Today's Readings And Stuff -- Friday, 15 June 2018

Sigh..   Another week about gone.  The longest day of the year is less than a week away.  From then on, the countdown to Winter,  the shortest day, begins.
But tomorrow will be a bit of a party gathering here.




Song of the day goes with what was going through my mind yesterday afternoon and evening, and into the night.  An "oldie but goodie", one I recall from my youth, but rarely heard these days in most venues.  Remember "Take Time To Be Holy"?  It came to mind as I was crouching by the veggie garden outside, pulling weeds.  Pulling weeds in a garden is one of those jobs that is never ever "done".  Spend two  hours, even in a small garden like ours, pulling weeds.  Go get a drink of tea or lemonade, and look at the garden.   You'd swear no one had ever done anything there.  The more you clear, the more you see.  Dealing with my own sins and failures feels like that.  The closer that I get to Him, the more of my own sin nature that I can see.  The "that's not so bad" attitude that I once held looks pretty awful now.   Trying to come into the very Presence of the Lord demands more of us than that.  This is pretty good instruction for living the Christian life.

1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
   Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
   Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
   Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
   Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
   By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
   Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
3. Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
   And run not before Him, whatever betide.
   In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
   And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
4. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
   Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
   Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
   Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.

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2nd Kings 15

1  In the twenty and seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel began Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah to reign.

2  Sixteen years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned two and fifty years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.

3  And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;

4  Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.

5  And the Lord smote the king, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house. And Jotham the king's son was over the house, judging the people of the land.

6  And the rest of the acts of Azariah, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

7  So Azariah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Jotham his son reigned in his stead.

8  In the thirty and eighth year of Azariah king of Judah did Zachariah the son of Jeroboam reign over Israel in Samaria six months.

9  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as his fathers had done: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

10  And Shallum the son of Jabesh conspired against him, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

11  And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

12  This was the word of the Lord which he spake unto Jehu, saying, Thy sons shall sit on the throne of Israel unto the fourth generation. And so it came to pass.

13  Shallum the son of Jabesh began to reign in the nine and thirtieth year of Uzziah king of Judah; and he reigned a full month in Samaria.

14  For Menahem the son of Gadi went up from Tirzah, and came to Samaria, and smote Shallum the son of Jabesh in Samaria, and slew him, and reigned in his stead.

15  And the rest of the acts of Shallum, and his conspiracy which he made, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

16  Then Menahem smote Tiphsah, and all that were therein, and the coasts thereof from Tirzah: because they opened not to him, therefore he smote it; and all the women therein that were with child he ripped up.

17  In the nine and thirtieth year of Azariah king of Judah began Menahem the son of Gadi to reign over Israel, and reigned ten years in Samaria.

18  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not all his days from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

19  And Pul the king of Assyria came against the land: and Menahem gave Pul a thousand talents of silver, that his hand might be with him to confirm the kingdom in his hand.

20  And Menahem exacted the money of Israel, even of all the mighty men of wealth, of each man fifty shekels of silver, to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back, and stayed not there in the land.exacted: Heb. caused to come forth

21  And the rest of the acts of Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

22  And Menahem slept with his fathers; and Pekahiah his son reigned in his stead.

23  In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekahiah the son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned two years.

24  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

25  But Pekah the son of Remaliah, a captain of his, conspired against him, and smote him in Samaria, in the palace of the king's house, with Argob and Arieh, and with him fifty men of the Gileadites: and he killed him, and reigned in his room.

26  And the rest of the acts of Pekahiah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

27  In the two and fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah Pekah the son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned twenty years.

28  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

29  In the days of Pekah king of Israel came Tiglath–pileser king of Assyria, and took Ijon, and Abel–beth–maachah, and Janoah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Gilead, and Galilee, all the land of Naphtali, and carried them captive to Assyria.

30  And Hoshea the son of Elah made a conspiracy against Pekah the son of Remaliah, and smote him, and slew him, and reigned in his stead, in the twentieth year of Jotham the son of Uzziah.

31  And the rest of the acts of Pekah, and all that he did, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.

32  In the second year of Pekah the son of Remaliah king of Israel began Jotham the son of Uzziah king of Judah to reign.

33  Five and twenty years old was he when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jerusha, the daughter of Zadok.

34  And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.

35  Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the Lord.

36  Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

37  In those days the Lord began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah.

38  And Jotham slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David his father: and Ahaz his son reigned in his stead.

 2nd Kings 16

1  In the seventeenth year of Pekah the son of Remaliah Ahaz the son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign.

2  Twenty years old was Ahaz when he began to reign, and reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem, and did not that which was right in the sight of the Lord his God, like David his father.

3  But he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel.

4  And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.

5  Then Rezin king of Syria and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to war: and they besieged Ahaz, but could not overcome him.

6  At that time Rezin king of Syria recovered Elath to Syria, and drave the Jews from Elath: and the Syrians came to Elath, and dwelt there unto this day.from Elath: Heb. from Eloth

7  So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath–pileser king of Assyria, saying, I am thy servant and thy son: come up, and save me out of the hand of the king of Syria, and out of the hand of the king of Israel, which rise up against me.

8  And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent it for a present to the king of Assyria.

9  And the king of Assyria hearkened unto him: for the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, and took it, and carried the people of it captive to Kir, and slew Rezin.Damascus: Heb. Dammesek

10  And king Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath–pileser king of Assyria, and saw an altar that was at Damascus: and king Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest the fashion of the altar, and the pattern of it, according to all the workmanship thereof.Damascus: Heb. Dammesek

11  And Uriah the priest built an altar according to all that king Ahaz had sent from Damascus: so Uriah the priest made it against king Ahaz came from Damascus.

12  And when the king was come from Damascus, the king saw the altar: and the king approached to the altar, and offered thereon.

13  And he burnt his burnt offering and his meat offering, and poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offerings, upon the altar.his peace offerings: Heb. the peace offerings which were his

14  And he brought also the brasen altar, which was before the Lord, from the forefront of the house, from between the altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north side of the altar.

15  And king Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, saying, Upon the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, and the evening meat offering, and the king's burnt sacrifice, and his meat offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings; and sprinkle upon it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice: and the brasen altar shall be for me to enquire by.

16  Thus did Uriah the priest, according to all that king Ahaz commanded.

17  And king Ahaz cut off the borders of the bases, and removed the laver from off them; and took down the sea from off the brasen oxen that were under it, and put it upon a pavement of stones.

18  And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the Lord for the king of Assyria.

19  Now the rest of the acts of Ahaz which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

20  And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead.

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 Today, verses 9-16 in Psalm 119.  Verse 11 is a great "life verse".

BETH.    
בּ

 

9  Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

10  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

11  Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

12  Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.

13  With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

14  I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

15  I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

16  I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

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Today, chapter 3 in the  Epistle to the Romans

Romans 3

1  What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?

2  Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

3  For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

5  But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)

6  God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?

7  For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner?

8  And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.

9  What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

13  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:

14  Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:

15  Their feet are swift to shed blood:

16  Destruction and misery are in their ways:

17  And the way of peace have they not known:

18  There is no fear of God before their eyes.

19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27  Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

29  Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

30  Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith.

31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 14 June 2018

Thursday now.  More than a few things on the mind, but nothing much to speak of.
I am still into some things that I got last week from the public library.  Particularly the book "Fearless" .  I needed that one, it speaks quite directly to some internal issues that I have and long have had to deal with.  Not easy.




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Today, chapters 13 and 14 of 2nd Kings. 
Depressing and sad.  And by no means honoring the Lord or paying any attention to His wishes and commands.  Sounds pretty familiar, doesn't it?

2nd Kings 13

1  In the three and twentieth year of Joash the son of Ahaziah king of Judah Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years.

2  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.followed: Heb. walked after

3  And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben–hadad the son of Hazael, all their days.

4  And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto him: for he saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them.

5  (And the Lord gave Israel a saviour, so that they went out from under the hand of the Syrians: and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents, as beforetime.

6  Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, but walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)

7  Neither did he leave of the people to Jehoahaz but fifty horsemen, and ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen; for the king of Syria had destroyed them, and had made them like the dust by threshing.

8  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, and all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

9  And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.

10  In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.

11  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: but he walked therein.

12  And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

13  And Joash slept with his fathers; and Jeroboam sat upon his throne: and Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14  Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

15  And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.

16  And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.

17  And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord's deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.

18  And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.

19  And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

20  And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year.

21  And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

22  But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.

23  And the Lord was gracious unto them, and had compassion on them, and had respect unto them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, neither cast he them from his presence as yet.

24  So Hazael king of Syria died; and Ben–hadad his son reigned in his stead.

25  And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Ben–hadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

 

2nd Kings 14

1  In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah.

2  He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.

3  And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.

4  Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.

5  And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.

6  But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the Lord commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

7  He slew of Edom in the valley of salt ten thousand, and took Sela by war, and called the name of it Joktheel unto this day.

8  Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.

9  And Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon, and trode down the thistle.

10  Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?

11  But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Beth–shemesh, which belongeth to Judah.

12  And Judah was put to the worse before Israel; and they fled every man to their tents.

13  And Jehoash king of Israel took Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Jehoash the son of Ahaziah, at Beth–shemesh, and came to Jerusalem, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem from the gate of Ephraim unto the corner gate, four hundred cubits.

14  And he took all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of the Lord, and in the treasures of the king's house, and hostages, and returned to Samaria.

15  Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash which he did, and his might, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

16  And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.

17  And Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah lived after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel fifteen years.

18  And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

19  Now they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem: and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish, and slew him there.

20  And they brought him on horses: and he was buried at Jerusalem with his fathers in the city of David.

21  And all the people of Judah took Azariah, which was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.

22  He built Elath, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.

23  In the fifteenth year of Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria, and reigned forty and one years.

24  And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord: he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin.

25  He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which was of Gath–hepher.

26  For the Lord saw the affliction of Israel, that it was very bitter: for there was not any shut up, nor any left, nor any helper for Israel.

27  And the Lord said not that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven: but he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash.

28  Now the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, and all that he did, and his might, how he warred, and how he recovered Damascus, and Hamath, which belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

29  And Jeroboam slept with his fathers, even with the kings of Israel; and Zachariah his son reigned in his stead.

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Today, in the "Poetry" section here, we begin Psalm 119.  Not only is this, by far, the largest and longest of the Psalms, it's the largest single chapter of any book in the Bible.
Now, this is in the "poetry" heading.  Doesn't look much like the poetry most of us are familiar with, does it?  Doesn't rhyme, to begin with.  But there are some things going on.
First of all, it's rendered here in good 1611 English, not Hebrew.  So there's that. 
But, also, in the practices of the time, the rhyme sound was at the beginning of the line, not the end.  Big difference!
The whole psalm is divided into sections, generally 8 lines/verses long.  In the Hebrew, and probably in your Bible as well, the sections are divided with a Hebrew letter as the sub-title.  So, here, verses 1-8 are under the  heading of the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet, we render it as "Aleph".  
א

And so, all the lines would have as the first letter that character.  Make sense?  And don't forget that Hebrew is written right-to-left, not left-to-right as English.
This is, as I said, a VERY long piece.  So, the schedule I am using has us with  8 verses / 1 section per day, and will take until mid-July to complete. 

Psalm 119, verses 1-8

ALEPH.

 

1  Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.undefiled: or, perfect, or, sincere

2  Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

3  They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

4  Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

5  O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

6  Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

7  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

8  I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

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Romans 2

1  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

3  And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

5  But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;

6  Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7  To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

8  But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

9  Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

10  But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:

11  For there is no respect of persons with God.

12  For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

13  (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

14  For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

15  Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

16  In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

17  Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,

18  And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;

19  And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,

20  An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.

21  Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?

22  Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

23  Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

24  For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.

25  For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26  Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27  And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 13 June 2018

Mid-week already!  Nearing the mid-point of the year as well.   And, as bad from my standpoint, we are nearing the end of Spring, and approaching Summer.  The bad point of that is that it marks the longest "day" of the year, and from thence the "day" portion  of the 24 hour span begins to shorten, heading towards Winter, the shortest day.  Seems like a metaphor for Death.  Anyway, the "day" portion of Wednesday is 15 hours 6 minutes, gaining a mere 28 seconds by tomorrow.  And gaining even less the day thereafter.  A small thing, perhaps, to most.  But it's something that I watch, particularly since having retreated to the Frozen Lands.
Next-door Niece doesn't go in to work until around 4:30 p.m.  Husband is evidently not working his under-the-table job today, so the "sitting" with the kids (mostly the great-nephew) may not be an issue today or tomorrow.  So she's in "recovery mode" from yesterday.

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Today, chapters 11 and 12 of 2nd Kings.
This can be discouraging.  Should be, probably.   Plots and schemes, the pursuit of power, and some pretty awful conduct.  We see it today, of course:  the nature of un-regenerate people is the same now as it was a few thousand years ago.  And it's not always for high stakes like kingdoms and such.  I've seen conduct only slightly less awful for much lower stakes.  Most of us have.  I was watching earlier this very year some of the maneuvering within the royal house in Saudi-infested Arabia, with the current crown prince throwing a whole bunch of his brothers (or, properly, half-brothers, part of the result of plural marriage in these societies) into prison or at least into rough housing with guards preventing escape.

2nd Kings 11

1  And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

2  But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

3  And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

4  And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the Lord, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord, and shewed them the king's son.

5  And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;

6  And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.

7  And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king.

8  And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.

9  And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

10  And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the Lord.

11  And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.

12  And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.

13  And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the Lord.

14  And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

15  But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord.

16  And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain.

17  And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's people; between the king also and the people.

18  And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord.

19  And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.

20  And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.

21  Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.

2nd Kings 12

1  In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer–sheba.

2  And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

3  But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

4  And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the Lord

5  Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.

6  But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.

7  Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.

8  And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.

9  But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the Lord: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord.

10  And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the Lord.

11  And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the Lord: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the Lord,

12  And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the Lord, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

13  Howbeit there were not made for the house of the Lord bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the Lord:

14  But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the Lord.

15  Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.

16  The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the Lord: it was the priests'.

17  Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

18  And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.

19  And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

20  And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

21  For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

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Today, Psalm 118

Psalm 118

1  O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

2  Let Israel now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

3  Let the house of Aaron now say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

4  Let them now that fear the Lord say, that his mercy endureth for ever.

5  I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.

6  The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

7  The Lord taketh my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me.

8  It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.

9  It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

10  All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord will I destroy them.

11  They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

12  They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the Lord I will destroy them.

13  Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the Lord helped me.

14  The Lord is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.

15  The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

16  The right hand of the Lord is exalted: the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly.

17  I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord.

18  The Lord hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death.

19  Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord:

20  This gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter.

21  I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.

22  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.

23  This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.

24  This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

25  Save now, I beseech thee, O Lord: O Lord, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.

26  Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord: we have blessed you out of the house of the Lord.

27  God is the Lord, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar.

28  Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

29  O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

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Today, a new  beginning.  Chapter 1 in the Epistle to the Romans.
I've related this before, but ......
About 10 years ago, the kids got me a study Bible for Christmas (or birthday, there's only a 10-day difference).  The commentator prefaced Romans with an account of a great preacher who, upon assuming the pulpit at a new charge, opened his Bible and preached Romans 1, verse 1.  Week 2, he preached Romans 1, verse 2, and did not quite finish.  Week 3, he took up in verse 2 and continued in verse 3.  For three and a half years, he preached from the Epistle to the Romans, every week.  And, as the commentary related, the church exploded.  The pews were filled, as were the balconies and the galleries, and more besides.  Yes, the Good News can, and sometimes does, have that effect.  Why should we be surprised?  God at work, after all. This is, as we used to say, Good Stuff.  Get into it.  How would you present what is here??
Look at verse 1.  Look hard.  See that first word?  The word is "Paul".  But that was not the name  his earthly father gave him, is it?  No, his original name was "Saul".  The name "Saul" implies importance and status.  ,  The name "Paul" is anything but:  it means "small" and connotes humility.  What changed?  He had an encounter with the Lord, didn't he?  Yes.  And it changed him, changed his nature and attitude, changed what he was.  Meeting the Lord changes people.  Changes us.  Changed me.  It's supposed to.  And it changed his motivations and life direction.  As it should all of us.  He was "called".  He was "separated".  And he boldly and consistently proclaimed Jesus Christ thereafter.  As we should.   That was a very contentious thing even to say.  Still is.  What does it mean to be "called"?  What does it mean to be "separated"?  What is the "gospel of God"?
See what I mean?  This one verse is the subject of many sermons.  And life-changes.

But read the rest of the passage as well.  The world he describes sounds very much like ours.

Romans 1

1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)

3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;

4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

5  By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

6  Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

7  To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

9  For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

10  Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11  For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12  That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

13  Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.

14  I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.

15  So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.

16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25  Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27  And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.