Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 01 March 2018

Well, we've made it into March.  Back into the months with short names.  Sounds good to me.  Sort of.  It's raining pretty good right now, but we're anticipating that changing to snow later on.  After that, well, we shall see.


What A Friend We Have In Jesus is the song of the day, and the text of "take it to the Lord in prayer" is significant.  The version that I have linked here gives the story behind the song.  I am always interested to learn these accounts, so many come out of significant, sometimes tragic, life events. This is one.  All of us have had, are having, will have, or all three of these.  How we react to them is key, Who we turn to is key, and how we live that out are keys.  To steal a comment,

"I heard someone say that we can't have a testimony without a test."   

Yes, we must take it to the Lord in prayer.  Or else collapse under the burdens of life.

What a friend we have in Jesus, 

All our sins and griefs to bear! 

What a privilege to carry 

Everything to God in prayer! 

O what peace we often forfeit, 

O what needless pain we bear, 

All because we do not carry 

Everything to God in prayer. 

Have we trials and temptations? 

Is there trouble anywhere? 

We should never be discouraged; 

Take it to the Lord in prayer. 

Can we find a friend so faithful 

Who will all our sorrows share? 

Jesus knows our every weakness; 

Take it to the Lord in prayer

============================
=================================

Ever feel lost in the crowd, forgotten and solitary?  I have.  But I was wrong to do so.  Yes, He Knows My Name.  Even in the crowd.

Numbers 1

 1  And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

2  Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;

3  From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

4  And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.

5  And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.

6  Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

7  Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

8  Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

9  Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.

10  Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

11  Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.

12  Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

13  Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.

14  Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.Deuel: also called, Reuel

15  Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.

16  These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.

17  And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:

18  And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

19  As the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20  And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

21  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

22  Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

23  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

24  Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

25  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.

26  Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

27  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

28  Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

29  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

30  Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

31  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

32  Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

33  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.

34  Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

35  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

36  Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

37  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

38  Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

39  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

40  Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

41  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

42  Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

43  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

44  These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.

45  So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;

46  Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

47  But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

48  For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, saying,

49  Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

50  But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

51  And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

52  And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.

53  But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

54  And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.

Numbers 2

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

2  Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.

3  And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.

4  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

5  And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.

6  And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

7  Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.

8  And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

9  All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.

10  On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.

11  And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

12  And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

13  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

14  Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.Reuel: also called, Deuel

15  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.

16  All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.

17  Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.

18  On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.

19  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.

20  And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

21  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

22  Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.

23  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

24  All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.

25  The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

26  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

27  And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.

28  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

29  Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.

30  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

31  All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.

32  These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

33  But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses.

34  And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

===================================
==================================

Psalm 44

To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, Maschil.

 

1  We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days, in the times of old

2  How thou didst drive out the heathen with thy hand, and plantedst them; how thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out.

3  For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.

4  Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.

5  Through thee will we push down our enemies: through thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us.

6  For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.

7  But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

8  In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.

9  But thou hast cast off, and put us to shame; and goest not forth with our armies.

10  Thou makest us to turn back from the enemy: and they which hate us spoil for themselves.

11  Thou hast given us like sheep appointed for meat; and hast scattered us among the heathen.

12  Thou sellest thy people for nought, and dost not increase thy wealth by their price.

13  Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to them that are round about us.

14  Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people.

15  My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me,

16  For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger.

17  All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.

18  Our heart is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from thy way;steps: or, goings

19  Though thou hast sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.

20  If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god;

21  Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.

22Yea, for thy sake are we killed all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter.

23  Awake, why sleepest thou, O Lord? arise, cast us not off for ever.

24  Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and forgettest our affliction and our oppression?

25  For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth.

26  Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies' sake.

=================================
==================================

The New Testament passage is chapter 16 in the  Gospel of Mark, completing it.
Yesterday we read of the Crucifixion.  Today, "the rest of the story".

Mark 16

1  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

2  And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

3  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

4  And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

5  And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

6  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

7  But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

8  And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

10  And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

11  And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

12  After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

13  And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16   He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

20  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.