FIVE SMOOTH STONES - The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherds Bag

FIVE SMOOTH STONES — The Five Ascension Gifts in the Heavenly Shepherd’s Bag

The Bible is clear that the Lord requires honest measures when selling or when weighing out payment: Ezekiel 45:10 " You shall have honest scales, an honest ephah, and an honest bath. ”

Ezekiel 45:10 “ Use only honest weights and scales and honest measures, both dry and liquid. ” (NLT)

Hosea12:7 “ A merchant, in whose hands are false balances, He loves to oppress. ”

Hosea12:7 “ But no, the people are like crafty merchants selling from dishonest scales —they love to cheat.” (NLT)

When a street vendor sells by volume, he will have a measuring container, the container often measures about 6 inches long and 3 inches wide. When the vendor measures something, they will fill the measure, then shake it to make sure it is full. If the vendor chooses, perhaps he likes you, or wants to be especially nice, he will then press it down and even fill it until it is running over. When the first measure is in the container the vendor would say, “ The blessing of God be with you .” Then the woman who is doing the shopping would open her veil or outer garment, forming it into a pouch in the front to hold the grain and the vendor would pour in the purchased item. We can see this referred to in Ruth chapter 3. Ruth 3:14 “ So she lay at his feet until morning, and she arose before one could recognize another. Then he said, "Do not let it be known that the woman came to the threshing floor." 15 Also he said, "Bring the shawl that is on you and hold it." And when she held it, he measured six ephahs of barley, and laid it on her. Then she went into the city. ” In using this Orientalism, Jesus is pointing out that God’s judgment back to us will be exceptionally abundant, so it is wise to use His righteous judgment in our walk. John 7:24 “ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment .” Paul the apostle spoke of the importance of righteous and wise judgment in the Church when he addressed the Church in Corinth. They were going to court over certain unresolved issues to ask nonbelievers to use worldly standards to offer judgment over these matters. 1 Corinthians 6:1 “ Dare any of you, having a matter against

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