A beautifully restored "Silly Symphony" cartoon from 1934
recounts the famous Aesop's fable about a carefree grasshopper,
industrious ants, and a lesson in gratitude.
"Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a
donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."
(Zechariah 9:9)
"They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting, "Hosanna!"
"Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the king of Israel!"
(John 12:13)
This is the burden of the word of the LORD
against the land of *Hadrach
and Damascus its resting place-
for the eyes of men
and of all the tribes of Israel
are upon the LORD
and also against *Hamath
which borders it,
as well as *Tyre and Sidon
though they are very shrewd.
Tyre has built herself a fortress;
she has heaped up silver like dust,
and gold like the dirt of the streets.
Behold, the Lord will impoverish her
and cast her wealth into the sea,
and she will be consumed by fire.
Ashkelon will see and fear;
*Gaza will writhe in agony,
and will Ekron,
for her hope will wither.
There will cease to be a king in Gaza,
and Ashkelon will be uninhabited.
A mixed race will occupy Ashdod,
and I will cut off the pride of the Philistines.
I will removed the blood from their mouths
and the abominations from between their teeth.
Then they too will become a remnant for our God;
they will become like a clan in Judah
and Ekron will be like the Jebusites.
But I will camp around My house because of an army,
because of those who march to and fro,
and never again will an oppressor overrun My people,
for now I keep watch with My own eyes.
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your King comes to you,
righteous and victorious,
humble and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
and the horse from Jerusalem,
and the bow of war will be broken.
Then He will proclaim peace to the nations.
His dominion will extend from sea to sea,
and from the Euphrates
to the ends of the earth.
As for you,
because of the blood of My covenant,
I will release your prisoners
from the waterless pit.
Return to your stronghold,
O prisoners of hope;
even today I declare
that I will restore to you double.
For I will bend Judah as My bow
and fit it with Ephraim.
I will rouse your sons, O Zion,
against the *sons of Greece.
I will make you like the sword
of a mighty man.
Then the LORD will appear over them,
and His arrow will go forth like lightning.
The Lord GOD will sound the ram's horn
and advance in the whirlwinds of the south.
The LORD of Hosts will shield them.
They will destroy and conquer with slingstones;
they will drink and roar as with wine.
And they will be filled like sprinkling bowls,
drenched like the corners of the altar.
On that day the LORD their God will save them
as the flock of His people;
for like jewels in a crown
they will sparkle over His land.
How lovely they will be,
and how beautiful!
Grain will make the young men flourish,
and new wine, the young women.
(Zechariah 9:1-17)
It's interesting to note...
*Hadrach, an ancient city in Syria, is mentioned only once in the Bible
and was said to be in a fertile area which served as a strategic military
gateway between Mesopotamia and the Levant.
*Hamath-The capture of this historic Syrian city (also known as Hama) was
a major milestone in late November 2024 when forces under the command
of Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, primary leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir-
al-Sham, overran the city as part of a rapid, widespread offensive which
led to the collapse of the long-standing Assad regime in Damascus.
Based on Salafi-Jihadist ideology, the group opposes the nation
and people of Israel. In 2018, al-Jolani, now the current leader
in Syria declared, "Jerusalem awaits us."
*"Tyre and Sidon": Cities located on the southern coast of Lebanon
which in recent years have become major strongholds of the
terrorist group, Hezbollah. This past month these two cities were
heavily impacted by Israeli airstrikes.
*"Gaza"- long time stronghold of the terrorist group Hamas.
* "Slingstones" "David's Sling" is the name often used to describe the second tier
of Israel's missile defense system. The name, of course, is a reference to the
biblical account of future king David felling the Philistine giant, Goliath,
with his sling-shot. "David's Sling" forms one level of Israel's multi-tiered
missile defense system, which also includes Arrow 2, Arrow 3,
Iron Dome and Iron Beam.
* "Sons of Greece" represents a power standing in defiant opposition to the purposes
of God and is often symbolic of humanism, Hellenism, and worldly power.
I will release your prisoners from the waterless pit"
(Zechariah 9:11)
The prophet breaks forth into a joyful representation of the coming of the Messiah,
of whom the ancient Jews explained this prophecy. He took the character of their king,
when He entered Jerusalem amidst the hosannas of the multitude.
But His Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom.
It shall not be advanced by outward force or carnal weapons. His gospel shall be
preached to the world, and be received among the heathen. A sinful state is a state
of bondage; it is a pit or dungeon, in which there is no water, no comfort;
and we are all by nature prisoners in this pit.
Through the precious blood of Christ, many prisoners of Satan have been set at liberty
from the horrible pit in which they must otherwise have perished, without hope or comfort.
While we admire Him, let us seek that His holiness and truth may be
shown in our own spirits and conduct.
-Matthew Henry's Commentary
First aired on April 29, 1967 America's favorite prime time band leader
Lawrence Welk and his talented cast of singers, dancers, and musicians
welcome special guest star and country music singing sensation
Charley Pride in a salute to time.
"Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy."
(Psalm 126:5)
When some great sorrow, like a mighty river,
Flows through your life with peace-destroying power,
And dearest things are swept from sight forever,
Say to your heart each trying hour,
"This, too, shall pass away."
Thank God that earthly things are not forever,
Thank God, eternal life is free from care;
That joy and peace, and gladness reigning ever,
And bliss supreme
Shall never, never pass away.
When ceaseless toil has hushed your song of gladness,
And you have grown almost too tired to pray,
Let this truth banish from your heart its sadness,
And ease the burdens of each trying day:
"This, too, shall pass away."
When fortune smiles, and full of mirth and pleasure,
The days are flitting by without a care,
Lest you should rest with only earthly treasure,
Let these few words their fullest import bear:
"This, too, shall pass away."
When earnest labor brings you fame and glory,
And all earth's noblest ones upon you smile,
Remember that life's longest, grandest story
Fills but a moment in earth's little while:
"This, too, shall pass away."
Thank God that earthly things are not forever,
Thank God, eternal life is free from care;
That joy and peace, and gladness reigning ever,
And bliss supreme
Shall never, never pass away.
"This, Too, Shall Pass Away"
(1894)
Lanta Wilson Smith
(1856-1939)
American hymn writer
Recorded by the smooth vocals of country singer-songwriter Don Williams,
the classic romance ballad, "Till The Rivers All Run Dry" which he co-wrote
with fellow songwriter, Wayland Holyfield, reached the Number One spot on the
US Hot Country Music Chart (Billboard) fifty years ago this week on March 27, 1976.
"And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
"This is My body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me."
(Luke 22:19)
This year Passover falls on 15-22 Nisan 5786 which on the western calendar begins
at sundown on Wednesday April 1, 2026 and ends at nightfall on Thursday April 9, 2026.
An inspirational weekend message from brother Zev Porat in Israel. Please
remember him and his ministry in your prayers as he proclaims the good news
of salvation through Yeshua to his fellow Jews in the midst of war.
Sha'alu shalom Yerushalayim.
(Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.)
Maranatha!
This past Saturday, Senate Democrats shot down a proposed amendment
that would have barred biological males from competing in girls' sports. The
amendment was advanced by Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and
Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee). The Washington Stand reports that while
49 Republicans voted in favor of the provision, 41 Democrats voted against it,
leaving support for the amendment under the 60-vote threshold needed to advance.
"I can't believe that this is even an issue," said Senator Tuberville. "Every single
time that we've voted on this, I have not gotten one single Democrat to vote for it."
I agree 100% with Senator Tuberville. This should not even be an issue.
Perhaps he and Senator Blackburn should have instead sponsored a resolution
to cancel any and all future observations of Women's History Month,
which is winding down this week.
After all the past generations of women in this nation who, among other achievements,
fought for the right to vote, and for equal pay in the workplace, women are now being
denied the right to protection while competing in sports, and inside locker rooms
and restroom facilities by Senate Democrats hell-bent on foisting their
agenda of sexual perversion on America.
Their actions are a hard slap in the face to women of the past, and of
the present generation, and are basically telling us and future generations
of women, "Our demagoguery is more important than your dignity."
I just have to wonder at the female members of the Democratic Party
who are agreeing with this mentality by keeping their silence.
I am sorry if this offends anyone, but reticence on your part in order not to
anger the hierarchy of your party or "offend" the perverts they and you are
protecting is akin to being a willing participant of potential acts of sexual
violence and humiliation against your own sex and you make me sick.
"And Babylon, the jewel of the kingdoms, the glory of the pride of the Chaldeans,
will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah."
(Isaiah 13:19)
When the prophet Isaiah described the destruction of this once mighty
empire, I am sorely reminded of another great nation called America.
Babylon was brought down-from the height of her magnificence
and power-to a condition of abject wretchedness.
As Matthew Henry's Commentary attests: "Babylon is represented under
the emblem of a female in deep distress. She was to be degraded and endure
sufferings; and is represented sitting on the ground, grinding at the handmill,
the lowest and most laborious service. God was righteous in His vengeance,
and none should interpose. The prophet exults in the Lord of hosts, as the
Redeemer and Holy One of Israel. God often permits wicked men to prevail
against His people, but those who cruelly oppress them will be punished."
