25 June 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 25 June 2016

The last Saturday in June.  The first day of Summer is behind us, so from now until late December, the days will become shorter.  The warm temperatures will continue, for a while, but the wheel turns.  My favorite month is May: the bitter cold is behind us, the flowers are springing up, and the world seems full of wonderful possibilities.  By mid-year, however, so many of those infinite possibilities seem to be locked out.  Perhaps that's just my chronic morose outlook.

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The Old Testament reading today continues in the book of Job, chapters 4, 5, and 6.  Job is not fun reading, not full of sunshine, rainbows, and singing unicorns.  But it is an account that many of us can identify with, that of a person suddenly overcome with unforeseen disaster.  I've been there, and am not alone in that.  As we go through this account, we will see that Job's real focus is on the why of it all.  WHY is this happening?  What did I do to deserve it?  Why??  And he never really gets an answer.  Yet he never, never once, takes his wife's urging to "curse God and die".  He questions, but never curses, weeps, but never profanes.


1
Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,
2
If we assay to commune with thee, wilt thou be grieved? but who can withhold himself from speaking?
3
Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands.
4
Thy words have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.
5
But now it is come upon thee, and thou faintest; it toucheth thee, and thou art troubled.
6
Is not this thy fear, thy confidence, thy hope, and the uprightness of thy ways?
7
Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?
8
Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
9
By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.
10
The roaring of the lion, and the voice of the fierce lion, and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.
11
The old lion perisheth for lack of prey, and the stout lion's whelps are scattered abroad.
12
Now a thing was secretly brought to me, and mine ear received a little thereof.
13
In thoughts from the visions of the night, when deep sleep falleth on men,
14
Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake.
15
Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up:
16
It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,
17
Shall mortal man be more just than God? shall a man be more pure than his maker?
18
Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly:
19
How much less in them that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation is in the dust, which are crushed before the moth?
20
They are destroyed from morning to evening: they perish for ever without any regarding it.
21
Doth not their excellency which is in them go away? they die, even without wisdom.


1
Call now, if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the saints wilt thou turn?
2
For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth the silly one.
3
I have seen the foolish taking root: but suddenly I cursed his habitation.
4
His children are far from safety, and they are crushed in the gate, neither is there any to deliver them.
5
Whose harvest the hungry eateth up, and taketh it even out of the thorns, and the robber swalloweth up their substance.
6
Although affliction cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble spring out of the ground;
7
Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward.
8
I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
9
Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
10
Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:
11
To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
12
He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
14
They meet with darkness in the day time, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
15
But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
16
So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.
17
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
18
For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole.
19
He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee.
20
In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword.
21
Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
22
At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
23
For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.
24
And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
25
Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be great, and thine offspring as the grass of the earth.
26
Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in in his season.
27
Lo this, we have searched it, so it is; hear it, and know thou it for thy good.


1
But Job answered and said,
2
Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!
3
For now it would be heavier than the sand of the sea: therefore my words are swallowed up.
4
For the arrows of the Almighty are within me, the poison whereof drinketh up my spirit: the terrors of God do set themselves in array against me.
5
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath grass? or loweth the ox over his fodder?
6
Can that which is unsavoury be eaten without salt? or is there any taste in the white of an egg?
7
The things that my soul refused to touch are as my sorrowful meat.
8
Oh that I might have my request; and that God would grant me the thing that I long for!
9
Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off!
10
Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.
11
What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?
12
Is my strength the strength of stones? or is my flesh of brass?
13
Is not my help in me? and is wisdom driven quite from me?
14
To him that is afflicted pity should be shewed from his friend; but he forsaketh the fear of the Almighty.
15
My brethren have dealt deceitfully as a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away;
16
Which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid:
17
What time they wax warm, they vanish: when it is hot, they are consumed out of their place.
18
The paths of their way are turned aside; they go to nothing, and perish.
19
The troops of Tema looked, the companies of Sheba waited for them.
20
They were confounded because they had hoped; they came thither, and were ashamed.
21
For now ye are nothing; ye see my casting down, and are afraid.
22
Did I say, Bring unto me? or, Give a reward for me of your substance?
23
Or, Deliver me from the enemy's hand? or, Redeem me from the hand of the mighty?
24
Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand wherein I have erred.
25
How forcible are right words! but what doth your arguing reprove?
26
Do ye imagine to reprove words, and the speeches of one that is desperate, which are as wind?
27
Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and ye dig a pit for your friend.
28
Now therefore be content, look upon me; for it is evident unto you if I lie.
29
Return, I pray you, let it not be iniquity; yea, return again, my righteousness is in it.
30
Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?




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The New Testament passage is verses 20-43 in the 7th chapter of the Acts.  Stephen, the first deacon, is essentially preaching to the religious leaders, reminding them of the history of the people of God, and how He had cared for them in wonderful ways.  And how they had repeatedly sinned against Him, and the consequences for that.  They had a reverence, perhaps excessively so, for the past.  Stephen was reminding them that that past was not always something to celebrate.


20
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
21
And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
22
And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.
23
And when he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the children of Israel.
24
And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed, and smote the Egyptian:
25
For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not.
26
And the next day he shewed himself unto them as they strove, and would have set them at one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why do ye wrong one to another?
27
But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge over us?
28
Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the Egyptian yesterday?
29
Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons.
30
And when forty years were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of mount Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush.
31
When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight: and as he drew near to behold it, the voice of the LORD came unto him,
32
Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
33
Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes from thy feet: for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
34
I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my people which is in Egypt, and I have heard their groaning, and am come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send thee into Egypt.
35
This Moses whom they refused, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush.
36
He brought them out, after that he had shewed wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red sea, and in the wilderness forty years.
37
This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
38
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:
39
To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,
40
Saying unto Aaron, Make us gods to go before us: for as for this Moses, which brought us out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.
41
And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.
42
Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
43
Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.


24 June 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 24 June 2016

Things are more than a bit scattered around here this week.  We bravely hope that things will get into some sort of regular order soon.  Likelihood of that is unknown, but we have hope.

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The Old Testament reading today opens something new, the book of Job, chapters 1 - 3.
Job is sometimes thought to have been one of the first, if not the first, of the written-down books of the Bible.  It certainly gets into some of those questions that nearly all of us face at some time:  why do bad things happen to good people?  Which, normally, is a version of "why did this happen to ME??".  I've been there, most of us have.  Job certainly did, and had what most of us was reason to ask.  He did not sin by cursing the Lord for his pains, but he certainly was in pain, and was, more than anything, seeking the WHY???  Again, lots of us have been there.
This book is not, by the way, one often used by the "wealth and prosperity" preachers.

an appropriate song for the story is at The Song of Job == Seatrain

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1
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
2
And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters.
3
His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.
4
And his sons went and feasted in their houses, every one his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.
5
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
6
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.
7
And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
8
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
9
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
10
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
11
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
12
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.
13
And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
14
And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:
15
And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
16
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
17
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
18
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:
19
And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
20
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
21
And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
22
In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.


1
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
2
And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
3
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.
4
And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
5
But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.
6
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.
7
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
8
And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.
9
Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.
10
But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
11
Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
12
And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.
13
So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.


1
After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.
2
And Job spake, and said,
3
Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived.
4
Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.
5
Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.
6
As for that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year, let it not come into the number of the months.
7
Lo, let that night be solitary, let no joyful voice come therein.
8
Let them curse it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning.
9
Let the stars of the twilight thereof be dark; let it look for light, but have none; neither let it see the dawning of the day:
10
Because it shut not up the doors of my mother's womb, nor hid sorrow from mine eyes.
11
Why died I not from the womb? why did I not give up the ghost when I came out of the belly?
12
Why did the knees prevent me? or why the breasts that I should suck?
13
For now should I have lain still and been quiet, I should have slept: then had I been at rest,
14
With kings and counsellors of the earth, which build desolate places for themselves;
15
Or with princes that had gold, who filled their houses with silver:
16
Or as an hidden untimely birth I had not been; as infants which never saw light.
17
There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest.
18
There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor.
19
The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master.
20
Wherefore is light given to him that is in misery, and life unto the bitter in soul;
21
Which long for death, but it cometh not; and dig for it more than for hid treasures;
22
Which rejoice exceedingly, and are glad, when they can find the grave?
23
Why is light given to a man whose way is hid, and whom God hath hedged in?
24
For my sighing cometh before I eat, and my roarings are poured out like the waters.
25
For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26
I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.





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The New Testament reading is verses 1-19 in chapter 7 of the Acts of the Apostles.
This is Steven speaking to the religious leaders of the day, laying a foundation that they were (or certainly should have been) familiar with, leading up to something.


1
Then said the high priest, Are these things so?
2
And he said, Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran,
3
And said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.
4
Then came he out of the land of the Chaldaeans, and dwelt in Charran: and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell.
5
And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
6
And God spake on this wise, That his seed should sojourn in a strange land; and that they should bring them into bondage, and entreat them evil four hundred years.
7
And the nation to whom they shall be in bondage will I judge, said God: and after that shall they come forth, and serve me in this place.
8
And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.
9
And the patriarchs, moved with envy, sold Joseph into Egypt: but God was with him,
10
And delivered him out of all his afflictions, and gave him favour and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and all his house.
11
Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt and Chanaan, and great affliction: and our fathers found no sustenance.
12
But when Jacob heard that there was corn in Egypt, he sent out our fathers first.
13
And at the second time Joseph was made known to his brethren; and Joseph's kindred was made known unto Pharaoh.
14
Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.
15
So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers,
16
And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
17
But when the time of the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt,
18
Till another king arose, which knew not Joseph.
19
The same dealt subtilly with our kindred, and evil entreated our fathers, so that they cast out their young children, to the end they might not live.






23 June 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 23 June 2016

things are still largely out of kilter around here right now, likely to be so for a few more days.  Apologies.

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The Old Testament passage is chapters 7, 8, 9 , and 10 of the book of Esther.  The Lord, once again, brings rescue out of impossible circumstances.  The Jews celebrate this event yearly, and it would not be wrong for Christians to do so as well.


1
So the king and Haman came to banquet with Esther the queen.
2
And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What is thy petition, queen Esther? and it shall be granted thee: and what is thy request? and it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.
3
Then Esther the queen answered and said, If I have found favour in thy sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be given me at my petition, and my people at my request:
4
For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. But if we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I had held my tongue, although the enemy could not countervail the king's damage.
5
Then the king Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that durst presume in his heart to do so?
6
And Esther said, The adversary and enemy is this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.
7
And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath went into the palace garden: and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.
8
Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine; and Haman was fallen upon the bed whereon Esther was. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? As the word went out of king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.
9
And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains, said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon.
10
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king's wrath pacified.


1
On that day did the king Ahasuerus give the house of Haman the Jews' enemy unto Esther the queen. And Mordecai came before the king; for Esther had told what he was unto her.
2
And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.
3
And Esther spake yet again before the king, and fell down at his feet, and besought him with tears to put away the mischief of Haman the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.
4
Then the king held out the golden sceptre toward Esther. So Esther arose, and stood before the king,
5
And said, If it please the king, and if I have favour in his sight, and the thing seem right before the king, and I be pleasing in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews which are in all the king's provinces:
6
For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? or how can I endure to see the destruction of my kindred?
7
Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews.
8
Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.
9
Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.
10
And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries:
11
Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey,
12
Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar.
13
The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.
14
So the posts that rode upon mules and camels went out, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the decree was given at Shushan the palace.
15
And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white, and with a great crown of gold, and with a garment of fine linen and purple: and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.
16
The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.
17
And in every province, and in every city, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews; for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.


1
Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)
2
The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.
3
And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.
4
For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.
5
Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.
6
And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.
7
And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,
8
And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,
9
And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,
10
The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.
11
On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.
12
And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.
13
Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.
14
And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.
15
For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.
16
But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,
17
On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
18
But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.
19
Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.
20
And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,
21
To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,
22
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
23
And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;
24
Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;
25
But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
26
Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,
27
The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;
28
And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.
29
Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.
30
And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,
31
To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.
32
And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.


1
And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.
2
And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
3
For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.






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The New Testament reading is chapter 6 of the book of the Acts.
Things are starting to move, and it's causing a stir.


1
And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
4
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
5
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
6
Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
7
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
8
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
9
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
10
And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.
11
Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
12
And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
13
And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
14
For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
15
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.




21 June 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 21 June 2016

Up early this morning, had to get Dear Wife off to the trek across the back yard to "watch" the great-niece.  She needed to be over there by 07:00, which meant up and showered and dressed and fed and off.  Then I had to water the garden(s) we have: niece has one, we have a smaller one.  We  had been promised, warned even, of a big storm that would have its Phase One arrive around 8 p.m. last night.  Never did.  Then Phase Two, which was pushed back from 10 p.m. to 11 to midnight to 01:00.  So far as I can tell, it never did arrive.  I had planned to water the plants but if the rain came, saves the trouble.  Didn't happen, so I had to.  Beans OK, one tomato plant has a bunch of pea-sized baby tomatoes beginning, and one pepper plant has a baby pepper.  They can't recall what that plant is, but what we see developing is green.  May or may not be one that turns red.  Anyway, the potatoes are not showing a all.  Zucchini is ok.  We have half a dozen cucumber plants showing life, though I'd planted twice that many seeds.  And three of the dill, though I'd planted about a dozen.  We shall see, I guess.

Went to the Big Box store this morning, needed dry cat food and some heartburn over-the-counter stuff.  Went by the ATM and got the cash out that we pay to rent this place from niece, a good deal for both, actually.  Back home, did some stuff around here.  Started load of laundry, had some non-cooperation from the washing machine, so THAT might become the Next Big Problem.  It just never ends.

And then got a reminder call of a doctor appointment in the morning, one we'd forgotten.  We had to tell them to cancel and we'll call later to reschedule.  Fact is, we don't have the funds for the co-pay.  (thanks for nothing, Obamacare).

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The Old Testament passage today is chapters 1, 2, and 3 from the book of Esther.  Esther, sometimes called Hadassah, is one of those unlikely people who turns out to be the right person in the right place at the right time.  You couldn't choreograph that, it wouldn't pass the editor's pen in a mystery novel.  Except that it's true and through her, the Lord did something marvelous. And the Jews celebrate that memory every year, at Purim  That celebration took place beginning the evening of March 23 and ended the evening of March 24, 2016.  It's a good thing to remember these great things that the Lord has done.
The Persian king reference here is generally considered to be identical to Xerxes.  The capitol city in which this takes place is considred to be the same as modern-day Shush, in western Iran, or adjacent to it.  The river Karkeh runs beside it, on its way to the Persian Gufl.


1
Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this is Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)
2
That in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the palace,
3
In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, being before him:
4
When he shewed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honour of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days.
5
And when these days were expired, the king made a feast unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace;
6
Where were white, green, and blue, hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble: the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red, and blue, and white, and black, marble.
7
And they gave them drink in vessels of gold, (the vessels being diverse one from another,) and royal wine in abundance, according to the state of the king.
8
And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
9
Also Vashti the queen made a feast for the women in the royal house which belonged to king Ahasuerus.
10
On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, and Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven chamberlains that served in the presence of Ahasuerus the king,
11
To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she was fair to look on.
12
But the queen Vashti refused to come at the king's commandment by his chamberlains: therefore was the king very wroth, and his anger burned in him.
13
Then the king said to the wise men, which knew the times, (for so was the king's manner toward all that knew law and judgment:
14
And the next unto him was Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, which saw the king's face, and which sat the first in the kingdom;)
15
What shall we do unto the queen Vashti according to law, because she hath not performed the commandment of the king Ahasuerus by the chamberlains?
16
And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti the queen hath not done wrong to the king only, but also to all the princes, and to all the people that are in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus.
17
For this deed of the queen shall come abroad unto all women, so that they shall despise their husbands in their eyes, when it shall be reported, The king Ahasuerus commanded Vashti the queen to be brought in before him, but she came not.
18
Likewise shall the ladies of Persia and Media say this day unto all the king's princes, which have heard of the deed of the queen. Thus shall there arise too much contempt and wrath.
19
If it please the king, let there go a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it be not altered, That Vashti come no more before king Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.
20
And when the king's decree which he shall make shall be published throughout all his empire, (for it is great,) all the wives shall give to their husbands honour, both to great and small.
21
And the saying pleased the king and the princes; and the king did according to the word of Memucan:
22
For he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, that every man should bear rule in his own house, and that it should be published according to the language of every people.


1
After these things, when the wrath of king Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her.
2
Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king:
3
And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege the king's chamberlain, keeper of the women; and let their things for purification be given them:
4
And let the maiden which pleaseth the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king; and he did so.
5
Now in Shushan the palace there was a certain Jew, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;
6
Who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away.
7
And he brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle's daughter: for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid was fair and beautiful; whom Mordecai, when her father and mother were dead, took for his own daughter.
8
So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.
9
And the maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness of him; and he speedily gave her her things for purification, with such things as belonged to her, and seven maidens, which were meet to be given her, out of the king's house: and he preferred her and her maids unto the best place of the house of the women.
10
Esther had not shewed her people nor her kindred: for Mordecai had charged her that she should not shew it.
11
And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house, to know how Esther did, and what should become of her.
12
Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women;)
13
Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.
14
In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's chamberlain, which kept the concubines: she came in unto the king no more, except the king delighted in her, and that she were called by name.
15
Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king's chamberlain, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained favour in the sight of all them that looked upon her.
16
So Esther was taken unto king Ahasuerus into his house royal in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.
17
And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.
18
Then the king made a great feast unto all his princes and his servants, even Esther's feast; and he made a release to the provinces, and gave gifts, according to the state of the king.
19
And when the virgins were gathered together the second time, then Mordecai sat in the king's gate.
20
Esther had not yet shewed her kindred nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her: for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai, like as when she was brought up with him.
21
In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's chamberlains, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth, and sought to lay hands on the king Ahasuerus.
22
And the thing was known to Mordecai, who told it unto Esther the queen; and Esther certified the king thereof in Mordecai's name.
23
And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.


1
After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.
2
And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.
3
Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?
4
Now it came to pass, when they spake daily unto him, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman, to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand: for he had told them that he was a Jew.
5
And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.
6
And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai.
7
In the first month, that is, the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of king Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that is, the lot, before Haman from day to day, and from month to month, to the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar.
8
And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws are diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it is not for the king's profit to suffer them.
9
If it please the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed: and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the business, to bring it into the king's treasuries.
10
And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.
11
And the king said unto Haman, The silver is given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seemeth good to thee.
12
Then were the king's scribes called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and there was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants, and to the governors that were over every province, and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language; in the name of king Ahasuerus was it written, and sealed with the king's ring.
13
And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, even upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and to take the spoil of them for a prey.
14
The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province was published unto all people, that they should be ready against that day.
15
The posts went out, being hastened by the king's commandment, and the decree was given in Shushan the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city Shushan was perplexed.




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The New Testament reading is verses 1-16 of Acts chapter 5.  All was not sweetness and light, not even in the church.  Some things haven't changed, have they?  But great things were happening, nonetheless.

1
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
2
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
3
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
4
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
5
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
6
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
7
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
8
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
9
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
10
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
11
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
12
And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch.
13
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
14
And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.)
15
Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
16
There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.