Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 16 May 2018

Happy Wednesday to all.
Been a pretty good day so far.
Alarm went off at 06:30.  We had to leave here around 08:40 or so, in order to make a doctor appointment about 22 miles from here, on the lower southern edge of the county south of us.
The doctor visit went well. She got the 3rd and final injection of ersatz synovial fluid into the knee, and I am happy to say that it is doing extremely well.  She'd been in constant pain, every step, from the lack of same as the bones ground together.  Now, she's got a bit  of cushion, one of those things most of us take for granted, and shouldn't.  She had to go to another building in that complex and get an X-ray, which confirmed that she still has half a kneecap there.  No more than half, but that is something.
Her breathing is somewhat better, and the new meds are having a good effect.  Now, the prednisone (a steroid, remember) that they have her on right now makes her feel hot and also makes it hard to sleep: it's not an amphetamine but it acts like it some times.  So she didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night.  But some, and the horrid coughing is a whole lot less.  She'll be on the new antibiotic all this week and the coming weekend, so we shall see what transpires.

Not feeling particularly into "weighty" issues today.  Just going through and doing the necessary.  But that's OK.  I'm hoping and planning to be present for a city-wide revival thing that is set to begin Friday and to continue through  Sunday afternoon.  Promises to be significant, but we shall see what her condition is during this.

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And here another major change.  Saul is dead, as is Jonathan his son.  David is in the forefront now, and will be.

2nd Samuel 1

1  Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;

2  It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.

3  And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.

4  And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.

5  And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?

6  And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

7  And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.

8  And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.

9  He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

10  So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.

11  Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:

12  And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the Lord, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.

13  And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.

14  And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?

15  And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.

16  And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the Lord's anointed.

17  And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:

18  (Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)

19  The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!

20  Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

21  Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.

22  From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

23  Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.

24  Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.

25  How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.

26  I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.

27  How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

2nd Samuel 2

1  And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the Lord said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.

2  So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.

3  And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.

4  And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabesh–gilead were they that buried Saul.

5  And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabesh–gilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the Lord, that ye have shewed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.

6  And now the Lord shew kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.

7  Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.

8  But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;

9  And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.

10  Ish–bosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.

11  And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

12  And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.

13  And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.

14  And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.

15  Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ish–bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.

16  And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkath–hazzurim, which is in Gibeon.

17  And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.

18  And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.

19  And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.

20  Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.

21  And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armour. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.

22  And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?

23  Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.

24  Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.

25  And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.

26  Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?

27  And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.

28  So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.

29  And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.

30  And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.

31  But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.

32  And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Beth–lehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

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Psalm 98

A Psalm.

 

1  O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

2  The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.

3  He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4  Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.

5  Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.

6  With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.

7  Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

8  Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

9  Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

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Saul thought he had everything figured out.  He was wrong.  Here, another remarkable change.

Acts 9

1  And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

2  And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

3  And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

4  And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

5  And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

6  And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

7  And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.

8  And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.

9  And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13  Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:

14  And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

17  And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

18  And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.

19  And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.

20  And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21  But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

22  But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ.

23  And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

24  But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

25  Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

26  And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27  But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

28  And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem.

29  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

30  Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus.

31  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.

32  And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.

33  And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, which had kept his bed eight years, and was sick of the palsy.

34  And Peter said unto him, Aeneas, Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed. And he arose immediately.

35  And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord.

36  Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

37  And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.

38  And forasmuch as Lydda was nigh to Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring him that he would not delay to come to them.

39  Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

40  But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

41  And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

42  And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

43  And it came to pass, that he tarried many days in Joppa with one Simon a tanner.