Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 06 April 2018

Woke yesterday to snow all over, and more falling through the morning.  By nightfall, it had all melted.  We are expecting 50° today, and 23° tonight.  Barely above freezing, even the "highs" through the weekend, and snow predicted for Tuesday.    But by Saturday next we should be seeing a high of 64°  Meanwhile, our most recent home is predicting a high of 79 today, low 80's by next Friday and Saturday, much more to my liking.  Oh, well

But. when we looked outside this morning, just a few traces.  Gusty winds, surely, and not barefoot & shorts weather, but not half a foot of snow on the ground either.  We'll take it, not that there is much choice in the matter.  Could be worse.  Saw a notice earlier from the area of west Arkansas where we once lived (and older daughter & hubby still do).  I hadn't paid much attention to the matter during our years there, but elsewhere in the state, the production of various berries is an important agricultural issue and major source of income for some growers.  This is not the sort of greenhouse thing done in these parts, it's outdoor semi old-style growing familiar to those of us who used to make a modest bit of money picking berries.  They have plants  out there, growing, flowering, developing some fruit albeit tiny yet.  And terrible cold weather, snow and ice and hail included, hitting there about now.  Which will be a terrible hardship for them, of course, and affect the whole region.  As well as those of us who look forward to the fruit.  More of that awful "catastrophic global warming" nonsense.  I wonder how the serial liars like Al Gore and all of the eco-Nazi "warmists" will choose to spin the matter.  Or, as likely, the lamestream media (LSM) will choose to ignore it.  Has happened before, of course.

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Today, in the Old Testament, chapters 3 and 4 of Joshua.  The people are entering the land that the Lord assigned to them.  Time to take it.  But first, fulfill the Lord's law regarding circumcision.  I see that some of the "progressives" are moving quite hard to outlaw the practice.  While, of course, allowing female genital mutilation. 
And then, the matter of Jericho.
This is about war, and bloodshed, and all that goes with it.  A most uncomfortable matter for many Christians.  I grew up in and am related to very many who are ensconced in the so-called "peace churches", who forbid, at various levels, any form of war or fighting, promoting what they term "nonresistance".  Quakers / "Society of Friends" (and there are quite a few around here), Mennonites and their cohorts among the Amish, Mennonite Brethren, and various others.  Generally, they prefer to avoid passages such as this, ones that show the Lord not only permitting warfare and violence, but in fact commanding it.  I've heard and read several attempts to "square the circle" on the matter.  I respect the belief, though I do not -- fully -- share it.  The bad things about war and violence are no secrets, and more than a few who claim Divine endorsement were and are liars, and I don't mean just the Moslems.  So, at least in my youth, some of these passages were pretty much ignored.  And probably still are.

Joshua 5

1  And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

2  At that time the Lord said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.

3  And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.

4  And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.

5  Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.

6  For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: unto whom the Lord sware that he would not shew them the land, which the Lord sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.

7  And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.

8  And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.

9  And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.

10  And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.

11  And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.

12  And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

13  And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?

14  And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?captain: or, prince

15  And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Joshua 6

1  Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.

2  And the Lord said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.

3  And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.

4  And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

5  And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.

6  And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.

7  And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the Lord.

8  And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the Lord, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them.

9  And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rearward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

10  And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

11  So the ark of the Lord compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.

12  And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

13  And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rearward came after the ark of the Lord, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.

14  And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.

15  And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

16  And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city.

17  And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.accursed: or, devoted

18  And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

19  But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.


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Psalm 71

1  In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

2  Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline thine ear unto me, and save me.

3  Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

4  Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man.

5  For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.

6  By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee.

7  I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge.

8  Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.

9  Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.

10  For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together,

11  Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

12  O God, be not far from me: O my God, make haste for my help.

13  Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

14  But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more.

15  My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

16  I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.

17  O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

18  Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.

19  Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

20  Thou, which hast shewed me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.

21  Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

22  I will also praise thee with the psaltery, even thy truth, O my God: unto thee will I sing with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.

23  My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.

24  My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.

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Here, chapter 2 in the Gospel of John.
Here, the miracle of transforming water into wine.  This is, and has long been, one of those records touched only lightly in many churches.  Jesus?  Providing wine?  Most uncomfortable.  I grew up in, and have long been affiliated, with Christian assemblies where the use of wine is either banned or at the least, very strongly discouraged.  I'm not fully convinced that its use is a sin, but I am quite certain that it is generally unwise.  I've seen at very close range the damage to people and lives and whole regions as a direct result of use and over-use of alcohol of all sorts.  But Jesus made wine.  A dilemma, and there is no getting around it.  I have chosen to avoid it.  Your mileage may vary.

John 2

1  And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

2  And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3  And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

4  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

5  His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

6  And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

7  Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

8  And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

9  When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

10  And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

11  This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

12  After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

13  And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

14  And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15  And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

16  And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

17  And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

18  Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

19  Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

20  Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

21  But he spake of the temple of his body.

22  When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

23  Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

24  But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

25  And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.