Today's Readings And Stuff -- Wednesday, 12 September 2018

Mid-week now.  Nearly the middle of September.  Autumn is approaching fast:  our "day" is now 12 hours 37 minutes, losing another 2 minutes 42 seconds by tomorrow .  Not progress as I measure these things.
This has been quite a week.  Our 30th wedding anniversary.  My sister and her husband sent a card.  Niece and nephew and their families met us at a fast food joint where we had a gift card (non-refundable or we would have, months ago) for the anniversary dinner.  No word from our kids, my brothers, or any other family on my side.  We have each other, and that's a lot.  But it's not what I'd hoped to be able to provide for her.  I failed in my duty there, which is a hard thing.

Yesterday was also the 17th anniversary of the day that the demon-besotted heathens made their second attack on the World Trade Center in New York.  Notice the reference to 2nd attack?  There had been a previous attempt, back during the time of Clinton.  Guess when?  Guess by what type of bunch?  No, not a bunch of wild-eyed Buddhists, Hindus, or Zoroastrians.  I guess it's considered bad form, somehow, to notice these details.  Or so I have been informed.  Oh, well.  There were a lot of devotees to the cults of Dagon, Asherah, Ba'al, and the like at one time.  Those devotees have embarked on an awful eternity.  I don't wish that on anyone, but it's likely anyway.

There have been times, and we've been through quite a few, where what is happening just doesn't seem right or fair.  Does the Lord see?  Does He care?  Is our faith in vain?
I sometimes think in the songs that I've planted in my mind.  One response to a supposedly hopeless senseless one is this.   "I Believe".  No, not "high church", but a worthy declaration of an intent to trust in the Lord, regardless. 

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Isaiah 25

Salvation and Judgment on That Day

1 Lord, you are my God;

I will exalt you. I will praise your name,

for you have accomplished wonders,

plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

2For you have turned the city into a pile of rocks,

a fortified city, into ruins;

the fortress of barbarians is no longer a city;

it will never be rebuilt.

3Therefore, a strong people will honor you.

The cities of violent nations will fear you.

4For you have been a stronghold for the poor person,

a stronghold for the needy in his distress,

a refuge from storms and a shade from heat.

When the breath of the violent

is like a storm against a wall,

5like heat in a dry land,

you will subdue the uproar of barbarians.

As the shade of a cloud cools the heat of the day,

so he will silence the song of the violent.

6On this mountain,

the Lord of Armies will prepare for all the peoples a feast of choice meat,

a feast with aged wine, prime cuts of choice meat, fine vintage wine.

7On this mountain

he will destroy the burial shroud,

the shroud over all the peoples,

the sheet covering all the nations;

8he will destroy death forever.

The Lord God will wipe away the tears

from every face

and remove his people’s disgrace

from the whole earth,

for the Lord has spoken.

9On that day it will be said,

“Look, this is our God;

we have waited for him, and he has saved us.

This is the Lord; we have waited for him.

Let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”

10For the Lord’s power will rest on this mountain.

But Moab will be trampled in his place

as straw is trampled in a dung pile.

11He will spread out his arms in the middle of it,

as a swimmer spreads out his arms to swim.

His pride will be brought low,

along with the trickery of his hands.

12The high-walled fortress will be brought down,

thrown to the ground, to the dust.

Isaiah 26

The Song of Judah

1On that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city.

Salvation is established as walls and ramparts.

2Open the gates

so a righteous nation can come in —

one that remains faithful.

3You will keep the mind that is dependent on you

in perfect peace,

for it is trusting in you.

4Trust in the Lord forever,

because in the Lord, the Lord himself, is an everlasting rock!

5For he has humbled those who live in lofty places —

an inaccessible city.

He brings it down; he brings it down to the ground;

he throws it to the dust.

6Feet trample it,

the feet of the humble,

the steps of the poor.

God’s People Vindicated

7The path of the righteous is level;

you clear a straight path for the righteous.

8Yes, Lord, we wait for you

in the path of your judgments.

Our desire is for your name and renown.

9I long for you in the night;

yes, my spirit within me diligently seeks you,

for when your judgments are in the land,

the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

10But if the wicked man is shown favor,

he does not learn righteousness.

In a righteous land he acts unjustly

and does not see the majesty of the Lord.

11 Lord, your hand is lifted up to take action,

but they do not see it.

Let them see your zeal for your people

and be put to shame.

Let fire consume your adversaries.

12 Lord, you will establish peace for us,

for you have also done all our work for us.

13 Lord our God, lords other than you have owned us,

but we remember your name alone.

14The dead do not live;

departed spirits do not rise up.

Indeed, you have punished and destroyed them;

you have wiped out all memory of them.

15You have added to the nation, Lord.

You have added to the nation; you are honored.

You have expanded all the borders of the land.

16 Lord, they went to you in their distress;

they poured out whispered prayers

because your discipline fell on them.

17As a pregnant woman about to give birth

writhes and cries out in her pains,

so we were before you, Lord.

18We became pregnant, we writhed in pain;

we gave birth to wind.

We have won no victories on earth,

and the earth’s inhabitants have not fallen.

19Your dead will live; their bodies will rise.

Awake and sing, you who dwell in the dust!

For you will be covered with the morning dew,

and the earth will bring out the departed spirits.

20Go, my people, enter your rooms

and close your doors behind you.

Hide for a little while until the wrath has passed.

21For look, the Lord is coming from his place

to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.

The earth will reveal the blood shed on it

and will no longer conceal her slain.

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Proverbs 12

1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but one who hates correction is stupid.

2One who is good obtains favor from the Lord,

but he condemns a person who schemes.

3No one can be made secure by wickedness,

but the root of the righteous is immovable.

4A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,

but a wife who causes shame

is like rottenness in his bones.

5The thoughts of the righteous are just,

but guidance from the wicked is deceitful.

6The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,

but the speech of the upright rescues them.

7The wicked are overthrown and perish,

but the house of the righteous will stand.

8A man is praised for his insight,

but a twisted mind is despised.

9Better to be disregarded, yet have a servant,

than to act important but have no food.

10The righteous cares about his animal’s health,

but even the merciful acts of the wicked are cruel.

11The one who works his land will have plenty of food,

but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.

12The wicked desire what evil people have caught,

but the root of the righteous is productive.

13By rebellious speech an evil person is trapped,

but a righteous person escapes from trouble.

14A person will be satisfied with good

by the fruit of his mouth,

and the work of a person’s hands will reward him.

15A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,

but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

16A fool’s displeasure is known at once,

but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.

17Whoever speaks the truth declares what is right,

but a false witness speaks deceit.

18There is one who speaks rashly,

like a piercing sword;

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

19Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue, only a moment.

20Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,

but those who promote peace have joy.

21No disaster overcomes the righteous,

but the wicked are full of misery.

22Lying lips are detestable to the Lord,

but faithful people are his delight.

23A shrewd person conceals knowledge,

but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.

24The diligent hand will rule,

but laziness will lead to forced labor.

25Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down,

but a good word cheers it up.

26A righteous person is careful in dealing with his neighbor,

but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.

27A lazy hunter doesn’t roast his game,

but to a diligent person, his wealth is precious.

28There is life in the path of righteousness,

and in its path there is no death.

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Today, the 4th and final chapter in the Epistle to the Colossians.
This is known as one of the "prison epistles".  Yes, Paul's references to his chains were not just his obligation to the Lord, but also a simple statement that he was in prison, a grim situation at any time, for his proclamation of the Gospel.   It shames me.  Would I dare to do likewise?
Incidentally, this is from the CSB version, the Christian Standard Bible. 


Colossians 4

1Masters, deal with your slaves justly and fairly, since you know that you too have a Master in heaven.

Speaking to God and Others

2Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. 3At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, 4so that I may make it known as I should. 5Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. 6Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.

Final Greetings

7Tychicus, our dearly loved brother, faithful minister, and fellow servant in the Lord, will tell you all the news about me. 8I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know how we are and so that he may encourage your hearts.9He is coming with Onesimus, a faithful and dearly loved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you about everything here.

10Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you greetings, as does Mark, Barnabas’s cousin (concerning whom you have received instructions: if he comes to you, welcome him), 11and so does Jesus who is called Justus. These alone of the circumcised are my coworkers for the kingdom of God, and they have been a comfort to me. 12Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling for you in his prayers, so that you can stand mature and fully assured in everything God wills. 13For I testify about him that he works hard for you, for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis. 14Luke, the dearly loved physician, and Demassend you greetings. 15Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters in Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her home. 16After this letter has been read at your gathering, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. 17And tell Archippus, “Pay attention to the ministry you have received in the Lord, so that you can accomplish it.”

18I, Paul, am writing this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains.Php 1:7 Grace be with you.