Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem(5/30/23)[Prayer]

The Holy Scriptures | 5/30/23 | left that other site

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Luke 10

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

_______________________________________________________

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Oh LORD,
Our God,
How Excellent Is Your Name Over All The Earth!
How Mighty,
How Majestic,
and How Wonderful!
You Alone Are Worthy of Praise and Worship,
For You Alone Are the Most High,
Ancient of Days,
Our Rock and Our Redeemer,
Our Refuge and Our Strength!
You Are the Creator of All Things,
And Yet, Even In Your Omnipotence,
You Give us the Privilege of Calling Out To You,
"Abba, Father!"

Let all that has been Concealed
Be Revealed.

Father, We Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem,
According To Your Will and Promise.
We Pray That You Will Forgive The Sins
of Our Own Nation,
and Lead us all to Godly Repentance.
Create in Us Clean Hearts, Oh LORD,
and Renew a Right Spirit Within Us.

This we Pray Together,
As We Await Your Messiah,
Blessed Be He,
To Set Up His Kingdom,
And Make All Things Right.

God Bless America.

ML/LTOS

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Luke 10

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[c]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

_______________________________________________________

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

I know that some of our younger readers will find this hard to believe, but, there was a time when NOBODY had cell phones. If you had a car that broke down somewhere, you had to walk until you found a "Pay Phone", and then, hope you had a dime to call Triple A. About 50 years ago, when I first started riding motorcycles, this presented a dilemma of vulnerability that was undeniable. No wonder people rode in groups. Being stranded alone by the side of the highway without even a locked car for safety was a frightening thought. As a biker, I learned quickly about the unwritten "Good Sam Code" among us. If you see a biker by the side of the road, frantically searching his saddlebags for tools, seat removed for access to his battery, or just sitting there looking as dejected as can be, STOP, and ask if there is anything I can do to help. It may be a ride to the next pay phone, a jump start (tricky!), or just a promise to tell someone up ahead. I have done this many times, in many states, with riders of all skin colors, bike brands, and patch affiliations. I have also been on the receiving end of the Good Sam Code, and always grateful.

A few years before cell phones became ubiquitous, I had a Mobile Phone (a la James Bond) in my car. When I enacted the Good Sam Code with a phone in my car, the "down biker" was incredibly appreciative. I have never been treated with anything other than gratitude, courtesy, and "chivalry". Now that everybody has their own Cell Phone with Built-in GPS, the Good Sam Code hardly ever happens anymore. It's a different world.

Today's Story, and the one I will share tomorrow, are part of the reason I like The Gospel of Luke so much. He recounts the stories of Jesus that involve very human situations. I identify with his stories so much so that I want to share with you something I wrote on this thread several years ago:

I remember always loving the reading of the Gospel in church. It made much more sense to me than the sermon or the other readings, as the Gospels were stories, and so they were easier to understand. Since little children take things literally, I embraced these stories as Truth, without hesitation. In my heart, I knew these were real stories about real people, and were different from Fairy Tales and Disney Movies.

Since my childhood was during the late 50's and early 60's, I was also aware of the Civil Rights Movement in America. At the time, the polite term for African-Americans was "Negroes". My parents, who were very kind and decent people, taught me NEVER, EVER to use that other word that began with "N". This had nothing to do with "Political Correctness" but everything to do with "The Golden Rule".

So here I was, sitting in the pew at the tender age of six, hearing the story of The Good Samaritan. I LOVED the story, but had no idea what a "Samaritan" was, or why it was so remarkable that a "Samaritan" was the only guy who did the right thing. The sermon didn't help much, because it just said how the Jews hated the Samaritans and that wouldn't even talk to them! Filled with images from the Evening News, I figured it out myself. The Samaritans were "Negroes"! Yeah...that's it. I shared my revelation with my Dad.

"No," he patiently explained. "The Samaritans weren't Negroes. They were just people that the Jews didn't like. But Jesus loved them anyway."

Well, of course, that only deepened the mystery. I became obsessed with Samaritans. Since we didn't have a Bible, and I couldn't read yet anyway, I created a whole world of "Samaritans" in my head. And, do this day, when I visualize Samaritans in my head, they look like Black People. (LOL) and no, that is NOT racist.

Anyway, today's reading gives us a profound insight into the Jewish distrust of this particular People-Group. Sargon II took over 27,000 prominent Israelites out of the Northern Kingdom, leaving only the peasantry behind to till the land. He then IMPORTED thousands of people from all over his conquered territory and placed them in the land. These people had a bunch of other religions which they continued to practice among the Israelites that were left behind, influencing and corrupting the Worship of the LORD. (as if the remaining Israelites hadn't done a fine job of doing that already!) The Assyrian Rulers, seeing the devastation of God's punishment, sent in a hired "Priest" to straighten things out. What resulted was Syncretism, which is like putting all the religions into a food processor and worshiping whatever comes out.

Thus, through intermarriage and attrition, the People of the Northern Kingdom became a whole new People-Group, and the People of Judah were not happy about it.

By the time Jesus told His Parables, the Samaritans had somewhat returned to the worship of the One True God, and revered the Torah, as evidenced by Jesus' conversation with The Woman at the Well (John 4). She freely speaks of "our father Jacob" as she speaks to the Man she knows is a Jew. And yet, the grudge from 700 years earlier has never gone away.

The funny thing is, Samaritans are the descendants of deportees from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim, which are in the regions of modern-day Iraq and Iran, ie: the Caucasus Mountains...which means that the Samaritans were more "Caucasian" than I am!



Whatever our ethnicity, vehicle, affiliation, or station in life, God calls us to be "Good Samaritans". That doesn't mean meddling in other people's business, but it does mean recognizing a need and doing what we can to help. It's the RIGHT THING to do.

Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[NEWwoman]

Amen, left that other site

It’s so like Jesus to take a word that represents something “good” people despise, and make it to mean something good and godly.

Joining in prayer for the Peace of Jerusalem and for our beloved America.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, NEWwoman, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[DarthVader]

Amen !!! <><

Psalm 5

To the leader: for the flutes. A Psalm of David.

1 Give ear to my words, O Lord;
give heed to my sighing.
2 Listen to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I plead my case to you, and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil will not sojourn with you.
5 The boastful will not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house,
I will bow down towards your holy temple
in awe of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouths;
their hearts are destruction;
their throats are open graves;
they flatter with their tongues.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of their many transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
so that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover them with favour as with a shield.

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Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, DarthVader, For Your Prayers and Wonderful Psalm For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Hiskid]

Amen. Nobody ever discusses the role of the innkeeper.

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The Innkeper was given two denarii, enough to take care of th injured man for two months. It represented two day’s pay for the Samaritan, and was a princely sum back in those days.

So I’m hoping the Innkeeper took GOOD care of the injured man.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Hiskid, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS

[Hiskid]

Thank you for that and the awesome painting.

[Jeanbl]

AMEN, thank you for all the info and insight. Joining together in prayer.

[left that other site]

Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem

Thank You, Jeanbl, For Your Prayers For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.

"He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

God Bless America.

Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.

Hallelujah and Amen

ML/LTOS