Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 27 June 2018

When I woke, I used the electronics to check the weather forecast before crawling out of bed.  "Cloudy", I was informed.  OK, fine.  It's been raining ever since.  So much for "settled science" and bowing to the "experts".
Wife had a very long and very tiring day.  And is still asleep.  I'm letting her do so (and it may not be safe to interrupt that:  married men will understand).  So I'm being quiet.  Cats fed, I'm drinking coffee and generally catching up on some things, but quietly.  VERY quietly.
I had planned some outdoor work but it will wait, I guess.

I'll be running over Across The Line into Pennsyltucky, "enjoying" the incompetence of PENNDOT, en route to pick up more meds for Wife from the pharmacy there, the ones we were told were ready on Monday afternoon/evening, but magically weren't yesterday morning, and now, supposedly, are.  More fun and games.

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1st Chronicles 13

1  And David consulted with the captains of thousands and hundreds, and with every leader.

2  And David said unto all the congregation of Israel, If it seem good unto you, and that it be of the Lord our God, let us send abroad unto our brethren every where, that are left in all the land of Israel, and with them also to the priests and Levites which are in their cities and suburbs, that they may gather themselves unto us:send…: Heb. break forth and sendin their…: Heb. in the cities of their suburbs

3  And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we enquired not at it in the days of Saul.bring…: Heb. bring about

4  And all the congregation said that they would do so: for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people.

5  So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjath–jearim.

6  And David went up, and all Israel, to Baalah, that is, to Kirjath–jearim, which belonged to Judah, to bring up thence the ark of God the Lord, that dwelleth between the cherubims, whose name is called on it.

7  And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.carried…: Heb. made the ark to ride

8  And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.singing: Heb. songs

9  And when they came unto the threshingfloor of Chidon, Uzza put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled.Chidon: also called, Nachonstumbled: or, shook it

10  And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.

11  And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza: wherefore that place is called Perez–uzza to this day.Perez–uzza: that is, The breach of Uzza

12  And David was afraid of God that day, saying, How shall I bring the ark of God home to me?

13  So David brought not the ark home to himself to the city of David, but carried it aside into the house of Obed–edom the Gittite.brought: Heb. removed

14  And the ark of God remained with the family of Obed–edom in his house three months. And the Lord blessed the house of Obed–edom, and all that he had.

1st Chronicles 14

1  Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and timber of cedars, with masons and carpenters, to build him an house.

2  And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.

3  And David took more wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters.more: Heb. yet

4  Now these are the names of his children which he had in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon,

5  And Ibhar, and Elishua, and Elpalet,

6  And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

7  And Elishama, and Beeliada, and Eliphelet.Beeliada: also called, Eliada

8  And when the Philistines heard that David was anointed king over all Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek David. And David heard of it, and went out against them.

9  And the Philistines came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

10  And David enquired of God, saying, Shall I go up against the Philistines? and wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto him, Go up; for I will deliver them into thine hand.

11  So they came up to Baal–perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal–perazim.Baal–perazim: that is, A place of breaches

12  And when they had left their gods there, David gave a commandment, and they were burned with fire.

13  And the Philistines yet again spread themselves abroad in the valley.

14  Therefore David enquired again of God; and God said unto him, Go not up after them; turn away from them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

15  And it shall be, when thou shalt hear a sound of going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt go out to battle: for God is gone forth before thee to smite the host of the Philistines.

16  David therefore did as God commanded him: and they smote the host of the Philistines from Gibeon even to Gezer.Gibeon: also called, Geba

17  And the fame of David went out into all lands; and the Lord brought the fear of him upon all nations.

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Today, verses 73-80 in Psalm 119

JOD.

י

 

73  Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

74  They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

75  I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.right: Heb. righteousness

76  Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.for…: Heb. to comfort me

77  Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

78  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

79  Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

80  Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

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Today, chapter 11 of the Epistle to the Romans.
I think that there should be no disagreement that the letter to the Romans is pretty much like a couple semesters in seminary.  At least.  This is anything but light reading: it's heavy, meaty, and needs to be "chewed on" a good bit.
Consider Paul's mission.  Writing to a lot of different groups, actually, and that includes us as well as believers and non-believers over a span of time of well over 1900 years.  I think it's held up pretty well.
Remember, as Paul did, that even the "chosen people", the Jews, had, as he reminds the immediate readers, that the Jews had killed the prophets, bowed the knee to Ba'al and other false gods (which, incidentally, bear a more than slight resemblance to the demon-god of the Moslems, "allah"), sacrificed their first-born sons in a fire to Moloch ((look up the history of the word "tophet", as "what in tophet are you doing?")) , and generally didn't look a whole lot like the "chosen people" of the Lord.  The whole explanation and understanding of the issues between even devout Jews, Christianized Jews, Gentile Christians, and non-Christian Gentiles got into issues, more than a few of which are with us to this very day.  Go talk to some "Messianic Jews" some time.
But there is also very much here for we Gentile believers.  The interpretations and implications of some of this are still hotly debated, to this day.

Romans 11

1  I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.

2  God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

3  Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4  But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

7  What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded

8  (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.

9  And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:

10  Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.

11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

12  Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?

13  For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

14  If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

15  For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

16  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

17  And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;

18  Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.

19  Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.

20  Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:

21  For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

22  Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

23  And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.

24  For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27  For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28  As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.

29  For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:

31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

32  For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

33  O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

35  Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

36  For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.