Today's Readings And Stuff -- Monday, 25 June 2018

The very last Monday in June.  The all-too-brief warm period here is passing all too quickly.

We just got back from yet another doctor appointment for Dear Wife.  This was the "Primary Care Physician", who works in one of those industrial-size operations that seem to be "The Thing" any more, particularly since the abomination of Obamacare infested the land.
So, another "follow-up" appointment set for shortly after Labor Day, with another series of "labs" needed at least a week in advance.

Stopped en route home at local library to return some books.  Wife not feeling great, so I just did a quick in and out, getting nothing new.

And then, while en route home, remembered that I'd been tentatively "volunteered" to take the older great-nephew to some sort of summer thing at the school.  Inasmuch as we were still at the doctor office at the time I would have been picking him up, there's no way I could have been in both locations at the same time.  So, probably, someone else is unhappy with me.



the "song of the day" came to me after an extended, VERY extended, bout of just feeling worthless and vile.  I have nothing to boast of, nothing whatever.  Was getting into one of those "Lord, the world would be better off had I never been!" modes.  And then, "call not worthless one that Christ died to save", echoed inside the skull.  It's a good thing to remember in a variety of situations.
Hence, Beneath The Cross Of Jesus

Beneath the cross of Jesus I fain would take my stand, 

The shadow of a mighty rock within a weary land; 

A home within the wilderness, a rest upon the way, 

From the burning of the noontide heat, and the burden of the day. 

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see 

The very dying form of One who suffered there for me; 

And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess; 

The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness. 

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place; 

I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face; 

Content to let the world go by, to know no gain or loss, 

My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

and also,
The "story behind" the hymns and songs of the faith are a fascinating study.  I just came across another (and, yes, it's kind of tied to an ad of sorts), but the song is "Tis So Sweet To Trust In Jesus".  I'd not come across this one before, but it's profoundly moving to me.




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1st Chronicles 9

1  So all Israel were reckoned by genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon for their transgression.

2  Now the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions in their cities were, the Israelites, the priests, Levites, and the Nethinims.

3  And in Jerusalem dwelt of the children of Judah, and of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim, and Manasseh;

4  Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Pharez the son of Judah.

5  And of the Shilonites; Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.

6  And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.

7  And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,

8  And Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri, and Meshullam the son of Shephathiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;

9And their brethren, according to their generations, nine hundred and fifty and six. All these men were chief of the fathers in the house of their fathers.

10And of the priests; Jedaiah, and Jehoiarib, and Jachin,

11And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God;Azariah: also called, Seraiah

12  And Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchijah, and Maasiai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;

13  And their brethren, heads of the house of their fathers, a thousand and seven hundred and threescore; very able men for the work of the service of the house of God.very…: Heb. mighty men of valour

14  And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;

15  And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;

16  And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.

17  And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;

18  Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.

19  And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the Lord, were keepers of the entry.gates: Heb. thresholds

20  And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the Lord was with him.

21  And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

22  All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.did…: Heb. foundedset…: or, trust

23  So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.

24  In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.

25  And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.

26  For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.set…: or, trustchambers: or, storehouses

27  And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.

28  And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.bring…: Heb. bring them in by tale, and carry them out by tale

29  Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.instruments: or, vessels

30  And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.

31  And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.set…: or, trustin…: or, on flat plates, or, slices

32  And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the shewbread, to prepare it every sabbath.shewbread: Heb. bread of ordering

33  And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.they…: Heb. upon them

34  These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.

35  And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:

36  And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,

37  And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.

38  And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.

39  And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi–shua, and Abinadab, and Esh–baal.

40  And the son of Jonathan was Merib–baal: and Merib–baal begat Micah.

41  And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.

42  And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;

43  And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

44  And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.

1st Chronicles 10

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

2  And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi–shua, the sons of Saul.Abinadab: also called, Ishui

3  And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.and the archers: Heb. and the shooters with bowshit: Heb. found

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

5  And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.

6  So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.

7  And when all the men of Israel that were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, then they forsook their 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 sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

9  And when they had stripped him, they took his head, and his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to carry tidings unto their idols, and to the people.

10  And they put his armour in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the temple of Dagon.

11  And when all Jabesh–gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul,

12  They arose, all the valiant men, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days.

13  So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the Lord, even against the word of the Lord, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;committed: Heb. transgressed

14  And enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse.Jesse: Heb. Isai

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Psalm 119, verses 57 - 64

CHETH

 

.

57  Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.

58  I entreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

59  I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

60  I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

61  The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.bands: or, companies

62  At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

63  I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

64  The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

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Romans 9

1  I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,

2  That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.

3  For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

4  Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;

5  Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

6  Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:

7  Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.

8  That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

9  For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son.

10  And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;

11  (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)

12  It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.

13  As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.

14  What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

15  For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

16  So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

17  For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

18  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.

19  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20  Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21  Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:

23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,

24  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

25  As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.

26  And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.

27  Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:

28  For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.

29  And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrha.

30  What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

31  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

33  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.