Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 23 October 2018

Wife is next door with the great-nephew.  Niece is off to work.  Nephew-in-law (who works a 12-hour nightshift)  is getting the great-niece ready for school:  she slept in and missed the bus so he's having to provide transport.  Looks like Wife will have a real fun time today.
Weather people say we may get all the way up to 53° today.  Sounds downright tropical for this area at this time of year:    The 10 day forecast doesn't predict any snow nor anything really below the 32°F freezing point.  Dances with that temperature, and the conditions right outside may vary somewhat from the "official" readings, but that's it.  This minute, within a 25-mile radius, I see readings that range from 40.1° to 45.0°, so someone can "cherry pick" the reading they like to support the  preferred stance of the day.
I've never forgotten that time in the early 1960's, going 'trick or treat' in the snow.  Hope to never see that again, ever, but then I always thought that "global warming" sounded like a very good idea.  Too bad it's a lie.
The "day" part of our 24 hours is set at 10 hours 47 minutes, with tomorrow to be 2 minutes 34 seconds shorter.  A looong way until the Winter Solstice, the "shortest day" of the year, some two ghastly months hence.


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continuing today in Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 41

1Now it came to pass in the seventh month, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and the princes of the king, even ten men with him, came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and there they did eat bread together in Mizpah.

2Then arose Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and the ten men that were with him, and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan with the sword, and slew him, whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

3Ishmael also slew all the Jews that were with him, even with Gedaliah, at Mizpah, and the Chaldeans that were found there, and the men of war.

4And it came to pass the second day after he had slain Gedaliah, and no man knew it,

5That there came certain from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, even fourscore men, having their beards shaven, and their clothes rent, and having cut themselves, with offerings and incense in their hand, to bring them to the house of the Lord.

6And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah went forth from Mizpah to meet them, weeping all along as he went: and it came to pass, as he met them, he said unto them, Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam.

7And it was so, when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them, and cast them into the midst of the pit, he, and the men that were with him.

8But ten men were found among them that said unto Ishmael, Slay us not: for we have treasures in the field, of wheat, and of barley, and of oil, and of honey. So he forbare, and slew them not among their brethren.

9Now the pit wherein Ishmael had cast all the dead bodies of the men, whom he had slain because of Gedaliah, was it which Asa the king had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled it with them that were slain.

10Then Ishmael carried away captive all the residue of the people that were in Mizpah, even the king's daughters, and all the people that remained in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar–adan the captain of the guard had committed to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam: and Ishmael the son of Nethaniah carried them away captive, and departed to go over to the Ammonites.

11But when Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, heard of all the evil that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had done,

12Then they took all the men, and went to fight with Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and found him by the great waters that are in Gibeon.

13Now it came to pass, that when all the people which were with Ishmael saw Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, then they were glad.

14So all the people that Ishmael had carried away captive from Mizpah cast about and returned, and went unto Johanan the son of Kareah.

15But Ishmael the son of Nethaniah escaped from Johanan with eight men, and went to the Ammonites.

16Then took Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were with him, all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah, after that he had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, even mighty men of war, and the women, and the children, and the eunuchs, whom he had brought again from Gibeon:

17And they departed, and dwelt in the habitation of Chimham, which is by Beth–lehem, to go to enter into Egypt,

18Because of the Chaldeans: for they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had slain Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon made governor in the land.

Jeremiah 42

1Then all the captains of the forces, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and Jezaniah the son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest, came near,

2And said unto Jeremiah the prophet, Let, we beseech thee, our supplication be accepted before thee, and pray for us unto the Lord thy God, even for all this remnant; (for we are left but a few of many, as thine eyes do behold us:)

3That the Lord thy God may shew us the way wherein we may walk, and the thing that we may do.

4Then Jeremiah the prophet said unto them, I have heard you; behold, I will pray unto the Lord your God according to your words; and it shall come to pass, that whatsoever thing the Lord shall answer you, I will declare it unto you; I will keep nothing back from you.

5Then they said to Jeremiah, The Lord be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the Lord thy God shall send thee to us.

6Whether it be good, or whether it be evil, we will obey the voice of the Lord our God, to whom we send thee; that it may be well with us, when we obey the voice of the Lord our God.

7And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the Lordcame unto Jeremiah.

8Then called he Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces which were with him, and all the people from the least even to the greatest,

9And said unto them, Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me to present your supplication before him;

10If ye will still abide in this land, then will I build you, and not pull you down, and I will plant you, and not pluck you up: for I repent me of the evil that I have done unto you.

11Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the Lord: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.

12And I will shew mercies unto you, that he may have mercy upon you, and cause you to return to your own land.

13But if ye say, We will not dwell in this land, neither obey the voice of the Lord your God,

14Saying, No; but we will go into the land of Egypt, where we shall see no war, nor hear the sound of the trumpet, nor have hunger of bread; and there will we dwell:

15And now therefore hear the word of the Lord, ye remnant of Judah; Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; If ye wholly set your faces to enter into Egypt, and go to sojourn there;

16Then it shall come to pass, that the sword, which ye feared, shall overtake you there in the land of Egypt, and the famine, whereof ye were afraid, shall follow close after you there in Egypt; and there ye shall die.

17So shall it be with all the men that set their faces to go into Egypt to sojourn there; they shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: and none of them shall remain or escape from the evil that I will bring upon them.

18For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As mine anger and my fury hath been poured forth upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem; so shall my fury be poured forth upon you, when ye shall enter into Egypt: and ye shall be an execration, and an astonishment, and a curse, and a reproach; and ye shall see this place no more.

19The Lord hath said concerning you, O ye remnant of Judah; Go ye not into Egypt: know certainly that I have admonished you this day.

20For ye dissembled in your hearts, when ye sent me unto the Lord your God, saying, Pray for us unto the Lord our God; and according unto all that the Lord our God shall say, so declare unto us, and we will do it.

21And now I have this day declared it to you; but ye have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God, nor any thing for the which he hath sent me unto you.

22Now therefore know certainly that ye shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, in the place whither ye desire to go and to sojourn.

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Ecclesiastes 10

The Burden of Folly

1Dead flies make a perfumer’s oil ferment and stink;

so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.

2A wise person’s heart goes to the right,

but a fool’s heart to the left.

3Even when the fool walks along the road, his heart lacks sense,

and he shows everyone he is a fool.

4If the ruler’s anger rises against you, don’t leave your post,

for calmness puts great offenses to rest.

5There is an evil I have seen under the sun, an error proceeding from the presence of the ruler:

6The fool is appointed to great heights,

but the rich remain in lowly positions.

7I have seen slaves on horses,

but princes walking on the ground like slaves.

8The one who digs a pit may fall into it,

and the one who breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake.

9The one who quarries stones may be hurt by them;

the one who splits logs may be endangered by them.

10If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen its edge,

then one must exert more strength;

however, the advantage of wisdom is that it brings success.

11If the snake bites before it is charmed,

then there is no advantage for the charmer.

12The words from the mouth of a wise person are gracious,

but the lips of a fool consume him.

13The beginning of the words from his mouth is folly,

but the end of his speaking is evil madness;

14yet the fool multiplies words.

No one knows what will happen,

and who can tell anyone what will happen after him?

15The struggles of fools weary them,

for they don’t know how to go to the city.

16Woe to you, land, when your king is a youth

and your princes feast in the morning.

17Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles

and your princes feast at the proper time —

for strength and not for drunkenness.

18Because of laziness the roof caves in,

and because of negligent hands the house leaks.

19A feast is prepared for laughter,

and wine makes life happy,

and money is the answer for everything.

20Do not curse the king even in your thoughts,

and do not curse a rich person even in your bedroom,

for a bird of the sky may carry the message,

and a winged creature may report the matter.

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Hebrews 8

A Heavenly Priesthood

1Now the main point of what is being said is this: We have this kind of high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2a minister of the sanctuary and the true tabernacle that was set up by the Lord and not man. 3For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it was necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. 4Now if he were on earth, he wouldn’t be a priest, since there are those offering the gifts prescribed by the law. 5These serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, as Moses was warned when he was about to complete the tabernacle. For God said, Be careful that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown to you on the mountain. 6But Jesus has now obtained a superior ministry, and to that degree he is the mediator of a better covenant, which has been established on better promises.

A Superior Covenant

7For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion for a second one. 8But finding fault with his people, he says:

See, the days are coming, says the Lord,

when I will make a new covenant

with the house of Israel

and with the house of Judah —

9 not like the covenant

that I made with their ancestors

on the day I took them by the hand

to lead them out of the land of Egypt.

I showed no concern for them, says the Lord,

because they did not continue in my covenant.

10 For this is the covenant

that I will make with the house of Israel

after those days, says the Lord:

I will put my laws into their minds

and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people. 

11 And each person will not teach his fellow citizen, 

and each his brother or sister, saying, “Know the Lord,”

because they will all know me,

from the least to the greatest of them. 

12 For I will forgive their wrongdoing,

and I will never again remember their sins.   

13By saying a new covenant, he has declared that the first is obsolete. And what is obsolete and growing old is about to pass away.

refer to Jeremiah 31:31-34 while reading this