Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 02 March 2018

Spent a while watching the livestream of the "celebration of life" of the late Rev. Billy Graham.  Moving.  Very much so.  As his daughter Ruth related, when she had strayed and was having a rough go of it, he invited her to the house.  When she pulled up, he was there with arms open wide.  As she put it, he showed the same character as the Lord does.  And, after all, isn't that our responsibility, our calling?  To show the in our lives and demeanor the character of Christ?  Remember the story of Prodigal?  Who among us has not fallen?  Yet, there He is, arms open wide.  I know.  Perhaps you do as well.

Spending some time with a post/article on the website of Baptist Press.
Are we willing to die to self?

Today, we are up to 11 hours 18 minutes of "day", with tomorrow set to be 2 minutes 43 seconds longer.  The Equinox is approaching, albeit far too slowly for my liking.


Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus  is my song of the week.  Or for every day.

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Our reading today, chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Numbers.  A role, a responsibility assigned, for many.  Suppose your assigned role was to store and transport the tent pegs for the Tent of Meeting, the Tabernacle?   Would you be miffed at the lowliness of that,  or would you endeavor to do it in the very best way possible, as unto the Lord?  I know what I hope is the answer.

Numbers 3

1  These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai.

2  And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3  These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.

4  And Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord, when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.

5  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

6  Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.

7  And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.

8  And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.

9  And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.

10  And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

11  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

12  And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;

13  Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the Lord.

14  And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15  Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.

16  And Moses numbered them according to the word of the Lord, as he was commanded.

17  And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.

18  And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.

19  And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20  And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.

21  Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.

22  Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.

23  The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.

24  And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.

25  And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,

26  And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.

27  And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.

28  In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

29  The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.

30  And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.

31  And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.

32  And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.

33  Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.

34  And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.

35  And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.

36  And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto

37  And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.

38  But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

39  All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.

40  And the Lord said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.

41  And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the Lord) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.

42  And Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.

43  And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.

44  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

45  Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord.

46  And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;

47  Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)

48  And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.

49  And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:

50  Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:

51  And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Numbers 4

1  And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

2  Take the sum of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers,

3  From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

4  This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation, about the most holy things:

5  And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil, and cover the ark of testimony with it:

6  And shall put thereon the covering of badgers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.

7  And upon the table of shewbread they shall spread a cloth of blue, and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover withal: and the continual bread shall be thereon:

8  And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof.

9  And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light, and his lamps, and his tongs, and his snuffdishes, and all the oil vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it:

10  And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar.

11  And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue, and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof:

12  And they shall take all the instruments of ministry, wherewith they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar:

13And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon:

14  And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basins, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.basins: or, bowls

15  And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation.

16  And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light, and the sweet incense, and the daily meat offering, and the anointing oil, and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof.

17  And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,

18  Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites:

19  But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden:

20  But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered, lest they die.

21  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

22  Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families;

23  From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them; all that enter in to perform the service, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.

24  This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, to serve, and for burdens:burdens: or, carriage

25  And they shall bear the curtains of the tabernacle, and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,

26  And the hangings of the court, and the hanging for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them: so shall they serve.

27  At the appointment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens.

28  This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation: and their charge shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

29  As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt number them after their families, by the house of their fathers;

30  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them, every one that entereth into the service, to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation.service: Heb. warfare

31  And this is the charge of their burden, according to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation; the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,

32  And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden.

33  This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

34  And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers,

35  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation:

36  And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty.

37  These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

38  And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers,

39  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,

40  Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty.

41  These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord.

42  And those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers,

43  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the congregation,

44  Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred.

45  These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

46  All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers,

47  From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that came to do the service of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation,

48  Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore.

49  According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden: thus were they numbered of him, as the Lord commanded Moses.

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Psalm 45

To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.

1. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.Maschil: or, of instructionis inditing: Heb. boileth, or, bubbleth up

2. Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.

3. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

4.   And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.ride…: Heb. prosper thou, ride thou

5. Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.

6. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

7. Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

8. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

9. Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.

10. Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;

11. So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.

12. And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall entreat thy favour.favour: Heb. face

13. The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.

14. She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

15. With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.

16. Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.

17. I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

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Luke 1

1  Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a declaration of those things which are most surely believed among us,

2  Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

3  It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus,

4  That thou mightest know the certainty of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.

5  There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

6  And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7  And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

8  And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,

9  According to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

10  And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense.

11  And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12  And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13  But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14  And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15  For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

16  And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17  And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

18  And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

19  And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

20  And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season.

21  And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple.

22  And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless.

23  And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.

24  And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying,

25  Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

26  And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

27  To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

28  And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29  And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30  And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31  And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

32  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33  And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34  Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36  And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37  For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38  And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

39  And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda;

40  And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41  And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42  And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43  And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44  For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45  And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

46  And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47  And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

50  And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51  He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52  He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53  He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54  He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

55  As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

56  And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

57  Now Elisabeth's full time came that she should be delivered; and she brought forth a son.

58  And her neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shewed great mercy upon her; and they rejoiced with her.

59  And it came to pass, that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.

60  And his mother answered and said, Not so; but he shall be called John.

61  And they said unto her, There is none of thy kindred that is called by this name.

62  And they made signs to his father, how he would have him called.

63  And he asked for a writing table, and wrote, saying, His name is John. And they marvelled all.

64  And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God.

65  And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea.

66  And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him.

67  And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,

68  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

69  And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

70  As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

71  That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;

72  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;

73  The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,

74  That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,

75  In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

76  And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

77  To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins,

78  Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,

79  To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.

80  And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel.