Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 15 May 2018

I note with sorrow that we are about half way through my favorite month of the year.  Sad.

Wife doing a little better.  She's on the new meds that were prescribed by the ER crew the other night.  She has an appointment with the rheumatologist for tomorrow morning.  I believe (not certain) that this will be also an occasion for the final installment of the injection into her knee.  She says that the first two have had very good effect, which is wonderful news.  VERY glad to hear it. 
But she's nowhere near to 100 per cent.  We'd hoped to attend a kid's concert at a nearby school that has her nephew's daughter (kindergarten just finishing) but she's just not up to it.  So we stayed in.  Her breathing is somewhat better, she still has coughing bouts but nowhere near where she was a week or two ago.  We shall see what tomorrow brings.


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Today, we see more change.
The people demanded a king.  They got one.  Saul.  Not didn't work out too well. 
And, finally, it caught up with him.  Saul is dead.  Unfortunately, as happens all too often, that meant the death of many others as well.
This completes 1st Samuel. 

1st Samuel 31

1  Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.s

2  And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi–shua, Saul's sons.

3  And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

4  Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it

5  And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

6  So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

7  And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8  And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

9  And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.

10  And they put his armour in the house of Ashtoreth: and they fastened his body to the wall of Beth–shan.

11  And when the inhabitants of Jabesh–gilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul;of that: or, concerning him that

12  All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth–shan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there.

13  And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

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Psalm 97

1  The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

2  Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne

3  A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

4  His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

5  The hills melted like wax at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6  The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

7  Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

8  Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O Lord.

9  For thou, Lord, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

10  Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

11  Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

12  Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

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Today, chapter 8 in the Acts of the Apostles.
Yesterday's reading ended up being pretty gruesome, the persecution unto death of Steven.  Bad, right?  But remember the name of the guy holding the jackets of those throwing stones?  Saul.  And, as we shall see, he gets a new name.  And a new mission too.  And this is part of the birth of the Church. 
As is the baptism of a eunuch from Ethiopia.  Remember, there were severe prohibitions under the Law, the mitzvot, barring the entrance of eunuchs.  But there is a new Covenant, and Ethiopians, eunuchs, all manner of people, are welcomed.

Acts 8

1  And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2  And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3  As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

4  Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.

5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.

6  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7  For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed.

8  And there was great joy in that city.

9  But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10  To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

11  And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

12  But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.

13  Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

14  Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15  Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16  (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20  But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21  Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22  Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23  For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

24  Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

25  And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

26  And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

27  And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28  Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

30  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

31  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

32  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

33  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

34  And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

36  And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37  And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

40  But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all the cities, till he came to Caesarea.