Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 03 April 2018

Happy Tuesday.
By sundown yesterday, the great majority of the snow that had fallen overnight Sunday was gone.  Today is predicted to be warmer than yesterday, which sounds pretty good to me.  Today is predicted to hit 63°, but that was yesterday.  Not bad.  The current predicted "high" is 51°.  But then, the "highs" for Thursday and Friday are predicted to be in the 30's again, and the three days after that to be around 40°, and the lows mostly in the 20's with snow on Wednesday, Friday, and Monday.  Again, where's our "global warming"???  Oh, and predictions for possible snow, again, tomorrow afternoon and night.
Now, I mention this (probably ad nauseum) because to this very day, I get remonstrances, including from some people that I've known my whole life, who aren't stupid, and who truly drank the Kool-Aid, believe all that "Catastrophic Global Warming caused by human activity" stuff.  One is just a year younger than I, and is attending (or at least was) some sort of lefty-lib seminary near Cleveland, having spent most of the last 45 years  around lefty-loons like Rodale Press, various "collaboratives" and "collectives" and such, who truly believes that refrigerators are poisoning the air, probably believes all the "chemtrail" conspiracy theories and thinks plastic straws are destroying the earth.
So, yes, I make a point of mocking these people, using that dreaded thing, FACTS.
And there is a joke in these parts, probably goes back to before I was born, mocking the various weathercasters who claim great, superhuman prescience in all matters meterorological:  "I just shoveled 6 inches of 'partly cloudy' off of the driveway and sidewalk".  Quite often true, and I've witnessed it (and sometimes had to be the one shoveling).

Wife was able to move around a little bit earlier today.  Asleep on the recliner right now, so we shall see.  Relapses are not exactly unknown with her "complex conditions".  Do I get worried and frustrated?  Of course.


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Today's Old Testament reading is chapters 33 and 34 of Deuteronomy.  This completes Deuteronomy, which also means the end of the Torah, the Pentateuch.  It also marks the death of Moses.
It is difficult to overstate the mark that the Lord, through Moses, made upon the whole world.

Deuteronomy 33

1  And this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death.

2  And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.

3  Yea, he loved the people; all his saints are in thy hand: and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.

4  Moses commanded us a law, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.

5  And he was king in Jeshurun, when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gathered together.

6  Let Reuben live, and not die; and let not his men be few.

7  And this is the blessing of Judah: and he said, Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him; and be thou an help to him from his enemies.

8  And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one, whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah;

9  Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.

10  They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall put incense before thee, and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine altar.

11  Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

12  And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him; and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders.

13  And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew, and for the deep that coucheth beneath,

14  And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,

15  And for the chief things of the ancient mountains, and for the precious things of the lasting hills,

16  And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush: let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren.

17  His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

18  And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents.

19  They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.

20  And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that enlargeth Gad: he dwelleth as a lion, and teareth the arm with the crown of the head.

21  And he provided the first part for himself, because there, in a portion of the lawgiver, was he seated; and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments with Israel.

22  And of Dan he said, Dan is a lion's whelp: he shall leap from Bashan.

23  And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south.

24  And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children; let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oil.

25  Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

26  There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

27  The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

28  Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew.

29  Happy art thou, O Israel: who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! and thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.

Deuteronomy 34

1  And Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan,

2  And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea,

3  And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar.

4  And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.

5  So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord.

6  And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth–peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

7  And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.

8  And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

9  And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses.

10  And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face,

11  In all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land,

12  And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel.

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Psalm 68

To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David.

1  Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

2  As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

3  But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.

4  Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.

5  A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

6  God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.

7  O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:

8  The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.

9  Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.

10  Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.

11  The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.

12  Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.

13  Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.

14  When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Zalmon.

15  The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.

16  Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever.

17  The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.

18  Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

19  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

20  He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.

21  But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.

22  The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:

23  That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.

24  They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.

25  The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.

26  Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.from…: or, ye that are of the fountain of Israel

27  There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.

28  Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.

29  Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.

30  Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war

31  Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.

32  Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:

33  To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.

34  Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.

35  O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.

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Luke 23

1  And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate.

2  And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

3  And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

4  Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

5  And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Judaea, beginning from Galilee to this place.

6  When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7  And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

8  And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

9  Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10  And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

11  And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

12  And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

13  And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people,

14  Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him:

15  No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him.

16  I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

17  (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

18  And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

19  (Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.)

20Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them.

21  But they cried, saying, Crucify him, crucify him.

22  And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let him go.

23  And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed.

24  And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.

25  And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.

26  And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus.

27  And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28  But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children.

29 For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck.

30 Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us.

31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?

32And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

33And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.

34Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

35  And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.

36  And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar,

37  And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself.

38  And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

39  And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40  But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41  And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42  And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43  And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say  unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

44  And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

45  And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

46  And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

47  Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

48  And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

49  And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

50  And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51  (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52  This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53  And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54  And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55  And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56  And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.