Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Lesser Known Places: The Lord's Vineyard

 

The Lord’s Vineyard

For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel. Isaiah 5:7

 Hymn 104: God Is Our Refuge

 The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 Psalm 1:1-6 – A Fruitful Plant

 Bible Readings:

·       The Lord’s Vineyard:  Isaiah 5:1-10

·       The Ravaged Vineyard: Psalm 80:8-19

·       The Restored Vineyard:  Isaiah 27:1-6

·       A Parable About The Lord’s Vineyard: Luke 20:9-19

·       The Hired Labourers:  Matthew 20:1-16

Summary of Readings

§   The Bible contains an analogy about Israel being God’s Vineyard, which is recorded in Isaiah chapter 5

§   The Psalmist describes in Psalm 80 how Israel has disregarded God, and the Vineyard has been ruined

§   Jesus tells a parable about how the Jews had disregarded the words of the Prophets about the Vineyard, and now want to kill the Owner’s Son

§   Jesus also told another parable about how all the workers in the vineyard will get the same wages --the salvation of their soul in the resurrection - no matter when or how long they had worked

§   God has promised to restore His Vineyard, and to bring forth good fruit in the lives of those who trust in Him, the 144,000 who will sit with the Lamb on Mount Zion, when Jesus Christ returns.-

Hymn 26:  All Things Made Anew

Message

Hymn 96:  Great Shepherd – Lead Us!

Doxology

Monday, August 18, 2025

Lesser Known Bible Places: Shiloh

 

Shiloh

and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10

 Hymn 123: The Old Prophetic Fire

 The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 Psalm 119:129-136: God Provides and Cares  

 Bible Readings:

·       The Tabernacle at Shiloh:  1 Samuel 1:1-11, 24

·       The Ark Taken from the Tabernacle: 1 Samuel 4:1-11; Jer 7:12

·       David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem: 2 Samuel 6:12-17

·       Jeroboam Moves Worship to Bethel: 1 Kings 11:34-6; 12:19-20, 25-33

·       Judah’s Blessing:  Genesis 49:8-12

·       The Tabernacle Returns:  Revelation 21:1-5

Summary of Readings

§   At the end of the journey through the Wilderness, Israel erected the Tabernacle at a place called Shiloh – today we are not sure where that actually was

§   The Tabernacle was where God met with His people, and the Ark of the Covenant was kept there; people came there to meet with God

§   After a defeat by the Philistines, the Israelites decided to take the Ark to war with them, as they thought that would give them God’s Power in their battles

§   Subsequently the Ark never returned to the Tabernacle, and historically we understand that later the city Shiloh was destroyed

§   When Jeroboam came to power as King over Israel – the Ten Tribe Kingdom – he chose to set up false gods at Bethel – not at Shiloh - for the people to worship

§   We read in Revelation that “the Tabernacle of God” will come down from Heaven at the time of the end, a figure of a “return to Shiloh”

§   As God’s name was put on Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26), so too we believe God’s Name is associated with Shiloh – the fulness of His Power that will be given to Israel

§   Israel (the people) will be gathered by “Shiloh”, and Shiloh will work a work of obedience in the 144,00, and they will be changed from mortal to immortal beings, and will enter God’s Kingdom without going through physical death.    

Hymn 66:  Here Is Shiloh – Long Expected  

Message

Hymn 83: The Redeemer Shall Come

Doxology