Paradise Cafe Discussions - A Place For Bible Research And Christian Encouragement

Good afternoon everyone :D

The scripture for today is from Deut. 30:19 ...

You must choose life in order that you may keep alive, you and your offspring.

Watchtower comments ...

''The Israelites individually had to chose to love Jehovah, to listen to his voice, and to stick to him. Since the Israelites had free will, they would have to bear the consequences of their choice. (Deut. 30: 16-18) The period of the Judges provides a good illustration of the consequences of faithfulness and of unfaithfulness. Just before that period began, the Israelites followed the good example of Joshua and were blessed. However, some time after Joshua's death, ''another generation began to rise after them that did not know Jehovah or the work he had done for Israel. And the sons of Israel fell to doing what was bad in the eyes of Jehovah.'' (judg. 2:7, 10, 11) Apparently, the upcoming, inexperienced generation did not prize their heritage as members of a dedicated people.''-- Ps. 78:3-7, 10,11. w7/1/06 6,7

My thoughts ... :happyheart:

In what WAY were they to CHOSE to live ...? :questioning:

Please notice what the Scripture goes on to say at Deut. 30:20 ... :giverose::read:

20 by loving Jehovah your God, by listening to his voice and by sticking to him; for he is your life and the length of your days, that you may dwell upon the ground that Jehovah swore to your forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to give to them.”

Wasn't Jehovah asked a LOT from his people ... :shocked:;)

To LOVE Him ...
To LISTEN to Him ...
To STICK to Him ...

'not' ... as the saying goes ... :P:siskiss:

Now to go off on a wee bit of a tangent with text today ... but WHERE was the Israelites looking forward to LIVING ... to have WHAT as their inheritance and their blessing for remaining faithful and true to the true God ...?

Was it not 'the ground' ... 'the land' ... 'the earth' ...?

And would they not have been thinking the same thing when Jesus spoke about 'everlasting life' ...? That their 'inheritance' or their 'reward' would be life on the 'ground', 'land' or 'earth' ...?

So, as 'spiritual Israelites' today ... we too can have the hope of 'dwelling upon the land' if we CHOSE to ...

LOVE, LISTEN and STICK to our God in our worship to Him can we not!! :cheer:

Yes, let us LOVE out of a FULL heart ... :heartbeat:
let us LISTEN out of a humble heart ... :heartbeat:
and let us STICK out of a loyal heart ... :heartbeat:

Yeah ... ya gotta have HEART to have Jehovah's blessing don't you ... :happyheart:

A blessing of a future with everlasting life in view...!!

I hope that others will add a thought or two today as well ... I tried to keep it short ... sort of an aperitif ... ;):eat:

Love to all of you :grouphug:... BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts:

Hey there BR!

Just a couple of rambling thoughts. Keep in mind I've not really studied in a looooong time.:blush:

The Israelites were constantly leaving Jehovah to serve other Gods. It baffles me. They would rather follow the people around them who had much more lax standards.

So, I guess our choosing to stick to Jehovah would mean sticking to his Word (the way is shown by Christ). This would mean that we wouldn't follow the world in the sense that we don't put our own pleasures, vices, etc., in front of our love for Jah and His Son.

As far as their "heritage" goes, ours get a little more confusing. With all the time that has passed we would be hard pressed to trace our roots back that far. This is where Christ comes in, IMHO, since he bought us--we should look to His example as our "heritage".

Does that make any sense? I've been kinda be-fuddled lately.

Hi there wasblind dear heart ... :hibye::D :friends::happyheart:

You make sense to me ... but then I'm befuddled too ... so we make a good pair don't we ... :friends: ;):siskiss:

I too, when I read over how the Israelites went back and forth and back and forth and back and forth again and again am baffled ... :shocked: :scratchhead:

And yet ... in reading this history about them we can see the truly loving and patient God that Jehovah really is can't we:friends: ... good for us ... :thumbsup:

As to our 'heritage' ... :giverose:

I too believe as you that 'Christ is our heritage' ... for it is only in him that we have any future hope at all isn't it ... praise Jah and our Savior for that assurance ... :pray::cheer:

The reason I mentioned that our inheritance includes the earth is that one thing I took note as I read over the various gospels is that Christ Jesus when he offered 'everlasting life' as our future life ... never seemed to indicate the WHERE ... that I can recall at this time anyway ... ;)

So, those who were listening would assume ... I assume ... that he was speaking of the inheritance that was mentioned to Abraham ... and that was everlasting life on earth wouldn't it ... kind of in harmony with the Scripture at Isa. 45:18 ...

(BBE) For this is the word of the Lord who made the heavens; he is God; the maker and designer of the earth; who made it not to be a waste, but as a living-place for man: I am the Lord, and there is no other.

(GNB) The LORD created the heavens--- he is the one who is God! He formed and made the earth--- he made it firm and lasting. He did not make it a desolate waste, but a place for people to live. It is he who says, "I am the LORD, and there is no other god.

Ps. 115:16 ...

(DRB) The heaven of heaven is the Lord's: but the earth he has given to the children of men.

(GW) The highest heaven belongs to the LORD, but he has given the earth to the descendants of Adam.

Yes, Jesus DID show us the way to walk ... and we can walk in his steps with his help through the holy spirit!!:hug::thumbsup:

I'm not sure if this is what you were referring to when you said about 'tracing roots' and such ... if I have gone off on a totally different tack could you bring me back ...? :giverose:

Luv ya BR :sheepy: :bouncyhearts: