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Exciting verses that give me goosebumps. What are yours?

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ralph:

--- Quote from: Extol on April 18, 2023, 06:35:42 PM ---Ralph, I disagree about the blessings being exclusively spiritual. Don't you think it is a blessing to have enough food to eat, and a place to live (even if it is New York  ;))? There are numerous verses in the Bible which show that things such as children and food are blessings from God. Here are just two:

Gen. 17:20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

2 Chronicles 31:10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the Lord, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the Lord hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

I agree with Ray that America is the Israel of today. It is popular to criticize America, but it clearly was founded as a Christian nation, with founding documents heavily influenced by biblical moral principles; and not coincidentally, it became the most prosperous nation (the most "blessed," you could say), as well as the most advanced and accomplished in many ways.

--- End quote ---

I agree with you, Extol. I apologize.  I should have made this clear. I am not very good at this.  I don't believe blessings are "exclusively" spiritual in nature.  When I say blessings are spiritual, I mean to say they are paramount. They are the eternal blessings of God.  Of course, God gives us physical blessings while in this physical plane of existence.  I have access to the word of God, a beautiful child, a fridge filled with food, clean water, a warm bed to sleep in, internet access, electricity, transportation, etc., and I take none of that for granted. 


With regards to America.  I'll ask again:  How can America be "on high above all nations of the earth" if it didn't “hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord your God, to observe and to do all His commandments”? Sure, it claimed to be a Christian nation, yearning to be free while enslaving people that were also yearning to be free.  Sure, it was founded on moral principles while hating and killing its enemies.  Am I missing something here?  I love America and am very thankful to have been born and raised here, but I am honestly confused and would like clarification.

Musterseed:
Ralph,
Reread your last paragraph and then read what Ray wrote.

Ray wrote ,,, Israel was never on high above all the nations of the earth!
And why was that? Because ISRAEL could not hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord, not America.

So if ancient Israel , historic Israel and todays state of Israel , was not and is not above all the nations of the earth , then who is above all?
America is and NYC is the centre of this nations great power and wealth.

But because we did not consider God to be the spiritual foundation of our success
and prosperity, God brought down those towers, just as He will bring down this nation, if we do not all likewise repent.

This scripture Luke 18:8 Jesus asks , when He returns to the earth will He find
faith. Ray said He will find very little.

But,,  the good news is , when His judgements are in the earth , the inhabitants
of the world will learn righteousness.   ( Praise our beautiful Lord Jesus)

Oh and let’s not forget another Israel, the Israel of God, the Elect.

Extol:
Ralph,

I would argue America did hearken diligently. From the Pilgrims (early 1600s) to the Founding Fathers, the writings and laws are steeped in Scripture. There are many writings that talk specifically about coming to America to advance the kingdom of God. Almost all the signers of the Declaration and Constitution were Christian. Almost all were anti-slavery, even the ones that owned slaves until death. (Thomas Jefferson, for example, wanted to free his slaves but was prohibited from doing so by Virginia law, because he was in debt and had inherited the slaves.) I disagree with Ray's statement "there is no reason for taking another's life"... I don't believe killing in war is necessarily hatred or murder.

We shouldn't take too literally the phrase "observe and do ALL" of God's commandments...because nobody has done that. God has always blessed his people--whether Israel, Judah, or America--when there is general obedience to his law, from the leadership down. This doesn't mean everything and everyone were perfect during those times of blessing (which is what a literal rendering would imply.) We're still in the flesh, and as long as we are, there is going to be sin, war, and death...even in the countries that have a religious and moral foundation.

zvezda:

--- Quote from: Dave in Tenn on April 18, 2023, 02:33:38 AM ---
--- Quote from: zvezda on April 17, 2023, 08:36:48 PM ---
--- Quote from: Mzantsi on April 11, 2023, 05:57:21 PM ---We also have:

Deu 28:1 ISV “Indeed, if you diligently obey the LORD your God to carry out all his commands that I’m giving you today, then the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

Comment:
It appears we will be the BEST country of all in terms science,technology,sports,music and the likes.


--- End quote ---

Not that we WILL be the best country, but we WAS. Ray explained Deu 28:1-3 in his towers paper.

As I said in the other thread - I think America is currently going through the second half of Deu 28 (starting from v15).

--- End quote ---

Why do you assume the question/comment was about the USA?

--- End quote ---

Sorry Dave, I missed your post.
Because Mzantsi asked about Deu 28:1, and Ray did talk about it in his paper, he said it's about the USA.
Maybe Mzantsi had something else in mind?

indianabob:

--- Quote from: Extol on April 19, 2023, 12:17:44 AM ---Ralph,

I would argue America did hearken diligently. From the Pilgrims (early 1600s) to the Founding Fathers, the writings and laws are steeped in Scripture. There are many writings that talk specifically about coming to America to advance the kingdom of God. Almost all the signers of the Declaration and Constitution were Christian. Almost all were anti-slavery, even the ones that owned slaves until death. (Thomas Jefferson, for example, wanted to free his slaves but was prohibited from doing so by Virginia law, because he was in debt and had inherited the slaves.) I disagree with Ray's statement "there is no reason for taking another's life"... I don't believe killing in war is necessarily hatred or murder.

We shouldn't take too literally the phrase "observe and do ALL" of God's commandments...because nobody has done that. God has always blessed his people--whether Israel, Judah, or America--when there is general obedience to his law, from the leadership down. This doesn't mean everything and everyone were perfect during those times of blessing (which is what a literal rendering would imply.) We're still in the flesh, and as long as we are, there is going to be sin, war, and death...even in the countries that have a religious and moral foundation.

--- End quote ---

Very well stated Jesse, I agree in all points.

What were the reasonable slave owners to do with their people, turn them out into open society with no protection under common law or means of survival? Solutions to long term human failures are not as simple as just stop.
There needs to be a well thought out process that the whole nation agrees with before sending your dependents out into the world to fend for themselves.
=
Regarding killing in war, most soldiers had to be mentally conditioned to go against their natural resistance to killing their fellow man.
As was stated by one writer, "The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him." -G. K. Chesterton

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