Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 27 August 2017

This has been an odd day on several counts.

I recommend a re-read of  yesterday's posting and the reference to the latter half of chapter 7 of 1st Corinthians.  Paul was speaking there of the inevitable issues that arise when we are pulled in separate directions -- not necessarily opposite but separate -- trying to uphold our responsibilities to serve the Lord while also honoring our spouse and all those issues.
I had that today.
Today, Sunday, is the day we set aside to gather together to worship the Lord, to study His word, to pray and praise, to take up one another's burdens and cares, and to hear the proclamation of the message and the exhortation to carry us through.  It's important, and I look forward to it.
But, like others, I have some family, in this case in-law family, stuff going on.
Dear Wife's nephew's daughter just turned 6 years old, and they decided to have the big "do" at a township park some 20 miles distant, halfway through the county south of us.  Said Great Event to start at noon.  Or, in other words, while we would normally still be in the morning worship.  Meaning I'd "get" to leave the church house at around 12:15, make a 15 minute drive home, pick up Dear Wife, drive 20 miles through several construction zones, and, courtesy of a mystical Time Machine, arrive there before we left.  Neat trick.  With an overheating car.
So I'd planned to attend the morning Bible study, duck out, and do all the above but make it. 
Not a bad plan, until we got "volunteered" to do some things in prep.  So ......  I missed church services totally. 
We made it to the Big Do, only 10 minutes late, which put us ahead of several of the attendees.  Hung around for 3-1/2 hours of all this family stuff, and escaped.  Making the trip home, exhausted from all the festivities.

We lived far from here for many, many years.  Gatherings like this are important to Dear Wife, she greatly missed being around for many years of these and I understand that.  I also understand the need to "not neglect the gathering together of yourselves", and thus the separate pulls.
I used to think that the Roman Catholics were silly (or worse) for requiring priests and nuns to be unmarried and celibate.  Perhaps,  But perhaps they're not as silly as I once believed.

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Our Old Testament reading today is Psalms 132, 133, 134, and 135.

Psalm 132

1 Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions: 2 How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; 3 Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; 4 I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, 5 Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob. 6 Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood. 7 We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool. 8 Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength. 9 Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy. 10 For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed. 11 The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. 12 If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore. 13 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. 14 This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it. 15 I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread. 16 I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy. 17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. 18 His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

Psalm 133

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; 3 As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Psalm 134

1 Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD. 3 The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

Psalm 135

1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD. 2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God. 3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. 4 For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure. 5 For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods. 6 Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places. 7 He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries. 8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. 9 Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants. 10 Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings; 11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan: 12 And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people. 13 Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations. 14 For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants. 15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. 16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; 17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. 18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. 19 Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron: 20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD. 21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD. 

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Our New Testament reading is chapter 8 of 1st Corinthians.
Here, part of the issue is the attitude that Christians need to have with respect to the practices and practioners in the worship of false gods.  The eating of meat sacrificed to idols is specifically mentioned here, but the implication seems to be that in consuming such, how much are we participating in these rites?  This is not a far-off remote matter as I once believed.  Particularly as some putatively Christian leaders seek to make common cause with  false and evil doctrines.  Islam is certainly one of these, but I have in the past heard rumors of all-too-close relations with practioners of evil doctrines like voodoo, Santeria, and others.  Including in places you might not expect, courtesy of the easy movement of various people groups.    We do well to be careful.  Other people are watching.
And, of course, there is the opposite issue.  The Jews certainly, being Paul's background and heritage, made (and still make) a Very Big Deal over foods that are permitted and foods that are forbidden.  Are we really more holy because we forbid bacon, lobster, shrimp, and clams?  Does avoiding them, or other foods, make us better in the Lord's eyes?


I Corinthians 8

1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. 2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know. 3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him. 4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. 5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) 6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. 8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. 10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols; 11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. 13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.