Today's Readings and Stuff. -- Thursday 30 May 2019

Last Thursday in May.   Very sad to see this period passing by, all too quickly.  At this rate, we'll be back in the time of the Ice Giants all too soon.  Ick!

And today is the last day of kindergarten for the next-door  Great Niece, the namesake of Dear Wife.  When we made the move into the Frozen Lands, she was less than a year old, unable to walk or talk or any of that.  Now?  Runs, jumps, talks non-stop,all of that.  We enjoy the time with her and with her little brother:  frankly, that is what gives Dear Wife a reason to live in spite of her trials and pains.  So the time invested is good for all of them, I believe.

Their dad worked last night and again tonight, and their mom worked today as well.  So Wife and I got to  "watch" the Little Guy until he went down for his regular nap.  But starting next week, when dad & mom are otherwise occupied, we'll probably have both of them on a regular basis.  Wife loves the idea.  Sounds good.  But the two of them are very different, and there are likely to be some challenges.

We're still in a rain mode.  Had it on and off much of last night and today, though it is (relatively) clear now.  We shall see, and it could be worse.  We got word that our one-time neighbors on the Oklahoma-Arkansas line in the Arkansas River region, are dealing with levees on the brink of collapse, EIGHT FEET of water on a major thoroughfare, all manner of bridges and major roads impassible and block, heavy damage to homes and businesses, and all manner of other things.  

Even more so, though currently less dramatic, is the effect of the torrential rains across the middle of the country upon agriculture.  The fields that were drowned in Iowa a few weeks ago may not be planted this year.  Ditto for Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and much else.  And much more besides.  The effects of this spring's weather will be felt for several years.  Better get your gardens going !

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1st Kings 5

1And Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants unto Solomon; for he had heard that they had anointed him king in the room of his father: for Hiram was ever a lover of David.

2And Solomon sent to Hiram, saying,

3Thou knowest how that David my father could not build an house unto the name of the Lord his God for the wars which were about him on every side, until the Lord put them under the soles of his feet.

4But now the Lord my God hath given me rest on every side, so that there is neither adversary nor evil occurrent.

5And, behold, I purpose to build an house unto the name of the Lord my God, as the Lord spake unto David my father, saying, Thy son, whom I will set upon thy throne in thy room, he shall build an house unto my name.

6Now therefore command thou that they hew me cedar trees out of Lebanon; and my servants shall be with thy servants: and unto thee will I give hire for thy servants according to all that thou shalt appoint: for thou knowest that there is not among us any that can skill to hew timber like unto the Sidonians.

7And it came to pass, when Hiram heard the words of Solomon, that he rejoiced greatly, and said, Blessed be the Lord this day, which hath given unto David a wise son over this great people.

8And Hiram sent to Solomon, saying, I have considered the things which thou sentest to me for: and I will do all thy desire concerning timber of cedar, and concerning timber of fir.

9My servants shall bring them down from Lebanon unto the sea: and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me, and will cause them to be discharged there, and thou shalt receive them: and thou shalt accomplish my desire, in giving food for my household.

10So Hiram gave Solomon cedar trees and fir trees according to all his desire.

11And Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand measures of wheat for food to his household, and twenty measures of pure oil: thus gave Solomon to Hiram year by year.

12And the Lord gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

13And king Solomon raised a levy out of all Israel; and the levy was thirty thousand men.

14And he sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month by courses: a month they were in Lebanon, and two months at home: and Adoniram was over the levy.

15And Solomon had threescore and ten thousand that bare burdens, and fourscore thousand hewers in the mountains;

16Beside the chief of Solomon's officers which were over the work, three thousand and three hundred, which ruled over the people that wrought in the work.

17And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house.

18And Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders did hew them, and the stonesquarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

1st Kings 6

(this portion is from the Christian Standard Bible version, primarily to make the dimensions clearer for the Temple).

Building the Temple

1Solomon began to build the temple for the Lord in the four hundred eightieth year  after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of his reign over Israel, in the second month, in the month of Ziv.   2The temple that King Solomon built for the Lord  was 90 feet  long, 30 feet  wide, and 45 feet  high.  3The portico in front of the temple sanctuary was 30 feet  long extending across the temple’s width, and 15 feet deep  in front of the temple.  4He also made windows with beveled frames  for the temple. 

5He then built a chambered structure  along the temple wall, encircling the walls of the temple, that is, the sanctuary and the inner sanctuary.  And he made side chambers  all around.  6The lowest chamber was 7 1/2 feet  wide, the middle was nine feet  wide, and the third was 10 1/2 feet  wide. He also provided offset ledges for the temple all around the outside so that nothing would be inserted into the temple walls. 7The temple’s construction used finished stones cut at the quarry so that no hammer, chisel, or any iron tool was heard in the temple while it was being built. 

8The door for the lowest  side chamber was on the right side of the temple. They  went up a stairway  to the middle chamber, and from the middle to the third. 9When he finished building the temple,  he paneled it with boards and planks of cedar. 10He built the chambers along the entire temple, joined to the temple with cedar beams;  each story was 7 1/2 feet high.

11The word of the Lord came to Solomon:  12“As for this temple you are building — if you walk in My statutes, observe My ordinances, and keep all My commands by walking in them,  I will fulfill My promise to you, which I made to your father David. 13I will live among the Israelites and not abandon My people Israel.” 

14When Solomon finished building the temple,   15he paneled the interior temple walls with cedar boards; from the temple floor to the surface of the ceiling he overlaid the interior with wood. He also overlaid the floor with cypress boards.  16Then he lined 30 feet  of the rear of the temple with cedar boards from the floor to the surface of the ceiling,  and he built the interior as an inner sanctuary, the most holy place.  17The temple, that is, the sanctuary in front of the most holy place, was 60 feet  long. 18The cedar paneling inside the temple was carved with ornamental gourds  and flower blossoms. Everything was cedar;  not a stone could be seen.

19He prepared the inner sanctuary  inside the temple to put the ark of the Lord’s covenant  there. 20The interior of the sanctuary was 30 feet  long, 30 feet  wide, and 30 feet high; he overlaid it with pure gold.  He also overlaid the cedar altar. 21Next, Solomon overlaid the interior of the temple with pure gold, and he hung  gold chains  across the front of the inner sanctuary  and overlaid it with gold. 22So he added the gold overlay to the entire temple until everything was completely finished, including the entire altar  that belongs to the inner sanctuary.

23In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim  15 feet high out of olive wood. 24One wing of the first cherub was 7 1/2 feet long,  and the other wing was 7 1/2 feet long. The wingspan was 15 feet  from tip to tip. 25The second cherub also was 15 feet;  both cherubim had the same size and shape. 26The first cherub’s height was 15 feet  and so was the second cherub’s. 27Then he put the cherubim inside the inner temple. Since their wings were spread out, the first one’s wing touched one wall while the second cherub’s wing touched the other  wall, and in the middle of the temple their wings were touching wing to wing.  28He also overlaid the cherubim with gold.

29He carved all the surrounding temple walls with carved engravings — cherubim,  palm trees and flower blossoms — in both the inner and outer sanctuaries. 30He overlaid the temple floor with gold in both the inner and outer sanctuaries.

31For the entrance of the inner sanctuary, he made olive wood doors.  The pillars of the doorposts were five-sided.  32The two doors were made of olive wood. He carved cherubim, palm trees, and flower blossoms on them and overlaid them with gold, hammering gold over the cherubim and palm trees. 33In the same way, he made four-sided  olive wood doorposts for the sanctuary entrance. 34The two doors  were made of cypress wood; the first door had two folding sides, and the second door had two folding panels. 35He carved cherubim, palm trees, and flower blossoms on them and overlaid them with gold applied evenly over the carving. 36He built the inner courtyard  with three rows of dressed stone  and a row of trimmed cedar beams.

37The foundation of the Lord’s temple was laid in Solomon’s fourth year in the month of Ziv. 38In his eleventh year in the eighth month, in the month of Bul,  the temple was completed in every detail and according to every specification.  So he built it in seven years. 

Psalm. 107

please note verse 2.  Yes, the redeemed of the Lord must say so!

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

2Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

10Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

11Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

12Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

13Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

15Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

16For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

17Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

20He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

21Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

23They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.

25For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

26They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end.

28Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;

34A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

35He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

36And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;

37And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

38He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

39Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

40He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.

41Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

42The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

43Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord.

Acts 19

1And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,

2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.

4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.

5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.

7And all the men were about twelve.

8And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.

9But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.

10And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

11And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:

12So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

13Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.

14And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.

15And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

16And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

17And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.

18And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

19Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.

20So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

21After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

22So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timothy and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.

23And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.

24For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;

25Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.

26Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:

27So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.

28And when they heard these sayings, they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

29And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.

30And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.

31And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.

32Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.

33And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.

34But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great is Diana of the Ephesians.

35And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?

36Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.

37For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.

38Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.

39But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.

40For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.

41And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.