Discuss Isaiah 26 Page 5

I dont think that there are many people who are either totally good or totally evil ,we are all a mixture of both ,we are all sinners which is why we need Jesus ,right up to the last moment Jesus loved Judas ,Jesus will have washed Judas feet with love ,God doesnt give up on any of us no matter how horrible we are and we are all horrible sometimes ,Only Jesus is sinless .

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You also quote here Romans 11:32, "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all", & then ask, "How can Christianity be saving the world at the same time?"

There's no question about 'Christianity saving the world' here. Paul is talking about the (spiritual) blindness of Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles come in (v 25). As the Gentiles have not believed God, but now obtained God's Mercy because of Israel's unbelief (v 30), so Mercy comes to the Jews who now don't believe (the Gospel) (vv 28,31) with the same Mercy God has shown to the Gentiles.

So God has seen that all (Jew & Gentile alike) have lived in unbelief, & because of this, His Mercy is available to all. Nothing at all to do with Christians saving the world but of God Who shows Mercy to all of us.

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I took the liberty of checking in at your website, & though I scanned through some of the subjects you've addressed & noted that you've produced several books, I will admit that my comments are based purely on the oft mentioned "sin of Eden".

I understand that you believe that this sin is not pride, disobedience or anything else, but a sexual perversion (I won't mention here your description of it). I also note, in my cursory look around in your website, that there is no mention of how you arrived at this belief. I know you have used other Scriptures to show this perversion, but you have failed to deal with the sin of Adam & Eve, as declared in the Book of Genesis. So anyone who has an iota of biblical knowledge & understanding of some basic Truths, will immediately ask, 'From where has this information come?' There's not even a reference to this in any other book of the Bible, & even where Adam & Eve are mentioned, this sin that you accuse them of, is mysteriously absent. And please don't think that I'm going to 'throw the baby out with the bath water', as that would be foolish, as I'm sure you have shared some very useful, truthful observations elsewhere, but at this first 'hurdle', one with any understanding of the Bible is left dumbfounded.

May I ask, 'From where did you learn this?' It can't be from the Scriptures, maybe from some extra-biblical writings or some other publication that has no correlation to the Bible.

Hi Marilyn,

When you say "an answer has not been given" do you mean that you are genuinely seeking understanding by carefully reading the Bible yourself? Or do you mean that you expect people to just provide you answers at your service? Of course people are willing to help if someone is genuinely trying to find answers, but if their motive is something else, then that person shouldn't expect people to do work for you.

You asked a lot of questions and it would be easier to address questions one at a time. The way you asked them sounds consistent with someone who is frustrated, but isn't actually interested in the right answer and maybe just venting.

Obviously there are clear, and logical questions to each one you asked if you were patient to hear the answer.

Sometimes someone carries a bias against Christianity in assuming that Christianity must meet a certain burden of proof standard that a person invents in their own mind. They assume by default that it must not be true. But the problem is you exist. You are a walking miracle. Your heart beats for no reason- literally nothing is keeping you alive right now, except the miracle of God's power giving you life. He can take it away at any moment and that's His right to do so. Life is temporary anyway- every one dies then something happens which we haven't yet experienced ourselves. But look around. Look at how amazing life is and how beautiful it is. Things we try to make we often try to mimic nature's amazing designs, like airplanes. And imagine a car with all its features inventing itself and evolving from an explosion. No rational person believes that. But somehow rational people bought into the lie that our own bodies- way more advanced than cars- just randomly resulted from an explosion and time passing. That takes more faith than believing a creator.

Let me ask: If you found out that everything in the Bible is true, would you believe it? If you found out Christianity was true, would you become a Christian?

Yes, I am looking for answers. So far an answer has not been given as to what was the sin in Eden. I have found no single answer to the trinity or how to explain the Holy Spirit. Why after 2000 years of Christianity are there so many questions Christianity cannot explain or answer? Why are there over 60 different denominations with each one telling their own variation of truth? Jesus is the truth made flesh and his truth is the same for all people. I believe some day we will have one denomination and truth will be the same for all.

God tells us he will conclude the world in unbelief. How can Christianity be saving the world at the same time God is concluding it in belief? We are told that when Jesus comes the condition of the human race will be the same as it was in the days of Noah--only a few who believe in God and the majority believe in Satan. Is that the condition of mankind today? Don't you think we need a better explanation as to what the sin in Eden was?

I have a website, alawfromeden that will give you my 50 years of biblical research on the condition of the human race today.

Yes, the tree was the knowledge of good and evil. Knowledge of good. Knowledge of evil. One big difference between God and Satan is God is truth and Satan is lies. Adam and Eve believed a lie when they left God to serve Satan. All those who serve Satan have departed from truth. If those who commit evil were to become pastors and stand behind the pulpit they would tell us no truth. But what was that lie. What is the evil that changes a person's God from God to Satan? What is the definition of evil?

That's Proverbs 8:13, but in any case, the biblical definition of evil, as I understand it, is 'any physical or mental act by anyone that contradicts or violates God's Holiness, His Commands & His Requirements'.

Where evil began, was in the heavenlies, as the "covering cherub" ( Ezek 28:14,15), using his power of choice, allowed pride to develop in a skewed way resulting in anger & rebellion against the Most High. He, as all the beings in God's Presence, ought to have been 'proud' to be created to worship & serve the Eternal God, living in all Holiness & Perfection, but Satan allowed what ought to be directed towards God to be reversed & directed to himself. And that has been the root of man's sin from the beginning: that he can be as God, to fulfil his own will & desires, disregarding what is true & holy. From the 'smallest white lie' to the most heinous of crimes, they all demonstrate man's pride to believe that he has the power to rule his life, for he alone is the god of his life.

Mark ch 8 v 33..also ,the tree was the tree of the KNOWLEDGE of good and evil. Also Mark ch 7 v 21-23 .

Marilyn Taplin, With the guidance of Satan, Adam and Eve became self-centered, pride, instead of God-centered, as was intended for them. God gave Adam a commandment, not a choice. The separation from God was not him leaving them. They died, per the commandment, God continued living as omnipresent to his creation. Evil is that which is not of God, and we can know God from his word/Son."

"Depart from evil, and do good..." If a person departs from evil, what are they departing from?" They are departing from that which God has instructed to be not of him.

"the knowledge of how to bring heaven to earth." Your desire/plan is not in God's plan, therefore, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2Timothy 2:15

Marilyn, Are you really looking for answers, or an excuse to believe as you think seems right to you?

Hi Marilyn, Evil didn't start in Eden, Isaiah 45:7, I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. I think you are meaning "The tree of KNOWLEDGE of good and evil" Genesis 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. What happened to man wants he ate of that tree? Genesis 3:7, And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were "NAKED"; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. naked in the bible often expresses sin exposed, and garments often expresses righteousness. Some would say Adam and Eve was clothed with light before the fall, The question is when did they become naked/sinful? When they bit of the fruit? I believe eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil revealed their nakedness to them, The issue was what they did afterwards, "clothed themselves". Their fall was no surprise to God, he set forth the plan of redemption before the world begun, 1st Peter 1:18-20. Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world. The scripture says by one man sin entered the world, not evil. I believe there is a difference between the two by means of definition. Apart from the Holy Spirit man is flesh and lost in the wilderness, and easy prey for Satan. In the millennium man will have a thousand years in the best conditions to evolve with Satan chained up, and prove himself. but after all those years of practice here is what happens. Revelation 20:7-8, And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth. THKS

When speaking of us humans, evil began in Eden. The tree of good and evil was in Eden. Adam and Eve departed from God to follow Satan. They committed evil. What evil did they commit that would result in God leaving them? How does one depart from God? In Psalms 34:14 we are instructed to "Depart from evil, and do good..." If a person departs from evil, what are they departing from?

I believe humankind needs a better definition of evil. When we know what evil removed us from Eden, we have the knowledge of how to bring heaven to earth.

Where in the Bible does it say that please ? I cant find it in Genesis ,is it in the new testament ? Thankyou .

Marilyn Taplin, "Evil began in Eden." No, evil began in heaven with Lucifer's pride.

"The fear of the Lord is to hate evil" as stated in Psalms 8:13. Now you need a definition of evil. How do you define evil? Evil began in Eden.

(Remember ye now O man and consider: The Fear of THE LORD, given of GOD by the Son of man on the Sabbath day: one thousand one hundred ninety and nine Sabbath days past: and forget not 2 Esdras 15.) Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. O people: If you will not observe to do all the words of this law that are written, that you may fear this glorious and fearful name, MICHAEL ISAAC, THE LORD THY GOD, even the CHRIST child; then the LORD will make thy plagues wonderful and the plagues of thy seed: even great plagues and of long continuance: and sore sicknesses and of long continuance. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: I commanded all men everywhere to repent that your sins may be blotted out. Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. Man that dug down my alters and covered my memorials: and attempted to corrupt my Word to oppress my people; have violated exceedingly more than any copyright! I AM he that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I AM alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Suzanne, May the Spirit grace you with his understanding of his words:

Do Gods creatures have FREE WILL; or, are we the WORKS of the creator?

Ephesians 1:11 In whom (Spirit) also we have obtained (by grace) an inheritance (children), being predestinated (you have not chosen me, but I have chosen you. John 15:16) according to the purpose of him (Spirit) who WORKETH all things after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL:

Philippians 2:13 For it is God (Spirit) which WORKETH in you both to WILL and to DO of his good pleasure.



Colossians 1:29 Whereunto, I (Paul) also labour, striving according to his (Spirit) WORKING, which WORKETH in me mightily.

Isaiah 26:12 Lord, thou (Spirit) wilt ordain peace for us: for thou (Spirit) also hast wrought (WORKED) all our WORKS in us.

Isaiah 44:26 ......that PERFORMETH the counsel of his (Spirit) messengers....

Psalm 57:2 I will cry unto God most high that PERFORMETH all things for me.

Proverbs 16: 33 The lot is cast into the lap (we were predestined); but the whole disposing (WORK) thereof is of the Lord (Spirit)

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord (Spirit), as the rivers of water: he (Spirit) TURNETH it (man's heart) whithersoever he (Spirit) WILL.

Job 12:9 Who (man) knoweth not in all these that the hand of the Lord (Spirit) hath wrought (WORKED) this?

Job 23:14 For he (Spirit) PERFORMETH the things that is appointed (predestined) for me....

Job 23:10 But he (Spirit) knoweth the way that I take: when he (Spirit) has tried me, I shall come forth as pure gold.

Hebrews 4:3 For we which believed do enter into rest.....the WORKS (we are the works of the Spirit) were finished before the foundation of the world.

Hebrews 4:11 Let us (works of the Spirit) labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of UNBELIEF.

May the Spirit grace you with his wisdom.

Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead. 20Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. 21For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isaiah 26:19-21

The favor of God can be described as "tangible evidence that a person has the approval of the Lord." When we favor someone, we want to be with him or her. We delight in him/her. We connect with him/her in a way we don't connect with everyone else. We usually favor people who also favor us. IN THE SAME WAY, God shows favor to the ones who delight in, connect with, and give honor to Him. Isaiah 66:2 says, "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word." 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." To be "perfect" toward Him means we seek His favor more than we seek the favor of anyone else, even ourselves.

Proverbs 8:35; "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD."

Psalm 5:12 "For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield."

Proverbs 3:4; "So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man."

Satisfy me Lord with favor and fill me with blessing in the name of Jesus!

In the mighty name of Jesus, I claim...

-help reading your Word, daily

- divine wisdom from your Word

- patience with my family

- divine favor in family and business

- prosperity, bless tithes and offerings

-shield me from satanic attacks

- lend me angelic support

- the release of finances

Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Luke 13:11; John 5:5; Acts 10:38; Acts 3:2; Acts 4:9

What Scriptures could we use to soothe our anxiety about Election Day?

John 14:27 (ESV)

Rev 19:11

1 Peter 5:8 (ESV)

Romans 8:38-39

Ephesians 6:10-20

Peace - Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

Confidence - 2 Timothy 1:7

Joy - Psalm 94:19

Trust - Psalm 56:3, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee."

Strength - Isaiah 41:10 ((ESV)

Nearness of God - Psalm 73:28 (ESV)

The beginning of trust is believing God is who He says He is and the completion of trust is when we make God our Lord by completely surrendering all that we are and have - ourselves, our occupation, our resources, our time, and our families to God.

Proverbs 3:5 says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. However, in real life, most of us have a hard time trusting God completely at one time or another. We need to trust God with His ways and His timing for our life. We need to Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

In order to trust God completely, we need to make Him the Lord of our life. But many of us do not want to give control of our lives over to another. At the first sign of any difficulty, we think that God must not love us because He is permitting this difficulty to happen. We need to remember that we do not see the big picture as God does. God may be waiting for a part of the picture to develop that is not yet ready and that includes us. Help us to trust you.

We need to keep trusting God regardless of what is happening around us, even if things seem hopeless. We need to keep our eyes on Him rather than on our problem. He will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Him: because he trust in Him ( Isaiah 26:3). God is very aware of each thing that is happening to you. We need to turn control completely over to our heavenly Father and stop trying to figure out a solution ourselves.

Again, click on the Discussions Or Questions Links, and JOIN ME in the room. You can just watch if you don't feel like commenting. Nobody can tell if someone is in there. Your presence is anonymous.

Lord Jesus, please help David to take this step towards You, and to be a part of the body of Christ. We all need each other and we need our brother, David.

Mishael

I will be looking for you :)

Luke 17;28-36

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. (Sin was taken, rightesness is left.)

30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. (when we accept Jesus into our lives, "the second coming", He is revealed to us in a personal way. Praise God, thank you Jesus.

31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.

32 Remember Lot's wife.

33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. At that instant, they will be as one man,evil life and new beginning. When we accept Jesus into our lives, "the second coming", Our old sinful life is taken and the new life with Jesus is left.

Likewise:

35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

Thank You Jesus, Praise God.

no matter what we say or do HE is the only one who can fix it we all have a habit of trying to fix things I myself do the same inside we are afraid that He may not get it right like we want it... not how God wants it done I ask that he forgive me I need him like a newborn child needs his or her mother i need him to take my hands and guide me literally I have faults but I want to learn how to be more godlike someone he can call his child.. Amen

Two Bible verses the Lord brought to my attention a while back that gives me hope concerning the events in our time:

If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they. Ecclesiastes 6:8 KJV

Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.

For, behold, the LORD cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. Isaiah 26:20-21 KJV

The Lord WILL punish ALL sin, wickedness, blasphemy, abominations. We must pray for those committing such evil to repent and be TRULY saved. We also must pray for ourselves AND REPENT, CONFESS our sins to Jesus, beg His FORGIVENESS, be TRULY SAVED, OBEY HIM, and ENDURE to the end in Him, NEVER WAVERING.

I must confess that I am having difficulty living in this world. I feel many times like the man of God who was hiding in a cave thousands of years ago from Jezebel who wanted to kill him. She had already killed all the Lords faithful. He was sure that he was the only one left who loved and obeyed God, but God told him that He still had (I think it was 7,000) faithful in hiding. Before God told him that, he was intentionally starving himself to death due to recent events throwing him into a deep depression. Until God encouraged and reassured him, he did not want to live anymore. Please forgive me, I don't remember where in the Old Testament it is. If you type in your browser "Who was the prophet that hid in a cave from Jezebel?" it should come up.

WE - MUST - REMAIN - STRONG- IN - THE - LORD.

HE - IS - STILL - IN - CONTROL - NO - MATTER - WHAT.

This scripture is very relevant for this time. We live in a day when people are sad and depressed. Covid 19 demands that we wear masks and live almost in isolation. This virus have placed restraints on our way of life; it exposed our vulnerabilities and our helplessness. Who can we depend on? they are all overwhelm. All that can be shaken have shaken and who can fix it? But God. We have lost focus.

To FRED SCANLAN

Please remember that the sons of God have come for the pulling down of this world's 'Strongholds', religion being the strongest of them all ( 2 Cor. 10:4; Luke 11:21-23).

When it comes to the Medical Profession, please know that the believers live by faith, as the true and living God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob is their guide in all things. Remember how God took care of a host of 2m people for forty years. He fed them and provided them with water and other essentials. Even their shoes and garments didn't wear out. Also remember that out of the original group that crossed the Red Sea only Joshua & Caleb crossed the Jordan River. All the rest died in the wilderness, while only the new generation crossed the Jordan.

Rather than speaking from personal experience, we believe that the most effective way to be taught and to come to the understanding of 'The Chastening of the Lord' is by the Word of God itself

CHASTENING

Deut. 8:5

Job 5:17-19; 6:1-10; 23:10; 33:19

Psalms 6:1-10; 17:3; 30:1-12; 38:1-21; 94:12-14; 102:1-28; 116:1-19; 119:7,67,71

Proverbs 3:11

Isaiah 26:16

1 Cor. 11:32

Hebrews 12:5,6

James 1:12

1 Peter 1:7

Rev. 3:15-21

AFFLICTIONS

Psalms 34:19; 132:1

Isaiah 48:10

Acts 7:10; 20:23

2 Cor. 6:4

Col. 1:24

1 Thess 3:3

Hebrews 12:5-12

Rev. 3:18

SICKNESS AND HEALING

Exodus 15:26

Psalm 6:2

Isaiah 30:26

Jer. 30:17

Eze. 34:16

Hosea 6:1

Mal. 4:2

Matthew 10:8

Mark 2:17

Luke 5:31

James 5:15

1 Peter 2:24

Rev. 22:2

RELYING ON DOCTORS AND MEDICINE



2 Chr. 16:12,13

Job 13:4

Psalms 34:19; 108:12

Isaiah 30:1-3

Jer. 17:5-7,14

Hosea 5:13

Mark 5:25-29

Luke 8:43

MADE PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING

Job 5:18; 23:10

Psalms 50:5; 119:67,71

Isaiah 48:10

Jer. 31:18

Hosea 5:15; 6:1

Romans 8:17

2 Cor. 4:17

Hebrews 2:10; 5:7-9; 12:10,11

1 Peter 4:1,12; 5:1,9,10

Rev. 3:19

Seek, and ye shall find ( Matthew 7:7).

In His Service.

Andy & Dianne van den Berg - Nova Scotia, Canada

Comments by Alex about our new birth. Isaiah 26 v 17 This is so timely, i just had to mention this. Like a woman with Child that Draweth near the time of her delivery is in pain and crieth out in her pains so have we been in thy sight O Lord. The church, humanity is gona have a baby. Rev 12, the 2 nd coming

Comments by Alex about the new birth, there are so many scriptures that hint about it.But Rev 12 the woman is actually giving birth. She is the very best example of the new birth, Her child is the H.G. as that which is born of the spirit is spirit . John explains her child as the Kingdom of God and salvation is now come. 12 v 10. Jesus had said unless you receive the kingdom of God as a lil child you will in no wise enter there in. A lil child implies a birth, thus she is truly the best example of the new birth.And Paul also said as we have borne the image of the earthy we must also bear the image of the heavenly, her child is heavenly,John saw all these things in the heavenly realm ( in the spirit ) The good seed is the word thus her child is spirit as the word is spirit her child is simply the H.G. The child of PROMISE that is gonna be born in us via that good seed. Its gonna happen to every body, 27 times the prophets saw the world in travail and birth pains. Jesus had said the field was the world where that good seed will be sown. Even in the natural a birth requires an intimacy, THATS Y HE HAS TO KNOW US a seed has to be sown, but now the seed is gona be sown in our hearts. That good seed is gonna form a baby Christ in us, thats the essence of the new birth,and thats y he allways refers to himself as THE SON OF MAN,MANKIND IS GONNA BRING FORTH FRUIT UNTO GOD. Thats y Peter is saying being bornagain of an incorruptible seed , even by the word of God that liveth and abideth for ever impling the LIVING WORD not the written word. The seed of the bridegroom is not paper and ink but spirit and life, my words/seeds are spirit and life. All this has to happen that the prophecy that God almighty made to his son might be fulfilled. I will multiply thy seed as the stars of heaven which implies children, not flesh and blood children but heavenly children born in our hearts, the multiplication of very God which is the H.G.THE CHILD OF PROMISE.Unto US a child is born. gbu

Comments by Alex on this timely message about the world going into travail and birth pains. Thus the children of the Kingdom via that good seed the WORDS OF THE BOOK. Like as a woman is in travail and birth pains that crieth out in her pains.So have we been in thy sight O LORD. When Isaiah saw the Kingdom coming he said unto us a child is born ,unto us a son is given which is the H.G Emmanuel God with US. We are the woman , humanity as Jesus said the field was the world where that good seed will be sown, in our hearts etc world Wide. The 2 nd coming . Who shall abide the day of his coming who shall stand when he appears, for he shall be as a refiners fire and fullers soap which is his baptism of fire. We must remember that OUR GOD IS A COMSUMING FIRE. BUT GOD IS SPIRIT THUS A SPRITUAL FIRE WHICH IS THE H.G. GB

With all your concerns, and some fears: keep repeating this scripture by speaking it out, until it takes root in your spirit.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Mishael

How the providence of God watched over the Jews that had returned out of captivity to their own land, and what great and kind things were done for them, we read in the two foregoing books; but there were many who staid behind, having not zeal enough for God's house, and the holy land and city, to carry them through the difficulties of a removal thither. These, one would think, should have been excluded the special protection of Providence, as unworthy the name of Israelites; but our God deals not with us according to our folly and weakness. We find in this book that even those Jews who were scattered in the provinces of the heathen were taken care of, as well as those who were gathered in the land of Judea, and were wonderfully preserved, when doomed to destruction and appointed as sheep for the slaughter. Who drew up this story is uncertain. Mordecai was as able as any man to relate, on his own knowledge, the several passages of it and that he wrote such an account of them as was necessary to inform his people of the grounds of their observing the feast of Purim we are told ( Est. 9:20; Mordecai wrote these things, and sent them enclosed in letters to all the Jews), and therefore we have reason to think he was the penman of the whole book. It is the narrative of a plot laid against the Jews to cut them all off, and which was wonderfully disappointed by a concurrence. The name of God is not found in this book; but the apocryphal addition to it (which is not in the Hebrew, nor was ever received by the Jews into the can on), containing six chapters, begins thus, Then Mordecai said, God has done these things. But, though the name of God be not in it, the finger of God is, directing many minute events for the bringing about of his people's deliverance. The particulars are not only surprising and very entertaining, but edifying and very encouraging to the faith and hope of God's people in the most difficult and dangerous times.