PSALMS
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Psalms 120 to 125

Psalms 120: 1 – 4
The psalmist was brought into great distress by a deceitful tongue. May every good man be delivered from lying lips. They forged false charges against him. In this distress, he sought GOD by fervent prayer. GOD can bridle their tongues. He obtained a gracious answer to this prayer. Surely sinners’ durst not act as they do, if they knew, and would be persuaded to think, what will be in the end thereof. The terrors of the LORD are His arrows; and His wrath is compared to burning coals of juniper, which have a fierce heat, and keep fire very long. This is the portion of the false tongue; for all that love and make a lie, shall have their portion in the lake that burns eternally.

OLD TESTAMENT
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Esther 1: 1 – 22

Esther 1: 1
In the days of Ahasuerus
The Ahasuerus of this book is more commonly known by his Greek name, Xerxes.
He ruled as king over Persia from 486 to 465 B.C.
Important dates for the book of Esther are:
1) The captivity of the Jews by Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C.
2) The authorised return of the Jews from captivity in 538
3) Esther’s reign as queen of Persia beginning in 479.
4) Ezra’s authorized trip from Babylon to Jerusalem in 458 B.C.
Thus the events of Esther happened approximately 21 yrs. before Ezra led second group of exiles to Jerusalem.

NEW TESTAMENT
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Galatians 4: 8 – 31

Galatians 4: 22
Abraham had 2 sons.
Paul uses an illustration to show the difference between the old and new covenants. Hagar represents the old covenant established at Mount Sinai , her children now live under that covenant and are born after the flesh. Sarah represents the new covenant, her children believers in CHRIST, possess the Spirit and are true children of GOD who are born of the SPIRIT.