And now Tuesday has arrived.
Wife spent yesterday in misery. The clove oil that I'd gotten for her helps with the pain, but does nothing whatever for the infection nor any other issues, and certainly fixes nothing. A stop gap is all that it is, nothing more, and that is in conjunction with Tylenol (acetaminphen) and ibuprofen which she shouldn't be taking at all due to the damage it does to her stomach lining. But there is little alternative. We called the office of the dentist we had been using up until around 18 months ago, they promised to let us know when there was the first available opening. As of last evening, not so much as a single word. Perhaps we will hear something today. If not, we'll have to find a new dentist and in a hurry too.
I've been told that a person can pretty well learn to "ignore" just about any body pains, with two exceptions:
The cold feet aren't an issue (I've experienced it, certainly) but the toothache is a un-ignorable reality. And the infection, if it should spread, is extremely dangerous: due to her autoimmune diseases, she has to take immune suppressants. Which, naturally. leaves her wide open to a raging systemic infection. Dangerous, very. Under other circumstances, we might have prevailed upon our Primary Care physician to arrange some sort of relief, but he up and closed shop just over a week ago, and we won't be able to see the one who, we hope, will be a good replacement, for another two weeks. The E.R. might be our only alternative.
And yet ,,,,, in the fairly near future, our day's reading will have us in the book of Job. Job is one of those books that the "prosperity preachers" prefer to avoid. As we shall see, Job went through some pretty difficult situations. And yet, the Lord had not abandoned him, and Job had not given up his faith and trust. And Job made one of those pronouncements that to this day resonates. "I KNOW that my Redeemer liveth!". No matter how tough the circumstances, the Lord is in command and nothing escapes His notice. Even a toothache.
Which reminded me of that wonderful portion from Handel's "Messiah", a truly inspired work. The passage is, taken from Job, "
I Know that My Redeemer Liveth". I love the orchestral presentation that many have brought us, such as
this one.
Yet I also love the alternate version that Nicole Mullen brought us, as th
is one here.
Yes, He lives, He lives indeed.
The "song of the day" came to mind. It's "
I'm In His Care". I was in a few small choral groups (meaning more than a quartet but not a full 70-voice choir) who sang this in several states. It means something to me. I like the reference to Daniel, for example. A man who loved the Lord but who was in the Captivity. Yet, rather highly placed despite that. And, perhaps due to that confluence, resented by the in-crowd. So he had opposition, was faithful no matter what, with a "but if not" attitude (note the title of this blog). The Lord was glorified thereby, and we remember Daniel. No matter what the circumstances or how rough and dark the road, the Lord knows and He cares. That's worth a lot.
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Our reading in the Old Testament is chapters 12 and 13 of Nehemiah.
Again, we see how quickly the fervor for the Lord can slip away. The term "backsliding", once often mentioned in sermons in American churches among others, is rarely heard these days. But evident. As it was then. Nothing good comes from that.
And, again, there are elements to this passage that will give the "no judgment! " types hives. For, as we see here, the Lord DOES practice what amounts to discrimination. And demands it too. No, the Christian church as a whole is not under precisely the same commands as were the Jews of Israel. And, yes, I have seen abominable discrimination committed throughout the land and certainly in the church as well. Though not always the forms that most would immediately think of.
But, clearly, there were beliefs, practices, and cultural norms that the Lord condemned strongly. And, I believe, still does. Making common cause with idol worshipers, or the followers of false gods comes into that category. Including those supposed christians (note the small "c" here) who inform us that 'allah' is the same as the Lord and we should be cozy with the Moslems. Nonsense! And, nothing good comes of that, not one good thing. Ever. Take the lesson.
Nehemiah 12
1 Now these
are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of
Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shechaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnetho, Abijah, 5 Miamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7
Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chief of the priests and
of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
8 Moreover the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui,
Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, which was over the
thanksgiving, he and his brethren.
9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brethren, were
over against them in the watches.
10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat
Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,
11 And Joiada begat Jonathan, and Jonathan begat Jaddua. 12
And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of
Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13 Of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan; 14 Of Melicu, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph; 15 Of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai; 16 Of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; 17 Of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai: 18 Of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan; 19 And of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi; 20 Of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber; 21 Of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethaneel. 22
The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan, and Jaddua,
were recorded chief of the fathers: also the priests, to the reign of
Darius the Persian. 23
The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of
the chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.
24 And the chief
of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel,
with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks,
according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against
ward. 25
Mattaniah, and Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, Akkub, were
porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.
26 These were in the days of
Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of
Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.
27 And at the dedication of
the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places,
to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both
with thanksgivings, and with singing, with cymbals, psalteries, and with
harps. 28 And
the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the
plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of
Netophathi; 29
Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and
Azmaveth: for the singers had builded them villages round about
Jerusalem. 30
And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the
people, and the gates, and the wall.
31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon
the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks,
whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:
32 And after them went Hoshaiah, and half of the princes of Judah, 33 And Azariah, Ezra, and Meshullam, 34 Judah, and Benjamin, and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, 35
And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah the
son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of
Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph:
36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and
Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the
musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before
them. 37 And
at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the
stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the
house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.
38 And the other company of them
that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the half
of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces even
unto the broad wall; 39
And from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above
the fish gate, and the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, even
unto the sheep gate: and they stood still in the prison gate.
40 So stood the two
companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the
half of the rulers with me:
41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah,
Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and
Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And
the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer.
43 Also that day they offered
great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great
joy: the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of
Jerusalem was heard even afar off.
44 And at that time were some appointed over the
chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and
for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the
portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for
the priests and for the Levites that waited.
45 And both the singers and the porters
kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according
to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.
46 For in the days of David and
Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and
thanksgiving unto God.
47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of
Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day
his portion: and they sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the
Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron.
Nehemiah 13
1 On that day
they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and
therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not
come into the congregation of God for ever;
2 Because they met not the children of
Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he
should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3 Now it came to
pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all
the mixed multitude. 4
And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the
chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
5 And he had prepared for him
a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the
frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine,
and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the
singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
6 But in all this time was
not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes
king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I
leave of the king: 7
And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did
for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of
God. 8 And it
grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to
Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and
thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat
offering and the frankincense.
10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had
not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the
work, were fled every one to his field.
11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said,
Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set
them in their place.
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine
and the oil unto the treasuries.
13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries,
Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah:
and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for
they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto
their brethren. 14
Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds
that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
15 In those
days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and
bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs,
and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the
sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold
victuals. 16
There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner
of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in
Jerusalem. 17
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil
thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
18 Did not your fathers thus,
and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet
ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
19 And it came to pass,
that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I
commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should
not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at
the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
20 So the
merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once
or twice. 21
Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about
the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time
forth came they no more on the sabbath.
22 And I commanded the Levites that they
should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates,
to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this
also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
23 In those days also saw I
Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24 And their children
spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews'
language, but according to the language of each people.
25 And I contended with them,
and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair,
and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters
unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for
yourselves. 26
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many
nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God
made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish
women cause to sin. 27
Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress
against our God in marrying strange wives?
28 And one of the sons of Joiada, the son
of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite:
therefore I chased him from me.
29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled
the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Thus
cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the
priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
31 And for the wood offering, at
times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for
good.
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The New Testament reading is verses 23-37 of chapter 4 of the Acts of the Apostles.
Acts 4:23-37
23 And being
let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief
priests and elders had said unto them.
24 And when they heard that, they lifted up
their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which
hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
25 Who by the mouth
of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the
people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were
gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
27 For of a truth against
thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius
Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered
together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29
And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants,
that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
30 By stretching forth thine hand to
heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy
child Jesus. 31
And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were
assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and
they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed
were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought
of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things
common. 33 And
with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the
Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
34 Neither was there any among them
that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold
them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold,
35 And laid them down at
the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according
as he had need. 36
And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being
interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of
Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
