/bulla-jehucal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2008 another bulla was discovered by Mazar just outside the walls of the royal palace a few yards away from where the Jehucal bulla was discovered three years earlier. According to the writing and formation of the letters this bulla was from the same time period (500's BC) as the one discovered in 2005. The inscription on this bulla read:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>"Gedaliah son of Pashur"</i></b></span></blockquote></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UUfa2YSzC2Q/T2T9Taxg-oI/AAAAAAAAIHE/abpEmoIodfs/s1600/bulla-gedaliah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="370" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UUfa2YSzC2Q/T2T9Taxg-oI/AAAAAAAAIHE/abpEmoIodfs/s400/bulla-gedaliah.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Beginning in the year 640 BC Jeremiah was sent by God to proclaim God's word and Gods' will to: </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the people of Jerusalem, </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">the priests in the temple and </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">to the king and his royal officials </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">in the palace</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">. </span></li>
</ol><br />
<div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Because the people had forsaken God, Jeremiah was sent to tell the people to repent. By the year 587 the people had not listened, the priests had forbidden Jeremiah access to the temple and the royal officals were calling Jeremiah a traitor even though his warnings of Babylonian invasion had began to occur. The Babylonians had come into the city twice: Once in 605 BC to take captive the royal children like Daniel and again in 590 BC to take the skilled industrial workers like Ezekiel into Babylon to build their cities, chariots, etc. </span></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now in 587 the royal officials convinced the weak, insecure king Zedekiah that Jeremiah was a traitor for telling the people to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, instead of fighting. The foolish king of Judah gave his complaining royal officers permission to throw Jeremiah into a cistern located in the palace court yard. Jeremiah 38:1 begins the text that NAMES these men, quotes their words and describes their actions from 587 BC from the royal palace in the City of David:</span></span></div></div><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="versetext" id="jer38-1" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1</span> Shephatiah son of Mattan, <b><u>Gedaliah son of Pashhur</u></b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="1"></a>, <u><b>Jehucal<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="a"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="2"></a> son of Shelemiah</b></u>, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said, </span><span class="versetext" id="jer38-2" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2</span> "This is what the LORD says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="3"></a> but whoever goes over to the Babylonians<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="b"></a> will live. He will escape with his life; he will live.'</span><span class="versetext" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"></span><span class="versetext" id="jer38-3" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3</span> And this is what the LORD says: 'This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.' "<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="5"></a> </span><span class="versetext" id="jer38-4" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4</span> Then the officials<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="6"></a> said to the king, "This man should be put to death.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="7"></a> He is discouraging<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="8"></a> the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin." </span><span class="versetext" id="jer38-5" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5</span> "He is in your hands,"<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="9"></a> King Zedekiah answered. "The king can do nothing<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="10"></a> to oppose you." </span><span class="versetext" id="jer38-6" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6</span> So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king's son, which was in the courtyard of the guard.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="11"></a> They lowered Jeremiah by ropes<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="12"></a> into the cistern; it had no water in it,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="13"></a> only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="14"></a> </span><span class="versetext" id="jer38-7" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; display: inline; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span class="versenum" style="font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 3px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7</span></span> But Ebed-Melech,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="15"></a> a Cushite,<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="c"></a> an official<a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="d"></a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8376267314388872612&postID=3865345482216861476" name="16"></a> in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, </span></blockquote><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now, this spring break Toni and I are driving to Oklahoma to see the first public display of these two bullae that were found in the royal palace of the kings of Judah in 2005 and 2008. These bullae bear the impression from the signet rings of two biblical personalities who served in the royal palace of the kings of Judah in 587 BC and participated in one of the most infamous persecutions of the great prophet Jeremiah. </span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Here are some photos I took from inside the royal palace in 2010. This was the royal residence of the King David, King Solomon and the Kings of Judah from 1000-586 BC and then used by the government that returned from Babylonian captivity in 538.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPJM3Lndxag/T2T9uR6UalI/AAAAAAAAIHM/z4-phS1R8AM/s1600/david-palace-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vPJM3Lndxag/T2T9uR6UalI/AAAAAAAAIHM/z4-phS1R8AM/s640/david-palace-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Inside the royal palace of the kings of Judah</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzHeWwvMrIc/T2T98JaI_3I/AAAAAAAAIHU/f7Wk9D2OQUg/s1600/IMG_4076.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzHeWwvMrIc/T2T98JaI_3I/AAAAAAAAIHU/f7Wk9D2OQUg/s640/IMG_4076.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was in this royal palace that King Zedekiah's royal officer's seal impression was found in a </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">clay seal (bulla).The officer's name and his father's name ( <span style="text-align: left;">Jehucal son of Shelemiah)<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">found on the seal agreewith Jeremiah 38:1 which lists himalong with his father's name as</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">being one of four royal officers who tried to kill Jeremiah by</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">placing him in a cistern.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acj6ws5FUJE/T2T-Elh1fGI/AAAAAAAAIHc/hCSaxy2zNiw/s1600/IMG_4070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-acj6ws5FUJE/T2T-Elh1fGI/AAAAAAAAIHc/hCSaxy2zNiw/s640/IMG_4070.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Looking from the royal palace into the Kidron Valley</span> </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div></div></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-88807151577008085042012-01-25T22:11:00.001-06:002012-01-25T22:13:45.870-06:00Online Museum: 2. Israel outside of the Bible<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://bibleandarchaeology.blogspot.com/2011/01/first-mention-of-israel-outside-of_01.html?spref=bl">Online Museum: 2. Israel outside of the Bible</a>: <br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;">This is taken from </span><a href="http://www.bibleandarchaeology.com/">http://www.bibleandarchaeology.com/</a> where the following description is listed with the image below:</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"This engraved slab of granite is more than ten feet tall and was found in 1896 in Western Thebes, Egypt. It contains the oldest known reference to “Israel” outside of the Bible, and is referred to as the Merneptah Stela.* It was carved c. 1210 BC in hieroglyphs and is currently located in the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. (Note: the word "Israel" is the darkened section in the second line from the bottom.)"</span><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4_fu0yjmTlJr2qVUUU0MYwTUhAivUds5Aq-WCE-1oniWWEBMSDT_jrFyk31E6IIwo0OTZGXkUNhvAyS5woojnP_qPBMMV2kkgKaBD6rglEDYipdiVxnOr8P1rbUUhdGsWJ9O-Bnp7zXO/s640/NewMS3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="425" /></div><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Galyn Wiemers </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Generation Word </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div></div></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-73065318395366412862012-01-24T18:24:00.001-06:002012-01-24T18:31:37.078-06:00Bible and Archaeology - Online Museum: 1. Yahweh inscription, c. 1400 BC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div>Here is the first item from a great online museum called "<a href="http://www.bibleandarchaeology.com/" target="_blank">Bible and Archaeology</a>". You can access this online museum <a href="http://www.bibleandarchaeology.com/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. This online museum confirms the historical background of the Bible by explaining the most significant and impressive archaeological finds.<br />
<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvntJxNn23v2vFJNF2DfuTC5ev9PDe87Sl7551BZvXeGP0CzoItpd6u02rdnlnMTAj90xTbnpBGNpZO9QgSyTZxiEpO7faOvw3VIXK4ogCh0u3QKhjuV343SzgVXEnp7ezXRL7KtI6mIwo/s1600/soleb1.jpg" /></div><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;">"This photo displays a reproduction of the oldest known inscription of the name "YHWH," the personal name of God (cf. Exodus 3). The writing is in hieroglyphs and is dated to c. 1400 BC. The inscription was discovered in the temple built by the Egyptian Pharaoh Amenhotep III in Soleb, which is in modern day Sudan. The text refers to a group of wandering followers of YHWH, possibly the Israelites." (Image and text from </span><a href="http://www.bibleandarchaeology.com/">http://www.bibleandarchaeology.com/</a> )<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"> </span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Galyn Wiemers </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Generation Word </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-10908790489154771872012-01-19T06:47:00.000-06:002012-01-19T06:47:06.900-06:00Second Century Manuscript of Romans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="374" id="ep" width="416"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="movie" value="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed_edition&videoId=bestoftv/2012/01/18/nr-hobby-lobby-religious-artifacts.cnn" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#000000" /><embed src="http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/apps/cvp/3.0/swf/cnn_416x234_embed.swf?context=embed_edition&videoId=bestoftv/2012/01/18/nr-hobby-lobby-religious-artifacts.cnn" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="416" wmode="transparent" height="374"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
http://www.generationword.com</div></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-52499875046399461242012-01-08T00:37:00.001-06:002012-01-08T00:38:23.589-06:00A 21 Day Tour of Israel in 9 1/2 Minutes<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="348" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/34721197?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="620"></iframe><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-1179522239178038662012-01-06T00:38:00.000-06:002012-01-06T00:38:27.443-06:00Itinerary for 21 Days in Israel this June<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/c21lIP-jEm4" width="560"></iframe><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This June we will be taking a three week class at the Jerusalem University College. There are 14 people going so far, and there are a few days/hours if you want to join us. Here is a video detailing the itinerary on a map of Israel.<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-86135042870627043232012-01-02T20:38:00.011-06:002012-01-02T20:58:51.414-06:00My Eschatological History<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">As a infant I was baptized Presbyterian. Their eschatology would have been amillennial, unless it held to a stricter Reformed concept, in which case they might have been post-millennial. My Grandfather and father had long been members an EUB (Evangelical United Brethren) church that was built by my Great Grandfather in 1900. It was an Evangelical church until it united in 1946 with the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. The eschatology in this church would have been premillennial. In 1968 (four years after the picture below was taken of me standing on the stairs of this church) the EUB joined with the Methodist to form a denomination known as United Methodist. At that point, as I now can recall, the United Methodist appeared to be uninterested in eschatology. From a few comments I remember from Methodist in the '60's and the '70's it seems to me that they really didn't believe Jesus was physically coming back and every verse in the Bible was spiritualized. This created an amillennial position that referred all the promises into the sweet-by-and-by.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vpk_ckxbvig/TwJId9-kKhI/AAAAAAAAGTM/N3TDI4ywZRE/s1600/sonius-church-3-images.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="410" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vpk_ckxbvig/TwJId9-kKhI/AAAAAAAAGTM/N3TDI4ywZRE/s640/sonius-church-3-images.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The church my Great-Grandfather built in 1900. I am the four year old standing on the steps in 1964. <br />
My father still attends this church outside Spencer, Iowa.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A Methodist neighbor told me the Second-coming of Christ occurred when we died. I remember thinking that it wasn't much of a Second-coming because: 1) My death is not Jesus' Coming back to earth, and, 2) If this was the case then the "second coming" was followed by a "third coming", and a "fourth coming" and by the time I died it would be like the "ga-zillion-billionth-coming". In these early years I didn't have too much confidence in what people said about God. They all seemed kind of uncommitted. Yet, I did realize they didn't like bad language and it really bothered God if you were loud or talked in church. So, I obliged them and God. I didn't swear nor would I run in the church sanctuary. But, I always felt like no one really had a clue; that is not to say I knew anything, but I just kind of knew that God could do better than what I was hearing and seeing. <br />
<br />
Now, a couple of reasons why I had the impression there was more to this church stuff than what most people let on was this:<br />
<br />
<ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Whenever I came down stairs in the morning my Grandfather (whose family had come over from Germany in the 1890's) would be sitting in his chair by the window with a cup of tea, and everyday...everyday...he would be reading his Bible. When I opened the door from the steep staircase to enter the dining room I knew the first thing I would see was my Grandfather reading from the Bible. He would look up at me and say something like, "Are you up for all day?"...but, why was he reading the Bible? Why didn't he tell me to read it? Where was my Bible?</li>
<li>At night at my home whenever I would see my dad before he went to sleep...he would be reading his Bible. Why? It was just an observation I made, and I saw it all the time. My dad didn't preach in church. Although he was always there and he was one of the best Sunday school teachers I had. He was good because he was a great teacher no matter what he taught, but he was better than the other teachers because he knew the Bible. My Dad and my Grandfather didn't say much about the Bible at home, but they were always reading it at home. Why? </li>
</ol><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TK3fF43k4CE/TwJSzXTPXWI/AAAAAAAAGTw/BPqhFCLt8dY/s1600/grandpa-wiemers-1962+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="433" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TK3fF43k4CE/TwJSzXTPXWI/AAAAAAAAGTw/BPqhFCLt8dY/s640/grandpa-wiemers-1962+001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here the family is on my Grandpa Wiemers' farm in 1962 outside Spencer about half a mile from the church my Great-grandfather had built. I am the furthest to the far left sitting on my Dad's lap. My Grandpa is in the other chair to the right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div>I specifically remember the night when I was a freshman in high school (months after my junior high Methodist Confirmation class and ceremony) that I saw my unread Bible in my room. I recall thinking something like, "Well, it is probably time I read this Bible. I'm not going to be a kid forever." My impression was that men read the Bible and it was time for me to man-up and read it. So, I picked up my Bible and started to read a chapter out of the Old Testament and a chapter out of the New Testament every night. I did not miss. I would not miss. I went for over 450 days without missing a night. I refused to miss a night reading my Bible. Now, I did not understand everything, but I believed it was important for my eyes to look at every word and read every verse. Obviously, after a year and a half I had read through the Bible and had started again.<br />
<br />
When I was 16 I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior when I clearly heard the gospel presentation at a Christian concert. I went forward on the last time through the song, "Just as I Am." My life had changed. Then, during the summer before my senior year in high school I was working on a construction job with a carpenter named Bob Hill. One afternoon the carpenter stopped working and started to teach me from the Bible dispensational-pre-tribulation-pre-millennial eschatology. Of course, I did not know these theological labels, nor did he use them when he taught me. What I do remember is how amazed I was at how the Bible verses snapped into a sequential order, how my heart was filled with joy and how my mind was rushing with excitement.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQIBdS_Lkys/TwJcaTVsumI/AAAAAAAAGUI/8KcIpW5hfdE/s1600/bob-hill-thompson-construction-image-insert-caption.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cQIBdS_Lkys/TwJcaTVsumI/AAAAAAAAGUI/8KcIpW5hfdE/s640/bob-hill-thompson-construction-image-insert-caption.jpg" width="406" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galyn Wiemers writes down measurements for Bob Hill that will be used to install a new ceiling <br />
during a construction project in Thompson, Iowa. (July 1977). It was on one of these days in July<br />
that Bob Hill explained premillennial eschatology to Galyn for the first time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> The summer of 1977 was my introduction to a dispensational approach to scripture. It was the first time I had heard the verses concerning the Kingdom of God be spoken of as being literally fulfilled in a 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on the earth. Of course, being Methodist since 1968 I had never heard the word "rapture" and the concept was unmentioned. All of a sudden the Second Coming of Christ was no longer a fictional fantasy with a spiritualized interpretation applied in a nonsensical fashion that even a child doubted its significance. Now, the whole of history seemed to vacillate between two absolute realities: 1) God was the Creator, 2) Jesus would establish his kingdom. And, me, a seventeen year old, what was I to do with the introduction to this biblical reality? I had been introduced to a fantastic system of eschatology, and I was grateful!<br />
<br />
Now, 33 1/2 years have gone by. I have taught dispensational pre-millennialism with a pre-tribulation rapture to hundreds of people publicly starting in 1985 up until now. I have diagrams and charts in books that I have written and handouts I have made. Never have I doubted Christ's return or a literal kingdom on earth. Nor do I doubt this now. But, there are several stones that I have not turned over. There are other "good" eschatological approaches that cannot simply be dismissed. I find the Preterist model a solid collection of information. I do not like it. I do not agree with it. But, I have to understand it, defend it, present it and let it stand or fall on its own. I am very, very interested in the Pre-wrath model, but I find LaHaye's and others who attack the Pre-wrath model to have very, very disappointing arguments against it. In fact, the very fact LaHaye's most stated arguments revolve around the statements that claim Pre-wrath is a "new" eschatology makes me laugh in disgust because that is exactly what our critics say about our position. Then the critics move to calling Pre-wrath unscriptural or unorthodox, and I sneer again because in a world of orthodox theology where historically all Protestant Churches, and at many times, the Catholic Church, are virtually in total agreement concerning theology, bibliology, christology, soteriology, angelology, pneumatology and more, they are in total disagreement of multiple points concerning eschatology.<br />
<br />
My point: The study of eschatology has to undergo a serious process of testing and proving. This has never happened in church history at, what I consider, a satisfactory level. In this study we will see how eschatological views have been driven more by the political climate of the church and by temporal situations in the world than by scriptural interpretation.<br />
<br />
Indeed, my eschatological views are more inline with LaHaye than anyone else, yet at the same time LaHaye's apparent arrogance to stand on the top of pop eschatology and renounce and ridicule with out presenting the humility to allow a eschatological system rise and fall on its own commitment to truth is disappointing.<br />
<br />
I guess after all these years I believe the Word of God can stand on its own. I have seen it change and impact lives over the last five decades, and now, in a sixth. Surely it can continue to preserve the Truth. Other areas of study that have to be considered and tested are hermeneutical systems which either correctly or erroneously interpret the Scriptures. Eschatologies also have to be proven with historical events, historical study of theology and consistency in the Word of God.<br />
<br />
This is an enormous undertaking. I have a tremendous amount of material to read, information to study, history to be examined, etc. I have learned enough to know that there are some eschatological models that cannot be dismissed with flippant statements and spooky accusations of heresy. Grow up! If it is a heresy prove it! But, I am no longer entertained by eschatological closed mindedness motivated simply because some portion of an eschatological model doesn't agree with your best selling end-times novel series or because you don't have the academic experience to think critically through an issue or the patience to educate yourself concerning the footnotes of an authors volume on eschatology. I am in pursuit of the Truth, and, from my past experience, it means I will have to leave camp to meet the challenge. This is one reason cowards camp together...they can find protection from what scares them. I might be back, but I cannot stay here simply because I fear leaving an eschatological camp. At least at this point, eschatology should not divide us. Very, very....very few have the background, the insight, the resources, but mainly the DESIRE to meet this challenge.<br />
<br />
One of the toughest factors we face in untangling prophecy is that this battle must be fought on the ground of humility since all of eschatological teaching is blanketed in a mist of Jesus' words...<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;"><li>"No one knows about that day or hour" (Mt.24:36)...</li>
<li>"Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (Mt.24:42)...</li>
<li>"The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of." (Mt. 24:50)...</li>
<li>"Watch out that no one deceives you." (Mt. 24:4)...</li>
<li>"So if anyone tells you, 'There he is...do not believe it." (Mt. 24:26) </li>
</ul></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUiqz5ah1YQ/TwJTrtRY3bI/AAAAAAAAGT8/FO28JI1RqqE/s1600/sunday-school-pins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eUiqz5ah1YQ/TwJTrtRY3bI/AAAAAAAAGT8/FO28JI1RqqE/s640/sunday-school-pins.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Sunday School pins from the Presbyterian and United Methodist churches from 1965-1974.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-29879371917203070842012-01-02T17:49:00.001-06:002012-01-02T17:53:39.418-06:00Rethinking Eschatology<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">From no intention of my own, I am stripping my eschatological views down to their theological foundation. The only credit I can give myself is my honest desire to understand what I believe. Teaching from a position that lacks clarity is not a pleasant experience since the heat of embarrassment from my questioning soul being forced to formulate words rises though my body manifesting in clumsy wording and disconnected statements. There is no integrity in words that rise out of a soul that is knowingly ignorant. How can a teacher communicate with words that are spoken without commitment from a soul that questions the very words that the mouth is speaking? Thus, I must retrace my eschatology and carefully reassemble it with the Truth that has been revealed and the facts of history that can be gathered. No eschatological views will be automatically dismissed due to my theological prejudices <i>IF</i> they can make their presentation with scriptural and historical support. None of my preconceived belief's are safe in this personal theological inquisition. Indeed, I have a preferred eschatology, but it is not exempt from this shakedown and it must gird itself for the onslaught of questioning and penetrating skepticism I have already unleashed on it in my own soul and with my own thoughts.<br />
<br />
Now, there will be many evangelicals (Here I flatter myself as I entertain the thought that evangelicals and other Christians are reading this. But, I must continue in this pleasant fantasy to help stimulate myself as a teacher in my quest for truth and the understanding of that truth.) who will rush to judgment to defend their shallow understanding of end-time events with quotes from best-selling pop authors and denominational talking points based on 3-4 verses that they have never questioned. The very fact that I will have to start this study teaching the meaning of words like "eschatology," "chiliasm" and "imminence" while introducing and unraveling concepts such as "pre-millennial," "amillennial," "post-millennial" indicates that perceived "commitment to the truth" held by many Christians could be shaken and destroyed with slightest bit of teaching based on an alternate eschatological view. The very fact that I will only hear rebuttals supported by the writings of men like LaHaye, DeMar, Rosenthal, or Lindsey, but will have to explain to Christian readers who men like Irenaeus, Hippolytyus, Papias, Methodius, and Justin are when I teach means I should not be the only Christian shaking down my eschatology. <br />
<br />
I am shaken after having held to the same views since the 1970's, but I will stabilize very soon and will reemerge to shake, dismantle and question your eschatology. I will teach a solid eschatology that will not need to be ashamed of Scripture, history, early church writings, or the latest end-times pop author. I am not saying I am changing my views. I am saying I am stripping them down and considering everything (...OK, I'm not considering the cults who have formed their eschatological models based on additional "authoritative" writings [think Mormans], personal visions [think Seventh Day Adventist], twisted hermeneutics with mistranslated Scripture [Jehovah's Witness], or faulty eschatological systems proven repeatedly to fail [Harold Camping, etc., etc.]). I am talking about considering Preterist, Historical, Futurist, Pre-Trib, Pre-Wrath, Mid-Trib, Post-Trib, Pre-, Mid-, Post-Millennial and all forms of dispensational concepts. Nothing new there, well,...OK, that needs to be discussed.<br />
<br />
My intention is that this will result in a book entitled something like "Actually Thinking: A Biblical Eschatology." Don't look for it in 2012 since Toni wants to take a break from publishing books. We printed three new books in 2010-2011 and had one reprint of 3,000 copies of a fourth book. Toni's request is reasonable, it is very reasonable. So, our plan is that this will be a year of writing, but not publishing. Of course, you have probably heard that the Mayan calendar ends in 2012, so if this proves to be the end of the world then this will not matter anyway. If we assume these three things - that the Mayan calendar maker simply ran out of space, that I actually follow through with this study and Toni's request is honored - then we will look for an eschatological book with ALL the answers and ALL the problems resolved sometime in 2013.<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-83119822959466073592011-12-25T00:36:00.004-06:002011-12-25T00:40:04.641-06:00Where God's Word Is, There Is God - Taw - Psalm 119:169-176<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Taw (Verses 169-176)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RDt-nyonXGA/TvbC1g3ZW9I/AAAAAAAAGSc/OwN4mQ2HtF0/s1600/22-taw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RDt-nyonXGA/TvbC1g3ZW9I/AAAAAAAAGSc/OwN4mQ2HtF0/s1600/22-taw.jpg" /></a>The letter taw is a symbol for a sign, a branded cross or the mark of a “t”. The letter was originally made like an “X” or a “T” and was used as the signature at the end.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">169 May my cry come before you, Lord;<br />
give me understanding according to your word.<br />
170 May my supplication come before you;<br />
deliver me according to your promise.<br />
171 May my lips overflow with praise,<br />
for you teach me your decrees.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jH3LrN5Vvhw/TvbEFrwjMQI/AAAAAAAAGS0/gEe5wm0qDPk/s1600/22-taw-line-old-from-Ezekiel-time.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jH3LrN5Vvhw/TvbEFrwjMQI/AAAAAAAAGS0/gEe5wm0qDPk/s1600/22-taw-line-old-from-Ezekiel-time.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Letter Taw<br />
in Ezekiel's day </td></tr>
</tbody></table>172 May my tongue sing of your word,<br />
for all your commands are righteous.<br />
173 May your hand be ready to help me,<br />
for I have chosen your precepts.<br />
174 I long for your salvation, Lord,<br />
and your law gives me delight<br />
175 Let me live that I may praise you,<br />
and may your laws sustain me.<br />
176 I have strayed like a lost sheep.<br />
Seek your servant,<br />
for I have not forgotten your commands.</blockquote>This ending with its closing mark (or, “signature”) is a list of ten requests that are all based on the power and integrity of the Word of God. The writer desires to possess this Word. The ten requests begin with words<br />
such as “may,” “give,” “deliver,” “let,” and “seek.” These closing verses include three statements of fact concerning the Word:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">1. You teach me your Word (“decrees”) (171)<br />
2. Your Word (“commands”) is righteous (172)<br />
3. Your Word (“law”) gives me delight (174)</blockquote>These are followed by four statements concerning the writers attitude toward God’s Word and why this man needs that Word for his life in time as he waits for the fullness of salvation:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">1. I have chosen your Word (“precepts”) (173)<br />
2. I long for your salvation (in Phase Three) (174)<br />
3. I have strayed like a lost sheep (in Phase Two) (176)<br />
4. I have not forgotten your Word (“command”) (176)</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PE92ZXiaeos/TvbENppBvwI/AAAAAAAAGTA/ZGmdM5WjQz4/s1600/22-taw-signing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PE92ZXiaeos/TvbENppBvwI/AAAAAAAAGTA/ZGmdM5WjQz4/s1600/22-taw-signing.jpg" /></a></div>As he waits for salvation the Psalmist recalls that it is the Word that gives him delight (174). It is the Word that sustains him (175) in this life where sin is around and within him (176). Though he has strayed like a lost<br />
sheep the Psalmist has hope because God’s Truth remains with him. When we have the Word there is hope because where God’s Word is, there is God.<br />
<br />
This is the end of our 22 days in Psalm 119. The last 22 blogs are from chapter 36 of my book, "The Word: Apparatus for Salvation, Renewal and Maturity."<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-87461388032348243392011-12-24T00:40:00.002-06:002011-12-24T00:40:38.000-06:00Keep Your Sword Sharp with the Word - Sin - Psalm 119:161-168<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Sin (Verses 161-168)</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YsbcoE_LEC8/TvVQZBspWOI/AAAAAAAAGR4/3IEJnZQ-JFE/s1600/21-sin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #386307; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YsbcoE_LEC8/TvVQZBspWOI/AAAAAAAAGR4/3IEJnZQ-JFE/s200/21-sin.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="198" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">The letter sin symbolizes a tooth – not the front teeth, but a tooth that is used for chewing, such as a molar. It also represents the sharpening of swords, arrows – or even the tongue.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.3em; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 20px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 1em;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cLOGMlQWjho/TvVQc_-VaPI/AAAAAAAAGSE/aLgQOJfUqaw/s1600/21-sin-molar-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #386307; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cLOGMlQWjho/TvVQc_-VaPI/AAAAAAAAGSE/aLgQOJfUqaw/s200/21-sin-molar-line.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="138" /></a>161 Rulers persecute me without cause,<br />
but my heart trembles at your word.<br />
162 I rejoice in your promise<br />
like one who finds great spoil.<br />
163 I hate and detest falsehood<br />
but I love your law.<br />
164 Seven times a day I praise you<br />
for your righteous laws.<br />
165 Great peace have those who love your law,<br />
and nothing can make them stumble.<br />
166 I wait for your salvation, Lord,<br />
and I follow your commands.<br />
167 I obey your statutes,<br />
for I love them greatly.<br />
168 I obey your precepts and your statutes,<br />
for all my ways are known to you.</blockquote><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Rulers chew up the psalmist with persecution (161). Yet the psalmist fears the power of the Word of God more (161) and rejoices in its promises of victory (162). Seven times a day the writer sharpens the edge of the sword of the Word of God with praise (164). Those who meditate, or chew, on the Word are empowered to keep their souls in God’s “great peace” (165) and enabled to walk in the light, so that “nothing can make them stumble” (165).</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usgKdtOhDEQ/TvVQiUfXSMI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/q_hxJH1GJs4/s1600/21-sin-grinder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #386307; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="168" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usgKdtOhDEQ/TvVQiUfXSMI/AAAAAAAAGSQ/q_hxJH1GJs4/s320/21-sin-grinder.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-image: initial; border-left-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(102, 102, 102); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Following false ways or giving up in midst of persecution because of fear are always an option, but instead, the psalmist “trembles” at God’s word – not because of temptation or persecution (161). This fear of God’s Word causes him to obey all God’s precepts and statues, because, as he says, “all my ways are known to you” (168). He knows there can be no hiding from God.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Galyn Wiemers</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">Generation Word</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #191919; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;" /><a href="http://www.generationword.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #386307; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-decoration: none;">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-43716302270769844072011-12-23T03:58:00.000-06:002011-12-23T03:58:19.299-06:00Our First Thought? The Word! - Resh - Psalm 119:153-160<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Resh (Verses 153-160)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1XYwuuJKzU/TvQCkziB7WI/AAAAAAAAGRU/n94iO3gCBQQ/s1600/20-resh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1XYwuuJKzU/TvQCkziB7WI/AAAAAAAAGRU/n94iO3gCBQQ/s200/20-resh.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The letter resh was made to resemble the front of a man’s head, and represents something that comes first, something that is the leader, or the first thing on one’s mind.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xGOOyVLL12E/TvQDMD6Ly8I/AAAAAAAAGRg/B4O43D2v3lA/s1600/20-resh-head-line2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xGOOyVLL12E/TvQDMD6Ly8I/AAAAAAAAGRg/B4O43D2v3lA/s1600/20-resh-head-line2.jpg" /></a>153 Look on my suffering and deliver me,<br />
for I have not forgotten your law.<br />
154 Defend my cause and redeem me;<br />
preserve my life according to your promise.<br />
155 Salvation is far from the wicked,<br />
for they do not seek out your decrees.<br />
156 Your compassion, Lord, is great;<br />
preserve my life according to your laws.<br />
157 Many are the foes who persecute me,<br />
but I have not turned from your statutes.<br />
158 I look on the faithless with loathing,<br />
for they do not obey your word.<br />
159 See how I love your precepts;<br />
preserve my life, Lord, in accordance with your love.<br />
160 All your words are true;<br />
all your righteous laws are eternal.</blockquote>What separates the righteous from the wicked are the things they think about (155, 157, 158). The first thing on the psalmist’s mind is the Word of God, which has been his guide and enables him to confidently wait for God’s deliverance (153), defense (154) and preservation (154, 156). The psalmist is walking in the compassion (156) and love (159) of God, because he has not forgotten God’s law (153), nor has he wavered from God’s statutes (157).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ica8Y9DckSQ/TvQDTVs6VFI/AAAAAAAAGRs/P530VV5BxII/s1600/20-resh-leader-visionary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ica8Y9DckSQ/TvQDTVs6VFI/AAAAAAAAGRs/P530VV5BxII/s1600/20-resh-leader-visionary.jpg" /></a><br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-72547128030791811842011-12-22T00:12:00.000-06:002011-12-22T00:12:45.722-06:00The Word is Established Forever - Qoph - Psalm 119:145-152<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Qoph (Verses 145-152)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYAvtMyYkKg/TvLBY8Th0FI/AAAAAAAAGQw/UBxl9PPoE3M/s1600/19-qoph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EYAvtMyYkKg/TvLBY8Th0FI/AAAAAAAAGQw/UBxl9PPoE3M/s200/19-qoph.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>The letter qoph is a symbol of an axe or the back of the head and refers to “coming around”, as in a circle of space (such as the motion created by the swing of an axe) or “a space of time”. It can also refer to the back of one’s mind.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyRhOH2HqvA/TvLBgN5m0iI/AAAAAAAAGQ8/3VHAWNtZ4XA/s1600/19-qoph-axe-line-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XyRhOH2HqvA/TvLBgN5m0iI/AAAAAAAAGQ8/3VHAWNtZ4XA/s200/19-qoph-axe-line-2.jpg" width="101" /></a>145 I call with all my heart; answer me, Lord,<br />
and I will obey your decrees.<br />
146 I call out to you; save me<br />
and I will keep your statutes.<br />
147 I rise before dawn and cry for help;<br />
I have put my hope in your word.<br />
148 My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,<br />
that I may meditate on your promises.<br />
149 Hear my voice in accordance with your love;<br />
preserve my life, Lord, according to your laws.<br />
150 Those who devise wicked schemes are near,<br />
but they are far from your law.<br />
151 Yet you are near, Lord,<br />
and all your commands are true.<br />
152 Long ago I learned from your statutes<br />
that you established them to last forever.</blockquote>The psalmist compares the Word of God to the full circle of time represented by the Hebrew letter qoph in verse 152 when he says, “Long ago I learned from your statues, that you established them to last forever.” Since the psalmist had “learned…long ago” that the Word of God was eternal, he was able to develop a lifestyle that included:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">1. Calling on God with all his heart (145)<br />
2. Rising before dawn to cry for help (147)<br />
3. Meditating on the Word throughout the night (148)</blockquote><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6gV3BFcJD8/TvLBm7KrS8I/AAAAAAAAGRI/e3VA1Tlphq4/s1600/19-qoph-milky-way.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V6gV3BFcJD8/TvLBm7KrS8I/AAAAAAAAGRI/e3VA1Tlphq4/s400/19-qoph-milky-way.jpg" width="400" /></a>While the psalmist spends his life committed to the Word of God, there are others near him who are far from it. These people spend their time devising evil schemes and laws based on worldly philosophies and human opinion (150). However, in the long run, when life and history have come full circle, the Word of God will prove true (152).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-68827991249914240332011-12-21T00:05:00.000-06:002011-12-21T00:05:09.760-06:00In the End the Word Will Prevail - Tsadhe - Psalm 119:137-144<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Tsadhe (Verses 137-144)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7kbgN9HL0y8/TvFq4YnFv0I/AAAAAAAAGQQ/_wq9dWtu7gc/s1600/18-tsadhe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7kbgN9HL0y8/TvFq4YnFv0I/AAAAAAAAGQQ/_wq9dWtu7gc/s200/18-tsadhe.jpg" width="148" /></a></div>Tsadhe is a symbol of a reaping hook, a sickle, or a fish hook, and it indicates that the harvest is coming.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HINwJeGEM8E/TvFq8-lAChI/AAAAAAAAGQY/S7uQRFr3GXk/s1600/18-tsadhe-sickle-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HINwJeGEM8E/TvFq8-lAChI/AAAAAAAAGQY/S7uQRFr3GXk/s200/18-tsadhe-sickle-line.jpg" width="126" /></a>137 You are righteous, Lord,<br />
and your laws are right.<br />
138 The statutes you have laid down are righteous;<br />
they are fully trustworthy.<br />
139 My zeal wears me out,<br />
for my enemies ignore your words.<br />
140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested,<br />
and your servant loves them.<br />
141 Though I am lowly and despised,<br />
I do not forget your precepts.<br />
142 Your righteousness is everlasting<br />
and your law is true.<br />
143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,<br />
but your commands give me delight.<br />
144 Your statutes are always righteous;<br />
give me understanding that I may live.</blockquote>Indeed the harvest, or final judgment, is coming. In the end, it will be the Word that still stands. The psalmist says the Word of God is:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">1. Right (137)<br />
2. Righteous (138)<br />
3. Fully trustworthy (138)<br />
4. Thoroughly tested (140)<br />
5. Everlasting (142)<br />
6. True (142)<br />
7. Always righteous (144)</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_TKcB-PMqM/TvFrSZ0rlgI/AAAAAAAAGQg/Lm4j-osqhDo/s1600/18-tsadhe-grain-field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B_TKcB-PMqM/TvFrSZ0rlgI/AAAAAAAAGQg/Lm4j-osqhDo/s320/18-tsadhe-grain-field.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here and now, the “enemies ignore” God’s Word (138), and the psalmist is “lowly and despised” (141). Even though “trouble and distress have come upon” him (143), the psalmist loves and is zealous for God’s Word (140), which gives him great delight (143). In the end, Truth will prevail, and so he asks for even more wisdom and strength (144).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-72671921071300625312011-12-20T00:01:00.000-06:002011-12-20T00:01:37.065-06:00The Spoken Word is the Understood Word - Pe - Psalm 119:129-136<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Pe (Verses 129-136)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7qudbKLJ9ks/TvAcYjLwqAI/AAAAAAAAGPw/wdlZtZVQD8A/s1600/17-pe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7qudbKLJ9ks/TvAcYjLwqAI/AAAAAAAAGPw/wdlZtZVQD8A/s1600/17-pe.jpg" /></a>The letter pe is a symbol of a mouth with a tongue and refers to speech of man or the mouth of God speaking forth his Word in judgment. Since the Pe (speech, word) follows the Ayin (eye, understanding) in the alphabet the order of these two letters indicates it is necessary to understand the Word of God before you start to express the Word of God. Pe means the man is now expressing with his mouth what he understands.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UcNuq8_CtJE/TvAcaJPidxI/AAAAAAAAGP4/zw5FoUgWPTM/s1600/17-pe-mouth-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UcNuq8_CtJE/TvAcaJPidxI/AAAAAAAAGP4/zw5FoUgWPTM/s200/17-pe-mouth-line.jpg" width="200" /></a>129 Your statutes are wonderful;<br />
therefore I obey them.<br />
130 The unfolding of your words gives light;<br />
it gives understanding to the simple.<br />
131 I open my mouth and pant,<br />
longing for your commands.<br />
132 Turn to me and have mercy on me,<br />
as you always do to those who love your name.<br />
133 Direct my footsteps according to your word;<br />
let no sin rule over me.<br />
134 Redeem me from human oppression,<br />
that I may obey your precepts.<br />
135 Make your face shine on your servant<br />
and teach me your decrees.<br />
136 Streams of tears flow from my eyes,<br />
for your law is not obeyed.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MAK4uBIO0BI/TvAeKfPFJ8I/AAAAAAAAGQE/9BW5vVvrYZM/s1600/17-pe-face.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MAK4uBIO0BI/TvAeKfPFJ8I/AAAAAAAAGQE/9BW5vVvrYZM/s320/17-pe-face.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Understanding leads to obedience since sanctification comes from knowing the Truth (129). What the eye can see (or, the mind understand), the mouth can manifest (or, the person can follow) (130-131). The Psalmist recognizes that the understanding of God’s Word enables him to overcome personal sin (133). God’s presence brings teaching and understanding (135) that will help overcome the sorrow of failing to obey God’s Word (136).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-57786431295498526222011-12-19T00:40:00.001-06:002011-12-19T06:19:14.079-06:00Obedience to Word Requires Understanding of Word - Ayin - Psalm 119:121-128<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Ayin (Verses 121-128)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tOGQE7XtG_c/Tu7bf_2awWI/AAAAAAAAGPM/GJxjbZR1EFo/s1600/16-ayin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tOGQE7XtG_c/Tu7bf_2awWI/AAAAAAAAGPM/GJxjbZR1EFo/s200/16-ayin.jpg" width="116" /></a></div>The letter ayin was made to resemble a pair of eyes or a fountain. The reference is to a means of expression, such as how the eyes are a fountain of the body that express sorrow or pain. The eyes that see represent understanding, which is necessary for obedience. The eyes anticipate obedience.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ETXJZIn5n2k/Tu7bm7ZvfjI/AAAAAAAAGPU/QB3iiEOf8xw/s1600/16-ayin-line-eyes-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ETXJZIn5n2k/Tu7bm7ZvfjI/AAAAAAAAGPU/QB3iiEOf8xw/s200/16-ayin-line-eyes-2.jpg" width="200" /></a>121 I have done what is righteous and just;<br />
do not leave me to my oppressors.<br />
122 Ensure your servant’s well-being;<br />
do not let the arrogant oppress me.<br />
123 My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,<br />
looking for your righteous promise.<br />
124 Deal with your servant according to your love<br />
and teach me your decrees.<br />
125 I am your servant; give me discernment<br />
that I may understand your statutes.<br />
126 It is time for you to act, Lord;<br />
your law is being broken.<br />
127 Because I love your commands<br />
more than gold, more than pure gold,<br />
128 and because I consider all your precepts right,<br />
I hate every wrong path.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>In this strophe, the psalmist is praying for discernment so he can understand the Word (125), and he asks for a revelation of the Truth, so that he will be able to live in obedience to it. In fact, he makes a point of telling God, it is “time for you to act” (126), because he realizes that it is due to his lack of understanding that he breaks the law of God. The psalmist waits for this teaching, and continues to ask for even<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aW9VwHzEuOU/Tu7cIUjpDLI/AAAAAAAAGPk/sb_REqVhT5g/s1600/16-ayin-eye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aW9VwHzEuOU/Tu7cIUjpDLI/AAAAAAAAGPk/sb_REqVhT5g/s320/16-ayin-eye.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>more understanding and discernment in order to improve his level of obedience. Since the psalmist has lived in obedience to the Word of God to the best of his ability (121), he confidently anticipates God’s help in this regard.<br />
<br />
Deliverance is based on obedience, and obedience requires teaching and understanding. The psalmist knows that his inability to see or understanding the Word of God is causing him to be oppressed.<br />
<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-90612717334116520732011-12-18T01:43:00.000-06:002011-12-18T01:43:57.008-06:00Leverage from the Word - Samekh - Psalm 119:113-120<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<br />
Samekh (Verses 113-120)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kFsunA8k7FY/Tuq6T1RQbBI/AAAAAAAAGOw/luVo5zWgxwA/s1600/15-samekh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kFsunA8k7FY/Tuq6T1RQbBI/AAAAAAAAGOw/luVo5zWgxwA/s200/15-samekh.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><br />
The letter samekh is a prop, support, fulcrum or lever, and it has a meaning of leaning upon something or supporting yourself with something. Leverage and support give stability. The closed circle also represents a shield used for protection. And, it is a visual image of the eternal spiraling of God’s Truth and ever-increasing glory.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mR8rpVmEXPg/Tuq6XCFCQ4I/AAAAAAAAGO4/rR-vHwWk68U/s1600/15-samekh-lever-line-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mR8rpVmEXPg/Tuq6XCFCQ4I/AAAAAAAAGO4/rR-vHwWk68U/s320/15-samekh-lever-line-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></blockquote><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">113 I hate double-minded people,<br />
but I love your law.<br />
114 You are my refuge and my shield;<br />
I have put my hope in your word.<br />
115 Away from me, you evildoers,<br />
that I may keep the commands of my God!<br />
116 Sustain me, my God, according to your promise, and I will live;<br />
do not let my hopes be dashed.<br />
117 Uphold me, and I will be delivered;<br />
I will always have regard for your decrees.<br />
118 You reject all who stray from your decrees,<br />
for their delusions come to nothing.<br />
119 All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;<br />
therefore I love your statutes.<br />
120 My flesh trembles in fear of you;<br />
I stand in awe of your laws.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGO73ZDJ5Vw/Tuq6mgbfsKI/AAAAAAAAGPA/s-IAMFMTJ10/s1600/15-samekh-crane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zGO73ZDJ5Vw/Tuq6mgbfsKI/AAAAAAAAGPA/s-IAMFMTJ10/s320/15-samekh-crane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Trusting in a false worldview, like leaning on a splintered staff, will cause chaos and end in disaster. And this is exactly what happens to the double-minded man (113). Only those who are committed to God’s Truth will experience God as their refuge and shield (114), and God is well able to shelter and shield those who hope in his Word. The psalmist wants nothing to do with double-minded evildoers (115) because their ways will neutralize the leverage and support (116, 117) that God’s promises and decrees provide on this earth. The double-minded philosophies of man provide no true support or assistance, but instead splinter and collapse like weak levers, which should be rejected and discarded (118-119). It is an awesome thing to understand the looming danger of worthless worldviews when compared to the awesome potential of God’s word in our temporal world (120).<br />
<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-44882357450228797832011-12-17T00:04:00.000-06:002011-12-17T00:04:23.489-06:00Production and Rewards of the Word - Nun - Psalm 119:105-112<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Nun (Verses 105-112)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1XJxbbRkaUo/TuqyrScr9gI/AAAAAAAAGOI/fBc1-wByuww/s1600/14-nun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1XJxbbRkaUo/TuqyrScr9gI/AAAAAAAAGOI/fBc1-wByuww/s200/14-nun.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
The letter nun comes from the image of a fish, tadpole or snake, and means “to propagate, to increase”, “offspring”, and “prosperity”. A fish represents life and activity. It also includes the idea of faithfulness and rewards for faithfulness.<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BDKgcSqebyQ/TuqyvgIPhaI/AAAAAAAAGOQ/bM_pTIfLmDI/s1600/14-nun-fish-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BDKgcSqebyQ/TuqyvgIPhaI/AAAAAAAAGOQ/bM_pTIfLmDI/s200/14-nun-fish-line.jpg" width="178" /></a>105 Your word is a lamp for my feet,<br />
a light on my path.<br />
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,<br />
that I will follow your righteous laws.<br />
107 I have suffered much;<br />
preserve my life, Lord, according to your word.<br />
108 Accept, Lord, the willing praise of my mouth,<br />
and teach me your laws.<br />
109 Though I constantly take my life in my hands,<br />
I will not forget your law.<br />
110 The wicked have set a snare for me,<br />
but I have not strayed from your precepts.<br />
111 Your statutes are my heritage forever;<br />
they are the joy of my heart.<br />
112 My heart is set on keeping your decrees<br />
to the very end.</blockquote><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcIddZdrEko/TuqzEVguhfI/AAAAAAAAGOY/cDbfSoeD_a4/s1600/14-nun-victory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pcIddZdrEko/TuqzEVguhfI/AAAAAAAAGOY/cDbfSoeD_a4/s320/14-nun-victory.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>The psalmist recognizes that in order to preserve his life in a world of suffering and snares (107, 110), he must be committed (106) to walking in the light of the Word of God (105). To this end, he has taken and confirmed a vow to follow God’s laws (106). Not only will faithfulness to the Word protect him during his time on earth, but faithfulness to the end (112) will ensure him eternal rewards (“heritage forever” – 111).<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-6375554316654092222011-12-16T00:04:00.000-06:002011-12-16T00:04:54.515-06:00The Word is like a Spring of Water - Mem - Psalm 119:97-104<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Mem (Verses 97-104)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1J2NO0n_orU/Tuqsjif1ueI/AAAAAAAAGNs/j2Dy1ZaEj0w/s1600/13-mem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1J2NO0n_orU/Tuqsjif1ueI/AAAAAAAAGNs/j2Dy1ZaEj0w/s200/13-mem.jpg" width="161" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></a></div>The letter mem symbolizes waves of water, and refers to a large body of water such as a sea or ocean. The idea of water rising out of a spring to form a body of water is symbolic of wisdom rising out of the Word of God to fill a man’s soul and words with wisdom, as in Proverbs 18:4: “The words a man speaks are deep waters, A flowing stream, a fountain<br />
of wisdom.”<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRyJ5IcJHRg/Tuqsku0u-tI/AAAAAAAAGN8/Oxx4CN-GM8c/s1600/13-mem-waves-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRyJ5IcJHRg/Tuqsku0u-tI/AAAAAAAAGN8/Oxx4CN-GM8c/s200/13-mem-waves-line.jpg" width="200" /></a>97 Oh, how I love your law!<br />
I meditate on it all day long.<br />
98 Your commands are always with me<br />
and make me wiser than my enemies.<br />
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,<br />
for I meditate on your statutes.<br />
100 I have more understanding than the elders,<br />
for I obey your precepts.<br />
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path<br />
so that I might obey your word.<br />
102 I have not departed from your laws,<br />
for you yourself have taught me.<br />
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,<br />
sweeter than honey to my mouth!<br />
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;<br />
therefore I hate every wrong path.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUv4ZbMyYJQ/TuqskSePH1I/AAAAAAAAGN0/DlpCPR71i-A/s1600/13-mem-water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUv4ZbMyYJQ/TuqskSePH1I/AAAAAAAAGN0/DlpCPR71i-A/s320/13-mem-water.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The source of wisdom, insight and understanding is the Word of God (97-100). It is a spring of water that fills the sea of the psalmist’s soul. When he meditates on the law, God’s commands are always with him (97-98), and the wisdom which springs from the Word fills his soul to make him wiser than his enemies (98), give him more insight than his teachers (99), and provide him with more understanding than the elders (110). The psalmist does not mean he is too arrogant to learn from others; nor is he implying that he is wiser – with more insight and understanding – in his own self or by his own ability. He is simply making a humble acknowledgement that the source of eternal wisdom is not men (“enemies”), nor even the great teachers and elders of Israel. Instead, his wisdom comes from the Word of God itself. Men are to fill their souls with the Word of God as the rivers fill the sea. The soul filled with the Word of God produces obedience:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">“I obey your precepts” (100)<br />
“I have kept my feet from every evil path” (101)<br />
“I have not departed from your laws” (102)<br />
“I gain understanding from your precepts therefore I hate every wrong path” (104)</blockquote><br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-25470425924694680262011-12-15T00:02:00.000-06:002011-12-15T00:02:07.251-06:00Understanding the Word is the Greatest - Lamedh - Psalm 119:89-96<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Lamedh (Verses 89-96)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6j2LzZ-PRVtZxy3FIrbGpn4XDlvBCub3qVg9czd9P8Hga2hV6Q94-zNx8UzD33JKaYYkLMJCP9RT5zMDh7CkrE_HQfc8vd4CuGw_6mHMiCspokjR6r2T0UavsfSq1h1dKUmVhFz78SU/s1600/12-lamedh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6j2LzZ-PRVtZxy3FIrbGpn4XDlvBCub3qVg9czd9P8Hga2hV6Q94-zNx8UzD33JKaYYkLMJCP9RT5zMDh7CkrE_HQfc8vd4CuGw_6mHMiCspokjR6r2T0UavsfSq1h1dKUmVhFz78SU/s200/12-lamedh.jpg" width="86" /></a>Lamedh is an ox goad that is used to get an ox moving. It can mean learning or teaching. When Jesus said to Paul, “It is hard for you to kick against the goads,” he may have been referring to Paul coming against the Scriptural teaching concerning the Messiah with a traditional Jewish understanding of the Messiah. The word also refers to correction, learning and the fear of God. Lamedh is the tallest and the middle letter of the Hebrew alphabet, so it appears to tower over the other letters as central and most important.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkAofQ6E_44/TumGsYgXJOI/AAAAAAAAGNU/7-d5YN5LnUg/s1600/12-lamedh-oxgoad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zkAofQ6E_44/TumGsYgXJOI/AAAAAAAAGNU/7-d5YN5LnUg/s200/12-lamedh-oxgoad.jpg" width="200" /></a>89 Your word, Lord, is eternal;<br />
it stands firm in the heavens.<br />
90 Your faithfulness continues through all generations;<br />
you established the earth, and it endures.<br />
91 Your laws endure to this day,<br />
for all things serve you.<br />
92 If your law had not been my delight,<br />
I would have perished in my affliction.<br />
93 I will never forget your precepts,<br />
for by them you have preserved my life.<br />
94 Save me, for I am yours;<br />
I have sought out your precepts.<br />
95 The wicked are waiting to destroy me,<br />
but I will ponder your statutes.<br />
96 To all perfection I see a limit,<br />
but your commands are boundless.</blockquote>The tallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet is used to head a set of verses that attest to the established, eternal and enduring Truth of God’s Word (89). Understanding of the Word is essential, since all things are based on it (90-91), and without it, we perish in both time and eternity (92-93). God has revealed himself in the Scriptures, but also in his created universe. Because this general revelation is available in nature, all mankind can seek, study and apply many of God’s eternal principles (90-91), and this understanding is of utmost importance. Throughout the psalmist’s life the precepts of God’s eternal Truth have preserved him<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmff7hjP9-B5oJrAIoi7QOibKi776UzhRERhSWVj9s0DqT3jqTPc7v_wVS1tLyRfTfiEqDpUJgRUjJN9LLLrM85Flgg8kBmv8Q663Fuh4oEknxKCiZqHL-_e_H5IHfABU0rSEsKsOtu0/s1600/12-lamedh-towering-building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmff7hjP9-B5oJrAIoi7QOibKi776UzhRERhSWVj9s0DqT3jqTPc7v_wVS1tLyRfTfiEqDpUJgRUjJN9LLLrM85Flgg8kBmv8Q663Fuh4oEknxKCiZqHL-_e_H5IHfABU0rSEsKsOtu0/s320/12-lamedh-towering-building.jpg" width="320" /></a>(93). The last verse in this section makes a distinction between created things that are limited and the eternal (“boundless”) Truth of God (96).Knowing, understanding, and applying this boundless Truth in a universe with limits, delivers us and preserves our life in time and in eternity when the wicked seek to destroy it (95). This is the greatest Truth.<br />
<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8376267314388872612.post-14727588580023731282011-12-14T06:16:00.000-06:002011-12-14T06:16:12.705-06:00Struggling to Hold the Word - Kaph - Psalm 119:81-88<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
Kaph (Verses 81-88)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkKT68xrJ276z4_iBQcoTaEMN6OJCf226JMA2F7Y4flwfneqv1dgp6mIiDkpRAhE__QjPKB06PlSK-u6tZ64_Fju9DnHMqdY2WYgP8QzhYYtxxr4iQt0lWLl-lccRqhGs6zndyKqhtzo/s1600/11-kaph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmkKT68xrJ276z4_iBQcoTaEMN6OJCf226JMA2F7Y4flwfneqv1dgp6mIiDkpRAhE__QjPKB06PlSK-u6tZ64_Fju9DnHMqdY2WYgP8QzhYYtxxr4iQt0lWLl-lccRqhGs6zndyKqhtzo/s200/11-kaph.jpg" width="152" /></a>The letter kaph shows the palm or hollow of a hand and represents a hand, bowl, plate or anything designed to receive. <br />
By association, it can mean asking, weakness or reaching out to receive.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVbkOmrjk_EvxLlXLHgHcVqL3Eo4g6CvHPsLaVQpfxD197HdYVtie1moTcwGx6_KdclQJMbn9AEJkvU62Tb20T1AzBShqZlmK9Llqgl5VQetVGSc3Xrze0bv5Qu6xImFU7434YDGrYBI/s1600/11-kaph-hands-line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVbkOmrjk_EvxLlXLHgHcVqL3Eo4g6CvHPsLaVQpfxD197HdYVtie1moTcwGx6_KdclQJMbn9AEJkvU62Tb20T1AzBShqZlmK9Llqgl5VQetVGSc3Xrze0bv5Qu6xImFU7434YDGrYBI/s200/11-kaph-hands-line.jpg" width="200" /></a>81 My soul faints with longing for your salvation,<br />
but I have put my hope in your word.<br />
82 My eyes fail, looking for your promise;<br />
I say, “When will you comfort me?”<br />
83 Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,<br />
I do not forget your decrees.<br />
84 How long must your servant wait?<br />
When will you punish my persecutors?<br />
85 The arrogant dig pits to trap me,<br />
contrary to your law.<br />
86 All your commands are trustworthy;<br />
help me, for I am being persecuted without cause.<br />
87 They almost wiped me from the earth,<br />
but I have not forsaken your precepts.<br />
88 In your unfailing love preserve my life,<br />
that I may obey the statutes of your mouth.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2E0gVWBStw/TugwMin0e_I/AAAAAAAAGMo/PoUCKWoISMc/s1600/11-kaph-bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C2E0gVWBStw/TugwMin0e_I/AAAAAAAAGMo/PoUCKWoISMc/s320/11-kaph-bowl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The psalmist is still suffering at the hands of men who have rejected the authority of the Word of God (84). They are arrogant, and persecute the man whose hope is in the Word (85). They use laws and logic contrary to God’s law to prove the godly man and his godly ways are in error, and so conclude that the ways of God are unprofitable and inappropriate for mankind. In the face of this attack, the persecuted man puts his hope in God’s Word, but still finds himself weak, and asks for help from God (81). His soul (mind, emotions, intellect, will) faint and his eyes (physical effort) fail (81-82) as he waits for God’s promises to manifest (82, 84). Just as a wine skin in the smoke (83) holds onto its content in the midst of a blinding odor that stings the eyes, the psalmist sees himself as struggling to hold to his commitment to the Truth in his soul while persevering against the blinding, painful odor of worldly philosophy. He waits with his hands open and his soul reaching out to be filled by God.<br />
<br />
<br />
Galyn Wiemers<br />
Generation Word<br />
<a href="http://www.generationword.com/">http://www.generationword.com</a></div>Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16337847520320908714noreply@blogger.com0