Day 96, 5 April 2024



1) Judges 19, Judges 20, Judges 21



JUDGES 19



A Levite and His Concubine



1 (Jdg 18:1; 17:8) In those days, when there was no king in Israel,

there was a certain Levite living as resident foreigner in a remote

part of the hill country of Ephraim. He took a concubine for himself

from Bethlehem in Judah.

2 Yet his concubine became angry with him and went away from him

to her father's house at Bethlehem in Judah. She was there for four months.

3 (Ge 34:3; 50:21) Her husband got up and went after her in order to speak

tenderly to her and bring her back. His servant and two donkeys were with

him. When he came to her father's house, the girl's father saw him

and was happy to meet with him.

4 His father-in-law, the girl's father, prevailed upon him to stay with him

for three days. So they ate and drank and spent the night there.

5 (Ge 18:5; Jdg 19:8) On the fourth day they woke up early in the morning.

He got ready to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law,

"Strengthen yourself with a little food, and then you can go."

6 (Jdg 16:25; 19:9) So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together.

Then the girl's father said to the man,

"Please spend the night and let your heart be merry."

7 The man got up to go, but his father-in-law urged him until he turned back

and spent the night there.

8 He got up early in the morning on the fifth day to go. The girl's father said,

"Please, strengthen yourself and wait until later in the day."

So the two of them ate.

9 Then the man got up to go: he, his concubine, and his servant.

His father-in-law, the girl's father, said to him, "Look! It is getting dark.

Spend the night! Settle in and spend the night here, let your heart be merry.

You can get up early tomorrow and go home."

10 (Jos 15:8; 15:63) Yet the man did not want to spend the night,

so he got up and left and approached Jebus (that is, Jerusalem).

Two saddled donkeys and his concubine were with him.

11 When they were near Jebus, it was getting very late.

The servant said to his master, "Come, let us turn aside

to this Jebusite city and spend the night in it."

12 His master said to him, "We must not turn aside to a city of foreigners,

who are not children of Israel. We will continue on to Gibeah."

13 He said to his servant, "Come, let us go to one of these places.

We will spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah."

14 They continued and went on. The sun went down

when they were near Gibeah in Benjamin.

15 (Jdg 19:18) So they turned aside there to go and spend the night

in Gibeah. They went in and sat in the city square,

but no one took them in to spend the night.

16 (Jdg 19:1; Ps 104:23) Just then, an old man came in at evening time from

his work in the field. The man was from the hill country of Ephraim

and lived as a resident foreigner in Gibeah,

but the townspeople were Benjamites.

17 He looked up and saw the traveler in the city square.

The old man said, "Where are you going, and where do you come from?"

18 (Jdg 18:31) He said to him, "We are traveling from Bethlehem in Judah

to a remote part of the hill country of Ephraim. I am from there.

I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and now I am going to the house of the Lord.

No one has taken me into his home.

19 Yet there is enough straw and fodder for our donkeys, with bread and wine

for me, your maidservant, and the young man who is with your servant.

We do not lack anything."

20 (Jdg 6:23) The old man said, "Do not worry. I will take care of whatever

you need. Just do not spend the night in the city square."

21 (Ge 18:4; 43:24) So he brought him into his house and gave food

to his donkeys. They washed their feet, ate, and drank.

22 (Ge 19:4-5; Dt 13:13) While they were enjoying themselves, the men

of the city, who were wicked men, surrounded the house and pounded

on the door. They said to the old man, the master of the house,

"Bring out the man who came to your house, so we can have relations with him."

23 (Ge 34:7; Jdg 20:6) The master of the house went out to them and said,

"No, my brothers, do not commit this evil act, not after this man has come

into my house. Do not commit this disgrace.

24 (Ge 19:8; Dt 21:14) Here are my virgin daughter and the man's concubine.

Let me bring them out to you. Ravish them and do to them what you please.

But do not commit this vile act against this man."

25 The men were unwilling to listen to him, so the man seized his concubine

and brought her out to them in the street. They knew her and abused her all

night until morning. As the dawn began to break, they let her go.

26 The woman came back at daybreak and fell down at the door of the man's

house where her master was, lying there until it was light.

27 Her master got up in the morning and opened the doors of the house.

He went out to go on his way, but there was the woman, his concubine,

fallen at the door of the house with her hands on the threshold.

28 (Jdg 20:5) He said to her, "Get up, let us be going," but there was

no answer. So the man put her on a donkey and went home.

29 (1Sa 11:7) When he got home, he took a knife and seized his concubine,

then cut her body into twelve pieces. Then he sent her throughout

all the territory of Israel.

30 (Jdg 20:7; Pr 13:10) Everyone who saw this said, "Nothing like this has

been done or seen since the day the children of Israel came out of the land

of Egypt until today. Consider it, take counsel, and speak up!"



Judges 19

[1] And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel,

that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who

took to him a concubine out of Bethlehemjudah.

[2] And his concubine played the whore against him, and went away from him

unto her father's house to Bethlehemjudah, and was there four whole months.

[3] And her husband arose, and went after her, to speak friendly unto her,

and to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of asses:

and she brought him into her father's house: and when the father of the

damsel saw him, he rejoiced to meet him.

[4] And his father in law, the damsel's father, retained him; and he abode

with him three days: so they did eat and drink, and lodged there.

[5] And it came to pass on the fourth day, when they arose early in the

morning, that he rose up to depart: and the damsel's father said unto his

son in law, Comfort thine heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward go

your way.

[6] And they sat down, and did eat and drink both of them together: for the

damsel's father had said unto the man, Be content, I pray thee, and tarry

all night, and let thine heart be merry.

[7] And when the man rose up to depart, his father in law urged him:

therefore he lodged there again.

[8] And he arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart: and the

damsel's father said, Comfort thine heart, I pray thee. And they tarried

until afternoon, and they did eat both of them.

[9] And when the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his

servant, his father in law, the damsel's father, said unto him, Behold, now

the day draweth toward evening, I pray you tarry all night: behold, the day

groweth to an end, lodge here, that thine heart may be merry; and to morrow

get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home.

[10] But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed,

and came over against Jebus, which is Jerusalem; and there were with him two

asses saddled, his concubine also was with him.

[11] And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant

said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city

of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.

[12] And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the

city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel; we will pass over

to Gibeah.

[13] And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of

these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.

[14] And they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down upon them

when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin.

[15] And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah: and

when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city: for there was no

man that took them into his house to lodging.

[16] And, behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at

even, which was also of mount Ephraim; and he sojourned in Gibeah: but the

men of the place were Benjamites.

[17] And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the

street of the city: and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence

comest thou?

[18] And he said unto him, We are passing from Bethlehemjudah toward the

side of mount Ephraim; from thence am I: and I went to Bethlehemjudah, but I

am now going to the house of the LORD; and there is no man that receiveth me

to house.

[19] Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses; and there is bread

and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man which is

with thy servants: there is no want of any thing.

[20] And the old man said, Peace be with thee; howsoever let all thy wants

lie upon me; only lodge not in the street.

[21] So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses:

and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

[22] Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the

city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the

door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth

the man that came into thine house, that we may know him.

[23] And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, Nay, my

brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come

into mine house, do not this folly.

[24] Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will

bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto

you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing.

[25] But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine,

and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the

night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go.

[26] Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the

door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light.

[27] And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house,

and went out to go his way: and, behold, the woman his concubine was fallen

down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold.

[28] And he said unto her, Up, and let us be going. But none answered. Then

the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his

place.

[29] And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on

his concubine, and divided her, together with her bones, into twelve pieces,

and sent her into all the coasts of Israel.

[30] And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done

nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of

Egypt unto this day: consider of it, take advice, and speak your minds.



JUDGES 20



The Children of Israel Punish the Benjamites



1 (Jdg 11:11; 21:5) All the children of Israel from Dan to Beersheba,

and also from the land of Gilead, went out and gathered together in

an assembly as one man before the Lord at Mizpah.

2 (Jdg 8:10; 20:15) The leaders of all the people from all the tribes

of Israel presented themselves in an assembly of the people of God,

who numbered four hundred thousand infantrymen bearing swords.

3(The Benjamites heard that the children of Israel had gone up to Mizpah.)

The children of Israel said, "Tell how this evil happened!"

4 So the Levite, the husband of the murdered woman, answered,

"My concubine and I came to Gibeah, in Benjamin, to spend the night.

5 (Jdg 19:22; 19:25-26) Then the leaders of Gibeah rose up against me.

At night they surrounded the house where I was staying.

They wanted to kill me; instead they ravished my concubine so that she died.

6 (Jdg 19:29; Jos 7:15) I seized my concubine, cut her into pieces,

and sent her throughout all the territory of Israel,

because they committed an infamous and disgraceful act in Israel.

7 (Jdg 19:30) Now, all of you are children of Israel.

Give your advice and counsel here."

8 All the people arose as one man and said, "Not a man among us will go

to his tent, and no one will turn aside to his house.

9 Now this is what we will do to Gibeah. We will go against it by lot.

10 We will take ten men out of every hundred, from every tribe of Israel,

a hundred from every thousand, and a thousand from every ten thousand,

to bring provisions for the troops. Then when they come to Gibeah

in Benjamin, they may repay them for all the evil

that they committed in Israel."

11 So all the men of Israel gathered at the city, united like one man.

12 (Dt 13:14) The tribes of Israel sent men throughout the whole tribe

of Benjamin, saying, "What is this evil that has been committed among you?

13 (Dt 13:13; 17:12) Now hand over the wicked men in Gibeah,

so that we can kill them and purge the evil from Israel."

Yet the Benjamites were not willing to listen

to their fellow children of Israel.

14 The Benjamites gathered from their cities at Gibeah in order to go

out and wage war against the children of Israel.

15 (Nu 26:41) That day, the Benjamites mustered twenty-six thousand armed men

from the cities and seven hundred specially chosen men from Gibeah.

16 (Jdg 3:15; 1Ch 12:2) Out of all these people there were seven hundred

specially chosen men who were left-handed, all of whom could sling

a stone at a hair and not miss.

17 The men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, gathered four hundred thousand

armed men who drew the sword; all of them were men of war.

18 (Nu 27:21; Jdg 20:23) The children of Israel arose, went up to Bethel,

and asked God, "Who should go up first to wage war against the Benjamites?"

The Lord said, "Judah first."

19T he children of Israel got up in the morning and camped against Gibeah.

20 The men of Israel went out for battle with Benjamin,

and the men of Israel lined up for battle at Gibeah.

21 (Jdg 20:25) Then the Benjamites came out from Gibeah

and struck twenty-two thousand Israelite men down to the ground.

22 The people, the men of Israel, rallied and lined up for battle again

in the place where they had lined up on the first day.

23 (Jdg 20:26-27) Then the children of Israel went up

and wept before the Lord until evening. They asked the Lord,

"Should we advance and fight our brother-tribesmen the Benjamites again?"

The Lord said, "Advance against them."

24 So the children of Israel advanced against the Benjamites for the second day.

25 (Jdg 20:21) And on the second day, the Benjamites went out from Gibeah

to meet them and again struck eighteen thousand men down to the ground,

every one of them armed.

26 (Jdg 20:23; 20:18) Then all the children of Israel, all the people, went up

to Bethel where they wept and sat before the Lord.

They fasted that day until evening and offered burnt offerings and peace

offerings before the Lord.

27 (Jos 18:1; Jdg 20:18) The children of Israel asked the Lord

(because the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,

28 (Dt 18:5; Jos 24:33) and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron,

stood before it then), "Should we go out again to wage war with our

brother-tribesmen the Benjamites, or should we not?"

The Lord said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hands."

29 (Jos 8:4) So Israel set an ambushing force around Gibeah.

30 The children of Israel went up against the Benjamites on the third day

and lined up at Gibeah as before.

31 The Benjamites went out to engage the people and were drawn away

from the city. They began to strike the people down as before. On the

main roads that go up to Bethel and Gibeah and in the field,

they struck down about thirty children of Israel.

32 The Benjamites said, "They are struck down before us like

at the beginning." But the children of Israel said, "Let us retreat

and draw them away from the city toward the main roads."

33 So all the men of Israel rose up out of their place

and assumed their battle positions at Baal Tamar.

Then the men of Israel in ambush charged out of their places,

out of the meadows of Gibeah.

34 (Jos 8:14; Job 21:13) Ten thousand specially chosen men

from all of Israel came against Gibeah. The battle was fierce,

and the Benjamites did not know that disaster was upon them.

35 The Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel, and that day the children

of Israel struck down 25100 Benjamites, every one of them armed.

36 The Benjamites saw that they were defeated.

Now the men of Israel had withdrawn from Benjamin, because they relied

on the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah.

37 (Jos 8:19) So the ambushing force rushed on and attacked Gibeah.

They struck down the whole city with the edge of the sword.

38 The men of Israel had made an agreement with the ambushing force

that when they sent up a large amount of smoke from the city,

39 (Jdg 20:32) the children of Israel would turn around in battle.

When the Benjamites had begun to strike the children of Israel down,

about thirty men, they said, "Surely they are struck down before us like

at the beginning."

40 (Jos 8:20) Yet when the smoke began to rise up from the city in a column,

the Benjamites looked behind them and suddenly noticed the whole city

going up in smoke to the sky.

41 Then the men of Israel turned around, and the men of Benjamin

were horrified because they saw that disaster had come on them.

42 So they fled from the men of Israel toward the direction

of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. Whoever came out

of the cities destroyed them in their midst.

43 They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them without rest,

and trampled them down near Gibeah toward the east.

44 Eighteen thousand men from Benjamin fell; all these were men of valor.

45 (Jos 15:32; Jdg 21:13) The rest turned and fled toward the wilderness

to Rimmon Rock, and they cut down five thousand men on the main roads.

They pursued them relentlessly until they reached Gidom

and killed two thousand of them.

46 So the Benjamites who fell that day numbered 25000, every one

of them armed, valorous men.

47 However, six hundred men turned and fled toward the wilderness,

to Rimmon Rock. They dwelled at Rimmon Rock for four months.

48 Yet the men of Israel turned back against the Benjamites

and struck them with the edge of the sword-city inhabitants, animals,

and everything that could be found. Indeed, they set on fire every city

that could be found.



Judges 20

[1] Then all the children of Israel went out, and the congregation was

gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba, with the land of

Gilead, unto the LORD in Mizpeh.

[2] And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel,

presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God, four hundred

thousand footmen that drew sword.

[3] (Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were

gone up to Mizpeh.) Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this

wickedness?

[4] And the Levite, the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and

said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to

lodge.

[5] And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about

upon me by night, and thought to have slain me: and my concubine have they

forced, that she is dead.

[6] And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout

all the country of the inheritance of Israel: for they have committed

lewdness and folly in Israel.

[7] Behold, ye are all children of Israel; give here your advice and

counsel.

[8] And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to

his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house.

[9] But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah; we will go

up by lot against it;

[10] And we will take ten men of an hundred throughout all the tribes of

Israel, and an hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to

fetch victual for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of

Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel.

[11] So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit together

as one man.

[12] And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin,

saying, What wickedness is this that is done among you?

[13] Now therefore deliver us the men, the children of Belial, which are in

Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel. But

the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren

the children of Israel:

[14] But the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together out of the

cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel.

[15] And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the

cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants

of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

[16] Among all this people there were seven hundred chosen men lefthanded;

every one could sling stones at an hair breadth, and not miss.

[17] And the men of Israel, beside Benjamin, were numbered four hundred

thousand men that drew sword: all these were men of war.

[18] And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God, and

asked counsel of God, and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle

against the children of Benjamin? And the LORD said, Judah shall go up

first.

[19] And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against

Gibeah.

[20] And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin; and the men

of Israel put themselves in array to fight against them at Gibeah.

[21] And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed

down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.

[22] And the people the men of Israel encouraged themselves, and set their

battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the

first day.

[23] (And the children of Israel went up and wept before the LORD until

even, and asked counsel of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up again to battle

against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the LORD said, Go up

against him.)

[24] And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin

the second day.

[25] And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and

destroyed down to the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen

thousand men; all these drew the sword.

[26] Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came

unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the LORD, and fasted

that day until even, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before

the LORD.

[27] And the children of Israel inquired of the LORD, (for the ark of the

covenant of God was there in those days,

[28] And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in

those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children

of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to

morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

[29] And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah.

[30] And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on

the third day, and put themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other

times.

[31] And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were

drawn away from the city; and they began to smite of the people, and kill,

as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of

God, and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel.

[32] And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as

at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them

from the city unto the highways.

[33] And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put

themselves in array at Baal-tamar: and the liers in wait of Israel came

forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah.

[34] And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all

Israel, and the battle was sore: but they knew not that evil was near them.

[35] And the LORD smote Benjamin before Israel: and the children of Israel

destroyed of the Benjamites that day twenty and five thousand and an hundred

men: all these drew the sword.

[36] So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten: for the men of

Israel gave place to the Benjamites, because they trusted unto the liers in

wait which they had set beside Gibeah.

[37] And the liers in wait hasted, and rushed upon Gibeah; and the liers in

wait drew themselves along, and smote all the city with the edge of the

sword.

[38] Now there was an appointed sign between the men of Israel and the liers

in wait, that they should make a great flame with smoke rise up out of the

city.

[39] And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to

smite and kill of the men of Israel about thirty persons: for they said,

Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle.

[40] But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of

smoke, the Benjamites looked behind them, and, behold, the flame of the city

ascended up to heaven.

[41] And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were

amazed: for they saw that evil was come upon them.

[42] Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way

of the wilderness; but the battle overtook them; and them which came out of

the cities they destroyed in the midst of them.

[43] Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and

trode them down with ease over against Gibeah toward the sunrising.

[44] And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men; all these were men of

valour.

[45] And they turned and fled toward the wilderness unto the rock of Rimmon:

and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men; and pursued hard

after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them.

[46] So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five

thousand men that drew the sword; all these were men of valour.

[47] But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock

Rimmon, and abode in the rock Rimmon four months.

[48] And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and

smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the

beast, and all that came to hand: also they set on fire all the cities that

they came to.



JUDGES 21



Wives for the Benjamites



1 (Jdg 20:1; 21:18) In Mizpah the men of Israel had taken an oath:

"No one among us will give his daughter to a Benjamite as his wife."

2 (Jdg 20:26; 20:18) So the people came to Bethel and sat there before

God until evening. They raised their voices and wept, sobbing loudly.

3 They said, "Why, Lord God of Israel, has this happened in Israel,

that today a tribe is missing from Israel?"

4 (2Sa 24:25) In the morning the people got up early and built an altar

there. They offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

5 (Jdg 5:23) The children of Israel said, "Who from all the tribes of Israel

did not go up with the assembly to the Lord?" For they vowed a solemn

oath regarding whoever did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah stating,

"He must be killed."

6 (Jdg 21:15) The children of Israel lamented for Benjamin their brother,

and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel today.

7 (Jdg 21:1) What can we do to find wives for those who are left?

For we swore by the Lord not to give them our daughters as wives."

8 (1Sa 31:11-13) So they said, "Is there anyone from among the tribes

of Israel who did not go up to the Lord at Mizpah?" Then they learned

that no one from the camp of Jabesh Gilead had come to the assembly.

9 When the people were counted, indeed, there was not a man there

from among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead.

10 (Jdg 5:23; 21:5) So the assembly sent twelve thousand valorous men there

and commanded them, "Go and strike down the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead

with the edge of the sword, including women and children.

11 (Nu 31:17-18) This is what you will do: You will kill every man

and every woman who has slept with a man."

12 (Jos 18:1) So among the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead they found

400 virgins who had never slept with a man, and they brought them

to the camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan.

13 (Dt 20:10; Jdg 20:47) Then the whole assembly sent someone to speak

to the Benjamites who were at Rimmon Rock, and they declared peace.

14 So the Benjamites returned at that time, and they gave to them the women

who were still alive from among the women of Jabesh Gilead.

Yet they did not find enough for them.

15 (Jdg 21:6) The people felt sorry for Benjamin, for the Lord had made a gap

among the tribes of Israel.

16 The elders of the assembly said, "What can we do to find wives for those

who are left? The Benjamite women were destroyed."

17 They said, "There must be an inheritance for the remnant of Benjamin,

so that a tribe will not be wiped out from Israel.

18 (Jdg 21:1) Yet we cannot give them our daughters for wives,

for the children of Israel swore, 'Cursed be anyone who gives

a wife to Benjamin.' "

19 They said, "Wait! There is an annual festival of the Lord in Shiloh,

which is north of Bethel, east of the main road that goes up from Bethel

to Shechem, and south of Lebonah."

20 So they commanded the Benjamites, "Go and hide in the vineyards.

21 (Ex 15:20; Jdg 11:34) Watch, and then when the daughters of Shiloh

come out to dance in the dances, come out from the vineyards

and have every man grab a wife for himself from among

the daughters of Shiloh. Then go to the land of Benjamin.

22 (Jdg 21:1; 21:18) When their fathers or their brothers come to us

to complain, we will say to them, 'Be favorable to them for our sakes,

because we did not take for each man a wife in the battle;

for you have not given women to them at the time,

thereby making yourselves guilty.' "

23 (Jdg 20:48) So the Benjamites did this. They carried away wives

for each man from among the dancers that they caught. Then they

returned to their inheritance, rebuilt the cities, and lived in them.

24 At that time, the children of Israel departed from there each man

to his tribe and to his family. They went out from

there to their own inheritance.

25 (Jdg 17:6; 18:1) In those days there was no king in Israel;

everyone did what was right in his own eyes.



Judges 21

[1] Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpeh, saying, There shall not any

of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife.

[2] And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till even

before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore;

[3] And said, O LORD God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that

there should be to day one tribe lacking in Israel?

[4] And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built

there an altar, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.

[5] And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of

Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the LORD? For they had

made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the LORD to Mizpeh,

saying, He shall surely be put to death.

[6] And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother, and

said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day.

[7] How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing we have sworn by

the LORD that we will not give them of our daughters to wives?

[8] And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not

up to Mizpeh to the LORD? And, behold, there came none to the camp from

Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.

[9] For the people were numbered, and, behold, there were none of the

inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there.

[10] And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the

valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of

Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children.

[11] And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every

male, and every woman that hath lain by man.

[12] And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead four hundred

young virgins, that had known no man by lying with any male: and they

brought them unto the camp to Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan.

[13] And the whole congregation sent some to speak to the children of

Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon, and to call peaceably unto them.

[14] And Benjamin came again at that time; and they gave them wives which

they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead: and yet so they sufficed

them not.

[15] And the people repented them for Benjamin, because that the LORD had

made a breach in the tribes of Israel.

[16] Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for

them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?

[17] And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of

Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel.

[18] Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters: for the children

of Israel have sworn, saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin.

[19] Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the LORD in Shiloh yearly

in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side of the

highway that goeth up from Bethel to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah.

[20] Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie

in wait in the vineyards;

[21] And see, and, behold, if the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in

dances, then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife

of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin.

[22] And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to

complain, that we will say unto them, Be favourable unto them for our sakes:

because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war: for ye did not give

unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty.

[23] And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to

their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and

returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them.

[24] And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to

his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his

inheritance.

[25] In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was

right in his own eyes.



2) Our Daily Bread for 5 April 2024 entitled



God's Presence



Ecclesiastes 3:1-11



A Time for Everything



1 (Ecc 3:17) To everything there is a season,

a time for every purpose under heaven:

2 (Heb 9:27; Job 14:5) a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to uproot what is planted;

3 (1Sa 2:6; Hos 6:1-2) a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 (Ex 15:20; Ro 12:15) a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 (2Ki 3:25; Joel 2:16) a time to cast away stones,

and a time to gather stones;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to gain, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 (Am 5:13; Ge 37:29) a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 (Lk 14:26) a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time of war, and a time of peace.



The God-Given Task



9 (Ecc 1:3; 2:11) What benefit does the worker have in his toil?

10 (Ge 3:19; Ecc 2:26) I have seen the task that God has given to sons of men

to be concerned with.

11 (Ecc 8:17; Ro 11:33) He has made everything beautiful in its appropriate

time. He has also put obscurity in their hearts Or timelessness,

or perpetuity. so that no one comes to know the work that God has done

from the beginning to the end.



Ecclesiastes 3

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose

under the heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck

up that which is planted;

3 a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down,

and a time to build up;

4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to

embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence,

and a time to speak;

8 a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men

to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set

the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that

God maketh from the beginning to the end.



Monique was struggling. She had friends who were believers in Jesus,

and she respected how they handled life's struggles. She was even a bit

jealous of them. But Monique didn't think she could live the way they did;

she thought having faith in Christ was about following rules. Finally, a

fellow college student helped her see that God wasn't out to spoil her life;

instead, He wanted the best for her amidst her ups and downs. Once she

understood this, Monique was ready to trust Jesus as her Saviour

and embrace the magnificent truth about God's love for her.



King Solomon could have given Monique similar advice. He acknowledged

that this world does have its sorrows. Indeed, "To every thing there

is a season" (Ecclesiastes 3:1)-"a time to mourn, and a time to dance" (v. 4).

But there's more. God "has also set eternity in the human heart" (v. 11).

An eternity meant to be lived in His presence.



Monique gained life "to the full," as Jesus said (John 10:10), when she

trusted Him. But she gained so much more! Through faith, the

"eternity in [her] heart" (Ecclesiastes 3:11) became the promise of a

future when life's struggles will be forgotten (Isaiah 65:17)

and God's glorious presence will be an eternal reality.



By: Dave Branon



Reflect & Pray



How have you experienced the fulfilling life Jesus offers?

What are some things about your life in Him that you’re thankful for?



Dear Jesus, Solomon was right.

Life is a rollercoaster. Thank You for making this life

valuable and worth the effort. And thank You for the

eternal joys that await.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 6 God Works!



Phil 2:12-13



12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence,

but so much more in my absence, work out your own salvation

with fear and trembling.

13 For God is the One working in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure.



12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence

only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation

with fear and trembling.

13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will

and to do of his good pleasure.



"I just can't do it!" Marlys, a career woman in her 30s, was struggling to fit

her new Christian principles into the business world. Accustomed to the

cutthroat tactics of the corporate hierarchy, she has a hard time knowing

Jesus' examples of grace and mercy applied.

Marlys was right. She couldn't do it. In our own strength, none of us is able

to "live the Christian life." Someone has said, " The Christian life isn't

difficult -- it's impossible!" Only the power of the Holy Spirit is

effective to work the needed changes in our priorities and behaviour;

only God can accomplish what he calls us to do.

In Phillippians 2:12, Paul says "work it out." If we stop there,

we are likely to throw up our hands in despair.

But the good news appears in verse 13:

" For God is the One working in you, both to will and to do His good pleasure."

WE are not left on our own to figure out how to live the Christian life.

God gives us both the will and the ability to obey him, to live in a way

that will please him.

The key to a God-pleasing life is not performance, but obedience. God does not

expect us to "do great things" for him, to deserve his love and grace.

Our part in the process of salvation is to respond in obedience to the Lord,

to say "yes" to what he asks of us. We cannot change ourselves;

we cannot even know ourselves apart from the Spirit's insight. But

as we cooperate with him, as we agree to be obedient, the Spirit changes us

within, and those changes are "worked out" into our lives.



Application



a) Have I ever tried to "Live the Christian life" on my own strength?

What was the result?



b) In what practical ways is Paul's declaration that "God works in me"

good new in my life?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Malachi 3:10-12



10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in

My house, and test Me now in this, says the Lord of Hosts, if I will not

open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing,

that there will not be room enough to receive it.

11 I will rebuke the devourer

for your sakes, so that it will not destroy the fruit of your ground,

and the vines in your field will not fail to bear fruit,

says the Lord of Hosts.

12 Then all the nations will call you blessed, for you will be

a delightful land, says the Lord of Hosts.



10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in

mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not

open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall

not be room enough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy

the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit

before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be

a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



When you are Worried Over Money



Matt 6:19-21



Treasures in Heaven



Lk 12:33-34



19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth

and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

20 But store up

for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy

and where thieves do not break in nor steal,

21 for where your treasure is,

there will your heart be also.



19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth

and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth

nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

21 for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.



Remember God's promises when You pray



The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13





9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.



6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)



Manitoba



Quick facts on Muslims in Manitoba



Manitoba 2015 population 1 282 000



est Muslim Population 21 349



CNMM Networks: Winnipeg



The Muslim population of Manitoba, understandably centred in Winnipeg, is very

diverse and represents some 48 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Conservative estimates put their number at 21000 , with some suggesting

it might be twice that size.

Some outreach among Muslims has started, yet in comparison to the size

of this community, there is the need and opportunity for far more engagement.

Continued influx of new immigrants and refugees continues to see the growth

of this Muslim centre in Manitoba.

We rejoice in the Arabic fellowship meeting there and the energetic workers

among Muslims in Winnipeg.



Let us intercede in unity for:



- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



Adding further





Pray for the Riau Malay



Matthew 11:28-30



28 (Jn 7:37; 6:37) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily burdened,

and I will give you rest.

29 (Jer 6:16; Jn 13:15) Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me.

For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

[Jer 6:16. ]

30 (1Jn 5:3) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”



[28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give

you rest.

[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in

heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.



"Have you heard of Lailat al Qadr, or the Night of Power?" Laman asked

a gospel worker as they shared coffee together. Laman is one of 2.2 million

Riau Malay Muslims in Indonesia.



"Lailat al Qadr is the most special night of the year. The barrier separating

heaven and earth is at its thinnest. One fortunate individual’s prayer will

be granted, completely, no questions asked! Imagine that!"



"Why this night?" asked the gospel worker.



"Good question. It marks the night when the Qur'an

was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad."



"So what prayers will you be praying through the night Laman?"



Laman's eyes clouded as he thought of his recently deceased parents.

The years during the COVID pandemic had been difficult and the communal meals

he held to pray for them had been more modest than he had wanted. His heart

felt heavy as he considered that the fate of his parents depended

on the prayers of remaining family members.



He sighed, "My deepest desire is for my mother and father to be accepted

by Allah. May all their sins be forgiven."



How to Pray



As Riau Malay seek Allah's favour during the Night of Power,

pray their eyes will be opened to see that God accepts all

who come to Him through Jesus Christ.



Pray that Riau Malay Muslims will know that they can give their economic

and family burdens to Jesus, and he will give them rest.



Pray for the Holy Spirit to stir Christians in Riau province

to boldly share their faith with Riau Malay Muslims.



See also Pray for Egyptians



My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further

call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



5th Day of the Month



a) Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples,

that the Lord will draw them to Himself

(PS 145:13-18

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The Lord upholds all who fall,

and raises up all who are bowed down.

15 The eyes of all wait upon You,

and You give them their food in due season.

16 You open Your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways

and loving in all His works.

18 The Lord is near to all those who call upon Him,

to all who call upon Him in truth.

)



Mem

13 Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.

Samek

14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall,

And raiseth up all those that be bowed down.

Ain

15 The eyes of all wait upon thee;

And thou givest them their meat in due season.

Pe

16 Thou openest thine hand,

And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.

Zade

17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways,

And holy in all his works.

Qoph

18 The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him,

To all that call upon him in truth.



b) Pray for the Lord to search your life ,

reveal anything offensive and cleanse you from unrighteousness

( ps 139:24 " and see if there is any rebellious way in me,

and lead me in the ancient way. "



24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.



1: John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us

our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. "



9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.



Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray not to be in conflict .



Pray to the Lord: "Dear Jesus, Solomon was right.

Life is a rollercoaster. Thank You for making this life

valuable and worth the effort. And thank You for the

eternal joys that await."



Pray to the Lord and pray to live Life under the Lord.



Pray to the Lord and pray to be a generous giver.



Pray to the Lord and pray to lay treasure in Heaven.



Agree in prayer with us for:

- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



How to Pray



As Riau Malay seek Allah's favour during the Night of Power,

pray their eyes will be opened to see that God accepts all

who come to Him through Jesus Christ.



Pray that Riau Malay Muslims will know that they can give their economic

and family burdens to Jesus, and he will give them rest.



Pray for the Holy Spirit to stir Christians in Riau province

to boldly share their faith with Riau Malay Muslims.



Pray for Canada's First Nation peoples,

that the Lord will draw them to Himself



Pray for the Lord to search your life ,

reveal anything offensive and cleanse you from unrighteousness



Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.

and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness



Remember eternity starts now -

Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God

K-9, the robotic dog companion in Doctor Who, is a fascinating example of artifi

Subject: Google Gemini Comments on K-9 as a form of Artificial Intelligence in D

Distribution:

Organization:

Keywords:

Cc:



K-9, the robotic dog companion in Doctor Who, is a fascinating example of

artificial intelligence. Here's a breakdown of his capabilities and how he

represents AI in the show:



Advanced Intelligence: K-9 exhibits a high level of intelligence. He can

understand complex instructions, analyse situations, and even offer strategic

advice to the Doctor. He possesses vast knowledge on various subjects,

demonstrated by his ability to translate languages, access information banks,

and perform medical scans.



Limited Independence: While intelligent, K-9 lacks true autonomy. He relies

on the Doctor for programming and guidance. His primary function is to assist

the Doctor, and his actions are heavily influenced by his directives.



Emotional Capacity (or Mimicry?): K-9 shows glimpses of emotions, expressing

frustration, excitement, and even a sense of self-preservation. However,

it's debatable if these are true emotions or simply advanced programming

designed to mimic human responses and enhance his effectiveness as a companion.



Evolution of K-9: There have been several iterations of K-9 throughout Doctor

Who, each with slightly different capabilities. This reflects the show's

evolving portrayal of AI, with later versions sometimes exhibiting more

sophisticated decision-making abilities.



K-9 as a Tool vs. Companion: K-9 primarily functions as a tool for the Doctor.

He provides valuable assistance but doesn't possess the same level of

agency or emotional connection as some of the Doctor's human companions.

However, his loyalty and quirky personality have made him a fan favourite

despite (or perhaps because of) his non-human nature.



K-9 and the Mirror of AI in Doctor Who: K-9 represents a specific type of AI

in Doctor Who - the intelligent assistant. He highlights the potentiala

benefits of AI for exploration, analysis, and even companionship.

However, his limitations also raise questions about the line between

intelligent machines and truly sentient beings, a theme explored

throughout the show's history.

"Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet" is a four-part serial from the fourth season

of the original Doctor Who series, originally broadcast in 1966. This iconic

story introduces viewers to the concept of regeneration, a crucial element

in the Doctor Who mythology.



Part 1:

"The Tenth Planet: Episode 1" sets the stage for the serial, introducing

viewers to the mysterious planet Mondas, the Doctor's encounter with the

Cybermen, and the impending threat to Earth. The atmosphere is tense and

foreboding as the Doctor and his companions uncover the sinister plans

of the Cybermen. The introduction of the iconic villains adds a sense

of menace to the story.



Rating: 8.5 out of 10



Part 2:

"The Tenth Planet: Episode 2" sees the situation on Earth escalate

as the Cybermen launch their invasion. The Doctor and his companions

must race against time to thwart the Cybermen's plans and save humanity

from destruction. The tension builds steadily, with plenty of action

and suspense to keep viewers engaged.



Rating: 9 out of 10



Part 3:

"The Tenth Planet: Episode 3" ramps up the stakes as the Cybermen's invasion

reaches its climax. The Doctor faces off against the Cybermen in a thrilling

confrontation, leading to a dramatic showdown aboard their spacecraft.

The performances are strong, and the special effects work effectively

to bring the Cybermen to life.



Rating: 9.5 out of 10



Part 4:

"The Tenth Planet: Episode 4" brings the story to a dramatic conclusion

as the Doctor confronts the Cybermen's leader, the Cyber-Controller.

The resolution is both satisfying and bittersweet, with the Doctor

facing his own mortality as he undergoes his first regeneration.

The episode lays the groundwork for future incarnations of the Doctor,

cementing its place in Doctor Who history.



Rating: 9.5 out of 10



Overall, "Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet" is a landmark serial that introduces

one of the most iconic elements of the series: regeneration. With its

gripping storyline, memorable villains, and historic significance,

it remains a standout entry in the Doctor Who canon.



Average Rating: (8.5 + 9 + 9.5 + 9.5) / 4 = 9.125 out of 10

Day 95, 4 Apr 2024



1) Judges 16, Judges 17, Judges 18



JUDGES 16



Samson and Delilah

1 (Jos 15:47) Samson went to Gaza. There he saw a prostitute

and spent the night with her.

2 (1Sa 23:26; Ps 118:10-12) The people of Gaza were told,

"Samson has come here!" So they surrounded him and laid in wait

for him all night at the city gate. They kept quiet all night, thinking,

"In the morning light we will kill him."

3 Samson lay until midnight, then at midnight he got up.

He grabbed the doors of the city gate and the two gateposts

and pulled them out along with the bar. He put them on his shoulder

and brought them to the top of the mountain near Hebron.

4 After this Samson loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek,

whose name was Delilah.

5 (Jos 13:3; Jdg 14:15) The Philistine rulers came up to her and said,

"Trick him! Find out about how his strength is so great

and how we can overcome him, bind him, and humiliate him.

Each one of us will give you eleven hundred silver coins."

[About 28 pounds, or 13 kilograms.]

6 So Delilah said to Samson, "Please tell me how your strength is so great

and how you could be bound in order to be subdued."

7 Samson said to her, "If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that

have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like an ordinary man."

8 So the Philistine rulers brought her seven fresh bowstrings

that had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

9 They lay in wait in her inner room. She said to him,

"The Philistines are upon you, Samson." Then he split apart the bowstrings

like a single thread is split apart at the touch of fire.

So the source of his strength did not become known.

10 (Jdg 16:13) Delilah said to Samson, "You have deceived me.

You have told me lies. Now, please tell me how you can be bound."

11 He said to her, "If they bind me with new ropes that have never

been used, then I will become weak and be like an ordinary man."

12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them.

Then she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson."

For men were lying in wait, remaining in the room.

But he split apart the ropes on his arms like a thread.

13 Delilah said to Samson, "Up to now you have deceived me.

You have told me lies. Tell how you can be bound."

He said to her, "If you weave seven locks of my hair into the fabric

on the loom and fasten it with the pin, then I will become weak

and be like an ordinary man."

14 So Delilah lulled him to sleep and wove seven locks of his hair

into the fabric on the loom. She fastened it with the pin and said to him,

"The Philistines are upon you, Samson." He awakened from his sleep

and tore away from the loom pin and the fabric.

15 (Jdg 14:16) She said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,'

when your heart is not with me? You have deceived me these

three times and have not told me how your strength is so great."

16 Every day she nagged him with her words and pleaded with him

until he was tired to death.

17 (Jdg 13:5; Nu 6:5) So he told her all his secrets and said to her,

"No razor has touched my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God

from my mother's womb. If I were shaven, my strength would leave me,

and I would become weak and be like all other men."

18 (Jdg 16:5) Delilah saw that he had told her all his secrets,

so she sent for the Philistine rulers, saying, "Come up this time,

for he has told me all his secrets." So the Philistine rulers came up to her

and brought the money in their hands.

19 (Pr 7:26-27) Delilah lulled Samson to sleep on her knees

and called for a man to shave off the seven locks of his hair.

Then she began to humiliate him, and his strength left him.

20 (Jos 7:12; 1Sa 16:14) She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson."

Then he awakened from his sleep and thought,

"I will go out as before and shake myself free of them."

He did not know that the Lord had left him.

21 (Ex 11:5; Isa 47:2) The Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes.

They took him down to Gaza, bound him with bronze chains,

and he ground grain in prison.

22 Yet after it had been shaven, the hair on his head began to grow back.



Judges 16

[1] Then went Samson to Gaza, and saw there an harlot, and went in unto her.

[2] And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they

compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city,

and were quiet all the night, saying, In the morning, when it is day, we

shall kill him.

[3] And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and took the doors

of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and went away with them, bar and

all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of an

hill that is before Hebron.

[4] And it came to pass afterward, that he loved a woman in the valley of

Sorek, whose name was Delilah.

[5] And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her,

Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we

may prevail against him, that we may bind him to afflict him: and we will

give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver.

[6] And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great

strength lieth, and wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.

[7] And Samson said unto her, If they bind me with seven green withs that

were never dried, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

[8] Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven green withs

which had not been dried, and she bound him with them.

[9] Now there were men lying in wait, abiding with her in the chamber. And

she said unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he brake the

withs, as a thread of tow is broken when it toucheth the fire. So his

strength was not known.

[10] And Delilah said unto Samson, Behold, thou hast mocked me, and told me

lies: now tell me, I pray thee, wherewith thou mightest be bound.

[11] And he said unto her, If they bind me fast with new ropes that never

were occupied, then shall I be weak, and be as another man.

[12] Delilah therefore took new ropes, and bound him therewith, and said

unto him, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And there were liers in wait

abiding in the chamber. And he brake them from off his arms like a thread.

[13] And Delilah said unto Samson, Hitherto thou hast mocked me, and told me

lies: tell me wherewith thou mightest be bound. And he said unto her, If

thou weavest the seven locks of my head with the web.

[14] And she fastened it with the pin, and said unto him, The Philistines be

upon thee, Samson. And he awaked out of his sleep, and went away with the

pin of the beam, and with the web.

[15] And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine

heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not

told me wherein thy great strength lieth.

[16] And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and

urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;

[17] That he told her all his heart, and said unto her. There hath not come

a rasor upon mine head; for I have been a Nazarite unto God from my mother's

womb: if I be shaven, then my strength will go from me, and I shall become

weak, and be like any other man.

[18] And when Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and

called for the lords of the Philistines, saying, Come up this once, for he

hath shewed me all his heart. Then the lords of the Philistines came up unto

her, and brought money in their hand.

[19] And she made him sleep upon her knees; and she called for a man, and

she caused him to shave off the seven locks of his head; and she began to

afflict him, and his strength went from him.

[20] And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of

his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake

myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

[21] But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him

down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the

prison house.

[22] Howbeit the hair of his head began to grow again after he was shaven.



The Death of Samson



23 (1Sa 5:2-5) The Philistine rulers gathered to offer a great sacrifice

to Dagon their god and to celebrate.

They said, "Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hands."

24 (Da 5:4) The people saw him and praised their god, for they said,

"Our god has given into our hands

our enemy,

the one who ruined our land

and killed many of us."

25 (Jdg 9:27; 19:6) When their hearts were merry, they said,

"Call for Samson, so he can entertain us." So they called for Samson

from the prison, and he entertained them.

They placed him between the pillars.

26 Samson said to the young man who held his hand,

"Let me rest and touch the pillars on which the temple is set,

then I can lean against them."

27 (Dt 22:8; Jos 2:8) The temple was full of men and women,

and all the Philistine rulers were there. There were about 3000 men and women

on the roof watching Samson entertain.

28 (Jer 15:15) Samson called out to the Lord, "Lord God, remember me, I pray!

Please strengthen me just this once, God, so that I may get full revenge

on the Philistines for my two eyes!"

29 Then Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the temple was set

and leaned against them, one with his right hand and one with his left.

30 Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed with all

his strength, and the temple fell upon the rulers

and all the people who were in it.

At his death he killed more than he had killed in his life.

31 (Jdg 15:20; 13:2) Then his brothers and all his family came down,

carried him, brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol

in the grave of his father Manoah. He had judged Israel for twenty years.



[23] Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a

great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god

hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

[24] And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they said, Our

god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the destroyer of our

country, which slew many of us.

[25] And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they said, Call

for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called for Samson out of the

prison house; and he made them sport: and they set him between the pillars.

[26] And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that

I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon

them.

[27] Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the

Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand

men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.

[28] And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I

pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may

be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

[29] And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house

stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with his right hand, and of

the other with his left.

[30] And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself

with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the

people that were therein. So the dead which he slew at his death were more

than they which he slew in his life.

[31] Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down, and took

him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the

burying place of Manoah his father. And he judged Israel twenty years.



JUDGES 17



Micah's Idols

1There was a man from the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.

2 (Ne 13:25; Ru 3:10) He said to his mother,

"The eleven hundred shekels of silver

[About 28 pounds, or 13 kilograms.] that were taken from you, on which you

put a curse, even speaking the curse in my ears-here

is the silver with me. I took it."

Then his mother said, "May the Lord bless my son!"

3(Ex 20:4; 20:23) Then he returned the 1100 silver coins to his mother.

His mother said, "I certainly consecrated the silver to the Lord,

for my son to make a carved idol and a metal idol, so now I return it to you."

4 When he returned the silver to his mother, she took two hundred shekels

of silver [About 5 pounds, or 2.3 kilograms.] and gave them to a silversmith

to make a carved idol and a metal idol.

And they were put in the house of Micah.

5 (Ge 31:19; Jdg 8:27) This man Micah owned a shrine. He made an ephod

and household idols, and he hired one of his sons to be a priest for him.

6 (Dt 12:8; Jdg 18:1I) n those days there was no king in Israel.

Everyone did what was right in his eyes.

7 (Ru 1:1-2; Mic 5:2) There was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah.

He was a Levite from Judah, and he stayed as a resident foreigner there.

8 The man went from the city of Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever

he could find a place. He came to the hill country of Ephraim,

to the house of Micah, to do his work.

9 Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?"

He said to him, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah,

and I am going to stay wherever I can find a place."

10 Micah said to him, "Live with me, and be a father and a priest for me.

I will give you ten silver coins [About 4 ounces, or 115 grams.] a year,

a set of clothes, and food." So the Levite went in.

11T he Levite decided to live with the man, and the young man became

like one of his sons.

12 (Jdg 18:30) Micah ordained the Levite, and the young man

became his priest and lived in the house of Micah.

13 Then Micah said, "Now I know that the Lord will do good for me,

for I have a Levite to be my priest."



Judges 17

[1] And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

[2] And he said unto his mother, The eleven hundred shekels of silver that

were taken from thee, about which thou cursedst, and spakest of also in mine

ears, behold, the silver is with me; I took it. And his mother said, Blessed

be thou of the LORD, my son.

[3] And when he had restored the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his

mother, his mother said, I had wholly dedicated the silver unto the LORD

from my hand for my son, to make a graven image and a molten image: now

therefore I will restore it unto thee.

[4] Yet he restored the money unto his mother; and his mother took two

hundred shekels of silver, and gave them to the founder, who made thereof a

graven image and a molten image: and they were in the house of Micah.

[5] And the man Micah had an house of gods, and made an ephod, and teraphim,

and consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest.

[6] In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which

was right in his own eyes.

[7] And there was a young man out of Bethlehemjudah of the family of Judah,

who was a Levite, and he sojourned there.

[8] And the man departed out of the city from Bethlehemjudah to sojourn

where he could find a place: and he came to mount Ephraim to the house of

Micah, as he journeyed.

[9] And Micah said unto him, Whence comest thou? And he said unto him, I am

a Levite of Bethlehemjudah, and I go to sojourn where I may find a place.

[10] And Micah said unto him, Dwell with me, and be unto me a father and a

priest, and I will give thee ten shekels of silver by the year, and a suit

of apparel, and thy victuals. So the Levite went in.

[11] And the Levite was content to dwell with the man; and the young man was

unto him as one of his sons.

[12] And Micah consecrated the Levite; and the young man became his priest,

and was in the house of Micah.

[13] Then said Micah, Now know I that the LORD will do me good, seeing I

have a Levite to my priest.



JUDGES 18



The Danites Settle in Laish



1 (Jdg 17:6; 19:1) In those days there was no king in Israel.

And in those days the tribe of the Danites was looking for an inheritance

in which to live, for no territory had come into their possession

among the tribes of Israel up to that time.

2 (Jdg 13:25; Jos 2:1) So the children of Dan sent out from their families

five valorous men from Zorah and Eshtaol in order to spy out

and explore the land. They said to them, "Go, explore the land."

They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah,

and they spent the night there.

3 When they were at the house of Micah, they noticed the speech

of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to him,

"Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place?

What is your business here?"

4 (Jdg 17:10) He told them what Micah had done for him, saying,

"He hired me, and I became his priest."

5 (1Ki 22:5) They said to him, "Please ask God if we may know whether

our mission will be a success as we go to do it."

6 (1Ki 22:6) The priest said to them, "Go in peace.

The Lord is watching the way you are going."

7 (Jos 19:47; Jdg 18:27-28) The five men went away and came to Laish.

They saw the people who were there, living securely according

to the culture of the Sidonians. There were no rulers in the land

who might put them to shame for anything. They were far from

the Sidonians and had no ties with anyone.

8 (Jdg 18:2; 18:11) When they came back to their brothers

in Zorah and Eshtaol, their brothers asked them, "What do you have to say?"

9 (Nu 13:30; Jos 2:23-24) They said, "Get up! Let us go up against them,

for we have seen the land. It is very good. You are silent,

but do not hesitate to go to take the land.

10 (Jdg 18:7; 18:27) When you go, you will come to a secure people

and to an expansive land. For God has given it into your hands:

a place where there is no lack of anything on the earth."

11 So six hundred fully armed men set out from the family of the Danites,

from Zorah and Eshtaol.

12 (Jdg 13:25; Jos 15:60) They went up and set up camp in Kiriath Jearim

in Judah. Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this day.

It is west of Kiriath Jearim.

13 From there they passed the hill country of Ephraim

and came to the house of Micah.

14 (Jdg 17:5) The five men who went to spy out the land of Laish

said to their brothers, "Did you know that in these houses are an ephod,

household idols, a carved image, and a metal idol? Now think about

what to do."

15 (Ge 43:27) So they turned aside there and came to the house of the young

Levite, to the house of Micah, and greeted him.

16 The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war,

who were the children of Dan, stood at the entrance to the gate.

17 (Jdg 18:14; 17:4-5) The five men who went to spy out the land went in

and took the carved idol, ephod, household idols, and the metal idol.

The priest was standing at the entrance

to the gate with the 600 fully armed men.

18 When these men went into the house of Micah and took the carved idol,

ephod, household idols, and the metal idol,

the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"

19 (Jdg 17:10; Job 21:5) They said to him, "Quiet! Put your hand

over your mouth and go with us. Be a father and priest for us. Is it better

to be a priest for one man's house or for a tribe and a family in Israel?"

20 So the priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod, the household

idols, and the carved image and went among the people.

21 So they turned and left, putting the children, livestock,

and valuables in front of them.

22 They had gone far from the house of Micah, but the neighbors

of Micah assembled and caught up to the children of Dan.

23 They called out to the children of Dan. So they turned and said to Micah,

"What is wrong that have you assembled together?"

24 He said, "You took the gods that I made, and the priest, and then you left.

What do I have left? So what is this that you say to me, 'What is wrong?' "

25 The children of Dan said to him, "Do not let us hear your voice again.

Otherwise bitter men might meet you and you will forfeit your life

and the lives of your family."

26 So the children of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw

that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.

27 (Jos 19:47; Jdg 18:7) They took what Micah had made and his priest,

and came to Laish to a quiet and secure people.

They struck them down with the edge of the sword

and burned the city with fire.

28 (2Sa 10:6; Nu 13:21) There was no one to save them because the city was far

from Sidon and had no contact with anyone. It was in the valley by Beth Rehob.

They rebuilt the city and lived there.

29 (Ge 14:14; Jos 19:47) They called the city Dan, after their father Dan,

who was born to Israel (Laish was the former name of the city).

30 (Ex 2:22; Jdg 13:1) The children of Dan set up the carved idol

for themselves. Jonathan the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh,

and his sons were priests to the tribe of Dan

until the time of exile from the land.

31 (Jos 18:1; Jdg 19:18) So they displayed Micah's graven image

that he had made, for the whole time that the house of God was in Shiloh.



Judges 18

[1] In those days there was no king in Israel: and in those days the tribe

of the Danites sought them an inheritance to dwell in; for unto that day all

their inheritance had not fallen unto them among the tribes of Israel.

[2] And the children of Dan sent of their family five men from their coasts,

men of valour, from Zorah, and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land, and to

search it; and they said unto them, Go, search the land: who when they came

to mount Ephraim, to the house of Micah, they lodged there.

[3] When they were by the house of Micah, they knew the voice of the young

man the Levite: and they turned in thither, and said unto him, Who brought

thee hither? and what makest thou in this place? and what hast thou here?

[4] And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath

hired me, and I am his priest.

[5] And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may

know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous.

[6] And the priest said unto them, Go in peace: before the LORD is your way

wherein ye go.

[7] Then the five men departed, and came to Laish, and saw the people that

were therein, how they dwelt careless, after the manner of the Zidonians,

quiet and secure; and there was no magistrate in the land, that might put

them to shame in any thing; and they were far from the Zidonians, and had no

business with any man.

[8] And they came unto their brethren to Zorah and Eshtaol: and their

brethren said unto them, What say ye?

[9] And they said, Arise, that we may go up against them: for we have seen

the land, and, behold, it is very good: and are ye still? be not slothful to

go, and to enter to possess the land.

[10] When ye go, ye shall come unto a people secure, and to a large land:

for God hath given it into your hands; a place where there is no want of any

thing that is in the earth.

[11] And there went from thence of the family of the Danites, out of Zorah

and out of Eshtaol, six hundred men appointed with weapons of war.

[12] And they went up, and pitched in Kirjath-jearim, in Judah: wherefore

they called that place Mahaneh-dan unto this day: behold, it is behind

Kirjath-jearim.

[13] And they passed thence unto mount Ephraim, and came unto the house of

Micah.

[14] Then answered the five men that went to spy out the country of Laish,

and said unto their brethren, Do ye know that there is in these houses an

ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore

consider what ye have to do.

[15] And they turned thitherward, and came to the house of the young man the

Levite, even unto the house of Micah, and saluted him.

[16] And the six hundred men appointed with their weapons of war, which were

of the children of Dan, stood by the entering of the gate.

[17] And the five men that went to spy out the land went up, and came in

thither, and took the graven image, and the ephod, and the teraphim, and the

molten image: and the priest stood in the entering of the gate with the six

hundred men that were appointed with weapons of war.

[18] And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the

ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto

them, What do ye?

[19] And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth,

and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to

be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe

and a family in Israel?

[20] And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the

teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people.

[21] So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and

the carriage before them.

[22] And when they were a good way from the house of Micah, the men that

were in the houses near to Micah's house were gathered together, and

overtook the children of Dan.

[23] And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces,

and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?

[24] And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest,

and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say

unto me, What aileth thee?

[25] And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among

us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives

of thy household.

[26] And the children of Dan went their way: and when Micah saw that they

were too strong for him, he turned and went back unto his house.

[27] And they took the things which Micah had made, and the priest which he

had, and came unto Laish, unto a people that were at quiet and secure: and

they smote them with the edge of the sword, and burnt the city with fire.

[28] And there was no deliverer, because it was far from Zidon, and they had

no business with any man; and it was in the valley that lieth by Beth-rehob.

And they built a city, and dwelt therein.

[29] And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their

father, who was born unto Israel: howbeit the name of the city was Laish at

the first.

[30] And the children of Dan set up the graven image: and Jonathan, the son

of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe

of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land.

[31] And they set them up Micah's graven image, which he made, all the time

that the house of God was in Shiloh.



2) Our Daily Bread for 4 April 2024 titled



In God's Arms



Psalm 91:1-2,14-16



PSALMS 91



1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High

shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God in whom I trust."



14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

and I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life I will satisfy him

and show him My salvation.



Psalm 91



1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High

Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress:



14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:

I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:

I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him,

And shew him my salvation.



The sound of the drill terrified five-year-old Sarah. She leaped out

of the dentist's chair and refused to get back in. Nodding

understandingly, the dentist told her father, "Daddy, get into the chair."

Jason thought he was meant to show his daughter how easy it was. But then

the dentist turned to the little girl and said, "Now, climb up and sit in

Daddy's lap." With her father now cradling her in his reassuring arms,

Sarah relaxed completely, and the dentist was able to continue.



That day, Jason learned a great lesson about the comfort of the presence

of his heavenly Father. "Sometimes, God [chooses not to] take over what

we have to go through," he said. "But God was showing me,

'I will be there with you.' "



Psalm 91 speaks of the comforting presence and power of God that gives

us the strength to face our trials. Knowing that we can rest in His

powerful arms gives us great assurance, as does His promise to those

who love Him:

"He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:

I will be with him in trouble" (v. 15).



There are many unavoidable challenges and trials in life, and we will

inevitably have to go through pain and suffering. But with God's reassuring

arms wrapped around us, we'll be able to bear our crises and circumstances,

and let Him strengthen our faith as we grow through them.



By: Leslie Koh



Reflect & Pray



What trials are you going through now?

How can you remind yourself that God is always with you?



Gracious Father, thank You for Your reassuring presence

in my circumstances. Please help me through them,

knowing that You're always with me.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 5 Called by Name



Isaiah 43:1



1 But now, thus says the Lord who created you, O Jacob,

and He who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name; you are Mine.



1 But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob,

and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:

for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.



Eric, age 4, somehow lost his mother in a large and busy department store.

Found sobbing under a coat rack, the boy tried to tell the security guard

where he was when he got separated from his mother. Finally the guard said,

"what's your name, Son? Who do you belong to?"

The child brightened a bit, gave the guard his name, and within minutes

the frantic mother was reunited with her lost son.

One of the first questions we are asked, both as children and adults, is

"What is your name?" - that is, "Who are you? Who do you belong to?"

Children bear the name of their parents, and most women,

except for professional reasons,

take the name of their husbands when they marry.

Our names are our primary method of identification;

they connect us with our heritage and those we love.

In Isaiah 43:1, God declares that we belong to him.

The Lord who created us and formed us says,

"I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine." God's

right of ownership in our lives extends beyond the bond of family and friends,

of parent, child, or spouse. We belong first to him;

we are called by him into oneness with him.

The Scripture is filled with images of the Lord's care for us;

when we are lost, he does

not wait for us to find him,

but takes the initiative, like a loving parent

to seek us out. That declaration of belonging can give us

a strong sense of security in our lives. God loves us;

he will never let us go.



Application



a) What experiences have I had of being lost of abandoned?



b) How can today's verse help me find security in belonging to God?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Luke 16:10-12



10 (Mt 25:21; Lk 19:17) "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful

also in much. And he who is dishonest in the least is dishonest also

in much.

11 So if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth,

who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another man's,

who will give you that which is your own?"



10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:

and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon,

who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's,

who shall give you that which is your own?



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



God's Reconciling Peace



Col 3:12-17



12 (Eph 4:2; Lk 1:78) So embrace, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,

a spirit of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, and longsuffering.

13 (Eph 4:32; Mk 11:25; Eph 4:2) Bear with one another

and forgive one another. If anyone has a quarrel against anyone,

even as Christ forgave you, so you must do.

14 (Eph 4:3; 1Co 13:1-13) And above all these things, embrace love,

which is the bond of perfection.

15 (Jn 14:27; Eph 5:20) Let the peace of God,

to which also you are called in one body,

rule in your hearts. And be thankful.

16 (Eph 5:19; Col 1:28; Ro 10:17 ) Let the word of Christ dwell

in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing

one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 (1Co 10:31; Eph 5:20 ) And whatever you do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God the Father through Him.



12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,

kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have

a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye

are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;

teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God and the Father by him.



Remember God's promises when You pray





The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.





6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)



Manitoba



Quick facts on Muslims in Manitoba



Manitoba 2015 population 1 282 000



est Muslim Population 21 349



CNMM Networks: Winnipeg



The Muslim population of Manitoba, understandably centred in Winnipeg, is very

diverse and represents some 48 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Conservative estimates put their number at 21000 , with some suggesting

it might be twice that size.

Some outreach among Muslims has started, yet in comparison to the size

of this community, there is the need and opportunity for far more engagement.

Continued influx of new immigrants and refugees continues to see the growth

of this Muslim centre in Manitoba.

We rejoice in the Arabic fellowship meeting there and the energetic workers

among Muslims in Winnipeg.



Let us intercede in unity for:



- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



Adding further





The Night of Power



Matthew 7:7



7 (Mt 21:22; Mk 11:24) "Ask and it will be given to you;

seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. "



[7] Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it

shall be opened unto you:



There are many historic events which Muslims honour and remember, but none

are more important than the remembrance of the initial revelation of the

Qur'an to the Prophet Muhammad. This is the event recalled on the Night

of Power, or Lailat Al Qadr – also known as the Night of Destiny.



It is said that the Prophet Muhammad would frequently retire to a cave

called Hira, on the outskirts of Mecca, where he would spend days

in meditation. He was said to spend this time reflecting on how to

solve the problems faced by the communities around him.



According to Islamic sources, in the month of Ramadan, in 610 CE,

Muhammad was visited by the Archangel Gabriel, who revealed the first verses

of the Qur'an to the Prophet. The Prophet ran home to his wife, Kadijah,

and told her what had happened. She encouraged him and took him to her cousin,

Waraqa, who was a scholar. He advised Muhammad that he had been chosen

as a prophet and was sent by God to call society to worship the One God

and lead a righteous life.



The story of Muhammad's revelation inspires Muslims particularly during the

last 10 days of Ramadan when the Night of Power is said to occur, probably

on the 26th. In the mosque, there will be increased worship, recitation of

the Qur'an and fervent prayer. Many Muslims believe that prayers prayed

on the Night of Power are a thousand times more effective than prayers

prayed on other days.



How to Pray



Many Muslims have had dreams or visions of Jesus on the Night of Power.

Pray that through Jesus many will come to have that revelation of God

that they desire.



Pray for opportunities for Muslims who are seeking revelation to have

encounters with believers who can help them to understand the revelation

we have of God through Jesus.



Pray that on this night of heightened expectation,

many will find what they are seeking.



My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further

call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



4nd Day of the Month



a) Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada

(Prov 14:34 - Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a reproach to any people.



34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:

But sin is a reproach to any people.



)



b) Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right

use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.



Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray to do the Lord's bidding.



Pray to the Lord: "Gracious Father, thank You for Your reassuring presence

in my circumstances. Please help me through them,

knowing that You're always with me."



Pray to the Lord and pray to know you belong to Him.



Pray to the Lord and pray to be a faithful steward.



Pray to the Lord and pray for reconciliation.



Agree in prayer with us for:

- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



- Pray for the end of violence and for Christ-

exalting, multiplying house churches in

the 31 languages of Damascus and Noms,

especially in the listed people groups.

- Pray for refugees, the poor. and the broken

to find hope and healing in Jesus's name.

- Pray for the Kingdom of God to advance

through signs, wonders, and power

in military, business, and government

leaders.





Pray for the preservation of godly values in Canada



Pray the political leaders will be awakened by God to the right

use of power and the right stewardship of their positions.



Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.

and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness



Remember eternity starts now -

Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God

The TARDIS in Doctor Who is an interesting case. While it exhibits some characteristics of artificial intelligence, it's not entirely accurate to classify it as such. Here's why:



Sentience vs. Advanced Programming: The TARDIS demonstrates a degree of sentience. It can communicate with the Doctor (through telepathic impressions, the scanner beeps, and the occasional hologram), choose landing locations (sometimes with a mind of its own!), and even protect itself from harm. However, this behavior seems more like advanced programming and an inherent connection to the Doctor rather than true independent thought.



Limited Decision Making: The TARDIS can't make complex decisions on its own. It relies on the Doctor for input and guidance. While it might choose a safe landing spot or warn of danger, it doesn't have the capacity for independent action or strategic planning.



Symbiotic Relationship: The Doctor and the TARDIS share a unique bond. The Doctor respects the TARDIS and treats it almost as a companion. This symbiotic relationship fuels much of the TARDIS's seemingly intelligent behavior. It thrives on the Doctor's presence and travels, potentially influencing its choices subconsciously.



The TARDIS as a Sentient Machine?



There have been hints throughout Doctor Who lore that the TARDIS might be more than just a machine. Some stories suggest a deeper consciousness or even a connection to the Time Lords' collective intelligence. However, these concepts haven't been fully explored, leaving the TARDIS in a fascinating grey area.



More Than Just a Ship:



There's no doubt the TARDIS is far more than just a spaceship. It's a loyal companion, a refuge, and a key part of the Doctor's identity. Whether it achieves true sentience in the future or remains a marvel of Time Lord technology with a touch of personality, the TARDIS will continue to be a beloved and enigmatic element of Doctor Who.

"Doctor Who: The Smugglers" is a four-part serial from the fourth season

of the original Doctor Who series, first broadcast in 1966.

Set in 17th-century Cornwall, this historical adventure follows the Doctor

and his companions as they become embroiled in the dangerous world

of smuggling.



Part 1:

"The Smugglers: Episode 1" introduces viewers to the atmospheric setting

of 17th-century Cornwall, with its rugged coastline and hidden coves.

The Doctor and his companions stumble upon a smuggling operation

and find themselves caught up in a web of intrigue and danger.

The episode sets a strong foundation for the story,

establishing the stakes and introducing key characters.



Rating: 7.5 out of 10



Part 2:

"The Smugglers: Episode 2" sees the tension in Cornwall escalate

as the Doctor and his companions become further entangled

in the smuggling conspiracy. The pacing remains brisk, with plenty of action

and suspense as the plot unfolds. The historical setting is well-realised,

immersing viewers in the world of 17th-century England.



Rating: 8 out of 10



Part 3:

"The Smugglers: Episode 3" continues to build on the suspense

as the Doctor and his companions race against time to uncover

the truth behind the smuggling operation. The stakes are raised

as they confront the ruthless Captain Pike and his crew,

leading to a thrilling climax. The performances are strong,

and the atmosphere is palpable throughout.



Rating: 8.5 out of 10



Part 4:

"The Smugglers: Episode 4" brings the story to a satisfying conclusion

as the Doctor and his companions confront the smugglers in a final showdown.

The resolution is both exciting and poignant, with the Doctor reflecting

on the consequences of their actions. The episode ties up loose ends nicely,

leaving viewers with a sense of closure.



Rating: 8 out of 10



Overall, "Doctor Who: The Smugglers" is a well-crafted historical adventure

that captures the spirit of the classic era. With its engaging storyline,

memorable characters, and atmospheric setting, it remains a standout entry

in the Doctor Who canon.



Average Rating: (7.5 + 8 + 8.5 + / 4 = 8 out of 10

Day 94, 3 April 2024



1) Judges 13 , Judges 14, Judges 15



JUDGES 13



The Birth of Samson



1 ()Jdg 2:11; 1Sa 12:9) Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight

of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines

for forty years.

2 (Jos 19:41; 15:33) There was a certain man from Zorah,

from the tribe of Dan. His name was Manoah. His wife was infertile

and had borne no children.

3 (Lk 1:13; Jdg 6:11-12) The angel of the Lord appeared to the woman

and said to her, "Indeed, you are infertile and have borne no childen,

yet you will conceive and bear a son.

4 (Nu 6:2-3; Jdg 13:14) Now be careful, I pray, that you drink no wine

or strong drink and that you do not eat anything ritually unclean.

5 (Nu 6:5; 1Sa 1:11) For you will conceive and bear a son. No razor may

touch his head, for the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb.

He will begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines."

6 (Jdg 13:17-18; Dt 33:1) Then the woman went to her husband and said,

"A man of God came to me. He looked like a very fearsome angel of God.

I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name.

7 He said to me, 'You will conceive and bear a son. So now, do not drink

wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything ritually unclean,

for the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb until the day he dies.' "

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord, "O my Lord, let the man of God whom

You sent come again to us, so that he can teach us what we should do

for the boy who will be born."

9 God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again

to the woman. She was sitting in the field;

but her husband Manoah was not with her.

10 The woman hurried and ran to tell her husband,

"The man who came to me the other day has appeared to me."

11 So Manoah got up and went after his wife.

He came to the man and said to him,

"Are you the man who spoke to my wife?"

He said, "I am."

12 Then Manoah said, "Now may your words come true! What will be the boy's way

of life and his work?"

13 The angel of the Lord said to Manoah, "Your wife must observe everything

that I said to her.

14 (Jdg 13:4) She must not consume anything that grows on the vine.

She must not drink wine or strong drink, and she must not eat anything

ritually unclean. She must observe everything that I commanded her."

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, "Please let us detain you,

and let us prepare a young goat for you."

16 The angel of the Lord said to Manoah, "If I stay, I will not eat your

food, but if you want to make an offering to the Lord, you should offer it."

(For Manoah did not know that he was an angel of the Lord.)

17 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, "What is your name,

so that we can honor you when your words come true?"

18 (Ge 32:29; Isa 9:6) The angel of the Lord said to him,

"Why do you ask my name? It is too wonderful."

19 (Jdg 6:19-21) Manoah took the young goat and the grain offering

and offered them to the Lord upon a rock. Then he did a wondrous

thing while Manoah and his wife watched.

20 (Lev 9:24; 1Ch 21:16) When the flame went up from the altar

toward the heavens, the angel of the Lord went up in the flames

from the altar. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell face down on the ground.

21 (Jdg 6:22) The angel of the Lord did not appear again to Manoah

and his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the Lord.

22 (Ge 32:30; Dt 5:26) Manoah said to his wife,

"We are certainly going to die, for we have seen God."

23 (Ps 25:14) Yet his wife said to him, "If the Lord wanted to kill us,

He would not have taken the burnt offering and grain offering from us.

He would not have shown us these things, nor let us hear things such

as these at this time."

24 (1Sa 3:19; Lk 1:80) So the woman bore a son, and she called him Samson.

The boy grew, and the Lord blessed him.

25 (Jdg 3:10; Jos 15:33) The Spirit of the Lord began to move upon him

at Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.



Judges 13

[1] And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and

the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

[2] And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites,

whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

[3] And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her,

Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and

bear a son.

[4] Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink,

and eat not any unclean thing:

[5] For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no rasor shall come on

his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he

shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

[6] Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto

me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very

terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:

[7] But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and

now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the

child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

[8] Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God

which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto

the child that shall be born.

[9] And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came

again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not

with her.

[10] And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said

unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other

day.

[11] And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and

said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I

am.

[12] And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the

child, and how shall we do unto him?

[13] And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the

woman let her beware.

[14] She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her

drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded

her let her observe.

[15] And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain

thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.

[16] And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I

will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou

must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the

LORD.

[17] And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What is thy name, that when

thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?

[18] And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my

name, seeing it is secret?

[19] So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock

unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked

on.

[20] For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the

altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And

Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.

[21] But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife.

Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.

[22] And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have

seen God.

[23] But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he

would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands,

neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time

have told us such things as these.

[24] And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child

grew, and the LORD blessed him.

[25] And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of

Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.



JUDGES 14



Samson's Wedding



1 (Ge 38:12-13; Jos 15:10) Samson went down to Timnah

and saw a woman from the daughters of the Philistines.

2 (Ge 34:4; 21:21) He came back up and told his father and mother,

"I have seen a woman in Timnah from the daughters of the Philistines;

now get her for me as a wife."

3 (Jdg 15:18; 1Sa 14:6) His father and mother said to him,

"Are there no women among your relatives, or all of our people,

that you are intending to take a wife

from among the uncircumcised Philistines?"

Yet Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for she pleases me well."

4 (Jos 11:20; Jdg 13:1) His father and mother did not know that this was

from the Lord, for He was seeking an opportunity to act against the Philistines.

At that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel.

5 Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah.

As they came to the vineyards of Timnah, suddenly a young

lion came roaring toward him.

6 (Jdg 3:10; 13:25) Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily

upon him, and though unarmed, he tore the lion in two as one might

tear a young goat in two. However, he did not tell his father and his mother

what he had done.

7 So Samson went down and spoke with the woman, and she pleased Samson.

8 After a while, when he returned to take her, he turned aside to see

the carcass of the lion. And a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass

of the lion.

9 He scooped it out into his hands and ate it as he went along.

He came to his father and mother and gave some to them,

and they also ate. Yet he did not tell them he had scooped

the honey out of a lion's carcass.

10 Then his father went down to the woman. Samson put on a feast there,

for this is what young men would do.

11 When the Philistines saw him,

they brought thirty companions to be with him.

12 (Ge 45:22; Eze 17:2) Samson said to them, "Let me tell you a riddle.

If you can explain it to me within the seven days of the feast,

then I will find thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes to give you.

13 However, if you are not able to explain it to me, then you will give me

thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes."

They said to him, "Tell us your riddle, so we can hear it."

14 He said to them,

"Out of the eater came something to eat,

and out of the strong came something sweet."

They could not explain the riddle after three days.

15 (Jdg 15:6; 16:5) On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife,

"Trick your groom into telling us the riddle, or we will burn you

and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us to steal

what we have? Is that not so?"

16 (Jdg 16:15) So Samson's wife wept all over him and said,

"You must hate me. You do not love me. You have told a riddle

to the young men and did not tell it to me."

Then he said to her, "I have not told it to my father and mother.

Why should I tell it to you?"

17 (Jdg 16:16) She wept on him for the seven days of the feast,

then on the seventh day he told it to her because she had nagged him.

Then she explained the riddle to her people.

18So on the seventh day before sunset, the men of the city said to Samson,

"What is sweeter than honey,

and what is stronger than a lion?"

Then he said to them,

"If you had not plowed with my heifer,

you would not have solved my riddle."

19 (Jdg 3:10; 13:25) Then the Spirit of the Lord mightily came upon him,

and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty of their men.

He took their clothes and gave them to the ones who had explained the riddle.

His anger burned and he went up to his father's house.

20 (Jdg 15:2; Jn 3:29) So Samson's wife was given to his companion,

who had been his best man.



Judges 14

[1] And Samson went down to Timnath, and saw a woman in Timnath of the

daughters of the Philistines.

[2] And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have

seen a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore

get her for me to wife.

[3] Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman

among the daughters of thy brethren, or among all my people, that thou goest

to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philistines? And Samson said unto his

father, Get her for me; for she pleaseth me well.

[4] But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he

sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines

had dominion over Israel.

[5] Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and

came to the vineyards of Timnath: and, behold, a young lion roared against

him.

[6] And the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he

would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his

father or his mother what he had done.

[7] And he went down, and talked with the woman; and she pleased Samson

well.

[8] And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the

carcase of the lion: and, behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the

carcase of the lion.

[9] And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating, and came to his

father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them

that he had taken the honey out of the carcase of the lion.

[10] So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast;

for so used the young men to do.

[11] And it came to pass, when they saw him, that they brought thirty

companions to be with him.

[12] And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you: if

ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast, and find

it out, then I will give you thirty sheets and thirty change of garments:

[13] But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and

thirty change of garments. And they said unto him, Put forth thy riddle,

that we may hear it.

[14] And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the

strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the

riddle.

[15] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's

wife, Entice thy husband, that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we

burn thee and thy father's house with fire: have ye called us to take that

we have? is it not so?

[16] And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and

lovest me not: thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people,

and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my

father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee?

[17] And she wept before him the seven days, while their feast lasted: and

it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore

upon him: and she told the riddle to the children of her people.

[18] And the men of the city said unto him on the seventh day before the sun

went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And

he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out

my riddle.

[19] And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon,

and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil, and gave change of

garments unto them which expounded the riddle. And his anger was kindled,

and he went up to his father's house.

[20] But Samson's wife was given to his companion, whom he had used as his

friend.



JUDGES 15



Samson's Revenge



1 (Ge 38:17) After a while, during the wheat harvest, Samson went to

visit his wife, taking a young goat. He said, "I'm going in to my wife

in her bedroom," but her father would not let him go in.

2 (Jdg 14:20) Her father said, "I thought that you thoroughly hated her,

so I gave her to your best man. Is not her younger sister better than she?

Please, let her be your wife instead."

3 Samson said to them, "This time I cannot be blamed by the Philistines

when I do them harm."

4 Samson went and caught three hundred foxes. He took torches

and turned the foxes tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails.

5 He set fire to the torches and sent the foxes into standing grain

of the Philistines. He burned the harvested grain, standing grain,

vineyards, and olive trees.

6 (Jdg 14:15) The Philistines asked, "Who did this?" They said,

"Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because the Timnite

took the bride of Samson and gave her to his best man."

So the Philistines went up and burned her and her father with fire.

7 Samson said to them, "Because you have done this, I will take revenge

on you, and afterwards I will stop."

8 He struck them down with a mighty blow,

then went to live in a cave in Etam Rock.

9 (Jdg 15:17; 15:19) Then the Philistines went up and set up camp in Judah.

They deployed against Lehi.

10 The men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?"

They said, "It is to take Samson prisoner that we have come up,

to do to him what he did to us."

11 (Jdg 13:1; 14:4) So three thousand men from Judah went to the cave

in Etam Rock and said to Samson, "Do you not know that the Philistines

are ruling us? Why have you done this to us?"

He said to them, "As they did to me, so I have done to them."

12 They said to him, "We have come to take you prisoner,

to give you into the hands of the Philistines."

Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not attack me."

13 They said to him, "No, we will bind you securely and give

you into their hands, but we will not kill you." They bound him

with two new ropes and took him away from the rock.

14 (Jdg 14:19; 3:10) He came to Lehi, and the Philistines shouted

as they approached him. Then the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him.

The ropes on his arms became like burned flax and the ties

on his hands dissolved.

15 (Lev 26:8; Jos 23:10) Then he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey,

reached out his hand and took it, and with it struck down a thousand men.

16Samson said,

"With a jawbone of a donkey,

heaps upon heaps.

With a jawbone of a donkey

I have slain a thousand men."

17 When he finished speaking, he threw the jawbone away

and called that place Ramath Lehi.

18 He was very thirsty, and he called out to the Lord,

"You gave this great deliverance through Your servant,

but now may I die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?"

19 (Ge 45:27) So God split open the basin at Lehi, and water flowed out

of it. He drank, was refreshed, and revived. Because of this he called

the place En Hakkore, which is in Lehi to this day.

20 (Jdg 13:1; 16:31) Samson judged Israel for twenty years

in the days of the Philistines.



Judges 15

[1] But it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat harvest,

that Samson visited his wife with a kid; and he said, I will go in to my

wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in.

[2] And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her;

therefore I gave her to thy companion: is not her younger sister fairer than

she? take her, I pray thee, instead of her.

[3] And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the

Philistines, though I do them a displeasure.

[4] And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and

turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails.

[5] And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing

corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing

corn, with the vineyards and olives.

[6] Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered,

Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and

given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and

her father with fire.

[7] And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be

avenged of you, and after that I will cease.

[8] And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down

and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam.

[9] Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread

themselves in Lehi.

[10] And the men of Judah said, Why are ye come up against us? And they

answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us.

[11] Then three thousand men of Judah went to the top of the rock Etam, and

said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us?

what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did

unto me, so have I done unto them.

[12] And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may

deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. And Samson said unto them,

Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves.

[13] And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and

deliver thee into their hand: but surely we will not kill thee. And they

bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock.

[14] And when he came unto Lehi, the Philistines shouted against him: and

the Spirit of the LORD came mightily upon him, and the cords that were upon

his arms became as flax that was burnt with fire, and his bands loosed from

off his hands.

[15] And he found a new jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took

it, and slew a thousand men therewith.

[16] And Samson said, With the jawbone of an ass, heaps upon heaps, with the

jaw of an ass have I slain a thousand men.

[17] And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking, that he cast

away the jawbone out of his hand, and called that place Ramath-lehi.

[18] And he was sore athirst, and called on the LORD, and said, Thou hast

given this great deliverance into the hand of thy servant: and now shall I

die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?

[19] But God clave an hollow place that was in the jaw, and there came water

thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived:

wherefore he called the name thereof En-hakkore, which is in Lehi unto this

day.

[20] And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.



2) Our Daily Bread for 3 April 2024 titled



I Hear You, God!



John 10:1-11,16



The Parable of the Shepherd



1 "Truly, truly I say to you, he who does not enter by the door

into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.

2 (Jn 10:14) But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

3 (Jn 10:4; 10:16) To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice.

He calls his own sheep by name, and he leads them out.

4 (Jn 10:16) When he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them.

And the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

5 Yet they will never follow a stranger, but will run away from him.

For they do not know the voice of strangers."

6 Jesus told them this parable, but they did not understand

what He was telling them.



[1] Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into

the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a

robber.

[2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

[3] To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth

his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.

[4] And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the

sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

[5] And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they

know not the voice of strangers.

[6] This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things

they were which he spake unto them.



Jesus the Good Shepherd



7 (Jn 10:9; 10:1) Then Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly I say to you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 (Eze 34:2; Jn 10:1) All who came before Me are thieves and robbers,

but the sheep did not listen to them.

9 (Jn 10:1; 14:6) I am the door. If anyone enters through Me,

he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

10 (Jn 6:33; Heb 7:25) The thief does not come, except to steal and kill

and destroy. I came that they may have life, and that they may have it

more abundantly.

11 (Isa 40:11; Eze 34:23; Heb 13:20) "I am the good shepherd.

The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.



16 (Isa 56:8; Jn 11:52) I have other sheep who are not of this fold.

I must also bring them, and they will hear My voice. There will

be one flock and one shepherd.





[7] Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am

the door of the sheep.

[8] All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did

not hear them.

[9] I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall

go in and out, and find pasture.

[10] The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I

am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more

abundantly.

[11] I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the

sheep.



[16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must

bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one

shepherd.



Baby Graham fussed and wiggled as his mother held him in her lap while

the doctors inserted his first hearing aid. Moments after the doctor turned

on the device, Graham stopped crying. His eyes widened. He grinned. He could

hear his mother's voice comforting him, encouraging him, and calling his name.



Baby Graham heard his mother speaking, but he needed help learning how to

recognise her voice and understand the meaning of her words. Jesus invites

people into a similar learning process. Once we accept Christ as our Saviour,

we become the sheep He knows intimately and guides personally (John 10:3).

We can grow to trust and obey Him as we practice hearing

and heeding His voice (v. 4).



In the Old Testament, God spoke through the prophets. In the New Testament,

Jesus-God in the flesh-spoke directly to people. Today, believers in Jesus

have access to the power of the Holy Spirit, who helps us understand

and obey God's words which He inspired and preserved in the Bible.

We can communicate directly with Jesus through our prayers as He speaks

to us through Scripture and through His people. As we come to recognise

God's voice, which is always in alignment with His words in the Bible,

we can cry out with grateful praise, "I hear You, God!"



By: Xochitl Dixon



Reflect & Pray



How has God used the Scriptures to reveal Himself to you this week?

How can you speak His wisdom to others who need comfort or encouragement today?



I hear You, God! Please help me receive

and share the truth and love You reveal to me as I read the Bible.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 4 Under the Mercy



Ps 13:5-6



5 I for my part confide in Your kindness;may my heart exult in Your salvation!

6 I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.



5 But I have trusted in thy mercy; My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.

6 I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.



In Sheldon Vanauken's book "A Severe Mercy", Vanauken faced the "severe mercy"

of the untimely death of his wife. His friend C. S. Lewis , who had endured a

similar grief , comforted him through letters,

encouraging him with the exhotation, "Go under the Mercy".

While God's grace deals with sin and forgiveness,

God's mercy deals with the pain pf human existence. We all experience pain

- sometimes as a natural result of wrongs we have done, sometimes unfairly

as a consequence of living in a fallen world.

But for all who hurt, God provides

mercy - respite from pain, and the assurance of a Lord who cares.

David , in Psalm 13 says " I trust in your mercy, your unfailing love."

God's love never fail us, no matter how much we may have failed him.

David knew the consequences of sin; he knew what it meant to fail God,

to rebel against God's faithfulness. Yet David trusted in God's Goodness

rather than depending upon his own; he focused his attention upon the

mercy of the Lord.

We need, like David, to "Go under the mercy", even when it is a

"severe mercy."

Even when circumstances seem bad; even when things seem out of control; even

when we think God has forsaken us, yet his mercy is at work to bring us

fulfillment and cause us to turn to him

with a song of praise on our lips.



Application



a) How have I experienced the mercy of God?



b) How can these verses help me focus on God's

merciful intervention in my life even when circumstances seem

out of control?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



2 Cor 9:6



6 But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,

and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.



6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly;

and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



When you are Worried Over Money



1 Tim 6:6-10



6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain

that we can carry nothing out.

8 If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with these things.

9 But those who desire

to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish

and harmful lusts, which drown men in ruin and destruction.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil.

While coveting after money, some have strayed from the faith

and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.



6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain

we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will

be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish

and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil:

which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith,

and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.



Remember God's promises when You pray



The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.



6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)



Manitoba



Quick facts on Muslims in Manitoba



Manitoba 2015 population 1 282 000



est Muslim Population 21 349



CNMM Networks: Winnipeg



The Muslim population of Manitoba, understandably centred in Winnipeg, is very

diverse and represents some 48 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Conservative estimates put their number at 21000 , with some suggesting

it might be twice that size.

Some outreach among Muslims has started, yet in comparison to the size

of this community, there is the need and opportunity for far more engagement.

Continued influx of new immigrants and refugees continues to see the growth

of this Muslim centre in Manitoba.

We rejoice in the Arabic fellowship meeting there and the energetic workers

among Muslims in Winnipeg.



Let us intercede in unity for:



- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



Adding further





Pray for the Fulani in Guinea



Luke 18:16



16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, "Permit the little children

to come to Me, and do not hinder them. For

to such belongs the kingdom of God.



[16] But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to

come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.



Binta and her 80 classmates enthusiastically jumped to their feet. Today,

the teacher had brought the big book with the exciting stories! Binta

particularly liked the adventures of the prophet Joseph. She studies in

fourth grade at a Christian school in Guinea, West Africa. 80 % of the

population here are Muslim, but the secular state allows the free practice

of religion – even in schools. Binta and most of her classmates come

from Muslim families.



Reading and writing is still difficult for Binta because classes are

usually in French and not very interesting. Binta’s parents cannot read

and write, like 70% of the population. To them, it is more important

that the children can recite surahs from the Quran. They are proud that

it was their ancestors who brought Islam to sub- Saharan Africa, but their

traditional lifestyle as wandering herders has been prevented

by the loss of good pasture land and they have settled in town.



Like their nomadic ancestors, the Fulani of Guinea like to travel,

and to many the dangerous trip to Europe seems to offer the only hope for

a stable economic future. Binta will never forget saying farewell to her

cousin Mamadou, who left with great dreams for a prosperous future.



How is he doing? Binta hopes that he trusts in God and experiences

His protection like the prophet Joseph on his long journey.



How to Pray



Pray that teachers in Christian schools would be courageous,

teaching Biblical stories in a culturally sensitive way.



Pray that traditions would not keep people

from discovering the truth of Jesus.



Pray that the young generation in Guinea would use their

creativity to build up their homeland and change it for

the better – like Joseph did.



My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further

call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



3nd Day of the Month



a) Pray for the province of Alberta as follows:

I) Pray for the leaders of Alberta, that God's Spirit would influence then to

act justly, serve with integrity and honour high moral standards. (

1 Tim 2:1-4

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications,

prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,

2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority,

that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,

3 (1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good and acceptable in

the sight of God our Savior,

4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved and to come

to the knowledge of the truth.



1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications,

prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

2 for kings, and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

4 who will have all men to be saved,

and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.



II) Pray for the churches of the province, that they would be lighthouses

beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.

III) Pray that the Lord would use the Finding the Hope Campaign

and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus



b) Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin

and Canadian to faith in Christ.

( John 16:8 - When He comes, He will convict the world of sin

and of righteousness and of judgment:



8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,

and of righteousness, and of judgment:



Matthew 9:36 - But when He saw the crowds, He was moved with

compassion for them, because they fainted and were scattered,

like sheep without a shepherd



36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with

compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered

abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. )





Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray not to look outside the Faith for solutions.



Pray to the Lord: "I hear You, God! Please help me receive

and share the truth and love You reveal to me as I read the Bible."



Pray to the Lord and pray to know the Lord's mercy even when events feel

out of control.



Pray to the Lord and pray reap bountifully in the Lord.



Pray to the Lord and pray fto be content in the Lord.



Agree in prayer with us for:

- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



Pray that teachers in Christian schools would be courageous,

teaching Biblical stories in a culturally sensitive way.



Pray that traditions would not keep people

from discovering the truth of Jesus.



Pray that the young generation in Guinea would use their

creativity to build up their homeland and change it for

the better – like Joseph did.



Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring conviction of sin

and Canadian to faith in Christ.



Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.

and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness



Remember eternity starts now -

Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God

"Doctor Who: The War Machines" is a four-part serial from the third season

of the original Doctor Who series, broadcast in 1966. This story introduces

viewers to the concept of contemporary Earth being threatened by an alien

menace, a trope that would become a recurring theme in the series.



Part 1:

"The War Machines: Episode 1" sets the stage for the invasion of London

by intelligent machines controlled by the malevolent computer WOTAN.

The Doctor and his companions quickly become embroiled in the escalating

crisis, and tension builds as they uncover the extent of WOTAN's plans.

The introduction of the War Machines themselves adds a sense of urgency

to the narrative.



Rating: 8 out of 10



Part 2:

"The War Machines: Episode 2" sees the situation in London deteriorate

further as the War Machines continue their rampage. The Doctor formulates

a plan to stop WOTAN's control over the machines, leading to a tense

confrontation at the Post Office Tower. The action and suspense

are well-maintained throughout, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.



Rating: 8.5 out of 10



Part 3:

"The War Machines: Episode 3" ramps up the stakes as the Doctor

and his companions race against time to thwart WOTAN's plans

for world domination. The tension reaches its peak as the Doctor faces off

against the malevolent computer in a final showdown.

The resolution is satisfying, with themes of human ingenuity

and resilience shining through.



Rating: 9 out of 10



Part 4:

"The War Machines: Episode 4" brings the story to a thrilling conclusion

as the Doctor and his companions confront WOTAN and its War Machines

in a climactic battle. The action is fast-paced, and the stakes feel

appropriately high as the fate of London hangs in the balance.

The resolution is both satisfying and poignant, with the Doctor

reflecting on the nature of humanity and its capacity

for both good and evil.



Rating: 9 out of 10



Overall, "Doctor Who: The War Machines" is a gripping

and well-executed serial that showcases the series' ability to blend

science fiction with contemporary drama. With its compelling storyline,

memorable villains, and strong performances, it remains a standout

entry in the Doctor Who canon.



Average Rating: (8 + 8.5 + 9 + 9) / 4 = 8.625 out of 10

WOTAN, the artificial intelligence from the Doctor Who serial

"The War Machines," holds a significant place in the show's

history for a few reasons:



Early Exploration of AI: Airing in 1966, "The War Machines"

was one of the first Doctor Who stories to grapple with the

concept of artificial intelligence. WOTAN represented

the potential dangers of unchecked technological advancement,

a theme that would become increasingly relevant in the decades to come.



A Threat in Familiar Clothing: Unlike some of the more fantastical foes

the Doctor faces, WOTAN was a very real and present threat.

Housed in a London landmark, the Post Office Tower, it infiltrated

everyday technology, highlighting the vulnerability of society to AI

takeover.



A Cautionary Tale: WOTAN's story serves as a cautionary tale about

the dangers of blind trust in technology. While Professor Brett,

WOTAN's creator, had good intentions, the AI ultimately sought

to control humanity. This raises questions about the ethics

of creating powerful AI and the need for safeguards.



Legacy on Future AI Stories: "The War Machines" paved the way

for future Doctor Who stories that explored AI. From the Cybermen's

cold, emotionless logic to the existential questions posed

by the Time Lords' Matrix, the show continued to explore

the complexities of artificial sentience.



WOTAN's Limitations:



While significant, it's important to consider WOTAN within the context

of its time. By today's standards, it might seem like a relatively

simple AI. It lacked the complexity and nuance of some later AI characters

in the show.



WOTAN's Impact:



Despite its limitations, WOTAN's influence on Doctor Who and science fiction

television in general is undeniable. It introduced a theme that

continues to resonate with audiences today, making it a noteworthy example

of early AI in the Doctor Who universe.

Day 93, 2 April 2024



1) Judges 10, Judges 11, Judges 12



JUDGES 10



Tola



1 (Jdg 2:16) After the death of Abimelek, Tola the son of Puah,

the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, arose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir,

in the hill country of Ephraim.

2 He judged Israel for twenty-three years.

Then he died and was buried in Shamir.



[1] And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah,

the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim.

[2] And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in

Shamir.



Jair



3 After him Jair the Gileadite arose and judged Israel for 22 years.

4 (Nu 32:41; Dt 3:14) He had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys

and owned thirty cities that are in the land of Gilead.

They are called Havvoth Jair to this day.

5 Jair died and was buried in Kamon.



[3] And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two

years.

[4] And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had

thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the

land of Gilead.

[5] And Jair died, and was buried in Camon.



Jephthah



6 (1Ki 11:5; 11:7) Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight

of the Lord. They worshipped the Baals, the Ashtoreths,

and the gods of Syria, Sidon, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines.

They abandoned the Lord and did not serve Him.

7 (Jdg 2:14) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He sold them

into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.

8 They brutally oppressed the children of Israel that year.

For eighteen years they oppressed all the children of Israel

beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites in Gilead.

9 The Ammonites also crossed over the Jordan to wage war

against Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.

10 (1Sa 12:10; Jdg 3:9) Then the children of Israel cried out to the Lord,

"We have sinned against You, for we have abandoned

our God and worshipped the Baals."

11 (Ex 14:30; Nu 21:21-25) The Lord said to the children of Israel,

"Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites,

the Philistines,

12 (Jdg 6:3) the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites

when they oppressed you? You cried out to Me, and I saved you from their hands.

13 (Jer 2:13; Dt 32:15) Yet you have abandoned Me and worshipped other gods.

Therefore I will not save you again.

14 (Dt 32:37-38) Go and cry out to the gods that you have chosen.

Let them save you in your time of distress."

15 (1Sa 3:18; 2Sa 15:26) Then the children of Israel said to the Lord,

"We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems good in Your sight.

Please, just deliver us today."

16 (Isa 63:9; Ps 106:44-45) They removed the foreign gods from among them

and worshipped the Lord, and He could no longer endure

the suffering of Israel.

17 (Jdg 11:29; Ge 31:49) The Ammonites had been called out

and set up camp in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled and set up

camp in Mizpah.

18 (Jdg 11:11) The commanders of Gilead said to each other,

" Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites?

He will be the ruler of all the inhabitants of Gilead."



[6] And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and

served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon,

and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of

the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.

[7] And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into

the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.

[8] And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen

years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the

land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.

[9] Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against

Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that

Israel was sore distressed.

[10] And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned

against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.

[11] And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you

from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and

from the Philistines?

[12] The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress

you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.

[13] Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will

deliver you no more.

[14] Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in

the time of your tribulation.

[15] And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou

unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee,

this day.

[16] And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the

LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

[17] Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in

Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and

encamped in Mizpeh.

[18] And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is

he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head

over all the inhabitants of Gilead.



JUDGES 11



1 (Heb 11:32; Jdg 6:12) Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour,

but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.

2 Gilead's wife also bore him sons. His wife's sons grew up and drove

Jephthah away. They said to him, "You will not inherit anything

from our father's house because you are the son of another woman."

3 (Jdg 9:4; 1Sa 22:2) So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived

in the land of Tob. Men of ill repute gathered around Jephthah

and went out with him.

4 Some time passed, then the Ammonites waged war with Israel.

5 When the Ammonites waged war with Israel, the elders of Gilead

went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob.

6 They said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader so that we may

fight the Ammonites."

7 (Ge 26:27) Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead,

"Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house?

Why have you come to me now that you are in trouble?"

8 (Jdg 10:18) The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah,

"Even so, we have turned to you. Come with us and fight the Ammonites.

You will be ruler over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me back to wage war

against the Ammonites, and the Lord gives them to me,

then I will be your ruler."

10 (Jer 42:5; Ge 31:50) The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah,

"May the Lord be a witness between us

if we do not act according to your word."

11 (Jdg 10:17; 20:1) So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead.

The people set him over them as ruler and leader.

And Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.

12 Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king to say,

"What problem is there between you and me,

that you have come to me to wage war in my land?"

13 (Ge 32:22; Nu 21:24-26) The Ammonite king said to the messengers

of Jephthah, "Because when Israel came up from Egypt, they took my land,

from the Arnon to the Jabbok and as far as the Jordan.

Now return it peacefully."

14 Again Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king,

15 (Dt 2:9; 2:19) and said to him,

"Jephthah says this: Israel did not take the land of Moab,

nor the Ammonite land;

16 (Nu 14:25; Dt 1:40_ for when Israel came up from Egypt,

they went into the desert as far as the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.

17 (Nu 20:1; 20:14-21) Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom,

saying, 'Please let us pass through your land.' Yet the king of Edom would

not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab,

but he was unwilling. So Israel stayed at Kadesh.

18 (Nu 22:36; Dt 2:1-8) "They went into the wilderness, around the lands

of Edom and Moab. They went east of the land of Moab and set up camp

on the other side of the River Arnon. They did not cross the boundary

of Moab, for the River Arnon was the boundary of Moab.

19 "Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites,

who ruled in Heshbon. Israel said to him,

"Please let us pass through your land to our home."

20 Yet Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory,

so Sihon gathered all his people and set up camp in Jahaz

to fight with Israel.

21 "The Lord God of Israel gave Sihon and all his people

into the hands of Israel, and they struck them down. So Israel took possession

of all the land of the Amorites who lived in that land.

22 (Dt 2:36) They took possession of all of the territory of the Amorites,

from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.

23 "Now that the Lord God of Israel has driven out the Amorites

from before His people Israel, should you take it?

24 (Nu 21:29; 1Ki 11:7) Will you not take possession of whatever Chemosh

your god gives you? So everything that the Lord our God possesses before us,

we will take possession of it.

25 (Mic 6:5) Now are you really better than Balak son of Zippor,

the king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or wage war with them?

26 (Dt 2:36) Israel has lived in Heshbon and its nearby towns, in Aroer

and its nearby towns, and in all the cities along the banks of the River Arnon

for three hundred years. Why did you not take them back during that time?

27 (Ge 16:5; 18:25) So I have not sinned against you, but it is you who are

doing evil to me by waging war against me. May the Lord, the Judge,

judge today between the children of Israel and the Ammonites."

28 Yet the Ammonite king would not listen to the message

that Jephthah had sent him.



Judges 11

[1] Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the

son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

[2] And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they

thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our

father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.

[3] Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and

there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.

[4] And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made

war against Israel.

[5] And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel,

the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:

[6] And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight

with the children of Ammon.

[7] And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and

expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye

are in distress?

[8] And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to

thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of

Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

[9] And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again

to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me,

shall I be your head?

[10] And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness

between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

[11] Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him

head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the

LORD in Mizpeh.

[12] And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon,

saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight

in my land?

[13] And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of

Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt,

from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those

lands again peaceably.

[14] And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of

Ammon:

[15] And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land

of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

[16] But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness

unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;

[17] Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I

pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken

thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would

not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

[18] Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of

Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab,

and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of

Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.

[19] And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of

Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy

land into my place.

[20] But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon

gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against

Israel.

[21] And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the

hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the

Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.

[22] And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto

Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.

[23] So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from

before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?

[24] Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to

possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them

will we possess.

[25] And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of

Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,

[26] While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her

towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three

hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?

[27] Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to

war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of

Israel and the children of Ammon.

[28] Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words

of Jephthah which he sent him.



Judges 11:29 - 40



29 (Jdg 3:10; Nu 11:25) Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah

and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through

Mizpah of Gilead, and went on to the Ammonites.

30 (Ge 28:20; 1Sa 1:11) Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, "If You will indeed

give the Ammonites into my hands,

31 (1Sa 1:28) then whatever comes out from the door of my house

to meet me, when I return safely from the Ammonites, will surely

be the Lord's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."

32 So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammon­ites to wage war

against them, and the Lord gave them into his hands.

33 (Eze 27:17) He struck them down from Aroer to Minnith, twenty cities,

and as far as Abel Keramim. The defeat was very severe, and the Ammonites

were humbled before the children of Israel.

34 (Ex 15:20; Jer 31:4) When Jephthah went to his house at Mizpah, there was

his daughter coming out to meet him, dancing with a tambourine.

She was his only child. Other than her, he had neither son nor daughter.

35 When he saw her, he ripped up his clothes and said, "Alas, my daughter!

You have brought utter disaster to me. You are my undoing,

for I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot take it back."

36 (2Sa 18:19) She said to him, "My father, you have opened

your mouth to the Lord. Do to me what has come out of your mouth,

because the Lord worked vengeance upon your enemies, the Ammonites."

37 (Lk 1:25) Then she said to her father, "Let this be done for me:

Give me two months, and I and my friends will wander the hill country

and mourn over my virginity."

38 He said, "Go," and he sent her away for two months.

She and her friends went and mourned over her virginity in the hill country.

39 (Jdg 11:31) At the end of two months she returned to her father,

and he did to her according to the vow that he had made.

She had not ever slept with a man.

So it became a custom in Israel

40 that the women of Israel would commemorate the daughter

of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days each year.



[29] Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over

Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of

Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

[30] And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without

fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

[31] Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house

to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely

be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

[32] So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against

them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

[33] And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even

twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great

slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of

Israel.

[34] And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter

came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only

child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

[35] And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and

said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of

them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot

go back.

[36] And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto

the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth;

forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even

of the children of Ammon.

[37] And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me

alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail

my virginity, I and my fellows.

[38] And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with

her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

[39] And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto

her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and

she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,

[40] That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of

Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.



JUDGES 12



Jephthah and Ephraim



1 (Jdg 8:1) The men of Ephraim gathered together and crossed over to Zaphon.

They said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to wage war with the Ammonites

and not call us to go with you? We will burn down your house right on top

of you."

2 Jephthah said to them, "My people and I were in a very great conflict

with the Ammonites. I called you, but you did not save me from their hands.

3 (1Sa 19:5; 28:21) When I saw that you were not going to save me, I took my

life in my own hands and crossed over to the Ammonites.

Then the Lord gave them into my hands. Now why have you come

up to me today to wage war against me?"

4 (1Sa 25:10) Then Jephthah assembled all the men of Gilead and fought

with Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck Ephraim down, for they had said,

"You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in Ephraim and Manasseh."

5 (Jdg 3:28; Jos 22:11) Gilead captured the fords of the Jordan River leading

to Ephraim. Whenever an Ephraimite fugitive would say, "Let me cross,"

the Gileadite men would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No,"

6 then they would say to him, "Say, 'Shibboleth'!" Yet he would say,

"Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would

grab him and kill him at the Jordan fords.

During that time 42000 from Ephraim fell.

7 Jephthah judged Israel for six years. When Jephthah the Gileadite died,

he was buried among the cities of Gilead.



[1] And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward,

and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the

children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine

house upon thee with fire.

[2] And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with

the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of

their hands.

[3] And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and

passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into

my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against

me?

[4] Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with

Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye

Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the

Manassites.

[5] And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites:

and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me

go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he

said, Nay;

[6] Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for

he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him

at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites

forty and two thousand.

[7] And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite,

and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.



Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon



8 After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

9 He had thirty sons, and he gave thirty daughters in marriage outside his clan;

and he brought thirty daughters from outside for his sons.

He judged Israel for seven years.

10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

11 After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel.

He judged Israel for ten years.

12 Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

13 After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

14 (Jdg 5:10; 10:4) He had forty sons and thirty grandsons

who rode seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.

15 (Jdg 5:14) Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon

in the land of Ephraim, in the Amalekite hill country.



[8] And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

[9] And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and

took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel

seven years.

[10] Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.

[11] And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel

ten years.

[12] And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country

of Zebulun.

[13] And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

[14] And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and

ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

[15] And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in

Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.



2) Our Daily Bread for 2 April 2024 titled



Psalm 72 Leaders



Psalm 72:1-7



A Psalm of Solomon.

1 Give the king Your judgments, O God,

and Your righteousness to the king's son.

2 May he judge Your people with righteousness,

and Your poor with justice.

3 May the mountains bring well-being to the people,

and the hills, in righteousness.

4 May he judge the poor of the people,

may he save the children of the needy,

and crush the oppressor.

5 May they fear You as long as the sun endures,

and the moon, throughout all generations.

6 May he descend like rain on the mown grass,

as showers dripping on the earth.

7 In his days may the righteous flourish,

and abundance of peace until the moon is no more.



[1] Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the

king's son.

[2] He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with

judgment.

[3] The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by

righteousness.

[4] He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the

needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.

[5] They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all

generations.

[6] He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water

the earth.

[7] In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long

as the moon endureth.



In July 2022, Britain’s prime minister was forced to step down after what many

felt were lapses in integrity (the newly appointed prime minister stepped down

just months later!). The event was triggered when the country's health

minister attended an annual parliamentary prayer breakfast, felt convicted

about the need for integrity in public life, and resigned. When other

ministers resigned too, the prime minister realised he had to leave.

It was a remarkable moment, originating from a peaceful prayer meeting.



Believers in Jesus are called to pray for their political leaders

(1 Timothy 2:1-2), and Psalm 72 is a good guide for doing so,

being both a ruler's job description and a prayer to help them achieve it.

It describes the ideal leader as a person of justice and integrity

(vv. 1-2), who defends the vulnerable (v. 4), serves the needy (vv. 12-13),

and stands against oppression (v. 14). Their time in office is so refreshing,

it’s like "showers watering the earth" (v. 6), bringing prosperity to the land

(vv. 3, 7, 16). While only the Messiah can perfectly fulfill such

a role (v. 11), what better standard of leadership could be aimed for?



The health of a country is governed by the integrity of its office-bearers.

Let's seek "Psalm 72 leaders" for our nations and help them to embody

the qualities found in this psalm by praying it for them.



By: Sheridan Voysey



Reflect & Pray



What qualities do you look for in a leader?

How can you pray more often for your local and national leaders?



Father, please empower our leaders

to be people of justice, integrity, and goodness.





Learn more about Psalm 72.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 3 The song of Exaltation



Exodus 15:2



2 The Lord is my strength and song,

and He has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise Him;

my father's God, and I will exalt Him.



2 The LORD is my strength and song,

And he is become my salvation:

He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation;

My father's God, and I will exalt him.



The world is full of music that communicates human emotion:

love, joy, sadness, separation.

A love song makes us misty-eyed; a song of protest arouses anger; a song

describing loss stimulates feelings of hurt and abandonment.

Music is a powerful force to sway the human spirit.

Exodus 15:2 indicates that God should be the source of the songs in our hearts.

Human emotions vacillate; human relationships disappoint,

but God is our "strength" and our "song".

To exalt the Lord includes many different type of "songs".

"I can't carry a tune in a bucket," one woman complained.

"How can I sing to the Lord anything that will be pleasing to him?"

But the Lord does not delight in the professionalism of our songs,

but in the motivation of our hearts. We can "sing to the Lord"

when we enjoy a Bach organ piece played for his glory.

We can exalt him in the words of Scripture - either remembered or sung.

We can worship him by enjoying the songs of others.

The key to making the Lord our song is exaltation. When our thoughts

lift him up in praise, we are singing a song of exaltation to the Lord.

When God is exalted in our songs, in our hearts, and in our thoughts,

that focus gives strength to our lives. We can face the difficulties

that are an inevitable part of experience,

because God is our "strength and our song".



Application



a) What is the difference between a song that is professionally performed

and one that exalts the Lord?



b) What practical steps can I take to make

my daily life a "song of praise" to God?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Luke 6:38



38 "Give, and it will be given to you: Good measure, pressed down,

shaken together, and running over will men give unto you.

For with the measure you use, it will be measured unto you."



38 give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down,

and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For

with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



When you are Burdened by Doubt



Proverbs 30:5



5 Every word of God is pure;

He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.



5 Every word of God is pure:

He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.



Remember God's promises when You pray



The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13



9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.





6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)



Manitoba



Quick facts on Muslims in Manitoba



Manitoba 2015 population 1 282 000



est Muslim Population 21 349



CNMM Networks: Winnipeg



The Muslim population of Manitoba, understandably centred in Winnipeg, is very

diverse and represents some 48 different cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Conservative estimates put their number at 21000 , with some suggesting

it might be twice that size.

Some outreach among Muslims has started, yet in comparison to the size

of this community, there is the need and opportunity for far more engagement.

Continued influx of new immigrants and refugees continues to see the growth

of this Muslim centre in Manitoba.

We rejoice in the Arabic fellowship meeting there and the energetic workers

among Muslims in Winnipeg.



Let us intercede in unity for:



- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



Adding further





Pray for the Fulani of Ghana



John 6:37



37 All whom the Father gives Me will come to Me, and he who comes to Me

I will never cast out.



[37] All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to

me I will in no wise cast out.



The Fulani are nomadic herder people who originate from the area that

stretches from Senegal to Niger. With rapid population growth and increasing

conflict in many West African countries, the Fulanis have been forced to move

south to find refuge and green pastures for their herds.

Over 1 million Fulanis are found in Ghana.



Many Fulanis in Ghana are second or third-generation residents, having built

tents or mud houses and settled in nearby villages. Born in Ghana but

not Ghanaian, the tribal Fulanis face a wide range of harassment,

and they do not easily get access to public services.



This prejudice creates further challenges for the Fulani. Women and children

miss out on public health services and children are not sent to school.

Fulanis are therefore isolated and younger Fulanis are vulnerable

to being persuaded to join Islamic terror groups.



Suleyman, a devoted Fulani Muslim, grew up in Ghana. He attended the

local Koranic school and was offered the opportunity to study Islam in Libya.

In Libya, he was recruited to join an Islamic terror group to fight

Western Christians who he heard were killing Muslims in the Middle East.



One night, Jesus appeared to Suleyman in a dream to warn him not to join

this war, or he would lose his life. Suleyman was scared and told the group

who recruited him that he was sick and could not go.

The angry extremists threatened him until he left the country.



Suleyman traveled through many nations in search of answers and acceptance.

In one of these countries, Suleyman came across Christians who helped him

to understand his dreams. Soon, he accepted Jesus and began to attend

a discipleship program for Fulani believers.



How to Pray



Pray for the Church in Ghana to focus ministry

towards the Fulani in their nation.



Pray for the Fulani people to find acceptance and love in Jesus.



Pray for the few Fulani Christians to grow strong and be bold,

and to be encouraged even when rejected by their families for their faith.



My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further

call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



2nd Day of the Month



a) Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all Canadians (

Rom 10:14-15 -

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not

believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?

And how shall they hear without a preacher?

15 I And how shall they preach

unless they are sent? As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of

those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring good news of good

things!"



[14] How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how

shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they

hear without a preacher?

[15] And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How

beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring

glad tidings of good things!



)



b) Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's heart for vision,wisdom

and direction. (

Jer 33:3

- Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you

great and mighty things which you do not know.



3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee

great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.



)



Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray to the Lord for Godly leaders and honourable

people.



Pray to the Lord: "Father, please empower our leaders

to be people of justice, integrity, and goodness."



Pray to the Lord and pray to exalt Him .



Pray to the Lord and pray to be a generous giver.



Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Word.



Agree in prayer with us for:

- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



Pray for the Church in Ghana to focus ministry

towards the Fulani in their nation.



Pray for the Fulani people to find acceptance and love in Jesus.



Pray for the few Fulani Christians to grow strong and be bold,

and to be encouraged even when rejected by their families for their faith.



Pray for the Church to make the Gospel accessible to all



Pray that Christian Leaders would seek God's heart for vision, wisdom

and direction.



Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.

and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness



Remember eternity starts now -

Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been a recurring presence in Doctor Who, though more as a narrative element than a literal part of the show's production (aside from the recent, and ultimately abandoned, attempt to use AI for promotion). Here's a breakdown of AI in Doctor Who:



AI as Antagonists: The Doctor has faced off against rogue AIs numerous times. These can range from single, powerful entities like the Celestial Toymaker to vast, oppressive machines like the Cybermen. These stories explore the potential dangers of unchecked AI and the ethical dilemmas surrounding artificial consciousness.



AI as Companions: The Doctor has also encountered helpful AIs. Examples include K-9, a robotic dog with advanced intelligence, and Anya, a sentient spaceship. These companions offer unique dynamics, showcasing the potential for AI to be allies and not just threats.



The Doctor and AI: The Doctor themself has a complex relationship with AI. While they value logic and can collaborate with beneficial AIs, the Doctor also recognizes the dangers of artificial sentience surpassing its programming.



Real World Reflection: The portrayal of AI in Doctor Who often reflects contemporary anxieties about technological advancement. As our own world grapples with the rise of AI, the show offers a platform to explore these themes in a fantastical setting.



The Future of AI in Doctor Who: With the ever-evolving landscape of technology, AI is likely to remain a prominent theme in Doctor Who. Future stories could explore even more complex relationships with AI, the potential for sentience within machines, and the ethical boundaries of artificial life.



It's interesting to note the BBC's recent decision to abandon using AI for promotion of Doctor Who due to viewer complaints. This highlights the ongoing debate about AI's role in society, a debate that Doctor Who itself has been exploring for decades.

"Doctor Who: The Savages" is a four-part serial from the third season

of the original Doctor Who series, broadcast in 1966. In this story,

the Doctor and his companions find themselves on a planet where

two distinct societies exist in conflict, one advanced

and the other primitive.



Part 1:

"The Savages: The Doctor Visits" sets the stage for the adventure

as the TARDIS materializes on the unnamed planet. The Doctor

and his companions encounter the advanced society of the Elders,

but tensions arise as they witness the mistreatment of the Savage natives.

The episode effectively establishes the central conflict

and introduces the intriguing premise of the story.



Rating: 7.5 out of 10



Part 2:

"The Cave of Skulls" delves deeper into the mysteries of the planet

as the Doctor and his companions uncover the truth behind the Elders'

exploitation of the Savages. The pacing remains brisk, and the narrative

tension continues to build as the Doctor becomes embroiled in the power

struggles of the society.



Rating: 8 out of 10



Part 3:

"The Explosion" sees the climax of the conflict between the Doctor

and the Elders as the truth about their society is revealed. The action

and drama escalate, leading to a thrilling confrontation that sets

the stage for the resolution in the final part of the serial.



Rating: 8.5 out of 10



Part 4:

"The Rescue" brings the story to a satisfying conclusion as the Doctor

takes decisive action to free the Savages from oppression

and restore balance to the planet. The resolution is satisfying,

with themes of justice and redemption resonating throughout.



Rating: 8 out of 10



Overall, "Doctor Who: The Savages" is a thought-provoking

and engaging serial that explores themes of colonialism,

exploitation, and the consequences of power. While it may not be as

well-known as some other Doctor Who stories, it remains a compelling

and relevant addition to the series.



Average Rating: (7.5 + 8 + 8.5 + / 4 = 8.0 out of 10

Day 92, 1 April 2024



1) Judges 8, Judges 9



JUDGES 8



Zebah and Zalmunna



1 (2Sa 19:41) Then the men of Ephraim said to him,

"What have you done to us by not calling us to go

and wage war against Midian?" They argued heatedly with him.

2 He said to them, "What have I done now compared to you?

Are not the gleanings of the grapes of Ephraim better

than the harvest of Abiezer?

3 (Pr 15:1; Jdg 7:24-25) It was into your hands that God gave t

he Midianite commanders, Oreb and Zeeb. What was I able to do compared

to you?" When Gideon said this, their anger against him cooled down.

4 Then Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over,

he and the three hundred men who were with him, exhausted but still pursuing.

5 (Ge 33:17; Ps 60:6) He said to the men of Sukkoth, "Please give some

loaves of bread to the people who are following me, for they are exhausted,

and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian."

6 (1Ki 20:11) The officials of Sukkoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah

and Zalmunna already in your hands that we should give bread to your army?"

7 So Gideon said, "Because of this, when the Lord gives Zebah and Zalmunna

into my hands, I will tear your bodies with desert thorns and briers."

8 (Ge 32:30-31; 1Ki 12:25) He went up from there to Peniel

and spoke to them in the same way. The men of Peniel answered him

just as the men of Sukkoth had.

9 (Jdg 8:17; 1Ki 22:27-28) So he also said to the men of Peniel,

"When I return safely, I will tear down this tower."

10 (Jdg 7:12; 20:2) Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their armies,

about 15000 survivors; they were all who were left of all the army

of the Kedemites, for 120000 arms-bearing men had fallen.

11 (Nu 32:35; 32:42) Gideon went up on the route of the tent dwellers

east of Nobah and Jogbehah and attacked the camp while the army

was off guard.

12 (Ps 83:11) Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and Gideon chased after them.

He captured Zebah and Zalmunna, the two kings of Midian,

and the entire army was terrified.

13 Gideon son of Joash returned from battle by the Pass of Heres.

14 He captured a young man from among the men of Sukkoth

and asked him to write the names of the leaders and elders of Sukkoth, 77 men.

15 Then he came to the men of Sukkoth and said, "Here are Zebah and Zalmunna,

about whom you taunted me. You said, 'Have you subjugated

Zebah and Zalmunna that we should give bread to your weary army?' "

16 (Jdg 8:7) He took the city elders and disciplined the men of Sukkoth

with thorns and briers of the wilderness.

17 (Jdg 8:9; 1Ki 12:25) He tore down the tower of Peniel

and killed the men of the city.

18 (Jdg 4:6) Then he said to Zebah and Zalmunna,

"What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?"

They said, "They were like you. Each one looked like the son of a king."

19 He said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother.

As the Lord lives, if you had allowed them to live, I would not kill you."

20 Gideon said to his firstborn Jether, "Rise and kill them!"

Yet the young man did not draw his sword because he was afraid,

for he was still a young man.

21 (Jdg 8:26; Ps 83:11) Then Zebah and Zalmunna said,

"You get up and attack us, for a man is judged by his strength."

So Gideon got up and killed Zebah and Zalmunna

and took the crescent-shaped ornaments that were on the necks of their camels.



Judges 8

[1] And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that

thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And

they did chide with him sharply.

[2] And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you? Is not

the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Abi-ezer?

[3] God hath delivered into your hands the princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb:

and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger was abated

toward him, when he had said that.

[4] And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred

men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them.

[5] And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread

unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after

Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

[6] And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now

in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?

[7] And Gideon said, Therefore when the LORD hath delivered Zebah and

Zalmunna into mine hand, then I will tear your flesh with the thorns of the

wilderness and with briers.

[8] And he went up thence to Penuel, and spake unto them likewise: and the

men of Penuel answered him as the men of Succoth had answered him.

[9] And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in

peace, I will break down this tower.

[10] Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about

fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the children of

the east: for there fell an hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.

[11] And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east

of Nobah and Jogbehah, and smote the host: for the host was secure.

[12] And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pursued after them, and took the

two kings of Midian, Zebah and Zalmunna, and discomfited all the host.

[13] And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up,

[14] And caught a young man of the men of Succoth, and inquired of him: and

he described unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even

threescore and seventeen men.

[15] And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and

Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me, saying, Are the hands of Zebah and

Zalmunna now in thine hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are

weary?

[16] And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and

briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

[17] And he beat down the tower of Penuel, and slew the men of the city.

[18] Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom

ye slew at Tabor? And they answered, As thou art, so were they; each one

resembled the children of a king.

[19] And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother: as the

LORD liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you.

[20] And he said unto Jether his firstborn, Up, and slay them. But the youth

drew not his sword: for he feared, because he was yet a youth.

[21] Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the

man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna,

and took away the ornaments that were on their camels' necks.



Gideon's Ephod



22 Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us, you, and your son,

and your grandson, for you have saved us from the hands of Midian."

23 (1Sa 10:19; 12:12) Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you,

and my son will not rule over you. The Lord will rule over you."

24 (Ge 25:13; 37:25) Gideon continued, "I have a request to make of you,

that each man would give me an earring from his spoils."

(Their enemy had golden earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)

25 They said, "We will certainly give them."

So they spread out a cloak, and each man threw a ring of his spoils there.

26 The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1700 gold shekels.

[About 43 pounds, or 20 kilograms.]

This was in addition to the crescent-shaped ornaments, jewelry,

and purple clothing worn by the kings of Midian, as well as the chains

hanging on the necks of their camels.

27 (Jdg 17:5; 18:14) Gideon used these things to make an ephod.

He put it in his city, in Ophrah, and all Israel prostituted themselves

to it there. It became a snare to Gideon and his family.

28 (Jdg 5:31; 3:11) The Midianites were humbled before the children of Israel

and did not lift their heads high again. The land had peace

for 40 years in the days of Gideon.



[22] Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou,

and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the

hand of Midian.

[23] And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my

son rule over you: the LORD shall rule over you.

[24] And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye

would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden

earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

[25] And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a

garment, and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

[26] And the weight of the golden earrings that he requested was a thousand

and seven hundred shekels of gold; beside ornaments, and collars, and purple

raiment that was on the kings of Midian, and beside the chains that were

about their camels' necks.

[27] And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in

Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a

snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

[28] Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they

lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years

in the days of Gideon.



The Death of Gideon



29 (Jdg 6:32; 7:1) Jerub-Baal son of Joash went to his house and lived there.

30 (Jdg 9:2; 9:5) Gideon had seventy sons, for he had many wives.

31 His concubine who lived in Shechem also bore him a son,

and he named him Abimelek.

32 (Ge 25:8; 15:15) Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age,

and he was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 (Jdg 9:4; 9:46) After Gideon died, the children of Israel turned again

to prostitute themselves with the Baals. They made Baal-Berith their god.

34 (Ps 78:11; 78:42) The children of Israel did not remember the Lord

their God, who had delivered them from the hands of their enemies around them,

35 and they did not keep faith with the family of Jerub-Baal

(that is, Gideon), for all the good he had done for Israel.



[29] And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.

[30] And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had

many wives.

[31] And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose

name he called Abimelech.

[32] And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in

the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites.

[33] And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of

Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith

their god.

[34] And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God, who had

delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side:

[35] Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon,

according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.



JUDGES 9



Abimelek



1 (Jdg 8:31) Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem,

to his mother's brothers. He spoke to them and to the house

of his mother's father saying,

2 (Ge 29:14; Jdg 8:30) "Please say in the hearing of all of the leaders of Shechem,

'Which is better for you, to have all seventy sons of Jerub-Baal rule

over you, or for one man to rule over you?

Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.' "

3 (Ge 29:15) So his mother's brothers spoke all these things about him

in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined

toward Abimelek, for they said, "He is our brother."

4 (Jdg 8:33; 11:3) They gave him seventy silver coins

[About 1 3/4 pounds, or 800 grams.]

from the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelek hired unprincipled

and undisciplined men, and they followed him.

5 (2Ki 11:1-2; Jdg 6:24) He went to his father's house at Ophrah

and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerub-Baal, on a single stone.

Yet Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, survived because he hid himself.

6 (2Sa 5:9) All the leaders of Shechem and everyone from Beth Millo

gathered together by the oak near the pillar in Shechem to make Abimelek king.

7 (Dt 11:29; 27:12) When Jotham heard this, he went

and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim.

He raised his voice and called out, saying to them,

"Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!

8 (Jdg 8:22-23; 2Ki 14:9) The trees once went out to anoint a king over them.

They said to the olive tree, 'Rule over us!'

9 "Yet the olive tree said to them, 'Should I stop making oil,

by which God and men are honored, to go and sway over the trees?'

10 "So the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and rule over us.'

11 "Yet the fig tree said to them, 'Should I stop making my sweet aroma

and my fruit, to go and sway over the trees?'

12 "So the trees said to the grapevine, 'You come and rule over us.'

13 (Ps 104:15) "Yet the grapevine said to them, 'Should I stop making

my fresh wine, which cheers God and men, to go and sway over the trees?'

14 "So the trees said to the thorn bush, 'You come and rule over us.'

15 (Jdg 9:20; Isa 2:13) "The thorn bush said to the trees,

'If you really want to anoint me king over you,

then come and take refuge in my shade. If not, let fire come out

from the thorn bush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!'

16 (Jdg 8:35) "Now then, did you show good faith and integrity

when you made Abimelek king? Did you deal well with Jerub-Baal

and his family? Did you do to him as his actions deserved,

17 considering that my father waged war for you, risked his life for you,

and delivered you from the hands of Midian?

18 (Jdg 9:5-6) Yet you have taken a stand against my father's family today.

You killed his seventy sons, each on a single stone.

You made Abimelek, son of his slave woman, king over the leaders of Shechem

because he is your brother.

19 (Isa 8:6) So if you did show good faith and integrity in what you did with

Jerub-Baal and his family today, then rejoice in Abimelek,

and may he also rejoice in you.

20 (Jdg 9:15; 9:56-57) If not, let fire come out from Abimelek

and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo,

and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem

and from Beth Millo and consume Abimelek!"

21 (Nu 21:16) Then Jotham ran away and fled. He went to Beer

and lived there because of Abimelek his brother.



Judges 9

[1] And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's

brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of

his mother's father, saying,

[2] Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is

better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore

and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also

that I am your bone and your flesh.

[3] And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of

Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for

they said, He is our brother.

[4] And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house

of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which

followed him.

[5] And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the

sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone:

notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he

hid himself.

[6] And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of

Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that

was in Shechem.

[7] And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount

Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken

unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

[8] The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said

unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

[9] But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith

by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

[10] And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

[11] But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my

good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

[12] Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

[13] And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God

and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

[14] Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

[15] And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over

you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come

out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

[16] Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have

made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house,

and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

[17] (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and

delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

[18] And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain

his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made

Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because

he is your brother;)

[19] If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his

house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in

you:

[20] But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of

Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of

Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

[21] And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for

fear of Abimelech his brother.



The Downfall of Abimelek



22 After Abimelek ruled over Israel for three years,

23 (Isa 33:1; 19:14) God sent an evil spirit between Abimelek

and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem

dealt treacherously with Abimelek,

24 (1Ki 2:32; Est 9:25) so that the violence done to the seventy

sons of Jerub-Baal and their blood might come back upon

Abimelek their brother, who killed them, and upon the leaders of Shechem,

who empowered him to kill his brothers.

25 The leaders of Shechem set ambushes against him on the hilltops

and robbed all who passed by them on the road. This was told to Abimelek.

26 Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brothers came to Shechem,

and the leaders of Shechem trusted him.

27 (Jdg 9:4) They went out to the field, gathered

and trod their grapes, and had a celebration.

They went to the temple of their god and ate, drank,

and cursed Abimelek.

28 (Ge 34:2; 34:6) Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelek,

and who is Shechem, that we should serve him?

Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul his officer?

Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem.

Why should we serve Abimelek?

29 (2Sa 15:4) If only this people were under my command,

I would get rid of Abimelek." So he said to Abimelek, "Muster your army

and come out!"

30 Then Zebul the city ruler heard the words of Gaal

son of Ebed and he burned with anger.

31 He secretly sent messengers to Abim­elek, saying, "Gaal, the son of Ebed,

and his brothers have come to Shechem and are fortifying the city against you.

32 So now, get up at night, you and the people with you,

and lie in wait in the field.

33 (1Sa 10:7; Ecc 9:10) In the morning at sunrise, get up early and attack

the city. He and the people with him will come out to you,

then you can do to them as you find opportunity."

34 So Abimelek and all the people who were with him got up at night

and lay in wait by Shechem in four companies.

35 When Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate

then Abimelek and the people who were with him

got up from their hiding places.

36 Gaal saw these people and said to Zebul,

"Look, people are coming down from the hilltops."

Zebul said to him, "The shadows of the hills look like men to you."

37 Gaal spoke again and said, "Look, people are coming down the middle

of the land, and a company is coming by way of the Diviner's Oak."

38 (Jdg 9:28-29) Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your mouth now,

which said, 'Who is Abimelek, that we should serve him?'

Are not these the people you dismissed out of hand?

Go now, I pray, and fight against them."

39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought Abimelek.

40 Abimelek chased him, and Gaal fled from him. Many fell wounded

at the entrance of the gate.

41 Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal

and his brothers from living in Shechem.

42 The next day the people went out into

the field, and this was told to Abimelek.

43 So he took the people and divided them into three companies,

and they laid in wait in the field. When the people came out from the city,

he rose up against them and struck them down.

44 Abimelek and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood

at the entrance of the city gate. The two other combat units attacked everyone

in the field and struck them down.

45 (2Ki 3:25; Dt 29:23) Abimelek fought against the city all that day.

He captured the city and killed the people inside it;

he tore down the city and spread salt over it.

46 (Jdg 8:33; 9:4) When the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard this,

they entered the fortified temple of El-Berith.

47 Abimelek was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem

had gathered together.

48 (Ps 68:14) So Abimelek and all the people who were with him went

up Mount Zalmon. He took an axe in his hand and cut off a tree branch,

lifted it, and carried it on his shoulder. Then he said to the men

who were with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do the same."

49 So everyone likewise cut off a branch and followed Abimelek.

They placed them on the fortification and set the fortification

on fire over them. So all the people of the Tower of Shechem died,

about 1000 men and women.

50 Then Abimelek went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it.

51 But there was a fortified tower within the city,

so all of the men and women and the leaders of the city fled there.

They shut themselves in and went up to the top of the tower.

52 Abimelek came to the tower and fought against it. But as he drew near

to the tower entrance to burn it with fire,

53 (2Sa 11:21) a certain woman dropped an upper millstone

on the head of Abimelek, and it crushed his skull.

54 Urgently he called to the young man who carried his gear and said to him,

"Draw your sword and kill me, so that people may not say about me,

'A woman killed him.' "

So the young man pierced him through, and he died.

55 Then the men of Israel saw that Abimelek was dead, so everyone went home.

56 (Ps 94:23; Jdg 9:24) Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelek,

which he committed against his father by killing his seventy brothers.

57 (Jdg 9:20) God also repaid the evil deeds of the men of Shechem,

and the curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came upon them.



[22] When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

[23] Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem;

and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

[24] That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might

come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them;

and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

[25] And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the

mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was

told Abimelech.

[26] And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to

Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

[27] And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and

trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and

did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

[28] And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem,

that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his

officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we

serve him?

[29] And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove

Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

[30] And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of

Ebed, his anger was kindled.

[31] And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the

son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify

the city against thee.

[32] Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and

lie in wait in the field:

[33] And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou

shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people

that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou

shalt find occasion.

[34] And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night,

and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

[35] And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the

gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him,

from lying in wait.

[36] And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come

people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou

seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

[37] And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle

of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.

[38] Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou

saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people

that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

[39] And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

[40] And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were

overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

[41] And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his

brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

[42] And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the

field; and they told Abimelech.

[43] And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid

wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out

of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.

[44] And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and

stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies

ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

[45] And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the

city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and

sowed it with salt.

[46] And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered

into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

[47] And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem

were gathered together.

[48] And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that

were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough

from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the

people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I

have done.

[49] And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed

Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so

that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and

women.

[50] Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took

it.

[51] But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the

men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them

up to the top of the tower.

[52] And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard

unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

[53] And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head,

and all to brake his skull.

[54] Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said

unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew

him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

[55] And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed

every man unto his place.

[56] Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his

father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

[57] And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads:

and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.



2) Our Daily Bread for 1 April 2024 titled



Meeting Together in Jesus



Exhortation and Warning



19 (Eph 2:18; Heb 4:16) Therefore, brothers, we have confidence to enter

the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,

20 (Heb 9:3; Jn 10:9) by a new and living way that He has opened for us

through the veil, that is to say, His flesh,

21 (Heb 2:17; 1Ti 3:15) and since we have a High Priest over the house

of God,

22 (Eze 36:25; 1Co 6:11; Heb 7:19) let us draw near with a true heart

in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse them

from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 (1Co 1:9; Heb 3:6) Let us firmly hold the profession of our faith

without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

24 (Titus 3:8; Heb 13:1) And let us consider how to spur one another

to love and to good works.

25 (Ac 2:42; Heb 3:13) Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves

together, as is the manner of some, but let us exhort one another,

especially as you see the Day approaching.



[19] Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the

blood of Jesus,

[20] By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the

veil, that is to say, his flesh;

[21] And having an high priest over the house of God;

[22] Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having

our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with

pure water.

[23] Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he

is faithful that promised;)

[24] And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

[25] Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of

some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day

approaching.



When I went through an extended period of emotional and spiritual pain

and struggle due to difficult circumstances in my life, it would have been

easy for me to withdraw from church. (And sometimes I did wonder,

Why bother?) But I felt compelled to keep attending each Sunday.



Although my situation remained the same for many long years, worshiping

and gathering with other believers in services, prayer meetings, and Bible

study supplied the encouragement I needed to persevere and remain hopeful.

And often I'd not only hear an uplifting message or teaching, but I'd

receive comfort, a listening ear, or a hug I needed from others.



The author of Hebrews wrote, "[Don't give] up meeting together, as some are

in the habit of doing, but [encourage] one another" (Hebrews 10:25).

This author knew that when we face hardships and difficulties, we'll need

the reassurance of others-and that others would need ours. So this Scripture

writer reminded readers to "hold unswervingly to the hope we profess" and

to consider how to "spur one another on toward love and good deeds"

(vv. 23-24). That's a big part of what encouragement is.

That's why God leads us to keep meeting together. Someone may need your

loving encouragement, and you may be surprised by what you receive in return.



By: Alyson Kieda



Reflect & Pray



When have you felt encouraged after leaving a worship service?

Why? Who needs your support and reassurance?



Loving God, please help me not to give up

meeting together with other believers,

but to experience together Your peace and love.



3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation



Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools



Week 5 Rejoice in Grace - Day 2 The Wardrobe of Joy Isaiah 61:10



10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God;

for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.



10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God;

for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me

with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself

with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.



On her wedding day, the bride dresses carefully for the ceremony

that is about to take place. Never before has she spent so much

time in preparation for one relatively brief event. When she

looks in the mirror and rejoices in her happiness, she responds not

out of vanity, but for sheer joy as she anticipates the coming ceremony.

God wants his people, lie that bride to be joyful, to rejoice in the Lord,

the Bridegroom. And he gives, through his grace,

the garments of joy to his beloved ones.

He clothes us, Isaiah says, with salvation, and covers us with

the robe of righteousness. The wardrobe that God provides is not merely

a utility garment, a coverall that hides our sin from his eyes.

It is his own righteousness in Christ, given to us as a free gift, so that

we might be united with him. And God himself, Isaiah says,

is filled with joy, adorning himself like a bridegroom.

When we truly see God's immeasurable gift in accepting us as him own,

we also will "greatly rejoice" in the Lord. He, the eternal god,

Creator of the universe, desires to be united with us, as a husband

desires his wife! God does not simply accept us grudgingly,

reminding us of our unworthiness to be with him. Rather, he celebrates

with unrestrained joy his oneness in Spirit with those he calls his own.

And we, having been fully forgiven

and set free from sin, can rejoice unashamedly as well.



Application



a) Have I ever felt ashamed to draw close to God? Why?



b) What does this verse tell me about God's attitude towards me?



4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland



Mark 4:19



19 But the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches,

and the desires for other things entering in choke the word,

and it proves unfruitful.



19 and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches,

and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word,

and it becometh unfruitful.



5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:



When you are Burdened by Doubt



James 1:2 to 8



Faith and Wisdom



2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations,

3 knowing that the trying of your faith develops patience.

4 But let patience perfect its work, that you may be perfect and complete,

lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men

liberally and without criticism, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, without wavering. For he who wavers

is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed with the wind.

7 Let not that man think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

8 A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.



2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect

and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men

liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth

is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.



Remember God's promises when You pray



The Lord's prayer



Matthew 6:9-13





9 "Therefore pray in this manner:

Our Father who is in heaven,

hallowed be Your name.

10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;

Your will be done

on earth, as it is in heaven.

11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.

12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,

as we forgive our debtors.

13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."



9 After this manner therefore pray ye:

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.



6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)



Manitoba



Quick facts on Muslims in Manitoba



Manitoba 2015 population 1 282 000



est Muslim Population 21 349



CNMM Networks: Winnipeg



The Muslim population of Manitoba, understandably centred in Winnipeg, is very

diverse and represents some 48 different cultural and ethinic backgrounds.

Conservative estimates put their number at 21000 , with some suggesting

it might be twice that size.

Some outreach among Muslims has started, yet in comparison to the size

of this community, there is the need and opportunity for far more engagement.

Continued influx of new immigrants and refugees continues to see the growth

of this Muslim centre in Manitoba.

We rejoice in the Arabic fellowship meeting there and the energetic workers

among Muslims in Winnipeg.



Let us intercede in unity for:



- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipiling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



Adding further





Pray for Amman, Jordan



Ephesian 2:8-9



8 (Eph 2:5; Mk 16:16) For by grace you have been saved through faith,

and this is not of yourselves. It is the gift of God,

9 (2Ti 1:9; Ro 3:20) not of works, so that no one should boast.



[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it

is the gift of God:

[9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.



Church bells ring while the muezzin calls people to pray over the mosque's

loudspeaker. A 22-year-old with his stylishly torn jeans lounges at a cafe

on Rainbow Street, smoking an e-cigarette. A shepherd guides 25 sheep down

the avenue, dodging cars as they pass by. A tiny, yellow taxi, races

alongside a Land Cruiser as white mansions contrast with grey apartment

buildings. Filipino maids pass by Sudanese refugees. University students

browse in bookstores while toddlers run from the nursery school to the arms

of waiting fathers.



Like Nasser the landlord, or Yahya the Egyptian building attendant, many make

enough money to provide for their families and to educate their children.

They struggle with rising costs of food but are thankful for a home to sleep

in. However, their neighbors may include Syrian or Afghan refugees, who are

in Amman temporarily waiting to leave for a better life.



Over 97% of Jordanians are Muslim. Some are strong in their faith and pray

at the mosque 5 times a day. Others are religious in name only. Meanwhile,

some are atheists. Yet very few of them have heard about the story of Jesus.

Thank God that there are many Christians in Amman who can tell others about

the way of salvation.



How to Pray



Pray for the people of Amman, especially those who are searching

for answers, to meet believers and hear the Good News about Jesus.



Pray that those who are hurting will hear God’s voice speaking through

His Word which is readily available in Amman.



Pray for the use of media tools, and that when Jordanians see videos

or read articles about the truth, they might respond in faith.



My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further

call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity

(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .



7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada



http://www.ehc.ca



1st Day of the month



1) Pray for an outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on Canada



(

Joel 2:28 And it will be that, afterwards,

I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;

then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream

dreams, and your young men will see visions.



28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon

all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men

shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:



Acts 2:17 "In the last days it shall be," says God, "

that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall

prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream

dreams.



17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God,

I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:

And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

And your young men shall see visions,

And your old men shall dream dreams:



)



2) Pray that the heart of our Prime Minister

would be directed to do that which pleases God



(Prov 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord,

as the rivers of water; He turns it to any place He will.



1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD,

As the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.



)



Conclusion:



Pray to the Lord and pray to the Lord for leadership and wisdom.



Pray to the Lord: "Loving God, please help me not to give up

meeting together with other believers,

but to experience together Your peace and love."



Pray to the Lord and pray to know that He frgives all your sins.



Pray to the Lord and pray not to be deceived by earthly riches.



Pray to the Lord and pray to seek His Wisdom.



Agree in prayer with us for:

- new Christian workers among Manitoba's growing Muslim population

- new church ministries focused on prayer, equipping and reaching Muslim

communities around them, as well as training new workers

- the Arabic fellowship and their ministries of discipling new Muslim

background believers and for effectiveness in outreach

- for the recent Somali woman who found faith in Jesus and stood her ground

in the face of opposition to her new faith.

- for current workers among Muslims to be blessed, refreshed and encouraged

with great support



Pray for the people of Amman, especially those who are searching

for answers, to meet believers and hear the Good News about Jesus.



Pray that those who are hurting will hear God’s voice speaking through

His Word which is readily available in Amman.



Pray for the use of media tools, and that when Jordanians see videos

or read articles about the truth, they might respond in faith.



Pray for an outpouring of God's Holy Spirit on Canada



Pray that the heart of our Prime Minister

would be directed to do that which pleases God



Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.

and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness



Remember eternity starts now -

Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God