Josiah was one of the youngest king to rule, as of 8 year, he started to rule. Josiah offered the best Passover sacrifice but made a mistake to stop the King of Egypt, Neco from going to Carchemish on the river Euphrates.

Josiah tried to stop him (Neco) even when Neco told him his business was not Josiah concern. And that God had given him the right to go to battle and that if Josiah opposed him, he was opposing Gods will. Sometimes, we have to know what battle to fight and which one to let go off. Of course Josiah the then King of Judah, did not listen and got shot and died. He was rushed back and was buried. His story was a lamentation for all to read.

The primary reason why we bear witness is to bear witness about Jesus. Its like we go to college to get information to somehow prove education is valuable. OR we go to vocational to show that being skilled and having a craft is useful in future of that institution. Thus we carry the school as an Alumni. Similarly, its is written

“How can we believe, when we receive glory from another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God”.

We seek the honor of the father for he alone is worthy of our glory, all adoration, power and glory forever more.

Revelation 4: 11

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

The typical thing to do before we start to do is survey before work commences.

¹³ By night I went out through the Valley Gate toward the Jackal^[a] Well and the Dung Gate, examining the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken down, and its gates, which had been destroyed by fire. – Nehemiah 2: 13

Over 1200 years separate the ministries of Joseph, son of Jacob, and Nehemiah, son of Hachaliah. However, the Holy Spirit, beyond the limits of time and space, consistently imparted invaluable wisdom to each generation as they faced pivotal decisions. When Joseph was tasked with saving Egypt, he first conducted a nationwide survey. Centuries later, as Nehemiah prepared to rebuild Jerusalem, he sought the Lord’s guidance to first assess the situation before starting the work.

The Lord instructed him to travel alone through the city, gathering details on the extent of the damage to Jerusalem’s walls. This careful investigation was crucial for developing a sound plan of action.

Despite his high position in Shushan and the abundant resources provided for the project in Jerusalem, Nehemiah remained humble, seeking divine guidance before beginning his work.

Two men were traveling down the road together when a bull appeared out of nowhere. Before the bull could spot them, one guy ran for a tree at the side of the road, climbed into its branches, and hid. The other man, who wasn’t as nimble as his tree-climbing companion threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead. The bull came up, sniffed all around him, and appeared to whisper something in his ear. The man had always heard that bears wont touch a dead body, so he lay perfectly still and held his breadth. Sure enough, the bear took him for a corpse and left. When the coast was clear, the guy in tree came down. Curious, he asked his buddy what the bear had whispered when it put its mouth directly to his ear. His friend replied, “He told me never to travel with a friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger!” Its easy to be friends with someone who is successful, has it together, riding the crest in the wave. What of the person that falls like Job. The bible says” A friend loveth at all times”.

Jeremiah 51:6

⁶ “Flee from Babylon!
    Run for your lives!
    Do not be destroyed because of her sins.
It is time for the Lord’s vengeance;
    he will repay her what she deserves.

Revelation 18: 4

Then I heard another voice from heaven say:

“‘Come out of her, my people,’^[a]
    so that you will not share in her sins,
    so that you will not receive any of her plagues;
⁵ for her sins are piled up to heaven,
    and God has remembered her crimes.

Speaks of the coming judgement of God as it was in the time of Jeremiah, it will be in Revelation. I will punish Bel in Babylon and make him spew out what he has swallowed. The nations will no longer stream to him. And the wall of Babylon will fall. In Jeremiah 51: 44 promises to punish Bel in Babylon as with Revelation 18 because of her sins. In this time, the kings of the earth, the rulers and the military chiefs, the rich and powerful, and all other people, slave and free will have prepared a place to hide themselves in caves and under the rocks in the mountains. This took place in Revelation 6: 15.

Ephesians 4 vs 10,  Song of Solomon 2, 3

Ephesians talks about the parts of the body of Christ, some as evangelist, others as prophets, teachers and they work as the body does like the hand works with the chest to move likewise as the feet cannot say to the toe it is useless. The fundamental idea is every part of the body of Christ even  the small part we deem useless are the most useful. So no matter the work we do for God no matter how small it is, it is useful to the body of Christ.

Some people say those who donate never do anything, some say those who teach like the lime light, some say those who pick up the communion plates after communion are not useful. But in the eyes of God, all are equally useful. Because we as believers as fitly joined together.

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved”

Sometimes, my life can get really busy and the call to cast my burden on the lord and he will sustain me. Is just the encouragement we need so that we will not be moved. Circumstances are always changing, we always need to be somewhere and do something or help out somewhere.

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)

Jesus first coming gives us a picture of a holy lamb of God, who suffered in our place. This was a picture of Joseph who maintain his purity and became a second in command to show mercy to his brothers.

Jesus second coming gives us a picture of David who came to as man of war, reigning in righteousness and ruling in justice. As the desolation is to come where the sanctuary will be restored in the next 3 years. So the desolation is already happening and the temple will be restored.

From fellowship (Jacob) to nation(Israel).

Paul and left for Corinth and in his journey, he found Aquila. Claudius had commanded the Jews to leave Rome; And, because they were tent makers by trade he stayed with them.
Paul reasoned with the Jews and the Gentiles in the synagogue every sabbath preaching that Jesus is Messiah. Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul was occupied with teaching and preaching that Jesus was the Christ through his word.
Then they opposed and reviled him (Paul), so he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now I go to the gentiles.

In preaching the word we may face opposition, but it did not deter Paul from preaching, even from opposition against his own people he said, your blood be on your own head. we are not to be deterred from preaching the word, the blood of opposition is on their heads! when we are innocent!

Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. 10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; listen to the instruction of our God, you people of Gomorrah! Isaiah 1: 9 -10

Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. 15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow. 18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD.

See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her— but now murderers! 22 Your silver has become dross; your choice wine is diluted with water. 23 Your rulers are rebels, partners with thieves; they all love bribes.

Revelation 18: 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

It is amazing that when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, and lot was to take his family out. He sent his angels to say get out of town, run for your lives and do not look back. In revelation 18 vs 1 – 3, God says the same thing to Babylon by the angels, after this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. ² With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’^[a]
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
³ For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”