Category Archives: Hebrew Scriptures

Hebrew Scriptures, TORAH

PART 3 The Spirit of Witchcraft —One of the Works of the Flesh

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continued from Part 2

Why Consult with the Witch at Endor?

King Saul did this in order to pacify his fear, in order to justify his suspicion, in order to pacify his own rebellion, against God. 

He resorts to consulting the witch at Endor a familiar spirit. Consulting by means outside of God. Saul only needed to humble himself and repent to open the door that would usher him back into the presence of God. He was still operating in self. Stuck in rebellion and stubbornness. 

We see this in 1 Samuel 28:6 

6. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

In other words, God was giving him a message by not speaking to him. His glorious presence had departed from him and God allowed it to instigate repentance. 

WAS SAUL SEEING HIMSELF FOR WHO HE REALLY WAS???

Was Saul oblivious to the fact that he was in disobedience?

It’s very possible to be so stuck that we deceive our own selves.

Saul was in total denial that God had departed from him and was insistent on getting a word from the Lord.

So, Saul is going to create his own message.

So often this is what happens when the body of Christ becomes susceptible and tempted with witchcraft in the competition of fellow servants of Christ. 

It begins with denial toward the truth.

And wanting to imagine God is saying something he did not say and is not saying. And that is exactly what happened to Saul in this instance. 

2 Samuel 1:1-27

FIRST there is a concept to take note of here…

When GOD gives you an assignment, AND you know what it is AND you are not confused about the instructions. You perfectly understand…  

Know this:  The assignments that you fail to accomplish when it comes to the enemies of God, have a way of resurfacing.  

In other words, you can send yourself back around the mountain, because you failed to accomplish the task the last time!

Except this time you are contending with spirits that are stronger (because you have made them stronger by your rebellion and disobedience).  They’re objective was always to remove you from your place…now even more so!

Obedience is Better than Sacrifice.

The Amalekite King that Saul did not destroy in one of his moments of disobedience, believing he knew what was best on his own accord, instead of following the orders he was given by God.

HE THOUGHT HE HAD A BETTER PLAN THAN THE PLAN GIVEN TO HIM BY GOD

His actions caused the Amalekite’s to resurface in the book of Esther. It was also an Amalekite that finished him off after he fell on his own sword. What sword? The very disobedience he walked in took his own life. 

Remember that Prophet Samuel asked King Saul, “Did you do the Lord’s commandment?”, and King Saul replied that he had done the Lord’s commandment. 

Saul had not completed the assignment the way he was commanded to do. Saul did it his way and opened the door to a spirit that every generation continues fight. 

Every child with siblings has learned the hard way, that their disobedience/rebellion has the potential of causing the same behavior in their siblings.   Every rebellious friends goal is to get you to participate in their wicked behavior.  Point being: this type of behavior leaves another to have to pick up the bondage and fight the same battle again.

Someone has to slay the dragon!  If it’s your assignment, and you refuse to do it or you only do the part you want to do, then you leave another to finish the job.  You may even subject them to more spiritual dangers and stronger enemies because you chose not to finish your spiritual assignment.

The spirit of Amalek.

2 Samuel 1:1-27. The consequences of cooling off in one’s service to God.

1 Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

1 Samuel 30:1-31 Ziklag had been attacked by the Amalekites. David pursues them across the Negev Desert and defeats them –and rovers all, including his two wives.

Meanwhile, King Saul fights the phillistines in Mt Gilboa 1 Samuel 31:1-3

2 It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3 And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

A prisoner of Israel – from the battle with the Amalekites.

Consult your bible maps. note the position of Jezreel vs Mt Gilboa

4 And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5 And David said unto the young man that told him, how knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6 And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

The spirit of Amalek always insist everything happens by chance… there is no design, destiny or providence of GOD.

Note: King Saul was fighting the Phillistines on Mt Gilboa 1 Sam 28:4, David was fighting the Amalekites at that time.

7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, here am I.

The Amalekites were generational enemies of Israel. This Amalekite wants King David to believe he “just happened to be passing through a battle with Israel and the Phillistines?” Is he just waiting in the cut to see how the battle will turn out?

8 And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

And I am proud to declare and will not hide the fact that “I am Amalekite”. (Grandson of Esau, ever present enemy to Israel, known for their audacity) Ex 17:14 GOD will blot out the name of Amalek, Deut 25:17 Amalek did not fear GOD;

9 He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

…”and Saul asked me to kill him“

Amalek’s primary tactic is to sneak up from behind, to attack the weak, the lame, the young, the aged, the infirm, when they are too weak to lift up their own hands in defense… Deut 25:17, Ex 17:8-16

10 So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

… so when Saul is weak, you can stand up..

so I did as he asked, and then I took his crown and bracelet. (If I meant to do you and Israel honor, wouldn’t I have brought back his body for burial?

Note: This Amalekite who was being held by the Israelites is somehow at Mt Gilboa with King Saul on the battlefield, just passing through?

Was he escaped from the camp of the defeated Israelites at Mt Gilboa and heard about the defeat of the Amalekites before David?

Was he an Amalekite who just happened to be passing by the battlefield of King Saul & the Phillistines?

Was he an Amalekite who heard about the defeat of his people before David and went to the battlefield of King Saul and the Phillistines in order to cut off the weak and injured? Collecting the spoils of war?

Why is an Amalekite on the battlefield with the Phillistines?

11 Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

(So, here you are David…a gift for the next King of Israel that we will destroy)

12 And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

13 And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

I am ger… one who will sojourn in your land..inhabit the land, dwell here, abide (with hostile intent?), bring fear, remain in the land… ger (guwr) someone without original rights; Amalek had a lot to lose when Israel came out of captivity. They were occupying Israels land during their 400 years in captivity. They were not interested in seeing Israel set free.

an Amalekite – stated for the 2nd time Scripture repeats itself twice when we are supposed to be paying attention. (there is a bit of pride in this declaration)

14 And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord’s anointed?

GOD was internationally known for anointing his people, especially His Kings, Priests and Prophets…. there is no way a person in the bloodline of Esau would not know that Saul was anointed by GOD). Amalek did not fear GOD.

15 And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

David was not deceived. He saw, heard, perceived what was going on. The Amalekite was mocking GOD, the Children of Israel, the Kingdom and everything they stood for… David recognized the enemies of GOD and Israel. Would you know when the enemy is mocking GOD in your life?

Do you know when someones story does not add up?

16 And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord’s anointed.

17 And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

18 (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

19 The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20 Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21 Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22 From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23 Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24 Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25 How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

26 I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27 How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

YOUR PRAYER LIFE IS… YOUR STRONGEST SPIRITUAL ASSET

While here on earth, Amalek sought to destroy the Israelites with a vengeance. His baseless hatred for Israel was shrouded in fear of Israel. Amalek never attempted to confront Israel face to face. That would have meant, taking on the tribe of Judah head-on (Ex 17). Why take on a lion when you can sneak up from behind and challenge the a cub… The Tribe of Dan…(whom they thought was a weak link).

The Tribe of Dan was the rearguard. Their job was to protect Israels treasures; the old, the young, the weak. 11 Tribes mounted the frontal defense and protected the flanks. Dan was the rearguard.

Note: When the children of Israel left Egypt, they were no way in the path of the territory of Amalek. Amalek pursued them when they had already passed by… a completely different path to Mt Sinai. And when did they attack? Right before the children of Israel were about to get their Word from GOD… Right before they were scheduled to receive their Word about their destiny.

If you find out who you are in GOD.. the enemy has a big problem. If Israel figured out that all of this territory that Amalek illegally inhabited really belonged to the children of Israel AND if they (the Children of Israel) ever got their fight back and remembered who they are/were…

Judah was already leading them to their promise… and Judah was not to be trifled with.

What they did not know is that Dan, was a Lion’s whelp… and if you have ever seen a lion’s cub play you would recognize that they are severely underestimated, have no idea that they are the smallest, love to wrestle and are always ready for the battle. Dan was quick like a viper and strong like a lion. Add prayer to the fight and they were unbeatable!

The spirit of Amalek continues their attempts to take out GOD’s Anointed. They are relentless. If they can get you so frustrated that you come out of prayer, curse, get angry, hold grudges, act out in rage, jealousy, nurse wounds, throw your hands down ( they have sufficiently weakened your hands in prayer).

If they can just poke at your heels, drag you down to a level where you are spiritually and emotionally broken, despondent, hopeless, feeling entitled and justified in your own behaviors… If Amalek can get you to operate in greed, pride, envy, strife, etc.

If they can get you to pick up the worlds weapons and put down the weapons of your warfare, then they have you in a headlock. Your hands become weak, you have no prayer life and you are subject to the enemy’s devices.

Prayer makes your hands strong… and in GOD’s Kingdom we need strong hands to war with in prayer! Hands Raised + Praise + Humility + GODs weapons= Power in Prayer ; means you win the battle!

Hands locked down and immobilized + use of the enemies weapons+ pride, lies, deceit etc.= no strength in prayer – You lose.

Rephidim ( Ex 17) means weakening of the hands. The children of Israel propelled themselves into a spiritual condition of Rephidim through all of their complaining, moaning, chiding- the sapped up their own anointing with their own mouths.

There was no water = there was no anointing. Why do we expect the anointing to flow in our lives, on our prayers, on our vision and dreams, when all we did all day was whine, moan and complain? Why do we expect the anointing to flow when all we did all day was point the finger, ridicule, blame, lash out, criticize our leaders, friends, brothers and sisters?

THE WORD OF GOD IS CLEAR ABOUT THIS POINT:

Negativity does not release the anointing. Frustration, complaining, etc does not release the anointing. Pointing the finger, blame, ridicule, etc does not release the anointing.

The Prayer of Faith releases the anointing.

You can’t be on both sides of the equation. You can not do both and expect your prayers to break through. There is no middle ground here. You can’t be double minded and expect power in prayer.

When I began this teaching I made a statement…the Spirit of Witchcraft- One of the Works of the Flesh. What I am saying is that, we can easily fall into the trap of thinking that witchcraft is happening somewhere from outside, being performed by someone else, directed at us through someone else.

I am showing you another side to the coin. The witchcraft of words can come from us… from within us, from our own actions, our own flesh.

We deceive ourselves in double mindedness, when we operate in disobedience, rebellion or in any of the activities described. We allow the spirit of Amalek to operate in our lives and only we can shut it down.

Saul wanted to operate in the things of GOD and the things of the world, as it suited him. It doesn’t work like that, and it cost him everything.

Reading Assignment: Read it all in context Starting at 1 Samuel 9 – 1 Samuel 15

Hebrew Scriptures, Hebrew studies, TORAH

PART 2 The Spirit of Witchcraft –One of the Works of the Flesh by Rev. Y Malveaux

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continued from Part 1 of this message

Rebellion damages a person and it never travels alone. Rebellion travels with jealousy, anger, resentment and a host of bedfellows that creep into the soul and does its worse to its host.

The deception is vengeance, the delusion that your paying someone else back for their actions toward you. But, in reality your are only damaging yourself, hurting your own soul.

Saul’s disobedience and disrespect for GOD’s Word was losing him the kingdom. No amount of pointing the finger and blaming David was going to get him back into position.

He is the anointed of GOD, and yet he turns to the weapons of the world to regain spiritual territory.

I Samuel 15:23

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

From that point on Saul would not listen to the instructions given to him through the authoritative figure the prophet Samuel who had brought the anointing upon King Saul and anointed him. The culture at this time in Israel is dominated by the prophets in the Old Testament. (Hebrew scriptures)

Saul’s refusal and act of rebellion to obey the prophet Samuel was a refusal to the authority that gave the instruction. God Himself gave the orders, and it made Saul open to the spirit of witchcraft. 

Saul had become hardened and took no regard for disobeying the Prophet Samuel.  What he did not realize was, that he wasn’t actually disobeying Samuel… he was disobeying GOD.

We find in 1 Samuel 16:15 following in the context, that after Samuel sights Saul’s sin as the sin of witchcraft in 1 Samuel 15:23.

1 Samuel 16:15 says…

15.  And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 

The author of the book of 1 Samuel is the Prophet Samuel himself.

2 Samuel is written by Samuel, Gad and Nathan.

In 1 Samuel 16; Samuel the prophet is very careful to articulate to us an evil spirit from God.

Does God send evil spirits?  

No.

Why did God allow the one who is anointed by Him at one point in time; but is no longer His anointed, to be troubled by an evil spirit? 

This verse justifies how the evil power had domination over someone who was once anointed.

I Samuel 28:3-7

Saul visits the witch of Endor.

3. Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

4. And the Philistines gathered themselves together and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa. 

5. And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled. 

6.  And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

Saul and the Medium of Endor

7. Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and inquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

It was the spirit of witchcraft that took his life.

Witchcraft cleverly presents itself as a solution…illumination, even wisdom. It is not.

Saul sought out the woman with a familiar spirit. He said, “that I may go to inquire of her.”

That very spirit of witchcraft took his life because within a 24-hour period he was dead after consulting with the witch of Endor.

The Almighty God allowed this incident before his death to manifest. It was a manifestation of a hidden spirit that was dominating his life.

Throughout the whole scripture we find that an evil spirit troubled him, but we do not have the identification of that spirit till just before his death.

Hebrew Word Study:  pah-neem

pah-neem in Hebrew means ‘face’

Because who better than our own maker knows that we have more than one face!  Our faces are multi-faceted, filled with expressions- even expressions that leak out…ones that we try not to project!

pah-neem is a very interesting Word in GOD’s Hebrew Language.

In Hebrew, words ending with “eem” are in plural form.  To say face in Hebrew, GOD set the word for face in plural form, not singular.  Why?

We are creatures of many dimensions and levels.  We have the face we show our families and the face we show our enemies.  The face of kindness, love and respect and the face of contempt, unhappiness and apprehension. We have the face for all occasions, the one that masks our true face underneath.

Saul wore the face of a King. The face of an obedient servant of GOD. The face of disobedience, jealousy, friendship and deceit. (among others).

Our faces are pah-neem, because we are not one-dimensional beings, and sooner our later, our true face reveals itself for who we really are in our hearts.

And just before his death, Saul’s true face manifest. 

How does it manifest?

Through his desire to consult with the witch at Endor.

So, this spirit was hidden even though it was upon him. 

His true identity, that the spirit of witchcraft was hidden within him. Perhaps, even unbeknownst to Saul was his hunger to maintain power and control. Coming face to face with what he was willing to do to maintain that control. His level of desperation.

The spirit of witchcraft does not make itself obvious.  The spirit of witchcraft is very clever, very patient, subtle and subdued in our life, until we are crushed by it and suddenly destroyed.

If we do not recognize it, the spirit of witchcraft begins to creep in and take up a seat. It presents itself as control, manipulation, jealousy, rebellion, stubbornness, baseless hatred, anger, vengeance, etc.  

When this spirit is upon a person, they will not fully follow the instructions of God the way He has given them.  Yet, time and time again, they will redress and justify their actions, blame and point the finger, and rearrange their words as if they have done exactly what GOD has instructed. 

Saul operated in all these wicked character traits that eventually lead to his destruction, before going to the witch at Endor.  He became Jealous of David, after David’s fight with Goliath.

1 Samuel 18:1-30 —The Roots of Saul’s Jealousy

1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.

11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them.

17 And Saul said to David, Behold my elder daughter Merab, her will I give thee to wife: only be thou valiant for me, and fight the Lord’s battles. For Saul said, Let not mine hand be upon him, but let the hand of the Philistines be upon him.

18 And David said unto Saul, Who am I? and what is my life, or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be son in law to the king?

19 But it came to pass at the time when Merab Saul’s daughter should have been given to David, that she was given unto Adriel the Meholathite to wife.

20 And Michal Saul’s daughter loved David: and they told Saul, and the thing pleased him.

21 And Saul said, I will give him her, that she may be a snare to him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him. Wherefore Saul said to David, Thou shalt this day be my son in law in the one of the twain.

22 And Saul commanded his servants, saying, Commune with David secretly, and say, Behold, the king hath delight in thee, and all his servants love thee: now therefore be the king’s son in law.

23 And Saul’s servants spake those words in the ears of David. And David said, Seemeth it to you a light thing to be a king’s son in law, seeing that I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?

24 And the servants of Saul told him, saying, On this manner spake David.

25 And Saul said, Thus shall ye say to David, The king desireth not any dowry, but an hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged of the king’s enemies. But Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines.

26 And when his servants told David these words, it pleased David well to be the king’s son in law: and the days were not expired.

27 Wherefore David arose and went, he and his men, and slew of the Philistines two hundred men; and David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full tale to the king, that he might be the king’s son in law. And Saul gave him Michal his daughter to wife.

28 And Saul saw and knew that the Lord was with David, and that Michal Saul’s daughter loved him.

29 And Saul was yet the more afraid of David; and Saul became David’s enemy continually.

30 Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

In 1 Samuel 28:8b

Saul disguised himself and put on other raiment.

This is a prophetic insight into what is happening here.

Because often, a spirit of witchcraft does not look like a spirit of witchcraft because it is hidden and disguised as something else. (masking itself behind another face).

This is why Saul was so susceptible to this spirit of witchcraft that took his life.  He opened himself up to it through jealousy and rebellion.

But we see here what the motive is for consulting the witch at Endor. King Saul was not satisfied with the answer he was getting from God. –so he became determined to go around GOD!

The answer God gave King Saul was silence, and there is a reason for that silence. Silence meant God’s spirit departed from him.

That silence meant you are not going to hear from me until you repent.

But Saul, like so many of us have experienced a moment when God is silent. 

We should never attempt to create (or obtain) the Word of the Lord on our own when we do not like the answer (or the silence) that we get from God.   Even when God may tell us things that are hard to accept or when His silence is difficult to understand. 

We do not reinvent the will (The Instructions) of GOD.

When Saul did not get the answer that he wanted from God, this was the very springboard to Saul consulting the witch at Endor.

(Saul wanted an answer from GOD. God gave his answer through total silence. God answered with silence in order to instigate repentance.)

In Part 3, we will take a look at how Saul responded to silence...

Hebrew Scriptures, Judeo-Christian Teachings, Spiritual Maturity

PART 1 – The Spirit of Witchcraft -ONE OF THE WORKS OF THE FLESH-

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THE TEACHING BELOW HAS BEEN PREPARED BY REV. MALVEAUX – ONE OF MY GREAT FRIENDS AND NEW GUEST CONTRIBUTOR TO torahisteaching.com

TAKE SOME TIME TO READ THROUGH THE FOLLOWING SCRIPTURES IN ORDER TO GET GROUNDED FOR THE LESSONS THAT FOLLOW:

(Galatians 5:13-26)

13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

Part of the traditional scriptures, that prohibits witchcraft.

It is not only the acts of sorcery that we are familiar with but there is occultic and non- occultic witchcraft.

We see it subtly coming into the church (among the people of God) and destroying much of Gods work. (It pits people against each other instead of fighting the wars of God against the enemy.

Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

(Laws of Social Responsibility)

Exodus 22:18

18. Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.

There is prophetic application to this.

God is saying to us we can not tolerate a spirit of witchcraft.

We cannot become apathetic toward it.  Rather, we are to become militant toward it, in our desire to bring that spirit of GOD down among the people of God.

DEUTORONOMY 18:10-12

Explains the classical biblical explanation of what we associate witchcraft with. 

10. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 

11.  Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 

12.  For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.

How do we as the people of God become oppressed by a spirit of witchcraft? Let us look into 1 Samuel 15 and see one of the ways that makes us susceptible to this type of witchcraft.

THE DISOBEDIENCE OF A KING

1st Act of Disobedience of King Saul 

1 Samuel 13:1-12

13 1Saul reigned one year; and when he had reigned two years over Israel,

2 Saul chose him three thousand men of Israel; whereof two thousand were with Saul in Michmash and in mount Bethel, and a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin: and the rest of the people he sent every man to his tent.

3 And Jonathan smote the garrison of the Philistines that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard of it. And Saul blew the trumpet throughout all the land, saying, Let the Hebrews hear.

4 And all Israel heard say that Saul had smitten a garrison of the Philistines, and that Israel also was had in abomination with the Philistines. And the people were called together after Saul to Gilgal.

5 And the Philistines gathered themselves together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots, and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the sea shore in multitude: and they came up, and pitched in Michmash, eastward from Bethaven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait, (for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

9 And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.

10 And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.

11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.13 And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever.

14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

2nd Act of Disobedience by King Saul

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1Samuel 15:1-35

1Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord.

2 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

5 And Saul came to a city of Amalek, and laid wait in the valley.

6 And Saul said unto the Kenites, Go, depart, get you down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them: for ye shewed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt. So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.

7 And Saul smote the Amalekites from Havilah until thou comest to Shur, that is over against Egypt.

8 And he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,

11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

12 And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.

13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord.

14 And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

15 And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.

16 Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

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17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

(Here we see King Saul Shifts blame to the people he was leading; He did not take ownership of his decisions and his actions.)

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

24 And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord.

26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.

27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.

28 And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.

29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 0 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord thy God.

31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the Lord.

32 Then said Samuel, Bring ye hither to me Agag the king of the Amalekites. And Agag came unto him delicately. And Agag said, Surely the bitterness of death is past.

33 And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the Lord in Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

35 And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

#3 The Jealousy of King Saul Manifested. 

When David defeated Goliath 1 Samuel 17:55-58

55 And when Saul saw David go forth against the Philistine, he said unto Abner, the captain of the host, Abner, whose son is this youth? And Abner said, As thy soul liveth, O king, I cannot tell.

56 And the king said, Enquire thou whose son the stripling is.

57 And as David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.

58 And Saul said to him, Whose son art thou, thou young man? And David answered, I am the son of thy servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.

1 Samuel 18: 1- 15

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1And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

2 And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father’s house.

3 Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

4 And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

5 And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants.

6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul’s hand.

11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

12 And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from Saul.

13 Therefore Saul removed him from him, and made him his captain over a thousand; and he went out and came in before the people.

14 And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the Lord was with him.

15 Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him.

1 Samuel 15:23

3 Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

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23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

Witchcraft took the very life of the first king of Israel, King Saul.

Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft but so is consulting a necromancer.

Necromancer– a person who practices necromancy, a wizard or magician.

Necromancy- is a practice of magic involving communication with the dead – either by summoning their spirits as apparitions, visions or raising them bodily – for the purpose of divination, imparting the means to foretell future events, discover hidden knowledge, to bring someone back from the dead, or to use the dead as a weapon. Sometimes referred to as “Death Magic”, the term may also be used in a more general sense to refer to black magic or witchcraft. 

1 Samuel 28

28 1And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

2 And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

4 And the Philistines gathered themselves together, and came and pitched in Shunem: and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they pitched in Gilboa.

5 And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

6 And when Saul enquired of the Lord, the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

7 Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to die?

10 And Saul sware to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

17 And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbour, even to David:

18 Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.

19 Moreover the Lord will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: the Lord also shall deliver the host of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.

20 Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

23 But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:

25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

 24 hours before his death he consulted the witch of Endor.

The spirit of witchcraft was bondage over his life from I Samuel 15 on…

Let us look at I Samuel 15 and see the witchcraft that overtook the once Anointed King of Israel (Saul) to become susceptible to the spirit of witchcraft.

THESE SCRIPTURE READINGS SET THE STAGE AND FILL IN THE DETAIL FOR THE TEACHING PRESENTED IN PART 2.

NEXT IN SERIES…PART 2 THE SPIRIT OF WITCHCRAFT – One of the Works of the Flesh.PART 2 The Spirit of Witchcraft –One of the Works of the Flesh by Rev. Y Malveaux

Hebrew Scriptures, TORAH

Special Series…. TalkTorahToMe.CAFE

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CONNECTING THE DOTS…. AND DOING THE MATH

The Genealogies contain so many Pearls of Wisdom, so much detail, so many facts. I need to show you this, so that my students will never be among those who skip over the genealogies as if they are repetitive, full of dead history that is not applicable or useful in anyway.

All of scripture All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Tim 3:16

Every jot and title is important and we will not overlook them. We will search them out and investigate the scriptures to find every hidden treasure available to enrich our understanding.

Hebrew Scriptures, Judeo-Christian Teachings, PREP FOR Rosh Hashanna

Elul… May GOD Find You Praying, like David Prayed…

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NOW IS THE SEASON….

ROSH CHODESH ELUL— THE MONTH OF THE SEARCH

THE 1ST OF ELUL, 5781. ~ AUGUST 20, 2020

29 DAYS TO EXAMINE YOUR HEART….

SET YOURSELF UP FOR BLESSINGS!

GOD asks in His Word, that we proclaim His Feast in their Seasons. When we are obedient to this request we set ourselves under the Biblical Calendar and the cyclical nature of Supernatiural Seasons of GOD.

The Feasts are given to us as our personal and prophetic moedim (moe-eh-deem) ; Our personal & prophetic appointments with GOD. The modem translates into English as “The Feasts.” GOD takes personal possession of these days, which are separated and consecrated by GOD, just for You!

It was ALWAYS All About You!

GOD has dedicated and consecrated time, set aside just for you!

When we are faithful to proclaim His Seasons, we declare all honor, glory, power, might and reverance for GOD, faith and trust… believing that, “What GOD did then, He will do once again.”

Observing the Feast of God, which were designed with you in mind, sends a message to GOD that you are all about Him! And that the appointment time that He has set aside for you, you are decreeing and declaring….”I will be there!”

Leviticus 23: 

GOD asks us to proclaim His Seasons, FOREVER, Throughout our Generations… (not just in the “Old Testament times”. Throughout your generations… means an eternal consecration. Every generation is invited and we should want to be there.

1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.

3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

4 These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.

GOD’S NEW YEAR IS FAST APPROACHING!

The prayers we offer during the month of Elul (when we search our own hearts) prepares us for GOD’s New Year -Rosh Hashanah, (September 19, 2020) Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement (September 28, 2020) and the Feast of Tabernacles (October 3 & 4, 2020).

As you just saw, GOD asks that we “proclaim” His Seasons. They were set aside by GOD for us, to draw closer to us as we draw closer to Him.

After GOD intiiated the Biblical Calendar with Nisan, “Let this be the beginning of months to you”, He continued…

Leviticus 23:

23 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month [Rosh Hashanah], shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement [Yom Kippur]: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

31 Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.

37 These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:

41 And 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.

42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

43 That 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.

44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord.

Again, GOD asks us to proclaim His Seasons, FOREVER, Throughout our Generations…

  • On the 1st, 10th and 15th of the 7th Month – The Hebrew Month called Tishri
    • Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Feast of Tabernacles

Praying the Psalms can help you jumpstart the search into you own soul…You will be Praying like David Prayed!

Psalm 51

1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2 Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4 Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6 Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18 Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Psalm 7

1  O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute [chase, pursue] me, and deliver me:

2 Lest they [will] tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O Lord my God, If I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O Lord, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8 The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high.

Psalm 39

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.

  • One of the hardest things we have to do is keep silent before the wicked. However, when we restrain ourselves when provoked, we elevate and strengthen spiritually.

2 I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.

  • dumb with silence [do-me-yaw] = I controlled my tongue, kept my composure
    • I did not lash out or lash back with my tongue.
  • held my peace [khaw-shaw] = I was still

3 My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,

4 Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

  • David spoke to GOD about the situation instead trying to defend himself to others, or trying to explain, complain, or win.
  • David transformed the way he handled the pressures imposed upon him by Saul.
  • By today’s Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube standards of behavior, many who say they follow Christ, are not following Him in this. Many “believers” are lashing out, lashing back, etc.

Psalm 86 

1 Bow down thine ear, O Lord, hear me: for I am poor and needy.

2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee.

3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily.

4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.

5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

6 Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.

8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works.

9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.

10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.

12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.

13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

You can pray the above selections of Psalms everyday if you lie, or you can join in praying the Psalms daily- at least 7 a day, from Psalms 1-150 all the way to the end and back again during the month of Elul!

Praying the Psalms truly help you to obtain place of self reflection, ponder the Word of GOD and review your deeds for the year – an much more than that.

GET YOUR FRESH START FOR WHAT GOD DESIRES FOR YOU IN 2021…

Posts Included in This Series on Prayer for Elul: Post from 2019 that remain on time for this season!

Scripture in the Public Domain provided by Biblegateway.com KJV