The last Friday in June. The year is nearly halfway gone. Hasn't been a great year, I think most will agree, with more bumps in the road than we would have liked. But we're still here, so that means something.
This has been a wild week, and we're not done yet. Not nearly.
Wife's nephew's son turned 13 back in March. What with the lockdown from the Wuhan Flu thing, no chance for the big birthday parties her side of the family likes to throw for the kids, generally at one of those places you rent for four hours or so. So it was held in abeyance. Until tomorrow. The grim reality of his mother's recently diagnosed aggressive breast cancer hasn't helped. So ...They're having it at the home of next-door niece, so of course we got roped into helping. Big plans for stuff. Then the weathercasters informed us of a 90% chance of rain, some of it heavy, during the height of the frivolities. So .... tents will be erected, their garage is cleaned out. Everybody is making cakes and snacks and all kinds of stuff. The great-nephew's grandfather, his mother's father, will probably show. Unfortunately. He's a heavy drinker, not a nice one, but family ties and all of that. So there will be some tensions and such. Hopefully, the police won't be called but who knows? I've seen brawls at weddings before. Hopefully, the young man will have a nice time and a good memory of it all. We hope. Wife is somewhat involved: she really is an excellent cook and can whip up something out of not much. So we hope it's all to the good. We hope.
We had to go over to their house for a bit this afternoon to "watch" their kids. The mom, as noted above, is in chemotherapy for a really nasty variety of breast cancer, and her hair is falling out in big patches. Their insurance will cover the price of an inexpensive (relatively) wig, so today was the day to pick it up. We "sat" with the kids, one 13, one 8, until they got back. But it took a chunk out of our day's plans.
And not the first such this week. We had to take a run yesterday to pay a call on one of Wife's oldest friends, someone she went to school from kindergarten on with, to do a computer fix. Seems someone "hacked" into her bank account and drained it of several thou$and dollar$, money she can't spare as she's been off work since March. Hopefully, it's all dealt with and the bank has promised to put the funds back in. But we shall see. Anyway, it took pretty much all day, and was a whole lot more "peopling" that Wife, even more of an introvert than I, could do without bother. So she's still in recovery mode.
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1st Chronicles 11
1Then all Israel gathered themselves to David unto Hebron, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.
2And moreover in time past, even when Saul was king, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord thy God said unto thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be ruler over my people Israel.
3Therefore came all the elders of Israel to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
4And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem, which is Jebus; where the Jebusites were, the inhabitants of the land.
5And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David.
6And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief.
7And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it the city of David.
8And he built the city round about, even from Millo round about: and Joab repaired the rest of the city.
9So David waxed greater and greater: for the Lord of hosts was with him.
10These also are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who strengthened themselves with him in his kingdom, and with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel.
11And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had; Jashobeam, an Hachmonite, the chief of the captains: he lifted up his spear against three hundred slain by him at one time.
12And after him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighties.
13He was with David at Pas–dammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where was a parcel of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines.
14And they set themselves in the midst of that parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the Lord saved them by a great deliverance.
15Now three of the thirty captains went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the host of the Philistines encamped in the valley of Rephaim.
16And David was then in the hold, and the Philistines' garrison was then at Beth–lehem.
17And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth–lehem, that is at the gate!
18And the three brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Beth–lehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: but David would not drink of it, but poured it out to the Lord,
19And said, My God forbid it me, that I should do this thing: shall I drink the blood of these men that have put their lives in jeopardy? for with the jeopardy of their lives they brought it. Therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mightiest.
20And Abishai the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three: for lifting up his spear against three hundred, he slew them, and had a name among the three.
21Of the three, he was more honourable than the two; for he was their captain: howbeit he attained not to the first three.
22Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done many acts; he slew two lionlike men of Moab: also he went down and slew a lion in a pit in a snowy day.
23And he slew an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high; and in the Egyptian's hand was a spear like a weaver's beam; and he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand, and slew him with his own spear.
24These things did Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, and had the name among the three mighties.
25Behold, he was honourable among the thirty, but attained not to the first three: and David set him over his guard.
26Also the valiant men of the armies were, Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Beth–lehem,
27Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,
28Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abi–ezer the Anathothite,
29Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,
30Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite,
31Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah, that pertained to the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite,
32Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,
33Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,
34The sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shage the Hararite,
35Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur,
36Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,
37Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai,
38Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Haggeri,
39Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armourbearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah,
40Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,
41Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
42Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a captain of the Reubenites, and thirty with him,
43Hanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
44Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jehiel the sons of Hothan the Aroerite,
45Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite,
46Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite,
47Eliel, and Obed, and Jasiel the Mesobaite.
1st Chronicles 12
1Now these are they that came to David to Ziklag, while he yet kept himself close because of Saul the son of Kish: and they were among the mighty men, helpers of the war.
2They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in hurling stones and shooting arrows out of a bow, even of Saul's brethren of Benjamin.
3The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; and Jeziel, and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; and Berachah, and Jehu the Anathothite,
4And Ismaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty, and over the thirty; and Jeremiah, and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Josabad the Gederathite,
5Eluzai, and Jerimoth, and Bealiah, and Shemariah, and Shephatiah the Haruphite,
6Elkanah, and Jesiah, and Azareel, and Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korhites,
7And Joelah, and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor.
8And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, and men of war fit for the battle, that could handle shield and buckler, whose faces were like the faces of lions, and were as swift as the roes upon the mountains;
9Ezer the first, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,
10Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,
11Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,
12Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,
13Jeremiah the tenth, Machbanai the eleventh.
14These were of the sons of Gad, captains of the host: one of the least was over an hundred, and the greatest over a thousand.
15These are they that went over Jordan in the first month, when it had overflown all his banks; and they put to flight all them of the valleys, both toward the east, and toward the west.
16And there came of the children of Benjamin and Judah to the hold unto David.
17And David went out to meet them, and answered and said unto them, If ye be come peaceably unto me to help me, mine heart shall be knit unto you: but if ye be come to betray me to mine enemies, seeing there is no wrong in mine hands, the God of our fathers look thereon, and rebuke it.
18Then the spirit came upon Amasai, who was chief of the captains, and he said, Thine are we, David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace be unto thee, and peace be to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.
19And there fell some of Manasseh to David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle: but they helped them not: for the lords of the Philistines upon advisement sent him away, saying, He will fall to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.
20As he went to Ziklag, there fell to him of Manasseh, Adnah, and Jozabad, and Jediael, and Michael, and Jozabad, and Elihu, and Zilthai, captains of the thousands that were of Manasseh.
21And they helped David against the band of the rovers: for they were all mighty men of valour, and were captains in the host.
22For at that time day by day there came to David to help him, until it was a great host, like the host of God.
23And these are the numbers of the bands that were ready armed to the war, and came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to the word of the Lord.
24The children of Judah that bare shield and spear were six thousand and eight hundred, ready armed to the war.
25Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valour for the war, seven thousand and one hundred.
26Of the children of Levi four thousand and six hundred.
27And Jehoiada was the leader of the Aaronites, and with him were three thousand and seven hundred;
28And Zadok, a young man mighty of valour, and of his father's house twenty and two captains.
29And of the children of Benjamin, the kindred of Saul, three thousand: for hitherto the greatest part of them had kept the ward of the house of Saul.
30And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valour, famous throughout the house of their fathers.
31And of the half tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, which were expressed by name, to come and make David king.
32And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.
33Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart.
34And of Naphtali a thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty and seven thousand.
35And of the Danites expert in war twenty and eight thousand and six hundred.
36And of Asher, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, forty thousand.
37And on the other side of Jordan, of the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and of the half tribe of Manasseh, with all manner of instruments of war for the battle, an hundred and twenty thousand.
38All these men of war, that could keep rank, came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel: and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king.
39And there they were with David three days, eating and drinking: for their brethren had prepared for them.
40Moreover they that were nigh them, even unto Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on asses, and on camels, and on mules, and on oxen, and meat, meal, cakes of figs, and bunches of raisins, and wine, and oil, and oxen, and sheep abundantly: for there was joy in Israel.
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Psalm 119, verses 73 - 80
א Alef
73Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.
74They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.
75I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
76Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.
77Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.
78Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.
79Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.
80Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.
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As noted before, I consider the letter to the Romans to be one of the most important books in the New Testament other than the Gospels. It contains so much! As I noted a few years ago, there was a famous preacher who, taking the pulpit in a new church for the first time, took up Romans 1:1. That was the entire text for the first sermon. The second week Romans 1:2, and did not quite finish! The third week, he took up where he'd left off, and went to Romans 1:3. And continued in that series for three and a half years! And the church exploded! The pews were filled, the galleries, the aisles, and more. That is how significant this is. We (meaning me) do wrong when we lightly zip through these texts. They are powerful, and life changing. If we have the interest and intent and focus, the Lord can and does do some remarkable things!
Romans 11
1I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,
3Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.
4But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.
5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
7What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded
8(According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
9And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:
10Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.
11I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?
13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
15For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
18Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
19Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
21For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
22Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.
23And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes.
29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
