Generation Word - Bible Teaching Ministry   Generation Word - Bible Teaching Ministry
 

Bible Teaching Ministry

Online Study
Bible Teacher

Verse by VerseTeaching  
Genesis  
Exodus  
Leviticus  
Numbers  
Deuteronomy  
Joshua  
Judges  
Ruth  
First Samuel  
Second Samuel  
First Kings  
Second Kings  
Second Chronicles  
Ezra  
Nehemiah  
Job  
Proverbs  
Isaiah  
Jeremiah  
Lamentations  
Ezekiel  
Daniel  
Habakkuk  
Haggai  
Zechariah  
Malachi  
Matthew  
John  
Gospels  
Acts  
Romans  
First Corinthians  
Second Corinthians  
Galatians  
Ephesians  
Philippians  
Colossians  
First Thessalonians  
Second Thessalonians  
First Timothy  
Second Timothy  
Titus  
Philemon  
Hebrews  
James  
First Peter  
Second Peter  
First John  
Second John  
Third John  
Jude  
Revelation  
Topical Teaching:  
Framework Bible School  
Bible School 2004  
Bible School 2012-2014  
30 Questions  
Faith  
Mystery of the Church  
Defending the Faith  
Prayer  
The Nephilim  
Wake Up, Church!  
Basics for Living  
Basic Doctrine  
End Times (Eschatology) Basics  
Eternal Rewards  
Politacal Platform of Lord  
Rebuking Reform Doctrine  
Jerusalem  
Miscellaneous  
   
 

Bible Teaching, Bible Study, Teaching, Verses, Sermons, online, mp3, classesA Bible Teaching Ministry of Galyn Wiemers


Daily Devotions, Evening and Morning Devotional

 

Sunrise on Temple Mount in Jerusalem; Back to Previous Devotion

June 22 - Evening

"Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people
both now and forevermore."

- Psalms 125:1-2

Sunset on the Sea of Galilee; Click to go to next devotion  

Protective Mountains Encircle Jerusalem

   

Psalm 125 is part of the “Songs of Ascent” (Ps. 120-134) sung by Jews approaching the Temple Mount to worship in the Temple courts. This psalm seems to have originated while Israel was in Babylon under the imperial power of Babylonia or after Israel’s return to Jerusalem while Persia held power. The ruling foreign national power of Babylon or Persia is referred to as “the scepter the wicked” in 125:3.

The focus of this psalm is on the steadfastness of Mount Zion which is geographically Mount Moriah, the location of the temple mount and the fallen temple. It appears this psalm was written at a time early in the Jewish return from Babylon during the Persian Empire between 537-516 BC when there was no temple standing. Since, there is not a standing temple the psalmist focuses our attention on the enduring nature of Mount Moriah, called Mount Zion here.

The Hebrew verb “yashab” is translated “endure.” “Yashab” means “abide, continue, dwell, establish and endure.” It is often translated “to be settled” as in Joel 3:20 where the NIV text says, “Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations.” God’s enduring protection of Mount Moriah and the people who worship there is portrayed in the image created by the mountains that encircle it.

God’s presence surrounds his people always and forever just like the mountains around Jerusalem have been established to always surround the temple Mount.

Do realize that even in today’s topography Mount Moriah (the Temple Mount referred to as Mount Zion by the writer of Psalm 125) sets lower than these mounts that surround it:

  • To the east Mount Olives is 215 feet higher
  • To the south the mount of Jabal al Mukaber is 175 feet higher
  • To the west the Western Hill which includes what is today called Mt. Zion is 110 feet higher
  • To the northeast Mount Scopus is 250 feet higher
  • Five miles to the north is the High Place of Gibeon (Nabi Samwil) which is 541 feet higher

The image of Mount Moriah, the temple mount, being established and surrounded by higher mounts to the north, the south, the east and the west is an image of God’s people dwelling eternally surrounded by his protection.

Mountains of Jerusalem

  Christian Quote from Church History
"What we are lacking today in our productive effort in this country is a Christian approach - a Christian background...A merely materialistic, self-centered outlook on our work cannot give us a high morale...Inducements of a material kind can never replace the spiritual urge which can only come from our sense of devotion to a cause which transcends our own personal interests."
- Sir Stafford Cripps (1889-1952), a British Labour politician on May 11, 1947)
Something to Ponder??

Apostolic succession in Ephesus:

Paul placed Timothy in position in Ephesus
(62 AD, 1 Timothy 1:3-7)

John, the apostle, arrived from Jerusalem in 66 AD

Polycarp (70-155) was a disciple of John. He was the bishop in Smyrna, near Ephesus. Polycarp trained and sent Irenaeus (115-202) to Gaul (France) and Irenaeus trained Hippolytus (170-236) who went to Rome to oppose the bishop.

Papias, was a bishop in Hierapolis (by Colosse and near Ephesus). Papias’ book "Sayings of the Lord" has been lost but is heavily quoted by early church writers.

Ignatius was appointed to Antioch

Polycrates, (130-196), was the 8th bishop of Ephesus. Polycrates knew Polycarp and Irenaeus. Wrote to the Roman bishop Victor concerning Easter and was cut off from the Roman Church until Irenaeus interceded.

 
Hebrew and Greek Word Study   Facts and Information

Epikaleo (Gr) – Call upon (Eng) – the Greek word epikaleo is a combination of two words:
epi (upon) and kaleo (call). Acts 9:14 and Acts 22:16 refer to those who epikaleo the Lord.
Also, 1 Corinthians 1:2 and Romans 10:12-13.

  The Jehoash Inscription (JI) is a 15 line Hebrew inscription that is said to have been discovered in the Muslim cemetery near the eastern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The inscription is a royal declaration (see translation below) describing repairs to the Temple by King Jehoash (or, King Joash of
2 Kings 11-12 who reigned 835-796 BC). The ancient Hebrew text is in agreement with 2 Kings 12:1-16 and
2 Chronicles 24:4-14
The patina (a thin layer produced by age that forms on the surface of stone) is believed to be from antiquity. According to an article by Hershel Shanks in this month's Biblical Archaeology Review (July/August 2014) the patina of the Jehoash Inscription stone contains gold globules between 1-2 micrometers in diameter. Gold in this form is not available commercially. Ernst Pernicka, a gold specialist from the Eberhard Karls University of Tubingen and professor of archaeometry and archaeometallurgy, explained that gold melts at 1,947 degrees Fahrenheit and boils at 5,378 degrees Fahrenheit. When gold melts it forms into larger droplets. After considering the micrometer gold droplets in the ancient patina Pernicka agrees with the international team of scholars from Israel, Germany and the United States that had previously said, “Our analyses strongly support the authenticity of the Jehoash tablet and its inscription.” This Jehoash Tablet would have been displayed on or near the Temple beginning around 820 BC. This royal inscription would have fallen to the ground and been engulfed in the same intense heat of the flames that consumed the Temple and turned the temple's decorative gold molten in 586 BC when Nebuchadnezzar destroyed Jerusalem.
(Articles HERE and HERE)
(Translation HERE)
(Images HERE and HERE)
     
Confession to Action   Facts and Information
I will   "He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king
for his friend."

- Proverbs 22:11
     
Read the Bible in a Year; Bible Reading Program
Read one chapter each day to read through the narrative portion (or, the story line) of the whole Bible Genesis-Acts in one year. Read the General Text of the Bible Read the Complete Text of the Bible in a Year
(morning only) Jeremiah 10 Proverbs 31
 
Prayer for Today
Personal Prayer Church Prayer Item National Prayer Concerns World Prayer Concerns

Medicare

Be a light in the darkness

ACLU

India
 
Photo of Jerusalem; Pictures of Israel Bible Map and Diagram
Solomon's Quarries

Details of Ezra chapter 2 on a map.

Details of Ezra chapter 2 on a map.

Solomon's Quarries under the Old City of Jerusalem. Many of the ashlar stones for the Temple and other buildings throughout Jerusalem's history have been taken from here. (More details here and here.)  
Watch a video of Toni and Galyn's exploration of Solomon's Quarries below: (click photo for larger image)
   
Details and Explanation of Sets & Reps Devotional System Here Make a donation to support Generation Word Bible Teaching Ministry
   
 
 
 
Reps & Sets is a daily Bible devotional for Christians from Generation Word Bible Teaching used each morning and evening.
 

 
 
 
  © 2005 Generation Word  
Generation Word - Bible Teaching Ministry   Generation Word - Bible Teaching Ministry