Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 09 August 2018

Happy Thursday.  A bit late today:  we had to be next door to "watch" the kids so that Niece could be at work by 08:00 and so that the Nephew-in-law, who'd just worked the 11 pm -- 7 a.m. shift could get some sleep before rising to Do It Again.    So. we rose to meet the challenge.  Thank God, the 5-year-old slept until 10:00, and the 1-year-old slept until 11:30. (meaning he was probably up half the night, keeping his mom ((the Niece)) from getting any sleep).  Since neither Wife nor I got more than an hour or so of really fitful sleep, I can sympathize.  To a point.
So, we did the thing.

And, an apology.  Yesterday, I mentioned a very appropriate song for what some of the text was and some things in my mind.  By The Rivers Of Babylon.  Only I forgot to have the link to the song, which is one that I really like.  Apologies.

Beyond that, not much to say.  This has been a weird day.

👀
There have been some things that "come with the territory" in this area, and dealing with some of the people and situations.  Some kind of rub me the wrong way.  Having spent a bunch of years in the "Bible Belt", I'd gotten used to people giving at least lip service to Sunday.  But, not so much around here.  I've just been informed that we have a Required Attendance at the 7th birthday party of Wife's sister's son's daughter, to be held at noon Sunday, over Across The Line in Pennsyltucky.  So my presence at church services, even the morning study, is problematic at this point. 
Why it was deemed OK to choose this time is, unfortnately, all too obvious.  Not the way I grew up, surely, but that is increasingly rare.
Pet peeve, one of several of mine.
👀

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Today, chapters 9 and 10 of Esther, completing it.
As I said at the beginning, this is one of my favorites.  OK, one of the favorite 60-some.
As an aside, this is the beginning of the Jewish festival of Purim, which is commemorated to this day.  The next observance will begin at sundown of March 20, 2019

Esther 9

1Now in the twelfth month, that is, the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his decree drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, (though it was turned to the contrary, that the Jews had rule over them that hated them;)

2The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt: and no man could withstand them; for the fear of them fell upon all people.

3And all the rulers of the provinces, and the lieutenants, and the deputies, and officers of the king, helped the Jews; because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.officers…: Heb. those which did the business that belonged to the king

4For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces: for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.

5Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword, and slaughter, and destruction, and did what they would unto those that hated them.what…: Heb. according to their will

6And in Shushan the palace the Jews slew and destroyed five hundred men.

7And Parshandatha, and Dalphon, and Aspatha,

8And Poratha, and Adalia, and Aridatha,

9And Parmashta, and Arisai, and Aridai, and Vajezatha,

10The ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews, slew they; but on the spoil laid they not their hand.

11On that day the number of those that were slain in Shushan the palace was brought before the king.was…: Heb. came

12And the king said unto Esther the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? now what is thy petition? and it shall be granted thee: or what is thy request further? and it shall be done.

13Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews which are in Shushan to do to morrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.let Haman's…: Heb. let men hang, etc.

14And the king commanded it so to be done: and the decree was given at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.

15For the Jews that were in Shushan gathered themselves together on the fourteenth day also of the month Adar, and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the prey they laid not their hand.

16But the other Jews that were in the king's provinces gathered themselves together, and stood for their lives, and had rest from their enemies, and slew of their foes seventy and five thousand, but they laid not their hands on the prey,

17On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.of the same: Heb. in it

18But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

19Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another.

20And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far,

21To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,

22As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

23And the Jews undertook to do as they had begun, and as Mordecai had written unto them;

24Because Haman the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of all the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them, and had cast Pur, that is, the lot, to consume them, and to destroy them;consume: Heb. crush

25But when Esther came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.when…: Heb. when she came

26Wherefore they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore for all the words of this letter, and of that which they had seen concerning this matter, and which had come unto them,Pur: that is, Lot

27The Jews ordained, and took upon them, and upon their seed, and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing, and according to their appointed time every year;fail: Heb. pass

28And that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city; and that these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews, nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.fail: Heb. passperish: Heb. be ended

29Then Esther the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.authority: Heb. strength

30And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty and seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, with words of peace and truth,

31To confirm these days of Purim in their times appointed, according as Mordecai the Jew and Esther the queen had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the matters of the fastings and their cry.themselves: Heb. their souls

32And the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book.

Esther 10

1And the king Ahasuerus laid a tribute upon the land, and upon the isles of the sea.

2And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?advanced…: Heb. made him great

3For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.

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Psalm 138

A Psalm of David.

1I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.

2I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.

3In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.

4All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O Lord, when they hear the words of thy mouth.

5Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.

6Though the Lord be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

7Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

8The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

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2nd Corinthians 9

Motivations for Giving

1Now concerning the ministry to the saints, it is unnecessary for me to write to you. 2For I know your eagerness, and I brag about you to the Macedonians: Macedonia was a Roman province in the northern area of modern Greece.Ac 16:9“Achaia Achaia was the Roman province, south of Macedonia, where Corinth was located.Ac 18:12has been prepared since last year,” and your zeal Nm 25:13has stirred up most of them. 2Co 8:18; 12:183But I sent the brothers so our boasting about you in the matter would not prove empty, and so you would be prepared just as I said. 4For if any Macedonians come with me and find you unprepared, we, not to mention you, would be embarrassed in that situation. Or in this confidence5Therefore I considered it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance the generous gift Ac 11:30you promised, so that it will be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.Eph 5:3

6Remember this: Lit And thisThe person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously. 7Each person should do as he has decided in his heart — not reluctantly or out of necessity, for God loves Lk 6:35; Jn 3:16; 12:43; 2Th 2:13; Rv 12:11a cheerful giver. 8And God is able Eph 3:20to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work. 9As it is written:

He scattered;Jn 16:32

He gave to the poor;

His righteousness endures forever.Ps 112:9; 1Jn 2:17Ps 112:9

10Now the One who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. Is 55:10-11; Hs 10:1211You will be enriched 1Co 1:5; 2Co 6:10in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. 12For the ministry of this service Heb 8:6is not only supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing in many acts of thanksgiving to God. 13They will glorify God for your obedience to the confession of Or your obedient confession tothe gospel of Christ, and for your generosity Php 4:10in sharing with them and with others through the proof provided by this service. 14And they will have deep affection for Or will long foryou in their prayers on your behalf because of the surpassing grace of God in you. 15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.