Archives for May 2023

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Verses 1-8 speak of an appointed time. Not only does God fix the standard and withhold or dispense satisfaction, 2:26, but He also appoints “times”. Earthly pursuits are good in their proper place and time, but unprofitable when pursued as the chief goal. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:“ 

This is saying that God arranges even the smallest details of our surroundings. Verse 1 is speaking of all the things collectively, that he will detail in the next few verses. God’s timetable for this earth is perfect. Certain events are ordained from the foundation of the earth. 

Jesus will come back to the earth as King and reign in perfect peace for 1000 years. Things, like when we are born and when we die, are foreordained of God. The thing that is not already destined to be is what we do with Jesus. We, of our own free will, accept Him, or reject Him. 

Ecclesiastes 3:2  

“A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;“ 

We see that we have no control of the day we are born. We have no control of who we are born to. We have no control over our gender. We have no control over the way we look, when we are born. All of these things are destined of God.  

We have no control over whether we are born into a wealthy family, or a poverty stricken family. All of these things are determined of God. We do not have control of the time of our death either. 

Isaac is a very good example of God having a precise time for us to be born. 

Genesis 21:2 “For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”  

Death is the same. God has set a time for each person’s death. 

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” 

The following Scripture tells us the very best, what our life is. 

James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:3 

 “A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;“ 

The 6th commandment says, “Thou shalt not kill”. Then how, can this Scripture say a time to kill?  Thou shalt not kill, means thou shalt not commit premeditated murder. It does not mean that you are not to go to war to protect your family, or your country. A very good example of a time to kill is shown by God killing the firstborn in Egypt. 

Exodus 12:12 “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.” 

Most of Jesus’ ministry here on the earth involved healing. Everyone who had faith enough to receive his healing was healed by Him. 

I Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 

 Why did God not allow David to build His temple?

 We read in I Kings 5:3 “Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.” 

The very next verse tells when it was the right time for Solomon to build it. I Kings 5:4-5 “But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.” “And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.” 

Sometimes things have to be torn down to the foundation, before they can build on the spot. 

Ecclesiastes 3:4

“A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;“ 

The shortest sentence in the Bible is in John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” 

Jesus is our example in everything, so we know there are times for us to weep. When we lose a loved one, it is a natural thing to weep. You have heard the expression {laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone}. This is very true. 

Psalms 126:2 “Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.” 

A story of contrast of mourning and a time to dance quickly reminds us of David, when he danced before the Ark of the Covenant. 

2 Samuel 6:14-15 “And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.” “So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.”   

David’s mourning came at the loss of his firstborn child. David committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then he had her husband killed in battle, so he might marry her. In punishment, God took their first child. 

2 Samuel 12:14 “Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:5 

“A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;“ 

A very good example of a time to cast away stones is when you are clearing a field for cultivation. The time to gather stones is when you are building a stone house. Embracing is a way of showing passion, or affection. 

When two friends meet, it is alright to embrace in greeting. The negative side of this would be under the classification of passion. It is not, however, a very nice thing for a man and a woman to passionately embrace in public. 

Ecclesiastes 3:6 

“A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;“ 

Material things have been put on the earth for the use of mankind. One of the most vivid Scriptures about getting and losing is in Mark 10:29-30 

“And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,” “But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” 

We see from this, if we give up our family to work for God, we will get blessings abundant in this life, and will inherit eternal life. The story of Job tells of a man who had received great wealth and blessings from God. Satan caused Job to lose them. God gave twice as many blessings back to Job, when he proved faithful. 

There are a number of things we are admonished to keep. The most important of all, is keep the faith. We should cast our cares upon Jesus. We must cast off our sins and idols of this world. 

Ecclesiastes 3:7

“A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;“ 

Rending of clothing is a sign of great mourning. The rending of the veil from the top to the bottom at the crucifixion of Jesus opened the way to the Father for all believers. 

Matthew 27:51 “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”  

The sewing of this very curtain had been ordained of God. This curtain was sown with thread of beaten gold. No man could have rent it. It had to be Almighty God. 

The following Scriptures tell of times to be silent. 

Habakkuk 2:20 “But the LORD [is] in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” 

We see in the following Scriptures, that there is a time to speak, also. 

Luke 19:37 “And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;” 

The most important time of all to speak, is in the following Scriptures. 

Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:8 

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

Hate is a word I do not like, but God says there is a time to hate. Look, with me, at the following Scripture. 

Revelation 2:6 “But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” 

Notice, He did not hate the Nicolaitans, He hated their deeds. We are to hate the sin, and love the sinner. God wants us to love everyone, even our enemies, as we read in the next verses. 

Matthew 5:43-44 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.” “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;”  

Jesus gave us two commandments that cover all. They both have to do with love. 

Matthew 22:37-39 “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” “This is the first and great commandment.” “And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” 

Love is the greatest positive emotion we can have. God is Love. 

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

The condition of the world is, and has been, the fact of wars and rumors of wars. This will not change, until Jesus the King of Peace comes and sets up His thousand year reign of peace upon the earth. God is not against war, when it is preserving the right. 

One of the most interesting examples of God blessing in war is found in chapter 17 of Exodus. Joshua fought while Moses lifted his arms in praise to God. Aaron and Hur held up the arms of Moses, until the battle was over and Joshua defeated Amalek. 

Exodus 17:12-13 “But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put [it] under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.” “And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.” 

There is a day of peace coming when Jesus reigns. 

We read in Micah 4:3 ”And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”     

(Discover the Books of the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Bible-study.org/ecclesiastes-chapter-3/)   

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

Verses 1-8 speak of an appointed time. Not only does God fix the standard and withhold or dispense satisfaction, 2:26, but He also appoints “times”. Earthly pursuits are good in their proper place and time, but unprofitable when pursued as the chief goal. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:“ 

This is saying that God arranges even the smallest details of our surroundings. Verse 1 is speaking of all the things collectively, that he will detail in the next few verses. God’s timetable for this earth is perfect. Certain events are ordained from the foundation of the earth. 

Jesus will come back to the earth as King and reign in perfect peace for 1000 years. Things, like when we are born and when we die, are foreordained of God. The thing that is not already destined to be is what we do with Jesus. We, of our own free will, accept Him, or reject Him. 

Ecclesiastes 3:2  

“A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;“ 

We see that we have no control of the day we are born. We have no control of who we are born to. We have no control over our gender. We have no control over the way we look, when we are born. All of these things are destined of God.  

We have no control over whether we are born into a wealthy family, or a poverty stricken family. All of these things are determined of God. We do not have control of the time of our death either. 

Isaac is a very good example of God having a precise time for us to be born. 

Genesis 21:2 “For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.”  

Death is the same. God has set a time for each person’s death. 

Hebrews 9:27 “And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” 

The following Scripture tells us the very best, what our life is. 

James 4:14 “Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” 

Ecclesiastes 3:3 

 “A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;“ 

The 6th commandment says, “Thou shalt not kill”. Then how, can this Scripture say a time to kill?  Thou shalt not kill, means thou shalt not commit premeditated murder. It does not mean that you are not to go to war to protect your family, or your country. A very good example of a time to kill is shown by God killing the firstborn in Egypt. 

Exodus 12:12 “For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.” 

Most of Jesus’ ministry here on the earth involved healing. Everyone who had faith enough to receive his healing was healed by Him. 

I Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 

 Why did God not allow David to build His temple?  We read in I Kings 5:3 “Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the LORD his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the LORD put them under the soles of his feet.” 

The very next verse tells when it was the right time for Solomon to build it. I Kings 5:4-5 “But now the LORD my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.” “And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God, as the LORD spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.” 

Sometimes things have to be torn down to the foundation, before they can build on the spot. 

(Discover the Books of the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. Bible-study.org/ecclesiastes-chapter-3/)   

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Memorial Day is this Monday. 

A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event. The most common type of memorial is the gravestone or the memorial plaque. Also common are war memorials commemorating those who have died in wars.  

God has given us many memorials. This week we will look at five of them. 

The Lord’s Supper, the Rainbow, the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Purim. 

MEMORIALS 

5.  The feast of Purim  

The fifth memorial can be found in Esther 9:28.  

“And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.”  (Esther 9:28)  

In the book of Esther you may remember that Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, who was the king’s favorite. As a result, Haman made plans to massacre the Jews on a fixed date. Mordecai went to Esther and persuaded her to intercede with the king. Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet. At the banquet Esther reveals Haman’s plans to massacre the Jews, and Haman is hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Since the edict for the massacre cannot be revoked, the king sends a edict allowing the Jews to defend themselves. The Jews take advantage of this to kill their enemies. The deliverance is commemorated at the feast of Purim. 

The special feast continues to be celebrated by Jews to this day to celebrate their deliverance from Haman’s destruction through Queen Esther’s actions. So it is a self-proclaimed memorial to the Jews to this very day. During the Purim, the Esther scroll is read aloud in the synagogues. 

Other festivals were ordained by Divine authority this one was initiated by Mordecai and Esther. Yet its commemoration was undoubtedly sanctioned by God whose merciful interposition it records. 

CONCLUSION: 

So what we learn from this is not so much the memorial that the Jews proclaimed, but rather the fact that God is a protector and deliverer of those who look to him and trust in him. It is a memorial to illustrate the Graciousness of God. 

Memorials are for: 

Remembrance 

Worship 

Learning 

Teaching 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Memorial Day is this Monday. 

A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event. The most common type of memorial is the gravestone or the memorial plaque. Also common are war memorials commemorating those who have died in wars.  

God has given us many memorials. This week we will look at five of them. 

The Lord’s Supper, the Rainbow, the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Purim. 

MEMORIALS 

4.  Feast of the Tabernacles 

The fourth memorial is found in found in Leviticus 23:39-43. 

“Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.⁴⁰And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.⁴¹And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.⁴²Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: ⁴³That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”  (Leviticus 23:39-43)  

This is talking about the Feast of the Tabernacles. It fell in the Autumn when the full harvest of corn, wine and oil had been gathered in. It was the last great feast of the year. It was a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving when Israel showed their gratitude to God and remembered that He had delivered them from Egyptian bondage and brought them into a land which produced so many good things.  

It came five days after the Day of Atonement when the sin of the people had been removed. During the seven days of the feast, Israel dwelt in booths or tents made from the boughs of trees. It would remind them of the 40 years in the wilderness when they dwelt in tents. This is talking about the Feast of the Tabernacles.  

The feast pointed forward to the full harvest and the result of Christ’s work during the Millennium. It will be at this time that the whole earth will rejoice with Israel and keep the feast of Tabernacles.  

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Memorial Day is this Monday. 

A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event. The most common type of memorial is the gravestone or the memorial plaque. Also common are war memorials commemorating those who have died in wars.  

God has given us many memorials. This week we will look at five of them. 

The Lord’s Supper, the Rainbow, the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Purim. 

MEMORIALS 

1. The Lord’s Supper 

The first memorial we are considering in this list is found in Luke 22:19-20.  

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.²⁰ Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”  (Luke 22:19-20)  

Of course the greatest memorial of them all is the Lord’s Supper which is a reminder of the broken body and shed blood of Christ.  

The Communion service is a service of remembrance. It is the equivalent of the Passover feast under the Law of Moses. The Communion takes us back to our salvation from sin through Christ, which was made possible on the cross and to which we became related by baptism. Keeping this commandment is therefore something we naturally want to do. 

2.  The Rainbow 

The second memorial can be found in Genesis chapter 9:12-17. 

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:¹³ I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.¹⁴And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:¹⁵ And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.¹⁶ And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.¹⁷And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-17) 

The memorial is the rainbow, and it is a reminder that God would never again destroy the world by a flood. 

In the verses in the above quote, the rainbow is described as a token of the covenant. So God is saying that whenever He sees this sign or monument in the sky, it will remind Him of the covenant between Him and every living creature on the earth. In other words, it is a memorial not only for God but also for us. Whenever we see the rainbow it is to remind us of the covenant, that never again will there be a flood to destroy all life on the earth.      

3. The Passover 

The third memorial is found in Exodus 12:11-14. In the verse leading up to these verse the Israelites are told to take an unblemished lamb and kill it. They shall take the blood from it and place it on the side and tops of the door frames of the houses where they should eat the lamb. 

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.¹³And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.¹⁴ And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” 

So the Passover was important as a memorial to the Israelites as it reminded them: 

1. God’s separation of His people from the Gentiles. 

2. God’s protection of His people. 

3. God’s deliverance of His people. 

4. God’s requirements of His people, that is, dedication to Him. 

5. God’s commandment to them to keep the feast annually to remind them of all God had done for them. 

4.  Feast of the Tabernacles 

The fourth memorial is found in found in Leviticus 23:39-43. 

“Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.⁴⁰And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days.⁴¹And ye shall keep it a feast unto the Lord seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.⁴²Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: ⁴³That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.”  (Leviticus 23:39-43)  

This is talking about the Feast of the Tabernacles. It fell in the Autumn when the full harvest of corn, wine and oil had been gathered in. It was the last great feast of the year. It was a time of rejoicing and thanksgiving when Israel showed their gratitude to God and remembered that He had delivered them from Egyptian bondage and brought them into a land which produced so many good things.  

It came five days after the Day of Atonement when the sin of the people had been removed. During the seven days of the feast, Israel dwelt in booths or tents made from the boughs of trees. It would remind them of the 40 years in the wilderness when they dwelt in tents. This is talking about the Feast of the Tabernacles.  

The feast pointed forward to the full harvest and the result of Christ’s work during the Millennium. It will be at this time that the whole earth will rejoice with Israel and keep the feast of Tabernacles.  

5.  The feast of Purim  

The fifth memorial can be found in Esther 9:28.  

“And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.”  (Esther 9:28)  

In the book of Esther you may remember that Mordecai refused to bow to Haman, who was the king’s favorite. As a result, Haman made plans to massacre the Jews on a fixed date. Mordecai went to Esther and persuaded her to intercede with the king. Esther invited the king and Haman to a banquet. At the banquet Esther reveals Haman’s plans to massacre the Jews, and Haman is hanged on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Since the edict for the massacre cannot be revoked, the king sends a edict allowing the Jews to defend themselves. The Jews take advantage of this to kill their enemies. The deliverance is commemorated at the feast of Purim. 

The special feast continues to be celebrated by Jews to this day to celebrate their deliverance from Haman’s destruction through Queen Esther’s actions. So it is a self-proclaimed memorial to the Jews to this very day. During the Purim, the Esther scroll is read aloud in the synagogues. 

Other festivals were ordained by Divine authority this one was initiated by Mordecai and Esther. Yet its commemoration was undoubtedly sanctioned by God whose merciful interposition it records. 

CONCLUSION: 

So what we learn from this is not so much the memorial that the Jews proclaimed, but rather the fact that God is a protector and deliverer of those who look to him and trust in him. It is a memorial to illustrate the Graciousness of God. 

Memorials are for: 

Remembrance 

Worship 

Learning 

Teaching 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Memorial Day is this Monday. 

A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event. The most common type of memorial is the gravestone or the memorial plaque. Also common are war memorials commemorating those who have died in wars.  

God has given us many memorials. This week we will look at five of them. 

The Lord’s Supper, the Rainbow, the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Purim. 

MEMORIALS 

3. The Passover 

The third memorial is found in Exodus 12:11-14. In the verse leading up to these verse the Israelites are told to take an unblemished lamb and kill it. They shall take the blood from it and place it on the side and tops of the door frames of the houses where they should eat the lamb. 

“For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord.¹³And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.¹⁴And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.” 

So, the Passover was important as a memorial to the Israelites as it reminded them: 

1. God’s separation of His people from the Gentiles. 

2. God’s protection of His people. 

3. God’s deliverance of His people. 

4. God’s requirements of His people, that is, dedication to Him. 

5. God’s commandment to them to keep the feast annually to remind them of all God had done for them. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

Memorial Day is this Monday. 

A memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person (who has died) or an event. The most common type of memorial is the gravestone or the memorial plaque. Also common are war memorials commemorating those who have died in wars.  

God has given us many memorials. This week we will look at five of them. 

The Lord’s Supper, the Rainbow, the Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles, and the Feast of Purim. 

MEMORIALS 

1. The Lord’s Supper 

The first memorial we are considering in this list is found in Luke 22:19-20.  

“And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.²⁰ Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you.”  (Luke 22:19-20)  

Of course the greatest memorial of them all is the Lord’s Supper which is a reminder of the broken body and shed blood of Christ.  

The Communion service is a service of remembrance. It is the equivalent of the Passover feast under the Law of Moses. The Communion takes us back to our salvation from sin through Christ, which was made possible on the cross and to which we became related by baptism. Keeping this commandment is therefore something we naturally want to do. 

2.  The Rainbow 

The second memorial can be found in Genesis 9:12-17. 

“And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:¹³ I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.¹⁴And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud:¹⁵ And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.¹⁶ And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.¹⁷And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant, which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-17) 

The memorial is the rainbow, and it is a reminder that God would never again destroy the world by a flood. 

In the verses in the above quote, the rainbow is described as a token of the covenant. So, God is saying that whenever He sees this sign or monument in the sky, it will remind Him of the covenant between Him and every living creature on the earth. In other words, it is a memorial not only for God but also for us. Whenever we see the rainbow, it is to remind us of the covenant, that never again will there be a flood to destroy all life on the earth.      

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

4. Results of following wisdom (v23-26) 

²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.²⁴ When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.²⁶ For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. 

Everyone of these results are needed and welcomed in each of our lives. 

Who wouldn’t want to walk in safety, not stumbling, sleep without worry, days without fear of the wicked, putting our trust in the Lord. It can be if we follow wisdom. 

5. What we must do (v27-31) 

²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 

Give to the needy, bring no evil upon others, and do no envy. We are to be helpful, loving, and content with what we have. 

6. God’s response (v32-35) 

³² For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.³³ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

We are told to “…get wisdom…” “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7) 

This week we will study wisdom from Proverbs 3. We will see the many benefits that God provides to us, if we get wisdom. 

Honor the Lord and be wise 

3. Results of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (v19-22) 

¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.²⁰ By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.²¹ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:²² So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 

The Lord did three things. By wisdom, He founded (created) the earth. By understanding, He made the heavens. By knowledge, He allowed the clouds to produce rain.  

We need to keep sound wisdom and discretion. It will give us life and grace to our lives. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com 

Good morning, 

We are told to “…get wisdom…” “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4:7) 

This week we will study wisdom from Proverbs 3. We will see the many benefits that God provides to us, if we get wisdom. 

The first twelve verses are expressed in two verses each. The first verse is the command, the second the benefit. 

Honor the Lord and be wise 

1. Commands and Benefits (v1-12) 

My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 

³ Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:⁴ So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. 

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.⁸ It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. 

⁹ Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase:¹⁰ So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 

¹¹ My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:¹² For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 

The father counsels his son to, forget not the law, keep my commandments, be merciful, truthful, trust in the Lord with all thine heart, in all thy ways acknowledge the Lord, be not wise in your own eyes, and despise not God’s chastening. 

If the son chooses to do this, he can expect, length of days, a long life, peace, favor, good understanding, God shall direct his way, health, abundance, and love from the Lord. 

If we are looking for God’s blessings, follow these Scriptural principles. 

2. Benefits of finding wisdom (v13-18) 

¹³ Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.¹⁴ For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honor.¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.¹⁸ She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 

First benefit of wisdom is being happy. Why? Because those who have wisdom know God’s word, His mercy, His provision, and His love. The second benefit is understanding. Then length of days, riches, honor, and peace.  

Wisdom is better than silver and gold. More precious than rubies.  

Wisdom is available to all who want it. 

3. Results of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge (v19-22) 

¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.²⁰ By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.²¹ My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:²² So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. 

The Lord did three things. By wisdom, He founded (created) the earth. By understanding, He made the heavens. By knowledge, He allowed the clouds to produce rain.  

We need to keep sound wisdom and discretion. It will give us life and grace to our lives. 

 4. Results of following wisdom (v23-26) 

²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.²⁴ When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.²⁶ For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken. 

Everyone of these results are needed and welcomed in each of our lives. 

Who wouldn’t want to walk in safety, not stumbling, sleep without worry, days without fear of the wicked, putting our trust in the Lord. It can be if we follow wisdom. 

5. What we must do (v27-31) 

²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbor, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.³¹ Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways. 

Give to the needy, bring no evil upon others, and do no envy. We are to be helpful, loving, and content with what we have. 

6. God’s response (v32-35) 

³² For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.³³ The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.³⁴ Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools. 

Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com