Worthy Brief - 8/22/2023
Friend, the King is in the field!
2 Chronicles 19:4 Jehoshaphat lived at Jerusalem. And he went out again among the people, from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim, and brought them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers.
As we enter this season of Teshuva (Repentance) during the month of Elul, we enter a unique season approaching the Fall Feasts. This month initiates a 40-day countdown to Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), and is traditionally known as the time the King would visit His people.
Most of the year, for 11 months, the King reigning from His throne in His royal palace was unapproachable unless a subject was summoned or went through appropriate channels to appear before him. However, during Elul, the King left His palace and set up His royal tent in the fields, issuing an announcement: "The King is in the field!"
A subject no longer needed to be summoned or go through a royal bureaucracy. During this short season, anyone could visit the King. Also, at this time, the King inspected the fields and checked the status of His Kingdom.
In 2 Chronicles 19, we read that King Jehoshaphat went through the fields and called His people to return to God. As we near the days of Yom Teruah (Feast of Trumpets) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), a time of introspection and reflection, we may also hear a particular call from our King. Yet be reminded that our King Yeshua (Jesus) has not limited us to one month per year of accessibility, though this may be a time of particular intensity.
While we may be encouraged in this season toward giving particular attention to our relationship with Him, asking for greater intimacy, deeper repentance, or victory over personal strongholds, we also know that his availability during any and every season is assured because of his atoning sacrifice. We can always return to Him.
Friend, our Lord's accessibility is unlimited, and yet...there are and can be special seasons during which we are prompted to deepen our communion with Him. This season of harvest and the signs of His soon coming should urge us on... not to waste this or any season, but to visit the King while He may be found!
Your family in the Lord with much agape love,
George, Baht Rivka, Obadiah and Elianna (Dallas, TX)
(Baltimore, MD)
Editor's Note: We are planning our Fall Tour so if you would like us to minister at your congregation, home fellowship, or Israel focused event, be sure to let us know ASAP. You can send an email to george [ @ ] worthyministries.com for more information.
US officials believe Ukrainian counteroffensive against Russia will not succeed, report
Officials from the US intelligence community have told the Washington Post that they believe Ukraine’s Spring counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion will not succeed in its principal aims. The new report by the Washington Post echoes a similar report by the Wall Street Journal published last month, according to which Western officials said they did not believe Ukraine had the necessary equipment or training to push back the Russian offensive.
Hungary Signs Military Drones Deal With Israel, Germany
Hungary’s nationalist prime minister has warned nations to “think twice” about “messing” with his country after he inked an accord to manufacture combat drones together with Israeli and German firms.
Russian Missile Strike Kills 7, Injures 117 On ‘Religious Holiday’
A Russian missile strike killed seven people, including a six-year-old child, in the northern Ukrainian city of Chernihiv as people walked to church for a religious holiday, officials say.
Turkey, Hungary Pledging Cooperation Despite Western Criticism
The leaders of Hungary and Turkey, who face criticism over their perceived authoritarian style, agreed in Budapest Sunday to extend natural gas deals involving Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine.
New Party Shakes Dutch Political Landscape
Dutch politician Pieter Omtzigt, who helped uncover one of the biggest political and social scandals in the Netherlands since World War Two, has launched a new party ahead of November’s elections.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Israel strikes targets on Damascus outskirts, Syrian state media reports
Israel struck targets on the outskirts of Damascus, Syrian state news agency SANA reported Monday night.
Netanyahu: ‘We are in the midst of terror offensive encouraged and funded by Iran’
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant held a press conference on Monday evening at the site in the Hebron Hills where, earlier in the day, Batsheva Nigri was murdered in a terrorist shooting attack.
Inside the United States
Biden quietly sells off border wall parts to thwart GOP push to use them
The Biden administration is quietly auctioning off millions of dollars’ worth of unused parts from former President Trump’s border wall for peanuts – in an apparent end-run around pending legislation in Congress.
More than 1,000 US school districts withhold information from parents about children’s transgender identity
At least 1,040 US school districts nationwide have implemented policies that allow staff to keep parents in the dark about their child's identifying as trans or nonbinary, the Christian Post reports. The school districts represent 18,335 schools with more than 10.7 million students.
FBI rescued 200 sex-trafficking victims in nationwide July operation
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation announced on August 1 that its agents rescued 200 victims of sex-trafficking during a nationwide operation conducted last month.
Magnitude 5.1 earthquake shakes Southern California Sunday as Hilary slams the region
A 5.1 magnitude earthquake was felt in Southern California Sunday afternoon as Hilary descends on the region with catastrophic flooding.
Christian News
Nigerian Pastor’s Kidnapped Wife In Life Danger After Ransom Demands
Suspected Islamist gunmen have demanded 100 million Nigerian nairas (about $135,000 “) in ransom for the kidnapped wife of a Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) pastor in north-central Nigeria, several Nigerian sources confirmed Monday.