26 May 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 26 May 2018

Late, very, and brief, ditto.

I woke this morning thinking about my less than adequate prayer life.  I have not been keeping up with that, even to my own standards.  Used to be better, a lot better.  Which, among other things, led the mind into the natural question of "why??".  Why indeed.  An intense prayer life puts us into the very presence of the Lord.  That's not always comfortable, at least for me.  It makes some of my sins and failures all too evident.  It takes me out of the "comfort zone", which itself is a concept that bothers me a lot.  Some things should make me uncomfortable.  Some things, viewed in the light of the Lord, should bother me, particularly if they've been part of the mind-set for a long time.
And there was, and is, much else that flows from all of that.

But, as often happens, life intruded into my meditations.  Next-door niece and husband had a "do" scheduled soon as their son marks his first birthday.  There is also some sort of family-type gathering set for the Memorial Day observance tomorrow and Monday.  But their back porch is about to fall off the house, so they got some lumber, and started ripping the old porch off the back of the house, and Yours Truly was "volunteered" by Wife to go help.  She came outside and helped to tend the kids.  The intermittent rain didn't improve the efficiency of the operation, and when the back deck was being torn up, it became evident that some posts that sat on that deck were all that was holding up the roof.  So, a sudden unanticipated need to brace up that roof.  Much more besides.  So the day was taken up with this.
We just came inside as dark took over.  Some cheese & crackers for "dinner" , and bedtime soon.  VERY soon.

This retirement stuff gets pretty tiring.

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Today's reading, chapters 21 and 22 of 2nd Samuel.

2nd Samuel 21

1  Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David enquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.
And the king called the Gibeonites, and said unto them; (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah.)
3  Wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord?
And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you.
And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel,
6  Let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord did choose. And the king said, I will give them.
But the king spared Mephibosheth, the son of Jonathan the son of Saul, because of the Lord's oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul.
8  But the king took the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bare unto Saul, Armoni and Mephibosheth; and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite:
9  And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord: and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.
10  And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night.
11  And it was told David what Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.
12  And David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh–gilead, which had stolen them from the street of Beth–shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, when the Philistines had slain Saul in Gilboa:
13  And he brought up from thence the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son; and they gathered the bones of them that were hanged.
14  And the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son buried they in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the sepulchre of Kish his father: and they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God was entreated for the land.
15  Moreover the Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint.
16  And Ishbi–benob, which was of the sons of the giant, the weight of whose spear weighed three hundred shekels of brass in weight, he being girded with a new sword, thought to have slain David.
17  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah succoured him, and smote the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David sware unto him, saying, Thou shalt go no more out with us to battle, that thou quench not the light of Israel.
18  And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob: then Sibbecai the Hushathite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.
19  And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaare–oregim, a Beth–lehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam
20  And there was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant.
21  And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.defied: or, reproached
22  These four were born to the giant in Gath, and fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.


2nd Samuel 22

1  And David spake unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord had delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul:
2  And he said, The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer;
3  The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
4  I will call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
5  When the waves of death compassed me, the floods of ungodly men made me afraid;
6  The sorrows of hell compassed me about; the snares of death prevented me;sorrows: or, cords
7  In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears.
8  Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of heaven moved and shook, because he was wroth.
9  There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured: coals were kindled by it.
10  He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet.
11  And he rode upon a cherub, and did fly: and he was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12  And he made darkness pavilions round about him, dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies.
13  Through the brightness before him were coals of fire kindled.
14  The Lord thundered from heaven, and the most High uttered his voice.
15  And he sent out arrows, and scattered them; lightning, and discomfited them.
16  And the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were discovered, at the rebuking of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.
17  He sent from above, he took me; he drew me out of many waters;
18  He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them that hated me: for they were too strong for me.
19  They prevented me in the day of my calamity: but the Lord was my stay.
20  He brought me forth also into a large place: he delivered me, because he delighted in me.
21  The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
22  For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23  For all his judgments were before me: and as for his statutes, I did not depart from them.
24  I was also upright before him, and have kept myself from mine iniquity.
25  Therefore the Lord hath recompensed me according to my righteousness; according to my cleanness in his eye sight.
26  With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful, and with the upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright.
27  With the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself unsavoury.
28  And the afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that thou mayest bring them down.
29  For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.
30  For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.run: or, broken
31  As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.
32  For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God?
33  God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfecth
34  He maketh my feet like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places
35  He teacheth my hands to war; so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.
36Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.
37  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.
38  I have pursued mine enemies, and destroyed them; and turned not again until I had consumed them.
39  And I have consumed them, and wounded them, that they could not arise: yea, they are fallen under my feet.
40  For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.
41  Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies, that I might destroy them that hate me.
42  They looked, but there was none to save; even unto the Lord, but he answered them not.
43  Then did I beat them as small as the dust of the earth, I did stamp them as the mire of the street, and did spread them abroad.
44  Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.
45  Strangers shall submit themselves unto me: as soon as they hear, they shall be obedient unto me.
46  Strangers shall fade away, and they shall be afraid out of their close places.
47  The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation.
48  It is God that avengeth me, and that bringeth down the people under me,
49  And that bringeth me forth from mine enemies: thou also hast lifted me up on high above them that rose up against me: thou hast delivered me from the violent man.
50  Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.
51  He is the tower of salvation for his king: and sheweth mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed for evermore.



 

25 May 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 25 May 2018

Happy Friday.
Perhaps more later:  my mind is a jumble now.


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Today, chapters 19 and 20 of 2nd Samuel.
David was quite a guy.  Not perfect, by no means.  But neither am I.
His life was  marked with nearly constant battles, intrigue including palace intrigues, and truly awful behavior in his own family among his own offspring.
Now, some of that  just comes with the territory.  I've never been around a king, czar, duke, etc.  But I have been around some very very powerful people.  The gut-cutting, scheming, machinations, etc. that go on seem to always be awful, and it's not "just" a matter of the stakes and the power to be gained.  A commentator on our world, Ann Coulter I believe, once wrote about a particularly nasty power struggle , "the fights are so nasty because the stakes are so low".  Ever see the machinations around leadership in a PTA, a kids' sports team support group, or, Lord forgive us, a women's group in a church?  I have.  Nasty.  This was too.
Added to that propensity is the family arrangement.  Many of us have observed at close range that squabbles between kids in a single family.  In David's case, as was the case in virtually all kings and princes of that era  (and the Moslem lands even today), you had one king and half a dozen or more official wives, plus numerous concubines.  What we used to call droit du seigneur was -- and probably still is -- the practice in most places.  So you had more than a few would-be inheritors of the crown.  By the way, the losers in that struggle for power, even if they'd never competed, could expect to die as soon as the new king took  over.  (Hasn't ended:  look at the power struggles going on today in Saudi Arabia, and the current king is still -- barely -- alive).  And, as here, more often than not, the would-be heir began that effort while the old king was still breathing.  Sometimes, as we've seen here with Absalom, he wouldn't wait for the funeral.
David was quite a man.  But not a good father.


2nd Samuel 19

1  And it was told Joab, Behold, the king weepeth and mourneth for Absalom.
2  And the victory that day was turned into mourning unto all the people: for the people heard say that day how the king was grieved for his son.
And the people gat them by stealth that day into the city, as people being ashamed steal away when they flee in battle.
4  But the king covered his face, and the king cried with a loud voice, O my son Absalom, O Absalom, my son, my son!
5  And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants, which this day have saved thy life, and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters, and the lives of thy wives, and the lives of thy concubines;
6  In that thou lovest thine enemies, and hatest thy friends. For thou hast declared this day, that thou regardest neither princes nor servants: for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived, and all we had died this day, then it had pleased thee well.
7  Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants: for I swear by the Lord, if thou go not forth, there will not tarry one with thee this night: and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil that befell thee from thy youth until now.
Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent.
9  And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom.
10  And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?
11  And king David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to his house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to his house.
12  Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?
13  And say ye to Amasa, Art thou not of my bone, and of my flesh? God do so to me, and more also, if thou be not captain of the host before me continually in the room of Joab.
14  And he bowed the heart of all the men of Judah, even as the heart of one man; so that they sent this word unto the king, Return thou, and all thy servants.
15  So the king returned, and came to Jordan. And Judah came to Gilgal, to go to meet the king, to conduct the king over Jordan.
16  And Shimei the son of Gera, a Benjamite, which was of Bahurim, hasted and came down with the men of Judah to meet king David.
17  And there were a thousand men of Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of the house of Saul, and his fifteen sons and his twenty servants with him; and they went over Jordan before the king.
18  And there went over a ferry boat to carry over the king's household, and to do what he thought good. And Shimei the son of Gera fell down before the king, as he was come over Jordan;
19  And said unto the king, Let not my lord impute iniquity unto me, neither do thou remember that which thy servant did perversely the day that my lord the king went out of Jerusalem, that the king should take it to his heart.
20  For thy servant doth know that I have sinned: therefore, behold, I am come the first this day of all the house of Joseph to go down to meet my lord the king.
21  But Abishai the son of Zeruiah answered and said, Shall not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the Lord's anointed?
22  And David said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah, that ye should this day be adversaries unto me? shall there any man be put to death this day in Israel? for do not I know that I am this day king over Israel?
23  Therefore the king said unto Shimei, Thou shalt not die. And the king sware unto him.
24  And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard, nor washed his clothes, from the day the king departed until the day he came again in peace.
25  And it came to pass, when he was come to Jerusalem to meet the king, that the king said unto him, Wherefore wentest not thou with me, Mephibosheth?
26  And he answered, My lord, O king, my servant deceived me: for thy servant said, I will saddle me an ass, that I may ride thereon, and go to the king; because thy servant is lame.
27  And he hath slandered thy servant unto my lord the king; but my lord the king is as an angel of God: do therefore what is good in thine eyes.
28  For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?
29  And the king said unto him, Why speakest thou any more of thy matters? I have said, Thou and Ziba divide the land.
30  And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.
31  And Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim, and went over Jordan with the king, to conduct him over Jordan.
32  Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old: and he had provided the king of sustenance while he lay at Mahanaim; for he was a very great man.
33  And the king said unto Barzillai, Come thou over with me, and I will feed thee with me in Jerusalem.
34  And Barzillai said unto the king, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem?
35  I am this day fourscore years old: and can I discern between good and evil? can thy servant taste what I eat or what I drink? can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? wherefore then should thy servant be yet a burden unto my lord the king?
36  Thy servant will go a little way over Jordan with the king: and why should the king recompense it me with such a reward?
37  Let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother. But behold thy servant Chimham; let him go over with my lord the king; and do to him what shall seem good unto thee.
38  And the king answered, Chimham shall go over with me, and I will do to him that which shall seem good unto thee: and whatsoever thou shalt require of me, that will I do for thee.
39  And all the people went over Jordan. And when the king was come over, the king kissed Barzillai, and blessed him; and he returned unto his own place.
40  Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham went on with him: and all the people of Judah conducted the king, and also half the people of Israel.
41  And, behold, all the men of Israel came to the king, and said unto the king, Why have our brethren the men of Judah stolen thee away, and have brought the king, and his household, and all David's men with him, over Jordan?
42  And all the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, Because the king is near of kin to us: wherefore then be ye angry for this matter? have we eaten at all of the king's cost? or hath he given us any gift?
43  And the men of Israel answered the men of Judah, and said, We have ten parts in the king, and we have also more right in David than ye: why then did ye despise us, that our advice should not be first had in bringing back our king? And the words of the men of Judah were fiercer than the words of the men of Israel.



2nd Samuel 20

And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel.
2  So every man of Israel went up from after David, and followed Sheba the son of Bichri: but the men of Judah clave unto their king, from Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3  And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women his concubines, whom he had left to keep the house, and put them in ward, and fed them, but went not in unto them. So they were shut up unto the day of their death, living in widowhood.
Then said the king to Amasa, Assemble me the men of Judah within three days, and be thou here present.
So Amasa went to assemble the men of Judah: but he tarried longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
And David said to Abishai, Now shall Sheba the son of Bichri do us more harm than did Absalom: take thou thy lord's servants, and pursue after him, lest he get him fenced cities, and escape us.
And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Cherethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
8  When they were at the great stone which is in Gibeon, Amasa went before them. And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.
9  And Joab said to Amasa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab took Amasa by the beard with the right hand to kiss him.
10  But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri.
11  And one of Joab's men stood by him, and said, He that favoureth Joab, and he that is for David, let him go after Joab.
12  And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
13  When he was removed out of the highway, all the people went on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba the son of Bichri.
14  And he went through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, and to Beth–maachah, and all the Berites: and they were gathered together, and went also after him.
15  And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth–maachah, and they cast up a bank against the city, and it stood in the trench: and all the people that were with Joab battered the wall, to throw it down.in the trench: or, against the outmost wall
16  Then cried a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear; say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near hither, that I may speak with thee.
17  And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he answered, I am he. Then she said unto him, Hear the words of thine handmaid. And he answered, I do hear.
18  Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.
19  I am one of them that are peaceable and faithful in Israel: thou seekest to destroy a city and a mother in Israel: why wilt thou swallow up the inheritance of the Lord?
20  And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy.
21  The matter is not so: but a man of mount Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, even against David: deliver him only, and I will depart from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be thrown to thee over the wall.
22  Then the woman went unto all the people in her wisdom. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and cast it out to Joab. And he blew a trumpet, and they retired from the city, every man to his tent. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
23  Now Joab was over all the host of Israel: and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and over the Pelethites:
24  And Adoram was over the tribute: and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder:
25  And Sheva was scribe: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
26  And Ira also the Jairite was a chief ruler about David.



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Psalm 105

1  O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.
2  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.
3  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
4  Seek the Lord, and his strength: seek his face evermore.
5  Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;
6  O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.
7  He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.
8  He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.
9  Which covenant he made with Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac;
10  And confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant:
11  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance:lot: Heb. cord
12  When they were but a few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it.
13  When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people;
14  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes;
15  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.
16  Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
17  He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18  Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron
19  Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him.
20  The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
21  He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
22  To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
23  Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
24  And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
25  He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.
26  He sent Moses his servant; and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27  They shewed his signs among them, and wonders in the land of Ham.
28  He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
29  He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
30  Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
31  He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
32  He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
33  He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
34  He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
35  And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
36  He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
37  He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.
38  Egypt was glad when they departed: for the fear of them fell upon them.
39  He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night.
40  The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41  He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river.
42  For he remembered his holy promise, and Abraham his servant.
43  And he brought forth his people with joy, and his chosen with gladness:gladness: Heb. singing
44  And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people;
45That they might observe his statutes, and keep his laws. Praise ye the Lord.



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Today, chapter 16 in the Acts of the Apostles.  This is part of the explosive growth of the early church.  Going forth.
I read a brief article this morning that related that some 93% of American Christians never tell anyone about the Lord.  Never.

Acts 16

1  Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father was a Greek:
2  Which was well reported of by the brethren that were at Lystra and Iconium.
3  Him would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters: for they knew all that his father was a Greek.
4  And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem.
5  And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,
7  After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.
8  And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas.
And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.
10  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
11  Therefore loosing from Troas, we came with a straight course to Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis;
12  And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, and a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days.
13  And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
14  And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
15  And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
16  And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying:
17  The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.
18  And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
19  And when her masters saw that the hope of their gains was gone, they caught Paul and Silas, and drew them into the marketplace unto the rulers,
20  And brought them to the magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our city,
21  And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans.
22  And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them.
23  And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:
24  Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29  Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30  And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32  And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33  And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34  And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
35  And when it was day, the magistrates sent the serjeants, saying, Let those men go.
36  And the keeper of the prison told this saying to Paul, The magistrates have sent to let you go: now therefore depart, and go in peace.
37  But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
38  And the serjeants told these words unto the magistrates: and they feared, when they heard that they were Romans.
39  And they came and besought them, and brought them out, and desired them to depart out of the city.
40  And they went out of the prison, and entered into the house of Lydia: and when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed.




24 May 2018

Today's Readings and Stuff --- Thursday, 24 May 2018

Well!!  This has been an "interesting" week so far, with no dispute.

Yesterday, the alarm went off around dawn.  Dear Wife had a doctor appointment for 08:30, an office roughly a 20 minute drive from here (under good conditions).  Being one who has, painfully, learned the hazards of presuming upon those good conditions, we left here around 40 minutes before the appointment.  We made it early, which was good.  That "entitled" us to wait in the waiting room until 10 minutes AFTER our appointment time, at which time we were ushered into an exam room, there to wait another 20+ minutes.  Pretty standard, in other words.
So, the "usual", in most regards.  Supposed to go back in a couple weeks for some "labs", then back again in a week or so after that for yet another follow-up.  We did find ourselves in one of those three-cornered (or four, if you include the patient) deals between three doctors: the family doctor we were meeting, the rheumatologist we were at the week before, and the pulmonologist that we are to meet on the 6th.  They're fighting over such things as the prescription for the prednisone that she's been taking daily for more than 32 years, but all doctors are now afraid to prescribe.  Hence the source of a large portion of her breathing problems.

Then, back home.  I'd intended to spend some time writing this.  WRONG!
While, oddly, none of the major news networks and certainly none of the pretty worthless news operations chose to make the matter known (though they very certainly were aware), beginning in the early early hours of the morning, there was a MAJOR breakdown on a MAJOR Internet "backbone", not just in much of the United States, but also very large sections of Europe.  Our pretty lousy Spectrum service was essentially down. We could, via the 4G on our phones, get "out" to a very limited extent, which was how we discovered -- via the Spectrum site -- the enormous extent of the issue.
Which, to repeat, NONE of the major news sites were interested in making known.  The "techie" sites that Wife and I have wangled access to, were very much aware of it, but since they use the same "pipeline", making that known was difficult.

One of the results of that was that this couldn't be done.  So we spent the day in other pursuits, and that has continued until just a little bit ago.  Wife is napping in her chair now, getting some rest before going next door to "watch" the great-niece and great nephew while mom is at work and dad isn't home yet.  I have the washer and dryer going.  So a few minutes respite, namely this, is possible.

And, as a result, I'm a day behind in the posted readings.  All deserve close, prayerful attention, in spite of the size of the "document dump", but I don't like skipping them.  Not any good alternative. 

So .......

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2nd Samuel 15

1  And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him.
2  And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel.
3  And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee.
Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!
5  And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him.
6  And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
7  And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron.
8  For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord.
9  And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron.
10  But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron.
11  And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing.
12  And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
13  And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom.
14  And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
15  And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.
16  And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house.
17  And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off.
18  And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
19  Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile.
20  Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee.
21  And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be.
22  And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him.
23  And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
24  And lo Zadok also, and all the Levites were with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God: and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city.
25  And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:
26  But if he thus say, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him.
27  The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art not thou a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar.
28  See, I will tarry in the plain of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me.
29  Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they tarried there.
30  And David went up by the ascent of mount Olivet, and wept as he went up, and had his head covered, and he went barefoot: and all the people that was with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up.
31  And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Lord, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness.
32  And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
33  Unto whom David said, If thou passest on with me, then thou shalt be a burden unto me:
34  But if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant hitherto, so will I now also be thy servant: then mayest thou for me defeat the counsel of Ahithophel.
35  And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests.
36  Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz Zadok's son, and Jonathan Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me every thing that ye can hear.
37  So Hushai David's friend came into the city, and Absalom came into Jerusalem.



2nd Samuel 16

1  And when David was a little past the top of the hill, behold, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him, with a couple of asses saddled, and upon them two hundred loaves of bread, and an hundred bunches of raisins, and an hundred of summer fruits, and a bottle of wine.
And the king said unto Ziba, What meanest thou by these? And Ziba said, The asses be for the king's household to ride on; and the bread and summer fruit for the young men to eat; and the wine, that such as be faint in the wilderness may drink.
3  And the king said, And where is thy master's son? And Ziba said unto the king, Behold, he abideth at Jerusalem: for he said, To day shall the house of Israel restore me the kingdom of my father.
4  Then said the king to Ziba, Behold, thine are all that pertained unto Mephibosheth. And Ziba said, I humbly beseech thee that I may find grace in thy sight, my lord, O king.
5  And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came.
And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left.
7  And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial:
8  The Lord hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the Lord hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man.
9  Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head.
10  And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so?
11  And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him.
12  It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.
13  And as David and his men went by the way, Shimei went along on the hill's side over against him, and cursed as he went, and threw stones at him, and cast dust.
14  And the king, and all the people that were with him, came weary, and refreshed themselves there.
15  And Absalom, and all the people the men of Israel, came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel with him.
16  And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David's friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king.
17  And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend?
18  And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide.
19  And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father's presence, so will I be in thy presence.
20  Then said Absalom to Ahithophel, Give counsel among you what we shall do.
21  And Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Go in unto thy father's concubines, which he hath left to keep the house; and all Israel shall hear that thou art abhorred of thy father: then shall the hands of all that are with thee be strong.
22  So they spread Absalom a tent upon the top of the house; and Absalom went in unto his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel.
23  And the counsel of Ahithophel, which he counselled in those days, was as if a man had enquired at the oracle of God: so was all the counsel of Ahithophel both with David and with Absalom.



2nd Samuel 17

1  Moreover Ahithophel said unto Absalom, Let me now choose out twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue after David this night:
2  And I will come upon him while he is weary and weak handed, and will make him afraid: and all the people that are with him shall flee; and I will smite the king only:
And I will bring back all the people unto thee: the man whom thou seekest is as if all returned: so all the people shall be in peace.
And the saying pleased Absalom well, and all the elders of Israel.
Then said Absalom, Call now Hushai the Archite also, and let us hear likewise what he saith.
And when Hushai was come to Absalom, Absalom spake unto him, saying, Ahithophel hath spoken after this manner: shall we do after his saying? if not; speak thou.
And Hushai said unto Absalom, The counsel that Ahithophel hath given is not good at this time.
For, said Hushai, thou knowest thy father and his men, that they be mighty men, and they be chafed in their minds, as a bear robbed of her whelps in the field: and thy father is a man of war, and will not lodge with the people.
Behold, he is hid now in some pit, or in some other place: and it will come to pass, when some of them be overthrown at the first, that whosoever heareth it will say, There is a slaughter among the people that follow Absalom.
10  And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt: for all Israel knoweth that thy father is a mighty man, and they which be with him are valiant men.
11  Therefore I counsel that all Israel be generally gathered unto thee, from Dan even to Beer–sheba, as the sand that is by the sea for multitude; and that thou go to battle in thine own person.
12  So shall we come upon him in some place where he shall be found, and we will light upon him as the dew falleth on the ground: and of him and of all the men that are with him there shall not be left so much as one.
13  Moreover, if he be gotten into a city, then shall all Israel bring ropes to that city, and we will draw it into the river, until there be not one small stone found there.
14  And Absalom and all the men of Israel said, The counsel of Hushai the Archite is better than the counsel of Ahithophel. For the Lord had appointed to defeat the good counsel of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring evil upon Absalom.
15  Then said Hushai unto Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, Thus and thus did Ahithophel counsel Absalom and the elders of Israel; and thus and thus have I counselled.
16  Now therefore send quickly, and tell David, saying, Lodge not this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily pass over; lest the king be swallowed up, and all the people that are with him.
17  Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz stayed by En–rogel; for they might not be seen to come into the city: and a wench went and told them; and they went and told king David.
18  Nevertheless a lad saw them, and told Absalom: but they went both of them away quickly, and came to a man's house in Bahurim, which had a well in his court; whither they went down.
19  And the woman took and spread a covering over the well's mouth, and spread ground corn thereon; and the thing was not known.
20  And when Absalom's servants came to the woman to the house, they said, Where is Ahimaaz and Jonathan? And the woman said unto them, They be gone over the brook of water. And when they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
21  And it came to pass, after they were departed, that they came up out of the well, and went and told king David, and said unto David, Arise, and pass quickly over the water: for thus hath Ahithophel counselled against you.
22  Then David arose, and all the people that were with him, and they passed over Jordan: by the morning light there lacked not one of them that was not gone over Jordan.
23  And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.
24  Then David came to Mahanaim. And Absalom passed over Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him.
25  And Absalom made Amasa captain of the host instead of Joab: which Amasa was a man's son, whose name was Ithra an Israelite, that went in to Abigail the daughter of Nahash, sister to Zeruiah Joab's mother.
26  So Israel and Absalom pitched in the land of Gilead.
27  And it came to pass, when David was come to Mahanaim, that Shobi the son of Nahash of Rabbah of the children of Ammon, and Machir the son of Ammiel of Lo–debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite of Rogelim,
28  Brought beds, and basins, and earthen vessels, and wheat, and barley, and flour, and parched corn, and beans, and lentiles, and parched pulse,
29  And honey, and butter, and sheep, and cheese of kine, for David, and for the people that were with him, to eat: for they said, The people is hungry, and weary, and thirsty, in the wilderness.


2nd Samuel 18

1  And David numbered the people that were with him, and set captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them.
2  And David sent forth a third part of the people under the hand of Joab, and a third part under the hand of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and a third part under the hand of Ittai the Gittite. And the king said unto the people, I will surely go forth with you myself also.
3  But the people answered, Thou shalt not go forth: for if we flee away, they will not care for us; neither if half of us die, will they care for us: but now thou art worth ten thousand of us: therefore now it is better that thou succour us out of the city
And the king said unto them, What seemeth you best I will do. And the king stood by the gate side, and all the people came out by hundreds and by thousands.
5  And the king commanded Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Deal gently for my sake with the young man, even with Absalom. And all the people heard when the king gave all the captains charge concerning Absalom.
6  So the people went out into the field against Israel: and the battle was in the wood of Ephraim;
7  Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.
8  For the battle was there scattered over the face of all the country: and the wood devoured more people that day than the sword devoured.
9  And Absalom met the servants of David. And Absalom rode upon a mule, and the mule went under the thick boughs of a great oak, and his head caught hold of the oak, and he was taken up between the heaven and the earth; and the mule that was under him went away.
10  And a certain man saw it, and told Joab, and said, Behold, I saw Absalom hanged in an oak.
11  And Joab said unto the man that told him, And, behold, thou sawest him, and why didst thou not smite him there to the ground? and I would have given thee ten shekels of silver, and a girdle.
12  And the man said unto Joab, Though I should receive a thousand shekels of silver in mine hand, yet would I not put forth mine hand against the king's son: for in our hearing the king charged thee and Abishai and Ittai, saying, Beware that none touch the young man Absalom.
13  Otherwise I should have wrought falsehood against mine own life: for there is no matter hid from the king, and thou thyself wouldest have set thyself against me.
14  Then said Joab, I may not tarry thus with thee. And he took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was yet alive in the midst of the oak.
15  And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him.
16  And Joab blew the trumpet, and the people returned from pursuing after Israel: for Joab held back the people.
17  And they took Absalom, and cast him into a great pit in the wood, and laid a very great heap of stones upon him: and all Israel fled every one to his tent.
18  Now Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
19  Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok, Let me now run, and bear the king tidings, how that the Lord hath avenged him of his enemies.
20  And Joab said unto him, Thou shalt not bear tidings this day, but thou shalt bear tidings another day: but this day thou shalt bear no tidings, because the king's son is dead.
21  Then said Joab to Cushi, Go tell the king what thou hast seen. And Cushi bowed himself unto Joab, and ran.
22  Then said Ahimaaz the son of Zadok yet again to Joab, But howsoever, let me, I pray thee, also run after Cushi. And Joab said, Wherefore wilt thou run, my son, seeing that thou hast no tidings ready?
23   But howsoever, said he, let me run. And he said unto him, Run. Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi.
24  And David sat between the two gates: and the watchman went up to the roof over the gate unto the wall, and lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold a man running alone.
25  And the watchman cried, and told the king. And the king said, If he be alone, there is tidings in his mouth. And he came apace, and drew near.
26  And the watchman saw another man running: and the watchman called unto the porter, and said, Behold another man running alone. And the king said, He also bringeth tidings.
27  And the watchman said, Me thinketh the running of the foremost is like the running of Ahimaaz the son of Zadok. And the king said, He is a good man, and cometh with good tidings.
28  And Ahimaaz called, and said unto the king, All is well. And he fell down to the earth upon his face before the king, and said, Blessed be the Lord thy God, which hath delivered up the men that lifted up their hand against my lord the king.
29  And the king said, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Ahimaaz answered, When Joab sent the king's servant, and me thy servant, I saw a great tumult, but I knew not what it was.
30  And the king said unto him, Turn aside, and stand here. And he turned aside, and stood still.
31  And, behold, Cushi came; and Cushi said, Tidings, my lord the king: for the Lord hath avenged thee this day of all them that rose up against thee.
32  And the king said unto Cushi, Is the young man Absalom safe? And Cushi answered, The enemies of my lord the king, and all that rise against thee to do thee hurt, be as that young man is.
33  And the king was much moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept: and as he went, thus he said, O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!


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Psalm 103

A Psalm of David.
 
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3  Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6  The Lord executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.
7  He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.
8  The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.
10  He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.
11  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him
12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
13  Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
14  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.
15  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
16  For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
17  But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;
18  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.
19  The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
20  Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word
21  Bless ye the Lord, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure.
22  Bless the Lord, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the Lord, O my soul.



Psalm 104

1  Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
2  Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:
3  Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:
4  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire:
5  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever.
Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.
7  At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away.
8  They go up by the mountains; they go down by the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.
Thou hast set a bound that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.
10  He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills
11  They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst.quench: Heb. break
12  By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, which sing among the branches.
13  He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works.
14  He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;
15  And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man's heart.
16  The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted;
17  Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
18  The high hills are a refuge for the wild goats; and the rocks for the conies.
19  He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
20  Thou makest darkness, and it is night: wherein all the beasts of the forest do creep forth.
21  The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God.
22  The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens.
23  Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening.
24  O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
25  So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
26  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
27  These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.
28  That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
29  Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
30  Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
31  The glory of the Lord shall endure for ever: the Lord shall rejoice in his works.
32  He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
33  I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
34  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.
35  Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the Lord, O my soul. Praise ye the Lord.



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Acts 14


1  And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
2  But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.
3  Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4  But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5  And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully, and to stone them,
6  They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
7  And there they preached the gospel.
8  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked:
9  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,
10  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.
11  And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men.
12  And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.
13  Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.
14  Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out,
15  And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
16  Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
17  Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
18  And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.
19  And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.
20  Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.
21  And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,
22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
23  And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
24  And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia.
25  And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia:
26  And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
27  And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
28  And there they abode long time with the disciples.


Acts 15

1  And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2  When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3  And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4  And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7  And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8  And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9  And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10  Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12  Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13  And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14  Simon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19  Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20  But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21  For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
22  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
23  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:
24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:
25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth.
28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things;
29  That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
30  So when they were dismissed, they came to Antioch: and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the epistle:
31  Which when they had read, they rejoiced for the consolation.
32  And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.
33  And after they had tarried there a space, they were let go in peace from the brethren unto the apostles.
34  Notwithstanding it pleased Silas to abide there still.
35  Paul also and Barnabas continued in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also.
36  And some days after Paul said unto Barnabas, Let us go again and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they do.
37  And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.
38  But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.
39  And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus;
40  And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God.
41  And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.