Intro to Luke 1:15-17

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/27/2026 8:34 AM

My Worship Time                                                                              Focus: Intro to Luke 1:15-17

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 1:15-17

            Message of the verses:  “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb.  And he will turn man of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.  It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

            This is the first SD written on the book of Luke in my Morning Spiritual Diaries as in the evening Spiritual Diaries I will continue looking at Luke from the point that I leave off in the morning SD on Luke.  I mentioned that Luke is the longest of the four gospels and so when I was studying the gospel of Matthew it took me five years to get through it, and that is one of the reasons that I am looking at Luke in both morning and evening Spiritual Diaries.  I now begin quoting from the introduction of John MacArthur’s introduction to this 3^rd chapter in his commentary on Luke.

            “Nothing typifies the world’s view of greatness better than the brash claim by former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali, ‘I am the greatest..’  Ali’s repeated statement generated an enormous amount of public response, both pro and con, during the 1960’s and the 1970s.  His boast, which Ali often backed up by dominating his opponents in the ring, helped open the floodgates of tolerance for the blatant, arrogant egotism that prevails in sports and throughout contemporary society.

            “History has chronicled many truly great and honorable men, but in recent times it has become increasingly difficult to distinguish greatness from mere fame.  In today’s culture, famous people are most often celebrated for their wealth, success in business, athletic skills, acting ability, or musical talent.  Many are creations of the media; famous merely for being famous.

            “A more realistic, but less common, view of greatness measures it in terms of significant achievement.  It singles out those leave an indelible, positive mark on society, whether in war, education, science, medicine, the arts, or humanitarian causes.

            “But God’s standard of greatness transcends all human measure focusing on eternal heavenly realities, not ephemeral worldly ones.  It can best be seen by examining the life of someone whom God calls great.  Such a man was John the Baptist.

            “John’s life had none of the trappings the world associates with greatness.  He was born into a common family from the Judean hiss country (Luke 1:39, 65), not an upper-class family in Jerusalem.  There is no evidence that he had any formal education.  Instead of hobnobbing with the rich and famous, ‘he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel’ (Luke 1:80), far from the centers of commerce, culture, and power.  John’s camel’s hair garment and leather belt did not exactly make a fashion statement, nor was his diet of locusts and wild honey (Matt. 3:4) likely to start a culinary trend,  The fact that he disconnected from the styles of culture of his people, in the will of God, put on limits on his message or impact.  On the contrary, Matthew records that ‘Jerusalem was going out to him, and all Judea and all the district around the Jordan,’ being baptized and confessing their sins (Matt. 3:5-6).

            “John was not associated with any of the official institutions of his day.  He started no social or political movements, formed no organization, founded no religious cult.  In fact, he consciously downplayed his own importance in deference to Christ (Matt. 3:11; John 1:30), even directing his followers to Him (John 1:19-27), but soon grew to hate him for his blistering denunciation of their hypocrisy  (Matt. 3:7-12).  Nor did John fare any better with the political establishment.  Herod the tetrarch (Herod Antipas), embarrassed by John’s bold denunciation of his sinful relationship with his brother’s wife (Matt. 14:3-4), imprisoned him and eventually had him executed.  As far as the world was concerned, John ended his life as little more than an eccentric preacher, decapitated at the instigation of a seductive dancing girl and her vindictive mother (Matt. 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29). 

            “But the world’s evaluation of John completely missed the mark.  No less an authority than the Lord Jesus Christ, God incarnate, testified that ‘among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist!’ (Matt. 11:11).

            Three marks of John the Baptist’s greatness flow from this passage:  his personal character, his privileged calling, and his powerful contribution.”

            Lord willing in this evening’s SD we will begin to look at “John’s Personal Character” from Luke 1:15, but will then have to pick up that in tomorrow mornings SD.

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:  Now even though John the Baptist’s life is different than the life that I live he is a wonderful example of doing what the Lord has called me to do in my life.  John the Baptist was a man’s man!

My Steps of Faith for today:  Continue to get my arms around learning to have an effectual fervent prayer life as I continue to pray for my wife’s dealing with cancer.

2/27/2026 9:16 AM

PT-3 “The Divine Reproof For Zacharias’s Unbelieving Response” (Luke 1:18-25)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/26/2026 7:18 PM

My Worship Time    Focus:  PT-3 “The Divine Reproof For Zacharias’s Unbelieving Response”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference:  Luke 1:18-25

            Message of the Verses:  “18  And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19  And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20  And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 21  And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22  And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23  And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24  After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25  “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’”

            John MacArthur writes:  “God, however, had not taken Zacharias’s life, but rather temporarily eliminated his ability to speak.  Exactly as Gabriel had said, when he finally came out, he was unable to speak to them.  As a result, the people realized that he had seen a vision in the temple.  Zacharias’s facial expression and body language made it obvious to onlookers that something traumatic and extraordinary had taken place. Trying to communicate what had just happened, he kept making signs to them, and remained  mute.  The text does not refer to a formal sign language—neither Zacharias nor the people would have known one.  He just sought, in the best way that he could, to communicate with gestures what had occurred.

            “Giving a rather anticlimactic conclusion to what had been a phenomenal week for Zacharias, Luke noted that when the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.  The narrative gives no details about his reception by his wife, nor her reaction to the incredible news he bore.

            “Again simply, and without fanfare, Luke related the fulfillment of God’s promise to Zacharias:  After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant.  Luke wanted to make it clear that she did not become pregnant until after Zacharias returned home, lest false accusations of infidelity be made against her. 

            “The New Testament story of redemption began with this miracle of an older couple having a child.  It was the first of many miracles that would characterize the era of Jesus and the apostles.  And as was typical of those miracles, it was not only a spectacular display of supernatural power, but also met a real human need.

            “After Elizabeth realized she was pregnant she kept herself in seclusion for five months. Because of her age and barrenness, no one would have believed she was pregnant until she was far enough along that it was obvious.  When it was visible she finally did speak of her pregnancy, and it was to praise God, as her exclamation, ‘This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men,’ indicates.  Like Hannah centuries earlier (1 Sam. 1:19-2:10), Elizabeth was profoundly grateful that the Lord had miraculously removed the stigma of her childlessness.

            “The portrait Luke paints of Zacharias and Elizbeth is one of the flawed, but genuine, believers.  They were humble, righteous, obedient, prayerful, and served the Lord; at the same time, they were doubting, fearful, and even chastened by Him.  God is the God of humble beginnings and humble people, and He used Zacharias and Elizabeth because of their faithfulness and in spite of their shortcomings.  He gave them a son who would have the highest privilege of all—to be the greatest prophet because he was the forerunner of the Messiah.  Though today is no longer the ages of miracles, God still uses common people to faithfully proclaim the good news of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9; 3:15)—the story that began with God’s miraculous intervention in the lives of two humble, righteous people.”

            In tomorrow morning’s SD, Lord willing I will continue writing Spiritual Diaries on the book of Luke, with one in the morning and one in the evening.

2/26/2026 7:39 PM

PT-3 “Irreversible Judgment” (Nahum. 3:18-19)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/26/2026 8:52 AM

My Worship Time                                                                Focus:  PT-3 “Irreversible Judgment”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                              Reference:  Nahum 3:18-19

            Message of the verses:  “Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria; Your mighty ones are lying down.  Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to regather them.  There is no relief for your breakdown, your wound is incurable.  All who hear the report about you will clap their hands over you, for on whom has not your evil passed continually? (Nahum 3:18-19 NASB)

            MacArthur writes:  “After discussing Nineveh’s shepherds, mighty ones, and lost sheep, Nahum proceeded to focus on the king himself.  Depicting the king’s death, the prophet wrote that there is no relief for your breakdown. “Breakdown refers to the broken bones (cf. Lev. 21:19; 24:20) or, figuratively, to the collapse of an entire structure or system (cf. Isa. 1:28; 60:19).” 

(cf. Lev. 21:19; 24:20)

“19  or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand,”

“20  fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.”

(cf. Isa. 1:28; 60:19)

“28  But rebels and sinners shall be broken together, and those who forsake the LORD shall be consumed.”

“19  The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory.”

“The Assyrian king would suffer a torturous death when his capital city fell, with his bones crushed and no relief for his pain.  Nahum further stated of the king that your wound is incurable, indicating that the king would incur a fatal injury (cf. 1 Kings 22:34-35; Jer. 10:19).” 

(cf. 1 Kings 22:34-35; Jer. 10:19)

“34  But a certain man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel between the scale armor and the breastplate. Therefore he said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am wounded." 35  And the battle continued that day, and the king was propped up in his chariot facing the Syrians, until at evening he died. And the blood of the wound flowed into the bottom of the chariot.”

“19  Woe is me because of my hurt! My wound is grievous. But I said, "Truly this is an affliction, and I must bear it.’”

“This language not only predicted the ruler’s agonizing demise but also underscored that he would suffer the way Israel had suffered under Assyria (cf. Jer. 30:12, 15; Mic. 1:9).  The Lord would avenge His people, in that what the ding did to Israel would be done to them.”

(cf. Jer. 30:12, 15; Mic. 1:9)

“12  "For thus says the LORD: Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous.”

“15  Why do you cry out over your hurt? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant, I have done these things to you.”

“9  For her wound is incurable, and it has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem.”

            “With the death of the Assyrian king would come the death of the Assyrian empire.  The surrounding nations, seeing Assyria fall, would rejoice:  “All who hear the report about you will clap their hands over you.”  Instead of being mourned, the king of Nineveh would have no honor in his death.  Those who hear of his demise would respond not in grief but with joy and celebration.  This moment would be the culmination of Nineveh’s destruction and shame.  But it would also mark the turning of sorrow into joy for those who suffered under Assyrian oppression.

            “Nahum, whose name means comfort, demonstrated that God would bring His people consolation by judging Nineveh.  Nahum’s prophecy came to pass when the city fell in 612 BC.  Just as the fulfillment of Nahum’s prophecy demonstrated the trustworthiness of the more distant biblical prophecies (Nahum 1:15; 2:9; 10; 3:17; cf. Isa. 52:7; Joel 2:1-32; Hag. 2:7-8), so also the joy depicted by Nahum prefigured the future celebration of Christ’s victory over all His enemies (cf. Ps. 110:1; Rom. 16:20; 1 Cor. 15:25-26).”

(Nahum 1:15; 2:9; 10; 3:17; cf. Isa. 52:7; Hag. 2:7-8)

“5  The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before him, the world and all who dwell in it.’

“9  Plunder the silver, plunder the gold! There is no end of the treasure or of the wealth of all precious things.’

“10  Desolate! Desolation and ruin! Hearts melt and knees tremble; anguish is in all loins; all faces grow pale!”

“7 ¶  How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns.’”

“7  And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. 8  The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts.”

(cf. Ps. 110:1; Rom. 16:20; 1 Cor. 15:25-26)

“  1 ¶  «A Psalm of David.» The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’”

“20  The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

“25  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

“The only other passage that describes the clapping of hands using the same language as Nahum is Psalm 47, which declares that the world will clap its hands when Yahweh returns and subdues His adversaries (Ps. 47:1-4).  Thus Nahum’s prophecy not only pointed to comfort in the immediate term but also assured God’s people of the ultimate comfort they will experience in the future.”

(Ps. 47:1-4)

“1 ¶  «To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.» Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! 2  For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. 3  He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. 4  He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah”

            “Revealing the reason for the celebration over the death of Nineveh’s king and Assyria’s fall, the prophet concluded his book with a rhetorical question:  “For on whom has not your evil passed continually?”  People would rejoice at Nineveh’s fall because it marked the end of an empire known for its flagrant wickedness.  Assyria’s atrocities were pure evil and they passed through the surrounding nations continually with violent destruction (cf. 2 Kings 15:29; 17-19; 2 Chron. 32; 33:11; Isa. 10:5-14; 14:24-27). The victims of Assyria brutality would respond to Nineveh’s demise with exuberant joy.” 

            “This rhetorical question at the end of Nahum corresponds to the rhetorical question at the end of Jonah, God asked if He should not have pity upon Nineveh (Jonah 4:11).  In Nahum, God asked if people should not rejoice over the destruction of Nineveh.  Such a stark contrast illustrates the point that sinners must not presume upon God’s grace.  While the Lord was ready to show mercy to a people who repented, He was equally ready to render judgment against those who remained impenitent in their sin.  As Nineveh was flooded and burned, its people exiled and it king humiliated, the message of Nahum reminded his readers to remember both God’s grace and His justice.  In Jonah’s generation, the Ninevites turned to the Lord and received His kindness and mercy.  But in Nahum’s generation, they reveled in their sin, refused to repent, and received His wrath.  As the author of Hebrews warned, ‘See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.  For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven’ (Heb. 10:25).  Only those who turn away from sin and turn to the Lord in faith will escape His eternal wrath (Rom. 10:9-13).  Only then will they have true comfort, both in this life and the life to come.”

(Rom. 10:9-13)

“9  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11  For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 ¶  For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13  For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”

            There is no better advice that I can give to those who read this Spiritual Diary than what is found in the verses above, for if you follow what Paul wrote to the Romans in these verses with all of your heart, then you will pass from death to life and become a child of God.

            It has been my privilege to write these Spiritual Diaries on the books of Jonah, which began on August 23, 2025, and then the book of Nahum which began on December 3, 2025 and completed this morning.  I have to admit that understanding all of what was written in these Spiritual Diaries on, especially Nahum has been difficult, but it is my desire that as I have put all of these many Spiritual Diaries onto my blogs, that the Holy Spirit of God will use them to the glory of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ to Him be glory now and forever Amen.

            In tomorrow morning’s SD I will begin to write Spiritual Diaries on the book of Luke which I began a while ago in my Evening Spiritual Diaries so we will study Luke in both the morning’s SD’s and the Evening SD,s.

Spiritual Meaning for My Life Today:  As I finished both Jonah and Nahum I have learned many things and it is my desire to use these things to walk with the Lord more spiritually.

My Steps of Faith for Today: I trust that as I continue to write my Spiritual Diaries that the Holy Spirit of God will continue to use them as He takes them around the world for the glory of my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

2/26/2026 9:52 AM

 

 

 

 

PT-2 “The Divine Reproof For Zacharias’s Unbelieving Response” (Luke 1:18-25)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/25/2026 8:12 PM

My Worship Time    Focus:  PT-2 “The Divine Reproof For Zacharias’s Unbelieving Response”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                Reference:  Luke 1:18-25

            Message of the Verses:  “18  And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19  And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20  And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 21  And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22  And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23  And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24  After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25  “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’”

            I will pick up where I left off in yesterday's SD:  Now further  he had been sent to speak to Zacharias and to bring him this good news from God Himself.  This just shows how even people who are close to the Lord like Zacharias was that they can miss out on the blessings that God was going to give to him, yet this blessing he will receive at the cost of losing his voice, which when I think about that it may have been a good thing because the people around him would realize something happened to him.  Now God is sovereign over the holy angels, and they always do His bidding (cf. Ex. 23:20, 23; 33:2; Num. 20:16; 1 Chron. 21:15; 2 Chron. 33:21; Psalm 103:21; Daniel 3:29; 6:22).  Let us look what good news is by looking at the translation as MacArthur writes: “Good news translates a form of the verb euangelizo (‘to announce good news’).  This word was familiar to Gentiles, since it was used to express joyous news, especially related to the accession of the Caesars to the throne, thus noting the inauguration of a new era.  The word appears eleven times in the gospels, ten of them in Luke.  It refers elsewhere to proclaiming the good news that God sent His Son to die for the sins of all who believe in Him.”

            I have already mentioned that Zachariah would loose the ability to speak, and as I was listening to a sermon on this section by John MacArthur he believes he also lost his hearing.  Gabriel declared that Zacharias would be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things took place.  This would come about after John was baptized which happens eight days after his birth, and Lord, willing we will look at that when we get to the end of this very long first chapter of Luke.  John would begin to speak then and would give a great testimony of what will happen to his son, and once again people were around at that time so they knew that the Lord was working.  However until that time, probably around nine months later he would be unable to speak in order to describe to others his supernatural experience in the temple. Or relate the wonderful, unbelievable news that he and Elizabeth were to have a son.  He also would be unable to perform his priestly duty to teach the people in his village.  MacArthur writes “Zacharias would bear the shame of God’s judgment because [he] did not believe [God’s] words, which would be fulfilled in their proper time.”

            The closing words of Gabriel’s highlighted Zacharias’s lack of faith, but they also emphasize God sovereignty.  God’s plans and purposes, established in eternity past, will infallibly come to pass.  But however, the blessedness and reward saints enjoy from participating in those realities can be forfeited through unbelief, and replaced by chastening. 

            Now we have to move on as this conversation was going on, the people were waiting outside for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.  The priests who did the procedure were only suppose to be in there for a short time, but Zacharias was in there for a lot more time than that.  When they came out they were to pronounce the familiar benediction (Num. 6:23-27).”

(Num. 6:23-27)

“23  "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, 24  The LORD bless you and keep you; 25  the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26  the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 27  "So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.’”

MacArthur writes “But Zacharias, delayed by his conversation with Gabriel, failed to come out on time.  That led the people to wonder if he had done something wrong and been judged by God.  Leviticus 10:1-7 describes the dire consequences that could ensue when priests were careless or disobedient:

“1 ¶  Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them. 2  And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 ¶  Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’" And Aaron held his peace. 4  And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Come near; carry your brothers away from the front of the sanctuary and out of the camp." 5  So they came near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said. 6  And Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and Ithamar his sons, "Do not let the hair of your heads hang loose, and do not tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the congregation; but let your brothers, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning that the LORD has kindled. 7  And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you." And they did according to the word of Moses.”

I will stop here and Lord willing will pick up the rest of this section in tomorrow’s SD.

2/25/2026 8:44 PM

 

 

 

PT-2 “Irreversible Judgment” (Nahum 3:18-19)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/25/2026 9:29 AM

My Worship Time                                                                Focus:  PT-2 “Irreversible Judgment”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                              Reference:  Nahum 3:18-19

            Message of the verses:  “Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria; Your mighty ones are lying down.  Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to regather them.  There is no relief for your breakdown, your wound is incurable.  All who hear the report about you will clap their hands over you, for on whom has not your evil passed continually? (Nahum 3:18-19 NASB)

                I continue looking at these last verses in the book of Nahum by quoting John MacArthur’s commentary, adding comments of my own, and quoting most of the verse references MacArthur has in his commentary to help us understand this text.

            “Due to this failure in leadership, Nineveh would fall and the people would flee.  Nahum announced to the king that your people would be scattered on the mountains as they fled from the city (cf. Jer. 50:11; Hab. 1:8).”

(cf. Jer. 50:11; Hab. 1:8)

11  "Though you rejoice, though you exult, O plunderers of my heritage, though you frolic like a heifer in the pasture, and neigh like stallions,”

“8  Their horses are swifter than leopards, more fierce than the evening wolves; their horsemen press proudly on. Their horsemen come from afar; they fly like an eagle swift to devour.”

“They would be like sheep without a shepherd (cf. 2 Kings 22:17).”

(cf. 2 Kings 22:17)

“17  And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’"

“Nineveh’s leadership failure would be total and irreparable as there would be no one to regather them. The foolish shepherds of Nineveh who would be sleeping would be killed and unable to gather their group again (cf. Isa. 13:14; Ezek. 34:5; Zech 10:2; Matt. 9:36; Mark 6:34).”

(cf. Isa. 13:14; Ezek. 34:5; Zech 10:2; Matt. 9:36; Mark 6:34)

“14  And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, each will turn to his own people, and each will flee to his own land.”

“5  So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts.”

“12  I will make them strong in the LORD, and they shall walk in his name," declares the LORD.”

“36  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

“34  When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.”

“Nahum’s description of Nineveh’s end, with its people in complete disarray, contrasts starkly with how history will end for Israel.  Though God will scatter the enemies of His people (cf. Isaiah 13:14), He will regather Israel (Isaiah 56:8 Ezekiel 37:24; Mic. 2:12; 4:6) and restore them under the care of the Good Shepherd, the Messiah (cf. Psalm 23:1; Ezekiel 34:10-24; Rev. 7:17).”

(cf. Isaiah 13:14)

14  And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them, each will turn to his own people, and each will flee to his own land.”

(Isaiah 56:8 Ezekiel 37:24; Mic. 2:12; 4:6)

“8  The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, "I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.’”

“24  "My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes.”

“12 ¶  I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men.”

“6  In that day, declares the LORD, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted;”

(cf. Psalm 23:1; Ezekiel 34:10-24; Rev. 7:17)

1 ¶  «A Psalm of David.» The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

“10  Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them. 11  "For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12  As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13  And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14  I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15  I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16  I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. 17 ¶  "As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. 18  Is it not enough for you to feed

on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19  And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet? 20  "Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21  Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22  I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23  And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24  And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken.”

“17  For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life Today:  “As I look at all of these verses it once again shows me that God is in control, He has been in control of past history, all of it, and He is in control today, and will continue to be in control of future history as much of it has been predicted by the prophets and God will fulfill all of that too.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Trusting the Lord for the infusion that my wife will be getting for her cancer treatment this morning, that the Lord will use that to bring glory to Himself, and that the Lord will use it to help the evil disease of cancer in my wife’s body.

2/25/2026 8:15 AM

 

 

 

PT-1 “The Divine Reproof For Zacharias’s Unbelieving Response” (Luke 1:18-25)

 

EVENING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/24/2026 11:38 PM

My Worship Time    Focus:  PT-1 “The Divine Reproof For Zacharias’s Unbelieving Response”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                                 Reference:  Luke 1:18-25

            Message of the Verses:  “18  And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 19  And the angel answered him, "I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20  And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time." 21  And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple. 22  And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23  And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24  After these days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she kept herself hidden, saying, 25  “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days when he looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.’”

            Earlier this evening I had a Spiritual Diary written for this section of verses, not all of them but part of them as this section will take a few days to get through, but when I went to save it the SD was gone as this newer laptop did it to me again.  I will only begin this section this evening and try to put more of it on tomorrow evenings SD.

            MacArthur begins:  “Incredibly, Zacharias’s initial fear at seeing the angel soon turned to unbelief.  Instead of being grateful, Zacharias reached with skepticism.  Expressing doubt and faithless distrust, he asked incredulously, ‘How will I know this for certain?  For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years.’  Much like those praying for Peter’s release from prison (Acts 12:12-16), Zacharias refused to believe even when given the answer he had requested.  So like all believers, he was righteous before God, but not sinless.”

(Acts 12:12-16)

“12  When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. 13  And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. 14  Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. 15  They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” 16  But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed.”

            To doubt the certainty of the word of God and the reliability of His promise (cf. Josh. 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56; 2 Cor. 1:20; Titus 1:2; Heb. 10:23) is to deny His truthfulness.  Thus Zacharias’s unbelief drew the angel’s stern rebuke.  ‘I am Gabriel,’ he declared, ‘who stands in the presence of God.’  The phrase translated I am Gabriel is emphatic, indicating that this was no ordinary angel.”

(cf. Josh. 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56; 2 Cor. 1:20; Titus 1:2; Heb. 10:23)          

“14  "And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the LORD your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed.’

“56  "Blessed be the LORD who has given rest to his people Israel, according to all that he promised. Not one word has failed of all his good promise, which he spoke by Moses his servant.”

“20  For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.”

“2  in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began”

“23  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”

“One of only two angels named in Scripture (the other is Michael [Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7]), Gabriel was God’s primary messenger, sent to communicate some of the most monumental announcements in redemptive history (cf. Dan. 8:16-26; (:21-27; Luke 1:26-38).”

(Dan. 10:13, 21; 12:1; Jude 9; Rev. 12:7)

“13  The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia,”

“21  But I will tell you what is inscribed in the book of truth: there is none who contends by my side against these except Michael, your prince.”

“9  But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.’”

“7  Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,”

2/25/2026 12:00 AM

PT-1 “Irreversible Judgment” (Nahum 3:18-19)

 

MORNING SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 2/24/2026 9:29 AM

My Worship Time                                                                Focus:  PT-1 “Irreversible Judgment”

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                              Reference:  Nahum 3:18-19

            Message of the verses:  “Your shepherds are sleeping, O king of Assyria; Your mighty ones are lying down.  Your people are scattered on the mountains, and there is no one to regather them.  There is no relief for your breakdown, your wound is incurable.  All who hear the report about you will clap their hands over you, for on whom has not your evil passed continually? (Nahum 3:18-19 NASB)

            Now this morning I begin the very last section of the book of Nahum, and I have mentioned that once I am done with Nahum, I will begin to do two SD’s on the book of Luke.  One will be done in the morning and the other will be done in the evening SD.  The book of Luke is the longest gospel and has 40% of things in it that are not in the other three gospels and so that is what makes it the longest of the three gospels.  I have begun looking at Luke already and I am putting those SD’s on the evening Spiritual Diaries.  I have already written Spiritual Diaries on the other three gospels and as I grow older it is my desire to go over Luke, hoping that the Lord will allow me to finish that book.

            John MacArthur writes “As God concluded Nahum’s prophecy, He directed his words to the king of Assyria.  An earlier king of Assyria had been confronted by the prophet Jonah (cf. Jonah 3:6).  But the message of Nahum was different than that of Jonah.  While Jonah gave a warning of judgment, Nahum gave a verdict of judgment.  God commissioned Nahum to declare that while He gives grace to the humble, He executes definitive judgment on the unrepentant (cf. Exodus 34:7; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).”

(cf. Exodus 34:7; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5)

7  keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.’”

“6  But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

“5 ¶  Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

“Because of Nineveh’s refusal to turn from sin, the Lord determined to pour out His wrath on the city. Divine judgment could neither be halted nor avoided.

            “Having demonstrated that the city’s defenses (Nahum. 3:17), economic resources (3:16), and military forces (3:17) could not withstand the enemy assault, Nahum declared Nineveh’s leadership to be incapable of victory.  Nahum proclaimed to the king that your shepherds are sleeping.  Shepherds commonly refers to those who rule (cf. Numbers 27:17; 2 Samuel 5:2; 7:7; 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 34:1-24; 37:24), since leaders must exercise constant vigilance in protecting and providing for their people, as a shepherd does for his flock (cf. Luke 2:8).”

(cf. Numbers 27:17; 2 Samuel 5:2; 7:7; 1 Kings 22:17; Ezekiel 37:24)

“17  who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the LORD may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.’”

“2  In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’’”

“7  In all places where I have moved with all the people of Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"’

“17  And he said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd. And the LORD said, ‘These have no master; let each return to his home in peace.’"

“24  "My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes.”

(cf. Luke 2:8)

“8 ¶  And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.”

“But the shepherds of Nineveh had neglected these responsibilities.  Instead of watching, they were sleeping, a euphemism for inactivity and a lack of alertness (cf. Isaiah 56:10).”

(cf. Isaiah 56:10)

“10  His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.”

“In their pride, Nineveh’s leaders became complacent.  Their lack of vigilance made them vulnerable.  To make matters worse, the king’s mighty ones are lying down, operating as if they were secure and without any need to be vigilant (cf. Deut. 33:12, 28; Proverbs 1:33; Jeremiah 23:6).  In their overconfidence, these leaders were lethargic and apathetic.  Such overconfidence would contribute to their downfall.”

(cf. Deut. 33:12, 28; Proverbs 1:33; Jeremiah 23:6)

“12 ¶  Of Benjamin he said, "The beloved of the LORD dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.’”

“28  So Israel lived in safety, Jacob lived alone, in a land of grain and wine, whose heavens drop down dew.”

“33  but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.’”

“6  In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’”

Spiritual Meaning for my Life today:  I have mentioned this before in my Spiritual Diaries and that is about a song by Roger Miller, and I don’t know if he is a believer or not. AI states that the name of the song is “Husband’s and Wives.” Released in 1966, this mid-tempo waltz describes a dissolving marriage and highlights how pride and inability to forgive lead to broken relationships.  I think you will get the point.

My Steps of Faith for Today:  Pray that the Lord will not allow me to be prideful so that He will hear my prayers, especially for the health of my wife.

2/24/2026 10:10 AM