Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 03 May 2018

More plan changes. 
We had an appointment at rheumatologist a good distance hence for the 2nd in a series of 3 weekly injections for knee joint (synovial fluid) degeneration.  But she was sick all night, got almost no sleep.  So, neither did I.  First thing this morning, call the rheumatologist and check if safe to take injections while battling an infection.  Or risk exposing staff and other patients to it. They finally decided that, contrary to the normal protocols, best is to delay a week.  Fine.  Then call "family doctor" to see if any openings.  Nope.  Doc is out of the office yesterday, today, tomorrow.  They suggested a walk-in clinic about the same distance.  So, off we went.  Yep, has upper respiratory infection.  Two injections.  Several prescriptions issued.
JUST got back.   Just another day in "Happy Land".  Waiting for notification that prescriptions are ready, at which point Yours Truly will make the run over Across The Line to retrieve.  Fun life.

Better weather, generally. Yesterday made it into the upper 70's, at long last.  I dragged out one of our window-type A/C units and stuck it in a window.
Worked.  Well, it did for a while.  But evidently having a TV monitor, an A/C unit, and a coffee maker, all on the same circuit, is a no-go situation.  Kicked off the TV, the computer, the A/C unit, the alarm clock on my side of the bed, the living room lights, etc.  So ..  unplug the A/C.  In a bit, I'll move that unit to another window and outlet, hopefully on a separate circuit.
Wife, lacking the thryoid gland that went pre-cancerous some years ago, can't handle much temperature range at all.  The last 5 years that we lived in central Alabama, we had no A/C.  Read that again.  NO air conditioning in central Alabama!  Yes, she was in misery throughout.  While she was physically able to work, particularly the final few years before things got real bad, she was in an office all day, and in a temperature controlled environment.  The last year or two, stuck at home and seriously ill, no such option.  We set up some alternative to help a bit, but, dealing with a seriously ill spouse, while stuck in a job that, contrary to all promises and solemn agreements, paid less than half my normal income while her medical costs skyrocketed, was a no-win situation.  Part of why we pulled up stakes and moved.
Wasn't a fun time.  Still isn't, really.  I have to believe that there is some Purpose at work here, but sometimes it's easier to hang onto that than other times. 




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Lots of stuff going on with Samuel.  NOT exactly an easy time for a prophet in Israel.  The Lord knew that a pretty good and tough person was going to be required.  Samuel fit.
Unfortunately, just as was noticed with Eli and his sons, Samuel's sons went far astray.  I guess that sort of thing hasn't died out, has it?
And, just as today, the urge to be just like everyone else, was present.  With rotten outcomes.  Just like now.

1st Samuel 7

1  And the men of Kirjath–jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord.

2  And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath–jearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

3  And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtoreth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

4  Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtoreth, and served the Lord only.

5  And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you unto the Lord.

6  And they gathered together to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord. And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpah.

7  And when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel were gathered together to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8  And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines.

9  And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offered it for a burnt offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard him.

10  And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the Lord thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

11  And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth–car.

12  Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben–ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the Lord helped us.

13  So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14  And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15  And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16  And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth–el, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, and judged Israel in all those places.

17  And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the Lord.

1st Samuel 8

1  And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

2  Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beer–sheba.

3  And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

4  Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,

5  And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

6  But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.

7  And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

8  According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.

9  Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

10  And Samuel told all the words of the Lord unto the people that asked of him a king.

11  And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

12  And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13  And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14  And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15  And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.officers: Heb. eunuchs

16  And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17  He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18  And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

19  Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20  That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

21  And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord.

22  And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

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Psalm 89

Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

 

1  I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations

2  For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.

3I   have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant,

4  Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.

5  And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O Lord: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints.

6  For who in the heaven can be compared unto the Lord? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the Lord?

7  God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.

8  O Lord God of hosts, who is a strong Lord like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee?

9  Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.

10  Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.

11  The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.

12  The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name.

13  Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand.

14  Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.

15  Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.

16  In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.

17  For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted.

18  For the Lord is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king.

19  Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people.

20  I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:

21  With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.

22  The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.

23  And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

24  But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.

25  I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.

26  He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.

27  Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.

28  My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

29  His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.

30  If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;

31  If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments;break: Heb. profane

32  Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes.

33  Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail.

34  My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

35  Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David.

36  His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.

37  It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.

38  But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed.

39  Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground.

40  Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin.

41  All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours.

42  Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice.

43  Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle.

44  Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground.

45  The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah.

46  How long, Lord? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire?

47  Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain?

48  What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah.

49  Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth?

50  Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people;

51  Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O Lord; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed.

52  Blessed be the Lord for evermore. Amen, and Amen.

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Today, chapter 21 in the Gospel of John, completing it, and the year's run through the Gospels.
Talk about an intense gathering!  It must have been in their hearts for the rest of their lives.
And, note also, Peter is asked that question three times.  The same number of times that he had denied Jesus.  Coincidence? 

John 21

1  After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

2  There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

3  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

6  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

7  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

8  And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

9  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

10  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

11  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

12  Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

13  Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

14  This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

15  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

19  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

20  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

21  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

23  Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

24  This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.